PORTLAND, Ore. --The Portland Trail Blazers' backcourt suddenly has become quite crowded.

The Trail Blazers, looking to add some size and power at point guard, signed Jeff McInnis, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound free agent who spent the last three seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers.

McInnis joins local favorite Damon Stoudamire and newly acquired guard Antonio Daniels in Portland's now competitive backcourt.

"I'm going to compete so hard to get on the court,'' McInnis said Tuesday, a day after inking his three-year deal worth more than $9 million.

The signing comes on the heels of a multiplayer trade last week that brought Daniels, Charles Smith and Amal McCaskill to Portland and sent Erick Barkley, Steve Kerr and a second-round draft pick next year to the San Antonio Spurs.

The moves have heated up speculation that Stoudamire might be on the market. He has three years left on a contact which will pay him more than $13 million this season.

"They did tell me they were trying to move a point guard,'' McInnis said. "But nothing's guaranteed.''

Blazers general manager Bob Whitsitt, in a prepared statement, did not indicate that further deals were imminent.

"Since the beginning of the offseason, we have said we wanted to address our size and depth in the backcourt,'' Whitsitt said. "Jeff and Antonio Daniels, who we acquired last week, give us two players who fulfill that need. We believe Damon Stoudamire, Jeff and Antonio give us great stability, depth and experience in the backcourt.''

McInnis, who averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 assists last season for the Clippers, said coach Maurice Cheeks indicated that Stoudamire would be the starter going into the preseason.

"I've just got to work,'' vowed McInnis, who started 80 games for the Clippers last season.

"Jeff is a big guard who can defend and run a basketball team, and regardless of who plays, we feel very comfortable with the players we have on the court,'' Cheeks said.

McInnis, 27, played three seasons for Blazers assistant Dan Panaggio in the Continental Basketball Association. He is a friend and former college teammate of Blazers forward Rasheed Wallace.

Also courted by the Minnesota Timberwolves, McInnis said Wallace and Panaggio played a big part in his decision.

A five-year veteran out of North Carolina, McInnis has also played for the Washington Wizards and the Denver Nuggets.