Portland Trail Blazers Blog – Page 72 – NBA Blog

Trail Blazers sign Ime Udoka

The Trail Blazers have signed forward Ime Udoka, General Manager Kevin Pritchard announced today. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We’re really excited about having Ime back,” said Pritchard. “He played a key role in our resurgence and we look forward to adding a player of his talent, character and experience to what is shaping up to be a very competitive camp roster.”

Udoka (6-5, 220), a five-year NBA veteran, has posted career averages of 6.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 20.4 minutes in 227 games (78 starts) with the L.A. Lakers, New York, Portland and San Antonio.

The 32-year-old saw action in 67 games, including three starts, with San Antonio in 2008-09. He averaged 4.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 15.4 minutes.

As a Trail Blazer in 2006-07, Udoka experienced his best season as a professional, notching career highs of 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 28.6 minutes in 75 games (all starts). His .461 field goal percentage and .406 three-point percentage also marked career bests.

A Portland native and Jefferson High School graduate, Udoka played his senior season and graduated from Portland State University in 2000.

Trail Blazers training camp tips off on Tuesday, September 29.

Maurice Lucas to resume coaching

Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Maurice Lucas, who underwent successful bladder cancer surgery in April, has resumed coaching duties and will be with the team when training camp begins on Tuesday, September 29.

Lucas, 57, has elected to adopt a schedule that will allow him to continue player development responsibilities at the Trail Blazers practice facility and at home games. At this point, he plans to travel only occasionally with the team to road games.

“I feel great,” Lucas said. “I have been listening to my doctors, getting my rest, and I’m very excited about being back. I am fortunate to have the support of an organization and a head coach that have allowed me to continue to contribute, and grateful to have had the support and encouragement of a lot of great fans during the past six months.”

A 14-year NBA/ABA veteran and five-time All-Star, Lucas was a starting forward on the Trail Blazers 1977 NBA Championship team. He joined the Trail Blazers coaching staff in 2005 at the request of Head Coach Nate McMillan, a former teammate of Lucas when both were in Seattle during the 1986-87 season.

“We are glad to have Luke back, healthy, and working with our big men again,” McMillan said. “He is a very important part of our family and we all missed having him here during the stretch run last year.”

Blazers sign Juwan Howard

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed free agent forward Juwan Howard to a one-year contract, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Juwan Howard will add a wealth of experience and veteran savvy to our young, talented roster,” said Pritchard. “We look forward to Juwan’s contributions on the court and in the locker room.”

Howard (6-9, 250, Michigan) holds career averages of 14.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 1,043 games (871 starts) over a 15-year NBA career with Washington, Dallas, Denver, Orlando, Houston and Charlotte.

Originally selected by Washington with the fifth overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft, Howard garnered All-Rookie Second Team honors in 1994-95 and earned a spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star team in 1995-96.

Howard averaged 17 points or more and seven-plus rebounds in each of his first five seasons in the league. He has tallied 188 career double-doubles.

Howard, 36, played three games last season for Denver and appeared in 39 contests for Charlotte. In 42 total games, Howard averaged 4.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 11.2 minutes in 2008-09. He reached double figures in scoring five times.

The Chicago, Ill., native has appeared in the NBA Playoffs four times, averaging 9.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 23 games.

A member of the “Fab Five” at the University of Michigan, Howard was named Third Team All-American in 1994 after averaging 20.8 points and 9.0 rebounds in his junior season. Howard then entered the NBA Draft, becoming the first NBA player to leave school early and graduate on time.

Howard becomes the 14th player on Portland’s roster. He will wear jersey No. 6.

Trail Blazers name Hersey Hawkins player development director

The Portland Trail Blazers have named Hersey Hawkins Player Development Director, General Manager Kevin Pritchard announced today.

“We’re very excited to be adding a person of Hersey Hawkins’ character and stature to our team,” said Pritchard. “He brings wisdom and a wealth of experience both on and off the court. Hawk was the consummate pro as a player and will play an integral role in the off-court development of our players.”

In his new position with the team, Hawkins, 42, will be a resource to support each player’s professional, social and personal development. He will help build strong relationships with players, their families, agents and business associates. Hawkins will also work closely with Basketball Operations, player representatives and the Trail Blazers’ business departments to help build and maintain strategic partnerships.

“To be joining one of the best franchises in sports is extremely exciting for my family and me,” said Hawkins. “They have a great nucleus of players there and Portland fans support their team like no other, and that made it a very compelling opportunity.”

As a senior at Bradley University, Hawkins led the nation in scoring (36.3 pts) and is one of only seven NCAA Division I men’s basketball players to score 3,000 career points.

He was the sixth overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft and played 13 seasons for the Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, Seattle SuperSonics and Chicago Bulls.

Hawkins partnered with Nate McMillan in the SuperSonics backcourt when Seattle took on the Chicago Bulls in the 1996 NBA Finals.

For his career, Hawkins ranks 27th in NBA history in three-point field goals made (1226) and finished in the top-10 in three-point shooting in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1995.

Among his many career accomplishments, Hawkins also won the 1999 NBA Sportsmanship Award.

Since retiring from the league in 2001, Hawkins has split his time as a TV analyst for NBA and college basketball broadcasts and as an assistant basketball coach for his son’s team, Estrella Foothills High School in Goodyear, Ariz.

Trail Blazers sign rookie Jeff Pendergraph

The Portland Trail Blazers signed rookie forward Jeff Pendergraph, General Manager Kevin Pritchard announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Also announced today, Pendergraph will undergo surgery on Wednesday, Sept. 9, to correct a left hip impingement.

“It feels great to officially be a part of the Trail Blazers organization,” said Pendergraph. “I’m here to help this team and contribute in any way that I can. While this is a challenging week with my surgery, it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve accomplished a dream and can proudly wear the Blazers logo. I will do all that I can to recover and get back on the floor.”

“We’re really excited to add Jeff to our team,” said Pritchard. “It’s a bittersweet day, but Jeff has worked his tail off this summer and we know he’s going to put every bit as much into his rehab as he has preparing for the NBA.”

Dr. Marc Philippon of Vail, Colo., will perform the surgery. A timetable for Pendergraph’s return will be determined upon completion of the procedure.

The Trail Blazers acquired the draft rights to Pendergraph from Sacramento in a draft day trade on June 25 in exchange for Sergio Rodriguez, the draft rights to Jon Brockman and cash considerations.

Pendergraph, 22, played four seasons at Arizona State, where he finished with career averages of 12.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.04 blocked shots and a 58.0 percent shooting percentage. As a senior, Pendergraph averaged 14.5 points and was named to the Pac-10’s First Team. His 66.0 percent field goal mark led the nation.

He started all five games for the Trail Blazers in the 2009 NBA Summer League, averaging 10.8 points (55.3% FG), 7.6 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.2 blocked shots.

Pendergraph becomes the 13th player on the Trail Blazers’ current roster. He will wear jersey number 31.

Trail Blazers sign rookie Dante Cunningham

The Portland Trail Blazers signed rookie forward Dante Cunningham to a multi-year contract, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“We are really excited about the versatility and determination Dante brings to our team,” said Pritchard. “Dante had a great summer league and we believe he has the potential to become a very good player in this league.”

Selected by the Trail Blazers with the 33rd overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Cunningham led Portland’s 2009 NBA Summer League entry with 18.3 points to go with a team second-best 5.8 rebounds and 1.50 steals in four games (all starts).

“I am so grateful and happy to be a Trail Blazer,” said Cunningham. “This is a dream come true and I can’t wait to get to work with my teammates. I’m looking forward to moving to Portland and helping this team in any way that I can.”

Cunningham, 22, played in a school-record 139 games during his four-year career at Villanova and is one of six players in school history to reach 1,300 points and 800 rebounds. The 6-8, 230-pound Maryland native finished his collegiate career with averages of 9.6 points (52.4% FG), 5.9 rebounds and 1.17 steals.

As a senior, Cunningham was named the Big East’s Most Improved Player and was a member of the All-Big East Second Team after leading the Wildcats with collegiate highs of 16.1 points and 7.5 boards.

The signing of Cunningham boosts the Trail Blazers’ current roster to 12 players. He will wear jersey number 33.

Trail Blazers sign Brandon Roy to extension

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed star guard Brandon Roy to a multi-year contract extension, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard. Several media outlets reported it was likely going to be a five year deal, totalling around $82-85 million. We’ll update that info later tonight.

“This is one of the most exciting and important days in Trail Blazers history,” said Pritchard. “No one has played a bigger role in the rebirth of the franchise, both on and off the court, than Brandon Roy. While he’s a great player, he’s an even better person and I’m happy and proud to report that he’s going to be a Portland Trail Blazer for many years to come.”

Roy, 25, holds career averages of 19.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.12 steals, 36.9 minutes and a 46.5% mark from the floor in three seasons with the Trail Blazers. The 2006-07 NBA Rookie of the Year and two-time NBA All-Star, Roy is one of two players this decade (LeBron James) to be named Rookie of the Year and appear in two All-Star Games in his first three NBA seasons.

“First and foremost, I want to thank our great fans and my family and friends for all of their support,” said Roy. “I also want to thank Paul Allen, Larry Miller, Kevin Pritchard, Coach McMillan, my teammates and the entire Trail Blazers organization. Each year they’ve made me feel more and more at home here in Portland and now this really does feel like home and will be for a long time to come. I’m just really excited to get to back to work and focused on helping bring another NBA Championship to Portland.”

Roy posted team highs of 22.6 points, 5.1 assists, 1.13 steals and 37.2 minutes to go with 4.7 rebounds in 78 games (all starts) last season, helping lead the Trail Blazers to a 54-28 record, a share of the Northwest Division title and the team’s first trip to the playoffs in six seasons. Among NBA leaders, Roy ranked 10th in scoring, 17th in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.63) and 23rd in assists.

Roy’s inclusion on the 2008-09 All-NBA Second Team marks the first time a Trail Blazer has earned All-NBA honors since Clyde Drexler in 1991-92.

The 6-6, 211-pound Roy started all six games for Portland in the 2009 NBA Playoffs, where he averaged a team-best 26.7 points to add to 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.33 steals and 39.7 minutes. His scoring average ranked seventh among all players in the 2009 NBA playoffs and ranked fourth all-time by a Trail Blazer in a single postseason.

Acquired by the Trail Blazers in a draft day trade on June 28, 2006, Roy was originally selected by Minnesota with the sixth overall pick out of the University of Washington in the 2006 NBA Draft.

Portland Trail Blazers sign Andre Miller

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed free agent guard Andre Miller to a multi-year contract, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard. Multiple media outlets report that it’s a three-year deal worth $21 million, and ESPN adds that it’s $14 million guaranteed and $7 million included as a third-year team option.

“We are excited to add a player of the caliber and character of Andre Miller,” said Pritchard. “He is one of the league’s ironmen who brings a wealth of veteran leadership to our team and is a great fit for our young and improving roster.”

Miller (6-2, 205, Utah) holds career averages of 14.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.38 steals in 815 games (768 starts) during his 10 NBA seasons with Cleveland, L.A. Clippers, Denver and Philadelphia.

“I’m really excited for this opportunity with the Trail Blazers and look forward to working with my new team,” said Miller. “I hope to provide veteran leadership to a young talented nucleus and help Portland take the next step in the pursuit of a championship.”

Originally selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the eighth overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, Miller is tied for the 16th highest assists average (7.4) in NBA history and is currently fourth among active players. He has also played in 530 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NBA. Miller has missed just three games in his career.

Miller, 33, has 174 career double-doubles and averaged one for Cleveland in 2001-02 (16.5 ppg, 10.9 apg) while leading the NBA in assists that season.

During the 2008-09 season, Miller averaged 16.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.33 steals and shot 47.3 percent from the floor in 82 games (all starts). He ranked 14th in the NBA in assists, 15th in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.68) and tied for 15th in steals. Miller recorded 12 double-doubles last season, including two triple-doubles.

Miller averaged 21.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.17 steals in the 2009 NBA Playoffs. He has career postseason averages of 17.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.30 steals in 27 games (all starts).

InsideHoops.com editor says: Miller adds quality veteran leadership to the Blazers, who have needed a good point guard for a while now. He can’t make three-pointers though, which hurts, because it means start shooting guard Brandon Roy can’t kick it out to him for open shots. Other than that, Miller’s very solid, though his age is up there.

Read NBA fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Jazz match Trail Blazers offer, retain Paul Millsap

Utah Jazz match Trail Blazers offer and retain Paul Millsap

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has exercised its first right of refusal and retained restricted free agent forward Paul Millsap, pending the results of a physical. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced. Utah had seven days to match an offer sheet made to Millsap by Portland.

The Deseret News reported that the deal is worth $32 million over four years.

“Keeping Paul on our roster was one of our main goals this offseason,” said Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor. “We look forward to watching him play a key role on this team for many years to come.”

A three-year NBA veteran, Millsap (6-8, 250, Louisiana Tech) appeared in 76 games (38 starts) in 2008-09 averaging 13.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 30.1 minutes per game. As a starter Millsap increased his numbers in each statistical category, averaging 16.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists including a streak of 19-straight double-doubles, the longest streak in the NBA since 2006. Millsap finished the season with 29 double-doubles overall. The native of Monroe, La., also set career-highs in points (32 at Boston 12/15) and rebounds (17 at L.A. Lakers 1/2) while finishing fourth in voting for the league’s Most Improved Player award.

“We are excited to keep Paul with the Jazz,” said Jazz President Randy Rigby. “Since he arrived in 2006 he has been an integral part of our team, establishing himself as one of the up-and-coming power forwards in the NBA.”

Originally selected by the Jazz in the second round (47th overall pick) of the 2006 NBA Draft, Millsap has appeared in 240 of a possible 246 games over his first three seasons, holding career averages of 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 22.8 minutes per game. Millsap was named to the 2006-07 All-Rookie Team (one point shy of the First Team) and finished sixth in Rookie of the Year balloting. Selected to play in both the 2007 and 2008 Rookie Challenge, Millsap is the only player in NCAA history to lead the nation in rebounding three straight years. The forward finished his career at Louisiana Tech with averages of 18.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 1.99 blocks in 92 career games in three seasons.

Phoenix Suns sign Channing Frye

The Phoenix Suns today signed unrestricted free agent Channing Frye to a one-year deal with a player option for a second season, the club has announced. We will add salary info tonight.

“We’re excited to welcome Channing home to Phoenix,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr. “We’re fortunate to add a player of his caliber to our frontcourt. Channing fits our style perfectly because of his ability to run and shoot with range, and he’s our kind of person, too – a great teammate with high character and someone who is very community-minded.”

The 6-11, 245-pound Frye is a four-year NBA veteran originally selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. Frye, who spent his first two career seasons with the Knicks (2005-07), joins his third NBA team following a two-year stint most recently with the Portland Trail Blazers (2007-09). The 26-year-old owns career averages of 8.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 278 games (94 starts).

Frye’s best statistical seasons came with consistent minutes in his first two NBA campaigns with the Knicks. Frye averaged 10.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in 25.3 minutes in 137 games in 2005-06 and 2006-07, including a career-high 12.3 points in garnering NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2005-06.

The decorated former University of Arizona standout spent four seasons in Tucson, earning First Team All-Pac 10 honors as both a junior and senior while serving as co-captain of the Wildcats. Frye finished his career with the Wildcats ninth on the school’s all-time scoring list (1,789), third in rebounds (975), second in blocks (258) and fourth in field goals made (707). Frye won the 2005 Pac-10 Sportsmanship Award.