Blazers Sign Center Sean Marks To Replace Fabricio Oberto
by Ben Golliver on Nov 6, 2010 8:27 AM PDT
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PrintLeague sources told CBSSports.com Friday night that the Portland Trail Blazers will sign free agent center Sean Marks to replace Fabricio Oberto, who retired on Thursday. Ken Berger reports that Marks will receive a non-guaranteed contract at the veteran's minimum.
Marks was one of five players the Blazers invited to a Friday afternoon workout that included Earl Barron, Eric Boateng, Dwayne Jones and former Blazer Shavlik Randolph.
Marks is listed at 6'10" and 250, and he has enjoyed a lengthy, although unproductive, NBA career that dates back to the 1998-1999 season and includes time with the Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Hornets.
Here's Kevin Pelton's summary in this year's Pro Basketball Prospectus.
2009-10 marked a decade in the league for the affable Kiwi, who has made a career out of being a good guy to have around. Marks has played 2,068 career minutes, a number exceeded by 124 players last season alone. This total is historic. Over the past three decades, no NBA player has played as few minutes as Marks during the first 10 years of their career. (10-day contract specialist Randy Livingston came closest, playing 2,658 minutes.) Marks might have added to that total last season had he not missed 33 games due to injury (he finished theyear on the shelf due to a shoulder injury that lingered and kept him out of this summer's FIBA World Championship). When he was pressed into duty during the 2008-09 season, however, Marks was ineffective, struggling defensively and showing no skills league average or better. He saw just 75 minutes of action when he was healthy for a team that was perilously thin in the frontcourt last year. Still, the Washington Post reported in September that Marks was headed to training camp with the Wizards.
Marks did attend training camp with the Washington Wizards before the team released him to get down to the NBA's roster maximum of 15 players.
Marks would plug in as Portland's backup center, behind starter Marcus Camby. He would serve as the fourth big man in the team's rotation, behind Camby and power forwards LaMarcus Aldridge and Dante Cunningham. Once injured centers Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden return, Marks would not likely see much playing time.
His signing, which is not yet officially complete, would push Portland's roster back to the maximum of 15 players.
Update (10:55 a.m.): The Blazers have announced the signing of Marks in a text message to the media. Joe Freeman of The Oregonian reports on Twitter that Marks "will wear No. 4 and dress tonight against the Toronto Raptors."
Update (11:56 a.m.): Marks could get some real run against the Raptors as Freeman reports on Twitter that Marcus Camby (migraine headache) is questionable for tonight. After earlier reports calling Rudy Fernandez (back) "questionable" and "out," the Blazers report via text message that Fernandez is officially "doubtful" for Saturday night.
Update (12:02 p.m.): Here's the official press release on Marks' signing.
TRAIL BLAZERS SIGN SEAN MARKS
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward/center Sean Marks, it was announced today by General Manager Rich Cho. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Marks (6-10, 250) holds career NBA averages of 3.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.2 assists over 10 seasons with Toronto, Miami, San Antonio, Phoenix and New Orleans. He appeared in 14 games for the Hornets in 2009-10, averaging 0.7 points and 1.6 rebounds.
The first New Zealand native to play in the NBA, Marks, 35, played collegiately at California.
He will wear jersey No. 4.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter
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I was not excited about any of our options...
at least Oberto had experience with a winning organization and was a plug-and-play type of guy. I can’t wait for Przybilla to come back…
"LUUUUUUUUUUUUKE"! RIP #20
Awesome
I called it. I think he makes Joel expendable for a future trade.
I used to go by tominhawaii. My real name is still Tom.
Lets put him in the starting position...
…trade Greg and Pryz and sign another tall scrub.
Well...
I’m not sure why we didn’t take Dwayne Jones, but ok..let’s see what he can provide!
Welcome Sean Marks and go Blazers!!
'Mar-cus Cam-by' (clap-clap, clap clap clap). - Rose Garden
'That was the only game I could go to this season, and it freakin' ruled.' - P.Roy
\m/
I can't figure it out exactly either...but...
Jones hasn’t really been able to stick with any teams either, so its probably not as obvious as it seems.
So an Aussie and a Kiwi are at the end of the bench and...
Ill write the rest of that joke later.
chk yrslf bf u rec yrslf
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Nov 6, 2010 8:38 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
I will help
So an Aussie and a Kiwi are at the end of the bench and…sitting in a tree ……K-I-S-S-I-N-G
Harry Bosch: "Everybody counts....or nobody counts."
F-A-I-L
But I think you knew that already.
"I come to you now, at the turn of the tide." -- Brandon "Gandalf" Roy, April 24th, 2010
by RedUniInLA on Nov 6, 2010 11:41 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Do Aussies and Kiwis get along?
Or do they fight about fishing rights and tell off-color sheep jokes on each other?
If not, Marks and Mills could present a down under “three’s a crowd” scenario to the Rudy-Patty relationship
stay tuned…
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I got a story about this
In Frankfurt Germany there is an area called Sachsenhausen which is about 3 square blocks of bars many of them theme bars. I was in the aussie bar chatting up the waitress and made the comment that aussies and americans have a lot in common we both have BBQ, we both horribly mistreated and abused the our native peoples and that we had Canada and the aussies had New Zealand. She said “but we don’t hate Kiwis” I said “we don’t hate canadiens we don’t think about them at all” she said “oh that is like New Zealand”.
I live in Southern California now
and the Californians down here think of Oregon and Washington as Oregonians think of Canada; “You know, it’s just that area up there.”
"I come to you now, at the turn of the tide." -- Brandon "Gandalf" Roy, April 24th, 2010
Those aren't actually "Californians"
At least, not in the view of Northern California natives like myself. They call LA the “world’s largest hick town.” You can extend that to the entire portion of the state south of San Jose, as far as that goes.
I was born in '52, and I believe in #52. Hang in there, GO.
You too, Przy: everyone knows you're the heart & soul of the Blazers.
I wonder if Aussies ever say things like
“Oh, those crazy Kiwis!”?
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I know some kiwis
and they seem to hate the crap out of aussies
Kiwis needn't hate:
Lord Of The Rings > INXS
chk yrslf bf u rec yrslf
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Nov 6, 2010 2:11 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Gandalf and Aragorn didn't need no stinkin' petrol
and I doubt that Max could’ve outrun a Balrog on any vehicle, no matter how well-modified it was
the New Zealand landscape was one of the stars of that series, and the Weta workshop did yeoman’s work
all I remember about Mad Max is that I wouldn’t have much interest in visiting the Australian outback. Even Mick Dundee can’t make that place charming
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Laughable!
The First Mad Max just plain sucks, and we don’t even need to get into Thunderdome vs. Return Of The King.
As a complete geek, I just spat my wrigleys double mint at the screen.
chk yrslf bf u rec yrslf
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Nov 6, 2010 6:25 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
It's not true hatred, like Armenians vs. Azerbaijanis, it's more like competitive disdain like Beavers v. Ducks...
"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal
I got another story about this.
When I was a young pizza delivery warrior, my beat had a number of hotels in it. I learned quickly that Australians didn’t tip. One evening, I delivered to a hotel room and the guy who answered the door sounded like an Aussie, but at the end of our transaction, I wound up with a nice 15%. I looked at him deadpan.
“Oh, you’re from New Zeland.”
“Yeah actually. How did you know?”
“You tipped me.”
He laughed a LOT.
"That really stuck with me and built something inside of me. He's a two-time MVP. If he comes in and works like that, then that's what I need to be doing." - Armon Johnson on Steve Nash
yep, Aussies dont understand the concept
the way we see it is your paid to do that job, why should you be given extra for it.
weird i know.
We. Need. Joel.
And also a mythical creature known only as “The Oden.”
Could this be the piece that the Blazers needed
to put them into the West Coast Finals?
Rich Cho "no one is untouchable"
Likeable, and affable?
That’s all well and good for a team cohesion and whatnot, but what I liked about Oberto was a bit of toughness. Hard fouls. Hard picks. Lowering the boom on people. Using his fouls.
Hurry back Joel.
I guess that means he won't be having shouting matches with Nate,
or pushing Brandon around….
"You be realistic," Oden said. "I’m going to stay happy. All right?"
Of all the players they mentioned as options, he had the worst stats
“ineffective, and not even average skills in any area”…. nice. And a shoulder injury to boot. Blazers would have been better off signing Dudley.
what’s Dwayne Jones gotta do to get a shot? 17 and 16 in the d-league isn’t enough? Does he have to average 30 and 20?
MPOTCP>PGOTF
no he needs to be tall, white, injury prone, and suck
this is a stupid waste of a signing.
Look closer... Gratulatione inveneris verbum secretum.
I could take offense to that comment
Until he's not, Rudy's a Blazer.
by collectiveshane on Nov 6, 2010 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions
I thought Jones was the obvious best choice
with everyone else in 2nd place….I don’t get this move either.
I am surrounded by Laker fans. And Raider fans. What is wrong with all these people?
by RenoBlazerFan on Nov 6, 2010 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions
Probably only Marks would sign a non-guaranteed contract.
a non-guaranteed contract.
"Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes, but no plans."
I'm thinking that Rich owed Sean's agent a favor
otherwise…smh
If you were wondering if this is the first Sean in Blazer history…no! Higgins played 2 games for Portland back in ’97-98
Can Marks break Higgin’s Blazer games-played record?
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Cho thought Oberto would last until Pryzbilla returned
I suppose Sean Marks is another guy who can be conveniently ‘retired’ without raising any eyebrows.
It’s a good strategy to stay flexible. Thus, older is better.
At first, I hated this idea, but I've come around to the idea that this might be a quite satisfactory Pendergraph replacement...
"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal
I am intrigued that one of New Zealand's basketball teams is simply called "Tall Blacks."
Do they call the bowling team the “Pale Chubbies?”
I am surrounded by Laker fans. And Raider fans. What is wrong with all these people?
by RenoBlazerFan on Nov 6, 2010 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I would make a really good joke about this if this post was on Silver Screen and Roll...
"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal
It's a play off the Kiwi ruggers nickname
The New Zealand national rugby team is called the “all blacks” because of their all black uniforms, so calling the basketball team the tall blacks is simply a play off the ruggers nickname. The New Zealand all blacks are to international rugby what Brazil is to international soccer so it’s to be expected that other kiwi national squads would glom on to the rugby teams success.
thanks
I figured there was some good reason for the name, but it’s still durned funny.
I am surrounded by Laker fans. And Raider fans. What is wrong with all these people?
by RenoBlazerFan on Nov 6, 2010 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions
the Ducks are "all blacks" today
but Oregon imitates no one
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Here is his FIBA bio for international competition. It's not quite on Fabricio's level, averaging 12.8 points and 7.4 boards.
Another Tall Blacks veteran who is considering coming out of international retirement for the FIBA World Championship in Turkey.
With 12 years of NBA experience, Marks would add significantly to New Zealand’s young frontcourt and would take pressure off superstar shooting guard Kirk Penney.
The 35-year-old represented his country at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics and the 2002 FIBA World Championship, although his tournament was cut short by injury with him averaging 15 points and 8.0 rebounds.
His best international performances came against Russia in 2002 (21 points and 7 rebounds), Lithuania in 2000 (21 points and 4 rebounds), and silver medallist Italy in 2004 (13 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks).
Possessing an NBA championship ring from his time with the San Antonio Spurs, Marks is a man who will make the Tall Blacks significantly better by simply being in uniform, and will provide invaluable guidance to young Kiwi centre Alex Pledger.
The “superstar” Penney mentioned was one of the top scorers of the world championships, and the Spurs invited him to camp, but he didn’t make the final roster. Interesting that he has won a ring with the Spurs. Maybe that’s the key criterion ;)
Thank you for that report.
Everybody is so quick to critique players recovering from injuries, me included. Steve’s shoulder, Nic’s shoulder, Greg’s knee injuries, Martell’s foot injury. all injuries takes a toll and some recover more slowly then others and there is always a lingering effect. A shoulder injury may have altered his shooting ability, and or made him cautious.
This is the first that I have read that showed a once promising player going down with injury.
He could be very valuable.
hg
Dwayne Jones must have dislocated both patellas when he arrived in Portland.
Look closer... Gratulatione inveneris verbum secretum.
Well...
….I was against us getting Fabricio Oberto..but then I admit I was suprised at his ability to help this team.
So too bad that didn’t work out.
Now Sean Marks? Well I guess we do need back-up center. For the near future and as insurance.
Hopefully, he can at least be solid, undamaging minutes to spell Camby and Eventually soon Przybilla.
I was wrong about Fabricio…..
But since we are talking journeyman, back-up centers? It’s hard to get too excited about a guy that looks like he could be working at Home Depot.
"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"
I hope we get the 2005-06 or 2007-08 version of Sean Marks when he rebounded decently and had some league-average shooting
And not the career-below-league-average version with a PER below 10 and at times abysmal shooting for a big man. On the bright side his rebounding has improved in recent years, so if that keeps up and he really can defend centers that wouldn’t be bad. And he seems like a nice guy who won’t complain until the day he gets waived to make room for another player.
Your post gives me hope!!!!!
I don’t know anything about Sean Marks, except what I read. Every thing that has been written is very dismal until your post. We need to shore up our rebounding when Marcus and LaMarcus (the first time I have written LaMarcus and Marcus in the same sentence) gets dinged up or in foul trouble. With LaMarcus dinged knee and Marcus extended play at 36, we are playing with disaster.
Is a non-guaranteed contract just good for 10 days then resigned for another 10 days or sign Jones to the next 10 days, then someone else for 10 days until Joel and or Greg gets back to full strength.
Therefore all we need is someone that can defend a little and rebound a little to plug a hole.
Maybe the rest wanted a guaranteed contract or more money.
Regardless of what he brings, welcome aboard Sean Marks.
hg
The contract seems non-guaranteed for the year, it only would get guaranteed if he stays on the roster until early January (which is also when you can first hand out 10-day contracts) or gets injured while on the team (which is somewhat of a possibility with his injury history and the recent team history). As mentioned above Marks also has a ring with the Spurs though he wasn’t exactly an integral part of that championship run. He knows what he’s doing, even though his performance fluctuated pretty wildly with those two years his best seasons.
Pendergraph-style two-handed dunk off a CP3 pass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-ZFHz7gEkY
Dunks on Yao Ming in international ball (grainy) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR9ZnrMDD3s
Blocks the Birdman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pta9jf4xYvI
the most interesting part of the Yao clip
was watching Yao push down Dillon Boucher at the end. lmao
by blazerbeliever on Nov 6, 2010 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions
I thank you again for the updated info.
No one comes with a guarantee play, but a big body and re-bounder and hopefully somebody that can block out. is needed until Joel gets here and later for insurance.
hg
well, they did have workouts Friday,
so, that is current, face-to-face data. He must have “done some things”.
"You be realistic," Oden said. "I’m going to stay happy. All right?"
I miss Steve Patterson
Look closer... Gratulatione inveneris verbum secretum.
by hoodieNation on Nov 6, 2010 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Jason Quick does
and a lot of other Portland media types
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
heard KP and his sidekick...the numbers guy...are still in Portland!
Heard they have an office in downtown Portland!
somebody said they saw them near Pioneer Courthouse Square
if I had a choice I’d live here in PDX too, but KP sold his LO villa to Wesley Matthews
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Wes is leasing the place
I’m not 100% sure if he’s leasing it directly from KP or if KP sold it to someone else, but iirc, KP still owns it.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
Sean Marks just signed his soul away...
Thanks for the sacrifice Sean, the injury gods are licking their chops.
here's hoping the game is such a blowout that Marks gets some run tonite...
I am surrounded by Laker fans. And Raider fans. What is wrong with all these people?
by RenoBlazerFan on Nov 6, 2010 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions
#4? So they didn't retire Jerryd's number? This is outrageous!
by Norsktroll on Nov 6, 2010 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
4 was Jim Paxson's number before it was Bayless'
and “fat guard” had more of a case for a trip up to the rafters. Just a bit
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
At least the #4 jersey mural on the Adidas building won't look so out of place.
I wonder if Marks can get a sponsorship…
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
Blazers sign Sean Marks.
As Marks stood up from signing his contract, his foot slipped and he ruptured his patellar tendon. He is now expected to miss the rest of the season.
Blazers are expected to waive Marks later today and will begin their search for a replacement pats… er, that is to say, backup center, immediately.
Portland Trail Blazers, Future World Champions 2011-2021.
What is wrong with our team...
Camby has migraines now? God spare us.
look on the bright side
it’s the Raptors, Cunningam is not going to be beasted by Bargnani and co.
they really need Marcus back for tomorrow’s game, though. Goes without saying
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Camby and Rudy out?
not good. looks like our lineup would be LMA Dante Batum Roy Miller, with a bench of Matthes Armon and Marks. Meh.
Until he's not, Rudy's a Blazer.
by collectiveshane on Nov 6, 2010 11:20 AM PDT reply actions
Wesley and Nic need to step it up
could see some Batum at the 4
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
boy, is luke on the team
How low has it gotten for Babbitt. He is never even mentioned as a backup or anything. He can’t be that bad at D can he?
by dosumthungreg on Nov 6, 2010 11:46 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
link?
I used to go by tominhawaii. My real name is still Tom.
by LukeBabbittFTW on Nov 7, 2010 3:49 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't understand the logic behind this signing.
Obviously, if Oden and Przy were healthy, we wouldn’t care about our third string center, but they’re not and one of them may never be. With only Camby, you have to figure this dude is going to get some burn. Wouldn’t it be worth signing a younger dude who may actually have a future? I’d prefer Portland’s second string center isn’t just a dude with six fouls.
I’m not sure if Dwayne Jones sucks at interviews because he seemed like a good fit as people have pointed out above.
If Sean Marks is the answer, I’m not sure I want to know the question.
In this down economy, open jobs should go to Americans; we shouldn’t be outsourcing them.
Maybe Marks was the only dude willing to sign for peanuts, but I can’t believe there aren’t hungry D-Leaguers who would work for nothing just to get to play in the NBA.
I'm guessing he was signed for reasons
He would accept a non-guaranteed contract and he’s not gonna complain when Pryz comes back he gets 2 minutes a game or when Oden comes back and he gets street clothes each game.
Oh wait...
he played at California. Let’s give the man a chance !
"You be realistic," Oden said. "I’m going to stay happy. All right?"
I like Kiwis
but if I eat too much they irritate my mouth.
So don’t play Marks too much or he’ll irritate me.
Being a Blazer fan is not exactly healthy.
Poor Shavlik--beaten out by a stiff like Sean Marks
Someone should put Shavlik on suicide watch…
I was born in '52, and I believe in #52. Hang in there, GO.
You too, Przy: everyone knows you're the heart & soul of the Blazers.
Welcome Sean! You come from one of the most beautiful countries I've ever been too.
Hope you do some great things for the team.
Go Blazers!
Lucas, then a Blazers assistant, walked past and said that nobody trash-talked like Garnett during his career. "Back then," Lucas said, "it was only a $50 fine for punching a guy in the mouth."
#52
from twitter
pdxtrailblazers
Portland C Marcus Camby (migraine) is questionable and G Rudy Fernandez (back) is doubtful for tonight’s game with Toronto
Lucas, then a Blazers assistant, walked past and said that nobody trash-talked like Garnett during his career. "Back then," Lucas said, "it was only a $50 fine for punching a guy in the mouth."
#52
Only Blazers fans would critique this signing this much.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
that's why Bill Simmons loves us
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Should have had a look at Patty's cousin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4LfZk6oWEI
big Nate is all kinds of fun to watch.
After game 1 of the Sean Marks era
I’m still not sure what the heck is going on. You’re telling me Cho couldn’t find a hungry young center willing to play for peanuts?
Marks’ redeeming quality seems to be he has played the big stiff before, but he doesn’t offer anything else. Perfectly acceptable for a third string, practice body-type of player, but not cool for a second string center for any length of time. Camby can’t play the whole game, Dante is undersized, Aldridge is not suited for long minutes at the 5 so Portland can’t afford to waste minutes at any position even if Przy and Oden will be back “soon.”
Think the key was him signing a non-guaranteed contract.
So if he goes down, those funds are yet again available for another player to replace him. Similar to what Oberto did for us.
As far as what he looked like on the court. I wasn’t impressed – did nothing but dumb fouls.
RIP CITY - We're back!
by CyclonicWinds on Nov 7, 2010 6:29 AM PDT up reply actions
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