Flexible Frye wants to be back for start of season

Forward hopes to make more 3s and keep his spot in the rotation

By Steve Brandon

The Portland Tribune, Sep 29, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

ROCKY WIDNER / GETTY IMAGES

Blazer forward Channing Frye, who had ankle surgery on Sept. 8, hopes to be available for the Oct. 28 opener at the L.A. Lakers. The team is deep, he says, and he doesn't want to miss any time, if his body allows.

The Blazers said they expected Channing Frye to fully recover in eight to 10 weeks from Sept. 8 arthroscopic surgery to remove bone spurs from his left ankle.

But Frye has his own timetable.

The fourth-year forward says he hopes to be practicing 10 days before the start of the regular season. That would be Oct. 18; the Blazers open Oct. 28 at the L.A. Lakers.

“It’s pushing it a little, but I think it’s reasonable,” Frye says.

Frye says he wants the 10 days of practice so he can be in good shape for the opening game.

“I don’t want to be dragging,” he says.

“I don’t have any time to waste this year,” he adds. “I’m determined to keep my spot and maybe get some more minutes.”

Frye came to Portland last season in the Zach Randolph deal with New York. He averaged 17.2 minutes, 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds, shooting .488 from the field.

He says he’s 80 percent recovered from the surgery but hasn’t started running. He wants to be as close to 100 percent as he can before he plays and admits that his 10 days before the season timetable is a “best-case scenario” that might not sit well with team trainer Jay Jensen.

"I'll have to listen to my body," he says.

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