Damian Lillard has been mentioned as a candidate to participate in USA Basketball’s minicamp, slated for late July in Las Vegas, Nev.

“Damian is definitely on our radar,” director of USA Basketball Jerry Colangelo said. “He's one of the bright young stars we have in this game and certainly his chances are very high that he makes our list.”

The minicamp list of attendees will be announced sometime after the NBA season.

Lillard, a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year honors, is averaging 18.4 points, 6.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 38.5 minutes per game.

“We're watching him,” Colangelo said.

The Portland Trail Blazers and Oklahoma City Thunder have reached agreement Eric Maynor trade, according to sources.

Maynor will be a restricted free agent and has lost his job to Reggie Jackson.

Maynor will backup Damian Lillard at point guard for the Blazers.

The Blazers will send the draft rights to Giorgio Printezis to the Thunder.

When told it wouldn't make sense for him to accept a deal out of the Portland Trail Blazers and that a trade scenario is not likely, J.J. Hickson smiled and nodded in approval.

“There you go then — you just said it,” Hickson said, laughing. “You just answered all your questions.”

Hickson has had a productive season for the Blazers, increasing trade speculation that has left the forward unfazed.

“I’m not going to get all hysterical about it being the trade deadline,” Hickson said. “I’ve been traded before. I’ve been waived before. This is nothing new to me.”

Greg Oden is now likely to wait until the offseason to sign with an NBA team, his agent Mike Conley said.

Oden had been in talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.

Oden is rehabbing from several injuries and hasn't played since 2009.

After Damian Lillard dropped 33 points a road loss to the Miami Heat on Tuesday, LaMarcus Aldridge compared the impressive rookie to the Portland Trail Blazer's last star guard, Brandon Roy.

“The thing that probably stands out the most is his pace and poise,’’ Aldridge said of Lillard. “He’s a Brandon Roy-type player in that he’s come into the league knowing how to play at a different pace, to not speed up. A lot of guards don’t understand that early on, but he has definitely learned that he can dictate the pace out there.’’

“Just like everybody has seen LeBron do that, we are getting used to the things Damian can do,’’ Terry Stotts added.

J.J. Hickson will become an unrestricted free agent in July.

“I’d be lying if I wasn’t looking forward to it, but that’s something I’ll get more excited about when that period hits,” Hickson said. “It’s something that me and my agent will talk about, but right now I’m just worried about playing basketball and trying to make these playoffs.”

Hickson, 24, is averaging 12.9 points and 10.7 rebounds in 29.8 minutes per game, playing primarily at the center position.

“Nah,” Hickson said when asked if he imagined himself playing center for the rest of his career. “But, you know, it’s what my team needs me to do and it’s what my teammates and coaches have asked me to do, so it’s something I’m willing to sacrifice for the team.

“I’ve just been strong mentally, I think, all season. I’m a physical player so that’s not a problem, but mentally I think I’ve been locked in and I’ve just been consistent with my play.”

Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal have been named the NBA Rookies of the Month for their respective conferences.

Lillared led all rookies with 17.7 points, 6.8 assists, 39.5 minutes and 35 3-pointers made to go with 3.4 rebounds and 1.06 steals for the month.

Beal scored 20 or more points in five games in January.

Both Lillard and Beal also won the award in December.