Remember Me? I'm Channing Frye
Unless Channing Frye shows up at tomorrow's workouts, these could very well be the last pictures of him in Blazers gear.
To the surprise of many, Frye went through a short workout in front of the media this morning, showing off a little fadeaway step back jumper and the shooting stroke that always looks great in the practice gym. It was the first time I'd seen Channing since the Houston series.
His presence was a reminder of just how far today's draft workout crop have to go: Frye would ball all of those dudes up. And it wouldn't be close. It's been that type of year for pre-draft workouts here in Portland, I guess. There will be a short post regarding today's prospects later this afternoon but first here's what Nate McMillan and Channing Frye had to say regarding Channing's current status and future with the team.
Remember, as Dave wrote previously about Frye...
One of four things is going to happen...
1. They're going to renounce him just like the other three free agents, meaning that he'll not count against the cap at all.
2. They're going to offer a one-year qualifying offer to him which he'll immediately accept, meaning he'll add $4.26 million to Portland's cap burden.
3. They're going to offer a qualifying offer to him which he won't accept right away, preferring to test the restricted free agent waters. In that case he'll count $9.49 million against the cap until he signs a contract somewhere, either for the original offer or some other offer that another team makes and Portland has the right to match. After a new contract is signed the actual amount of the contract will count against Portland's cap if Portland re-signs him.
4. They're going to agree to a different, multi-year contract and he'll count against the cap for its amount.
With that in mind, go ahead and parse the following conversations with Nate and Channing to determine which of the four options you think will unfold in the coming weeks.
Channing Frye
Would it be hard to leave this team at this point?
Yes and no. I think everybody has to do what's best for themselves at times. At times you've just got to understand what's best for you, what might be best for the team. KP and Tom have done a great job of putting guys here that are going to help the team. If my place is to be here, we'll take care of that, if not, hey I'll be somewhere else where someone needs my skills.
Is this a situation where you feel like you wished you had gotten a better shake last year?
You can't ever look at it like that. We went to the playoffs. With the talented members of this team that we have, we just play and Coach has to do what's best for this team. I think he picked the best five guys that he was comfortable with. It just wasn't my year. Not everybody's NBA career is a storybook, where they stay with one team and start from day one. Guys get traded, guys get moved, guys get benched, it's just part of the game. Would you have heard of Gortat or Lee if something hadn't happened to Jameer Nelson? I don't think so.
Have Kevin or Nate given you a timeline in terms of when they expect to make a decision regarding your future?
No, no and I would never ask them to do that. That's something that's up to my agent and them. If they want to talk to me about that they can. I'm just out here trying to get better and regardless of what happens, I'm going to be on the up and up. I'm just setting myself up to be a success in this league in the future. I've got to just keep working hard.
What's been the focus of your offseason work since the end of the season?
Last month it was definitely getting a little bit more handle. Getting more comfortable with the basketball. Taking it off the dribble. It's just something that I've been wanting to work on. I tried that last year but my ankle kind of got in the way. This summer just staying in shape. This month it's just losing that extra 3 or 4 pounds. Just so I can get into July and take all the things I've been working on and really start to develop myself and continue to get better.
Where will you be watching the draft Thursday night?
It's my fiance's birthday so I'll be in Vegas. I'll probably be watching it in my room with a soda or something. [Laughs]
Nate McMillan
It's the first time I've seen Channing in awhile.
Channing's been around. He's been here working out. He comes in and he gets his workout in. He looks ok. It's nice to see our guys in the gym.
Has Kevin indicated a timeline for when a decision might be made regarding Channing?
Kevin will handle that and that's his side of the business and he'll take care of that.
Are you anxious to hear from Kevin how it's going to play out?
We've talked. We're constantly talking about what we want to do. But right now our focus in on the draft.
-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)
PS Croiky! Channing Frye's email username was inspired by the death of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. Add that to your bulging portfolio of buffet of goodness miscellany.
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If character was all that mattered
Channing would be first team all NBA. Love him, will miss him and hope he goes somewhere where he will get big minutes and a contract he deserves.
Channing's about to learn his worth on the open market.
No punchline intended from here. Unless he gets a much bigger offer from a European team, he’ll likely get a small contract with an NBA team to be named later. Truth is, it could be almost any team making an offer. I could see LA, BOS, or CLE giving him a contract as a reserve, or, if he doesn’t get a contract quickly, he might latch onto a MIL or an OKC later in the Summer for a mil or two.
For all the talk that “Nobody wants to go to Memphis”, I imagine Channing would be very interested in an offer from them.
ugh.
I hope he doesn’t sign with LA. I would be forced to hate him. I would tolerate Boston. Barely.
* Building a Greg Oden Fanboy Treehouse Clubhouse this summer...
It's interesting that Nate still calls Channing one of "Our Guys"
Maybe it’s not as done a deal as everyone thinks that Frye is gone
formerly fromagnon... I remember back in the day... way back before you young cats were around, back when I ruled the jersey contest... back when it meant something... back when hip-hop was alive
BLAM
Nate is probably just smart enough
to know that he’s still considered part of the team and one of “our guys” until he officially no longer is.
I don't see Frye as a Blazer next year, but...
if he is still around I’ll root for him to broaden his game and find a role on the team. As a Blazer or not, Frye has proven himself to be a great guy and a skilled player (though maybe not the perfect skill set we need from a backup PF).
If he does move on I’ll wish him the best of luck and remain a fan…at least until he plays against the Blazers!
I think
that Orlando, Cleveland, and Atlanta will all take a look at Channing. The Bucks may also, if they lose Villanueva.
Come on you gotta listen unto me,
lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be. ~Johnny Cash
I don't see Frye as a Blazer next year
But I’ll always be a fan of his. I hope he makes a name for himself somewhere, and I hope to cheer my ass off when he comes back to the RG.
All aboard the Kirkwagon!
by Arby on Jun 22, 2009 3:30 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Croiky?
Being a New Zealander rather than a fair dinkum Oz I might not be completely down with things over there… but struth and stone the crows if it’s not “crikey”?
Guilty as charged
Now “sweet as” is definitely something I’ve been known to come out with from time to time. :-P
Actually, someone I worked with here in Portland thought I said “sweet ass” once which might have caused her some momentary embarrassment…
Love Channing
I just think with us having LMA it would be in his best interest to go else where. He still can be a good player. He will be missed in portland though.
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
Channing should retire
and become the head of posi vibes and practical jokes for the Blazers.
Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.
Last month it was definitely getting a little bit more handle. Getting more comfortable with the basketball. Taking it off the dribble. It's just something that I've been wanting to work on. I tried that last year but my ankle kind of got in the way
I saw some of that “handle” late in the season. Not enough to want him back, but if he had a clear path to the basket he was making the effort to penetrate. The “finishing” part still needs work, though
Nice kid, hope he finds an NBA home. He already knows that PDX is a nice play to be in the summer
If we're going to be making a trade for a veteran anyway, we might as well
give Channing the qualifying offer. The only reason not to would be if you were going to renounce all your exceptions to get under the cap. That simply doesn’t seem worth it. Channing at his QO price for next year would be a fine expiring contract in trade deadline talks this February.
While I would not put money on it ....
…. I would not be completely surprised if Portland starts the season with Channing still on the roster.
hakkaa päälle !
I’d be disappointed. Channing deserves a shot to be a bigger piece than he’d be here.
proud hinrichsheeple
True that
Channing is a good skilled player, who needs steady minutes to produce at this point in his career. At worst he’ll end up a journeyman like Joe Smith, but he’ll be in the league for a while. He is definately not fringe material like Randolph or Ruffin. Odds are good that he’d go east as more teams need a 4 there than in the west. It’s possible we retain him and trade him at the deadline; especially if we don’t make any fancy draft day moves and retain our free cap space (Channings cap hold won’t matter if he’s being traded).
I really like Frye...
But, I wish he would get the wedding over with, and focus on taking heads off next year. The lovey dovey is getting old. I also don’t want to hear he is trying to loose weight.
If he isn’t on the Blazer roster next season, I’d like to see him replace Tony Luftman.
Frye has a personality……
.
I look forward to watching him put up nice numbers for a >.500 team. Hopefully he will assert himself with proper minutes.
I’m pulling for him either way.
* Building a Greg Oden Fanboy Treehouse Clubhouse this summer...
I'm glad to see Mr. Personality is still
in Portland. I don’t expect him back under pretty much ANY scenario, but I do wish him well. I wish it had worked out better for Frye, but he needs to go elsewhere to get the playing time.
Channing is a solid guy
Hey, We could do worse by signing someone else, I just wish his game was more suited to his height.
I hope wherever his path leads him, that he has success; and if that means he’s a Blazer I’d be okay with that. My general feeling is if he goes to another team, the Rose Garden would cheer him as a favored son when he stepped onto our court. He’s been a nice addition to the Blazer organization and was clearly a needed trade to get Zach off our team.
Jimbo
by Larry The Croc on Jun 23, 2009 10:09 AM PDT reply actions
I'm going to miss that guy
He needs minutes to shine and he can’t get those here. I hope he DOESN’T join the cavs and that he has success anywhere else he goes.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
Channing was at The Ship Tavern in Multnomah last night,
not his first trip, and he said he would keep coming back until he had tried every beer there (and there are a few). Was with fiance and her brother.
Incredible person. Again, I would keep him on the team, even if it meant not winning a championship. I do not want to see Lamar Odom at The Ship
"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy

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