Przybilla accepts five-year deal to stay with Blazers

blabla · Jul 4, 2006

One more top free-agent is off the market: Joel Przybilla has decided to stay with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Joel Przybilla
Center
Portland Trail Blazers

Profile
2006 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
56 6.1 7.0 0.8 .548 .532

Przybilla's agent, Bill Duffy, told ESPN.com that the 26-year-old has verbally agreed to sign a five-year deal with the Blazers believed to be worth more than $30 million.

Przybilla also had strong interest in Chicago, but the Bulls landed the No. 1 center available when they agreed to a four-year deal Monday with Detroit's Ben Wallace worth an estimated $60 million.

The Pistons, in turn, reached a verbal agreement Tuesday with San Antonio free-agent center Nazr Mohammed, but Przybilla -- who drew feelers from the Spurs and a handful of other clubs -- chose to stay where he is.

"Joel said all along that loyalty is important to him," Duffy said. "It means a lot to him that Portland gave him a chance two years ago when no one else did. His relationship with the Blazers and [general manager] Kevin Pritchard were very important factors."

Williamson · Jul 4, 2006

Wow. I wonder who the Spurs will target now to replace Mohammed. I like the sounds of the Spurs possibly taking a hit over the offseason. I know Mohammed wasn't one of their best players, but he certainly had a role on that team. I'm really glad Pryzbilla won't be joining them. I think he's better than Mohammed.

rikesh316 · Jul 4, 2006

Przybilla sucks but they didn't overpay for him. This is how much a average center in this league gets. Spurs still have Fabricio Oberto and they will sign 6-foot-10 Lithuanian Robertas Javtokas, their 2001 second-round draft pick. Spurs also could move Duncan to center and sign Luis Scola.

Old Man Rock · Jul 4, 2006

jmwilliamson said:

Wow. I wonder who the Spurs will target now to replace Mohammed. I like the sounds of the Spurs possibly taking a hit over the offseason. I know Mohammed wasn't one of their best players, but he certainly had a role on that team. I'm really glad Pryzbilla won't be joining them. I think he's better than Mohammed.
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Definitely a hit for them. They lost Nazr and Rasho and replaced them with Bonner and Williams. While I like Bonner as a backup PF he is no center. They may have to move Duncan to center.

hooroo · Jul 4, 2006

http://www.oregonlive.com/weblogs/blazersoregonian/

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

BLAZERS SIGN PRZYBILLA
Just got off the phone with Przybilla's agent, Bill Duffy, who confirmed that the Blazers have signed Joel Przybilla to a 5-year, $32 million contract. The fifth year of the contract has a player option.

Duffy said Przybilla had offers from Detroit and San Antonio, and interest from New Jersey, Sacramento and Cleveland. Przybilla early this morning turned down Detroit, prompting the Pistons' move to pick up Nazr Mohammed.

"I think it came down to a number of things at the end of the day – first and foremost he and his wife absolutley love Portland,'' Duffy said. "The community, the people, the lifestyle. The only negative was the situation with the organization, but Joel was impressed with the moves they made in the draft. He felt like they were serious about changing. And at the end of the day, Joel is a loyalist. Two years ago, when nobody else believed in him, Portland signed him to a two year deal. He felt very strongly about that.''
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hooroo · Jul 4, 2006

http://www.oregonnews.com/article/20060630/SPORTS/106300103

June 30, 2006
After the Portland Trail Blazers' frenetic draft with a record six trades, team director of player personnel Kevin Pritchard wore a wry smile.

"We're not done yet," he said.

...Meanwhile, Miles is still on the team roster, but there's speculation that he won't be for long. Miles, who has four years and $34 million remaining on his contract, himself said he didn't want to return in a postseason interview with McMillan. "I just want to be on a winning team, that's all," Miles said.

We spent a lot of money today," Patterson said afterward. McMillan chimed in: "Wow." There are indications that it was Allen's last chance at a draft. Near the end of last season, the Microsoft co-founder revealed that the team was hemorrhaging money and that he would likely have to get out of the business. "It was an amazing thing to be in the room with a man who has the passion and commitment that he has, not only financially, but emotionally," Patterson said. "I think everyone in Portland owes him a debt of gratitude."
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http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or....ssf?/base/sports/1151727946255250.xml&coll=7

Sunday, July 02, 2006

...On Friday, Patterson said the team's priorities were to grab two of the top four players, and to layaway talent with the No. 30 and 31 picks. Patterson is limited as to what he can say about players to be moved later, but he did indicate that no one on the roster is untouchable.

...Allen spent millions on draft day sealing deals with cash, including the purchase of the rights to Rodriguez from Phoenix. This doesn't sound like the behavior of an owner intent on selling. His financial advisers may slap his knuckles and ultimately persuade him to sell. But his enthusiasm and spending on draft day shows Allen has not lost his passion for the ballclub.

Allen's performance should remind Portland fans of the benefits of having an owner with enormous fiscal resources. Allen has made mistakes but he's never been shy to spend.
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http://fans.blazers.com/blogs/mike_barrett/2006/07/sergio-to-sign-wednesday.html

7/3/2006
...Sergio Rodriguez, who was taken late in the first round by the Trail Blazers will indeed be playing in the NBA next season and will not be staying in Europe.

...Speaking of big men, Joel Freeland has played well in practice so far. He runs the floor very well, has a great shooting touch, and is much more physical than I expected him to be. One of his complaints about the EuroLeague is that they don't allow physical play. He says he fouled out of a lot of games last season, and was always in foul trouble. He loves the NBA because they let you bang a lot more. That's encouraging coming from a 19-year old who needs to add muscle. It sounds like he's certainly willing to mix it up. Also, Nikoloz Tskishvili has looked good, and is excited to be here. He sees what a great opportunity this is for him, and has a great attitude.
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Now that Portland have re-signed Pryzbilla, they'll have 16 players on contract if they sign all their draftees.

PG: Jarrett, Blake, Rodriguez, Dickau
SG: Dixon, Roy, Webster
SF: Miles, Outlaw
PF: Randolph, Aldridge, Freeland, Tskitivili
C: Pryzbilla, LaFrentz, Skinner

Maybe Rockets can get their third PG and even England out from there?

rikesh316 · Jul 4, 2006

Dickau will be cut, needed his salary to match salarys. He is also injured and I don't think he won't be ready for start of season. Freeland will stay in Europe. Miles will be traded. Tskishvili sucks and will always sucks like Boki.

Rocket River · Jul 4, 2006

I maybe the only one .. but everytime I hear this guys name
I think of Jason Collier . . . Hate that his life was cut short

Rocket River
We trade this guy for a Pick and Collier unless I'm mistaken.

Hottoddie · Jul 4, 2006

And the free agents just keep getting snapped up, while we sit on our hands. In the end, we're not even going to get MJ. You watch & see.

hooroo · Jul 4, 2006

Portland indirectly screwed Rockets draft. We need to get Blake & Freeland off them. They won't be necessary to Blazers.

Novak, Sura, Blake, and Freeland could be WBPS reloaded.

studogg · Jul 4, 2006

pardon me for saying this, but Joe Pryzbilla is not a "top free agent". He is a decent backup center on a good team. Yeah, the guy can rebound, but his stats were achieved on one of the worst teams in the league.

Chronz · Jul 4, 2006

Yes the spurs are definately goin to have a drop off. They have no true C, and Duncan is goin to be by himself.

emjohn · Jul 5, 2006

I'm honestly shocked that Pryzbilla stayed, for almost MLE-type money no less. He sounded determined to high tail it out of town at the end of the season. I wonder if this means Miles and Randolph are history, since he was fed up with dealing with them.

If I'm right, Rodriguez and Freeland aren't locks to join the team this year - both could be kept overseas for a year or two.

Evan

weslinder · Jul 5, 2006

hoorooNow that Portland have re-signed Pryzbilla said: ↑

Rodriguez[/b], Dickau
SG: Dixon, Roy, Webster
SF: Miles, Outlaw
PF: Randolph, Aldridge, Freeland, Tskitivili
C: Pryzbilla, LaFrentz, Skinner
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They took a flyer on Freeland, he's 19. He won't be over for a couple of years at least.

Desert Scar · Jul 5, 2006

(pasted from a related thread)
Duncan played more than double his minutes at center than at PF in the regular season. In the playoffs it was even more pronounced, probably 80+ minutes at center.

The only people not admitting Duncan is really a center are the Spurs, Duncan himself, and his fans who want him to be arguably the best power forward to ever play instead of a top 10 center.

IMO the Spurs are a lot weaker without alternative center options to Duncan (Rasha traded, NM gone, not many free agent opens left--Lo Wright?). Duncan is fine as a center, but they have no back-up of any quality AND don't have the flexibility to go big any more. This is great news for Dallas, Houston and the Suns.

Also, I seriously doubt Javtokas, Scolas or Obierto is ready for starters minutes on an NBA playoff caliber team. The Spurs or going to have to bring in another legit 4 or 5 via very creative means or they are further behind the Mavs with Phx (particularly with an Amare return) and us ready to pounce.

txppratt · Jul 6, 2006

too bad we traded pryzb away for collier...

this guy could be ours.. he's as solid as they get! except from the FT line

Laozi · Jul 6, 2006

Desert Scar said:

(pasted from a related thread)
Duncan played more than double his minutes at center than at PF in the regular season. In the playoffs it was even more pronounced, probably 80+ minutes at center.

The only people not admitting Duncan is really a center are the Spurs, Duncan himself, and his fans who want him to be arguably the best power forward to ever play instead of a top 10 center.

IMO the Spurs are a lot weaker without alternative center options to Duncan (Rasha traded, NM gone, not many free agent opens left--Lo Wright?). Duncan is fine as a center, but they have no back-up of any quality AND don't have the flexibility to go big any more. This is great news for Dallas, Houston and the Suns.

Also, I seriously doubt Javtokas, Scolas or Obierto is ready for starters minutes on an NBA playoff caliber team. The Spurs or going to have to bring in another legit 4 or 5 via very creative means or they are further behind the Mavs with Phx (particularly with an Amare return) and us ready to pounce.
Click to expand...

I wonder if Duncan would even be a top ten center

TMACFORMVP · Jul 6, 2006

Laozi said:

I wonder if Duncan would even be a top ten center
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If Duncan was to play center next year he'd be a top 3 center.

Williamson · Jul 6, 2006

Laozi said:

I wonder if Duncan would even be a top ten center
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Centers better than Duncan -

Hakeem Olajuwon
Wilt Chamberlain
Kareem Abdul-Jabar
Bill Russell
Shaquille O'Neal
Moses Malone

Duncan would fit in with guys like Patrick Ewing and David Robinson. He'd definitely make top 10, but not top 5.

Williamson · Jul 6, 2006

TMACFORMVP said:

If Duncan was to play center next year he'd be a top 3 center.
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He meant of all time.

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Przybilla accepts five-year deal to stay with Blazers

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