Not really sure, I don't recall him ever blasting the city and it seemed he was happy here. He probably just wanted a change of scenery and/or wanted another shot at a ring with while he still had a few years left?
He still holds a grudge against Paul Allen and Bob Whitsitt because they wouldn't even grant him an interview for the head coaching job in POR back in 2001 after they fired Mike Dunleavy. Clyde coached for two seasons at the University of Houston, sucked at it (19-39 overall record, 7-22 in conference), quit and then felt he was entitled to at least get an interview for the vacant head coaching position in Portland.
He wasn't. I loved Clyde as a player, especially back in the early 90s, but he flat out sucked as a coach and had a shitty work ethic. He did land a gig as an assistant coach in Denver for one season back in 2001-02, but only last one year as an assistant coach before being "promoted" to special assistant to the general manager for the final year of his contract.
Here's some general quotes on his dislike of Bob Whitsitt from
a 2003 article in the Portland Tribune:
"Drexler closely follows the NBA and in particular the Blazers, with whom he spent most of his pro career. He made no secret of his disdain for Bob Whitsitt, the former president and general manager, who resigned after last season.
'I don't believe in kicking people after they've been fired, but I do believe Whitsitt alienated the fans of Portland,' Drexler says. 'He would not do what was in the best interest of that community. He brought in players who were not of great character.
'I don't know how much (owner) Paul Allen had to do with that, but whatever the case was, it was not a good fit. They didn't cater to the Portland community. They didn't cater to the sponsors. I don't think they thought about the Portland fan base and how strong it truly was, and they didn't involve them in the process. That was their downfall.'
Drexler says he has been embarrassed by the number of incidents involving Portland players in recent years, including four drug arrests over the last 13 months."
Note: while he uses the Jailblazers image to bash Whitsitt (and to a lesser extent, Paul Allen), he was VERY eager to coach those same players in 2001-02. It as only after he didn't get granted an interview for the head coaching position that he turned on Whitsitt and the Blazers.
BNM
