Could Darren Mattocks be on the move after four years with the Vancouver Whitecaps?
That could well be the case according a report from Jamaican outlet RJR News, which claims the speedy forward has been traded to the Portland Timbers. Vancouver's The Providence followed up with a story confirming the move.
Mattocks, 25, was the second overall pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft and enjoyed a stellar rookie season for the 'Caps, scoring seven goals and adding an assist as he finished third in Rookie of the Year voting. He enjoyed another strong season in 2014, scoring six goals and three assists while earning a career-high 1,802 minutes, but then saw his playing time drop to a career-low 848 minutes in 2015. In total, Mattocks has made 96 appearances for Vancouver in both regular season and postseason play, netting 20 goals and adding six assists.
Mattocks is a current Jamaican international, and was a contributor on the Reggae Boyz squad that reached the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup final after defeating the United States in the semifinals.
Should Mattocks land in Portland, he will be reunited with Timbers head coach Caleb Porter, who was the head coach during Mattocks' two years at the University of Akron in 2010 and 2011. He would become the fourth former Zip to join Porter in the Rose City, after Darlington Nagbe, Zarek Valentin and Ben Zemanski.
There's no word yet on what assets Portland would be giving up to Vancouver if the trade goes through.
