The Blazers and the NBA set conditions for the Oregonian before issuing disputed reports concerning the behavior and mindset of owner Paul Allen, according to Mike Tokito.

If those conditions weren't met, they threatened to take their denials to another publication.

The story was written by Allan Brettman, a business reporter, and not Jason Quick, Joe Freeman Tokito or John Canzano, the four writers who most frequently cover the franchise.

Adam Silver, deputy commissioner of the NBA, asserted that Allen did not deliver a message to the NBPA that led to a breakdown of talks on Thursday.