Trade likeliest scenario left for Blazers

The Portland Tribune, Jul 17, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

The Utah Jazz will keep Paul Millsap (left), who battled Lamar Odom of the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2009 NBA playoffs.

KEVORK Djansezian / GETTY IMAGES

Utah’s decision to match Portland’s four-year, $32-million offer for restricted free agent Paul Millsap was no surprise.

The Jazz weren’t going to allow an over-the-top offer by a Northwest Division rival steal away the 24-year-old power forward.

It was strike two for the Blazers, who were spurned by free agent Hedo Turkoglu (Toronto) earlier this month.

What next?

Most of the top-tier free agents – Millsap, Mike Bibby, Jason Kidd, Ron Artest, Trevor Ariza, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Grant Hill and Rasheed Wallace – have been snapped up.

Portland General Manager Kevin Pritchard indicated earlier this week that, if the Jazz were to match on Millsap, he would continue discussions on free-agent signings and trades. A trade would seem the likeliest scenario.

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