Blazers Pass on Livingston
posted: 9/24/2008 at 10:21 PM
Despite one rogue report to the contrary, the Trail Blazers decided on Wednesday not to offer free agent Shaun Livingston a contract. GM Kevin Pritchard said earlier in the week that he and his staff would come to a decision by Wednesday, and during a session in front of the media, announced his decision.
The final decision appeared to be a difficult one for Pritchard and his staff, as they watched Livingston workout in Arizona, and then flew him to Portland for an examination of his knee. As you know, two seasons ago Livingston basically shredded his knee while playing in a game for the Clippers. It was about as severe an injury as you could have to a knee. To his credit he has battled back, and despite the Blazers' decision, will likely be signed and hopes to play for someone next season in the NBA.
"Shaun is a heck of a player," said Pritchard. "But at this time, we've decided to stick with what we've got."
Training camp begins Tuesday, and the first week the team will go with two practices a day. Nate McMillan's training camps are never easy, but last season he appeared to go a little easier than in previous seasons. Despite that fact, he is expecting a very spirited run through camp, and into the exhibition season.
The Trail Blazers have 14 players currently signed to guaranteed contracts, and that leaves one roster spot open. There will be four free agents in camp, all chasing that one spot. Former Oregon Duck Luke Jackson, former Sixer Shavlik Randolph, Jamal Tatum, and Steven Hill, have been invited to camp.
All of these players have been playing in the full-court pick-up games at the practice facility the last few weeks, and Hill, who played very well for Portland's summer league team, has been in Portland ever since returning from Las Vegas. Not only was he a pleasant surprise in Vegas, he's played very well since, and has had some very gritty battles with Greg Oden in August and September. The biggest fan of keeping Hill around was probably Joel Przybilla, who will be spared from daily heavyweight bouts with Oden.
Of course, the injuries to Channing Frye and Raef LaFrentz have a lot to do with why Hill is probably the leader in the clubhouse, as far as getting that final spot. Don't completely count out Randolph or Jackson, however. Randolph, who went to Duke, is a talented player who was getting time for Philly before breaking his ankle in November of 2006. It was a gruesome injury that happened in practice, and involved a dislocation and a fracture. He has worked his way back to this point, and now is hungry for another shot.
On Thursday, the pre-camp workouts will continue for the Trail Blazers. The intensity has been turned down a notch from what it's been in recent weeks, as this is always the time to store up a bit of energy for camp, but Rudy Fernandez will be on the floor getting used to his new teammates.
A reminder: Your first chance to see the Trail Blazers will be at the annual Wells Fargo Fan Fest, scheduled for Friday, October 3rd. Admission is free, and so is parking, and the doors will open at 5pm. You can get free tickets by visiting any Wells Fargo store in Oregon and SW Washington, or you can show your Wells Fargo card at the door. As you can imagine, a big crowd is expected. In past years the lower bowl has normally been fairly full for this, but this year it's possible the upper bowl will be opened as well, to accomodate fans. To see anywhere from 15 to 18,000 fans wouldn't be a surprise.
Thursday night we'll host our weekly radio show, Trail Blazers Courtside, on the Blazers Radio Network, 95.5 FM The Game in the Portland area, or you can listen live on line by clicking on the link at the top-right of this page. I'll have an updated list of scheduled guests Thursday afternoon.
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Don't believe the hype. He refused to shave the cornrows.
Mike: Thanks for the update.
I think Hill is a good choice being we need another big.
I'll see you at the Fan Fest.
There is as much excitement here in Prineville about the Pre-season as there usually are about regular season.
hg
Thx for the update again Mike...
I totally agree w/KP's decision to not sign Livingston. While a gifted, tall PG who will make it back from that horrific injury, I don't believe he fits the PG mold for this team. KP knows he already has his man in Bayless. A firey, terrific off-the-ball scorer/defender who will fit well next to the primary ballhandlers: Roy and Rudy.
Hey Mike, i'm a little puzzled as to why the coverage of the pre-camp workouts this year was so underwhelming. I can understand some of the concerns raised about evaluating players based on what they do in a pickup game. However, if you and Casey have proven anything, it is that updates can be given without harm to anyone. By the way, i like Casey, but i find it very difficult to agree with him on hoops.
Also, i know you hate to hear this same old line, but these guys make millions of dollars to play a game they love. I don't think it is too much to ask for them to thicken their skin, check their egos at the PF door, and endure a little bit of evaluation during the pickup games, even if they're coming in before it is required.
I guess i'm just a little confused. This is the year we have the most excitement rolling into the season, and the coverage of what is happening hasn't been anywhere near what is has been in the past. Perhaps the blazers are too hot of a comodity for fans to expect the same leviathon of free info and coverage available as when the franchise was desperate to keep its fans.
Though, perhaps that isn't the case at all. I'm just wondering if you can provide some reasons as to why the coverage early on hasn't earned a great grade based on how much excitement is out there. Is this a trend we can expect to continue?
Your reports going into the seasons of the last few years have been pretty much spot on. I knew what to expect to see early on in the season. I'm just disappointed the blazers have decided to dial it down several notches right when it should be most excited.
I feel as though the organization has slept through these pre-camp workouts and at the same time denied access to Quick and some others that really do have the initiative to give fans what they are after. I would much rather hear it from you, but if not, at least from someone. I think most fans that have been paying attention for the last few years or more would probably agree with that. That's not an encouraging sign for the fan.
mrblazer,
It's not because we don't want to be there, shooting everything on video and giving you tons of coverage. You know, from the recent past, that's what I'd do if it were up to me.
All I can say is, if you want to continue to get behind-the-scenes information, video, and audio, keep making your voice heard.
Thanks,
MB
Thanks MB, as usual, if you want the truth, you get it here.
I personally, am ok with not seeing everything that happens at the practice facility, before the season starts.
If I can't see it, neither can scouts from other teams.
See you at Fan Fest.
I think that it's a good thing for the players to practice with a little breathing room if you will. I love reading the coverage but stuff is being worked on and ironed out. We need to be patient with this young team. They're after pt and so they need to develop without all the media and hype which gets in the way. THe coaching staff will experiment with different combos,etc. and that takes focus on the part of the players. Media at a distance is a good thing for now.
Your blog is really head and shoulders above the rest. I know that you are anxious to bring it to us. I think that in the long run the management is smart to guide their guys without the rest of us hanging on every possession and player. Thanks for doing a great job covering all things Blazers!
I'd want to see a couple highlight reels of Rudy, Oden and Bayless. If we can't get that in the pick up games maybe we can in training camp? I think they are purposely starving us so that we fill the Rosegarden in pre-season like hungry rats. That's going to happen either way though.
Mike
As far as having the media in on playing time before pre-season is up to the players. They are on their own time getting in shape their own way and only if they want to. not as we want them. When I am on vacation from my job, I don't want people around telling me or asking me what I will do when I go back to work.
What really have you got to report anyway? That Martell made all but one of his 3pters. That Oden is still dunking. LMA is Stronger. That isn't really news.
Now, I would like to know how Rudy immerged with the rest of the team. He is added in new and no one knows what to expect. Will he be timid, and if the media was there would that be a mark against him? Will he go in and start making three pointers and scaring Martell? But, having cameras on him doing practice shooting shots that doesn't mean anything isn't really news.
If anything important or exciting happens, you get it to us as soon as possible and that is OK with me.
Can’t wait for Fan Fest though.
HG
I agree with the pass on Livinston. We don't need one more rehab project.
I was just talking to my brother about how deep we are. We couldn't come up with one team that is better top to bottom. Is there one team out there whose bench can compete with ours? Foul trouble, no problems, we can have backup.
Do I have high expectations for us this year? You bet I do!
Go Blazers!
Well, the main advantage of having such a deep roster is that practices will be insane and everyone can get the best out of everyone. I wouldn't be surprised if the presumed second unit of Bayless, Rudy, Outlaw, Frye, Pryzbilla beats the presumed first unit of Blake, Roy, Webster, Aldridge, Oden. Add in Sergio and Diogu into the mix and that's a legit scrimmage. On back to back games or 4 games in 5 days type scenarios, Nate could probably even switch off starting lineups.
Blake and Webster should definitely be in the starting lineup as they are complimentary players to allow Roy, Aldridge and Oden take on the main offensive load. And if need be, either Blake or Webster can bail them out with the 3.
Second unit will be manned by mainly Rudy and Outlaw with Bayless and Frye there to bail them out with the three or drive. And Pryz will be there to back them up defensively and provide the outlet pass.
Lineups of Synergy and Balance are key to this season.
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