Beard Man For The Win!

by Ben. on Aug 27, 2008 1:55 PM PDT Comment 46 comments

Steven Hill, don't let anyone tell you different, you're a legend.

These are non-guaranteed deals, similar to what Darius Miles is looking at in Boston.

Will one of these 3 find a place on the roster? That is the question right now. What's not a question? The fact that Steven Hill has already found a place... in our hearts.

From the Press Release...

TRAIL BLAZERS SIGN JACKSON, HILL AND TATUM
Oregon native Jackson returns home

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Trail Blazers signed forward Luke Jackson, rookie center Steven Hill and rookie guard Jamaal Tatum, General Manager Kevin Pritchard announced today. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

Jackson (6-7, 215), a four-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 73 career games, averaging 3.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 9.9 minutes.

The 26-year-old enjoyed his best season in 2007-08 with Miami, garnering career-highs of 5.6 points and 2.4 rebounds in 16.3 minutes. Originally drafted with the 10th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by Cleveland, Jackson played his first two seasons with the Cavaliers before splitting time during the 2006-07 season with the L.A. Clippers and Toronto Raptors. In December of 2007, Jackson signed with Miami.

Jackson, a former University of Oregon All-American, finished his four-year career with the Ducks as one of only two players in Pac-10 history to amass more than 1,900 points, 700 rebounds and 400 assists. Jackson remains the only player in Oregon history to rank in the Top-10 in nine categories.

A member of the Trail Blazers' 2008 NBA Summer League team, Hill (7-0, 245) averaged 3.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.60 blocks in five games. The center shot 66.7% from the field on 6-of-9 shooting and averaged 25.6 minutes per game in Portland's last three games.

Hill, 22, spent four seasons at the University of Arkansas, averaging 4.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.11 blocks in 2007-08. In 2006-07, Hill was named Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Tatum (6-2, 175) was the fourth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Development League draft, before missing the season due to injury. Tatum began his professional career in 2007, signing with the Atlanta Hawks and participating in their training camp. Tatum, 23, played four seasons at Southern Illinois, averaging 12.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.21 steals in 131 games. As a senior, Tatum earned the 2007 Larry Bird Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year award.

-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)

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I LOVED Hill

In summer league. Cool for him!

"I eat polar bears and babies"
~Sophia 08/25/08

by twiggs on Aug 27, 2008 1:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hill should regrow the beard

It would really irritate opponents, if he pressed and rubbed it on their skin, while defending them.

by tominhawaii on Aug 27, 2008 2:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He’d look just like walton in a throwback.

by everett on Aug 27, 2008 2:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Jamaal Tatum

I’m going to pronounce his name “Tatoom.”

by Kaboomm on Aug 27, 2008 2:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"Jerryd is straight ahead at you. Rudy dips around. Jerryd is a rock. Rudy is the wind. Jerryd loves the ball in his hands. Rudy moves without it. Jerryd defends by getting up in your grill. Rudy plays the spaces in between. Jerryd has focused vision. Rudy sees all around him. Jerryd likes to score off of the dribble. Rudy can catch and shoot. Jerryd is aggressive. Rudy is sneaky. Jerryd will hit you hard. Rudy will annoy you until you hit him." -Dave

Word.

by joelor on Aug 27, 2008 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

These are just through training camp right?

None of these are roster spots.

by raoulduke on Aug 27, 2008 2:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yea what is the deal?

"Thank God those nightmarish booty-less days are behind us. I blame cocaine."-Mortimer
I detest that man who hides one thing in the depths of his heart, and speaks for another. - Homer
That was a very hard winter,
and it was just like one long night,
with me lying awake, waiting and waiting and waiting
for daybreak.
- Black Elk
1881

by BlazerFan1 on Aug 27, 2008 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is why KP wanted an empty roster spot

Now he can tell these three guys that it is theirs for the taking, but only if they play hard and win it. If these three guys are going to play hard for a roster spot, it will make the practices better by raising the intensity.

by tominhawaii on Aug 27, 2008 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

no dude we are cutting Oden Roy & Outlaw to make room for them

by Love on Aug 27, 2008 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

hehehehehehehehehe....

That was some funny stuff, man!

Ball Don't Lie

by bothteamsplayedhard on Aug 27, 2008 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Mountain Man has it on lock!

Beaver believer!

by mannyfresh1 on Aug 27, 2008 2:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He will be Przybilla version 2

All that practicing with Oden will do him good. The Blazers will keep him on to develop, so in a couple years when Przybilla is getting older, he will be in there to step in. :D

Beaver believer!

by mannyfresh1 on Aug 27, 2008 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

that would be awsome

playing against odens gotta help you improve. still needs to gain weight…..but realistically, i could see him being very effective on the defensive end against anybody not named Bynum, Oden, or Howard…as much as people knock on summer league, this dude the defended the middle like it he owned it

by BroyTheTruth on Aug 27, 2008 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Um. This is completely unfounded.

How is it that Steven Hill we be effective against people named Yao? Bosh? Shaq? Amare? Chandler? I dunno.

Word.

by joelor on Aug 27, 2008 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

well...

he’s taller than Amare (wouldnt stop Amare, but his height could be a nuisence), Yao and Shaq are gonna be gone by the time he actually gets playing time (we’ll still have joel for a few more years), and Chandler has no post game (just a one trick poney with the alley oop)……………………..so ha

by BroyTheTruth on Aug 27, 2008 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

nice try

but tell it to the judge.

by Love on Aug 27, 2008 5:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you cereal?

Don’t get my wrong, I love the Mountain Man as much as the next man. And I always give a little love to Oregon boys, but I thought we only had ONE open roster spot, how did we sign 3 guys to that one spot? Or are they like me, and have one body but multiple personalities? (No we don’t Andy!, Yes we DO Andrew!)

"It's how you play the Ga-ame..." - Greg Oden with Justin Timeberlake at the Espy's

by BlazermaniacAndy on Aug 27, 2008 2:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think they are signed just for training camp.

KP & Co will decide who gets the last roster spot after camp.

Beaver believer!

by mannyfresh1 on Aug 27, 2008 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really wish

I would have been the guy quietly urging on Steven Hill from day one. I really really do. I mean I really wish I could stand here and say that I’ve been behind him this whole time.

Salaam. Plátanos maduros.

by JamesOn on Aug 27, 2008 2:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Under my former identity, of course

Salaam. Plátanos maduros.

by JamesOn on Aug 27, 2008 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I miss Junior Del Norte

I always thought he was cuter than you and he had prettier penmanship.

by tominhawaii on Aug 27, 2008 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well he's GONE

And he’s NEVER coming back. Got it?

Salaam. Plátanos maduros.

by JamesOn on Aug 27, 2008 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We should build a memorial.

by tominhawaii on Aug 27, 2008 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

we could play that song by the grateful dead

by Love on Aug 27, 2008 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So.. let me get this strait

you <3 steven hill?

Ok GOT IT!

Sophia

by BlazerFan1 on Aug 27, 2008 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

now that I read that again it’s rather suggestive sounding. Ewwwwwwwwwww

Salaam. Plátanos maduros.

by JamesOn on Aug 27, 2008 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

HAHA i was only kidding

go get a Gyro and RELAX ;)

by BlazerFan1 on Aug 27, 2008 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

At least you didn't have a dream about him

Asked his specialty in the kitchen, Oden paused and said, "Hamburger Helper and tuna fish."

by MiledAnimal on Aug 27, 2008 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey now,

keep it in ~~your pants~~ the junk drawer

Salaam. Plátanos maduros.

by JamesOn on Aug 27, 2008 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

whoah...

by BlazerFan1 on Aug 27, 2008 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What evs

Steve Hill will be to Greg Oden what Frank Dux was to that Tanaka kid in Blood sport.

Luke!!! Please accept your role as a outside shooting assassin!!! (if you can fill it)

The player most likey to be NBDL bound by October….. Jamaal Tatum!!

Look! Cyber flirting! how cute!

But being honest is all I do well.....

by SuperDave on Aug 27, 2008 3:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Steve Hill

That would be awesome if he brought back the Lazer 3 point from Saabonis.

G.O. Blazers

by Hookah_John on Aug 27, 2008 3:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

COOL STUFF

I think Luke has the best shot at actually making the roster. But he’s gonna have to really work for it.

Man I love tongue tacos - Mortimer
Only thing better is Trout on a stick roasted over an open fire - annthefan
I have a pic like that of my dog - tominhawaii

by Outlaw is Rejector on Aug 27, 2008 3:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Luke is not afraid of hard work.

Although I would feel a little dirty cheering for a Duck. :-)

My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.

by OCBlazerFan1 on Aug 27, 2008 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can we now trade Jackson to the Celtics for Darius and retire him again?

Odenied: Asked whether he noticed Oden favoring his right knee, Frye dismissed it entirely. "He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors."

by Norsktroll on Aug 27, 2008 3:22 PM PDT reply actions 7 recs

Great idea! Rec.!!

My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.

by OCBlazerFan1 on Aug 27, 2008 3:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And you know Ainge is dumb enough to do it!

Rec

by BlazerFan1 on Aug 27, 2008 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good one

but we won’t need to do that since Darius + Celtics = Fail.

"The next day in practice, if you sweat, it's going to come out of your pores, regardless. If you ask any coach around the league how many times they have smelled liquor on a player . . . As long as that player is showing up on time, doing the drills and running, that's part of it. But there have been times, yeah. Yeah, you probably smelled liquor on me. But it's not like I'm at practice drunk. I'm totally focused."
-Darius Miles

by Steve Guttenberg on Aug 27, 2008 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

that is funny!

There is probably no more terrible instance of enlightenment than the one in which you discover your father is a man — with human flesh.
Paul Muad'Dib - Dune (Frank Herbert)

My Translation: My Dad is a dude just like me, and my sons are dudes like me also. I love that.
Season Tix: Section 315

by johnv59 on Aug 27, 2008 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Norsktroll’s now at four recs—who wants to turn his post Celtic green?

by EngineerScotty on Aug 27, 2008 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh Steven Hill, The Offensive Juggernaught

I remember when The Snapper and Rick from NBA TV were broadcasting I believe our 1st summer league game this year, and they said “Steven Hill, now that guy looks like he belongs in Portland”. They said he looked like Billy Walton with all that face scruff. And then the termed was coined ‘The Mountain Man’ is what they called him. A nickname that rivals any in the NBA. Except mine of course, El Stinko Mucho.

“Steven Hill for 3 to win the game! Yes Sir!” Mike Barrett some game in 08-09

"It's how you play the Ga-ame..." - Greg Oden with Justin Timeberlake at the Espy's

by BlazermaniacAndy on Aug 27, 2008 3:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Any veteran FA guards out there we like?

One minor concern I have is with our guard rotation:

We’ve got—and this is stretching the definition of “guard” a bit—-

Brandon Roy: Stud. Plays like veteran though only 3rd year.
Steve Blake: Excellent role player, veteran.
Sergio: Regressed as a sophomore, often out of control.
Bayless: NBA rookie.
Rudy: NBA rookie, though with scads of pro and international experience
Batum: NBA rookie, one who looks like NBDL material for now.
Webster: Can play the 2 in a pinch, but far more effective at the 3.

We have a big lack of experienced backcourt depth. This may be moot if Rudy and Bayless develop quickly, or it could hurt.

Given the number of rookies on the roster (4!) with three of them likely to contribute significantly—I would prefer spending the final roster spot on some veteran out there—one who doesn’t need to have insane skills, but won’t screw things up royally when he’s in the game.

A list of NBA FAs is here; granted this list shows lots of players who are retired (their choice or no longer NBA material), or who are under contract with pro teams in Europe or elsewhere.

by EngineerScotty on Aug 27, 2008 4:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Looks like those three are what KP likes to try out now. Some additional ideas that are probably futile

I recently suggested Quinton Ross (SG/SF) as a defensive specialist.
A few quotes regarding his skills in this thread: http://www.blazersedge.com/2008/8/15/594800/blazer-defense
Nobody wants him, despite being a well respected veteran for what he does and dirt cheap. Well, maybe because he isn’t a good all around player.

Some teams are also still looking into Shaun Livingston as a high risk – high reward young player with unusual skills, who has been cleared to do similar workouts to what Greg is doing right now. He might not be read to return for another few months, but before I take Sun Yue as the Lakers did (probably more of a marketing stunt), I would take a long look on this guy. Well, and on his MRIs.

If we didn’t already have a glut of guys who can play the point, I also wouldn’t mind having Chris Quinn around as a backup with some potential to grow, instead of throwing a lot of money and / or players on veteran point guards that will lead us nowhere. The guy had solid numbers last year surrounded by arguably one of the worst late-season teams you can think of. How do you get open looks and who do you pass to on that ugly Heat roster, even if you had amazing skills?

Odenied: Asked whether he noticed Oden favoring his right knee, Frye dismissed it entirely. "He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors."

by Norsktroll on Aug 27, 2008 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hill Perspective

1) I think we all know Hill is around to help get the guys ready for the season.
2) As an Arkansas alumni, I payed a lot of attention to his play last year. The whole time I kept thinking “Man, my Blazers suffered through a shot blocking, no rebounding, no scoring center with Theo Ratliff, and the Hogs are stuck with the same thing.” I was actually hoping we’d take a look at Darian Townes, who was the Razorbacks’ best big man last year, but the Kings were/are looking at him.

Standing in Chicago, eyes looking west.

by jnstarbird on Aug 27, 2008 6:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow

Did Tutum really win the 2007 Larry Bird Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year award?

Wow.

That is really impressive.

by Love on Aug 27, 2008 9:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hill! Hill! Hill!

I rode on the same plane as him from Vegas to Houston. The poor guy—at first they’d put him in a regular coach seat. Even when he was sitting down in the seat it looked like he was standing! They eventually moved him to one of the “roomier” coach seats. He was so much fun to watch during summer league. I love his beard! Mountain Man!

by Carrie on Aug 28, 2008 3:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs