MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Brandon Roy. The two-time all-star stepped it up this season, ranking 10th in the NBA in scoring (22.6) while averaging 5.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds and a team-high 1.13 steals. His leadership skills are increasing, and he's one of the best in the league at making something happen at the end of a game to give his team a chance to win.
MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Greg Oden. After sitting out the entire 2007-08 season following microfracture knee surgery, the 7-foot rookie averaged 8.9 points and 7.0 rebounds but couldn't stay out of foul trouble and had more turnovers (87) than starting center Joel Przybilla (78) despite playing 638 fewer minutes. FREE AGENT FOCUS: The Blazers have four free agents, including F Channing Frye, who is restricted. It's unlikely F Michael Ruffin or C Raef LaFrentz -- who will probably retire -- will be back. Portland hopes to have $6-7 million room under the salary cap with which to sign a free agent.
PLAYER NOTES:
--Assistant coach Bill Bayno will be dispatched to Columbus, Ohio, Monday to begin four days of personal workouts with C Greg Oden.
--The Blazers will place a cap hold on former first-round picks C Joel Freeland and G Petteri Koponen, both playing in Europe. Freeland, the 6-11, 250-pound Brit who was a late-first round pick by Portland in 2006, played in Spain last season and Koponen, a point guard out of Finland, was in Italy.
--The Blazers have another workout set up Monday with at least a few first-round hopefuls slated to participate. Speculation is Davidson G Stephen Curry could be one, but Pritchard denied anything was arranged.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--F Martell Webster missed virtually the entire season with a foot injury. He is expected to be at full strength by the time training camp rolls around in October.
