Portland Trail Blazers Blog – Page 30 – NBA Blog

Magic trade Maurice Harkless to Blazers

The Orlando Magic have acquired a conditional future second round draft pick from Portland in exchange for forward Maurice Harkless, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

Harkless played in 45 games (four starts) last season with Orlando, averaging 3.5 ppg. and 2.4 rpg. in 15.0 minpg. He led (or tied) the team in assists once. Harkless scored in double figures three times, including a season-high 18 points on Mar. 18 @ Dallas.

Originally selected by Philadelphia in the first round (15th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft, Harkless was acquired by the Magic on Aug. 10, 2012 as part of a four-team, 12 player deal. He has appeared in 201 career NBA regular season games (104 starts), all with Orlando, averaging 6.8 ppg., 3.5 rpg. and 1.08 stlpg. in 22.9 minpg.

Trail Blazers sign guard Luis Montero

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed guard Luis Montero, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey.

Montero, 22, worked out for the Trail Blazers prior to the NBA Draft and is on the team’s 2015 NBA Summer League roster.

Playing for Westchester Community College in 2013-14, Montero averaged 15.6 points (52.9% FG, 43.7% 3-PT, 67.2% FT), 5.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

A native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Montero (6-7, 185) played high school basketball at Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Massachusetts.

Trail Blazers sign Damian Lillard to contract extension

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed guard Damian Lillard to a contract extension, bringing the two-time NBA All-Star under contract through the 2020-21 season, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey.

According to ESPN.com, “the deal is the maximum five-year extension worth $120 million. The extension kicks in with the 2016-17 season.”

Lillard, 24, has career averages of 20.2 points (42.9% FG, 36.8% 3-PT, 86.1% FT), 3.8 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 0.95 steals and 36.7 minutes in three seasons with the Trail Blazers.

“I’m grateful to the Trail Blazers organization for believing in me with this contract extension,” said Lillard. “The city of Portland has made me feel welcome since the day I arrived. My family and I have made Portland our home.

“I feel fortunate to be a part of a great organization and community. I’m proud of what we’ve created together as a team and I’m excited to keep building.”

Selected by Portland with the sixth overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft out of Weber State, Lillard holds the NBA record for most 3-pointers in a player’s first three seasons (599), while becoming the first NBA player since 2003-04 to record 4,000 points and 1,200 assists in his first 200 games.

“From the day he arrived in Portland, Damian has embodied all of the characteristics we value and expect as a player and a person,” said Olshey. “The level of commitment we are making to one another provides the foundation our organization will be built on. We could not find a finer example of the organizational culture we are working to create than Damian.”

Lillard set new career highs in points (21.0 ppg), rebounds (3.8 rpg), assists (6.1 apg), steals (1.18 spg) and field goal percentage (43.4%) during the 2014-15 season.

The first NBA player in 14 years to start in all 82 games for the same team in each of his first three seasons, Lillard represented Portland as an NBA All-Star in 2014 and 2015, earning All-NBA Third Team honors in 2013-14.

Lillard is one of four players in league history to be the unanimous NBA Rookie of the Year after winning the award in 2013.

Trail Blazers sign guard Pat Connaughton

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed guard Pat Connaughton, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey.

“Pat’s character, competitive nature and ability to make shots will be a welcomed addition to our team,” said Olshey. “He is an excellent fit for our basketball system and our culture.”

Acquired in a draft day trade with Brooklyn, Connaughton (6-5, 215) was selected with the 41st overall pick in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft.

Connaughton, 22, averaged 10.5 points (45.0% FG, 38.6% 3-PT, 77.7% FT), 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in four seasons at Notre Dame.

An All-ACC Third Team selection in 2015, Connaughton posted averages of 12.5 points (42.3% 3-PT) and 7.4 rebounds his senior year for the Irish, who made an NCAA Tournament run to the Elite Eight.

Connaughton will make his Trail Blazers debut at the 2015 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Portland tips off its schedule on Saturday, July 11 vs. Boston at 5 p.m. (Pacific).

He will wear No. 5 for the Trail Blazers.

Trail Blazers sign Al-Farouq Aminu

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed free agent forward Al-Farouq Aminu, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey.

Aminu, 24, holds averages of 6.4 points (43.7% FG, 28.6% 3-PT, 72.6% FT), 5.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.96 steals in five seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans and Dallas.

“Farouq’s energy, athleticism and developing skillset will have a significant impact on our roster,” said Olshey. “His versatility on the defensive end is unique and will translate immediately. His ceiling as a player is very high and his best days as a player are still ahead of him.”

Playing for Dallas last season, Aminu posted averages of 11.2 points (54.8% FG, 63.6% 3-PT, 78.9% FT), 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 2.00 steals and 1.60 blocked shots in five games (two starts) vs. Houston in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

Originally selected by the Clippers with the eighth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft out of Wake Forest, the Atlanta native competed for Nigeria at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Aminu (6-9, 215) will wear No. 8 for the Trail Blazers.

Trail Blazers sign forward Ed Davis

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed free agent forward Ed Davis, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey.

Davis, 26, has career NBA averages of 7.2 points (55.6% FG, 56.6% FT), 6.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.01 blocked shots in five seasons with Toronto, Memphis and the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Ed’s ability to impact the game from both the center and power forward positions will provide us with the opportunity to utilize his length, athleticism and rim protection from multiple areas of the floor, said Olshey.”

Shooting a career-best 60.1% (282-for-469) from the field last season with the Lakers, Davis also set new career highs of 8.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.24 blocked shots in 79 games (24 starts).

Davis was originally selected by Toronto with the 13th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft out of North Carolina.

Davis (6-10, 240) will wear No. 17 for the Trail Blazers.

Keith Bogans, not the usual summer league player

Here’s the Oregonian reporting on a solid veteran that you haven’t thought much about lately:

Bogans was a surprise addition to the Blazers’ summer league roster, which typically features first-and second-year NBA players with guaranteed contracts or 20-something free agents looking to fight for a training camp invitation. But for Bogans, summer league is an opportunity to fight for one last chance to end his career the right way.

He hasn’t played in a game since Jan. 7, 2014, when he scored nine points in 13 minutes for the Boston Celtics during a blowout loss to the Denver Nuggets. A week later, he was excused from the Celtics for “personal reasons,” although multiple reports indicated Bogans was frustrated with his playing time (he played just 55 minutes over six games) and that contributed to his dismissal from the team.

He sat out the rest of the season and, after a series of trades, was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers during training camp last October. NBA rosters were more or less set by then, so he decided to take a season off and clear his head.

Yes, Wesley Matthews is still signing with Mavs

Here’s the Oregonian reporting that Wesley Matthews is still leaving the Trail Blazers to sign with the Dallas Mavericks, whether DeAndre Jordan joins the Mavs or decides to cancel his reported agreement and returns to the Clippers:

Wesley Matthews says he will sign with the Dallas Mavericks regardless if center DeAndre Jordan changes his mind and returns to the Los Angeles Clippers, sources close to the player told The Oregonian/Oregonlive.

Matthews, who last week gave a verbal agreement to Dallas to sign a four-year deal worth around $13 million the first year, is expected to sign and be introduced to the Dallas media on Thursday, the first day the NBA moratorium ends.

Blazers set to add Ed Davis

Trail Blazers set to add forward Ed Davis

At this point, there’s no reason to think that LaMarcus Aldridge will be back with the Portland Trail Blazers. They’ve added several big-men, and have now reportedly agreed to a deal with Ed Davis. Here’s the Oregonian reporting:

Unrestricted free agent Ed Davis has verbally agreed to sign a 3-year, $20 million free agent contract with the Blazers, according to Yahoo Sports. The deal will not become official until the NBA free agent moratorium ends on July 9.

Davis, 6-foot-10 and 240 pounds, averaged 8.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game and shot 60 percent from the field last season for the Los Angles Lakers. The No. 13 pick of the 2010 NBA draft, who is 26 and entering his sixth NBA season, is a skillful rebounder and effective interior scorer who adds even more athleticism to the Blazers’ evolving roster.

After striking out on Greg Monroe, Davis’ signing was a must for the Blazers, who are still waiting to hear if All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge plans to return to Portland.

Blazers, Al-Farouq Aminu agree to deal

Al-Farouq Aminu is an excellent hustle player, but so far in his NBA career he’s considered backup material. Good backup material, with the potential to do bigger things thanks to his hustle and defense. But the Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly willing to pay him more than expected. Here’s the Oregonian reporting:

The Trail Blazers did not waste any time plugging their hole at small forward.

Shortly after NBA free agency opened at 9:01 p.m., the team agreed to a deal with unrestricted free agent Al-Forouq Aminu, his agent, Raymond Brothers, confirmed to The Oregonian/OregonLive.

The deal, first reported by Yahoo Sports, is valued at $30 million over four years.

Aminu, 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds, averaged 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game last season for the Dallas Mavericks and is entering his sixth NBA season.

The No. 8 overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft, Aminu features high-level defensive ability and a high-energy style, but a below-average long-range shot.