Blazers practice report: As expected, LaMarcus Aldridge goes through full practice, will start Wednesday vs. Utah

LaMarcus Aldridge returns to the court tonight for the Blazers.

Steve Lee one of our Portland Trailblazers bloggers reports on the NBA preseason matchup between the Blazers and the Jazz last night at the Rose Garden in Portland. A week before the team tips off their schedule, the Blazers have kicked off the 2011-12 season in the right direction. With LaMarcus Aldridge sidelined due to his recent heart condition Wesley Matthews was a pleasant surprise.

Portland Trail Blazers blogger Matt Martz tells us five things us fans of the Portland Trail Blazers should watch for. Including to bring a title home to "Rip City" ranking high on the ole Christmas Wish List. LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden, and Marcus Camby will welcome in old man river Kurt Thomas, but another big man is still needed in Oregon.

Head coach Nate McMillan says Aldridge should have no restrictions on his minutes in Wednesday's game.

The Trailblazers have waived 30-year old center Earl Barron. Barron played in 2 games (1 start) for the Trailblazers last year and he averaged 18.5 minutes, 3.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He has now played in 110 games (28 starts) in his career with the Blazers and he is averaging 15.2 minutes, 5.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Barron got caught...

Starting center Marcus Camby tweaked his left knee during the Blazers' morning shootaround and will not play tonight against Jazz; Kurt Thomas will start in his place.

Wesley Matthews scored 17 points in 23 minutes as the Portland Trail Blazers built an early lead and bea the Utah Jazz 110-90 in the teams' preseason opener Monday night. Nicolas Batum started in place of LaMarcus Aldridge and had 13 points in 22 minutes and the Blazers led by as many as 24 points. Derrick Favors came off the bench with 25 points and 12 rebounds for the Jazz...

Remember that time when Brandon Roy, Greg Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden tried to stop a shark? It was definitely one of the toughest road games they ever played and artist Ryan Berkely immortalized the moment with this piece created with markers and color pencils. See more work from Ryan Berkely here.

Raymond Felton leads Portland with 17 points, and LaMarcus Aldridge adds 15 points and 11 rebounds in a loss in Salt Lake City.

(Eds: APNewsNow. Will be updated. With AP Photos.) By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer The lockout-shortened season looked to be an all-around disaster at the start for the Portland Trail Blazers. In what has become known as Black Friday around the organization, the Blazers' hopes to see Brandon Roy, Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge lead the team to NBA glory were dashed. Instead...

Portland Trailblazers roster recap as we get closer to the 2011 NBA season starting up. Jamal Crawford says the Portland Trail Blazers are where he belongs, but to bring him in the Blazers had to waive the retiring Brandon Roy. A tough pill to swallow for all northwest hoops fans. LaMarcus Aldridge has a heart condition, Greg Oden is Greg Oden, Kurt Thomas is coming in as is Craig Smith.

The Portland Trail Blazers have waived center Earl Barron, it was announced today by Acting General Manager Chad Buchanan. Barron appeared in two games with Portland in 2010-11, averaging 3.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 18.5 minutes. He signed with the Trail Blazers on April 12, 2011.

Earl Barron appeared in two games with Portland in 2010-11.