MEMPHIS – At age 25, Travis Outlaw is an NBA veteran, a Portland Trail Blazer veteran at the very least.
Outlaw was drafted 23rd overall in the 2003 NBA Draft straight out of Starkville High School. He’s been out West ever since, as a starter and as a spark.
For the first time in his tenure, Portland seems to be on the right track. Last season, the Blazers finished above .500 for the first time in his tenure (54-28) and made the playoffs for the first time (first round loss).
“We’re asking him to score, defend, rebound, but be a spark,” Portland coach Nate McMillian said, “make something happen and he has played that role, done a good job the last four years for me.”
McMillian’s wishes will have to resume in mid-January. That’s how long a stress fracture in Outlaw’s foot is expected to sideline him. Outlaw, who has averaged 9.9 points and 3.5 boards throughout his career, injured the foot in a win at Charlotte on Saturday.
In Memphis to face the Grizzles last week, Outlaw is projected by many insiders to be on the market in 2010, a free agent after the end of the three-year contract he signed in July 2007.
He says he’s not looking ahead to what the offseason brings just yet.
“I really don’t know. That’s the future,” Outlaw said. “I ain’t trying to look into >>> click here to read more from Brandon Speck.
