An extra in New York, Frye foresees important role
The former Knicks big man embraces his trade and calls being with the Blazers a "great situation"
Sunday, July 08, 2007
JASON QUICK
The Oregonian
LAS VEGAS -- From the sweltering desert sunlight, a lanky figure emerged into the shadows Saturday as he walked down a loading dock ramp en route to a Trail Blazers practice.

From a distance, the figure looked similar to Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge -- same build, same gait, same Blazers-issued shorts and practice jersey. But it wasn't Aldridge, who already had entered the gym, which sits at the base of the ramp.

The figure was, as general manager Kevin Pritchard later called him, the Blazers' fallen angel: Channing Frye.

Frye, a 6-foot-11 forward whose game and build are nearly identical to those of Aldridge, was the player the Blazers targeted in the draft-night deal last month that sent Zach Randolph to the New York Knicks.

On Saturday, Frye flew to Las Vegas to meet management and coaches and mingle with his new teammates, and he made an immediate impression: He didn't want to just meet and greet, he wanted to work out. The Blazers gladly obliged, allowing him to go through shooting drills with lead assistant coach Dean Demopoulos, followed by one-on-one instruction from assistant Maurice Lucas, even though Frye won't participate in the NBA Summer League.

The gesture was meaningful to Pritchard in two respects. It showed a work ethic that fits the Blazers' new culture while illustrating how eager Frye was to get away from the convoluted situation in New York, where he became an afterthought with the sudden development of center Eddy Curry.

Frye didn't hide his enthusiasm to start anew in Portland, saying he was thankful the Knicks made the trade.

"Oh, I love it," Frye said of the trade. "It's the best place for me to be right now. All the players here, I love them already. It's going to be a great situation for both the Blazers and myself. I couldn't be happier."

The Blazers think much the same way. In Pritchard's eyes, the Blazers got another young, promising big man to play alongside Aldridge, Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla. Although Frye hasn't put up the statistics in his two seasons that would justify trading such an inside force as Randolph, Pritchard thinks Frye is somewhat of a sleeping giant, pointing out that Frye was deemed "untouchable" by the Knicks after his rookie season.

In his rookie season, Frye averaged 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds after being the No. 8 pick in the 2005 draft. Last season, the University of Arizona product averaged 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds as he got fewer touches and less inside play because of Curry's breakthrough season.

"We call him a little bit of a fallen angel," Pritchard said. "He's like a guy who has played well at one time, and then maybe didn't have as good of year as he would have liked, but ultimately he is a good player. I think he is that."

Frye described his two seasons in New York as up and down.

"Pretty much if any rookie went to New York, there would be ups and downs," Frye said. "I did what I felt I needed to do to get better, but it just wasn't the right situation for me, so they put me in a better situation. I have to thank them for that."

In Portland, Frye will wear No. 44 and figures to compete for playing time with Aldridge, practically a clone. Both excel at hitting jump shots from 15 to 18 feet, both can run the court well for big men, and both have long arms that help in blocking shots. It is a different type of congestion from what Frye faced in New York, where Curry became the focal point of the inside offense, eventually rendering Frye all but moot.

As a result, Frye said he relishes the new logjam at power forward.

"I think that's awesome. I think it will give us an opportunity for both of us to play our games . . . and where both of us can flourish," Frye said. "We can push each other in practice, and whoever starts, or whoever plays the most is definitely going to have earned it in practice. So, that's fine."

When pressed about whether starting or playing time is a concern, Frye shrugged it off, quickly changing the subject.

"You know what's better? It's learning. It's going to be awesome playing with young talent," Frye said.

Pritchard and coach Nate McMillan said they don't foresee playing-time issues with Frye because he and Aldridge will be interchangeable at power forward, center and perhaps small forward.

"I think ultimately, one of those guys will play some (small forward) and then we can go really big at times," Pritchard said. "Now, whether that happens . . . it could be one of those things that looks good on paper but terrible out on the court. But I think there is a chance of that."

Frye said that last season, he at times guarded small forwards such as Cleveland's LeBron James and Detroit's Tayshaun Prince.

"I told everybody when I first came into the league, that whatever you want me to play, that's what I will work on," Frye said.

This summer, Frye said he already has been hard at work. His frame looks more bulky than previously -- he said he is around 260 pounds, up about five pounds from last year -- and he has been working on drills that have improved his speed and explosion.

"I've spent most of the summer working out trying to get better. I felt that what happened last year . . . I wasn't satisfied. So I tried to take steps on my own to get better, bigger, faster, stronger," Frye said.

Just like a fallen angel.

"I've spent most of the summer working out trying to get better. I felt that what happened last year . . . I wasn't satisfied. So I tried to take steps on my own to get better, bigger, faster, stronger," Frye said.

Eddy's working on the "bigger" part too! The others are overrated in basketball!

I am going to miss Frye. I think he is going to become a solid player. But Randolph is simply better (offensively) and gives us the consistent second option that we needed in the frontcourt.

In NY Fry was put into the spotlight with huge expectations by Dolan/IT propoganda machine and NY media.
Fry was not ready for this and broke.
Now there are no expectations and no rush. He has a lot of talanted players around and now they have huge expectations attached. Fry can slowly work in and he has strong drive to prove himself and prove IT wrong. This things can do wonders.
He is in very comfortable position and all in his hands now.

Posted by nyk4ever:

We could have just drafted Bynum and wouldn't have needed to go out and get Zach's huge contract

or make the curry trade. and we could have just rebuilt- and who knows, maybe be in the running this past draft for a top 3 pick.

Frye had a different coach his rookie year.

Posted by Nalod:

Frye had a different coach his rookie year.

Yep. Also Frye was coming off that nasty looking knee injury in his rookie year, which often has a psychological as well as physical impact to a players game, upon returning from the injury. His role diminished, add the addition of Jared "bricklayer" Jeffries and the emergence of Eddie "Dunkin Donuts" Curry and we saw the results. I liked Frye, and am curious what we'll see from him when the Knicks play Portland, but agree that Randolph is a better offensive threat.

It's going to be awesome playing with young talent

Weren't the Knicks supposed to be loaded with young talent? Guess Frye didn't think so.

can we stop the tradition of incessantly posting about guys who used to be on the knicks.

Frye quotes...

On How He Felt Being in Portland: "Extremely ecstatic."

On Where He Fits In and What Position: "I can play anywhere they want...four, five, whatever. I'm glad to be on a team with such great players. I look forward to fitting in with them."

On What He Brings to Portland: "I bring everything...a little personality, a little leadership, a little shooting, a little defense. I'm a buffet of goodness."

frye's gonna bring the snickerdoodles...