Blazers pick up 3rd year option on Babbitt
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Trail Blazers have extended a qualifying offer to center Greg Oden on Wednesday. Portland has also extended a qualifying offer to guard Patrick Mills and exercised its third-year options on forward Luke Babbitt, a former University of Nevada product, and guard Elliot Williams.
Oden, 23, is averaging 9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.43 blocked shots to go with a 57.7% (290-for-503) mark from the floor in four seasons with the Trail Blazers.
Mills, 22, has appeared in 74 games over two seasons in Portland, averaging 5.1 points, 0.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists.
A rookie last season, Babbitt, 22, notched averages of 1.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 5.7 minutes in 24 games. Acquired by Portland in a draft day trade on June 24, 2010, he also averaged 20.1 points and 7.4 rebounds in 14 games with the NBA D-League's Idaho Stampede.
Penguins make offer to Jaromir Jagr
PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Penguins have offered former NHL MVP Jaromir Jagr a one-year contract, and expect to hear a decision from Jagr's agent soon.
Jagr, 39, was a Pittsburgh draft pick in 1990, and helped lead the Penguins to two Stanley Cup championships. The franchise's hope is that he accept the offer, play at least one season in Pittsburgh, and then retire with the team he started with.
The deal is worth a reported $2 million.
