Blazers Announce Signing Of UFA G Ronnie Price

Portland Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey told reporters outside a Las Vegas hotel on Wednesday that his team plans to sign unrestricted free agent point guard Ronnie Price.

Price will join the Blazers on a veteran's minimum deal and the contract could become official as soon as Wednesday.

Update: The Blazers announced the signing as official on Wednesday night.

"We're going to sign a point guard later today," Olshey said. "Just a minimum player that is going to flesh out our backcourt. We think he's going to be a nice addition."

It didn't take much prodding for Olshey to reveal the identity of his expected addition.

"Ronnie Price," he said. "Ronnie's on his way to Portland, he's doing a physical today, hopefully everything goes well there. He'll join the backcourt. He's very close to Damian [Lillard]. They work out together in the summer. He and Wes [Matthews] played together. He's a totally different look than what Damian and Nolan [Smith] bring to the table and I think he'll really complement those guys."

Price, 29, spent the 2011-12 season with the Phoenix Suns, where he averaged 3.6 points and 1.9 assists in 14.4 minutes per game off the bench. The 7-year veteran previously spent time with the Sacramento Kings and the Utah Jazz. He went to college at Utah Valley State.

Olshey also told reporters that the Blazers would match the Minnesota Timberwolves' offer to restricted free agent forward Nicolas Batum.

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