TUALATIN – When Eric Maynor moved to Oklahoma City as a rookie early in the 2009-10 season through a trade from Utah, he joined a franchise about to take off. The Thunder had won just 23 games the previous season, but were just starting a season in which they would win 50.

In essence, Maynor got in on the ground floor as the Thunder were beginning a run, now in its fourth season, in which they would become one of the NBA’s elite teams.

So there was a bittersweet aspect of

, who acquired him Thursday in a trade-deadline deal involving a trade exception and the draft rights to a Greek player.

“It was tough, but it’s a business,” said Maynor, who spoke to Portland reporters for the first time after the Blazers’ practice. “You talk to all those guys when you leave, and it was like we started something special over there, and some stuff comes to an end. But I’m excited to be in Portland now.”

Although he leaves a team many expect to get to the NBA Finals for a second consecutive season, Maynor joins a Portland team eager to have him. Maynor had lost his spot in the Thunder’s rotation as the backup point guard, but Blazers coach Terry Stotts has already given Maynor the backup role behind Rookie of the Year favorite Damian Lillard.

“I’m looking forward to it, coming in here and playing with a good bunch of guys,” Maynor said. “They’ve got a great coaching staff, I’m looking forward to the minutes. I’m looking forward to playing.”

While his new teammates were

on Friday, Maynor was in Portland taking a physical, and the team also gave him a DVD of all of it plays. On Saturday, he practiced with the Blazers for the first time.

“It seems like he has a high basketball IQ,” Stotts said. “He’s picking up a lot of things that we run. I think he’ll have a quick learning curve.

Maynor said he had remained in constant contact with his agent, Andy Miller, leading up to the trade deadline, and knew he could be dealt and was happy it was to Portland. He said from the outside, he has had a positive view of the Blazers.

“Always been a hard-nosed team, even when coach (Nate) McMillan was here and all that, they played hard,” Maynor said. “Good bunch of guys, young core. I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Stotts said he wasn’t sure how many minutes Maynor would play, but he will definitely debut Sunday against Boston. Maynor’s main role will be to spell Lillard, perhaps bringing down the rookie’s minutes, which at 38.5 per game rank No. 4 in the league. But Maynor also will play with Lillard, allowing Lillard to play off the ball.

“Because of the experience that he has and the time that he has in the league, I think we might be able to be effective together on the court at the same time,” Lillard said.

Maynor said his right knee, on which he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in a January game against Houston last season, has gotten better.

“I feel good,” he said. “Basically, I just got out of the brace I was wearing, so I feel like my old self. I’m ready to go.”

Maynor, who said the ACL tear was the first serious injury he has ever had, underwent months of challenge rehabilitation after having reconstructive surgery. He started this season in his old spot, as the backup point guard behind Russell Westbrook, but could not perform well enough to hold off second-year player Reggie Jackson. Less than two months into the season, Thunder officials told Maynor that Jackson would be backing up Westbrook, and they wanted him to focus on getting his knee better.

“Christmas Day, we had a sit-down, and they said they wanted me to get it stronger and stuff like that, keep working out,” said Maynor, who did not play in 17 of his final 28 games with Oklahoma City. “I used that time to work out a lot, I built that strength in my knee, and I was able to take the (stress) test and get out of my brace.”

Maynor can become a restricted free agent this summer, if Portland opts to sign him to a $3.35 million offer sheet. In announcing the trade Thursday, Blazers general manager Neil Olshey said he wants to see how Maynor fits in before he decides on that, but said it is possible the Blazers could try to keep Maynor as a long-term piece

“I think I’m going to cross that (bridge) later,” Maynor said. “I think just concentrate on the rest of this season. Hopefully, maybe we can get something done.”

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