Joel Przybilla to Rejoin the Portland Trailblazers

“Ghostface” Przybilla is taking his talents back to Oregon, as he plans to re-sign with the Blazers. From the Oregonian: “Joel Przybilla was coming back to the Trail Blazers to be a backup center despite the recruiting efforts of the Miami Heat, and repeated phone calls from the Chicago Bulls. On Wednesday, Przybilla reached an agreement to play the rest of the season for the Blazers providing the 32-year-old can pass a physical on Sunday afternoon in Portland. If Przybilla passes the physical, the Blazers will have to clear a roster spot by either waiving or trading a player. Second-year guard Armon Johnson and injured center Greg Oden are the candidates to be waived. Acting general manager Chad Buchanan declined to speak about Przybilla until he passed his physical. The 7-foot-1 Przybilla doesn’t figure to be an impact player, not with the wear-and-tear of 11 NBA seasons, which includes two surgeries in the last 15 months to repair a ruptured patella tendon in his right knee. But if he has maintained any of the traits he displayed during his six and a half seasons in Portland (2004-2011) he should offer three skills the Blazers have lacked while sputtering to an 18-16 record: rebounding, toughness and the ability to set a good screen. Starting center Marcus Camby, who played the equivalent of a season with Przybilla, said any team could use another 7-footer, especially one with Przybilla’s traits. ‘He would definitely be welcomed back by me,’ Camby said. ‘He played hard, was a guy who protected the paint, and he wasn’t afraid to give hard fouls. And he was definitely a team guy.'”