honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 11:20 a.m., Wednesday, July 9, 2008

NBA: Blazers get Bayless, Diogu in deal with Pacers

Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Trail Blazers completed the draft-night deal that brought Jerryd Bayless and forward Ike Diogu to Portland, and sent Brandon Rush, Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts and cash to the Indiana Pacers.

The Blazers acquired the draft rights to Bayless, the 11th overall draft pick, while Indiana received the rights to Rush, the 13th pick. The deal was struck on June 26, but could not be formally announced until today.

Bayless, a 6-foot-3 guard, played one season at Arizona, averaging 19.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and four assists.

According to Blazers Web site, Portland rated Bayless the No. 4 player on its board during the draft.

Diogu, a 6-foot-9 forward who has been in the NBA three seasons, averaged 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 30 games.

"Bayless will make our backcourt more athletic. He's a proven scorer and a tenacious competitor," general manager Kevin Pritchard said in a statement. "In Diogu we have a young NBA player with a whole lot of potential that really helps fill a positional need for us."

Jack played his first three NBA seasons in Portland, averaging 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and four assists. McRoberts averaged 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds in eight games his rookie season. He was the 37th overall pick in the 2007 draft out of Duke.