A day after an encouraging performance in his first NBA game since the 2010-11 season, Timberwolves shooting guard Brandon Roy said his knees “feel good” and that he was able to participate in all phases of the team’s practice Thursday, Oct. 11, at Target Center.

“I went through everything today,” Roy said after the Timberwolves’ 90-minute workout. “I’ve had a bunch of stepping stones, and this was another one. The biggest thing for me is that I felt good after the game (Wednesday) night, so I wasn’t expecting too much soreness today.”

– Reported by Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press

When the Portland Trail Blazers gave Adam Morrison – the No. 3 overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft – a chance to return to the National Basketball Association by signing him to a training camp deal, I’m not sure anyone knew this could probably be his last chance.

After being out of the league the last two years, Morrison, 28, told CSNNW.com that if he didn’t make the Trail Blazers’ regular season roster, he has plans to end his professional playing career and start a new one.

“I’m going to finish school and start coaching (If he didn’t make the Trail Blazers roster)…I did the Europe thing and it just wasn’t for me,” Morrison told CSNNW.com. “Not saying the (Europe) culture or anything like that, (or) the people, it just wasn’t for me. So, yeah, if it doesn’t work out, I’m willing to look myself in the mirror and say, ‘I gave it a honest shot’ and turn the page. Do something else.”

Coach Morrison has a nice ring to it.

– Reported by Chris Haynes of CSNNW

And although this Blazers season will be littered with a heavy dose of new — from coach to general manager to an overhauled roster that features five rookies — Stotts says he will open training camp with Hickson at center, in part, because of his history with the team.

“J.J. is the incumbent,” Stotts said. “I’m not saying he’s going to be the starting center opening night. We’ll have to see how training camp goes, see how the preseason goes, and then we’ll make that determination. Meyers (Leonard) has played very well (this summer). But it’s just like politics: J.J. has been here, he’s the returner, so going into it he has the advantage.”

Who starts at center is just one of many questions looming over the franchise as the Blazers prepare for a rebuilding season that is sure to feature plenty of bumps and bruises along the way. The Blazers’ 15-man roster averages just 25.0 years old, likely making it one of the youngest in the NBA this season.

– Reported by Joe Freeman of the Oregonian

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed Adam Morrison, Demonte Harper and Dallas Lauderdale, it was announced today by General Manager Neil Olshey.

Morrison (Forward, 6-8, 205) was selected with the third overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats out of Gonzaga, earning NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2006-07. He has career averages of 7.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 161 games over four seasons with Charlotte and the L.A. Lakers. He played in Serbia and Turkey before joining the Brooklyn Nets and L.A. Clippers summer league squads in July. Morrison averaged 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 30.0 minutes in five games with the Clippers.

Harper (Guard, 6-4, 195) was a four-year standout at Morehead State, where he finished his collegiate career in 2010-11 by earning All-Ohio Valley Conference First Team and conference tournament MVP honors his senior year. He spent last season playing in Croatia before playing for the Denver Nuggets NBA Summer League squad in July.

Lauderdale (Forward, 6-8, 260) also made a 2012 NBA Summer League roster, appearing for the Golden State Warriors. He played collegiately at Ohio State from 2007-11, finishing his four-year career with the Buckeyes averaging 4.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game. Lauderdale spent the 2011-12 season playing in Poland.

With today’s signings, the Trail Blazers training camp roster stands at 18 players.

Entering his fifth season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Love hasn’t had a sniff of the postseason. Minnesota, in fact, has finished fifth and last in the Northwest Division in each of his four seasons. That could change in 2012-13 as the Timberwolves have beefed up a roster that has their Western Conference competition on notice.

“It will be a big surprise to me if we didn’t make a huge leap this year and make it to the playoffs,” the Lake Oswego native told me Wednesday.

With Hall of Fame-to-be coach Rick Adelman and rookie phenom Ricky Rubio at point guard, the Timberwolves nearly made it there a year ago. They were 21-19, but a game later, Rubio was lost for the season with an ACL knee injury.

Thus began a progression of injuries that saw the Wolves without their top five scorers — including Love — at one point. They went into free-fall, losing 13 of their last 14 games to finish 26-40.

– Reported by Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune

The Portland Trail Blazers have named Michael Lewellen as Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Engagement, the team announced today. He joins the Trail Blazers after nearly 30 years of communications, public relations and marketing experience with a variety of category and industry leading brands.

In his role with the Trail Blazers, Lewellen will be responsible for directing the team’s communications and public engagement strategies. He will lead a team of communications executives in the areas of media relations, community relations, and team relations.

“We are thrilled to have Michael on our team,” said Trail Blazers Chief Operating Officer Sarah Mensah.  “He brings the right balance of knowledge of our team and city, along with added new energy, leadership and experience.”

“This is an exciting and transformative time in the Trail Blazers’ history, and I’m so pleased to have this opportunity,” said Lewellen, who spent five years in the Portland community earlier in his career.  “I appreciate the confidence that Sarah Mensah and the Blazers’ executives have placed in me, and look forward to being a contributing member of the organization.”

Lewellen returns to Portland from Orlando, Fla., where he most recently served as Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Heart of Florida United Way. Lewellen also held the roles of Board of Directors Chairman for the Central Florida Urban League from 2008-11 and Vice President of NBC Universal/Universal Orlando Resort from 2007-09.  He also launched his own media strategies and issues management firm while in Orlando in 2009.

From 1999-07, Lewellen held the positions of Vice President and Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications for Black Entertainment Television (BET Networks). During his tenure, BET enjoyed six years of double-digit ratings growth and launched some of its most successful programming franchises, including the annual BET Awards.

Lewellen’s diverse communications expertise also encompasses the sports business industry.  Prior to joining BET, Lewellen served as Vice President of Media Relations for Fox Sports Network/Fox Broadcasting in a bi-coastal role in New York and Los Angeles from 1998-99. Prior to that, Lewellen held the position of Public Relations Director for the Goodwill Games on behalf of Turner Sports.

His multi-discipline career path also includes Beaverton-based Nike, where he worked from 1991-96.  Lewellen served as the world’s leading athletic brand’s Urban and Minority Affairs Manager, Corporate Development Director and General Manager/Product Line Manager for Baseball and Softball Equipment.  While previously in Portland, Lewellen was an active member of the local community, having served on the boards of directors of the Urban League of Portland, Oregon Public Broadcasting and the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs.

An award-winning executive, Lewellen’s career first began as a sports writer and radio broadcaster in his home state of Arkansas in the early 1980s.  Lewellen was honored with the 2009 Robert S. Abbott Memorial Award for Meritorious Service in Mass Communications at the Southern Regional Press Institute. The Arkansas State University graduate also received the Founders Award for his service and advancement of the public relations profession from the National Black Public Relations Society in 2005.

The Trail Blazers partnered with Generator Group in their executive search for the senior vice president position.

Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Terry Stotts has added Dale Osbourne to the coaching staff, it was announced today by the team.

“I’m very excited about Dale joining our staff,” said Stotts. “His diverse coaching background and experience at the college and D-League level will be very valuable in the development of our younger players both on the court and off.”

Osbourne joins the Trail Blazers from the Tulsa 66ers, where he served as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s NBA Development League affiliate. USA Basketball selected him as an assistant coach for the 2011 Pan American Games, where the team medaled for the first time since 1999.

Osbourne spent parts of three seasons as an assistant in Tulsa before being promoted to head coach in December 2011. He has also been an assistant with the D-League’s Utah Flash and Austin Toros, in addition to coaching tenures in the WNBA, CBA and USBL.

In seven years as an assistant at the University of South Alabama, Osbourne helped guide his alma mater to a pair of Sun Belt Conference titles.

Osbourne joins Kaleb Canales, Jay Triano, David Vanterpool and Kim Hughes on the Portland coaching staff.

The Trail Blazers tip-off training camp Tuesday, Oct. 2, in preparation for the NBA season opener vs. the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, Oct. 31.

Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Terry Stotts has added Jay Triano, David Vanterpool and Kim Hughes to his coaching staff, the team announced today.

“Jay, David and Kim bring a wealth of experience as coaches, players and front office personnel,” said Stotts. “I have always had a lot of respect for their basketball knowledge and they will be very valuable additions to our staff.”

Triano, 53, joins the Trail Blazers from the Toronto Raptors, where he most recently held the position of Vice President of Pro Scouting after serving as the team’s head coach from 2008-11 (87-142, .380). The first Canadian born head coach in the NBA, Triano was previously an assistant in Toronto from 2002-08.

A native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Triano served as the head coach for the Canadian men’s national team from 1998-2004 (52-42, .553) and later as an assistant for USA Basketball. A former captain of Team Canada who played collegiately at Simon Fraser University, Triano competed in three Olympics for his home country.

Vanterpool, 39, joins the Trail Blazers bench after spending the past two seasons as a pro scout with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played for European power CSKA Moscow from 2005-07, winning a Euroleague title there before becoming an assistant coach with the club upon retirement. Vanterpool was also a member of the Trail Blazers’ 2010 NBA Summer League coaching staff.

Appearing in 22 games for the Washington Wizards in 2000-01, Vanterpool played collegiately at St. Bonaventure.

An assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers for seven seasons (2003-10), Hughes, 60, finished the final 33 games of the 2009-10 season as interim head coach. He spent the previous five seasons with the Denver Nuggets, where he served as director of scouting, director of player personnel and assistant coach. The Freeport, Ill., native and Wisconsin alum was also a scout for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Hughes is a six-year veteran of the ABA and NBA, playing for the New York/New Jersey Nets, Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers before finishing his career in Italy.

Triano, Vanterpool and Hughes join Kaleb Canales as assistants on Stotts’ staff.

Joel Przybilla is coming back to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The veteran 7-1 center, who had discussions with the Bucks last season, agreed to a one-year deal with Milwaukee on Monday night, according to a league source.

Przybilla, 32, gives the Bucks some depth at center and is expected to serve as the backup to Samuel Dalembert, acquired in a trade with Houston earlier this summer.

Przybilla, a former Monticello and Gophers star, was limited to 36 games during the 2010-’11 season (31 with Portland and five with Charlotte) after recovering from two surgeries on his right patella tendon.

– Reported by Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“I think Clyde has always been jealous of Michael (Jordan), to be honest with you,” Barkley said on “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on ESPN 1000. “I think he’s always wanted to be compared to Michael.

“Hey, we all want to be compared to Michael, but we’re not. Clyde was a great player, but there was always that jealousy of Michael. That was one of the incidents and things about the Dream Team, Clyde was trying to play like it was Game 7 against Michael, and that’s probably not a good idea. When Michael is driving his kids to school, he thinks it’s Game 7.”

– Reported by ESPN Chicago

Moments after Team USA’s men’s basketball team fried the French yesterday, 98-71, in its Olympic opener yesterday before 12,000 at Olympic Park’s basketball arena, Nicolas Batum wasn’t convinced.

The Frenchman and rising NBA star said the American juggernaut can be beaten — not by only one Olympic club, but several.

“You have to play a 40-minute game [to do it],’’ said Batum, who plays for the Trail Blazers. “Rebound, take care of the ball and play good defense. Some team can do it. I think some team can beat them, really. Spain, Argentina, Brazil. A lot of teams can beat them.’’

Oh those French. USA looked invincible after the first quarter as it forced France into 18 turnovers and outrebounded it, 56-40, to get off to an Olympic start as sweet as fresh French pastry.

But a 27-point win against a good French club wasn’t good enough for Batum, who may want to watch when the Americans face Tunisia tomorrow in what will be the Olympics’ biggest mismatch.

– Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

The Trail Blazers’ coaching search has been pared to four finalists: Terry Stotts, Elston Turner, Steve Clifford and Kaleb Canales, The Oregonian has learned.

The four candidates will interview in Portland next week, after which general manager Neil Olshey is expected to make a recommendation to owner Paul Allen.

Stotts is the lead assistant for Dallas and is the only finalist besides Canales with head coaching experience. Stotts has a 114-168 record in four seasons as a head coach in Atlanta and Milwaukee. His best season was in 2005-2006 when he led the Bucks to a 40-42 record and a playoff appearance. He is credited with directing Dallas’ offense during the Mavericks’ title run in 2011.

– Reported by Jason Quick of the Oregonian

The Trail Blazers’ search for a head coach still appears to be in the early stages, as general manager Neil Olshey has yet to inform any candidates that they have reached the second round.

On Tuesday, Warren LeGarie and Steve Kauffman - two agents with the most clients in the Blazers’ process - said Olshey has yet to reveal his intentions since he interviewed their clients…

The candidates who are known to have interviewed with Olshey are Indiana assistant Brian Shaw; Golden State assistant Michael Malone; Dallas assistant Terry Stotts; Memphis assistant David Joerger; former Orlando assistant Steve Clifford, who is nearing a deal to be an assistant in Chicago; Phoenix assistant Elston Turner; Atlanta assistant Lester Conner; Miami assistant David Fizdale, Chicago assistant Adrian Griffin and former Knicks and Phoenix assistant Phil Weber.

– Reported by Jason Quick of the Oregonian

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has agreed to a sign-and-trade with guard/forward Courtney Lee, which will send him to the Boston Celtics as part of a three-team trade. The Rockets will receive from Boston a Charlotte Bobcats second-round draft pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, forward JaJuan Johnson, guard E’Twaun Moore and forward/center Sean Williams. The pick was previously acquired by Boston via Oklahoma City. Houston also acquires the rights to guard Jon Diebler from Portland. Boston completes the deal by agreeing to a sign-and-trade with guard/forward Sasha Pavlovic, which sends him to the Trail Blazers.

“We are very excited that we were able to acquire Courtney Lee,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “Courtney brings a vast set of tools on both ends of the court and will be a great fit on our roster.”

Lee, a 6’5” guard, averaged 11.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 30.3 minutes per game last season for Houston.  During his 26 starts for Houston during the 2011-12 season he upped his averages to 14.0 points and 1.50 steals. Lee shot 40.1% from three-point range last season which ranked 15th in the NBA. Lee scored a season-high 25 points twice this past season. He recorded 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting including 3-of-5 from three-point territory against Sacramento on April 8 and he also recorded 25 points against the LA Clippers on 9-of-14 from the field and 4-of-9 from three. Lee has posted career averages of 10.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals and has shot 38.6% from three in 287 career games between Orlando, New Jersey and Houston after having been picked 22nd overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by Orlando.

Johnson (6-10, 221, Purdue) averaged 3.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 8.3 minutes in 36 games as a rookie with the Celtics in 2011-12. Drafted by the New Jersey Nets with the 27th  overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Johnson was subsequently traded to Boston along with a 2014 second-round pick for the rights to MarShon Brooks. Johnson finished his collegiate career as Purdue’s co-record holder, with E’Twaun Moore, in wins (107), games played (140) and consecutive games played (140). He also ranked second in the program’s history in blocks (263), third in minutes played (3,856), fourth in free throw attempts (662) and games started (120), fifth in rebounds (854) and free throws (492), seventh in points (1,919), field goals (706) and field goal attempts (1,410), and 11th in double-doubles (26). As a senior in 2010-11, Johnson was named Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He became only the third player in conference history to win both awards in the same season. In addition, Johnson earned First-Team All-Big Ten twice (2009 and 2011) and Second-Team All-Big Ten once (2010). He was also a three-time Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection (2009, 2010 and 2011).

Moore (6-4, 191, Purdue) also averaged 2.9 points, 0.9 assists and 8.7 minutes in 38 games as a rookie with Boston. He was chosen by the Celtics with the 55th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Williams (6-10, 235, Boston College) owns career averages of 4.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 137 games (29 starts) with New Jersey, Dallas and Boston. He was originally selected by the Nets with the 17th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

Diebler (6-6, 205, Ohio State) was drafted in the second round (51st overall) by the Trail Blazers in the 2011 NBA Draft. He spent this past season with Greek team Panionios. Diebler, who set the Ohio State and Big Ten records for 3-pointers made as a senior, led the nation in 3-point shooting in 2010-11 (.502, 114-227 3FG). He was also picked Third-Team All-Big Ten in his final season at Ohio State.

Since leaving (New York), Felton hasn’t been the same. After finishing the 2011 season with Denver, he was dealt again before last season to Portland, where he slumped to a career-low 11.4 points to go along with 6.5 assists and admitted showing up to camp out of shape.

“I wasn’t at the weight I normally [am],” Felton said. “I am the first one to say, ‘I wasn’t in shape.’ I don’t make no excuses, I don’t blame anyone else.

“I am hearing from everybody, ‘He wasn’t in shape last year.’ I played in the league seven years, about to be eight, came in out of shape one year and that’s all everybody wants to talk about. … I look forward to this year and shutting up everybody’s mouth.”

– Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post

New York Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has re-acquired guard Raymond Felton, via sign-and trade, and forward/center Kurt Thomas from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for forward Jared Jeffries, via sign-and-trade, center Dan Gadzuric, the draft rights to Kostas Papanikolaou and Giorgos Printezis and a protected future second-round draft pick.

Felton, 6-1, 205-pounds, averaged 11.4 points, 6.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.30 steals over 31.8 minutes in 60 games (56 starts) with the Trail Blazers last season. Originally selected by the Bobcats, following his junior season at the University of North Carolina, with the fifth overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, the seven-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 13.4 points and 6.7 assists over 534 games with Charlotte, New York, Denver and Portland. During the 2010-11 season, Felton started all 54 games he appeared in for the Knicks to average 17.1 points and 9.0 assists over 38.4 minutes, before a trade sent him to the Nuggets on Feb. 22, 2011.

Thomas, 6-9, 235-pounds, averaged 3.0 points and 3.5 rebounds over 15.2 minutes in 53 games for the Trail Blazers last season. Originally selected by the Heat, out of Texas Christian University, with the 10th overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft, the 17-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 8.3 points and 6.8 rebounds over 1,071 games with Miami, Dallas, New York, Phoenix, Seattle, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Chicago and Portland.

For seven seasons from 1998-2005, Thomas donned the blue and orange and was a key contributor to the Knicks’ 1999 Eastern Conference Championship. He currently ranks 19th on the franchise’s all-time scoring list, eighth in rebounds, fourth in blocked shots and 11th in point-rebound double-doubles, and is one of only 17 players to have appeared in at least 500 games for New York.

Gadzuric, 6-11, 240-pounds, played 13 total minutes in two games for the Knicks last season after signing as a free agent on Apr. 20. The 10-year NBA veteran averaged 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds over 527 career games for Milwaukee, Golden State, New Jersey and New York.

Jeffries, 6-11, 240-pounds, averaged 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 39 games for the Knicks last season. The 10-year NBA veteran averaged 5.0 points and 4.2 rebounds over 591 career games for Washington, New York and Houston.

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed rookie forward Will Barton, it was announced today by General Manager Neil Olshey.

The Trail Blazers used the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft to select Barton, 21, the reigning Conference USA Player of the Year. In two years at Memphis, Barton averaged 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.49 steals for the Tigers. He led the conference in scoring last season with 18.0 points per game.

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Joel Freeland, it was announced today by General Manager Neil Olshey.

The Trail Blazers’ 30th overall selection in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft, Freeland joins the Trail Blazers from Unicaja Malaga in the Spanish ACB League.

“The timing was right to bring Joel over and we’re thrilled it worked out,” said Olshey. “He is a rugged interior player with a nice touch around the basket and he plays hard every game. Joel will be a nice addition to the roster.”

Over the past three seasons with Unicaja Malaga, Freeland (6-11, 225) posted averages of 12.6 points (55.3% FG), 6.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 24.6 minutes in Euroleague and ACB play. He spent the previous three seasons with Gran Canaria, also of the Spanish ACB League.

Freeland, 25, is a starter for the Great Britain national basketball team, which will compete as the host country in this summer’s London Olympics. A native of Farnham, England, he led the national team with 15 points in a game vs. Spain earlier this week.

He will wear No. 19 with the Trail Blazers.

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward J.J. Hickson, it was announced today by General Manager Neil Olshey. We’ll post contract details here later today.

The Trail Blazers signed Hickson, 23, on March 21 for the remainder of last season after he was waived by Sacramento on March 19. He appeared in each of Portland’s final 19 games in 2011-12, including 10 starts.

“J.J. played very well for Portland late last year and we’re pleased to be able to bring him back for another season,” said Olshey. “He’s a very special athlete that will offer some depth on the front line and we expect him to pick up where he left off in April.”

Last season with Portland, Hickson averaged 15.1 points (54.3% FG), 8.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.95 blocks in 31.6 minutes per game. He led the Trail Blazers in rebounding and field goal percentage, while ranking third in scoring during his time in Portland. Hickson’s six double-doubles in the month of April tied for sixth in the NBA.

In four NBA seasons with Cleveland, Sacramento and Portland, Hickson has compiled averages of 9.0 points (49.0% FG), 5.8 rebounds and 21.3 minutes in 277 games (158 starts). He was originally selected by the Cavaliers with the 19th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Victor Claver, it was announced today by General Manager Neil Olshey. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

A native of Valencia, Spain, Claver joins the Trail Blazers three years after the team selected him with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft.

“Victor is a player with a high basketball IQ who will come in as a good complement to our roster,” said Olshey. “He defends well for his size, has a nice shooting touch, and we look forward to having him on board.”

A member of the Spanish national basketball team that will compete in the 2012 London Olympics this summer, Claver (6-10, 235) joins the Trail Blazers from Valencia in the Spanish ACB League, where he averaged 8.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.22 steals and 25.8 minutes in 37 ACB and Eurocup games. In six seasons with Valencia, Claver posted averages of 7.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.99 steals and 22.2 minutes.

Claver, 23, won the 2010 Eurocup Rising Star Award, an honor given to the most outstanding young player in the competition.

He will wear No. 18 with the Trail Blazers.