Clovis West grad traded to MLS Portland team

The Houston Dynamo traded defender Mike Chabala and midfielder Lovel Palmer to Portland today for midfielder Adam Moffat and allocation money.

Chabala finished his prep career as a Bee All-Star at Clovis West High in 2002 after starting at Hoover; he also played briefly for the Fresno Fuego in 2005.

He made seven appearances with Houston this season after joining the club as a fourth-round selection in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft following a standout collegiate career at Washington.

Chabala has played in Portland previously, spending part of his 2006 rookie season on loan to the USL first-division Timbers and appearing in eight games.

Chabala earned regular playing time with Houston’s first team the past three seasons, with one goal and seven assists. He set a career high in 2010 by making 25 appearances (22 starts) while registering a goal and four assists for the Dynamo.

An original Dynamo player, Chabala made 69 total appearances for the club.

“I want to thank Mike and Lovel for their contributions during their time in Houston and wish them the best of luck in Portland,” Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said on the team’s website.

Chabala and Palmer are expected to join the Timbers in Columbus, Ohio, prior to Saturday’s game with the Crew.