Stoudamire Traded To Blazers
Toronto Raptors guard Damon Stoudamire has been traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Kenny Anderson in a six-player deal, the Vancouver (Wash.) Columbian reported today.
The trade would send Stoudamire to his hometown of Portland along with Walt Williams and Carlos Rogers in exchange for Anderson, Gary Trent, rookie Alvin Williams and draft picks, the newspaper said.
The deal was expected to be announced by the teams following an early afternoon conference call between Blazers president Bob Whitsitt and Toronto general manager Glen Grunwald, the newspaper said.
A Stoudamire trade has been rumored for weeks. Deals that would have sent Stoudamire to the New Jersey Nets and the Houston Rockets were killed at the last minute by the Raptors.
Stoudamire, who played high school basketball at Wilson High School in Portland, is one of the NBA's most talented young guards. The 5-foot-10 player is averaging 19.4 points and 8.1 assists in his third season in the NBA.
The trade comes during a tumultuous week for the Blazers. Tuesday night, troubled guard Isaiah Rider walked away from the Portland bench with about seven minutes left in a win over the Lakers after coach Mike Dunleavy pulled him for taking a bad shot.
On Wednesday Rider was suspended for one game by Dunleavy, and Rider didn't accompany the team to Phoenix, where the Blazers won their fourth straight game with a 115-110 victory over the Suns.
Rider is expected to rejoin the Blazers for tonight's game against Houston.
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