Will Blazers have a role for Frye?

On the NBA

By kerry eggers

The Portland Tribune, Apr 11, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (18 Reader comments)

Channing Frye is getting the opportunity to start Portland’s final games, with Joel Przybilla out for the season. Frye could be the odd man out of the rotation, though, when Greg Oden arrives.

L.E. BASKOW / TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

ADVERTISEMENTS

Channing Frye is one of the most engaging personalities on a Trail Blazer team full of them.

The 6-11 center-forward also is realistic. After playing his best game in a Portland uniform – knocking down 9 of 12 shots and notching season highs for points (22) and rebounds (11) in Tuesday’s 112-103 victory over the L.A. Lakers – Frye was philosophical.

“I just wanted to let it loose, man,” he said. “Tomorrow, I could be back on the bench. I could be ‘DNP’ (did not play).”

With Joel Przybilla (broken wrist) lost for the season, Frye is the likely starting center in Portland’s final four games, beginning tonight at Sacramento.

Frye has proved himself as an offensive weapon, shooting .472 from the field and averaging 6.4 points while playing only 16 minutes per game, mostly off the bench.

Next season, though, coach Nate McMillan will have Przybilla and Greg Oden at his disposal at center, with LaMarcus Aldridge and Travis Outlaw at power forward. If those four players are healthy, Frye could be the odd man out in the Blazer rotation up front.

The 6-11 Frye might be Portland’s best midrange jump shooter, but he is only an average rebounder and is sub-par as a post-up scorer and defender.

“The strength of Channing’s game is his ability to shoot,” McMillan says. “Early (in the season), we had him posting and were throwing the ball into him. He can get better at that. He has been playing out of position pretty much all season long – at center instead of power forward – and that has had an effect. He is better at face-up situations than with his back to the basket. But the defensive end is the area where he needs to make the most improvement.”

Outlaw’s emergence as a major offensive threat leaves Frye’s position with the Blazers tenuous. Though Outlaw seems better-suited as a small forward, McMillan prefers to use him at power forward.

“Travis can play some 3, but I like him best at the 4,” McMillan says. “If Travis is in the starting lineup, then you can look at Frye (as the backup 4). That will play itself out in training camp, and we’ll settle on a rotation.”

It’s easy to forget that Frye – who won’t turn 25 until May 17 – is in only his third NBA season. It’s a nice luxury for McMillan to have the former Arizona standout as a sort of safety valve or life raft at the post positions, providing the depth that a playoff-caliber team must have. Don’t be surprised if Frye once again winds up playing an important role for the Blazers.

1 | 2 Next Page >>