Nicolas Batum is adjusting to coming off the bench behind Gerald Wallace.

"I knew it was going to be different this year, that I would play less," Batum said. "But that's OK. We are winning, so I'm OK with that."

Batum has yet to show the confidence he displayed while playing on the French national team this past summer.

"I learned things (in France), but Gerald is playing like an All-Star," Batum said. "And Jamal (Crawford) has played great. L.A. has been great. I try ... I try to play great game, but ..."

The Blazers need Batum to be more aggressive in looking for opportunities to score.

"As I've said to him: 'Don't defer,"' Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "Gerald has come in and become the starter, but I want him to approach it as: 'I want that position back.' I want (Batum) to be assertive."

Stephen Jackson's desire to play for the Bobcats waned when the team traded Gerald Wallace last February.

“When Gerald left, I really left,’’ Jackson said.

“Considering what we did (getting to) the playoffs, and then all those changes. To take Gerald away really took a lot out of me. I still was trying to do my job as best I can, but it was a lot harder.  When they got rid of Gerald, that let me know they didn’t want to win. I didn’t want to be part of a place like that.’’

Jackson was dealt to the Bucks in June.

“If they’re going young, and they feel like they’re going to lose, it was the best situation to move me. I wasn’t going to be happy with just losing. I agree with them on that.’’

Portland's small lineup of LaMarcus Aldridge, Gerald Wallace, Jamal Crawford, Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum overpowed the Sixers to take a 72-70 advantage all the way to 95-80. The Blazers ultimately won by a 107-103 final after Philadelphia battled back again.

"When we go small like that if they double team we have a bunch of guys that can make plays," Aldridge said. "That's probably our most lethal offensive lineup."

Aldridge had 25 points to lead the Blazers, while Gerald Wallace had 21 points and nine boards.

"We have a lot of weapons," said Aldridge. "I think as times got tight for us guys stepped up and made big plays."

Nate McMillan believes he has now learned the best way to use Gerald Wallace, who is known for having one of the best blends of toughness and athleticism in the NBA.

"You just have to let him go, you have to just let him play," McMillan said. "I don't think you put a lot of rules and restrictions on him. He plays fearless basketball ... Sometimes you can over-coach. If he is out there thinking, should I do this or should I do that, you can take away his strength, which is the ability to anticipate and create opportunities. So you just let him go."

Wallace excels most when he's allowed to roam free, when his basketball instincts and intuition take over and his mind rests. 

Wallace is the great unknown for the Blazers in terms of how he can impact the team.

"That's my thing -- I just go out and play," Wallace said. "I'm not a big fan of trying to think and trying to comprehend what I've got do out on the court; worry about where I'm supposed to be. My thing is just go out and play, use my instincts, react and try to cause havoc." 

"You just have to let Gerald play his game," center Marcus Camby said. "You see him out there all over the basketball court, trapping the basketball, being aggressive and that leads to a lot of easy buckets for us. Gerald really can't define his game by position, he' just a player. He goes out there, he's very scrappy ... he gives up his body. He only knows how to play one way, which is all out." 

LaMarcus Aldridge says he likes what he has seen from the Blazers in the preseason, both in the moves made by management and by the actions of the players on and off the court.

"This team is definitely better than last year," Aldridge said as the Blazers’ near the Dec. 26 season opener against Philadelphia.

"I like this team a lot. We have great chemistry," Aldridge said. "This is a team that is going to get along well, and I feel we are going to win a lot of games, too. We have all the pieces we need: veteran bigs. Jamal (Crawford) coming off the bench as a good sixth man. Shooters in the first lineup. Nic (Batum) coming off the bench. We have everything we need."

The Blazers have taken the first step toward signing forward Nicolas Batum to a long-term contract extension, sending his representatives a formal letter of intention to discuss an extension.

In the letter, the Blazers said they plan on beginning discussions for a new deal after the first of the year, according to Batum’s agent, Bouna Ndiyae, so the sides expect formal dialogue to begin around Jan. 1.

The Blazers have until Jan. 25 to sign Batum to an extension or they will have to wait until June 30, when Batum would become a restricted free agent.

The Portland Trail Blazers have waived center Earl Barron, it was announced today by Acting General Manager Chad Buchanan.

Barron appeared in two games with Portland in 2010-11, averaging 3.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 18.5 minutes. He signed with the Trail Blazers on April 12, 2011.

Paul Allen, who bought the Blazers in 1988, said he intends on remaining the owner, but he will no longer be among the highest-paying owners, like the early 2000, when his payroll skyrocketed to as much as $108 million.

“As an owner, you really want to do the team right, the fans right, and the community right and build a winning organization,’’ Allen said. “So I’ve invested a lot, but the crazy luxury tax days and all those things, those are gone. Those are gone ... There’s no enjoyment to losing money.’’

Allen would not give a long-term commitment to owning the team, saying his health will be a factor in his involvement, as will the success of the team.

“I think if at some point things were getting stale, or if we were going to be a lottery team forever ... that would be a challenge,’’ Allen said.

Brandon Roy cleared waivers following Portland's decision to amnesty him, according to sources.

Roy is technically a free agent, but he is expected to remain permanently retired.

The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to terms with guard Jamal Crawford.

Crawford's deal is believed to be worth $10 million over two seasons and includes a player option for the second..

Crawford, 31, holds career averages of 15.4 points (41.0% FG, 35.0% 3-PT, 84.6% FT), 2.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 11 seasons with Chicago, New York, Golden State and Atlanta.

"We've thought highly of Jamal for a long time and think he's a great fit for our team," said Trail Blazers Acting General Manager Chad Buchanan. "He brings a scorer's touch and veteran leadership that will help us immediately."