So yeah, did your team pick Kevin Love, DJ Augustin, Derrick Rose, Brooke Lopez? Really, that sucks. Because we picked Brandon Rush, then traded him for Jerryd Bayless, and guess what? He was just awarded Summer League 08a€² MVP.

Yeah he has been slicing teams up left and right this summer. I am venturing to say that this guy is going to be one of the best players on the Blazers. Do I dare say this guy is going to be better then everyone else at the 2 other then BRoy? I think we will have three rookies fighting for Rookie of the Year. Oden, Fernandez, Bayless. Honestly, think about that one.

Bayless does not seem like a point guard and to me seems more of a Monta Ellis type player, he is so fast it hurts my eyes.He is a true 2 guard. It does not bother me at all that he is either. I could care less who runs the point at this point. BRoy can easily run the point, Sergio will have a break out season, and we still have good ole' reliable Steve Blake.

I honestly cannot wait until the pre-season and season. I think the Blazers need to start investing more PR and marketing into Bayless. We are over flowing with 2-3's now, so I think signing PKopenen is a must. He really seems like a good substitute for Blake. I honestly see Bayless starting this year. He is going to shock a lot of people.

My lineup has changed once again.

BRoy - Point on Offense

JBayless - 2 Guard on Offense, will guard point on Defense

TOutlaw - SF

LAldridge -PF

GOden - C

So what are your thoughts on Bayless averaging 30 points and 5 rebounds this summer league? Do you think I am over hyping him?

So with all the drama going on today I had epiphany. Join us! Hop on to the "Portland Bandwagon"! Its never too late, we are not like LA fans, we love our team and our fans, and support them all. Our owners and GM's nurture our players, and pay our players what they are worth. Our players love our city, and they love the fans.

Our star players, don't "opt-out", they "opt-in"(James Jones does not count). With so much talent, and great personalities how can you not love this team, and this city. It is the new Western Mecca of a Basketball Dynasty.

Let me break this down for you all that are thinking of hopping on our bandwagon.

Our list of Talented basketball assassins:

Greg "Babyface Beast" Oden, the guy has not even stepped onto the Gardens floor and he is already a legend in the city. This dude is prepared to tear heads off, and dunk on everyone including your mom. He dunks so hard he impregnates all the women in the stands.

Brandon "The Natural" Roy, how high does this guys ceiling go? Their is none, sky's the limit. He cures prostate cancer with his crossover.

Travis "Trout, Trout Law" Outlaw, well bread, well fed, native of Mississippi, this guys un-orthodox jumper makes the Pope's eye bleed. He could easily be the highest scorer on this team. Will see another break out season from this dude. Loves his BBQ, I think that is all that needs to be said about Troutlaw. His jumper cures glaucoma.

Rudy "The Matador" Fernandez, people call him the next Ginobili, I don't know why? This dude is straight finesse, slick as the country he comes from. Expect big things from the two time MVP.

Jerryd "Pay up" Bayless, our new point guard is going to shake coma patients out of their comas. He is on the floor to kill the other guards that guard him. Straight fire.

Martell "The Prophet" Webster, he does not even have to step on the floor, but when he does all the girls break up with their boyfriends because they are all now dating "The Prophet" now. He is the ladies favorite of the team. So all you GSW Boom fans, we have something for you as well!

Lamarcus "Horseface" Aldridge, okay that was mean. His nickname is not "Horseface" but it sure in hell should be. Next Timmy D here folks. Just quicker, bigger, and meaner. "Why long in the face LA ?" Thats just the way he looks.

Joel "The Vanilla Gorilla" Pryzibilla, a beast. That's the only way to put it. You better whip out some weapons when JPryz and Oden step on the floor together, or get Andre the Giant, because these fools are the "Garbage men". And when I say"Garbage men" I don't mean they guard the crap centers, these guy will murder your players, then dig a hole under your stadium and bury your whole team! (Ill bring the lime)

Sergio "Spanish Chocolate" Rodriguez, do you hear that? Didn't think so. That's Sergio giving your whole team a heart attack. They simply cant keep up with him. Break out season for this guy.

No need to submit applications, were already prepared for you guys, hop on. The Portland TrailBlazers Bandwagon has room for all of you.

Sick of your GM's and owners making head scratching decisions? We don't do that in Portland anymore, Kevin Pritchard is almost more popular then the players. I say he should run for Mayor, maybe even Governor, maybe even Pope.

Paul Allen, billionaire god. Thats it. Nothing more to be said about the generosity of this guy.

So how about it ? GSW fans are being thrown to the side, Seattle fans, Dallas fans, Phoenix fans, anyone! Come hop on board, we would love to have you. Why not be part of something that will blossom into something wonderful.

Wiz offer Arenas the max but he may take less

What a slap in the face to Baron Davis by the Warriors

"What a crazy night in free agency. First, Baron Davis surprisingly opted out of the final year of his contract that would have payed him $17.8 million this season from the Golden State Warriors.

Then, according to my sources, the Warriors quickly burned the phones and offered former Warrior Gilbert Arenas a maximum-level contract, one that would pay him more than $100 million over five years. My source told me that Gilbert received a flurry of phone calls from the Warriors in the first 30 minutes of free agency."

Read the whole thing here

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/2008/07/wiz_offer_arenas_the_max_b ut_h.html

Hey BAY BAY BAY, what do you think about this?

If he opts out, not many teams could give him the money he wants. I see no way how the Knicks could do it. Not many teams could, and the Blazers are one of them that could.....?

Should they wait a year and make a run at CP3, or try to see what the Beard wants, do I dare say he is too old for the Blazers?

I mean this could happen, right?

Its on now, other teams should be ready for the Pritchslap. He is ready to fleece your team.

Did I mention its DRAFT NIGHT!!! The most exciting time of the year for me, especially since we have the best GM in the game. I have never seen more rumors surrounding one team, and that means Kevin Pritchard's mind games have begun.

Their are about 12 different trade rumors going on right now that some how factor in the Blazers. Its ridiculous to even try to keep up. I expect to be "Shocked & Awed" by what happens tonight with the Blazers.

The newest rumor has been surrounding New Jersey giving up their number 10 spot to the Blazers. Here is a quote from this mornings podcast from the Blazers beat writer Jason Quick.

Read the rest of the story here:

http://www.boomshakalaka.org/2008/06/26/blazers-mind-games-begin/

Were Back, with a hand up in your face!

So the season and the Finals are finally over, and the Draft is coming up this week. So we decided to start bringing it back to you guys. Already we have heard a lot of rumors about trades, draft picks, pretty much every scenario possible.

So lets catch up…

Read the rest here:

http://www.boomshakalaka.org/2008/06/22/were-back/

WOOT SAUCE!

The end of an era of head bops, strip clubs, underage sexual allegations, drugs, weapons, and 28's on Monte Carlo's are over. Its to late for us to get our money back, but it is not to late to save some dignity.

Darius Miles is now gone, and for now off the books.

Rejoice to the heavens!!

So now we know their is no chance for our guys to make the Playoffs, but the excitement does not have to stop their for us. Lets all slap on that yellow and navy, and start reping for our brothers in the Bay!

The Warriors are bitter rivals during the season, but I think every Blazer fan can enjoy and respect how he Warriors play. They play with straight fire, and it is so exciting as a fan to watch.

So to all you Blazer fans, and to fans that don't have a team going to the big show this year, lets all start cheering for these guys. They come from a smaller market like Portland, Sac-Town, so lets break out the colors and start running with these guys. But still don't forget about the Blazers, lets hope they can break .500 for the season.

Boom and company need to bring the thunder. And to all you YAY fans, you now have Rip City behind you.

Przybilla grabbed a career-high 25 rebounds and added 14 points..... Say What????? 25 boards!

http://www.boomshakalaka.org/2008/03/23/przybilla-plays-godzilla/

With the playoffs on the horizon, and the offseason looming in its midst, what is a free agent to do? The Mississippi Bullet is up at the end of this season, and he is looking to break someone's bank. What does it all mean for Monta?

Another video of an Intense workout from GO.

Check the video out.

http://www.boomshakalaka.org/2008/03/19/the-gohawk-workout-plan/

Uh oh, the Man, the Myth, the Legend is back dunking. Just what we like to see him do. Here is the video everyone is talking about.

Not a monstrous dunk, but still the dude is packing on an extra 25 on a rehabbed micro-fractured knee. We also heard the man is practicing as well. Good looking out, GO! Keep it going.

Sorry to be hitting everyone with so much GO news, but right now it is better than reporting about losses, and it's always exciting to see new stuff from the man, or dare we say Greg "Babyface" Oden, or Greg "Biodiesel" Oden has in store.

Check the video here

http://www.boomshakalaka.org/2008/03/13/mr-oden-dunks-the-rehab-video/

Whats up y'all.

As time has gone on, one thing I have noticed about Greg is that he does not have a nickname. I know some of you are saying that we need to wait till he actually plays a game, but we are not going to. The Official Greg Oden Nickname Contest begins NOW!

So here is what you win if we deem your nickname the winner. For local Oregon residents you will receive a pair of 300 level tickets to the game of your choice, and non residents will receive an Official BoomShakalaka shirt!

All nicknames have to be submitted either on the The Official Greg Oden Nickname Contest post on BoomShakalaka.org, or under the post at the Yardbarker. All entries have to be in by the 20th of March 2008.

Here is some inspiration for you all!

This year has had it highs and its lows. We all expected lows, but these guys proved us wrong. Right now we are in a low point, but that does not mean we cannot go without a fight. Lets not play for the lottery, lets not play for business, lets play for the love of this game, and the only thing that matters in this game is WINNING!

Its always easy for a fan to talk this way. None of us really know what are in players hearts and minds, we speculate, we judge, but we never really actually know. People like myself never really know what these guys are like when the cameras are off. I can personally name many players that put on that smiling face just for the camera, and when I have met them in person when a camera is not around they snub me. But it is understandable. They don't know who I am , I could be some crazy deranged fan looking to stalk them.

But these young players have shown a city hope. A new life, a new breath, everything we have wanted and more, and trust me more good things are to come. Everyone reading this that has a team that are above .600 and are playoff bound are wondering what the hell I am talking about. Everyone looks at our record of 33-31, and they say "what is all the excitement for ?" Well about this time last year we were at about 21 wins. We are now at 33 and we have now surpassed last years record for wins. If the Blazers can pull off 40 wins without the "Franchise Beast" then I will consider this season a great success.

The 08-09 Season will be a strange season. I still anticipate losses, mainly because none of these guys have played with "The Dude" yet. I also anticipate a lot of movement in the guard positions in the off season. We might drop some folk, and we might pick some up as well. I think Pritch and company will deal their draft pick out with a trade for maybe a veteran guard. I love Jarrett Jack and Blake but we need consistency at that spot. There has been rumors of Brandon Roy moving over to the point when Rudy Fernandez comes along, but no one has staked a claim that "The Natural" will be a PG full time. It makes sense for BRoy to play the point, but with his addiction to injuries I would not think it would be the best place for him. The round mound would be happy as well, because we would no longer have "Midgets" in the back court.

So the lineup of the future is bright. But the big question that I have is the 3 spot. Martell Webster has got to be one of the most streakiest players I have ever witnessed. This guy is so damn good, I just don't understand why he is so inconsistent. This year he really showed us a lot, but has he shown the Execs enough to hold on to him. Trout is turning into a full fledged baller. This guys game really reminds of Shawn Marion's game, just a lot more exciting. But I think Pritch sees him as a huge bargaining chip, and that is something I don't like. This guy could easily be the highest scorer on this team, and their is not doubt in my mind that he should be a starter. The only people I would like to see the Blazers try to pick up in the off season, is a PG, or another 3 guard. Possibly Andre Iguodala who is up for a qualifying offer from the 76ers at the end of this season, which I don't think he will take. He will shop free agency and see who bites. But my suggestion to Pritch is deal Jack, and find a vet backup for BRoy at the point, and save the cash for the end of 08-09 season and either deal for Chris Paul or Deron Williams.

On that note here is my starting lineup for the 08-09 season.

P Guard - Brandon Roy

2 Guard - Rudy Fernandez

3 Guard - Travis Outlaw

PF - Lamarcus Aldridge

C - Greg Oden

So what are your opinions on next year?

I am really wondering if all this Agent Zero to Agent Hero junk is getting to this guys head. Once again he make an overzealous statement about being a max paid player. Where does he get off making all of these statements? He recently said in the Washington Times saying, "I'm still going to be the number one free agent. I mean on a bad leg I still average 22." He then goes to tell to the Washington Times that he will be opting out of his contract this summer, because he thinks he is a "Max Player." His words not mine.

So is anyone else getting sick this? So he averages 22 points a season for the past two years, but the thing is he has only really played one full season, since he missed so many games last year, and pretty much this entire season. To me Arenas is starting to seem more and more like Stephon Marbury. He has not shown us anything more then 22 points and 5.6 rebounds. I can name of 25 players with those stats that are not even close to max money.

So what is your opinion? Do 22 points and 5.6 rebounds a night deserve max money, like 16-20 million a year money? For a guy that is injury prone, brings drama to the team, and likes to shoot way to much, he sure does not seem like a max money man to me.

But I am not going to hate on a guy that is just trying to get more money. The list of positives for this guy are long as well, but lately his negatives have been outshining everything else this guy is about. I miss the underdog stories about the guy that worked hard to get to the top, but now it seems it has all gone to his head.

What's a Agent Zero fan of the past to do?