HoopsHype.com Rumors

Joe Freeman: I expect Claver to join #Blazers next season, but negotiations on a contract cannot begin until July 1. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Transactions 

Victor Claver: (1) I've read today lots of news about my immediate future. It's true that my agents have been listening to proposals from the Blazers... Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Transactions 

Victor Claver: (2) ...and that there's a mutual interest, but there's nothing official yet, and Valencia Basket will be the first one to know my decision as soon as I take it. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Transactions 

Miguel A. Paniagua: Two different sources confirm Victor Claver will play in Portland next season. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Spain, Valencia Basket 

Emilio V. Escudero: (Victor Claver) has told Valencia Basket he's leaving and he will pay the buyout of 600,000 euros (around $800,000) to play in Portland. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Valencia Basket, Transactions 

Jason Filippi (scout): "The NBA is not going to wait on Victor Claver or Joel Freeland forever." Superdeporte

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Joel Freeland, Transactions 

Victor Claver: I've always dreamed about playing in the NBA and I will play there one day at the right time. lasprovincias.es

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Spain, Valencia Basket 

Victor Claver: Yes, I would like to know my future before the Olympic Games. lasprovincias.es

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Spain, Valencia Basket 

Olshey seems high on Claver, a high-flying, "glue" forward from Spain, calling him “a good fit,” for the Blazers. But Freeland? Olshey was noncommittal. “I’ve watched Joel, but I wasn’t in Europe this year,” Olshey said. “He wasn’t a guy I focused on. The guys here just got back from Treviso, (Italy); they’re comfortable with him. But if we’re going to talk about doing something with him, I’m going to want to spend some time with him.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Neil Olshey, Joel Freeland, Transactions 

“Lot of interest in Victor,” Olshey said. “I think he’s a good fit. I think the roster is in position now where he would be a good addition. We can’t start negotiating with his agent until after July 1st. Clearly if there was a ever a time when there was enough opening for him to come in an make the team, with a lot of other young players he can grow with, this is probably the time.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Neil Olshey, Transactions 

Victor Claver: I don't have any offer from Portland to decide if I stay or if I go. I'm under contract. If I leave Valencia it's because I get an offer and I'm interested. If I go to the NBA it's because it's the right moment... I won't play with any other Spanish or European team. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Spain, Valencia Basket 

(Blazers draftee) Victor Claver: "I don't know if this has been my last game in Valencia. There's nothing confirmed, there's nothing, so we'll have to wait." TuBasket.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Spain, Valencia Basket 

Victor Claver wants to play in the NBA next season. Claver is seriously considering playing with the Trail Blazers next year. Marca.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Spain, Valencia Basket 

Claver is under contract with Valencia Basket but his buyout, according to TUBASKET.com, is only 600,000 euros ($760,000). TuBasket.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Spain, Valencia Basket 

If former Blazer draft picks Joel Freeland and Victor Claver are technically under contract with their Spanish pro teams, the buyouts are low enough that it won’t be a problem bringing them to the NBA next season, Buchanan says. “European contracts can be interpreted a lot of ways,” the Blazers’ interim GM says. “We’ve had talks with both players and their parties, and we’re hopeful we can get something worked out. It will take some negotiations.” Portland Tribune

Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Victor Claver, Spain, Joel Freeland, Unicaja, Valencia Basket 

Freeland will be in Houston in late June for a series of exhibition games with England’s Olympic team, coached by Rockets assistant Chris Finch. “We’ll see Joel when he’s there and will continue to have talks with his agent,” Buchanan says. Portland Tribune

Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Victor Claver, Spain, Joel Freeland, Unicaja, Valencia Basket 

Valencia's general manager makes himself clear when talking about Victor Claver potentially going to the Blazers: "Claver will continue to play with us next year." Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Spain, Valencia Basket 

But as the Blazers plot ways to spend the $15-$20 million in salary cap money they will have at their disposal, two players they already have the rights to also will factor into their plans: Joel Freeland and Victor Claver. The former first-round draft picks have spent the past few seasons in the Spanish ACB League developing their games and preparing for a move to the world's highest level of basketball, and it appears the time to make that move finally has arrived. Two members of the Blazers' front office, Joe Cronin and Steve Rosenberry, traveled to Europe last week to visit the duo, and both expressed a desire to make the leap to the NBA next season. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Joel Freeland 

The Blazers responded by telling them they'd love to have them. "We'd really like to bring them both over," Blazers interim general manager Chad Buchanan said. "We're going to be aggressive to get them signed and get them in a Blazers uniform next season. Any deal will have to make sense for Joel, for Victor and for the Blazers and our offseason plans. But if we had a choice, we'd like to get them both signed." Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Joel Freeland 

Nothing is set in stone, but it seems like the stars have finally aligned for Claver and Freeland to make the jump from the ACB League to the NBA. "We're high on both players," Cronin said. "And they are intrigued about the possibility of coming over. Nothing is a lock, but there is a good chance it will happen this year. We'd be very happy if we could get them over next year." Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Joel Freeland