Blazers' Thomas thrilled to get win vs. former team
The Bulls got a good look at something they're missing from last year. Veteran center Kurt Thomas returned to town with the Blazers and played 16 minutes against his old team.
Thomas didn't produce many stats, but he was on the floor when Portland put the clamps on the Bulls late in the game during a 100-89 Trail Blazers victory. He drew a charging foul against C.J. Watson with about four minutes left and the Blazers ahead by 5.
“I definitely wanted to get a win here,” Thomas said. “I miss the guys in the other locker room, but I'm with a great group of guys here. It's definitely great to get a win.”
The Bulls wanted to bring Thomas, 39, back for a second season. But with an eye on re-signing Omer Asik this summer, they weren't willing to give Thomas a two-year contract. Portland did.
“The Blazers stepped up and showed me they really wanted me to come to Portland,” he said. “When they did that, I signed on the dotted line.”
Asked if he was disappointed the Bulls didn't do more to bring him back, Thomas shrugged.
“You can't worry about that. That's the negotiation process,” he said. “There are always going to be some ups and downs. You just have to go through it and be levelheaded about it and just be professional.”
Thomas is averaging 15 minutes per game in Portland. He probably would have played less with the Bulls this season because they haven't endured injuries to their big men as they did last year.
Canales follows familiar path:
Portland's interim head coach, Kaleb Canales, is another one of those hardworking basketball nuts.
He's from Laredo, Tex., didn't play college basketball and started with the Blazers as an unpaid video assistant, a job he took to complete a degree in sports leadership from VCU. Canales, 34, took over for Nate McMillen, who was fired on Thursday.
“Nobody's going to outwork him,” Jamal Crawford described. “He's a gym rat. He's a hoopaholic. He's a guy who's humble, who's always there willing to listen, easy to talk to.”
Canales' story sounds a little bit like Tom Thibodeau, without the 20-year wait for a promotion to head coach. Miami's Erik Spoelstra and Indiana's Frank Vogel are others who've followed this trend.
“Obviously, every head coach in this league has a different story,” Canales said before the game. “Coach Thibodeau, coach Vogel, Erik Spoelstra — they've kind of gone their own ways and had similar stories. But once we're in that video room, all we're doing is learning the foundation of NBA basketball. So it's been a great blessing and a great opportunity and I'm very humbled by it.”
Crawford plans to stay:
Former Bulls guard Jamal Crawford was heavily rumored to be on the trading block before Thursday's deadline. But he's still playing for Portland and not thinking about a contract buyout.
“No. I have an opt-out after this year,” he said. “It would be unfair for me to talk about or think about an opt-out at this point when we're fighting for a playoff spot. We'll cross that bridge when we get there, but no buyouts. I don't even like that word.”
Bull horns:
Lines to get inside the United Center were massive before the doors opened on Friday. Blame, or credit, could go to the Stacey King talking bobblehead promotion. … The Bulls will continue their recent tradition and wear green uniforms for St. Patrick's Day tomorrow against Philadelphia. … Dennis Rodman, in town for an autograph signing, attended Friday's game.