Notes: "I don't look back," says Demopoulos

Dean Demopoulos has no regrets about leaving Seattle, even though he might have been the Sonics' coach now instead of Bob Hill.

"I never go that route," Demopoulos said. "I don't look back on those types of things. ... Besides, there was never any guarantee of that."

After four years as an assistant, Demopoulos applied for the Sonics job this summer. But when it became apparent that the team was going to hire Bob Weiss, Demopoulos considered working as a lead assistant in Minnesota before taking the same position in Portland under coach Nate McMillan.

Demopoulos never seriously considered staying with the Sonics as an assistant, believing that he would further his career elsewhere. Demopoulos has never been a head coach in college or in the NBA, which likely hurt his chances at landing the Sonics job.

"Nate has given me a lot of responsibilities, which was something I was looking for," said Demopoulos, who took command of the team Dec. 23 when McMillan was ejected and led the Trail Blazers to a 91-83 victory over Minnesota.

Because his wife Pam, daughter Allie and son James still live in the Seattle area and because of the relationships he built during his Sonics tenure, Monday's game was emotional for Demopoulos, too.

"It's a much bigger deal for Nate," Demopoulos said. "Nate was 'Mr. Sonic' and he spent 18 years here. I spent a short time here, but it was a little weird walking through those doors like that."

Homecoming on hold

Portland's first game in Seattle this season was supposed to be Martell Webster's first professional game at home. But the former Seattle Prep standout was assigned to Fort Worth in the NBA Development League on Jan. 15.

McMillan tried to put a positive spin on the demotion. But much was expected from the 6-foot-7 rookie who accepted a scholarship to Washington before declaring for the draft. He was taken sixth overall.

"We sent him to the development league hoping he could get that [playing time]. He got that and we'll probably bring him back in another week or two," McMillan said.

Webster averaged 4.2 points and 1.1 rebounds in 28 games for Portland. With Fort Worth, he has appeared in seven games and has averaged 10.9 points and 3.3 rebounds.

"He has potential," McMillan said. "I think he's going to be a good player. But just as any other 19-year-old kid coming into the league, he's years away from that. We have time to be patient with and not rush the situation."

Note

• F Reggie Evans, who had played a total of 37 seconds in the past four games, entered Monday's game late in the second quarter. He played 11:30 total and had two points.