Chris Kaman’s continued presence on the Portland Trail Blazers’ sideline is weird.
It’s been weird.
Never once has it not seemed weird.
General manager Neil Olshey tore down an NBA contender after last season, trading Nicolas Batum, willingly bidding farewell to Robin Lopez and Wesley Matthews and constructing the roster around LaMarcus Aldridge’s departure before the All-Star big man actually left. And yet, the 33-year-old Chris Kaman stayed, even though the frontcourt is stacked with younger talent, even though he doesn’t fit the player mold for a rebuilding team, and even though he’s made only four appearances this season.
The Blazers have no functional use for Kaman on the court. He is strictly in Portland as a mentor and, with his $5 million expiring deal, potential trade bait—something he was made aware of before even returning to the team this season, per Jason Quick of CSNNW.com:
He agreed to the role, in exchange for the Blazers picking up his $5 million option, during a summer phone conversation with Neil Olshey, the Blazers’ president of basketball operations.
That agreement also came with a caveat: If an opportunity presented itself to improve the Blazers, Olshey said he would trade Kaman.
Six months later, and six weeks before the Feb. 18 trading deadline, Kaman can still hear Olshey’s words.
“I think about it,’’ Kaman said. “I know it’s a high possibility. If he gets a good opportunity for the team, I get traded.’’
So for the next six weeks, Kaman says he will focus on what he can control. He will stay in shape and be ready if called upon. He will help the Blazers’ youngsters with the ins-and-outs of the NBA game.
This is the part of the NBA business that doesn’t receive enough coverage: Players being paid not to play. We talk about veterans being presently solely to mentor youngsters, but it’s seldom acknowledged by those veterans, especially when they’re not playing, like, at all.
Kaman is at that point in the season when he should be demanding a trade. When a 33-year-old like himself realizes he can still play but is chained to the bench of a lottery-bound faction. When perpetual idleness outweighs the paycheck.
But Kaman seems genuinely affectionate toward the Blazers organization, judging from his comments in Quick’s piece, which is worth a read in its entirety. He does not appear disgruntled and angry. He has accepted why he’s in Portland and doesn’t just own it, but embraces it.
