Blazers Granted Hardship Exception To Sign 16th Player

The Blazers have been awarded a hardship exception by the NBA, giving them the option of signing a 16th player to the roster for a short-term basis.

Teams are eligible for the exception after four players on a roster miss at least three games and are expected to miss two additional weeks.

The Blazers became eligible after their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, when Greg Oden missed his third consecutive game because of a fractured patella in his left knee, and were awarded the exception by the NBA on Sunday.

?We?re surveying our options,? said Tom Penn, the Blazers? vice president of basketball operations. ?We?ve been looking at free agents that are out there and available ... and we?re going to keep our options open. We may or may not ultimately sign a player.?