Shareef Not to be Traded Before the Season Begins

In an interview with The Register-Guard, Blazer guard Damon Stoudamire said "Shareef was (ticked) off last year, but he's not going to be a guy who complains. I don't think it's in his nature to complain. ... He's a pro's pro, and I think he'll be in camp and be ready to do whatever they want him to do."

Stoudamire thinks Abdur-Rahim is "resigned to the fact that he's not going to get moved. Maybe as the season goes on (and) things progress, he'll get moved. I think he knows that's unlikely now."

Via The Register-Guard

Portland Trail Blazers

Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets

Ratliff Inks Five Year Extension with Blazers

Portland center Theo Ratliff has signed a long term extension with the Portland Trail Blazers according to reports on ESPN's news wire services.

The five year contract extension comes after Ratliff, along with disgruntled teammate Shareef Abdur-Rahim, were traded from the lowly Atlanta Hawks to the Blazers back in February. He has led the league in blocked shots for each of the past two seasons, excelling with Portland to average an all-time franchise-best 4.41 blocks a game (141 blocks in 32 games) while raising his season average to 3.61 blocks a game.

"I'm very happy to be here. My family and I decided that this was a city we wanted to stay in. I think we have great talent on this team and we can go far. It's a great team and a great city," Ratliff said at a news conference.

He blocked six or more shots 12 times last season, and tied Bill Walton and Mychal Thompson for the franchise record for most blocks in one game when he had nine against Orlando on Feb. 2.

From the time he arrived in Portland, we identified with Theo's superior play on the floor and his lifestyle and character off the court as a member of the Portland community," Blazers general manager John Nash said.

Via ESPN

Portland Trail Blazers

Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets

Artest or Patterson Might be Miami Bound

Ruben Patterson of the Portland Trail Blazers is available for the taking by a team offering expiring contracts according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Patterson, the self-proclaimed Kobe stopper who in seasons past has been considered a key member of this Blazers squad, is a victim of not enough minutes at the forward spot with Darius Miles and Shareef Abdur-Rahim both expected to be in front of him in the rotation.

Owed $5.9 million this year and $19 million over the next three, moving Patterson for expiring contracts will offer Portland cap relief in future seasons.

One such team who could be interested in Patterson is said to be the Miami Heat, but the problem for the Heat is it has little to offer, behind, say, a compilation of the contracts of Wang Zhi-Zhi, Malik Allen, Udonis Haslem and Bimbo Coles.

Pacer Ron Artest, a highly talented but unpredictable player, would cost the Heat much more. They would have to give Indiana Eddie Jones while taking back the contracts of either Austin Croshere or Scott Pollard.

Via Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers

Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets