Hooped Up

If you’re Rudy Fernandez, then look away! The Trail Blazers have reportedly struck a deal with Hedo Turkoglu.

Hedo Turkoglu has reached an agreement in principle to join the Portland Trail Blazers, according to sources.

Although a verbal commitment may be announced sooner, the terms of the contract cannot be finalized until Wednesday when the NBA informs teams what the 2009-10 salary cap will be. The Orlando Magic’s recent trade for Vince Carter, who has a large salary and plays small forward — which is Turkoglu’s position — made it highly unlikely Turkoglu would be back in Orlando.

This signing won’t put the Blazers over the top in the west, but it will make for a very deep and youthful team. Then again, the Blazers already kinda had that going on without Turkoglu too.

Via ESPN

UPDATE: Hedo Turkoglu has backed out of his deal with the Blazers and will play for the Toronto Raptors instead.