Portland Trail Blazers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Blazers Notes: Batum, Hickson, Offseason Plans

April 28th, 2012 at 12:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today we learned that Trail Blazers guard Jamal Crawford will decline his 2012/13 option worth $5.23MM. Here's more on Portland from Jason Quick of The Oregonian..

We learned yesterday that the club is likely to match offers for Nicolas Batum. The Blazers could just sign Batum to a long-term deal but acting GM Chad Buchanan plans to keep the forward in restricted status in order to have more flexibility. Batum's qualifying offer will place a $5.4MM hold onto the Blazers' salary cap, which should be $3-5MM less than what it would take to sign him under a long-term deal.
The club is not yet sure if they'll make a qualifying offer to J.J. Hickson. The forward, picked up off of waivers from the Kings this season, has said that he would like to remain in Portland. The 23-year-old averaged 15.1 PPG and 8.3 RPG in 19 games for the Blazers this season.
Buchanan said that the club's top two priorities this summer are finding a starting point guard and finding a starting center.

Jamal Crawford To Opt Out Of Contract

April 28th, 2012 at 10:54am CST by Zachary Links

Blazers guard Jamal Crawford will opt out of his contract for 2012/13, a source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). The option would have paid Crawford $5.23MM next season.

The move allows Crawford to become an unrestricted free agent for the second year in a row. Crawford has an earlier-than-usual June 15th deadline to make the opt-out official but is expected to exercise it soon. A little over two weeks ago it was reported that the guard was expected to decline the option.

There are a number of clubs that have been linked to the 32-year-old including the Wolves, Suns, and Warriors. Crawford nearly landed in Minnesota at the trade deadline as part of a three-team deal before the Wolves backed out.

Blazers Notes: Crawford, Canales, Aldridge

April 27th, 2012 at 5:58pm CST by Daniel Seco

The Blazers finished the 2011/2012 season with a record of 28-38, marking their worst winning percentage in six seasons. The team faces a busy offseason as they look to rebuild their front office, coaching staff and roster. Here's the latest news and notes from the City of Roses.

Blazers acting general manager Chad Buchanan says the team isn't worried about Jamal Crawford's pending decision to opt out of his contract given their depth at shooting guard, tweets CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes. Buchanan points to Wesley Matthews and Elliot Williams as options to replace the former Michigan star if he elects to become a free agent. Crawford, 32, averaged 14.0 PPG and 3.2 APG in 60 games with the Blazers.
Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge says Buchanan expects the Blazers to pick up the team's option on interim head coach Kaleb Canales for next season (via Twitter). The team has not yet announced whether Canales would continue in his role as head coach or return to his duties as an assistant. The 33-year-old former video intern went 8-15 in 23 games with the Blazers and was applauded by the front office for always maintaining a positive attitude with his players.
LaMarcus Aldridge will undergo hip surgery on May 10 in Vail after last playing for the Blazers on April 9, tweets Golliver. Aldridge was enjoying a strong season before his injury as the former Texas big man was named to the All-Star team for the first time in his career. The 26-year-old forward had hoped to be healthy in time to play in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London but is not expected to make the final roster cut due to his injury.
Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor thinks former Blazers head coach Nate McMillan was unfairly fired when the team dismissed him on March 15, reports Haynes. "He had two-and-a-half bad weeks and they fire him. I mean, that to me, I don't understand it. But that's, I guess, I shouldn't be in somebody else's business."

Blazers Likely To Match Offers For Batum

April 27th, 2012 at 12:56pm CST by Luke Adams

Nicolas Batum will be a restricted free agent after the season, and his contract status has been the subject of much discussion lately, with the Spurs rumored to be eyeing the 23-year-old. However, it seems the most likely outcome is Batum returning to Portland.

"They're going to match [offers in restricted free agency]," Batum told Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com (Twitter link). "They made me understand that… I'm 99% sure they're going to match."

Retaining Batum certainly makes sense for the Trail Blazers. If Jamal Crawford declines his player option, as expected, the team will only have about $30MM in guaranteed money committed to next year's salaries. While president Larry Miller has said he doesn't intend to match a "crazy" bid for Batum, the Blazers have the means to make him a sizable offer.

You can check out our full list of players eligible for restricted free agency right here.

Southwest Notes: Rockets, Dragic, Batum, Terry

April 27th, 2012 at 8:28am CST by Luke Adams

The Southwest Division will be well represented in this year's postseason, with the defending champion Mavericks getting their series underway tomorrow night in Oklahoma City. The Spurs and Grizzlies will join the action on Sunday, hosting Game Ones against the Jazz and Clippers, respectively. While we look forward to what should be some excellent series, let's round up the latest news and rumors out of the division….

Following Thursday's regular-season finale, there was a sense in the Rockets' locker room that the team could look much different next season, says Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. According to Feigen, Houston's primary goal, to find a star player to be the team's foundation, remains unchanged.
Rockets GM Daryl Morey seems very interested in re-signing Goran Dragic, who will be an unrestricted free agent. Morey took to Twitter last night to lobby for Dragic's return, tweeting: "Rockets fans,tell Goran Dragic how much U want him 2extend his time with Hou. I will get your message 2him."
Nicolas Batum talked to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com about the possibility of signing with the Spurs this summer.
Rick Gosselin and Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News discuss Jason Terry's contract situation with the Mavericks, and whether the free-agent-to-be will be "playing for his money" during the postseason.

Northwest Notes: Jazz, Blazers, Marshall, T-Wolves

April 26th, 2012 at 12:11pm CST by Luke Adams

The Northwest Division won't be a major focus in tonight's games, with the Thunder off, the Jazz locked into the eighth seed, and the Timberwolves' and Trail Blazers' spots in the lottery set. Only tonight's Nuggets game in Minnesota will have an impact — a win would result in a first-round matchup against the Lakers, while a loss and a Mavericks win over Atlanta would see the Nuggets head to Oklahoma City.

As we prepare for the last night of the regular season, let's check in on the latest updates from the Northwest:

Jazz GM Kevin O'Connor spoke to the media Wednesday about a number of topics related to the team's season and direction going forward. Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune has the highlights in two parts.
ESPN.com's David Thorpe (Insider link) examines the Blazers' needs heading into the draft, and explains why UNC's Kendall Marshall is the best fit for Portland.
Rick Adelman, like Kevin Love, hopes the Timberwolves are aggressive in pursuing roster upgrades this summer, writes Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. After saying he'll lobby management to make moves, Love adds that he'd like to have some input in personnel decisions.

Trail Blazer Free Agents Talk About Their Future

April 25th, 2012 at 7:45pm CST by Michael Pina

With the Trail Blazers assuming the look of a franchise trying to turn the page and overhaul almost every key piece, CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes attended the team's final practice today and asked seven of the team's free agents—Nicolas Batum, Raymond Felton, Joel Przybilla, Jamal Crawford, J.J. Hickson, Hasheem Thabeet, and Jonny Flynn—if they expected to be back with the team next season. Their answers were both varied and interesting. Here's what they said.

Batum, a restricted free agent, said he would see whether or not the team is willing to match any offers he gets. If they don't he'll probably leave. Hickson called his relationship with the Trail Blazers a "win-win" situation; he'd prefer to stay. Thabeet said he'd love to stay in Portland. Flynn says anything could happen, but that he appreciates the opportunity the Trail Blazers organization gave him to see the court.

Przybilla says he'll probably have minor surgery on his left foot once the season ends, but that he'd like to come back next year and thinks he'd be more effective in a regular 82 game campaign. Felton and Crawford, two players who had disappointing first years with the team, both gave uncommitted answers as to whether or not they pictured themselves back next season. Crawford's contract has a player option for next season, but it's believed he will opt out of it.

Odds & Ends: Bobcats, Terry, Blazers, Howard

April 25th, 2012 at 4:49pm CST by Luke Adams

Let's round up a few Wednesday afternoon odds and ends from around the league….

After former Bobcats coach Larry Brown ripped Michael Jordan for surrounding himself with "yes men" who don't challenge him, the Bobcats owner fired back in an interview with Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. Jordan denied that his top executives are afraid to tell him no, and suggested that Brown may still be wounded by losing his job in Charlotte.
Jason Terry, who hasn't been shy about discussing his impending free agency this year, is focusing on the Mavericks' title defense rather than the upcoming summer, says Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com.
Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com wonders if the Trail Blazers may have the best candidate for their general manager opening right under their noses, in Chad Buchanan.
The fact that Dwight Howard won't rejoin the Magic this season is the latest indication that "Dwight and the Magic are officially separated and will soon file for divorce," writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.
Tyson Chandler was happy to hear that the Knicks named Glen Grunwald their permanent GM, according to Tim Bontemps of the New York Post.

Spurs Eyeing Nicolas Batum

April 24th, 2012 at 8:22am CST by Luke Adams

Nicolas Batum will become a restricted free agent at season's end, and it's not clear yet how the Trail Blazers will value him, since the team could have a new general manager in place in a matter of weeks. However, one team that figures to make a "hard push" for Batum is the Spurs, according to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com.

When Batum entered the league in 2008, he expected to be drafted by the Spurs and was "confused" when he was selected by the Rockets, who traded him to Portland. Batum is close friends and international teammates with Tony Parker and would love to play in Gregg Popovich's system, says Haynes.

Since Batum will be a restricted free agent, the Blazers will have the option of matching any offer sheet the 23-year-old signs. Team president Larry Miller has said the plan is to retain Batum, as long as another club doesn't make him a "crazy" offer. While we don't know how high Portland would be willing to go to keep its starting small forward, the team will have plenty of cap space this summer. Haynes hears from league executives that Batum could command as much as $10-11MM per season.

Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors examined Batum's free agent stock last night.

John Hammond Interested In Blazers

April 23rd, 2012 at 11:03pm CST by Chuck Myron

Bucks GM John Hammond is interested in taking on the same position with the Blazers, tweets Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times. We heard a few days ago that the Blazers were eyeing Hammond for the job, so the interest appears to be mutual.

Earlier today, Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge rounded up comments Woelfel made on 1250 AM in Milwaukee, saying that the Blazers' interest is "legitimate" and that they would double Hammond's salary. Hammond is due $2MM in the final season of his deal with the Bucks next year. With Milwaukee out of the playoffs, Hammond's job may be in jeopardy, as Woelfel reported last week. When Jason Quick of The Oregonian tweeted about the Blazers' pursuit, he noted the team has not gotten permission from the Bucks to speak with Hammond, but that could be a moot point soon.

Hammond took over the Bucks in 2008 and was Executive of the Year in 2009/10, the only season the team made the playoffs under his watch. Before that, he assisted Joe Dumars in Detroit. Other candidates for the Blazers job include Steve Kerr and Mitch Kupchak, and the team has indicated it may retain interim GM Chad Buchanan. Portland team president Larry Miller met with Kerr this weekend.