I don't think you can read anything into the playing time with Sergio, because I felt they were just playing him to give him once last shot before shipping him. They had to make sure they weren't making a mistake.
That's interesting, let me know if you find that link. I don't know much about his personality, but I do think his playing ability and his skill set would have made him a great fit with the rest of the Blazers.
We're making a mistake if we get rid of him. Period. He's too young (20!!!!), talented, and works too hard to not be an impact-type player in this league.
I agree. The best thing to do now is worry about something that may or may not happen on another team or not, sometime in the near or distant future involving him and some other future player on the Portland roster who's not even part of the team yet. We should trade that future player now for whatever we can get and cut our losses. Terrible day in Blazers history. I'm gutted to be honest.
I would keep him. I love his attitiude. I would think about trading Rudy because I am not sure he will ever be content here. (And no I have nothing to base that on) Bayless can eventually fill that Antonio Daniels role that Nate likes. Between Bayless and Martel we would be covered at the back up 2. That gives Batum more minutes at the three. Either way i am in no hurry to make a move as I love Rudy's game, I just don't see him as a long term Blazer.
Do you really think that Bayless won't succeed on another team? I realize he doesn't fit here now that Miller will be taking whatever time he could have had, so it kinda sucks that we won't be able to have him on our team while he's in his prime. I get that Miller over Bayless now is probably better for the team's success.
Methinks we are going to learn alot about Bayless' character over the next few months. Option A) He sucks it up, works on his PG skills, and meanwhile tries to prove he is a better back-up SG than Rudy. Option B) He gets his sense of entitlement bent out of shape and tries to whine his way out of town.
This won't be popular either but ideally I'd like to trade Rudy for Flynn (PG of the future), keep Bayless for backup SG with Webs as well.
I'd rather trade Blake and let Bayless be the second-string point guard. It's a bit risky, but Miller has been an iron man in general and it's better than selling Bayless for pennies on the dollar. Or, make Blake the third-stringer. That way, if Miller goes down, you have someone steady to soak up minutes but as long as Miller is healthy, Bayless gets almost all the backup minutes.
Could we see a repeat of last year where Blake and Bayless are battling for backup minutes instead of Sergio / Bayless?
I don't worry about things that haven't happened yet let alone the 9 other MIGHT happens that could follow. Ridiculous. Jesus Christ, he's still a Blazer for goodness sakes.
Do you think Mills will actually be retained by the team? I guess he might be able to sign a contract overseas and the Blazers will keep his rights, but it doesn't seem like a sure-thing. As for Bayless: I agree we should still loook to trade Blake. I think it's more likely that Bayless will be content to come off of the bench for 15 minutes a game than that Blake will. Ed O.