Blazers resign Wells

Restricted free agent guard Bonzi Wells was re-signed Monday by the Portland Trail Blazers to a multiyear contract.

Terms of the contract were not released. Wells' agent, Bob Strickland, did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

Wells was the team's second-leading scorer last season, averaging a career-high 17 points and six rebounds a game. In four years with the Trail Blazers, the 6-foot-5 guard has averaged 12.7 points a game.

The Trail Blazers open their training camp Tuesday.

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Stoudamire wants to start, plain and simple

The Associated Press reports that Damon Stoudamire is asking for a clarification of his role with the Trail Blazers. He has requested that his team either give him the starting point guard spot, or trade him.

"To be honest, I can't really see myself coming off the bench,'' Stoudamire told the Oregonian. "But that's just me. I never have envisioned that, and if that's the case, they might as well get me out of here. Point-blank.''

Stoudamire is in competition with newcomers Jeff McInnis and Antonio Daniels for the starting point guard spot.

Blazers team president Bob Whitsitt would not comment to the newspaper about Stoudamire's remarks. But coach Maurice Cheeks said he was encouraged, seeing it as a sign that Stoudamire is ready to compete.

"I appreciate his candor, him saying what he really feels,'' Cheeks said. "I can't fault him for that. You know, Damon is one of my favorite players...He has learned to defend, and he has learned how to be a leader.''

It has been a trying offseason for Stoudamire, who has battled a felony drug possession charge, trade rumors and memories of his anemic postseason play against the Los Angeles Lakers. Stoudamire has been the Blazers' starter for the last 4½ seasons. He is coming off his best season in Portland, averaging 13.5 points, 6.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds as a team co-captain.

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Sabonis returns to Blazers

The Associated Press reports that Arvydas Sabonis and the Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a multi-year contract that brings the 7’ 3” center back to the NBA.

Sabonis was not available for comment since he is still in Europe, where has been spending time in his native Lithuania and at a home in Spain.

After taking last year off, the 38-year old Sabonis returned to Portland for a while this summer and had some workouts for the team’s coaches at their practice facility.

During his break from basketball, Sabonis broke bones in his left foot in a non-basketball accident. But his agent, Herb Rudoy, said the injury is fully healed and the year off has helped Sabonis.

Jason Quick of the Oregonian adds that the contract will be for three years and is believed to start at $7 million.

Coach Maurice Cheeks said Davis will be the starter when training camp opens Oct. 1 but Sabonis could earn that role. "You have to let it play out, but I would think Dale is the starter right now. I have to see where (Sabonis') stamina is right now, because at this point, I don't know where it is."

Blazers’ vice president Bob Whitsitt said Sabonis' signing figures to be the last "major" deal in what has been a busy offseason. He said there are no deals in the making for point guard Damon Stoudamire, even though the Blazers have three players at that position. "We've got nothing going," Whitsitt said. "You would have to ask Maurice, but I think he would say that Damon is the incumbent and that he expects to have a battle for that position."

With training camp 10 days away, the only unfinished business is re-signing free agent guard Bonzi Wells. Whitsitt said he hopes to complete that deal by the start of camp.

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