It doesn't appear likely that Maurice Cheeks will be returning to the Philadelphia 76ers anytime soon.

The Blazers have denied the 76ers permission to talk to Cheeks about their vacant coaching position.

Larry Brown resigned Monday after six seasons with the 76ers. Cheeks, who played for the 76ers for 11 seasons and was part of their 1983 NBA championship team, has been mentioned as a candidate for the vacancy.

Cheeks also served as an assistant coach in Philadelphia for seven seasons, four of them under Brown. However, he has one year left on his contract with the Blazers, along with a team option, so the 76ers would need permission to approach Cheeks. They did not get it.

Cheeks was diplomatic, saying he was honored that Philadelphia was interested.

"Honestly, I kind of got a little sad about it because I wanted the opportunity to talk to them. It would have been great to talk to them,'' he said. "But at the same time it was a special feeling for me, because it said to me they (the Trail Blazers) wanted me to be here. They wanted to keep me around for a long, long time, I hope.''

Numerous league sources told ESPN.com that Cheeks was a lock to leave Portland and return to the Sixers. It is believed that Cheeks and superstar guard Allen Iverson would mesh better than Brown and Iverson did. However, this appeared unlikely because Cheeks did have a year left on his contract, and it appeared unlikely that the Blazers would let him go.

"I've had a great time here. You don't want to compare Portland and Philadelphia because I spent a long, long time in Philadelphia. So it would have been a little difficult for me to choose between them,'' he said at a news conference.

Cheeks has been Portland's head coach for the last two seasons, accumulating a 99-65 record while overseeing a troubled team that had spate of on- and off-court problems. Three players were cited this season for marijuana possession, and another was arrested for alleged domestic violence.

Forward Rasheed Wallace also was suspended for seven games for threatening a referee on the Rose Garden's loading dock after a game.

The Blazers ended the season 50-32 but lost in seven games to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs. In Cheeks' first season with the team, the Blazers were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.

But Cheeks garnered good feeling among the fans this season when he came to the rescue of a 13-year-old girl who was struggling with the words to the national anthem before one of the Blazers' playoff games. The magnanimous gesture earned Cheeks national attention, even an appearance on "The Tonight Show'' with Jay Leno.

The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, are in the midst of their search for a both new president and general manager to replace Bob Whitsitt, who stepped down earlier this month.

"Maurice Cheeks has a done a very good job as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers these past two seasons. We believe he is a big part of the future of this organization, and he has become a valued member of the community,'' Blazers vice chairman Bert Kolde said. "We want him to remain here in Portland for a long time.''

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.