Blazers Waive Anderson & Van Exel

[SkipToMy_Lou]

Derek Anderson article

The Portland Trail Blazers announced today that the club has waived Guard Derek Anderson. Anderson will be designated as the team’s amnesty player under the luxury tax amnesty provision of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The provision allows a team to release a player and remove his contract amount from the team’s salary cap for purposes of calculating the luxury tax. The Trail Blazers will be responsible for the remaining two years of Anderson’s contract and he is free to sign with another team.

“We thank Derek for his contributions on and off the court while he was in Portland,” said Trail Blazers General Manager John Nash. “Given the direction of the team and Derek’s limited availability in recent years we felt this was the best solution for all parties. This move gives us additional cap flexibility and minutes for our younger players. We wish him well in the future.”

During the 2004-2005 season Anderson saw action in only eight of the team’s final 42 games due to various injuries, including a sinus ailment, dental problems and back spasms. An eight-year NBA veteran, he played in 47 games with 32 starts for the Trail Blazers last season and averaged 9.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 26.4 minutes per game. In the 2003-2004 season Anderson appeared in 51 games, 45 in the starting line up. He averaged 13.6 points, 4.5 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.29 steals and 35.5 minutes. He had limited action that season due to a herniated disk.

“I enjoyed my time in Portland and thank the fans for all the support I received there for so many years,” said Derek Anderson. “I’m glad we could reach a resolution that meets everyone’s needs.”

The 31-year-old Anderson was acquired by Portland along with Steve Kerr and second-round draft pick from San Antonio in exchange for Steve Smith on July 25, 2001. In his four seasons with the Trail Blazers, the 6-5, 195-pound Anderson played in 244 games and averaged 12.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 30.2 minutes.

http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/Trail_B ... 07-41.html

Van Exel article

The Portland Trail Blazers announced today that the club has waived Guard Nick Van Exel, choosing not to retain him for the last non-guaranteed year of Van Exel’s contract.

“We appreciate Nick’s contribution to the team and the leadership he displayed while on our roster,” said Trail Blazers General Manager John Nash. “We wish him well in the future.”

Van Exel, a twelve-year NBA veteran, played in 53 games including 39 starts last season for the Trail Blazers. Van Exel averaged 10.7 points, three rebound, and 4.3 assists per game before experiencing pain in an arthritic left knee on March 4, 2005, which led him to the injured list March 12, 2005 for the remainder of the season.

http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/Trail_B ... 08-41.html

[Amphatoast]

looks like VNE can go back to dallas or even go to miami to back up J Will

[Kemp]

I thought Van Excel said that he would consider retirement after last season.

[Andrew]

Should have seen it coming with DA, even healthy he'd become lost in the shuffle. Van Exel should have at least a couple more productive years in him, wouldn't surprise me to see him latch on with a contender in a backup role.

[Jugs]

Well the Blazers needed to let them go.

Hopefully other teams can put those two players into good use.

Who do the Blazers have left for PG and SG. Jarret Jack, Telfair, Dixon, Outlaw...

Which is okay I guess, just wondering.

[chuanito]

Will Ruben Patterson still be on the team next year? and Martell Webster will play SG right? I figure since Outlaw and Miles got SF covered.

Honestly, I don't know why they committed to Telfair already. He was wayyy overrated and overhyped by the NYC media machine.

[maes]

I do believe they think Martell can contribute immediately as a SG, he was the only high schooler scouts considered to be NBA ready.

Outlaw has been just dominant in the summer league.

Telfair had a very impressive high school career, and NYC HS is probably tougher than Div I in some places. I'm not all that fond of shoot-first PGs, but he looked like the real deal, he averaged 33, 3.7, & 9. For comparison, LeBron averaged 30, 9.7 and 3.9 in HS.

I thought Portland would grab a pass-first like CP or Deron and trade Telfair, but Webster was a great pickup.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Nick Van Exel can still be a valuable soark off the bench if his health holds up. He's be a good fit with a team like Phoenix or Houston.