Stoudamire still on the block?

Jason Quick of the Oregonian reports that Damon Stoudamire may be playing himself back into the Blazers good graces.

After another rumor-filled summer where Damon has reportedly been mentioned in trades to the Timberwolves, Knicks and Cavaliers, the point guard waiver between wanting out of Portland and wanting to prove he can beat recently acquired Jeff McInnis for the starting job. I'm tired of listening to all of this stuff," Stoudamire said during the weekend. "It's not a bad thing, but it's something that has really motivated me. I'm really looking forward to having a big year. If it's here in Portland, it's here in Portland. If it's somewhere else, it's somewhere else. But I'm looking forward to having a big year."

In a scrimmage against Team USA on Saturday, Stoudamire was impressive. Considering he was matched up against Andre Miller, he was very impressive. "I tell you what, they might not want to trade me," Stoudamire said, laughing. . "I've got something in store for everybody." Blazers assistant coach Herb Brown said, "Damon looked good, huh?"

Stoudamire has heard the rumors while working out religiously. He looks more muscular than last season and accepts the trade talk. "I have been here for five years, and I always come up in trade rumors," Stoudamire said. "But until I am gone, I am a Blazer. But the one thing I can say is that through my time here, I have always tried to please everybody and do everything for everybody else. This season, I have to -- not play for myself -- but play my game from start to finish."

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Portland Trail Blazers, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves

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Sabonis close to rejoining Blazers

Jim Beseda of the Oregonian reports that Arvydas Sabonis has agreed to return to the NBA. According to a Lithuanian newspaper, Sabonis has agreed to a one year contract worth $7 million. He is expected to sign the contract as early as Monday.

"Once I received Portland's offer, everything was very clear," Sabonis told Lietuvos Rytas. "It might be one of the last contracts in my career, therefore I have to use this opportunity." Both the team and Sabonis’ agent, Herb Rudoy have said that the contract has not been completed, but Sabonis spoke as if the only thing missing was his signature.

"We remain optimistic that we will get a deal done with Arvydas," Blazers president Bob Whitsitt said. Said Rudoy: "We are very close. I expect to have it done early next week. Arvydas is really excited about returning to Portland and he has instructed me to get it done as quickly as possible.”

Apparently, Sabonis insisted on a one-year contract. Said Sabonis: "After one year, we will see if there is sufficient health, desire or any demand for me to continue playing."

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Dumars says Stackhouse trade rumors aren't true

Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports that the rumors of a Jerry Stackhouse trade to Portland for a re-signed Bonzi Wells are unfounded. "I have not talked to Bob Whitsitt," Pistons president Joe Dumars said. "Not once." Whitsitt is the Trail Blazers president and general manager. If a trade between the two teams were going to happen, you would expect Dumars and Whitsitt to be in constant contact.

"Nope," Dumars said. "I read more about this in the papers than anywhere else. To do a sign-and-trade, you have to be talking to the team. We're having no conversation with them."

If the two teams aren’t talking, why does the media still discuss the possibility of a trade? Bill Strickland, one of the more savvy agents in the business, represents Wells and he desperately wants to get his client out of Portland.

Wells made a little more than $2 million in the last year of his rookie contract. He’s looking to sign for six years, starting at $5 million this year. The Blazers aren’t offering anything because they know that there are very few teams with the cap space or the desire to make that kind of offer. The only recourse then is to find a team willing to take Wells in a sign-and-trade. So Strickland has been busy calling teams and trying to broker a deal.

Complicating the rumored Pistons/Blazers deal is Wells’ “base-year compensation status” after he signs a new contract, and the opt-out in Stackhouse’s contract after this season.

"I've always said that if anybody calls and offers something, I will listen," Dumars said. "But listening to a deal and making a deal are two different things. I won't hang up on anybody who's making an offer, you know, but Bob Whitsitt has not called and made an offer. There is nothing on the table."

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