Portland Trail Blazers Sign Syracuse Forward James Southerland

Training camp chatter begins early for the Portland Trail Blazers this year. As Shams Charania of RealGM reports, free agent forward James Southerland has been inked to a 1-year, non-guaranteed deal. Chris Haynes of CSNNW confirms.

Free agent forward James Southerland has signed a 1-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, league source tells RealGM.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 8, 2014

#Blazers have signed former Syracuse forward James Southerland to a one-year, non guaranteed deal, @CSNNW is told.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 8, 2014

Southerland is 6'8" and is projected to play the small forward position if he remains with the team. He played briefly for the Bobcats and Pelicans last season, appearing in 4 games for 30 minutes total.

The Blazers already have 15 players under contract so Southerland would need to beat out a player on the current roster--whose salary the Blazers would also have to pay--to get his contract picked up. In effect this kind of contract is like calling "dibs" on a free agent without committing to keeping him beyond training camp.

Blazer's Edge reader Kurtis W has a nice rundown of Southerland in the Fanshots.

--Dave blazersub@gmail.com / @DaveDeckard