Eggers: Blazers F Dorell Wright Discusses Why He Picked Portland, How His Role Will Shape Up

Kerry Eggersof thePortland Tribunecatches upwith new Portland Trail Blazers forward Dorell Wright, who offers some thoughts on why he chose Portland in free agency and how he envisions his role shaping up.

"[Blazers GM] Neil [Olshey] is a great guy, very up front. He lets you know what is real. When you've known someone for so long, the trust and communication is there. I trust Neil. I trust the situation. He sold me on everything as far as the city and the team. Being able to play with Damian (Lillard), Wesley (Matthews), Nic (Batum), LaMarcus (Aldridge) ... I felt like I'd fit in with all those guys. i had a feeling in my gut that it was the right situation for myself and my family."

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"I want to come off the bench," he says. "When training camp starts, I'll get in there and compete, but the guys who have been here have already established themselves. They've been playing well the past few years. (The Blazers) struggled because they didn't have a strong bench. I don't think that will be the case this season."

Wright says his versatility will pay off for the Blazers. "I'm a 1 through 4, to tell you the truth," he says. "I'm a point forward. I make plays for my teammates. I can shoot the 3. I can be an undersized 4, pick and pop and put pressure on the defense with outside shooting."

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He's thinking playoffs."No doubt," he says. "Look at the talent. We have a stronger bench now. It's going to be so competitive in practice. People are going to really want it. The playoffs will be the goal from day one. We're going to protect our homecourt and go out there to win a lot of games."

The Blazers signed Wright to a two-year deal reportedly worth $6 millionback in July.

Wright, 27, averaged 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game off the bench for the Philadelphia 76ers last season.

A first-round pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, Wright has spent his nine-year career with the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Sixers. He led the NBA in three-pointers made and attempted in 2010-11 with the Warriors and is a career 36.7 percent three-point shooter.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com |Twitter