Blazers sold on Bayless as PG of the future

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If this is true I wonder who they are trying to trade up for? My guess would be Jordan Hill or Dejuan Blair.

 

Maybe, but I wouldn't rule out PG either. We'll still need to add a 3rd PG to this team assuming Sergio's gone. It would be good to have more competition on the team for the back up PG spot.

 

If thats the case (which I think it is) then if we draft a PG for 3rd string then they should be the highest risk/rewards option available. Why not take the chance in that scenario?

 

Who says the Blazers are trying to trade up in the draft?

-Pop

 

If Bayless just gets the pick-and-roll with Oden down cold, he will be effective enough. Even if he never really gets the nose for passing the ball than a true PG has (which he won't).

iWatas

 

You are familiar with our GM right?

Im not saying he is but I can pretty much guarantee that he has asked teams about trading up options.

 

Blazers scout Chad Buchanan for one...

From Blazers Edge:

When asked today whether the player that the team would be interested in targeting would be available at #24, Buchanan said "probably not" and indicated that the Blazers, if need be, would "use our resources to move up" to attain a targeted player. Obviously he didn't give any indication about who that player might be but it was interesting to hear this early and this emphatically that trading up was likely. Obviously the Blazers have the assets to facilitate such a move (2nd round picks, cash, small contract players); but it's nice to hear from someone actively involved on draft day that such a movement is already being seriously considered.

http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/5/12/873570/draft-workouts-report

 

bayless is NOT a point guard!!!!! He reminds me of a kid I played college basketball with. He has tunnel vision! He just does not see the floor. And I don't think its something you can teach. I'm not saying he can't be a good player but he is 100% NOT a point guard.

 

The Blazers would have to be mentally challenged to draft another Rookie instead of adding experience.

 

Which, for me, would be in this order --> Rubio, Flynn, Jennings, Curry, Evans

I'm just not sold on Tyreke's attitude and whether he can be consistant.

 

I agree that there's no evidence that he's a pure point guard. But at the same time, last summer (and in college for that matter) he was asked to shoulder the load of scoring. He was not really asked to distribute the ball much. I think it's an unknown as to whether he can develop those skills. I would lean toward no, he can't...but there's a chance.

 

Tell that Blazers management cuz it sure as hell sounds like they think he is/is going to be. Their track record is pretty good so far I think I will stick with their opinion on this one.

Either way this season will go a long long way towards seeing if he is one way or another.

 

meh...maybe. But if they believe that that rookie can step in and contribute better (not to mention for a longer period of time) than any realistically available veteran...they'd have to be mentally challenged to NOT trade up.

And I'd say that the GM and scouts have done a pretty good job over the last 3 years. if they want to trade up, they probably know what they're doing.

 

You missed the best line

 

Nothing definite I don't think. Just some rumors bantered about. I believe one from another forum by a dude that states he/she is an inside (something about interviewing privately both Curry and Flynn in Chicago). Another from the Bobcat's beat reporter. Then there's that NY rumor, which while it didn't mention a draft pick being involved, logic can assume that their #8 pick would have to be in the discussion.

Oh and I've heard Pritchard mention quite a few times that they're aggressively pursuing moving up, down, or out of the draft.

 

Why can't they do both?

 

Not only that, they may have to to plan the roster to work out cap wise over the next few years. They have potentially 4 roster spots to fill (Sergio, Frye, Shav and Ruffin). There is no reason that they cant do both.

 

Got to agree. I'm willing to be patient with him. In college and during the last Summer League his role was shooting guard. We don't know if he can play a more facilitating role.

Having said that Jerryd just doesn't appear or want to set up other players. He seems like the kind of guy that is focused on scoring. But again, that may have been the role given last year.

We'll see. I'm crossing my fingers.

 

In my mind, there was no question that JB is the long term PG for this team. The question was always about the short term.

 

In that case, moving Steve Blake still might make a lot of sense. For instance, bringing in Kirk Hinrich as THIS season's starter would allow Bayless to develop off the bench. When the time comes for Bayless to shine, Hinrich, who has already shown the professionalism to produce from the bench, would easily step aside. Much the same way Joel will have to do for Greg.