The Blazers are getting to work very early this season.

The only Blazers who haven't yet reported in Portland are Raef LaFrentz, Joel Przybilla and Sergio Rodriguez, who is playing in the European Championships, team officials said.

On Wednesday, Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said he was sorry that there was no media access this week. He was apologetic for the closed doors and private workouts, but said he was excited about the enthusiasm, and his smile did all the talking when John Canzano of the Oregonian asked him how unprecedented this kind of wholesale early arrival was by league standards.

"This just doesn't happen anywhere else," he said.

At 20 years old and with his NBA rookie season about to begin, Josh McRoberts, the former Carmel star's life hasn't changed much from his high school days.

He hasn't jumped into the lifestyle of a pro basketball player. He doesn't even have a car yet, although he bought a white BMW for his mother, Jennifer.

Early this week, McRoberts will be heading to Portland, Ore., to find a place to live and get ready for the NBA season. He also would like to get a place in Carmel and live there during the summer.

He will find a familiar face in Portland, No. 1 draft pick and Lawrence North graduate Greg Oden, with whom he played on the powerhouse Spiece Indy Heat summer team. McRoberts calls Oden one of his best friends, and the two will be part of a young team to be unveiled Oct. 10 for the Trail Blazers' first preseason game.

"It's exciting I'm going to be with a good group of guys," McRoberts said. "We've got a really young team, so it's kind of a different feel. It's almost like a college team. Everybody's still old enough to be in college. It's interesting."

The 6-10, 240-pound forward has met many of his new teammates, having played with the Trail Blazers' summer league squad in July.

Insiders tell the Oregonian's John Canzano that Channing Frye has been nothing short of amazing in workouts this summer, and that Aldridge's hold on the power forward position isn't a lock just yet.

Miami has inquired about several free agent wing players, including Portland starting small forward Ime Udoka and Cleveland restricted free agent Sasha Pavlovic, but remains steadfast against paying much luxury tax.

Greg Oden's affiliation with USA Basketball was put on hold this week when he informed the U.S. Olympic Committee that he will not play on the national team this summer.

The No. 1 NBA draft pick was invited to compete in a USA training camp next week, but after a two-week debate, he decided to pass on the opportunity because of a slew of offseason setbacks. Oden's agent, Mike Conley Sr., said Friday that the 7-foot center instead will focus on preparing for his rookie season with the Trail Blazers.

"The next time he touches the floor, he wants to be 100 percent," Conley said. "The last year or so, there's always been something that has held him back -- his wrist, his breathing, his tonsils. He wants to be 100 percent, and he knows that no one cares about excuses. The next time he touches the court, he wants people to see the real Greg Oden."