The Trailblazers have waived 30-year old center Earl Barron. Barron played in 2 games (1 start) for the Trailblazers last year and he averaged 18.5 minutes, 3.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He has now played in 110 games (28 starts) in his career with the Blazers and he is averaging 15.2 minutes, 5.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Barron got caught in a numbers game in Portland, but he shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a new job for 2011-12.

The Trailblazers have signed 28-year old power forward Craig Smith. Smith played in 48 games (0 starts) for the Clippers last year and he averaged 12.2 minutes, 5.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game last year. He has now played in 356 games (49 starts) in his first five years in the NBA and he is averaging 17.9 minutes, 8.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. This was a smart signing for the Blazers as they needed a backup for LaMarcus Aldridge at power forward.

The Trailblazers have signed 31-year old shooting guard Jamal Crawford to a 2-year, $10 million dollar deal. The second year of the deal is a player option for Crawford. Crawford played in 76 games (0 starts) for the Hawks last year and he averaged 30.2 minutes, 14.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. He has now played in 752 games (393 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 32.2 minutes, 15.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Wesley Matthews will now be the #3 guard for the Blazers as they promised Crawford a starting job to entice him to sign on.

The Trailblazers have signed 39-year old center Kurt Thomas to a 2-year deal. Thomas played in 52 games (37 starts) for the Bulls last year and he averaged 22.7 minutes, 4.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He has now played in 1,018 games (630 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 25.5 minutes, 8.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. With Marcus Camby and Greg Oden at center, it was smart of the Blazers to sign Kurt Thomas.

27-year old shooting guard Brandon Roy has decided to retire due to doctor’s advice. He has a career ending knee injury. Doctor’s said that he might not be able to walk in the future if he keeps playing basketball. Roy played in 47 games (23 starts) for the Blazers last year and he averaged 27.9 minutes, 12.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He played in 321 games (295 starts) in his five years with the Trailblazers and he averaged 35.6 minutes, 19.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game. It’s a shame that Brandon Roy’s career has ended so early as he was a pretty damn good player for the Trailblazers and they are going to miss him.

UPDATE: (12/15/2011) - The Trailblazers have waived Brandon Roy via the amnesty clause. He will get paid the remainder of his contract by the Blazers, but it won’t count against the salary cap.