Blazers Sign UFA F Craig Smith
Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times reports that the Portland Trail Blazers might have found the final big man they were looking for: unrestricted free agent forward Craig Smith.
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Looks like Portland is picking up Craig Smith, according to Craig. The Rhino goes to Portland.
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Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.com has confirmed.
Smith posted on Twitter: "Portland here I come. Marcus Camby, I'm on my way foooool!"
Update: Here's the press release confirming the move.
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The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to terms with forward Craig Smith. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"Craig is a guy who will bring us some interior scoring and toughness around the hole," said Trail Blazers Acting General Manager Chad Buchanan. "He is a player who is hungry to experience the playoffs and we hope that Craig can help us get back to the postseason again this year."
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Smith, 28, is listed at 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, and he's called The Rhino because... take a guess.
A 5-year veteran out of Boston College, Smith's career has included stops with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 12.2 minutes per game last season for the Clippers.
On Monday, a team source told Blazersedge that the organization was targeting a two or a four. On Thursday, the Blazers have now reportedly landed both in Crawford and Smith. Big man Earl Barron, who is on a non-guaranteed contract, is the most likely player to get the ax to create roster space for Smith.
The Blazers can add a player using either the bi-annual exception or the veteran's minimum.
This post will update with more information.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter