Rip City Wire
Newest first. All times Pacific. Confirmed on the record or confirmed. Rumor anonymous or unconfirmed.
- Confirmed
Damian Lillard says he has no regrets about the trade request that sent him away and the road back to Portland: "I don't regret any part of the journey. I feel like it was all necessary. The team that I'm on now couldn't be formed if I had never left." On his new role next to Morant and company: "I don't feel overwhelmed with responsibility... I can get deep into the season and into the postseason feeling good and feeling healthy."
Source: Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News - Confirmed
Scoot Henderson (left ankle soreness) is a new addition to the injury report and is questionable for Tuesday night's game at the Lakers. Branden Carlson (concussion protocol) was upgraded from out to questionable. Shaedon Sharpe (right meniscus) remains out, and two-way players Jayson Kent, John Tonje and Chris Youngblood are out on G League assignment.
Source: Trail Blazers PR, official NBA injury report via @NBAInjuryAlert; Trevor Lane - Confirmed
Zach Lowe on his latest show: "The Damian Lillard fear factor is 100 percent intact. Defenses are still absolutely terrified of giving him any space at any point on the court once you cross halfcourt." His warning: very soon Portland will face a team that "completely ignores Ja Morant and goes under every screen by five feet and we'll see how they look."
Source: The Zach Lowe Show, via Casey Holdahl, Trail Blazers - Confirmed
The NBA's Week 2 Power Rankings have the 2-0 Blazers at No. 15, behind the 0-3 Knicks (10th) and ahead of the 3-0 Grizzlies (17th). The Lakers, Portland's opponent Tuesday, are seventh at 3-0.
Source: NBA.com Power Rankings, via SleeperHoops - Confirmed
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson says negotiations with the Blazers on a Moda Center renovation deal are moving forward, but major sticking points between the two sides still remain.
Source: KATU News - Confirmed
Jeremy Sochan, waived by Portland before the regular season, went No. 1 overall in today's NBA G League Draft to the Texas Legends, the Mavericks' affiliate. The former No. 9 overall NBA pick played all four preseason games for the Blazers.
Source: Marc Stein; Michael Scotto - Confirmed
Micah Nori pulled Damian Lillard and Ja Morant for defensive purposes during the final stretch of the close win at Sacramento. "Neither one of us, you know, are probably used to that," Lillard said. Jason Quick writes that the two stars' reaction told the early story of Portland's season.
Source: Jason Quick, The Athletic - Confirmed
The TV broadcast was simulcast on Blazers radio during the opener, which team reporter Casey Holdahl says he didn't realize until driving to the studio after the third quarter. He isn't sure if that's the plan all season or just until the team gets everything else figured out, "but... it's not great."
Source: Casey Holdahl, Trail Blazers - Confirmed
Suns big Oso Ighodaro (right hip) left for the locker room in the second quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the night against Portland. He played every game for Phoenix last season.
Source: Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic; Amanda Pflugrad - Confirmed
Deni Avdija (right ankle) is available and starting tonight against Phoenix. Micah Potter (illness) is also upgraded to available.
Source: Jason Quick, The Athletic; Casey Holdahl, Trail Blazers; official NBA injury report via @NBAInjuryAlert - Confirmed
The Suns ruled out guard Luke Kennard (left knee tendinopathy) for tonight's opener at Moda Center.
Source: Official NBA injury report, via @NBAInjuryAlert - Confirmed
The Blazers are back on Seattle TV this season, with local broadcasts on Seattle 11 (KSTW) starting with tonight's 7 PM home opener against Phoenix.
Source: Joe Veyera - Confirmed
Owner Tom Dundon is in the building at Moda Center for tonight's opener against the Suns, with the arena talks with the city still unresolved.
Source: Nick Krupke - Confirmed
Downtown's iconic White Stag sign got a Ja Morant remix overnight, courtesy of Nike, ahead of his Blazers debut tonight.
Source: KATU News; DraftKings - Rumor
Don't expect word on Deni Avdija (right ankle, questionable) until after warmups at the earliest. Casey Holdahl suspects it'll be a game-time decision.
Source: Casey Holdahl, Trail Blazers - Rumor
Team reporter Casey Holdahl's guess (his word) is that Deni Avdija, still questionable with the right ankle, plays tonight vs. Phoenix, though he says Micah Potter's upgrade to probable makes him less sure. No official word yet.
Source: Casey Holdahl, Trail Blazers - Confirmed
Blazers co-owner Sheel Tyle sat down with KATU for his first local TV interview, covering basketball and the negotiations to keep the team in Portland. It airs on KATU starting at 4 PM, with the station broadcasting live outside Moda Center for the home opener.
Source: Wright Gazaway, KATU (interview by @GMottaTV) - Confirmed
Updated injury report for tonight's opener vs. Phoenix: Micah Potter (illness) is upgraded to probable. Deni Avdija (right ankle) is still questionable.
Source: Official NBA injury report, via @NBAInjuryAlert - Rumor
The Blazers are starting Ja Morant next to Damian Lillard to open the season, per league sources, which cuts against the earlier bench report. The expected first five is Lillard, Morant, Avdija, Camara and Clingan, with Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson off the bench. The team hasn't announced it, so watch the opening tip.
Source: Chris Haynes; lineup detail via Jake Weinbach - Confirmed
The Portland-only numbers from the Oregonian poll on Tom Dundon are uglier: 5% of Portland voters view him favorably (1% very favorably) against 59% unfavorably, with 33% very negative.
Source: The Oregonian poll, via J.C. Bradbury and Field of Schemes - Rumor
Ja Morant is expected to come off the bench in Portland because of the backcourt logjam with Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson. Not confirmed by the team, and some opener listings still have Morant starting next to Dame, so watch the first five at tip.
Source: Marc J. Spears, Andscape - Confirmed
An Oregonian poll by DHM Research of 600 registered Oregon voters, taken in late September, found just 7% view Blazers owner Tom Dundon favorably and 36% unfavorably, with 57% unsure. Numbers in Portland were reportedly worse.
Source: The Oregonian (DHM Research poll), via Kerry Eggers - Confirmed
First injury report of the season for Wednesday's opener vs. Phoenix: Deni Avdija is questionable (right ankle soreness) and Micah Potter is questionable (illness). Shaedon Sharpe (right meniscus surgery), Chris Youngblood (left ankle soreness) and Branden Carlson (concussion protocol) are out.
Source: Official NBA injury report, via @NBAInjuryAlert and Kellan Olson - Confirmed
Arena talks between Tom Dundon and Portland officials have stalled over a $1 billion-plus settlement figure tied to the Moda Center lease's "first-class" maintenance clause. Dundon wants a 10-year buyout option instead of the required 20-year lease commitment.
Source: The Oregonian (Bill Oram) - Confirmed
The Blazers announced new fan offerings for Wednesday's season opener at Moda Center: new food, expanded parking options, a raffle, and bag policy details.
Source: Elias Esquivel, Blazers On SI - Confirmed
Scoot Henderson on missing out on an extension: "It is what it is. Man above doesn't make any mistakes. I'm just going to continue to play my best ball." Asked if he was disappointed: "Grateful." He said the front office told him "they believe in me" and "right now I'm healthy, so that's as much as I can ask for."
Source: Scoot Henderson media availability, via @blazersforreal and @nbapresserwire - Confirmed
Tom Dundon is in Portland meeting face to face with city officials as both sides work toward a long-term deal to keep the team there, the first in-person talks since The Athletic's relocation report.
Source: Wright Gazaway, KATU