Blake agrees to terms with Portland

[CavsRules]

<span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%">Nuggets lose Blake</span><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>

Steve Blake is heading to Portland, meaning he won't have to travel far to join his new team.The free-agent point guard said today he has agreed to a three-year deal with the Trail Blazers. Though a Florida native, Blake and his family make their offseason home in Portland.Blake averaged 8.3 points and 6.6 assists in 49 games with the Nuggets last season. He was willing to return to Denver but opted for Portland as the Nuggets were on the verge of finalizing a contract with guard Chucky Atkins."That's OK, if that's the direction they want to go," Blake said in a brief phone interview. "I just decided to go back to Portland."Blake, 27, made $1.33 million last season and was seeking a starting salary close to the NBA's $5.35 million midlevel exception.In addition to having a home in Portland, Blake is familiar with the local NBA franchise. He averaged 8.2 points and 4.5 assists for the Blazers in 2005-06.</div>Link/Soruce<span style="font-family:Tahoma">I don't know why they signed Blake.. Hell, why not keep Francis.</span>

 

[SirLaker]

Wasn't Blake originally a Blazer? Good signing for them, I guess.

 

[CavsRules]

<span style="font-family:Tahoma">I think? Didn't he get traded from The Bucks to Denver in that Boykins deal? I guess he was with Portland before The Bucks.</span>

 

[SirLaker]

Yeah, he was a Blazer:

What an amazing photoshop job.

 

[Pacers fan forever]

This is driving me nuts. Why do the Blazers keep getting all these players while the Pacers just stand around. UGHHH!

 

[CavsRules]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SirLaker @ Jul 13 2007, 05:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah, he was a Blazer:

What an amazing photoshop job.

</div><span style="font-family:Tahoma">True White Boy.

</span><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pacers fan forever @ Jul 13 2007, 05:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This is driving me nuts. Why do the Blazers keep getting all these players while the Pacers just stand around. UGHHH!</div><span style="font-family:Tahoma">Dunno, Pacers are taking a nap with Danny Ferry. :\</span>

 

[playaofthegame]

Wow, the Blazers are financially on steroids.As the Celtics are sleeping waiting for the season to start.....

 

[Rok]

Don't the Blazers have 3 pgs expected on the roster with Jack, Rodriquez, and Koponen?I guess Blake brings a more ready pg but there's a logjam now. Could Jack be on his way out?

 

[kadillak]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CavsRules @ Jul 13 2007, 04:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><span style="font-family:Tahoma">I don't know why they signed Blake.. Hell, why not keep Francis.</span></div>Chemistry.Blake is a great leader and a nice point guard. He did pretty well with Denver last year and I like this addition for Portland even though, as mentioned, there's a log jam at the point. Portland just gets deeper and deeper. Who are they going to target next? lolDidn't they draft Taurean Green at point as well?

 

[Opal]

Damn...

 

[blazerspwnu]

jarret jack is a goner. My prediction is we package him w/ joel pryzbilla and maybe another for a good small forward.

 

[GArenas]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SirLaker @ Jul 13 2007, 05:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wasn't Blake originally a Blazer? Good signing for them, I guess.</div>
Blake was originally a Wizard before he signed with the Blazers during the 2005 off-season.

I don't understand why Blake accepted this deal. He was playing awesome in Denver, getting along with Nuggets/George Karl, and had a starting role. I think despite Atkins being signed, Blake would probabely still have been given a contract offer and would also most likely get more minutes than Atkins. Denver also will compete much quicker than the Blazers will. Blake most likely made this decision solely on the fact that his family's summer house is there. Either way, pretty good signing for Portland. He will likely share minutes with Jarret Jack and continue to get good minutes.

 

[blazerspwnu]

john canzano of the oregonian claims were going after chris paul:http://blog.oregonlive.com/johncanzano/-----This signing automatically means Jarrett Jack is what league executives call "a mover." The Blazers obviously don't think they can win big with Jack, and I expect he'll be in another uniform by the start of camp (maybe paired with Joel Przybilla in a trade?). Also, a Western Conference GM tells me the Blazers were unwilling to give any free-agent they seriously talked with anything beyond a two-year contract.Ask yourself why?Raef LaFrentz, Steve Francis (buyout), James Jones and now, Blake, will all come 100-percent off the salary-cap books in the summer of 2009. If Portland plays it wise, they're going to be a major player in free agency that summer. So... which point guard could become a restricted free agent that summer?Chris Paul.

 

[gambitnut]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CavsRules)</div><div class='quotemain'>Nuggets lose Blake

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>

Steve Blake is heading to Portland, meaning he won't have to travel far to join his new team.

The free-agent point guard said today he has agreed to a three-year deal with the Trail Blazers. Though a Florida native, Blake and his family make their offseason home in Portland.

Blake averaged 8.3 points and 6.6 assists in 49 games with the Nuggets last season. He was willing to return to Denver but opted for Portland as the Nuggets were on the verge of finalizing a contract with guard Chucky Atkins.

"That's OK, if that's the direction they want to go," Blake said in a brief phone interview. "I just decided to go back to Portland."

Blake, 27, made $1.33 million last season and was seeking a starting salary close to the NBA's $5.35 million midlevel exception.

In addition to having a home in Portland, Blake is familiar with the local NBA franchise. He averaged 8.2 points and 4.5 assists for the Blazers in 2005-06.</div>Link/Soruce

<span style="font-family:Tahoma">I don't know why they signed Blake.. Hell, why not keep Francis.</span></div></p>

</p>

I wanted to keep Francis as well, but signing Blake softens the blow and, as kadillak said, they did it for chemsitry.</p>

</p>

</p></span>

 

[gambitnut]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok)</div><div class='quotemain'>Don't the Blazers have 3 pgs expected on the roster with Jack, Rodriquez, and Koponen?

I guess Blake brings a more ready pg but there's a logjam now. Could Jack be on his way out?</div></p>

</p>

Idon'tthinkKponenwillcomeoverthisseason,butwealsodraftedGreen,andapparentlygavehimacontractalready.</p>

 

[CelticBalla32]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gambitnut)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CavsRules)</div><div class='quotemain'>Nuggets lose Blake

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>

Steve Blake is heading to Portland, meaning he won't have to travel far to join his new team.

The free-agent point guard said today he has agreed to a three-year deal with the Trail Blazers. Though a Florida native, Blake and his family make their offseason home in Portland.

Blake averaged 8.3 points and 6.6 assists in 49 games with the Nuggets last season. He was willing to return to Denver but opted for Portland as the Nuggets were on the verge of finalizing a contract with guard Chucky Atkins.

"That's OK, if that's the direction they want to go," Blake said in a brief phone interview. "I just decided to go back to Portland."

Blake, 27, made $1.33 million last season and was seeking a starting salary close to the NBA's $5.35 million midlevel exception.

In addition to having a home in Portland, Blake is familiar with the local NBA franchise. He averaged 8.2 points and 4.5 assists for the Blazers in 2005-06.</div>Link/Soruce

<span style="font-family:Tahoma">I don't know why they signed Blake.. Hell, why not keep Francis.</span></div></p>

</p>

I wanted to keep Francis as well, but signing Blake softens the blow and, as kadillak said, they did it for chemsitry.</p>

</p>

</p></span></div></p>

Why would you want to keep Francis? He's the exact opposite of what Portland needs/needed. A me-first combo guard just doesn't work with a young team that preaches ball movement, hard work, and structured sets. Coach McMillan's head would explode trying to get Francis to work in his system. I think Blake was an excellent pick-up, and of course he is already familiar with the system and what the team is trying to accomplish.</p>

 

[gambitnut]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blazerspwnu)</div><div class='quotemain'>john canzano of the oregonian claims were going after chris paul:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/johncanzano/
-----

This signing automatically means Jarrett Jack is what league executives call "a mover." The Blazers obviously don't think they can win big with Jack, and I expect he'll be in another uniform by the start of camp (maybe paired with Joel Przybilla in a trade?). Also, a Western Conference GM tells me the Blazers were unwilling to give any free-agent they seriously talked with anything beyond a two-year contract.

Ask yourself why?

Raef LaFrentz, Steve Francis (buyout), James Jones and now, Blake, will all come 100-percent off the salary-cap books in the summer of 2009. If Portland plays it wise, they're going to be a major player in free agency that summer.

So... which point guard could become a restricted free agent that summer?

Chris Paul.</div></p>

</p>

Yep. That'sthebigtheoryatthemoment. Theystillhavesomehurdlestoclearbeforethatcanhappenthough. Firstofall,weprobablyhavetogetridofatleastonemorecontractornotre-sign Webster or somethinglikethat. Secondofall,mostofthegoodfreeagents,includingChrisPaul,arerestricted,sotheircurrentteamhastherighttomatchanyofferwemakeandourmoneyistiedupwhiletheydicidewhattheywanttodo. Itmightturnoutthatatradeorsignandtradeworksbetterforallpartiesinvolved.</p>

 

[gambitnut]

[quote name='CelticBalla32'][quote name='gambitnut'][quote name='CavsRules']Nuggets lose Blake

Steve Blake is heading to Portland, meaning he won't have to travel far to join his new team.

The free-agent point guard said today he has agreed to a three-year deal with the Trail Blazers. Though a Florida native, Blake and his family make their offseason home in Portland.

Blake averaged 8.3 points and 6.6 assists in 49 games with the Nuggets last season. He was willing to return to Denver but opted for Portland as the Nuggets were on the verge of finalizing a contract with guard Chucky Atkins.

"That's OK, if that's the direction they want to go," Blake said in a brief phone interview. "I just decided to go back to Portland."

Blake, 27, made $1.33 million last season and was seeking a starting salary close to the NBA's $5.35 million midlevel exception.

In addition to having a home in Portland, Blake is familiar with the local NBA franchise. He averaged 8.2 points and 4.5 assists for the Blazers in 2005-06.

Link/Soruce

<span style="font-family:Tahoma">I don't know why they signed Blake.. Hell, why not keep Francis.</span>[/QUOTE]</p>

</p>

I wanted to keep Francis as well, but signing Blake softens the blow and, as kadillak said, they did it for chemsitry.</p>

</p>

</p></span>[/QUOTE]

Why would you want to keep Francis? He's the exact opposite of what Portland needs/needed. A me-first combo guard just doesn't work with a young team that preaches ball movement, hard work, and structured sets. Coach McMillan's head would explode trying to get Francis to work in his system. I think Blake was an excellent pick-up, and of course he is already familiar with the system and what the team is trying to accomplish.</p>

[/QUOTE]</p>

</p>

I'moneofthosepeoplewholikestogetthebestplayerspossiblenowandworryabouthowtheyfittogetherlater.</p>