Archive for June, 2010

From ESPN’s Ryen Russillo, in today’s chat: Ryan (Los Angeles): What was the bigger Portland/Chicago deal that died? Ryen Russillo: Camby to Chicago for Deng and #17. It was a rumor. I think it’s dead now. Obviously, if this ever was a deal, it’s dead now. But whether it had legs or not, it’s interesting just for the fact that Camby’s name popped up. You wouldn’t think that, with Joel Przybilla’s health still in question, the Blazers would want to give up their most dependable center. Though, with picks No. 17 and 22, Portland could have then packaged those picks [...]

From Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports: Teams calling the Denver Nuggets with hopes of acquiring point guard Ty Lawson say they’ve received one resounding response: He isn’t available. So much for that.

From Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times: The Knicks have engaged in trade discussions with the Portland Trail Blazers in hopes of prying guard Rudy Fernandez, according to an N.B.A. executive. In the past, Fernandez has voiced displeasure over his role with Portland. The Knicks are on the verge of a free agency they hope will vastly restock their team and have long been interested in Fernandez. If the talks proceed, the Knicks will most likely part with Wilson Chandler or Toney Douglas. Neither of those players are particularly attractive for the moment, but then again, neither is Rudy. [...]

The Blazers, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports says, are looking for another first-round pick in the 20s to draft Memphis guard Elliot Williams: Without another pick in the late first round, Portland will have to decide whether it wants to use the 22nd selection on Williams. The Blazers would prefer to use No. 22 on a different player, but don’t believe Williams will be available when they select again at No. 34. Sources say the Blazers have been willing to give Memphis the 34th overall pick and as much as $3 million to get one of the Grizzlies’ two picks [...]

Yesterday there were plenty of rumors, which were all over our comments section, about how The Oregonian’s Jason Quick repeatedly has said on the radio that Kevin Pritchard was trying to make a job-saving trade, and how the other team reportedly pulled back from the move. Today, Dwight Jaynes confirmed that the proposed deal was indeed for New Orleans’ Chris Paul: Several sources within the league confirmed that this morning. It’s considered dead, though, as New Orleans continues to shop him around, trying to see what his value might be. Apparently the Hornets are the ones who backed away from [...]

From Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, who also had the Chris Paul inquiry rumor yesterday: Portland is showing strong interest in Cleveland Cavaliers guard Mo Williams. The Blazers have been making calls to check on him. Williams is probably available now, and if LeBron James doesn’t return to the team, Williams might not only be available, but expendable. Skills-wise he’s an excellent fit for this team, though his interior passing and use of big men off penetrations is not on the level of Andre Miller, but he’s exactly the type of hybrid ball-handler/spot-up shooter the Blazers could use at the PG [...]

From ESPN’s Chad Ford in his latest mock draft: The Blazers rejected the Wolves’ offer of the No. 4 pick for Batum a couple of week ago. That pick is presumably Derrick Favors or DeMarcus Cousins. For Batum, would you have made the deal?

If you’re looking for more draft rumors and trade talk, stop reading. You can discuss the supposed bid for Chris Paul here — and really, it would be more newsworthy if Kevin Pritchard wasn’t making an offer for CP3 — and today’s move from No. 44 in the second round to No. 34 here. Instead, what I’d like to discuss, briefly, is the role that rumors have had in molding Pritchard’s current situation, teetering over the edge of unemployment, and how the manufactured expectations of the fan may have helped nudge him along. Of course, we all love this time [...]

From Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, who is not exactly saying Chris Paul is available, just that the Blazers will do the fairly elementary task of making an offer for him before the draft: The Memphis Grizzlies offered O.J. Mayo(notes) as part of a package for Paul recently, but talks went nowhere. League sources believe the New Jersey Nets are willing to part with the No. 3 pick and every player on their roster except for center Brook Lopez(notes) to obtain Paul. Also, the Portland Trail Blazers – who’ve long targeted Paul – are expected make a bid for Paul prior [...]

News just coming down from all over twitter and the internet, too many people to give credit to at once. The Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors have agreed to swap second round picks. The Blazers traded the 44th pick and cash to Golden State for the 34th pick. For now, the Blazers have the 22nd and 34th picks in the NBA Draft. It appears as if Kevin Pritchard is looking for another steal in the 2nd round. Who could that be? Who knows. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress speculated the following on twitter: Portland moves up to #34 in [...]