Shaw sighting

[peter delevett <pdelevett@amcity.com>]

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday placed backup
forward/center Jermaine O'Neal on the injured list and signed veteran guard
Brian Shaw to a 10-day contract. 

                          Shaw, 33, suited up for Tuesday night's game against
the Vancouver Grizzlies. 

                          Shaw, a nine-year NBA veteran, has not played this
season and has been bothered recently by
                          tendinitis in his left knee. His only basketball job
was as a volunteer coach at Contra Costa College
                          in San Pablo, Calif. 

                          The 6-foot-6 Shaw averaged a career-low 6.3 points
for Golden State and Philadelphia last season.
                          He was traded along with Joe Smith to the 76ers for
Clarence Weatherspoon and Jim Jackson,
                          who is now with Portland. 

                          Shaw was the 24th overall pick in the 1988 draft by
the Boston Celtics. His best year in the NBA
                          was in 1990-91, when he averaged 13.8 points and 7.6
assists. He also played for Miami and
                          Orlando, and spent one season in the Italian League. 

                          He'll likely be the Blazers' third-string point
guard, behind Damon Stoudamire and Greg Anthony.
                          Last month Portland waived point guard John Crotty,
who was then picked up by Seattle. 

                          "It's not like they really need me to fix anything,"
Shaw said of the Blazers, who have the best
                          record in the NBA. "Right now, the biggest
contribution I can make is my experience and
                          knowledge of the game. I just want to be ready
whenever my turn comes."