Crowds were sparse and off-court incidents involving teammates made front page news soon after Outlaw arrived in Portland straight out of Mississippi's Starkville High School back in 2003. Outlaw has grown-up real fast these past five seasons. He survived Qyntel Woods, Ruben Patterson, Zach Randolph, Darius Miles and the "Twenty-Five Point Pledge." In fact, Outlaw has essentially helped the Blazers rise from the dregs of the league to a team gunning for the playoffs.

But you never hear that story.

Instead, Outlaw's name tends to appear in the latest trade rumors floating around the NBA and this season is no different.

"I definitely hear it," Outlaw told HOOPSWORLD when asked about having his name involved in trade speculation.

"I even have people coming up to me like, 'what do you think? I like you and all but maybe that is a good trade'," the Blazers 6-9 small forward said with a smile.

"The only thing I can do is let God handle it. I can't control none of that."

What Outlaw can control however is his consistent play on the court. And at this point in a still young season, he is certainly playing his best basketball for Portland. In the past six games, Outlaw is averaging 12.6 points and 3.8 rebounds off the Blazers' bench and is showing flashes of what made him a fourth-quarter threat for head coach Nate McMillan last season.

It was then that Outlaw – behind Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge – co-led the team in scoring 11 times in what has become his customary supporting role. Now Outlaw is hoping to duplicate the success.

"I want to be more aggressive now. I'm trying to be more aggressive, trying to let it come to me instead of just going out there. Everyone is telling me to get back to my old-self, which is being aggressive."

Coming off a career-season where he averaged 13.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game – and while grabbing 59 steals on the year - it's no wonder why Outlaw remains a wanted commodity around the league. It's no wonder why the "Outlaw for Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley Jr." rumor surfaced twice this season.

It's no wonder why his energy continues to hold Portland's reserves together.

"There's definitely a time to be aggressive and there's a time to layoff. But most of all everyone wants me to stay real aggressive and get to the rack," Outlaw continued.

While Outlaw is assertive offensively, McMillan has stressed to him more than once the need to equal the effort defensively. That's a large reason why promising rookie Nicolas Batum continues to start. Yet what's more interesting is how the small forward rotation pans out once an injured Martell Webster eventually returns. Many already inquire if the trio of Outlaw, Webster and Batum can co-exist not only this season but in the future as well. It's becoming more apparent something is going to have to give.

But in the meantime, all a modest Outlaw wants to do with Portland is continue to do the things that he's done since coming into the league: be himself.

"Most of all I want to make sure I come every day and every game and play hard. That's the only thing I can control is how I play," said Outlaw.

"So that's what I'll do."