Portland Trail Blazers Trade Rumors

Williams is 'a nice find'; Will he stick?
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March 12
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"An hour before Thursday night's game against Portland, guard Reggie Williams was sitting quietly in his locker room stall, poring over notes on the Warriors' opponent. His eyes shifted from the paperwork long enough only to watch video sequences of the Trail Blazers. Forget that Williams was coming off a 28-point, six-assist performance. Forget that the Warriors had just announced that they will re-sign him for a second 10-day contract today. When it comes to his first NBA opportunity, the 23-year-old isn't taking anything for granted. "I do feel like I can do this, but I don't necessarily feel like I've arrived," Williams said. "My contract is very short term. I feel like every day is an ..."
Blazers center Joel Przybilla slips in shower, reinjures right knee
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March 8
Oregonian
 
"Trail Blazers center Joel Przybilla on Saturday reinjured his surgically-repaired right knee and will require another surgery, the team said Sunday. Przybilla reinjured the knee Saturday morning when he slipped while entering the shower at his home in Milwaukee, Wisc. He flew to Portland on Saturday and had a magnetic resonance imaging test Sunday morning at the office of team doctor Don Roberts. The MRI showed a tear of the patella tendon that was repaired. Przybilla, 30, ruptured his right patella tendon in a Dec. 22 game at Dallas. He was 10 weeks post-operation and had just started to walk without a brace."
Trail Blazers to sign guard Travis Diener for 15th roster spot
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March 1
Oregonian
 
"Travis Diener's 28th birthday is Monday and his present is a contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. The Oregonian has learned the Blazers will sign the former Indiana Pacers guard today to occupy their 15th roster spot once he clears waivers. Diener was waived by the Pacers on Monday after playing only four games because of an injured big toe on his left foot. The injury required surgery, and Diener had come back and played only 24 minutes this season. His last action was on Feb. 6 at Milwaukee when he played two minutes. Coming out of Marquette as a second round pick (38th overall) in 2005, Diener had a reputation as a sharp-shooter, but he has never lived up to that reputation in ..."
Trail Blazers considering veteran forward Kenny Thomas for 15th roster spot
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February 26
Oregonian
 
"Veteran forward Kenny Thomas is a candidate for the Trail Blazers' 15th roster spot, according to the player's agent, Mark McNeil. The Blazers have one open roster spot, and must sign a player before Monday in order for that player to be eligible for the playoffs. Thomas, 32, was waived by Sacramento on Feb.18. "We've talked and we plan to speak again between now and Monday,'' McNeil said Friday. McNeil said two other NBA teams have inquired about Thomas' services. Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard on Friday said "we are watching to see what shakes out.'' Thomas is a 6-foot-7, 245-pound forward whose specialty is rebounding. He appeared in 26 games this season with the Kings. ..."
Blazers injury woes continue, Marcus Camby sprains ankle against Nets
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February 24
Oregonian
 
"By now, there is no sense in fighting it, or even trying to figure it out, so the Trail Blazers have come to embrace what has become, quite simply, an awkward season. It's where no body part is safe. Where no lead is comfortable. And no lineup set in stone. A season of remarkable, if not eerie, consistency continued Tuesday when the Blazers beat the woeful New Jersey Nets 102-93 despite losing new center Marcus Camby to an ankle injury, watching a 21-point lead whittled to five and ushering out their 13th different starting lineup of the season. In his third outing with the Blazers, Camby rolled his right ankle five minutes into the game when Nets' center Brook Lopez fell on the back of ..."
Blazers are done dealing, Kevin Pritchard says
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February 18
Oregonian
 
"Trail Blazers Kevin Pritchard said Thursday morning the Trail Blazers will not make another deal before today's noon trading deadline. The Blazers on Tuesday acquired Marcus Camby for Travis Outlaw and Steve Blake."
Brandon Roy considering shutting it down?
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February 17
NBC Sports
 
"Brandon Roy isn't sure if he'll be healthy at any point this season, and it sounds like another long layoff is inevitable. "I think if this [pain] is with me the whole season then I don't really have a shot at playing," said Roy. "Two week stretches isn't doing it. We don't have that much longer in the season." He said he was having trouble even bending his leg recently, and owners have no choice but to fear the worst."
Camby stunned by potential trade to Blazers
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February 16
Yahoo! Sports
 columnist Marc J. Spears
"Los Angeles Clippers center Marcus Camby may have unknowingly attended his own farewell dinner on Monday night. The Clippers are on the verge of completing a trade that will send Camby to the Portland Trail Blazers, league sources said, but the veteran center is not happy about the potential deal. The proposed trade, which was first reported by Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, will send Camby to Portland in exchange for forward Travis Outlaw, guard Steve Blake and cash. In town in advance of their Tuesday game against the Trail Blazers, the Clippers were having a team dinner at Portland's Ringside steakhouse Monday night when Camby received a call on his cell phone from his agent, Rick ..."
Blazers will trade Travis Outlaw, Steve Blake to Clippers for Marcus Camby
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February 16
Oregonian
 
"The Trail Blazers will trade forward Travis Outlaw and guard Steve Blake to the Los Angeles Clippers for veteran center Marcus Camby, an agent for one of the players has confirmed to The Oregonian. Outlaw late Monday night said his agent, Bill Duffy, informed him that the deal should be finished on Tuesday. "He said it is still being finished, but that it should go through,'' Outlaw said. The deal, which will also include the Blazers giving cash to Los Angeles, is expected to be finalized on Tuesday, well before the noon Thursday trading deadline, and on the same day the Clippers are in Portland to play the Blazers in the Rose Garden. Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said the deal ..."
Roy: Without a trade, Trail Blazers will still be 'dangerous'
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February 11
Oregonian
 
"Brandon Roy says he thinks the Trail Blazers do not need to make a move at the trading deadline to make the playoffs. "Unless it's like a great deal for us, then I think I understand the approach of not making a move and letting us fight it out,'' Roy said. "We are still a good team.'' Roy said, however, that a playoff push would probably have to include his return to the lineup and a healthy Travis Outlaw. Roy could return as soon as the Feb. 16 home game against the Los Angeles Clippers, and Outlaw has been cleared to begin practicing on Feb. 15. He could return as soon as a week after that, perhaps Feb. 21 at home against Utah. "If we are healthy with everybody besides Greg (Oden) and ..."
Kevin Pritchard sees more to lose than gain in trade scenarios
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February 11
Oregonian
 
"It was an hour of back-and-forth this week with Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard before he finally took my pad and pen out of my hand and began scribbling. He drew two diagrams, both shedding insight to where his mind was heading into next week's trading deadline. And both diagrams suggest he is not going to make a move before noon on Feb. 18. Pritchard calls this the most unique trading-deadline position he has been associated with in his eight years in the NBA, the last six of which have been in Portland. His mind is telling him to keep an eye on the big-picture, which is to win an NBA championship. He believes many of the championship pieces, albeit young and still ..."
Kurt Thomas: The fallback trade option
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February 8
ESPN.com
 
"In college at TCU, Kurt Thomas once led the nation in scoring and rebounding, making him one of only three players in NCAA history to do so. Two-and-a-half years ago, his expiring $8 million contract was deemed so unappealing by Suns owner Bob Sarver that Phoenix agreed to surrender two unprotected 1st-round draft picks to Seattle, getting back only a 2nd-rounder in return (the second of those unprotected 1st-round picks goes to the Thunder this June, which is why Phoenix is currently looking for at least one 1st-round pick in any Amare Stoudemire trade). Thomas is currently playing for his seventh NBA team as he works his way through his 15th NBA season, and he soon could end up with his ..."
Miller available?
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February 8
ESPN.com
 
"The Blazers have insisted for weeks that guard Andre Miller, no matter how many rival teams describe him as available and despite Portland's obvious need for big men after losing Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla to season-ending knee injuries, will not be traded. Yet it had to be asked last Saturday after Miller's eruption in Dallas: Does a 52-point game make Miller even less available ... or more desirable? "I don't know," Miller said. "It's one night. It's still a business. Whatever happens, happens." It has been widely suspected from the moment Portland signed Miller in the offseason, after failed free-agent bids for Hedo Turkoglu and Paul Millsap, that the Blazers snagged the 33-year-old ..."
Brandon Roy still feels hamstring, questionable against Lakers
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February 6
Oregonian
 
"After practicing Friday for the first time in more than two weeks, Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy said he is unsure whether his hamstring is healed enough to play Saturday against the Lakers at the Rose Garden. Roy, who has missed nine consecutive games and 11 of the last 12, said he is "questionable" for Saturday's game while adding that if the game was Friday night he would not have played. "If there was a game tonight, after playing this morning, I probably wouldn't play,'' Roy said. "I would tell coach that I don't think it's smart to go out there. Again, I want to go out there and feel like I can help the team and not feel like the guys have to carry me.'' Roy said there was ..."
Blazers targeting Travis Outlaw returning shortly after All-Star Break
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February 3
Oregonian
 
"Forward Travis Outlaw is expected to return to the Trail Blazers and play this month, perhaps as soon as the Feb. 21 home game against Utah. "This is definitely a blessing,'' Outlaw said. "To come back this early, I would be happy.'' Outlaw, who broke his left foot Nov. 14 at Charlotte, has been cleared for contact drills beginning Feb. 15, the first day after the All-Star Break, general manager Kevin Pritchard said Tuesday. "I would imagine we'd like to get him on the court soon after that,'' Pritchard said with a smile. Outlaw on Tuesday went hard in a one-on-one session with assistant Monty Williams, and showed no sign of the injury. Williams said the team is no longer concerned about ..."
Injury expected to keep Brandon Roy on bench for the next two games
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January 21
Oregonian
 
"All-Star Brandon Roy most likely will miss the final two games of the Trail Blazers' East Coast trip after aggravating his balky right hamstring Wednesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers. After banking in a driving jump shot with 1:02 remaining in the first half, Roy grabbed his hamstring and grimaced as he gingerly moved to the other end of the court to play defense. Thirty-three seconds later, after Roy was unable to sprint for a fast-break chance on offense, he limped off the Wachovia Center court with team trainer Jay Jensen and did not return for the second half. In the visiting locker room, after the Blazers defeated the 76ers 98-90, Roy's hamstring was heavily bandaged and ..."
Oden's return this season?
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January 14
Portland Tribune
 
"Portland center Greg Oden is targeting a return to action this season. "I'm actually hoping, and saying my prayers, that I can come back before the end of this season," says Oden, who underwent surgery on Dec. 7 to repair a fractured left patella. What do the Blazers' medical experts, including team doctor Don Roberts and trainer Jay Jensen, have to say about that? "They haven't dismissed the idea," Oden says."
Andre Miller erupts at Blazers practice in confrontation with Nate McMillan
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January 7
Oregonian
 
"Trail Blazers practice on Thursday was halted nearly 60 minutes into the workout when veteran point guard Andre Miller and coach Nate McMillan engaged in a shouting match that lasted for nearly 30 minutes. Miller shouted throughout the exchange, and McMillan mostly listened, but at times broke in with shouting of his own. One of the topics discussed was an incident late in Tuesday's game with Memphis, when Miller told Jerryd Bayless to make his second free throw with 4.3 seconds left and the Blazers trailing by two. The coaching staff and team captain Brandon Roy told Bayless to miss the free throw so the Blazers could attempt to rebound and make a tying basket. When practice was opened to ..."
Blazers looking, but no deal imminent
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January 7
Portland Tribune
 
"In some ways, the last two games have been a sobering wakeup call for the Trail Blazers. Centers Chris Kaman of the Los Angeles Clippers and Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies have had big games in helping their teams to victory against a Portland team playing without injured Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla in the middle. Converted Portland power forward Juwan Howard - brought out of mothballs to fill the gap - has done an admirable job. But is he enough? During training camp, coach Nate McMillan made no bones about Howard being signed as an "insurance policy" in the offseason. So, ka-ching! With Oden and Przybilla both lost for the season, the 6-9, 250-pound Howard - who turns 37 next month ..."
Przybilla out indefinitely with patella injury
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December 23
Oregonian
 
"Joel Przybilla was hurt late in the first period of Portland's game at Dallas Tuesday.DALLAS - Just when you think it can't get any worse for this injury-depleted Trail Blazers team, it suffers yet another significant setback Tuesday night in Dallas. In the first quarter of their game against the Dallas Mavericks, Joel Przybilla landed awkwardly and violently on his right leg beneath the basket and had to be helped away from the American Airlines Center court by two teammates. Shortly after halftime, the team announced that Pryzbilla had suffered a ruptured right patella tendon and patella dislocation. He is out indefinitely. Przybilla elevated for a rebound after Steve Blake missed a ..."
Pryzbilla's knee injury mars Blazer win at Dallas
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December 23
Portland Tribune
 
"Joel Pryzbilla is feared out for the season after suffering a ruptured right patella tendon and dislocated patella early in Tuesday night's 85-81 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The initial word from the Blazers was that he will be sidelined "indefinitely." The injury took place in the first quarter and resembled that of center Greg Oden, as Przybilla landed on his right leg after going up for a rebound and crumpled to the floor."
Blazers' Rudy Fernandez to undergo back procedure today
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December 8
Oregonian
 
"Trail Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez will undergo a microdiscectomy on Tuesday afternoon to relieve pressure from a nerve root in his back, the team announced. The Blazers said they will release a timetable for his return later Tuesday afternoon, after the procedure. The team's best outside shooter, and one of its best all-around players, Fernandez has missed the past two games with sciatic pain, which is causing pain in his right leg. The procedure comes one day after he received a second opinion. Fernandez will be the seventh member of the Blazers to undergo a surgery this season, and the third in the past two days. On Monday, both Greg Oden (left knee) and coach Nate McMillan (right ..."
Depleted Blazers Taking It Day to Day
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December 8
New York Times
 
"The man coaching the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday spent some time talking about being "in the moment," a philosophy that is two parts Zen, one part coach-speak and one part sheer psychological necessity. The moment? For the sake of their sanity, the Blazers can focus only on the present, because spending even two seconds on the past is wholly depressing. On Saturday night, the Blazers watched Greg Oden, their burly, bright young center, crumble to the court with a gruesome knee injury. He is lost for the season - for the second time in his three-year career. Portland was already without two key forwards, Travis Outlaw and Nicolas Batum, each of whom had surgery that will require ..."
Oden suffers major knee injury
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December 6
Oregonian
 
"The Trail Blazers suffered a potentially devastating setback Saturday night against the Houston Rockets as one of the faces of the franchise suffered another serious injury. Greg Oden, one of the few bright spots in what has been a discouraging start to the season, fractured the patella in his left knee and will likely miss the rest of the season. After being carted from the Rose Garden floor on a gurney in the first quarter, Oden was taken to Rebound, the Blazers' sports medicine clinic at the Rose Quarter, for an MRI exam. By halftime, the worst was confirmed: Oden will have surgery to repair his knee and probably miss the rest of the season. "I'm obviously disappointed having worked so ..."
Are the Blazers looking to move Miller?
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December 4
Yahoo! Sports
 (scroll down)
"Since Travis Outlaw has been lost for four to five months with foot surgery, GM Kevin Pritchard has been working the phones for an athletic forward as a replacement. That isn't much of a surprise, but this is: In conversations with Portland's front office and coaching staffs, several league officials believe Andre Miller could soon be available. As a free-agent signee over the summer, Miller can't be traded until Dec. 15."
Trail Blazers great Maurice Lucas hospitalized; bladder cancer has returned
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November 24
Oregonian
 
"Maurice Lucas, a Trail Blazers legend and current assistant coach, has been in a local hospital for weeks after learning that cancer has returned to his body less than seven months after he underwent surgery to remove bladder cancer. Lucas, 57, helped coach the team in October, but has not been at practice or games since the regular season started. Earlier this month coach Nate McMillan said Lucas was battling "fatigue." Last season, Lucas underwent a series of tests trying to find out why he was losing weight and was so fatigued. By the spring, he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer and in April, a month after his 57th birthday, he had surgery related to bladder cancer. Throughout ..."
Blazers craft money strategy
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November 19
Portland Tribune
 
"For a team that just committed something in the neighborhood of $143 million in salary to two players, the Trail Blazers are well-positioned for the future in terms of payroll. That doesn't mean Portland will have salary-cap room to land a big-ticket free agent next summer. Still, the franchise that once paid $100 million in luxury taxes has its financial act together now. This season, the Blazers' payroll is $56.2 million for their 15 players – an average of $3.75 million per player, under the salary cap ($57.7 million) and well under the luxury-tax threshold ($69.92 million). Portland is 27th among the 30 NBA teams in payroll, ahead of only Memphis, Minnesota, Detroit and Oklahoma City. ..."
Homecoming for Howard, surgery for Outlaw
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November 18
Oregonian
 
"It was quite a scene before Saturday's game in Charlotte, when Juwan Howard walked onto the court for warmups. At halfcourt, the entire Bobcats coaching staff, as well as some players, gathered to greet Howard, who played 39 games in Charlotte last season. But it wasn't just any meet and greet. There were bear hugs, back pats and more hugs, from each of the more than eight Bobcats personnel. The most emphatic in his reception was head coach Larry Brown. "He was a huge part of our team," Brown said. "His work ethic, his character, everything about him was terrific, and it was important because we had so many young kids and he is the ultimate pro. The way he conducts himself, the way he ..."
Travis Outlaw out until mid January
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November 15
Portland Tribune
 
"Travis Outlaw fractured his left foot in the first quarter of an 80-74 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats. Brandon Roy led the way as Portland extended its winning streak to six games and improved to 8-3, sending Charlotte to 3-5. The Blazers are 4-0 on the trip that ends Monday at Atlanta. Outlaw, who was averaging 10.9 points per game, returned to Portland for evaluation. Team officials estimated he could miss six to eight weeks. The Bobcats, who have lost four games in a row, led 28-20 midway through the second quarter but missed eight consecutive shots."
Trail Blazers sign LaMarcus Aldridge to five-year extension
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October 23
Oregonian
 
"The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward LaMarcus Aldridge to a five-year contract extension, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. "It's a blessing and I'm very thankful," said Aldridge. "I want to thank Paul Allen, Kevin Pritchard, Larry Miller, Nate McMillan and Tom Penn for giving me the opportunity to be in Portland for many years to come. I also want to thank the Portland fans, my friends and family for all of their support. I'm really happy we got this done and now I'm really excited to get the season started." Aldridge, 24, holds career averages of 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.11 blocks, ..."
Source: Aldridge to get $65M extension
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October 22
ESPN.com
 
"The Portland Trail Blazers have verbally agreed in principle to a contract extension with forward LaMarcus Aldridge, a source close to the process told ESPN.com on Wednesday. Aldridge Aldridge The extension is for five years and $65 milliion and will go into effect next season, the source said. If Aldridge achieves certain hard-to-reach incentives, his contract could ultimately be worth as much as $70 million."
Blazers excercise options on Oden, Batum, Fernandez and Bayless
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October 17
OregonLive.com
 
"The Portland Trail Blazers exercised their fourth-year option on center Greg Oden and third-year options on the contracts of guard/forward Rudy Fernandez, forward Nicolas Batum and guard Jerryd Bayless."
Talks with LaMarcus Aldridge take a turn for the better
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October 15
Oregonian
 
"With an Oct. 31 deadline nearing, general manager Kevin Pritchard said Wednesday the Trail Blazers and star forward LaMarcus Aldridge are "moving toward a deal" in which Aldridge would be a Blazer long term. After negotiating since July 1, Pritchard said talks with Aldridge's agent, Arn Tellem, took a decided turn for the better this week. "There has been movement," Pritchard said. "But I don't want to get the cart before the horse because I want to do this right. I want to make sure we are staying on the right path. But I feel like we are moving toward a deal. Now that doesn't mean we are going to get a deal done. Negotiations ebb and flow all the time, so I want to be cautious with that. ..."
Blazers' Andre Miller and Nate McMillan discuss Miller's role, controversial comments
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October 12
Oregonian
 
"After Sunday's Trail Blazers practice, point guard Andre Miller addressed the comments he made in this Yahoo Sports story and discussed a host of other issues, including his treatment by the Portland media, his desire to be in Portland and his relationship with coach Nate McMillan. Miller: You were quoted in the story as saying "If I was told right out when I had my meetings that I would be a backup, then I wouldn't have come (to Portland)." Is that accurate? "Yeah, that's accurate." Are you cool with your situation here? Is it a work in progress? "That's the mentality that every player should have. If it doesn't go my way, it doesn't go my way. But I'm going to continue to work hard ..."
LaMarcus Aldridge still waiting for long-term deal
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September 29
Oregonian
 
"LaMarcus Aldridge expressed displeasure and confusion Monday afternoon at the unresolved status of his contract negotiations with the Trail Blazers. Speaking publicly for the first time since negotiations started in July, Aldridge said at the team's annual media day that he was stunned the Blazers had not signed him to a long-term contract, particularly considering the prominent role he has played in helping transform the franchise into a Western Conference power. "I didn't think it would take this long," Aldridge said. "I thought that after what we did last year, having 54 wins and after the big change that's happened ... here, I just felt like it wouldn't be this hard to get it done. ..."
Collins to Portland; Malone's stepfather dies
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September 24
The Deseret News
 
"Barring any unforeseen or still-untold incidents, there will be no golf cart-related banter inside the Utah Jazz locker room this season. Also missing? A Stanford University presence. The Portland Trail Blazers confirmed Wednesday that longtime Jazz center Jarron Collins will participate in their upcoming training camp and has a shot at earning a spot on the roster of Utah's Northwest Division rivals. "We wanted an experienced big, and (Collins) has great experience and a wealth of knowledge for the game," Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard told The Oregonian. "He will have a chance to make our team." Collins has spent his entire eight-year NBA career with the Jazz, who picked up the ..."
LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers make progress in contract talks
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September 11
Oregonian
 
"Contract negotiations between the Trail Blazers and star forward LaMarcus Aldridge continue daily as the Oct. 31 deadline nears, but general manager Kevin Pritchard said it could take time and is a "complicated" process. The biggest problem is neither side knows what the figure for maximum contracts will be because the league doesn't release that information until July 2010, when the league sets its salary cap and reveals the figure for basketball-related income (BRI). When a player signs a maximum contract - like Blazers guard Brandon Roy did in August - the first year of his contract is approximately 25 percent of that year's BRI. The league typically releases those figures in the first ..."
Blazers rookie Jeff Pendergraph to undergo hip surgery
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September 8
Oregonian
 
"Trail Blazers rookie Jeff Pendergraph will undergo left hip surgery on Wednesday and is expected to miss a considerable portion of the season, although a timetable will be determined after the procedure. The second-round pick from Arizona State has an impingement in his left hip, a mechanical disorder that in Pendergraph's case, is congenital. Wednesday's surgery will be in Vail, Colo. Pendergraph has not signed a contract with the Blazers, but general manager Kevin Pritchard on Saturday said a deal was imminent. Indications are that the injury and subsequent surgery will not discourage the team from signing the power forward."
Blazers will take a look at Juwan Howard and Stromile Swift
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September 6
Oregonian
 
"Veterans Juwan Howard and Stromile Swift will audition for the Trail Blazers next week as the team looks to sign a backup power forward before training camp opens at the end of the month. Howard, a 15-year veteran, played in 42 games last season (three with Denver, 39 with Charlotte) and averaged 4.1 points and 1.8 rebounds. Swift, an 8-year veteran, played in 19 games last season (six with New Jersey, 13 with Phoenix). Both will scrimmage with current Blazers players over the next three weeks, and general manager Kevin Pritchard said he expects the team will sign one, or two, players before training camp starts on Sept. 28. The NBA allows teams to carry as many as 15 players; the Blazers ..."
LaMarcus Aldridge deal expected 'very soon'
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August 8
Portland Tribune
 
"Trail Blazers General Manager Kevin Pritchard said Friday that negotiations continue on a contract extension for Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge. "We have been working on it," Pritchard said. "We're hopeful it gets done. Our intent is to have LaMarcus under a long-term contract very soon." Guard Brandon Roy, who has a new five-year deal, said locking up Aldridge "is extremely important. We have built a relationship on and off the court that has been important to our early success. Now it's time to get LaMarcus signed. He is a huge part of what we're trying to do. He is a future All-Star for years to come." • Roy said he liked Portland's signing of free-agent point guard Andre Miller. ..."
Miller finalizing deal with Portland
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July 24
Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"Andre Miller's agent, Andy Miller, has confirmed that within 24 hours Andre Miller will be a Portland Trailblazer. Andy Miller said the two parties are "finalizing" the deal today and it should become official within 24 hours. His client, who has been the 76ers starting point guard for the last 2-1/2 seasons, will receive a deal that one source said was "an improvement" over the deal the Sixers were offering, which was reportedly in the 1-year/$6 million range. Yesterday, Sixers General Manager Ed Stefanski removed the team's offer to Miller, essentially ending any chance of Miller returning to the Sixers. Last season, Miller started all 88 games (82 regular season, 6 playoff) at point ..."
76ers still at impasse with Andre Miller
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July 22
Oregonian
 
"Another conversation between 76ers president and general manager Ed Stefanski and the agent for free agent guard Andre Miller ended yesterday with no change to the status quo. "We are still in the sign-and-trade mode," Stefanski said about his talk with Andy Miller, with whom he has spoken frequently since NBA free agency began. Meanwhile, with 10 players under contract, the Sixers are looking to add four to their roster in time for the 2009-10 season. If Andre Miller opts to sign with another organization - the New York Daily News reported that Miller met yesterday with the Knicks and last week with the Portland Trail Blazers officials - it would preclude the Sixers from perhaps getting a ..."
Stymied Blazers taking a run at Sixers point guard Miller
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July 22
NBA.com
 
"Twice spurned in their attempts to sign a high-profile free agent this summer, the Portland Trail Blazers are jumping back into the fray, opening discussions with the agent for Philadelphia 76ers free-agent point guard Andre Miller, according to sources. A deal is not imminent, but there has been progress made toward resolving Miller's status, according to a source with knowledge of the discussions. The Blazers have been looking to upgrade at point guard but didn't get very far in talks with Dallas guard Jason Kidd (who re-signed with the Mavericks) or Phoenix's Steve Nash (who agreed to a two-year, $22 million extension with the Suns on Monday). Portland was not looking hard at Miller ..."
Blazers 'opening discussions' with Sixers' Andre Miller
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July 22
Oregonian
 
"The Philadelphia Inquirer (by way of the NY Daily News) wrote this morning 76ers free agent point guard Andre Miller met with Blazers officials last week. And Tuesday afternoon, David Aldridge of NBA.com says Portland is "opening discussions" with Miller: The Blazers have been looking to upgrade at point guard but didn't get very far in talks with Dallas guard Jason Kidd (who re-signed with the Mavericks) or Phoenix's Steve Nash (who agreed to a two-year, $22 million extension with the Suns on Monday). Portland was not looking hard at Miller because the Blazers thought they needed to add someone to the roster with more perimeter shooting skills than the 33-year-old. But with $7.7 million ..."
Trade likeliest scenario left for Blazers
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July 18
Portland Tribune
 
"The Jazz weren't going to allow an over-the-top offer by a Northwest Division rival steal away the 24-year-old power forward. It was strike two for the Blazers, who were spurned by free agent Hedo Turkoglu (Toronto) earlier this month. What next? Most of the top-tier free agents - Millsap, Mike Bibby, Jason Kidd, Ron Artest, Trevor Ariza, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Grant Hill and Rasheed Wallace - have been snapped up. Portland General Manager Kevin Pritchard indicated earlier this week that, if the Jazz were to match on Millsap, he would continue discussions on free-agent signings and trades. A trade would seem the likeliest scenario."
Portland's Blazing a trail for Knicks forward David Lee
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July 18
New York Daily News
 
"could be back on Portland's radar now that Utah Jazz has decided to match the offer sheet the Trail Blazers gave to free agent Paul Millsap. Utah's move means that Portland has now lost its two main targets this summer. Two weeks ago, the Blazers had a handshake agreement with Hedo Turkoglu but hours later Turkoglu reneged on the deal to join the Toronto Raptors instead. Millsap signed a front-loaded, four-year, $32 million offer from Portland. Lee, a restricted free agent, is looking for a deal that will pay him between $10 million and $12 million annually. Lee's price tag has scared off potential suitors and he is, at best, third on Portland's list, after Lakers forward Lamar Odom and ..."
Utah Jazz match Portland offer to Millsap
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July 17
The Deseret News
 
"Paul Millsap stays. That much was made known today, when — one day prior to the deadline for doing so — it was decided by the Jazz that they'd definitely be matching the four-year $32 offer sheet that their restricted free agent power forward signed late last week with the Portland Trail Blazers. That would be with the one with about $10.3 million — including a $5.6 million bonus, and approximately $4.7 million of $6.3 first-season salary — due to be paid before the end of the month. When Carlos Boozer goes, however, remains to be seen. When word on Millsap leaked late this afternoon, it prompted speculation that either a trade for on-the-block power forward Boozer was about to be made — ..."
Millsap could become Jazz's loan ranger
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July 14
Salt Lake Tribune
 
"Brother, can you spare $10.3 million? While Utah Jazz CEO Greg Miller, president Randy Rigby and vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor haven't hit the streets and started panhandling in search of the quick cash they need to keep Paul Millsap, the team's decision-makers have been exploring urgent ways to raise money. The solution, apparently, could come in the form of a bank loan. The Jazz have until the end of the week to match the four-year, $32 million offer sheet that Millsap signed with the Portland Trail Blazers and keep with young power forward in Utah. The total amount of the offer did not blindside the Jazz, team officials have said. But the tricky part about ..."
Millsap's contract causing concern
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July 12
The Deseret News
 
"It's been described as hefty, substantial, explosive and even toxic. Whether the offer sheet restricted free agent Paul Millsap signed with the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night — for four years and roughly $32 million, including a whopping $10.3 million or so payable within a week — is noxious enough to keep the Jazz from matching it, however, remains to be seen. "The indication I got is that they're not going to do it," said Millsap's representative and uncle, DeAngelo Simmons. Yet even while somewhat mixed signals seemed to be coming from the franchise's front office Saturday, general manager Kevin O'Connor did have this to say regarding Jazz ownership: "I don't think the Miller ..."
Sources: Jazz shopping Boozer
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July 11
ESPN.com
 
"The Portland Trail Blazers elected Friday not to wait on trade possibilities, deciding instead to offer Utah Jazz restricted free agent Paul Millsap a four-year contract worth $32 million, according to sources with knowledge of the Blazers' plans. The Jazz, meanwhile, are expected to continue their push to trade Carlos Boozer in response, with the intent of creating sufficient distance from the luxury-tax line to enable Utah to match the Millsap offer. The Blazers front-loaded the contract to make it difficult for Utah to match their offer. They gave Millsap at $5.6 million signing bonus and agreed to pay him $4.7 million of his first-year, $6.3 million salary the day the contract becomes ..."