Allen: Blazers Talking With Joel Przybilla

Jay Allen of 750 AM The Game reports that Portland Trail Blazers president Larry Miller said on Wednesday that the team has "been in discussions" with former center Joel Przybilla about "a possible return to Portland."

FanShot All-Star two4Larue will certainly be pleased.

Portland's roster is full at 15 players so a spot would need to be freed up via trade or waiver to accomodate a Przybilla return. Chopping block candidates would include reserve point guard Armon Johnson and reserve big man Chris Johnson.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

4 months ago Ben Golliver 24 comments 4 recs |

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Good, we need a vanilla gorilla cloggin' the paint.

RIP CITY - We're back!

by CyclonicWinds on Jan 25, 2012 7:36 PM PST reply actions

Wooo!

Glad to hear this!! Armon should be getting the cut atleast luke can bring the rose garden chalupas

Formally known as: My_name_a_rudy

by Blaze_that_trail on Jan 25, 2012 9:38 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

It's about time. Get back here Joel, set some picks and get some boards.

"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 25, 2012 7:37 PM PST reply actions

Who do you drop though?

Of the two listed, I vote for Armon.

by Doganpc on Jan 25, 2012 7:42 PM PST reply actions

I vote for Chris.

He’s been lousy in spot minutes, and so has Nolan. Armon is the closest thing to a PG this team has behind Felton.

Doers & Makers > Movers & Shakers

by Adam Randall on Jan 25, 2012 8:11 PM PST up reply actions

Haven't seen Armon this year.

I think Nolan Smith plays pretty decent defense. He just needs minutes. AJ was kind of like Bayless…always going to one side..very much into getting his own shot. I think Nolan Smith may be smarter…4 yr. guy.
Wish Miller was here to teach him….I miss Miller.
But Felton is OK…but just OK. Hope he gets better but I don’t think his ceiling is all that high.

by Natsthecat on Jan 25, 2012 8:47 PM PST up reply actions

I think Nolan will def stay

he has been pretty good at guarding other point guards. Chris is probably who you lose though, and he may be better then a post injury billa. I suspect Joel will stay retired

The tensions are so high because the stakes are so low!

by tylercomp on Jan 25, 2012 9:33 PM PST up reply actions

this tells me the Blazers put Greg's chances of playing this year very low.

Camby is reasonably healthy and we have Thomas and Smith playing well off the bench. If they think we need Joel for a late-season push and the playoffs, it tells me they don’t think Greg will be there.

"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave

by douglast on Jan 25, 2012 7:43 PM PST reply actions

Eh, that may be part of it

But I think it’s more likely that they’re worried about Camby going down and having CJ forced into the rotation. I don’t think they’re comfortable at all with him out there.

by JK47 on Jan 25, 2012 7:58 PM PST up reply actions

Think future

Joel makes me warm. His future isn’t on the pro court.

by doomsdaymachine on Jan 25, 2012 8:47 PM PST reply actions

Why

is Babbitt not considered on the chopping block? I know he plays more than Armon, but is he really any better? Either way, I’m not convinced what we really need right now is Przybilla. He didn’t impress me last year.

Luke Babbitt: Trending worldwide.

by IsWesleyMatthewsForReal? on Jan 25, 2012 8:47 PM PST reply actions

Joel was not wonderful last year but he may be better this year. I think some of what we saw last year

could have been just fear of doing it again..maybe Joel has progressed with this..
And he is better than Chris Johnson. If he does come back I hope it is only because he really wants to and not because he feels he needs to…

by Natsthecat on Jan 25, 2012 8:54 PM PST up reply actions

Babbitt has a larger, guaranteed contract

and presumably more upside/trade value.

Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!

by HailOden! on Jan 25, 2012 10:06 PM PST up reply actions

That comma shouldn't be there........

Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!

by HailOden! on Jan 25, 2012 10:07 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, Luke Babbitt is under contract through at least next season.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Jan 25, 2012 10:19 PM PST up reply actions

Please don't put one of the Johnsons on the chopping block

Instead, cut the guy who shares his name with a Sinclair Lewis novel. Centers and point guards don’t grow on trees, but slow small forwards who can shoot but do little else are a dime a dozen.

by The Cactus Leaguer on Jan 25, 2012 9:20 PM PST reply actions

Oh heck no, keep Joel away from the court. Anything else non-playing related would be great.

by lawalteral14 on Jan 25, 2012 10:03 PM PST reply actions

Meh, this team is what it is with a scrubby C.J. or a broken-down Przybilla.

That said, Przybilla would be far more interesting to have around than either one of the Johnsons.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Jan 25, 2012 10:19 PM PST reply actions

Give it a chance. We don't know what condition Joel is in.

We know he came back way too early last year and was unable to jump or move effectively. He said weeks ago that he feels great again. So let’s see. He wouldn’t come back if he didn’t think he could play. If he can’t, I’ll bet he quits on his own. He has too much pride and doesn’t need the job (barely seems to even want the job now) if his time off hasn’t restored his ability to play effectively.

What do we have to lose? Armon Johnson. We save plane fare by not sending him to the D-league again.

"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 25, 2012 11:11 PM PST up reply actions

"What do we have to lose?"

Agreed, it’s a low-risk move.

But it’s a low-reward one, too.

That’s why I’m meh on the issue.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Jan 26, 2012 5:01 PM PST up reply actions

Please no

I Love Pryz as much as the next guy. What he brought to our team the last couple years was something that no one else provided (toughness) and was therefore irreplaceable for those teams. This team however, has toughness all over the place, and this Przybilla is also trying to come back from an injury which hobbled him badly last season. If the front office would like to hire him as a coach/advisor/ambassador I’d be thrilled, but as a player, I’d rather take a chance that one of the guys we’d have to cut pans out.

I JUST WANT MY BASKETBALL BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Sean in Vancouver on Jan 25, 2012 10:47 PM PST reply actions

why not

bet you that rec is from twoforlarue

by Jefferson541 on Jan 25, 2012 10:54 PM PST reply actions

I love Joel BUT....

I’m kinda tired of hearing about this issue and possibility…Either he wants to play..for us or anyone, and either he can..or he doesn’t. But make a decision Joel.

If he can and wants to play for Portland? And has anywhere near his baseline abilities and skills? And he is healthy? I’d love to have him back.

I’d cut Armon Johnson in an Idaho Stampede minute to get a healthy Joel Pryzbilla on the roster. I’d love a depth chart at center of Camby, Thomas and Pryzbilla.

But if he’s healthy and wants to play? What’s taking him so long to reach a decision?. The Blazers or whomever…

I’m getting a little burned out on the Przybilla “Dream”…

"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"

by Krang on Jan 26, 2012 12:56 PM PST reply actions

Wow, I can't believe this hasn't been linked yet

http://www.brewhoop.com/2012/1/20/2721744/joel-przybilla-update

‘Twas a week ago and perhaps this report is a little man-on-the-streetish (so take it with a grain of salt), but it sounds like he’s not really at an NBA level.

by Corvid on Jan 26, 2012 9:35 PM PST reply actions