Nicolas Batum, F, 6-8, France -- Won't turn 20 until December. Athletic small forward is likely to remain in Europe for at least another season.

BIGGEST NEEDS: The Blazers need to help themselves on offense after finishing tied for 27th in the NBA in scoring (95.4 points per game), 20th in field-goal percentage (.448) and last in both points in the paint and fast-break points. Specifically, they are looking for shooters and feel their biggest needs are at the point guard and small forward positions.

FREE AGENT FOCUS: James Jones has a player option for $3.16 million for 2008-09 that the team expects him to exercise, although Jones has said he isn't sure yet what he wants to do. Jarrett Jack is due a qualifying offer of $2.9 million for 2008-09.

Don't expect the Blazers to be big players on the free agent market in 2008. Pritchard's master plan has been to wait until the summer of 2009 to go after free agents, when he could have as much as $25 million to $30 million of cap room to burn.

PLAYER NOTES:

--SG Rudy Fernandez makes his 2008 Olympic debut Saturday in Spain's opener against Greece.

--The Blazers' 2008-09 schedule has the team on the road for 16 of the first 24 games, including an Oct. 28 opener against the Lakers in Los Angeles.

--GM Kevin Pritchard said he will wait until at least Aug. 18 to make a decision on whether to sign Finn guard Petteri Koponen, a 2007 first-round draft pick.