By D. Chip James

In Thursday night’s loss to the Celtics, Portland hit just 2 of 15 from the land of deep and turned the ball over 24 times to Boston’s 15. Meanwhile, Blazers point guard Damon Stoudamire never entered the game. The same Damon Stoudamire that averaged 19 points, 9 assits and shot 39 percent from three as a Raptor rookie in 1995-96.

Since the trade that sent him to the Northwest, Stoudamire has never had the kind of numbers he put up in Toronto, but this year has been his least productive. After averaging 29 minutes in 2 games in October, his minutes have decreased each month. In November he got 24.4 minutes per game and averaged only 5.4 points. He got 18.8 minutes per night in December and just 13 in January. The trend has continued in February as he’s gotten 12.7 minutes in their 5 games, including 2 DNPs.

Portland has had success this year but Stoudamire has been no part of it. Coach Maurice Cheeks decided to put the team in the hands of Scottie Pippen and the Blazers have flourished, earning a 32-18 record through Friday.

When Pippen plays poorly, Cheeks leaves Stoudamire on the bench while giving Antonio Daniels and Jeff McInnis minutes off the bench. It’s apparent that Stoudamire just isn’t in Portland’s plans this year.

The trade deadline is Feb. 20 and I can’t believe I haven’t heard a lot more coming from Stoudamire demanding a trade. There are plenty of teams, especially out east, that could use a playoff tested point guard leading them into the second half of the season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers could use Stoudamire at the point, allowing Dajuan Wagner to move to his more natural position at the two. Boston, since giving up Kenny Anderson in the off-season, could use Stoudamire as they inch closer to another playoff birth. Even a team playing as well as Indiana might have interest in Stoudamire. The Pacers have been unhappy with Jamaal Tinsley’s production all year. Stoudamire can dish the ball to the scorers in Indy and hit the jump shot on the kick-outs equally as well.

Whatever happens to Damon Stoudamire, he’s just too good of a player to be averaging 19 minutes and 5 points per game. Nobody deserves that, especially after the potential he showed earlier in his career. Portland is home to Stoudamire, but it's time to move on.


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