Portland Trail Blazers Thread

[CKR13]

Spanish guard Rudy Fernandez has been fined $50,000 for statements detrimental to the league.

Fernandez was also fined $25,000 recently in August for similar statements.


Also, the Portland Trailblazers have signed free agent center Steven Hill. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

[CKR13]

Terry Porter

Former Portland Trailblazers star and former NBA Head Coach Terry Porter will be a Studio Analysts, Commentator and Court Side Reporter for the Portland Trailblazers next season.

[CKR13]

Portland Trailblazers guard Brandon Roy issued an aggressive approach for the upcoming season:

I want the Ball more.

Also Roy stated confidence on him being the primary option for offense during crunch-time:

“I want to be maximized every game. That’s a position that I’m strong with, with the basketball, and I’m extremely confident with it.”

I think that Roy has something to prove this season and I think he will up his scoring more this season. Roy set a career high 22.4 ppg during the 08-09 season as he lead the Blazers to a 54 win season.

[CKR13]

I think Rudy Fernandez that was yelling "I want out" is no longer around as I am seeing a Rudy Fernandez that is focused and blending well with his teammates on and off the court.

So far, Fernandez made 18 three pointers in the past 5 pre-season games within the season. Plus Fernandez' body language is enthusiastic. Which are all encouraging signs.

[CKR13]

Portland Trailblazers General Manager Rich Cho has released a press statement that they are inquiring about the availabilty of veteran Argentinian center Fabricio Oberto.

[mvblair]

I think Rudy Fernandez that was yelling "I want out" is no longer around as I am seeing a Rudy Fernandez that is focused and blending well with his teammates on and off the court.

So far, Fernandez made 18 three pointers in the past 5 pre-season games within the season. Plus Fernandez' body language is enthusiastic. Which are all encouraging signs.

Yes.

Despite Blazers' preseason losses, Rudy Fernandez's game is all smiles - October 18, 2010, by Joe Freeman, The Oregonian

...When Rudy Fernandez steps on the court, he sure doesn't look unhappy. And with every passing October day, every swished three-pointer and every highlight-reel play, Fernandez's coaches and teammates say they have discovered one more truth:

They can depend on the disgruntled guard, homesick or not.

"I can count on Rudy," All-Star Brandon Roy said before the Blazers' 100-78 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Monday. "I can trust Rudy to play hard and do well for this team. We all have moments where we want to get home. I'm a 2 1/2-hour drive away from home (in Seattle) and I get homesick. But I think Rudy will be good despite everything that's happened."

...team insiders say that behind the scenes Fernandez seems happier than when he first arrived in Portland for training camp, in part because teammates have reached out to make him feel more at home in Portland.

Fernandez has been more engaged, more approachable and more interactive during practices, meetings and team outings. When the Blazers boarded team owner Paul Allen's private yacht Sunday night for a tour, dinner and helicopter ride -- the vessel features its own helicopter -- Fernandez was all smiles.

Teammate Patty Mills, who has grown close to Fernandez over the last two seasons, released a picture on Twitter displaying a smiling Fernandez alongside himself and Nicolas Batum, holding flags of their native countries in front of the steering wheel of the yacht. Teammates say these smiles have been more visible lately as Fernandez has slowly accepted the fact that he will remain in Portland this season.

"I've talked to him just about how important he is to this team and where we want to go," Roy said. "I just told him to try to look at it as we're all in this together. It's not just about you and it's not just about me. We all made a commitment to this team and we just need him to honor that. He's to the point now that he knows he's here and he's going to do his best to help us."

Happy or not, Fernandez's game has flourished through the turmoil. He has converted an NBA-high 20 three-pointers this preseason, making at least two in each of the Blazers' six games. Fernandez -- along with LaMarcus Aldridge -- has been one of the Blazers' most consistent players throughout the exhibition season, which continued Monday night.

In 12 first-half minutes, Fernandez scored eight points and swished two three-pointers. He entered the game leading the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (14 to 2), while ranking second in steal-to-turnover ratio (10 to 2).

"The team is helping me," Fernandez said. "I'm good with the dynamic with the team. I'm focused on my work and focused on helping my team. When I'm on the court, I try to help my team with my shot, with my defense. This is my role and my focus."

...But, with that said, McMillan says he has seen a motivated Fernandez throughout the preseason and a more content Fernandez more recently.

"I've heard that (he's unhappy) and then when I see him on the floor, he's playing hard and he's playing well," McMillan said. "So what do you get out of that? Quit paying attention to it until if affects his play on the court, I guess. So that's what I'm doing. He's come in and there's been some days when he's been good and loose and talkative and engaging. And then there have been some days where he's distanced himself and sat by himself. But that was more at the start of the season than now."

And that, at the very least, is a step in the right direction....

Fernandez is a high-flying, very exciting player. He deserves lots of playing time and it seems like he's getting it. When it came out that he was mad, I didn't really understand that, because he was always an important part of the team, always getting the ball a lot and playing very well. There is nothing for him to be unhappy about!

[CKR13]

The Portland Trailblazers have announced that center Marcus Camby and guard Wesley Matthews will not play in the final pre-season game against the Denver Nuggets.

But the Trailblazers have confirmed that both the said players will be ready for the opening game for the 2010-2011 Regular Season.

[CKR13]

The Portland Trailblazers have waived the following players:

C Steven Hill
SF Raymond Sykes

The Trailblazers have 16 players on their roster and must make one cut more to comply with the League mandate of 15 players per roster. Currently, Australian guard Patrick Mills is the only player with a non-guaranteed deal.

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The Portland Trailblazers have reached an agreement with veteran Argentinian center Fabricio Oberto for a 1 year contract. Financial terms of the contract has yet been made public.

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guard Jerryd Bayless was traded to the New Orleans Hornets for a future conditional draft pick.

I guess the Wesley Matthews signing made Bayless a moveable piece.

[mvblair]

The Portland Trailblazers have reached an agreement with veteran Argentinian center Fabricio Oberto for a 1 year contract. Financial terms of the contract has yet been made public.

They got really lucky that he was still there. With Pryzbilla and Oden sitting out until late winter, they need a big man. Marcus Camby is their starting center right now, and I've thought for a long time that he can't play more than 20 minutes a night, but he keeps getting 30 minutes, so he's proved me wrong.

Oberto was at the end of his career when he joined San Antonio, but he's made some good money in the NBA. He'll get a good 20 minutes a night until Pryzbilla and Oden come back.

[CKR13]

The Portland Trailblazers have waived forward Jeff Pendegraph.

Pendegraph suffered a torn ACL injury that forced him out of the Blazers' lineup.

[CKR13]

Portland Trailblazers center Joel Pryzbilla is eyeing an early November return on the games of either against the Los Angeles Lakers (Nov. 7 @Staples Center, Los Angeles) or the the home game against the Detroit Pistons (Nov. 9 @Ayburn Hills Palace, Detroit).

[CKR13]

Brandon Roy scored 24 points to lead the Portland Trailblazers over the Phoenix Suns 106-92.

It was a well balanced offense to say the least as the following Blazers players were in double figures:

Batum 19 pts, 11 rebs
Camby 13 pts
Miller 10 pts
Matthews 13 pts

Aldridge had 9 pts while Fernandez added 7 pts while Cunningham and Armon Johnson had 6 pts each.

Good win.

[CKR13]

Portland Trailblazers center Greg Oden, will be a Restricted Free Agent next year during the 2011 Off-Season. This was the statement of Oden's agent (Bill Duffy) as the Portland Trailblazers have chosen not to grant Oden a contract extension.