Fanshots

Pro basketball is a job.

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A timely, well-written article by Lee Jenkins of SI.com, with an anecdote from former player Matt Bullard. The lesson learned here is that, well, pro basketball is simply a job for these athletes. An occupation. A means of employment. Not only first and foremost, but also last and least. Nothing more, nothing less. And that's O.K.

Bill Simmons Predicts: Steve Nash To Be Traded To Blazers

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Grantland.com's Bill Simmons -- also known as "The Sports Guy" -- randomly makes the following 2012 prediction in his Week 17 NFL picks column: "[Phoenix Suns guard] Steve Nash will get traded to the Portland Trail Blazers." No further commentary is provided. text edited, bumped to front page

#5 in NBA.com Top 10 Assists of the Week

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From Thursday night's game against Denver. Felton on the break to Crawford then to Aldridge for the dunk!

A Strong Start In Portland

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Not sure if this is posted anywhere, sorry if it is. Nice article from NBA.com.. Getting some national love.

Stein: Blazers' Adjusted Offer To Greg Oden Worth $1.5 Million?

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Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports that Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden may have accepted a 1-year offer worth $1.5 million after the team announced he suffered a "setback" in his most recent medical examinations. ------------------------- Sources with knowledge of the deal told ESPN.com this week that the 23-year-old agreed to take his salary down all the way to $1.5 million when the parties mutually agreed to negotiate a new deal earlier this month independent of Portland's original qualifying offer. Translation? If $1.5 million is a figure Oden was willing to consent to, down from the $8.9 million qualifying offer Portland extended to him before the lockout to prevent Oden from becoming an unrestricted free agent, this is sadly shaping up to be another lost season for the injury-tortured big man picked ahead of Kevin Durant in the 2007 draft. ------------------------- Prior to the setback and renegotiation, Oden was expected to sign a $8.8 million qualifying offer tendered to him by the Blazers in June. Blazers Acting GM Chad Buchanan has refused to comment multiple times on the structure and size of Oden's renegotiated deal. Team president Larry Miller announced the following on December 9. ---------------------- The contract agreed upon today comes after both sides mutually agreed to negotiate a new deal that is independent of the qualifying offer. "Following Greg's most recent physical examination and evaluation, we've determined that he has suffered a setback," said Trail Blazers President Larry Miller. "We're hopeful, but less confident that he will return to the court this season. We've stood by Greg from the day he was drafted and we continue to do so now with this agreement." ---------------------- Buchanan singled out Oden's representatives for praise in handling the new deal, which was completed on the first day of the free agency period. ---------------------- "After getting the results of the MRI last night, we had extensive talks with the doctor in Vail, our team doctor evaluated the MRI, we spoke with Greg's representatives. I think they were very, very classy about the situation. They understood our concerns. We were able to work together on an agreement we felt was fair on both sides. I'd like to give a lot of credit out to Greg's representatives for going the direction they did. I think we came to a conclusion that's fair to both sides." ---------------------- Hat tip to tipster Jakob, and kennetha and merseykersey who got there first in the FanShots. -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

Oden signed for $1.5M

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Whoa, quite a bit less than his qualifying offer

Was nice to see other players get it going tonight.

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Was nice to see other players get it going tonight.

Suns Sign Veteran Michael Redd To Deal

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Michael Redd has come to the Phoenix Suns in a bid to revive a career derailed by injury, something he knows Grant Hill accomplished before him. The 6-foot-6, 32-year-old sharpshooting guard signed a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum of about $1.3 million. Redd left the Milwaukee Bucks at the end of last season, the final year of his six-year, $91 million contract he signed with the Bucks in 2005. Injuries to his left knee cost him most of the last three seasons. Redd played in 33 games in 2008-09, 18 games in 2009-10 and 10 games in 2010-11. Via Bob Baum AP Sports Writer

Clippers Reportedly Interested In Przybilla

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A little surprised no one posted this. From RealGM via LATimes. Mentions that Clips. Bucks, Heat and Mavs are interested. No mention of Blazers.