TUALATIN — Cliff Alexander has encountered a significant setback in his quest to make the Trail Blazers' regular season roster. The undrafted rookie out of Kansas is expected to miss a "couple weeks" with a bone bruise in his left knee, coach Terry Stotts said, an injury confirmed by a Friday magnetic resonance imaging test. It's unclear how and when the 6-foot-8 forward suffered the ailment, but Alexander hasn't practiced the last two days and will be sidelined indefinitely. "We're going to kind of shut him down for a couple weeks and then work him back in," Stotts said Saturday after the Blazers' workout at the practice facility in Tualatin. "So he's going to be back for a little bit." The Blazers signed Alexander in July, but his deal is not fully guaranteed, so he's in the middle of a training camp battle to make the regular season roster. He impressed coaches and teammates with his work ethic and rugged play when the Blazers gathered for voluntary workouts and pick-up games in September and he appeared to be on the path toward earning a roster spot. Blazers veteran Chris Kaman told The Oregonian earlier in the week that he thought Alexander should have been a first-round draft pick and Stotts on Saturday offered praise. But while the timing seems detrimental to Alexander's chances of making the regular season roster, Stotts said it wasn't anything but a deathblow. When asked if a player like Alexander can miss two weeks of training camp and still make the team, Stotts immediately said yes. "He's a young guy," Stotts said. "We have to cut two players. So hopefully he'll stay involved and get back. But I think it's too early to make any decisions like that." http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...r_to_miss_a_couple_wee.html#incart_river_home
Bummer, but I don't think it will change anything. He had a good enough start and I can't see them keeping Frazier and Pressey, so that leaves Alexander.
I doubt it. I think he's in. I choose to believe that they're shutting him down temporarily because they've already realized he's a keeper and want to ensure that he has a future with this team.
Well shit, There goes our version of Wes Mathews. Might we have any other versions of players we lost?
If he's talented I don't see them getting rid of him just because of bad timing. It's still the beginning of training camp. Right? Right?
Looks to me like we're keeping Cliff...the next uncle Cliffy to wear the pinwheel! A bone bruise will be healed long before the regular season so I'm not worried.
