Portland Mensheviks

A theoretical professional minor league team or semi-pro basketball team owned by the City of Portland (as Harrisburg, Pennsylvania owns the Senators, and Rochester, New York owns the Red Wings). Could also be owned by the County of Multnomah, or by a regional public-private consortium, or by a non-profit shareholder corporation (as the Green Bay Packers) — see civicathletics.org's research on these public and community ownership models, including a closer structural analogue already operating in Portland, the player-governed nonprofit Rose City Rollers.

Until other cities and regions stand up their own minor league or semi-pro basketball teams to constitute the OBA, the Portland Mensheviks will play exhibition games against their own B, C, and D squads — constituting a sort of municipal league — and host acrobatic, musical, and theatrical productions that appeal to a broad audience.

An investment in civic and cultural capital and sustainable economic development, which will support local non-profits, youth clubs and sport leagues, the health and vitality of the citizenry, employment opportunities, and superior sports entertainment to that currently offered by the NBA.

The Portland Mensheviks would inherit the name "Trailblazers" in the event that the professional team decamps for another state, in which case it must forfeit its trademarked name — see the legal memorandum.