Blazers, Babbitt agree to terms

Press release:

PORTLAND — The Portland Trail Blazers have signed rookie forward Luke Babbitt. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are extremely excited to officially call Luke a Trail Blazer and feel like he will be a valuable member of our team and the Portland community,” said Trail Blazers Director of College Scouting Chad Buchanan. “He personifies what we value most in our players – hard work, unselfishness and character.”

Portland acquired the rights to Babbitt, the 16th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, along with forward Ryan Gomes from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for guard/forward Martell Webster on draft day, June 24, 2010.

Babbitt (6-9, 225) averaged 21.9 points (50.0% FG, 41.6% 3-PT, 91.7% FT), 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.03 steals in 2009-10, earning WAC Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-American honors as a sophomore at the University of Nevada. His 743 points in 2009-10 broke Nevada’s all-time single-season scoring mark.

The 21-year-old forward posted averages of 19.4 points (48.0% FG, 42.1% 3-PT, 89.3% FT), 8.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in two seasons with the Wolf Pack from 2008-10.

Babbitt will compete on Portland’s 2010 NBA Summer League team, with the first game slated for 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 11, vs. Houston on the campus of UNLV.