The Portland Trail Blazers have announced four roster additions for the 2011-2012 training camp: Marshall Brown, Jeff Foote, Ben McCauley and Seth Tarver. Foote and Tarver were reported earlier this week by long-time pal Scott Schroeder at Ridiculous Upside.
The team announces its camp roster at 18 players. Those 18: LaMarcus Aldridge, Luke Babbitt, Earl Barron, Nicolas Batum, Marshall Brown, Marcus Camby, Raymond Felton, Jeff Foote, Armon Johnson, Chris Johnson, Wesley Matthews, Ben McCauley, Greg Oden, Brandon Roy, Nolan Smith, Seth Tarver, Gerald Wallace and Elliot Williams.
The Blazers are still expected to add at least one free agent to that group. Roy will pursue medical retirement due to his ongoing knee injuries; Oden's season is in question after he suffered a "setback" with his knee rehabilitation and Aldridge is currently sidelined for up to two weeks following a heart procedure he underwent on Friday.
For the real sticklers out there: the Blazers announced on Saturday morning that Oden officially signed a 1-year deal for less than the $8.8 million Qualifying Offer. Further details were not disclosed. The team announced that Oden had agreed to that arrangement on Friday. The signature is now officially on the paper.
Here's the full release.
Brown (Forward, 6-7, 225) is averaging 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.00 steal in seven games with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League this season. The Missouri product played four seasons for the Tigers from 2004-08.
Foote (Center, 7-1, 260) also plays in the D-League, where he is posting averages of 16.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.50 blocks in two games with the Springfield Armor. The back-to-back Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year from 2009-10, Foote helped Cornell to the Sweet 16 his senior year and has played overseas in Israel and Spain.
McCauley (Forward, 6-8, 235) appeared in eight games for Roanne of the French Pro-A League in 2010-11, averaging 7.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.13 steals. He played four seasons for North Carolina State from 2005-09, averaging 9.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 124 games for the Wolfpack.
Tarver (Guard, 6-5, 210) appeared in one game for the Trail Blazers during the 2010 preseason and is averaging 15.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in four games this season for the D-League's Idaho Stampede. A Portland native and Jesuit High School graduate, Tarver posted career averages of 7.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.38 steals and 25.8 minutes in 128 games for Oregon State, earning Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2009-10.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter