The Portland Trail Blazers signed free agent Fabricio Oberto of Argentina to help the team at center while Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla rehabilitate from injuries.

Terms of the deal yesterday were not announced.

Earlier in the day the Blazers waived second-year forward Jeff Pendergraph, who injured his knee in the preseason and requires surgery.

The Blazers open the season today against the Phoenix Suns at the Rose Garden.

The 6-foot-10 Oberto played last season with the Washington Wizards after four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. He was starting center when the Spurs won the NBA championship in 2007.

Oberto has averaged 3.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 14.6 minutes in 331 NBA games, including 128 starts.

Oberto played on the Argentine national team that won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and also the bronze medal-winning team in 2008 Beijing.

Oden and Przybilla were both injured last season and required surgery. Przybilla has already returned to contact practice and is expected to return by mid-November.

Oden played in a five-on-five scrimmage on Monday, but there is no timetable for his return.

The Blazers had planned this season to play Marcus Camby at center, backed up by Pendergraph. But Portland was left thin in the middle when Pendergraph was injured on October 7.

"We want to thank Jeff for his hard work and professionalism since he arrived here in Portland, and we wish him a fast and successful recovery from his injury," said Blazers general manager Rich Cho. "We sometimes have to make difficult decisions in this business, and this was certainly one of them."

Pendergraph averaged 2.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in 39 games, including four starts, as a rookie last season.

Pendergraph, a fan favorite, took to Twitter after the news, writing, "Thanks blazer fans, I had a great first year with you guys."