Questions linger for Trail Blazers two weeks before training camp

[Ashy Larry]

The Trail Blazers start training camp in just two weeks but a variety of questions remain for a franchise that had a busy offseason. Here’s a quick update on a couple of these issues:

Injured centers
The playing status of Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla, who suffered separate season-ending injuries last season, remains unsettled. As we reported last month, Oden is a question mark heading into training camp as he continues to rehabilitate his fractured left patella. The Blazers expect Oden, who has trimmed his weight down to 277 pounds, to participate, they just don’t know to what degree the center’s surgically-repaired left knee will allow.

The Blazers do know this: Joel Przybilla will not be ready for camp. Przybilla, who ruptured his right patella twice within a 10-week period last season, will not be ready to play in a game until November of December, according to Blazers general manager Rich Cho.

Rudy
Rudy Fernandez remains a part of the Blazers’ roster even though his agent demanded a trade over the summer and said his disgruntled client would not report to training camp. Cho said he continues to have daily dialogue with NBA teams about ways to improve the Blazers’ roster and Fernandez’ name “always comes up.”

“I’m still looking to accommodate his previous request to be traded,” Cho said of Fernandez.

And if this request cannot be facilitated, does Cho expect Fernandez to show up for training camp?

“Yeah, I expect him to show up,” Cho said.

The roster
The uncertainty surrounding Fernandez and the health concerns at center have helped create an unbalanced roster. The Blazers have proven depth at guard — particularly shooting guard, where Fernandez and free agent acquisition Wesley Matthews will back up All-Star Brandon Roy Luck_The_Fakers_— but are young at forward.

Although center Marcus Camby can play power forward when the Blazers have their full complement of centers, rookie Luke Babbitt and second-year forwards Dante Cunningham and Jeff Pendergraph are the lone reserves at forward behind starters Nicolas Batum and LaMarcus Aldridge.

And even point guard is unsettled. Andre Miller endeared himself to Blazers fans last season with his gritty, rugged play, but — assuming the Blazers do not exercise his third-year option — he’s in the last season of his contract. Jerryd Bayless single-handedly helped the Blazers win games last season and excelled in the playoffs, but has yet to prove he can run a team.

Is Cho OK heading into camp with the roster as is?

“I’m still looking to improve it, but if it’s the same roster, then, yeah, I’m OK with it,” he said

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[Giuseppe]

t must be chagrined to say the least. I feel sorry for the poor thing.

- "Years of hangin' on to dreams already gone."

[Chomag]

Shouldn't the Blazers be used to playing without Oden by now?