It's Now a Done Deal (Updated)
posted: 7/09/2008 at 2:53 PM
UPDATE-
I was going to change the copy on this blog, but just thought I'd make an addition. Ike Diogu will not be playing on the Summer League team. Nothing serious. Joel Freeland, who's under contract with his team in Spain, is not being allowed, by that team, to play either. I was at the Summer League practice tonight, and Martell Webster, on his own, and just to get a little more work, has decided to workout during this mini-camp with this team. He's in very, very good shape and has been busting his tail so far this summer.
It was exciting on draft day, and as Kevin Pritchard put it this afternoon, this was probably one of the worst-kept secrets around. We've made an effort to use the proper language when discussing the trade with Indiana, trying to respect league rules, but now it's official. The trade that sent Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts, and the 13th pick in the draft, to Indiana, for the rights to the 11th pick (Jarryd Bayless), and Ike Diogu, has been completed.
The reason for the delay in being able to announce this, if you're not aware, was because the salaries for the trade didn't match under 07-08 numbers, so they needed to wait until 08-09 salaries started, which was July 1. Then, there was a moratorium on all player signings or trades until July 9th. So, today was the first day the teams could make a trade using 08-09 numbers.
Wednesday afternoon, right in front of the fountain at the south entrance of the Rose Garden, Bayless, Diogu, and France's Nicolas Batum, were introduced as Trail Blazers, and were given their uniforms. Batum, who was drafted by Houston with the 25th pick in the draft, was traded to Portland for the rights to the 27th and 33rd picks. Those picks turned out to be Darrell Arthur and Joey Dorsey.
All three will be playing for the Trail Blazers in the Las Vegas Summer League, which begins next week. A mini-camp for the summer-league team starts tonight.
Bayless and Diogu, both Pac-10 stars, said they were excited to be on the west coast, and were looking forward to playing with fellow Pac-10 alums Brandon Roy and Channing Frye. Bayless said the initial disappointment of slipping to 11th in the draft was quickly replaced with thoughts of playing for the Trail Blazers. And, as he put it, playing the point for the Blazers.
Bayless, who says he's a natural point guard, played the shooting-guard spot much of the time last season for Arizona out of necessecity, while Nic Wise played the point. He said he's out to show the coaches he can be a pure point guard, who simply had the ability to be a scorer for his college team.
Pritchard repeated several times during the press conference that the team is very excited to have Diogu on board, and that he feels he can add some serious muscle, and scoring, to the second unit. Diogu, you may remember, led the Pac-10 in scoring his junior and senior seasons. He's picked up the reputation for being injury prone at the NBA level, but he was quick to remind us that he never missed game in college or high school, and had a couple of bad breaks to start his pro career. In his first training camp he broke his hand, and in his second season, badly rolled an ankle. Diogu said he's now in great shape, and is looking at this move to Portland as a fresh start.
Batum, who's only 19, was rated very highly on the Trail Blazers' draft board, and had an excellent pre-draft workout with the team, when he went up against Joe Alexander, considered one of the best pure athletes in the draft. Pritchard said his staff is very interested to see how Batum fares at summer league, and said he definitely has a shot to make next season's roster. It's been assumed, by many people nationally, that Batum will return to Europe for next season, but Pritchard says that's not necessarily the case.
Batum, who has a good grasp of the English language, says he'll be out to show that he's ready for the NBA, but admits that he's got a lot of work in the weight room ahead of him. Pritchard has said Batum has a Rudy Gay-type frame, and is an excellent athlete. Batum told me a few weeks ago that he was a huge fan of Scottie Pippen, and that's when he started really paying attention to Trail Blazers' games.
By the way, our radio show, Trail Blazers Courtside, will be on Thursday night at its normal time, from 6pm to 8, on Sportsradio 95.5 FM The Game. I'll be hosting the show, as usual, along with Michael Holton in the first hour, and
The Oregonian's Joe Freeman helping me in the second hour.
Also, on Thursday and Friday morning, I'll be a guest host on
The Morning Sportspage on The Game, with Kenny Vance. That airs from 6am to 9.
As promised, here are the two interviews from Courtside:
Jerryd Bayless (.mp3)Coach Monty Williams (.mp3)
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Well, I'm glad that it's finally official, but it does seem to give us a nearly full roster already - and that's before Summer League or the pre-season.
As I see it we'll begin 08-09 with: Roy, Aldridge, Oden, Outlaw, Webster, Blake, Bayless, Frye, Rodriguez, Przybilla (sp?), Fernandez, Lafrentz, Diogu. That's 13 players. Add Batum, and that leaves only one spot for Petteri Koponen to battle any other Summer league invitees over.
But hey, I'm not complaining! It's good to know that the Blazers have a good idea already of what their entire roster will look like, so Nate can start kicking around ideas for rotations asap.
Mike your blog is the best!! I was just wondering, I know that a few of the summer league games will be on comcast sports, do you know if they will be blocked on NBA TV? I have Dish because its the only thing available in my neck of the woods & this comcast deal is going to kill be again next season. I bought season ticket but I am so mad I will only see a few road games and no summer league if they block it!!
I just heard on 1080 The Fan that Ike Diogu tweaked his knee and will not be participating in summer league. Is this true?
Thanks Mike.
I heard that the trade with Indiana was in place if Augustin or Bayless were around at #11. Do you think Indiana just assumed Bayless wouldn't be there? I'm wondering if they make that trade again, knowing that Bayless did drop to them.
Thanks for the update Mike.
It doesnt sound like Diogu's start is too fresh though, if the reports of his knee tweak are accurate. And, I thought that Channing was supposed to be the 2nd team PF? Does that mean that someone will be leaving? Regardless as too who will play more, this will be an exciting team to watch. Unfortunately, Oct. is a long way off :^(
Welcomce to Portland, man this is very exciting. Let's see what these kids can do in summer league.
Very good post MB! I'm glad to hear it's official that the new guys are on-board. It looks like Batum has a real shot at making the team if he plays to his potential in summer league. KP is giving him a hell of an opportunity. Exciting stuff! We could be one of the deepest teams next season with all this new talent joining our existing core group. Unfortunately James Jones was lost to free agency - at least he'll be on the east coast now with Miami. Best of luck to him as he was a great team player.
Questions I posed in my previous post:
Is there a radio station affilate that will broadcast the talk shows in games in Eugene? I can't pick up 95.5 down here. Last year when it was on AM radio, I was able to pick it up, but where can I find it now?
Also, what's the latest with Comcast and the satellite companies? Will us dish customers be able to watch games by November?
Thanks for any insight. Go Blazers!
Mike you blog is great!! I was wondering if you know if us Dish subscribers will be able to see any of the sumer league games? I know NBA TV has all of them but will comcast block them like they did for last years games? I am a season ticket holder but I am so upset that when the team is on the road I will not be able to see them.
Wow im so excited for next season! I will be sure to make as many games as possible next season because this last season I was in the hospital most of the time and I know that its very likley this whole season will be sold out!!! That is so exciting. What a wonderful time for us Portland fans living in the metro area! I cant wait to see these three in summer leauge showing us what they can do.
Awesome stuff MB. I cannot wait for the games to begin.
I am very interested to see how the roster shakes out.
However I do so hope we do not trade Martell or Channing. I think Martell still has a big upside being he is still young and trading him will only haunt us down the road. Channing, along with his great personality, had a huge improvement at the end of last season. I noticed how him and LA both got bigger as the year progressed.
I don't want to see Outlaw go, but in reality he has the lesser value in my mind of those guys. I don't think he has much room to improve and with the pickup of Rudy it kind of makes him the odd man out.
Dispte our age we may have the deepest team in the league.
Our starting 5 as I see it.
Blake
Roy
Webster
Aldridge
Oden
I'm salivating.
On a sidenote. What happened to Seattle was a travesty and when we play the Hokies at home we should wear Green and Gold as a tribute.
James Jones just signed with Miami. I thought he did a good job spreading the defense. I kind of envisioned him receiving passes from Oden when he is double or triple teamed like Olajuwan used to do when he won the 2 championships.
We've got so many good and potentially good players who'll want some playing time. If I was commisioner David Stern, I would either extend the game from 48 to 60 minutes or lower the shot clock to 16 seconds. We need minutes for all these players that Pritchard keeps accruing.
Thanks mike, I have been listening on 95.5 The Game. Now, I guess we wait to see who is in and who is out.
I am getting an idea of how our new guys will play. They sound great. All has been said and all has been analyzed so now we wait and see.
Think of Hollins and Twardzik. Walton didn't care which guard got the outlet pass, because both could run the break, and get them into their offensive set, which would then run back through Walton after he trailed the break.Gross would get an easy back door pass from Walton and an uncontested dunk time after time. This is much like it will be now. I think this gives us more flexibility to play three guards, go little or go big as long as we have a rebounder in Oden and any combination of guards rather it be BRoy,Rudy, Steve, Jerryd, Sergio and even Webster.
Heck, Ike Diagu used to kill Portland when he was with Golden State. When healthy, he is an effective rebounder, and gets a lot of garbage points in the paint.
So, I guess we can get the job done.
I understand Nate not wanting an extension right now. After the next two years we will know how he is doing and there is time then to make the decisions.
My first attempt at analyzing type of play.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN.
HG
beamer 178 I live in Prineville, OR and I listen to 95.5 from the Intenet
http://www.955thegame.com/Multimedia/ListenLive/tabid/69/Default.aspx
hope This helps
hg
MB,
These are exciting times. I feel like a kid with a new bike that can't ride it till October. I guess I will just have to keep watching taped games from last season (my wife thinks that is crazy, but I still enjoy watching them). I can't remember if you covered this, but do you know why Bayless didn't work out for the Blazers? Anyway, thanks for the update, and thank goodness we will at least have a little b'ball to watch with the summer league.
I also agree we should not trade Frye. I would love to see LA, Oden, and Frye play at the same time. Channing mentioned this in an interview and I thought it was an interesting scenario in a zone defense along with Roy and Rudy or Roy and Bayless. Of course this is only one of many, many potential lineups. We should give the rest of the NBA match up nightmares.
Mike,
Can we get an update on Freeland's situation? It appears as though he won't be in the summer league. I hear it has something to do with his contract with Gran Canaria. Should we just write him off? I thought his contract with Gran Canaria was a two year deal, ending this year. Anyway, if you could ask around, it would be appreciated. Thanks.
beamer138,
KPNW is our affiliate in Eugene, and our switch to 95.5 FM in Portland won't change anything else on the Blazers network. They don't currently carry Courtside, but that's always an option for them. If you want it down there, let them know.
All I hear about the Comcast Sportsnet / satellite negotiations is that they are continuing. Everyone is hopeful that it'll be worked out by the start of the season.
jbayless,
Yes, but it's nothing serious.
the mad nater,
The roster currently stands at 13, which means there is room if they decide to sign Batum and Koponen after summer league if they want.
blazerskj7315,
From what I understand, the same blackout rules that go during the season will apply to summer league. That's out of our hands.
hg,
The story about Nate not accepting a two-year extention is totally overblown. There was never an offer, and he never turned it down. He and KP were just shooting the breeze about stuff like this and Nate simply said "now isn't the time to ask for anything," and they laughed. I talked to both Nate and KP about it tonight and they both said the same thing. It's a non-issue with both of them. Truly, it's nothing. It was either interpreted wrong, or just simply blown up.
mrblazer,
See above for the Freeland story.
richie,
Batum told me he picked 88 because that's the year he was born.
Thanks,
MB
Mike,
thanks for the correction on Nate's contract. It was one of the topics of discussion on 95.5. also Oregonlive reported on it. I am just glad that it is not interferring with BB.
Thank you kindly for your response
hg
Hey, MB. Thanks for the updates.
Are you guys gonna post videos of the mini-camp again, like you did last year?
This team is one of the more balanced teams in the NBA. if Nate can get into a rotation that works for everybody(Minute Wise) this team will be dangerous. i don't quite think they are a playoff team this year but next year for sure.
Mike;
You are sure busy, thanks for your (updated) update.
Martell said he was going to work hard all summer especially on ball handling and defense. If he accomplished either or a little of both, he will be a force to be watched at all times. It will be him getting the easy back door passes and easy dunks. Last year he had to stay out on his spot for a outlet pass, but with our new 3 pt shooters, they can make plays for Martell to go back door.
I would hate to be any team playing Portland. Can't double team any of our bigs, can’t play up on the guards or they will burn you off the dribble, if you back off they will burn you with a three (travis)
If we learn defense and with Oden rebounding and outlet passing They can't beat us with offense alone. (Denver)
I know we have a long way to go, but, we are sure getting there. And I see it as a great Journey.
Let the games begin
hg
Hey, MB. Thanks for the updates.
Are you guys gonna post videos of the mini-camp again, like you did last year?
Mike;
I listened to you on 95.5 The Game this morning. great show.
I know there is still some gray area concerning Miles, but it is incouraging to hear that it is unlikely that he will be picked up by an other team.
I don't understand all the rules of the salary cap yet. how does trading players at trading dead line help the salary cap? You mentioned sign and trade, that should be self explanatory but I don't understand.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN
hg
MB,
You seem to have contradicted yourself. You told me that I would be able to view the games on NBA TV if I had NBA TV, but in a comment today you say that the same black out rules that apply to NBA LP applies to summer games. So I'm not going to be able to watch the games or not? I'm in Gresham, OR. This is total BS if I can't watch these games. It's bad enough that no deal has been done with the satellite companies(and we all know what continuing negotiations mean), but when games are available from other sources and we still can't watch them is pure BS to say the lease.
I've been a Blazer fan since 74 and will be until I die(beyond if possible), but nothing has alienated me towards the Blazers management as this has!!
I'm pretty stoked about how our roster is taking shape and that the Jack dilemma has been solved. We are going to be good... 50 wins good. There were at least a half a dozen games we should have won last season which would have put us at 47 wins. We're better than that this year for sure.
I'm surprised that little discussion has involved the role of Pryzabilla on this new roster. Will Nate return to his ways of underutilizing the Vanilla Gorilla?
It's a very real possibility that concerns me. To be honest, I don't like the talk of Oden already owning a starter's position. I'd like to see him earn it.
What do you guys think?
Yeah, Seattle leaving sucks. No more RED-GREEN christmas games. However, I do think that the Blazers should wear some kind of tribute uniform to the Sonics when they play OKC...maybe a green/yellow stripe instead of the black/red stripe...but oh well.
No, let's stick to our colors. Resembling anything of Seattle might cause some to think Portland could transition up North.
thedanman,
I say start Oden. Get him use to playing with the starters. I think it's great that we'll have the luxury of having Joel coming off the bench. He should get plenty of mins especially early in the season because Oden most likely will have problems with fouls.
I completely agree don't even think about wearing the Sonics colors!
Im concerned that we're expecting our rookies to impact the team right away ... We don't know how Fernandez will adjust to the NBA (look at Rodriguez), and Oden is coming off a major injury. I think it's a bit more reasonable to expect our team to grow even further this year, and make the playoffs in 2009 2010
MB,
I just wanted to make sure that you know I'm not attacking you when I rant about the Comcast deal, I know you are just the messgener and as frustrated as anyone else about this whole thing. I love reading your blog and appreciate having a place to comment on both the good and bad regarding the Blazers.
GO BLAZERS!!
Lamar...I dont think that Rudys' situation is much like Sergios'. Rudy was considered the best player in the second best league in the world. Sergio had promise, but that is about it. I dont look for Rudy to get ROY this year (since the media has already annointed the top two draft picks as the presumptive favorites), but I think he will really open eyes. (Or at least I hope so!)
Ah! The excitement of the unknown.
Love all your good work Mike and hate to put extra stress on you but for those of us isolated from the possibility of seeing the summer games (netarts is exiled to the hinterlands as far as the Blazers are concerned)Please keep us informed as to the play and objective evaluations of the rookies.
MB,
Can you clarify the summer league black our rules? Are the replays also going to be blacked out?
Thanks!
I am a transplant from Oregon to Iowa...I listen to the Blazers on Satellite radio...why can't the games start sooner..I am tired of the smell of hogs and hot humid days.
MB,
Can you put up the mp3 of Courtside?
Thanks!
NBA.com is web casting summer leauge games live on the internet. You might have to sign up for a free account to be able to watch the games. Here's a link you can cut and paste for today's games. http://www.nba.com/summerleague2008/scoreboard.jsp?date=07/11/2008
MB - Thanks for helping us fill in the "down-time" between stories about the progress of the guys! I need to second mgb's request above and ask you to please post a link to this weeks edition of Courtside. I made the decision to spend Thursday evening with my Granddaughters knowing that I'd be able to catch the latest and greatest from you and the gang via a podcast later. Don't make me regret my decision.
Looking forward to catching this next weeks summer league action via NBA TV here in Boise. Thanks again for keeping us die-hards up to speed on the growth of this young exciting team. I've been following the Blazers since '72 and can't remember there being this much potential from top to bottom on the roster.
Looking forward to the Courtside link!
RandyMac in Boise
Mike, no Courtside download? I was so looking forward to that.
Thx,
L.T.G
The computer system that podcasts the entire show crashed early in the program on Thursday. But, I do have the interviews with Monty Williams, and Jarryd Bayless that I'm going to post. I'll get them up here asap. I just need help to get it done, because I'm not very smart. Sorry the entire program won't be available- but I will get the interviews. The IT guy in charge of it is running from me. Don't worry, I'll find him and he'll be physically punished.
MB
MB - You 'da man!
Mike, lol, you are the best, a true pro. I appreciate you taking the time to write back on a Saturday. I believe you will intimidate the IT guy because you are not a small man. The interviews will be just fine. I just really love my weekly courtside. We really are lucky as fans to have such a great organization and crew as our own.
Thx again Mike,
L.T.G
Shhhh!!! I'm the IT guy. I'm hiding in the janitorial closet. Don't tell Mike.
Hey guys, I just got back from a trip to Vegas for the NBA Summer League. The Raptors/Kings game was garbage. Spencer Hawes sat at the 3 point line and just threw up bricks all game...he finished with a decent stat line but he really should have dominated more. The Clippers/Bobcats game was awesome and attracted a large crowd, mainly Clipper fans. Eric Gordon looked good to start but disappeared at times. His defense was really impressive (3 blocks). DJ Augustine was unreal. Noone could stop talking about him as we left the facility. His court vision and ability to run the team will surely make him a snuperstar in this league. He could have scored 30 pts if he wanted to. Some NBA players/coaches we saw during that two game stretch: Josh Powe, Sean May, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Raymond Felton, Anthony Parker, Tracy Murray, John Thompson, Steve "Snapper" Jones, and former Blazer JOE WOLF!!!! Oh yeah, my buddy was on an early afternoon flight with Kevin Pritchard on July 10th from Portland to Las Vegas. He introduced himself and said that KP was extremely friendly and a great guy.
I can't wait to watch the summer leauge games. I heard or read, the team icluding coaches and GM's were starting their evening practices with some Pilates. Now that is some progressive stuff. I love our originizatiion. I think that could realy impact the Blazers and injury prevention for the season. I am so stoked.
The screaming and cussing you are hearing is coming from Gresham, OR.
I was hoping that just maybe I'd be able to watch this game, but of course no.
You know what really sucks is there is no reason for Comcast to carry this game except to screw over people that don't have Comcast/Verison. It's being televised on the NBA channel so any of their customers would be able to watch it anyway and it's not like they are doing their own broadcast, they are just sending the same broadcast that NBA TV is.
The Blazers are sure making it hard to be a part of this team. I'm a die-hard Blazers fan, so I'll just take the abuse, but at a time when the Blazers could be adding to their fan base they are not only losing fans because of this BS, but losing potential fans.
Well guess I'll wait until 2am and see if I'm disappointed again or if I'll at least be able to see the replays.
GO BLAZERS!!
MGB
all you have to do is go to NBA.com and sign up for "All Access" (free) and you can watch all the games streaming live.
I am from Arizona and I have to tell you all that Bayless is the real deal. I have had season tickets to UofA for 30+ years and he was easily the most impressive Wildcat freshman guard I have ever seen (no offense Mr. Bibby).
He got to the line at will in his first summer league game tonight (23 attempts) which is not an aberration. He averaged 7.5 FT attempts a game last year as a freshman. He is at his best when he is taking it to the bucket, and utilizing his advanced mid-range game.
You got a steal in this draft, Bayless and Roy will be a great balance of scoring and facilitating. They are a perfect back-court pairing and will play like Isaiah and Dumars did in the old days. They will BOTH be PGs and BOTH be SGs.
cic,
great comments. Your post came in at about the exact time I posted a new blog on this game. Re-post your comment on the new blog. I was people to see that.
MB
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