The Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly adding another player on a training camp deal, in 11-year veteran Patrick Patterson.
ESPN’s NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski had the news.
Free agent F Patrick Patterson has agreed to a training camp deal with the Trail Blazers, sources tell ESPN. Patterson — an 11-year veteran — played the last two seasons with the Clippers.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 9, 2021
Patterson was originally drafted 14th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. In his eleven seasons, he has had stints with Houston (2010-2013), Sacramento Kings (2013), Toronto Raptors (2013-2017), Oklahoma City Thunder (2017-2019) and Los Angeles Clippers (2019-2021), as well as the NBA G League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
Patterson spent four seasons at Kentucky before declaring for the draft (2007-2010)where he was a two-time first-team All-SEC (2009-2010), SEC Rookie of the Year (2008), SEC All-Defensive Team (2010).
During his NBA career, he has career points of 6.7 and 3.9 rebounds per game in 719 games played. This past season Patterson averaged 5.2 points, 2.0 rebounds in 38 games played for the Clippers.
Patterson joins Dennis Smith Jr. and Marquese Chriss as players invited to Portland’s training camp hoping to earn a final spot on the 2021-2022 roster. Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto is reporting, the Blazers had interest in James Ennis III, Isaiah Hartenstein and Michael Beasley, who played for the Blazers Summer League team.
As of now, the roster stands at 16 players, which also includes Trenton Watford, a small forward out of Louisiana State on a Two-Way contract. The maximum number of players an NBA roster can carry is 15 players. Portland as we know could still make another trade, or sign each of the three mentioned regular contracts if they desired. Thirteen players can be activated for a game. The Blazers could also convert one of the eligible training camp players into another Two-Way contract, as teams are allowed two of those types of contracts.