TRAIL BLAZERS ACQUIRE JAMES JONES

Jul/11/07 04:27 PM Filed in: James Jones
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Trail Blazers acquired guard/forward James Jones and the draft rights to guard Rudy Fernandez, whom Phoenix selected with the No. 24 pick, in exchange for cash considerations, it was announced Wednesday by Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard.

Jones, 26, averaged 6.4 points and 2.3 rebounds with a .368 shooting percentage from beyond the arc in 2006-07, his second season with the Suns. Originally selected by the Pacers with the 49th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, the fifth-year pro from the University of Miami (FL) has career numbers of 6.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and a .395 mark from 3-point range.

"We are thrilled to have a long-range shooter and a young man with very high character in James Jones," said Pritchard. "And Rudy Fernandez is a tremendous prospect who has excelled at the highest levels of international basketball."

Portland was able to acquire Jones with a trade exception gained in a June 28 trade with New York, which sent Zach Randolph, Freddy Jones and Dan Dickau to the Knicks in exchange for Steve Francis and Channing Frye.

(oregonian.com)