Summer league round-up: Portland Trail Blazers

View the Blazers summer league roster.

- Deji Akindele: By being in this list, Akindele shows himself to once again be on the fringes of the minds of NBA executives, somewhere where he's been for about 5 years now. Last year in Italy, Akindele averaged 11.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.6 blocks. He even hit a three. The offense gets slightly better every year. However, the age keeps creeping up too.

- Jerryd Bayless: Rumour has it that my Bulls are pursuing - if not insistent upon - Bayless' inclusion in any potential three way trade that also seems them acquire Carlos Boozer. Not entirely sure of why, to be honest. Isn't the team with Derrick Rose the last team that needs to be looking to acquire a player whose strength is slashing to the rim, but who has a weak jumpshot, can't defend off-guards who isn't really a pass first player? The two can't pair up, and there aren't going to be many minutes behind Rose. So I'm not sure I understand this insistence. (Portland fans will probably speculate that trying to trade for Bayless means the Bulls can now trade Rose, since Jerryd will be better. They're like that.)

- Dante Cunningham: Cunningham once tried out for the British national team, but hasn't been heard from since; presumably, he didn't get a passport in the end. I have no idea what his claim on one was anyway, since he was born in Maryland to American parents, but it's a shame if he's never going to join us. Pops Mensah-Bonsu needs a backup, after all. Cunningham developed a fine mid range jumpshot last season out of roughly nowhere, which is what turned him from an undrafted talent into a high 30's pick. It serves as a nice compliment to the rest of his game, which is solid if not spectacular. He'll probably make the team after Portland's pursuit of Paul Millsap went awry, but even if he does I can't imagine he'll play much next year.

- Uche Echefu: A thoroughly ordinary player who rebounds and defends fairly well, but whose offense is unspecific. I realise that this is a really dumb criticism to levy against a player, and thus I should explain; by "unspecific", I mean "I never quite figured out where he was best at. He'd sometimes play in the paint, sometimes from the midrange and sometimes shoot some threes, yet wasn't really good at any of the three." Make of that what you win. By the way, I only saw Florida State twice, so you don't have to listen to me if you don't want to.

- Matt Freije: Last season, Matt Freije played in the Lebanon for about two weeks, in China for about two months, and in Puerto Rico for two more. He averaged 20/8 in China, and 20/7 in Puerto Rico. Yet strangely it was the stop in the Lebanon that made the biggest impression, as last month Freije received a Lebanese passport and agreed to join their national team. ShamSports.com - news that matters.

- Thomas Gardner: Many of my fellow Bulls fans fell in love Thomas Gardner after a garbage time outing that saw him jack up outside shots relentlessly, shooting 6-16 overall for a sweltering 14 points. My fellow Bulls fans are an easily led bunch. And kind of stupid, too.

- Pooh Jeter: Jeter played 4 years at the University of Portland, and his hometown ties probably factor in his appearance here. Of course, the 16.3 points that he averaged in Spain last year will also help. Jeter is clearly beasting it up in Europe and will probably do so for quite some time. But he's also kind of small for a point guard, and once the NBA tars you with that brush (often correctly), you're never getting rid of it. So he should probably stay in Europe. It's not a bad continent, after all. As long as you stay out of France.

- Bobby Jones: In a 14 month period from September 2007 to October 2008, Bobby Jones moved 10 times between NBA franchises, including of them three times. Since then, though, he's not made one single stop. And he's not going to, either, having already agreed to sign with Banca Teramo in Italy for next season. Has his whistlestop tour stopped so soon? That would be a shame. Especially since Quentin Richardson's about to break his record.

- Joe Krabbenhoft: Krabbenhoft is ideally suited to the NCAA game. He doesn't score much, and is only about 6'7, but he's strong, physical, likes to elbow people in the face and punch them in the balls. He's a decent rebounder and good passer, but with little offensive talent, size concerns and mediocre athleticism. In the NCAA, you can start at centre for four years with that, and have yourself a lot of fun and playing time in doing so. But you need more than that for the NBA.

- Patrick Mills: Mills broke his foot in his first day with the team, after falling about 15 places too far down the draft. It's not been a good month for him. I'd like to say that he's going to make the Portland team, but Christ knows what their roster's going to look like come opening night. If Kevin Pritchard gets his way, it won't be anything like this one.

- Dwayne Mitchell: Mitchell signed with the L.A. Lakers last training camp, didn't make the team, went to the D-League, and was assigned to the Lakers' affiliate, the L.A. D-Fenders. There, he averaged 18.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists, shooting 51% from the field, and upping his assist/turnover ratio from 1:1.37 to 1.58:1. He still can't shoot, though, shooting only 23% from three point range and 68% from the line. The turnover numbers are better, so he's getting there. Unfortunately, he's 27 next month.

- David Moss: Moss is a former Indiana State player player who rebounds very well for a 6'5 and who has a solid all around game, but no other stand out characteristics. In the Lakers post, when I mentioned that David Monds had already signed elsewhere....he hadn't. I was thinking of David Moss instead, who has already landed a plush gig with last year's Serie A champions Montepaschi Siena. He signed for three years, too, which means he'll be nearly 29 before he's back on the market again. So that's probably the end of his NBA dream.

- Drew Neitzel: Neitzel is still trying to rework himself into a pass first guard, and it's going fairly well. But he also only averaged 5/3 in Germany last year. And that's.....pretty bad. Pretty damn bad.

- David Padgett: See this.

- Jeff Pendergraph: Pendergraph's going to make the team. Channing Frye, Shavlik Randolph and Michael Ruffin are not. That trio combined for 818 minutes last year. Those minutes look like they're Pendergraph's.

Where Are They Now, 2009; Part 27

- Chris Jefferies is a weird story. A first round draft pick back in 2002, Jefferies got an opportunity to showcase himself back in his rookie season with an injury depleted tanking Raptors team. He didn't do much with it, and he was a throw-in in the trade the following season that saw Antonio Davis and Jerome Williams go to Chicago. It was there that Jefferies won my heart, demonstrating a decent set shot, interested defense, and a staggeringly bad handle. Jefferies was waived during the following offseason, out of the league after only two seasons. He then signed in the ABA with the Visalia Dawgs, a team that tried to reunite talent from the Fresno area. The team changed its head coach and renamed itself partway through its first season to the Central Dawgs, finished with a 3-20 record, and then folded. Jefferies has not played anywhere since, and this was nearly 4 years ago now. A Hoopsworld article from this time in 2007 talked about how Jefferies was rehabbing after multiple surgeries, but nothing came of that. C-Jeff turns 29 in less than a fortnight's time, and his basketball career has been on hold for far too long now. Is he even trying to come back any more? If you know, let me know. Because I care about you, Chris Jefferies. We all care.

- Dontell Jefferson is in the D-League, and somewhat starring, as one of only three Utah Flashers that you will have ever heard of. (The other being James Lang and Ronald Dupree.) Jefferson averages 18.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.5 turnovers a game on a decent Flash team.

- Horace Jenkins is with Eldo Caserta in Italy, but his scoring numbers are less than usual, averaging only 10.1 points per game. Then again, Jenkins is 34 now, soa slowdown will happen. Fun game: name as many Division 3 players that you can think of who made the regular season roster of an NBA team. I'll give you a clue; Horace Jenkins is one. DeeAndre Hulett is not.

- Brandon Jennings is in Italy with Lottomattica Roma, as well you know. He might not be having as much fun as he'd like, but the numbers are OK from a 19 year old American at Europe's highest level: Jennings averages 6.1 points and 2.1 assists in Italian league play, and 7.5 points and 1.1 assists in Euroleague play. However, Jennings is a combined 23% from three point range (15/65) and 37% overall (63/170), these numbers coming from the short European three point range to boot. I'm not smart enough to know where his draft stock is at the moment, but fully ready he is not.

- Pooh Jeter averages 16.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists for Vive Menorca of the Spanish ACB. A decent European career awaits; an NBA career does not.

- Britton Johnsen left the Jazz before training camp began to join up with a team in the Ukraine. It didn't happen, however, and Johnsen went unsigned for a while before joining up with PAOK Marfin Thessaloniki in Greece to start this year. In 4 games with the team, Johnsen has averaged 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds.

- DerMarr Johnson is unsigned, as the NBA finally realises that he is not fulfilling the potential that they've been banking on for 7 years.

- I don't know what Ervin Johnson does now. At age 41, I don't think a comeback is on the cards.

- Linton Johnson made the Bobcats very briefly at the start of this season, as a part of their constant big man turnover. This came after being waived from the Wizards' training camp, bringing the number of teams that Linton has signed a contract with at some point (summer league excluded) to nine. Not bad. Johnson is currently unsigned, not even in the D-League, clearly waiting for the 10th to come a-calling. Might I suggest him to you, Cleveland?

- Remember Ken Johnson? So does Ken Johnson. The other KJ averages 7.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in German league play for Telekom Baskets Bonn, alongside 7.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in EuroChallenge play. Who was it who said the German league wasn't worth anything? You, sir, were wrong. Your league houses Ken Johnson. Therefore, the level of quality of that league speaks for itself.

- Finally, Arthur Johnson is unsigned, after spending last season with Eldo Caserta (look up to the Horace Jenkins bit). Johnson averaged 13.8ppg, 6.5rpg and 2.7spg for Caserta, but this was when they were a Lega2 team.

If you can't get enough Johnson, then despair not, for the next update brings more news of Johnson goodness - Alexander Johnson news will be coming your way shortly. If you can't want until then, here's some bonus Johnson: Trey Johnson just signed a ten day contract with the Cavaliers, meaning the league now has 4 Johnson's in it. And that's enough for anyone. Giggidy.

Summer signings, round 15

- Chris McCray signed with Rimini in Italy, a town whose very name made it destined for basketball greatness (and thus, by proxy, destined for Chris McCray). While we're on the subject of people named McCray, I'd like to extend an RIP to Colin McRae. And Steve Fossett. And Glenn Miller. And Matthew Harding. And Bernie Mac. And Mother Teresa. And basically anybody who has ever died. Except for maybe Fred West. And Hitler. And Judas. And Saddam Hussein. And Mutsuo Toi. I'll stop this now before you find a less preachy blog to read instead.

- Andre Emmett and JamesOn Curry are both reportedly negotiating with Hapoel Jerusalem. I know that this blog is about "signings" and not negotations, since a whole lot more negotiating goes on than signing. But, sod it. I'm a maverick. I don't play by the rules. Not even the arbitrary ones that I created in the first place. (Kevinn Pinkney was also supposed to be talking to Hapoel, despite a previous blog post relaying the news that he'd signed for an Italian team. However, now another report has come out saying that he's signed with a third team, also in Italy, called Cantu. The lesson, as ever: screw Danny Ainge.)

- Eugene Jeter signed with Vive Menorca of Spain (specifically, the island of Menorca), much to the chagrin of at least one Minnesota Timberwolves fan who thought that Jeter could be the answer to their team's "oh Jesus, someone has to pass the ball?" problem. Since the drafting of Derrick Rose, Eugene Jeter is no longer the best professional point guard in the world with the nickname "Pooh", so the question has to be asked as to why we should still care about him. (Poor old Pooh Richardson is now down to third place, despite his basketball career being far more successful than that of Pooh Jeter's to date. These rankings might not be official, or accurate. Also, if anyone wants to conduct a study as to why only point guards are nicknamed "Pooh", I'll help finance your work, to the tune of a couple of quid.)

- The L.A. Clippers signed Jason Williams, thus pretty much concluding their business for the offseason. At times in these posts, I have slated the Clippers for what I deem to be some cap mismanagement. (I stand by it, although it has been pointed out to me that the Eric Gordon signing was probably necessitated by the common practice that dictates that rookies won't play in summer camps without a contract. I sort of knew that already, but I'm willing to concede the point anyway, because I'm entirely brilliant and just a little bit self-congratulatory.) However, they deserve due credit: this summer, they have signed Baron Davis, Ricky Davis, Brian Skinner and Jason Williams as free agents, while also taking on the market value contract of Marcus Camby while giving up nothing. That right there is a succession of moves that sees decent-to-fine players obtained for good value - Baron Davis signed for far less than the maximum, Ricky Davis signed cheaply for one year, Skinner took the minimum, Williams may as well have done, and Camby is tied in for two years at an extremely good price for an elite centre. For this, the Clippers deserve their due. I still worry about their long term future, or lack thereof (although they do have something of a 2010 plan on the go), and they aren't going to win much other than a playoff spot in the immediate future. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, and signing good players for good prices never is. So, kudos.

- The Josh Smith played itself out thusly: Atlanta refused to budge from their lowball of a 5 year, $45 million offer; Smith looked elsewhere; Smith signed a 5 year and $58 million offer sheet from Memphis; Atlanta quickly matched. So that's pretty sensible all around. The news that Memphis isn't entirely against the idea of spending their cap room comes as a welcome relief, though, and it gives me an idea, one which will future in the next blog post. (Hint: It's based around an anagram of Neb Gondor. And the fact that I just made that a link may give the game away slightly.)

- Josip Sesar has signed with Zrinjski Mostar in Bosnia, and not the Boston Celtics. Damn shame.

- Sun Yue, second round pick of the Lakers last year, has agreed to sign with the team. Apparently, the important Lakers people reckon that Yue may get some point guard time, and Lamar Odom will also spent some time playing at the guard spots. Verdict: I think they're lying.

- Miami signed Yakhouba Diawara because they didn't think that they had enough players under contract yet.

- The Hawks signed Thomas Gardner and Othello Hunter. The Gardner signing, while largely inconsequential, gives the Hawks six guards not named Salim Stoudamire. That, plus this rather ominous blog report thing, gives me the vague idea that maybe Salim Stoudamire isn't going to back to the Atlanta Hawks next year. So, if there's anyone out there with sway in this 'ere NBA world - do me a favour. Either sign Salim Stoudamire, or help us find somebody who will. He's like Jannero Pargo, and everyone likes Jannero Pargo (or, rather, everyone hates playing against him.) He'll probably come cheaper, too. I demand that someone sign him. I have no leverage with which to make such demands, but that didn't do Luol Deng any harm. (Devin Brown also needs a home, but I think I'm over this now.)

- The New Orleans Hornets re-signed Ryan Bowen. Yeehaw. The Hornets' bench now reads thusly: Mike James, Rasual Butler, James Posey, Bowen, Hilton Armstrong, Julian Wright, and Melvin Ely. Who out of that lot do they expect to be a sixth man, exactly? They appear to have moved on from Pargo and Bonzi Wells, two players always willing to fashion a shot, even if they're not always a good idea. So who's going to provide the bench offense here? I'm aware that Chris Paul is basically Jesus, who could get even me an easy basket, but the real Jesus had a few days off, too. (He got his carpentry NVQ at a young age. Good plan. It's always a good idea to have a fallback option.) So the Hornets could really use someone that can find, take and make a shot off the bench. Mike James isn't getting it done, and Ryan Bowen really isn't getting it done.

Hey, I know! Maybe the Hornets could use Salim Stoudamire!

Where Are They Now? Part 19

It has been brought to my attention that this series of posts is 'dull', 'uninformative' and 'gay'. This unholy trifecta is a bit upsetting - I figured I could lapse into at least one of the three by accident. But no, apparently that's all three strikes right there.

Still, if there's two things that I don't have, they are a willingness to accept negative criticism, and a social life. So a combination of the two will see this series continue in a slightly different way, that hopefully is more uplifting, more useful, and more heterosexual. (Also, regardless of whether other people like me doing it, I'M enjoying doing it. So nanny nanny boo boo, stick your head in doo doo.)

Rudimentary stats for all players will now be added, where applicable. The act of doing this will probably drive me to suicide, if I am not already slain by the inevitable carpal tunnel that will come with it. But this is what champions do. They give up their bodies. (No wait, that's what whores do.) They show grit, and lay it all out there every day, willing to risk injury and/or humiliation for the team's greater good. They play the game the way that it should be played. They are heroes.

I am David Eckstein. You are Joe Morgan. I have absolutely no idea what I'm saying any more. Let's do this.

---

It's very difficult to find information on Jermaine Jackson, due to the far more famous person with that name being deemed more newsworthy, despite him not doing anything of any significance for a few decades. Still, all is not lost - for those of you positively climaxing at the thought of a Jermaine Jackson update, despair not, for I have one. Jackson recently signed for Leon in Spain (not France, that's Lyon), where he is averaging 9.4 points, 3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.

If you're into your European basketball, you've probably heard of Jan Jagla. But if you're only into your NBA basketball, then you probably haven't. Nevertheless, the two did meet for a brief time, as Jagla once joined the L.A. Clippers's training camp. (He did not make the team.) He is playing for Joventut in Spain, playing a bit part role to the two man show of starlets Rudy Fernandez and Ricky Rubio (who, if you haven't heard of, you bloody soon will do). Jagla averages 9.4 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. Also on that team are Jerome Moiso and Lonny Baxter, so there's a frontcourt worth fearing.

Sarunas Jasikevicius, as mentioned in an earlier entry, is part of a three headed Failed NBA Guards monster for Panathinaikos of Greece, alongside Vassilis Spanoulis and Sani Becirovic. Jasikevicius averages as near as is 19.4 points a game, to go with 3.4 assists, and seemingly is no longer baffled by the rather fundamental request to be able to keep a live dribble while running forwards.

Robertas Javtokas, Spurs draft pick, is playing for Dynamo Moscow of Russia, and is averaging 10.1 points and 6.3 rebounds. I get to watch The Jive Talker quite often, and he's developed a right handed hook shot. That'll be useful for day that he joins the NBA, a day which looks increasingly like it will never happen.

Chris Jefferies is one of my favourite "Awful Bulls Players That You Just Can't Stop Loving" of all time. Why this is, I have no idea. I think it has something to do with his fight with Rick Brunson, and how mesmerically bad at dribbling Jefferies was (is). If you feel the love too, you'll be gutted to know that his basketball career died. His only gig since leaving the NBA was for a long since defunct ABA team known as the Visalia Dawgs, who merged with another team soon after inception to try and stay solvent, but who quickly folded for good. This was three years ago. Since then, Jefferies has had lots of injuries, lots of surgeries, and no employment whatsoever. It's worrisome.

Dontell Jefferson recently left the D-League to go and play in Latvia, which seems like a weird career move. Playing alonside Gonzaga's J.P. Batista and the one and only Demetrius Alexander, Jefferson is averaging 9.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

Horace Jenkins is playing for Upim Bologna of Italy, averaging about 17 points a game with less than 2 assists. Jenkins has shot more three pointers than two pointers, and his hitting them at a mere 31%. Also on that team - Joe Forte. Joe Effing Forte. So with those two as the guards, you know Dalibor Bagaric is getting his touches. Oh, and former Warrior Oscar Torres plays there, too. Some bonus info there.

Eugene "Pooh" Jeter is playing for BC Kyiv in the Ukraine, alongside Josh Davis. Derek is averaging 14.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists a game.

Fuck knows what Ervin Johnson does these days. He last played for the Bucks, and seemingly retired without fanfare.

Linton Johnson recently left Toronto after not getting a second ten day contract, and is probably at home waiting for the phone to ring. (I'd ring him if I had his number. I really would. And don't think that I'd have nothing to say, either.)

Ken Johnson has toured Asia in recent years, and has wound up playing for Frankfurt in Germany, alongside the immortal Koko Archibong. Johnson averages nearly 6 points and 4 rebounds in 17 games, with 4 total assists.