Portland Trail Blazers Blog – Page 47 – NBA Blog

Center Joel Przybilla likely returning to Bucks

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

Charles Barkley says Clyde Drexler was jealous of Michael Jordan

“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

Nic Batum says Team USA can be beat

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

Trail Blazers coaching search down to four finalists

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

Trail Blazers coaching search may still be in early stages

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

Rockets sign-and-trade Courtney Lee to Celtics in 3-team trade

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.

Raymond Felton admits he was out of shape

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

Blazers sign-and-trade Raymond Felton to Knicks

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.

Trail Blazers sign second round pick Will Barton

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.

Trail Blazers sign forward Joel Freeland

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.