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**HispanicCausinPanic** · 09-22-2006, 09:44 AM

I don't know how to put links to other web sites on here, sorry. On ESPN's NBA page it has an article on future stars. They picked Morrison 3 times, Oden and yes OUR JOEL FREELAND! No joke. Check it out! Two pasty white boys named Joel on the same team, wow! If Pryz is the Vanilla Thrilla, what will Freeland's nickname be? Got it...........The London Tower! Try to top that one boys. I'm out like Big Ben!

**SheedSoNasty** · 09-22-2006, 09:51 AM

This was posted not too long ago... I still won't believe it until I see it.

**HispanicCausinPanic** · 09-22-2006, 09:58 AM

It looks like ESPN just put it on there site this morning. If I'm wrong, sorry.

ABM · 09-22-2006, 10:20 AM

FWIW, here's what was said...

Quote:

Ian Whittell, The (London) Times: By now you'll have noticed a certain British/European bias creeping into my answers, but bear with me on this as I throw the name Joel Freeland at you.

The 19-year-old, 6-10 forward shocked a lot of people when he became the first Brit ever taken in the first round of the draft by the Blazers this summer. Nobody was more shocked than Freeland himself, not least because he had never even touched a basketball until he was 16.

One NBA scout told me pre-draft he could see him developing into a Nowitzki-style player with his inside-out game and, having just spent a month covering him on international duty with the Great Britain team in their European Championship qualifying program, I can see what the fuss is about.

The kid has great mobility, foot speed, a nice touch, and is supremely coachable. Yes, he needs to hit the weight room (225 lbs) and he struggles to finish plays against older, bigger opponents. But he has two major things going for him: He is in a great system with Spanish team Gran Canaria and his attitude is phenomenal.

Gran Canaria did not want to release Freeland for GB duty this month and he quite simply could have stayed on the beach in the Canary Islands and worked out with his team. Instead, he risked an argument with his club and hauled himself around such European bright spots as Spisska Nova Ves in eastern Slovakia and Durres in Albania because he wanted to play for his country.

That attitude is just what the Blazers ordered. They have told him they will buy him out of his three-year Gran Canaria contract in two years and just watch how the youngster develops after that. Ten years from now he'll be 29, at his peak, and -- who knows? -- maybe Portland will be competing for the title. OK, maybe I pushed it a bit far with that last prediction!

Foulzilla · 09-22-2006, 10:33 AM

While that guy is a blatant homer (worse then most), at least something interesting came of it. The following quote:

Quote:

That attitude is just what the Blazers ordered. They have told him they will buy him out of his three-year Gran Canaria contract in two years and just watch how the youngster develops after that.

So we shouldn't expect him this year (no surprise) or next year (most likely). No real surprise, we had heard they wanted someone they could stash overseas anyways.

**crandc** · 09-22-2006, 11:04 AM

I like the idea of Tower of London, or London Tower, but wasn't that a prison? My memory is vague but I seem to recall that Anne Boleyn was imprisoned in the Tower of London before being beheaded. Not sure if it's the image the Blazers want, but I can see headlines: "Tower of London beheads Shaq!"

**HispanicCausinPanic** · 09-22-2006, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crandc

I like the idea of Tower of London, or London Tower, but wasn't that a prison? My memory is vague but I seem to recall that Anne Boleyn was imprisoned in the Tower of London before being beheaded. Not sure if it's the image the Blazers want, but I can see headlines: "Tower of London beheads Shaq!"

That's what I like about this site, you are all geniuses! I learn somthing everyday. If it was a prison then what about.................The Warden!