Trader Bob is at it again.
After failing to make a draft day trade to land JUCO star Kedrick Brown last season, Blazers GM Bob Whitsitt has been working the phones the last few weeks in an effort to land a young star in the draft.
Several league sources told Insider late Tuesday that the Blazers and Clippers have worked out a deal in principle that would send the No. 12 pick in the draft to Portland for Zach Randolph and $3 million. The Blazers will use the pick to draft high school phenom Amare Stoudemire, if he's still on the board. If he's gone at No. 12, they feel that another big man, either Nene Hilario or Curtis Borchardt, will still be available. The Clippers plan to use the money to help defray the cost of bringing in their 2000 second-round pick, Marko Jaric. Jaric is reportedly seeking a contract starting at between $3 and $4 million a season.
The trade could be one of several the Blazers will make this summer. The team is also actively searching for a center to fill the hole left by Arvydas Sabonis last year. It's targeted several players, including the Sixers' Dikembe Mutombo, the Heat's Alonzo Mourning and several lesser known free agents like the T-Wolves' Radoslav Nesterovic and the Sonics' Jerome James. Heat president and coach Pat Riley told the Miami Herald Tuesday that no trade offers have been made for Mourning ''We're not moving Zo in the next year,'' Riley said.
The Blazers are shopping Dale Davis, who has just one year left on his contract. They're also seeking out sign-and-trade opportunities for restricted free agent Bonzi Wells. Although the team does plan on tendering him a one-year offer, the Blazers would prefer to move him if they can get value in return. Scottie Pippen and Shawn Kemp are also available, but given their huge salaries, moving them is extremely difficult.
The team is also trying to figure out its point guard woes. Damon Stoudamire is available, but given the three years and $44 million left on his contract, don't expect a lot of takers. Expect the team to make a run at Clippers free agent Jeff McInnis this summer. Because the Blazers are over the cap, the most they can offer him is the $4.5 million exception.
The Clippers, on the other hand, are one of the few teams in the NBA with significant cap room. Still, with 11 players under contract next season, and with the imminent arrival of Jaric, the team has been trying to move its two lottery picks for the last month. This may be the Clippers' last year of cap flexibility.
This summer they'll have to figure out what they are going to do with Michael Olowokandi, who is a restricted free agent. The team plans to tender him a one-year offer. If negotiations don't go well (Olowokandi is asking for a max deal), he could accept the one-year deal and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
The Clippers also have to decide whether to offer extensions to Elton Brand, Lamar Odom and Corey Maggette.
After failing to make a draft day trade to land JUCO star Kedrick Brown last season, Blazers GM Bob Whitsitt has been working the phones the last few weeks in an effort to land a young star in the draft.
Several league sources told Insider late Tuesday that the Blazers and Clippers have worked out a deal in principle that would send the No. 12 pick in the draft to Portland for Zach Randolph and $3 million. The Blazers will use the pick to draft high school phenom Amare Stoudemire, if he's still on the board. If he's gone at No. 12, they feel that another big man, either Nene Hilario or Curtis Borchardt, will still be available. The Clippers plan to use the money to help defray the cost of bringing in their 2000 second-round pick, Marko Jaric. Jaric is reportedly seeking a contract starting at between $3 and $4 million a season.
The trade could be one of several the Blazers will make this summer. The team is also actively searching for a center to fill the hole left by Arvydas Sabonis last year. It's targeted several players, including the Sixers' Dikembe Mutombo, the Heat's Alonzo Mourning and several lesser known free agents like the T-Wolves' Radoslav Nesterovic and the Sonics' Jerome James. Heat president and coach Pat Riley told the Miami Herald Tuesday that no trade offers have been made for Mourning ''We're not moving Zo in the next year,'' Riley said.
The Blazers are shopping Dale Davis, who has just one year left on his contract. They're also seeking out sign-and-trade opportunities for restricted free agent Bonzi Wells. Although the team does plan on tendering him a one-year offer, the Blazers would prefer to move him if they can get value in return. Scottie Pippen and Shawn Kemp are also available, but given their huge salaries, moving them is extremely difficult.
The team is also trying to figure out its point guard woes. Damon Stoudamire is available, but given the three years and $44 million left on his contract, don't expect a lot of takers. Expect the team to make a run at Clippers free agent Jeff McInnis this summer. Because the Blazers are over the cap, the most they can offer him is the $4.5 million exception.
The Clippers, on the other hand, are one of the few teams in the NBA with significant cap room. Still, with 11 players under contract next season, and with the imminent arrival of Jaric, the team has been trying to move its two lottery picks for the last month. This may be the Clippers' last year of cap flexibility.
This summer they'll have to figure out what they are going to do with Michael Olowokandi, who is a restricted free agent. The team plans to tender him a one-year offer. If negotiations don't go well (Olowokandi is asking for a max deal), he could accept the one-year deal and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
The Clippers also have to decide whether to offer extensions to Elton Brand, Lamar Odom and Corey Maggette.
