Aldridge On Courtside
posted: 7/13/2007 at 11:56 AM
Before I get to the Courtside radio program last night, there are a couple of pieces of news to pass along.
It appears Ime Udoka has received a very strong offer from the San Antonio Spurs, and could be headed there very soon. Reportedly, the Spurs have offered him a 3-year contract. The Blazers have stated they would love to keep him, but this could be a little too big a deal to try and match. I update you when that becomes official.
If this does happen, I'll be sorry to see Ime go, but will be happy for him. His story should serve as an inspiration to players on the outside looking in. One year ago, Udoka had no idea where he would be playing, and stood a very good chance to not being on an NBA team at all. He was a last-minute invite to Blazers training camp, and was only invited after Aaron Miles failed his physical. Udoka went on to make the most of the situation, and turned into a starter for the Blazers. Now, it appears, he's about to be rewarded with a very, very nice contract. What a dream come true for him, and what an example to other players searching for a break in this business.
The other news concerns Steve Blake, the former Blazer. Word out of Denver is that the Nuggets are about to sign point guard Chucky Atkins, which would mean they are out of the running for Blake. Nuggets coach George Karl had been publically campaigning for Blake in recent days, but it appears management is going in another direction. That leaves the door open for Blake to get serious with the Blazers about a return.
Steve and his family have made Portland their permanent home, and recently bought a new home in West Linn. He has stated that Portland is where he wants to be, and this is now closer to becoming a reality than at any other point this summer. There were a couple other teams chasing him, as late as last night. I talked to Steve last night before our radio show and he assured me that Portland is first on his list. Hopefully we'll have some good news very, very soon.
Last night, for the third-straight summer, we hosted our summer league version of Trail Blazers Courtside, at the ESPNZone on the Las Vegas strip. There were many Blazer fans in the house, and they got to mingle and take pictures with our guests. LaMarcus Aldridge, Josh McRoberts, and assistant general manager Tom Penn were on site. We also had the first interview with James Jones, the newest Blazer. Jones is on the east coast right now, so we did that interview on the phone.
If you missed the show, here are some links to the interviews so you can hear them. Aldridge was fantastic, and continues to get more comfortable with this kind of stuff. McRoberts talked about his opportunity in Portland, and also spoke about growing up with Greg Oden, and how happy they both are that they are once again teammates. Penn gave us the ins and outs of the trade that sent Zach Randolph to New York, and tried to explain some of the NBA rules to us.
Some of you have asked me when it will be possible to download the entire Courtside shows to your podcast, and we are working on that. In the meantime, enjoy the interviews.
The Blazers will practice today in Vegas, and then tomorrow night will resume play with a game against the Phoenix Suns. Sunday night, the Blazers take on the Supersonics, and Kevin Durant plans to play in that game.
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How many PG does one team need?
This is getting ridiculous...
Steve Blake
Jarrett Jack
Sergio Rodriguez
Taurean Green
Petteri Koponen
How about going for another?
Koponen will stay overseas this year and i don't expect Taurean to get much PT.
Jack/Blake/Sergio will vey for the starting spot.
Koponen will stay overseas this year and I don't expect Taureen to get much PT.
Blake,Jack and Sergio will vey for the starting spot.
Signing blake was a best case scenario for the blazers at pg this summer, they couldn't have done better, I can't believe this management squad,,, i'm confused and dismayed now because i keep expecting the management to blow it and mess things up but they keep making unbelievably sound descisions. We do have too many pg's though now and bigs so it makes u wonder what is coming to finish cleaning and balancing the roster.
MB, I can't wait for the podcasting of Courtside Live! Thanks for looking in to that for us Blazer fans! I'm really excited to see Blake returning to the Blazers and at the same time sad to see Ime go. This team needs some roll players and I thought that Ime was just that, not to mention a really hard worker! The fans wish you well Ime with what ever pans-out of this situation. I'm thinking Pritchard has a package deal coming up in the next few weeks, it should be interesting! Thanks for the updates MB, keep them coming!!
Sergio is going to continue to get minutes with the second unit, Taurean is going to get spot minutes like Dickau did last year (more productively, hopefully), and Jarrett is unfortunately likely on the way out.
It's unclear what domino needs to fall for the Jack (plus someone?) trade to happen, or what position they're trying to fill (SF still?), but they traded Blake in part to make room for Jack, it seems strange for them to recreate that bottleneck.
Please! Please! sign Blake, he is the one we need now, and will be the difference maker next season. JJ and sergio will follow in rotation. Blake can run this team and be the leader we need now!
rumor has it Jack is gone. doesn't fit in with Pritchard's mold, and looks likely now that its reported Green has a guaranteed contract.
Man, I hope they don't trade JJ. Blake will cost some bucks. I do agree there is something going down still. Latest I heard is Joel for Turkolu from Orlando. Well, it makes sense. We need a shooting 3 and Turkolu can do it. I like Joel, but come on, the guy has zero offense and has been injury-prone the past two years, so hopefully the Zilla fans can swallow it. We would be better off.
I do concur, way too many PG's and not enough 3's.
Wow we got plenty of PGs
Steve Blake
Jarrett Jack
Sergio Rodriguez
Taurean Green
Petteri Koponen
for sure koponen will go over seas, green still needs to develop some and I believe this move was great we need a point guard that can guide the young guys and thats just what Steve Blake is.
Just when you think that KP is done working his magic he goes and brings in Steve Blake. This is exactly what the Blazers needed...a true PG. Steve will be a great addition to an already great team. Hopefully JJ and Sergio will be taking notes. Steve is going to be a starter on this team without a doubt. I like JJ but I'm not sure that there is enough room on this team for him and Steve. Is there a chance that KP will do a package deal with JJ and Miles, Jamal Magloire or Raef LaFrentz. We do have a lot of players on the roster this year and someone will have to go. I'm just glad the Blazers decided not to ruin the team's chemistry by keeping "Stevie Franchise." Steve may be a good player but he is not a team player...I wonder why he keeps being shipped around??
To those of you complaining that we have acquired too many point guards, remember that the regular season doesn't start for another four months.
KP will probably make one or two more significant moves before the season starts and several more over the course of a few years. Besides, it never hurts to stockpile a diverse array of talent at any position so long as you can afford to.
Blake should be a staple for at least 2-3 years. We badly needed some more experience and skill at the point to make us competitive in the short-term while adding another long-range threat and another mentor for the rookies and sophomores. Our likelihood of making the playoffs in a tough conference, with this simple acquisition, just multiplied. Never underestimate the impact of an experienced point on an ultra-young team.
Perhaps most importantly, by adding to the win column in Oden’s rookie year, the organization will more easily sustain the swelling energy of a growing fan base during a sometimes frustrating developmental phase.
Add it all up, and it’s a no-brainer.
Mr. Blake, welcome back!
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