Category: Portland Trail Blazers Blog

The Trail Blazers have signed guard Jarron Cumberland, forward Cameron McGriff and guard Brandon Williams to 10-day contracts, via the NBA’s Hardship Exception.

Cumberland, 24, arrives in Portland after averaging 20.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists and earning MVP honors at the 2021 NBA G League Winter Showcase. In 13 total games (three starts) for the Delaware Blue Coats this season, Cumberland (6-5, 205) has averaged 9.4 points (43.2% FG, 34.1% 3-PT, 85.7% FT), 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.08 steals and 21.1 minutes. A four-year player at Cincinnati (2016-20), he went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft before playing eight games for the Rio Grande Vipers and Raptors 905 of the NBA G League in 2020-21. Cumberland will wear No. 34 for the Trail Blazers.

McGriff, 24, joins the Trail Blazers from the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League. In 14 games (one start) this season, McGriff (6-7, 220) has averaged 10.2 points (45.5% FG, 36.4% 3-PT, 84.6% FT), 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 22.4 minutes. After a four-year career at Oklahoma State (2016-20), he went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft and played the 2020-21 season for Okapi Aalstar in Belgium. He will wear No. 8 for Portland.

Williams, 22, has appeared in 10 games (six starts) for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League this season, averaging 17.7 points (36.4% FG, 28.3% 3-PT, 83.3% FT), 4.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.00 steals and 31.1 minutes. The Arizona product earned Pac-12 All-Freshman Honorable Mention honors during the 2018-19 season before redshirting his sophomore campaign and going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft. Williams (6-2, 190) will wear No. 5 for the Trail Blazers.

Trail Blazers center Cody Zeller is progressing in his return to the court after recent imaging revealed a small fracture of his right patella, the team announced today.

Zeller will continue his recovery protocol and increase his on-court activity. He will be re-evaluated next week.

In 24 games this season, Zeller is averaging 5.1 points (56.6% FG, 76.6% FT), 4.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 13.3 minutes per game.

There is reportedly an interesting possible candidate for the newly vacant Portland Trail Blazers president of basketball operations job. Via the New York Post:

Knicks general manager Scott Perry already has emerged as a candidate to replace fired Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey, according a report by Yahoo Sports.

Olshey was axed Friday after an independent investigation determined he violated the team’s code of conduct. The Blazers announced last month they had hired a private law firm to investigate “concerns around the workplace environment by non-player personnel at the practice facility.”

Perry, who signed a two-year contract extension with the Knicks before this season, was a member of the Pistons’ front office when current Portland coach Chauncey Billups played for Detroit. Chicago Bulls GM Marc Eversley also is expected to be considered for the post, according to the report.

Today the Portland Trail Blazers announced Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) & Executive Vice President (EVP) Dewayne Hankins as the organization’s new President of Business Operations. He is succeeding Chris McGowan, President & CEO, who will step down from the role after nine successful years, effective November 26, 2021.

Per the Blazers, “under Hankins’ leadership with the team, the Trail Blazers achieved franchise records in ticket sales and corporate sponsorships, specifically in digital media revenue. He also played a key role in signing the first cryptocurrency company, StormX, to an NBA jersey patch deal in 2021, as well as in the negotiation of the broadcast deal with ROOT SPORTS, which brings Trail Blazers games to more fans than ever before across Oregon, Washington and Alaska.”

“Since joining the Trail Blazers in 2013, Dewayne has been crucial to our success and growth,” said Jody Allen, chair of the Trail Blazers. “Now in his ninth season with us, we’re thrilled to have him lead the organization.”

“It was a pleasure to work with Chris, and I want to thank him for the last decade of mentorship,” Hankins said. “I also want to thank Jody and Bert for their continued trust in me as I take on this new role.”

“We are grateful for Chris’s contributions since joining the Trail Blazers nearly a decade ago,” said Jody Allen, chair of the Trail Blazers. “I appreciate his dedication to the organization and to our fans, and we wish him well in his next chapter.”

“I want to thank Paul Allen, Jody Allen and Bert Kolde for giving me the opportunity to lead this great organization over the past nine years,” McGowan said. “In addition, I want to thank our amazing staff for their tireless dedication to creating extraordinary moments at Moda Center and in the community and thank our players who represent everything that is good about Portland.”

The Portland Trail Blazers have waived Marquese Chriss, Quinn Cook, and Patrick Patterson, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

All three players were signed to training camp contracts in September.

Chriss appeared in all four preseason games for the Trail Blazers, posting averages of 4.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.00 steal and 13.2 minutes.

Cook played in two preseason games for Portland, averaging 3.5 points, 1.0 rebound, 0.5 assists and 13.3 minutes.

In two preseason appearances, Patterson averaged 3.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 13.7 minutes.

Portland’s roster stands at 14 roster players and two two-way players.

The Trail Blazers begin the 2021-22 regular season at Moda Center on Wednesday, October 20 against Sacramento.

The Portland Trail Blazers announced today the addition of Neil Everett to the broadcast team starting in the 2021-22 season.

Everett will be Television Studio Host for pre, half and post-game coverage for most Trail Blazers road games.

Everett, a Portland native, has strong Pacific Northwest ties. After high school in Spokane, he attended Willamette University in Salem before transferring to the University of Oregon where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism. Everett joined ESPN in July 2000 as an anchor for ESPNEWS and is a household name on SportsCenter, where he will continue to anchor the late-night edition from Los Angeles.

“To have someone with Neil’s knowledge and experience join the Trail Blazers will take our television broadcast to the next level,” said Chris McGowan, President and CEO of the Trail Blazers and Rose Quarter. “His personal ties to the Pacific Northwest paired with his expertise will complement the great talent we have on our broadcast team.”

Prior to ESPN, Everett worked for 15 years for various affiliates in Honolulu, most recently KGMB-TV, the CBS affiliate where he was the sports director and weekday anchor. He also served as an assistant athletic director and sports information director at Hawaii Pacific University.

“It’s a delight to be able to join the great broadcast crew of my hometown team,” said Everett. “I look forward to returning to the Pacific Northwest and working hard to provide the best fans in the league in Rip City a great television broadcast.”

The Portland Trail Blazers have exercised the 2022-23 team option on the Rookie Scale contract of forward Nassir Little.

Portland selected Little with the 25th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Little, 21, appeared in 48 games (two starts) for the Trail Blazers during the 2020-21 season, posting averages of 4.6 points (46.7% FG, 35.0% 3-PT, 71.9% FT), 2.7 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 13.3 minutes. For his career, Little has averaged 4.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 96 games (seven starts).