Blazers Sign Omar Cook

[Trail_Blazer76]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">

<font face="Arial">While waiting until the last possible moment, the Blazers have decided on a point guard to back up Damon Stoudamire and give forwards Qyntel Woods and Darius Miles a break. Who is it? The Blazers have settled on Omar Cook, the leading playmaker in the NBA's Developmental League.</font>

<font face="Arial">So just who is Omar Cook? According the Blazers' press release, here is his history:</font>

<font face="Arial">"Cook had been playing this season with the Fayetteville Patriots of the National Basketball Development League. He appeared in 24 games, averaging 10.2 ppg and leading the NBDL in assists, 9.0 apg, and steals, 2.6 spg. On January 31st, Cook dished out a league season-high 14 assists against Roanoke and recorded 10 or more assists in a game 12 times this season. His 215 assists through 24 games put him on pace to shatter the NBDL single-season record for assists, 306. </font>

<font face="Arial">"After a stellar prep career at Christ The King H.S. in Queens, NY, Cook attended St. John's University. He averaged 15.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 8.7 apg and was named Third Team All-Big East Conference as a freshman. Cook's 252 assists set a St. John's freshman record and ranks second on the school's all-time single-season assist chart. </font>

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_7078.shtml

His NBDL stats make him ideal in my mind. Contributes the perfect number of points for a back up pg, and can dish the ball with the best of them. He comes from a good basketball program in St. John's so hopefully he will be well disciplined.

 

[notmuchgame]

O snap!!! Cook is finally getting an opportunity...I'm so excited for him...He was one of my favorite college players and one of the best passers I've ever seen. It was painful to watch him get cut 5 times before his 21st birthday. He's a pass first point guard who can defend, which is exactly the opposite of Damon Staudimire and that's what they need....if he can just shoot at least 35% FG (which is actually a big question mark) he'll be a mainstay in this league....

 

[jbbCourtVision]

Dude can't shoot but he pass and handle the ball like crazy. I was watching one of his NBDL games and he was just finding people all over the place. He had 12 assists that game. If he can bring that game to the NBA then people will stop asking those "What happened to....." questions about Omar

 

[AllBoutDaPacers]

It looks like the Blazers are throwing in the towel already this year. First they trade McGinnis and Ruben B. for Darius Miles, and now they start signing NBDL players? Its so sad after 20 or so years the Blazers are going to miss the playoffs.

 

[Trail_Blazer76]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllBoutDaPacers:</div><div class="quote_post">It looks like the Blazers are throwing in the towel already this year. First they trade McGinnis and Ruben B. for Darius Miles, and now they start signing NBDL players? Its so sad after 20 or so years the Blazers are going to miss the playoffs.</div>
Are you joking? They aren't throwing in the towel, just tossing things up a bit. It is way to early to be tanking (unless your are Phoenix). The Blazers will continue their playoff streak, but the Jazz won't!

 

[AllBoutDaPacers]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trail_Blazer76:</div><div class="quote_post">Are you joking? They aren't throwing in the towel, just tossing things up a bit. It is way to early to be tanking (unless your are Phoenix). The Blazers will continue their playoff streak, but the Jazz won't!</div>

Do you call trading for Darius Miles "tossing things up"? I call that plain stupidity. If they want to toss something up, they should go sign Dennis Rodman. The Pacific division will only have two playoff teams and the Blazers aren't one of them. I like watching the Blazers play, but they are not playoff calibre, and signing someone from the NBDL proves that point.

 

[3-pt.-gunner]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trail_Blazer76:</div><div class="quote_post">The Blazers will continue their playoff streak, but the Jazz won't!</div>
Why do you say the Jazz will choke? I like them to mix things up in the playoffs this year and really turn some heads.

 

[Anzix]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllBoutDaPacers:</div><div class="quote_post">Do you call trading for Darius Miles "tossing things up"? I call that plain stupidity. If they want to toss something up, they should go sign Dennis Rodman. The Pacific division will only have two playoff teams and the Blazers aren't one of them. I like watching the Blazers play, but they are not playoff calibre, and signing someone from the NBDL proves that point.</div>
Dairus miles was needed for energy... That is why we got him and to me he has proven himself already. His numbers speak for them self... Also this Omar cook is probably better then qyntel at backup point guard. Also he will help the blazers get inside more with those nice assists.

 

[notmuchgame]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllBoutDaPacers:</div><div class="quote_post">Do you call trading for Darius Miles "tossing things up"? I call that plain stupidity. If they want to toss something up, they should go sign Dennis Rodman. The Pacific division will only have two playoff teams and the Blazers aren't one of them. I like watching the Blazers play, but they are not playoff calibre, and signing someone from the NBDL proves that point.</div>

You can't say signing a guy from the NBDL is "throwing in the towel" while signing a guy from the crappy ABA is better...you're contradicting yourself...

 

[Trail_Blazer76]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllBoutDaPacers:</div><div class="quote_post">Do you call trading for Darius Miles "tossing things up"? I call that plain stupidity. If they want to toss something up, they should go sign Dennis Rodman. The Pacific division will only have two playoff teams and the Blazers aren't one of them. I like watching the Blazers play, but they are not playoff calibre, and signing someone from the NBDL proves that point.</div>
Signing Darius Miles wasn't stupid, for many reasons. We got rid of Boumtje Boumtje, and that's just one reason. Your beloved Pacers made a similar move at the end of last year I believe, in signing Tim Hardaway, and that was right before the playoffs.

The Lakers have given contracts to NBDL players recently, and I am assuming that you consider them one of the two teams that will make the playoffs from the pacific.

On another note, the Trail Blazers forum is now over 1000 posts!! Thanks for the posts guys

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[Rave]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trail_Blazer76:</div><div class="quote_post">Signing Darius Miles wasn't stupid, for many reasons. We got rid of Boumtje Boumtje, and that's just one reason. Your beloved Pacers made a similar move at the end of last year I believe, in signing Tim Hardaway, and that was right before the playoffs. </div>

Yeah finally rid of that loser. I know I usually speak nicely and don't really comment on the bad sides of players. But Boumtje was just so bad, he reminds me a lot of how crud Kwame use to be.

 

[nikebasketball]

Omar is perfect for the Blazers.

They needed to sign a pass first pg.

Omar is that pg.

 

[Trail_Blazer76]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><font face="Arial">Another chance for Cook
Omar Cook could slide in as the Blazers' backup point guard very quickly. And from the way he talks, </font><u><font face="Arial"><font color="#800080">he sounds ready</font></font></u><font face="Arial">: </font>

<div style="padding-left: 20px;">"I couldn't have fallen into a better situation. This is my first real opportunity. I just look at this as a first step. I'm going to ask a lot of questions and learn as much as I can."</div>Fayetteville Online reports Zach Randoloph and Darius Miles lobbied Portland management in favor of Cook.

Former UNC standout Jeff Capel, who coached Cook in the NBDL, realizes how big this opportunity is for Cook:

<div style="padding-left: 20px;">We were talking about that yesterday before he left. Omar needs to work hard, be the first one there, be the last to leave, ask a lot of questions.</div> </div>
http://www.oregonlive.com/weblogs/blazersblog/

I am excited for this. Clearly he knows people on the team, because they wanted him there. I think that one of the most important things we are lacking is chemistry, and it's much easier to play with your friends. Hopefully he can make Z-bo even better than he is now.

 

[notmuchgame]

Now I'm kind of hoping the Blazers don't trade Wallace for a pg (i.e. NVE)...That would push Cook back into the NBDL...

 

[AllBoutDaPacers]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">You can't say signing a guy from the NBDL is "throwing in the towel" while signing a guy from the crappy ABA is better...you're contradicting yourself...</div>

I never said they should sign Rodman, (who was an excellent rebounder and could average ten rebounds in today's NBA in his sleep) all I said is that they would get the same effect. I would rather sign Rodman than sign Miles because Rodman will do the dirty work and grab boards while Miles will just dunk. As for Cook, they would have a point guard if they didn't trade McGinnis.

 

[notmuchgame]

Cook just got signed to a second 10-day contract....

So i'm curious on what the Blazer fans think so far...is he a keeper? or is Dickau the backup point guard of the second half....

In 7 games, Cook is averaging 1.4 pts 2.4 asst 0.6 TO's 0.57 stls .455 fg% in 11.3 minutes per game

 

[Trail_Blazer76]

I was reading Jason Quick's most recent blog and he said that he has a feeling we will keep Cook. He also said that Dickau might be able to back up DA as a sg

 

[Henacy]

Omar has to prove that he can hit the outside Jumper on a consistent bases & then he will last in the NBA. Omar Cook was fun to watch at ST.John's but he is one of the many young cats over the years to listen to the wrong people. He should not have left the Redstorm so early. And because of this Iam not sure he will ever have staying power on the NBA level. But I hope he can find a home with the Blazers unleast till the end of the season cause with Portland's lack of a natural backup point guard, Cook should recieve more minutes the longer he stays with blazers.

 

[notmuchgame]

Well, Cook went 1-7 fg today in 9 minutes of play...that really doesn't help his chances very much....

 

[notmuchgame]

Good things come when you're patient

...Congrats to Cook for finally sticking with a team....

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Portland Trail Blazers have signed Guard Omar Cook to a multi-year contract.

The 6-foot-1, 190 pound guard was signed to a 10-day contract by the Trail Blazers on 02/03/04 after starting the season with the Fayetteville Patriots of the National Basketball Development League where he was leading the NBDL in assists, 9.0 apg, and steals, 2.6 spg.</div>


LINK

 

[Henacy]

Congrats to Omar Cook. But thats a huge ivestment by the BZlazers giving him a multi-year deal. I guess he most have proven to ownership that he can make the jumper with some consistency because that was the main weak point of his game. But he will creat alot of easy opportunioty thru his ability to push the ball & penetrate. I guess that won the Blazers over.