TUALATIN, Ore. — Free agents Chris Kaman and Steve Blake were introduced to the media on Thursday at the Trail Blazers practice facility as the two newest Blazers, even though it was a reunion of sorts for both players.
Kaman is reuniting with Blazers general manager Neil Olshey, who started his career as an executive with the Los Angeles Clippers during Kaman’s rookie season.
Blake is returning to Portland for a franchise-first third tour of duty with the Blazers.
Kaman had agreed to terms last week with the Blazers, but Blake agreed to a two-year deal himself on Thursday morning.
Portland used their mid-level exception and bi-annual exception to sign Kaman and Blake, respectively.
“I think first of all, it’s like a reunion weekend,” Olshey said in the introduction press conference.
As Kaman remembers fondly of Olshey: “He used to rebound for me. He worked hard and he worked his way up and that’s the American dream.”
Blake, his wife and family have called Portland his home for several years, even after being traded twice.
“I told my parents and my Mom almost started crying. My Dad was extremely happy,” said Blake.
The Blake signing also filled Portland’s final open roster spot, making it all but a certainty that last year’s sixth man Mo Williams won’t return this season.
Kaman and Blake are also reuniting after two stops together, last year with the Lakers and in 2010 with the Clippers, the same year Olshey took over basketball operations for the team.
“I know Steve well. He plays basketball the right way, with everybody else,” Kaman said.
“We’ll be coming off the bench together and I think he enjoys playing with me, I enjoy playing with him. It just works,” Blake said.
Kaman has also worked closely in the past with current Blazers assistant Kim Hughes, tasked with developing Portland’s big men. Hughes was the first person Kaman called after Olshey approached him on the first night of free agency.
Olshey has made it clear that the Blazers are no longer in the business of “projection” and that Blake and Kaman are the type of players they needed to add to a youthful bunch.
“We want guys in here that can deliver in high pressure, high level environments,” Olshey said. “This team was a team that was in the second round of the playoffs last year and you have to bring guys in that can compete at that level.”
Both players are in the latter part of their careers and want to contribute to winning organizations.
“I’m thrilled to get both of them,” Stotts said. “They came here because they knew the year we had last year, making it to the second round and we have higher ambitions. I think both players will be instrumental in getting that success.”
Aside from their experience and will to win, Stotts likes the versatility of both players.
“Chris can run with Robin (Lopez) and LA (LaMarcus Aldridge) and Steve can run the show without Damian (Lillard), he can play with Damian. I think both will be good mentors for the young players, the bigs and guards.”
As Olshey noted again on Thursday, improvement from Portland’s younger crop of reserves is crucial for taking a step in the incredibly tough Western Conference.
With Kaman and Blake in the fold, it will be tougher to earn a spot on the court, which is exactly what Olshey wants.
“Our young guys are going to have to earn the opportunity to get on the floor because when you play for a team with high aspirations, things aren’t given to you,” he said. “I think our young guys’ development will be better in terms of earning minutes and not having them given to them.”
