RealGM Basketball Wiretap

Paul Allen Attends Blazer Workout Featuring Cody Zeller

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 21:37:46 EDT

The Portland Trail Blazers hosted Cody Zeller for a private workout on Friday.

Zeller’s workout was attended by Paul Allen, who typically only shows up for a player the Blazers are considering for their first-round pick.

Zeller figures to go right in the range of the Blazers’ No. 10 selection.

Brandon Triche To Work Out For Blazers, Kings, Knicks

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 20:20:53 EDT

Brandon Triche will work out for the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings and New York Knicks over the next ten days.

Triche expects to have more workouts with other teams scheduled before the draft.

A 6-foot-4 combo guard, Triche averaged 13.6 points and 3.6 assists during his senior season at Syracuse.

Wesley Matthews Undergoes Procedure On Elbow

Thu, 30 May 2013 00:49:45 EDT

Portland Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews underwent a successful arthroscopic debridement of his left elbow on Wednesday.
 
Matthews’ recovery time is expected to be 3-4 weeks.
 
In his fourth NBA season and third with the Trail Blazers this season, Matthews averaged 14.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, a career-best 2.5 assists, a team-high 1.30 steals and 34.8 minutes in 69 games (all starts).

21 NBA Teams To Compete In 2013 Vegas Summer League

Wed, 29 May 2013 13:52:37 EDT

The 2013 Vegas Summer League will be comprised of 22 teams and run from July 12 to July 22.

Atlanta Hawks (2010-12)
Charlotte Bobcats (2008, 2012)
Chicago Bulls (2005, 2009-12)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2004-12)
Dallas Mavericks (2005-12)
Denver Nuggets (2004-12)
Golden State Warriors (2005-12)
L.A. Clippers (2005-12)
L.A. Lakers (2007-12)
Memphis Grizzlies (2007-12)
Miami Heat (2010-12)
Milwaukee Bucks (2007-12)
Minnesota Timberwolves (2006-12)
NBA D-League Select (2009-12)
New Orleans Pelicans (2005-12)
New York Knicks (2005-12)
Phoenix Suns (2004-12)
Portland Trail Blazers (2005-12)
Sacramento Kings (2005-12)
San Antonio Spurs (2007-12)
Toronto Raptors (2008-12)
Washington Wizards (2004-12)

Blazers Schedule Workout With Pierre Jackson

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:29:49 EDT

The Portland Trail Blazers have scheduled a pre-draft workout with Pierre Jackson, a 5-foot-10 point guard out of Baylor.

Considered a mid second round selection just a few weeks ago, Jackson is now being projected as a first round pick.

The Blazers have four picks in the draft, including the No. 10 overall selection.

Cavaliers Win Lottery; Magic, Wizards In Top-3

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:52:23 EDT

The 2013 NBA Draft Lottery was held on Tuesday in Times Square with the Cleveland Cavaliers winning for the second time in three years and third time in ten years. The Washington Wizards moved up from the eighth slot to draft third.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Orlando Magic
3. Washington Wizards
4. Charlotte Bobcats
5. Phoenix Suns
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Detroit Pistons
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Portland Trail Blazers
11. Philadelphia 76ers
12. Toronto Raptors
13. Dallas Mavericks
14. Utah Jazz

Two Men Assaulted After Taking Photo Of Damian Lillard

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:27:53 EDT

Damian Lillard is being accused of standing by while his entourage beat up two brothers in Portland's Old Town district on Saturday morning.

Jermaine Ulinwa said that he took a photo of Lillard with his cell phone after he spotted him walking toward a parking lot.

“So I took a picture. And so Damian Lillard was upset that I took his picture, so when he turned around he's like, "Did you just take my picture?" said Ulinwa.

“And his entourage just turned around too and they're like, ‘Did you just take a picture of Damian Lillard?’ ... and I said 'Yeah, I did.' And so I saw that he was clearly upset, they were upset and I was like, 'Can I apologize to him? I'll go up right now and apologize to him,'” the brother said.

Philip Ulinwa says he was punched and kicked repeatedly, enough to break his nose and require stitches in his lip.

"I'm getting hit from behind, I'm trying to fight the guy in front, trying to defend myself and there's guys trying to hold me down," said Ulinwa. 

Lillard was recently named the 2012-13 NBA Rookie of the Year.

“Damian Lillard basically instigated it, because he actually looked like he was going to go up to my brother and start fighting him. And since he did that, the rest of the guys started getting riled up too and like they thought it was okay to just start fighting out of nowhere,” said Phil Ulinwa.

Police confirmed they are investigating the incident.

“What we do know for certain at this point is Damian Lillard is not a suspect in this incident at all," said Portland Police spokesman Sgt. Pete Simpson. "Police did talk to him there. He remained at the scene. What we don’t know is if these people were actually associated with him or people standing in a group or hangers on. We're not really sure yet." 

Source: Blazers Considering Trading Up To Select Oladipo

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:40:52 EDT

The Portland Trail Blazers “really like” Victor Oladipo and are considering moving up in the draft to get him, according to a source close to the prospect.

Oladipo expressed interest in playing for the Blazers.

“I would really love to go to Portland, and I'm not just saying that,” Oladipo said. “I hope, and I don't think I'm dropping that far, but if they decided to move up somehow, I think that would be a great situation for me. It's a place where you can just concentrate on basketball.”

Oladipo is projected to go in the top five of the upcoming draft.

Blazers Hire Nate Tibbetts As Assistant Coach

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:49:04 EDT

The Portland Trail Blazers have hired Nate Tibbetts as an assistant coach on Terry Stotts' staff.

Tibbetts had been with the Cleveland Cavaliers since 2011.

Lillard, Davis, Beal, Waiters, Barnes On 2013 All-Rookie First Team

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:39:00 EDT

Damian Lillard headlines the 2013 NBA All-Rookie Team as a unanimous selection.

Bradley Beal, Anthony Davis, Dion Waiters and Harrison Barnes joined Lillard on the All-Rookie First Team.

On the All-Rookie Second Team is Andre Drummond, Jonas Valanciunas, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kyle Singler and Tyler Zeller.

Blazers Dismiss Athletic Trainer Jay Jensen After 19 Seasons

Sat, 11 May 2013 11:26:32 EDT

The Portland Trail Blazers have parted ways with longtime athletic trainer Jay Jensen.

Jensen served as the Blazers’ trainer for 19 years.

Jensen came under scrutiny in recent years after Greg Oden and Brandon Roy had their careers compromised because of knee injuries.

Kaleb Canales Leaves Blazers To Become Assistant With Mavericks

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:42:42 EDT

Kaleb Canales is leaving the Portland Trail Blazers to take an assistant coaching position with the Dallas Mavericks.

Canales, a finalist for the Blazers' coaching vacancy last offseason that ultimately went to Terry Stotts, served as a defensive coordinator on Portland's staff this season.

Stotts had said he wanted to remove the "coordinator" label and make both ends of the court a team effort from the coaches.

Canales was the Blazers' interim coach in 2012, when the organization fired Nate McMillan.

Lillard Eager To Improve Defense Under Tutelage Of Gary Payton

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:59:18 EDT

Damian Lillard has heard the criticism of his defense and took time during Wednesday’s Rookie of the Year presentation to answer his critics.

“When people say stuff about my defense, it bothers me,’’ Lillard said. “And I’m aware of it. It drives me. It lights a fire under me.’’

Lillard plans to study defense this summer under the direction of Gary Payton, who won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 1995-96.

Payton reached out to Lillard watching the rookie point guard score 37 points at Golden State.

“He said ‘I want to help you,’ ’’ Lillard said. “He said it would take time for me to become a defender, but he said I have everything to become one. So this will be the summer where I get in the gym with him and try to learn from him.’’

Neil Olshey is thrilled at the prospect of Lillard working out with Payton.

“The more time Dame spends with Gary this offseason, the more I know Dame will respect that he has to give an incredible effort on the defensive end,’’ Olshey said. “Because if Gary is going to invest time in him talking about defense, Damian is the type of kid who will feel like he has to deliver.’’

Damian Lillard Unanimously Wins 2013 NBA Rookie Of The Year

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:28:28 EDT

Damian Lillard unanimously won the 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year award.

Lillard was selected sixth overall by the Portland Trail Blazers with a draft pick acquired from the Brooklyn Nets for Gerald Wallace.

Lillard averaged 19.0 points and 6.5 assists per game.

Anthony Davis and Bradley Beal finished second and third respectively.

Andre Drummond, Dion Waiters, Harrison Barnes, Chris Copeland, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Jonas Valanciunas and John Jenkins also received votes.

Jermaine O'Neal Interested In Signing With Blazers

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:35:34 EDT

Jermaine O'Neal openly talked about returning to the Portland Trail Blazers this offseason as a free agent.

O'Neal was a first round pick by the Blazers in the 1996 NBA Draft straight out of high school.

“I'm very open to Portland. They're definitely a team I'm looking forward to having talks with this summer,” O'Neal said. “LaMarcus [Aldridge] and Damian [Lillard] along with [Nicolas] Batum are some great pieces to build around. All they need to do is shore up the bench and add a paint presence on defense and they'll be right there. It's hard to put that type of stress on your starting five and I know I can help ease some of that stress.”

O'Neal played for the Phoenix Suns this past season.

“Portland is a team I have to look at this summer. That city has always been in my heart because one: Mr. [Paul] Allen gave me my opportunity, and two: that city took me in as their second child,” he explained. “I didn't play for two or three years but you couldn't tell. The organization and the fans really allowed me to grow at my own pace. It's a special place to me. I met my wife in Portland. At this point for me, it's all about competing and winning and the Blazers are doing those things.”

Cavaliers Interested In Trading For LaMarcus Aldridge

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:10:56 EDT

The Cleveland Cavaliers have held internal discussions of pursuing a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers for LaMarcus Aldridge, according to sources.

The Cavaliers have enough assets in the form of young players and picks to acquire a player of Aldridge's caliber, but the front office is said to value Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters higher than the rest of the NBA.

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Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:17:02 EDT

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