I just saw Jay Jensen C walking through the PDX terminals bumping Chronic 2001! Let's go around the internet to read more about the Blazers' Andre Miller signing.
Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers tweets...
I aint gone lie, I'm still a lil bitter over this dre miller situation. I knew he wasn't comin back, but reality is settin in...
Blazers Coach Nate McMillan reacts on video to the signing, courtesy of Casey Holdahl.
Geoffrey C. Arnold of The Oregonian writes...
"It's going to help them out a lot," Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant said. "He and Brandon Roy in the backcourt together? I was just telling my brother the other day, 'That's going to be a monster.'"
Dwight Jaynes writes...
For all you people who are talking about Bayless "developing" behind Steve Blake and Andre Miller, forget about it. There is no time for him to play. Period. In previous years, three point guards played because the No. 2 guy didn't have much of a grip on the position. That will not be the case this season. There won't be enough time for Blake and Miller, let alone anyone else. Injury is the only way the No. 3 guy plays. In fact, given the few minutes a game Nate McMillan gives to Roy at the point, I'd hate to be the Blazer coach when it comes to figuring out the Blake/Miller playing time.
One of the reasons McMillan was intent on pursuing Miller was because the point guard had made an impression on him over the last four years.
"When you play against players, you end up liking players who beat you,'' McMillan said.
Miller was 8-1 against the Blazers since McMillan came to Portland, with averages of 15.4 points, 6.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds while making 48.3 percent of his shots (56 of 116).
Wendell Maxey of BeyondTheBeat.net writes...
Now I know management and the coaching staff want Greg to come into training camp and next season with his mind straight locked on rebounding and defense. And that's all fine. But by adding a guy like Miller to the Blazers mix is only going to boost Oden offensively.
Wherever Miller has gone in his 10 years in the league, the bigs he's played with have all stepped their scoring game up thanks to Andre and his lob passes.
Bethlehem Shoals from the Sporting News writes...
So what does this mean for everyone involved? Well, obviously, it's proof that the Blazers don't think Jerryd Bayless is ready to be a point guard for a championship contender, and that he may never be a point guard. Also, Steve Blake is just too limited, even if he does a great job of staying out of Brandon Roy's way.
John Hollinger (ESPN Insider only) writes...
I didn't like Andre Miller going to the Blazers if it was going to cost them $40 million.
At $14 million guaranteed? At that price, I can talk myself into it.
Miller's three-year, $21 million deal -- which includes a team option for a third year that's part of a growing trend I'll discuss in a moment -- is unusually good value for an unrestricted free agent, especially a veteran point guard with a consistent track record who never, ever misses games.
...
But at some point, it became the only sensible move left on the chessboard. Portland had a limited pool of realistic candidates to pursue -- the Knicks were going to match David Leeand no sign-and-trade could be concocted to please all sides, and the only other halfway decent unrestricted free agent, Lamar Odom, seems sealed to the Lakers despite their public standoff. Meanwhile, the dip in quality in the unrestricted pool after Miller and Odom is staggering.
Mike Barrett from Blazers.com writes...
Over the weekend in Las Vegas, Miller was spotted in the hotel lobby where the Blazers, and staff, were staying. Sunday morning we just happened to be in the lobby heading for the airport at the same time Miller was waiting for his car to the airport. Imagine our surprise. He spotted the Blazer logos on our bags and approached my television partner Mike Rice with his arm extended.
Rice asked Miller if he was hoping to become a Blazer. "Oh man, you've got to help me out if you can (not knowing who we were, obviously, and the fact that we have absolutely zero juice). I really want this. This is the perfect fit for me, and things are looking very good. I can help this team."
Ryne Nelson from Slamonline.com writes...
One of the League's most consistent and underrated point guards finally will get his chance to compete for a title. Miller's missed a total of five games in his 10-season career (incroyable!) and has the fourth-most assists among active players. Last season, statistically speaking at least, was Miller's most efficient year since his early years with the Cavs.
He doesn't fit the young Blazer mold, like David Lee or Paul Milsap would have, but he doubtless has three more very solid years left in his legs. He'll provide much-needed veteran savvy to an otherwise talented, but inexperienced Portland team. Good move for PDX
Coup from Rip City Project writes...
The Blazers have Andre Miller, Steve Blake and Jerryd Bayless now at PG, along with Nic Batum, Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster at SF. All six players deserve playing time, not all six are going to get it. Whether you like this Miller deal or not, you can't say the Blazers have accomplished consolidating their young talent.
Stu Holdren from NBANoise.net writes...
What Miller does give the Blazers is an undisputed upgrade in talent. He gives the Blazers another weapon that will add an additional dynamic to the game. I can see Miller orchestrating an up-tempo offense in Portland beautifully, with the occasional lob for an Oden slam. I believe that Miller was the best player left on the market, and his character makes him even more appealing. Portland had to make a move now or wait to make a financially lopsided deal at the trading deadline. Signing Miller now was a sure thing.
Phil Jasner from the Philadelphia Daily news writes...
The Blazers' reality: They are coming off a 54-victory season and feel Miller's experience and point-guard skills could help their young players improve and ultimately go deeper in the playoffs.
The Sixers' reality: Miller could have meant a handful of additional victories in the coming season, but his presence would have further delayed the development of Lou Williams, starting his fifth season, and first-round draft choice Jrue Holiday.
Tony Mejia of Pro Basketball News writes...
The bottom line is Pritchard failed to get the pieces he truly coveted, but wound up with an opportunity to go home happy by taking a shot on the 33-year-old Miller.
He's an upgrade at the point guard spot, allowing Steve Blake to return to a backup role where he'll likely be more effective by being able to put all his energy on the line over reduced minutes. Although there's still a lack of satisfaction as to the lack of synergy between Brandon Roy and his partners on the wing, Miller's arrival should make life easier on the star guard. He improves the Blazers mid-range game and can take some pressure of Roy by getting him easier shots and sharing some of the leadership burden.
Alright, enough Miller talk, here's what else is going on.
Sweet pictures of LaMarcus Aldridge getting his soccer on with Chelsea Football Club.
Chris Sheridan trolls Blazers nation, writing about the Team USA minicamp (Insider Only)...
Durant stood head and shoulders above the rest of his comrades over the course of the three-day camp, and the three years of equity he has built up will result in a payoff next summer. Equity is a big thing with the USA Basketball honchos. Those who put in the time and show their faces from summer to summer (Jeff Green, Andre Iguodala, Greg Oden) have built positive equity. Those who chose to attend a teammate's wedding rather than attend camp (raise your hand, Rajon Rondo), and those who were no-shows for two straight summers for whatever reason (that would be you, Brandon Roy), have accumulated what is known as negative equity.
Sheridan also wrote in that article...
Greg Oden: Perhaps more than anyone else, how he plays over the course of the upcoming NBA season will determine whether he is that bona fide big man who will backup Bosh and Howard in the middle. Still, he's a lock to get an invite next April.
Casey Holdahl has a Greg Oden Team USA minicamp wrap...
All in all, Oden turned in a couple of nice days of basketball in Las Vegas. He set out to prove he could be a defensive presence in the paint, rebound on both ends of the floor and provide a bit of offense when needed, all of which he accomplished. He's still got plenty to work on this summer, but he's making progress. In the offseason, that's about all you can ask for.
Here are some video highlights from the showcase. Oden struggles at times to keep up.
Chris Mannix of CNNSI.com lists Greg Oden as one of five hopefuls for 2012.
Greg Oden, C, Portland
Traditional centers haven't performed well for the U.S. in recent years (hello, Tim Duncan), but if healthy, Oden could be just the type of dominating shot blocker the U.S. team needs behind Dwight Howard. Oden wouldn't have to play big minutes (Howard's athleticism makes him ideal for international play), but he would be a frightening sight camped out in the lane.
John Schuhmann of NBA.com leaves Oden off his top 10 list. Totally understandable; had to save a spot for Kyle Korver. He then went on to blog this...
Greg Oden, C, Portland
Showcase stats: 7 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 3-6 fg, 1-2 ft
Oden defended the rim and rebounded better than any other big, but he showed that he's still got a long way to go offensively (though he did hit a baseline jumper on Saturday). Obviously, by losing so much time due to injuries, he's a couple of steps behind. And the staff knows that, so they'll keep him in the program, even if he doesn't get serious consideration for a roster spot next summer.
For you Pooh Jeter fans, this article has him signing with a Spanish club. Link via Hoopshype.
Adrian Wojnarowski really gets after Stephon Marbury for his 24 hour ustream last week...
There were teams watching him in front offices as he conducted his marathon video chat on Friday, and Starbury confirmed himself as a complete loon. He was live on his balcony, Jesus had shown himself in Marbury's shower and this wayward point guard was still the biggest waste of talent that basketball's seen in a long, long time.
"He's gone off the deep end," one Western Conference executive texted on Friday.
As always, drop your favorite links in the comments. And be sure to visit the Fanshots, which have been popping off recently.
-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)