I don't want him to like it. I want him to work his hardest to try and beat out Blake for second-string. Whether he likes it or not, he's under contract for at least three more seasons. Blake's contract expires at the end of the 2009-10 season. That gives him both an opportunity and a challenge: prove, over the next year, that the team can let Blake go and let Bayless take over behind Miller and as the heir presumptive to Miller. The Blazers can't afford to just let Blake go if Bayless hasn't shown that he can be at least a good reserve on a championship-caliber team by then. So it's a perfectly fair situation that offers opportunity if he can reach out and take it. Prove his worth and he moves up the depth chart next season, with another move up the depth chart to starter within reach. Fail to prove his worth and he'll likely remain buried and it'll be his fault. There's absolutely no reason to worry about what he wants and likes right now, not with him locked in for three seasons. He has no choices except work hard or not work hard. And his career obviously rests on him working hard, so I imagine he will.
Well, it just popped into my head, and after seeing Blake ripped for his average play against Houston, I thought I'd ask the question.
Actually, the next two years are team option. If Jerryd doesn't cut the mustard this year the Blazers can let him go.
I meant locked in from his point of view. He can't leave, happy or not. As PapaG says, there's no way the team is going to fail to exercise dirt-cheap option years. Even as a third-stringer, he's worth the money.
Perhaps. But the team isn't going to keep him forever if he can't get into the rotation. As it sits right now, he may see even less PT than he did last year. If Patty Mills comes back from his broken foot and plays well next summer he might just bump Bayless off the roster. I doubt the Blazers would cut him. But if they don't see a future for him here I doubt they would hesitate to trade him. Things have changed. The roster has improved. And he hasn't.
Trade him? Sure, especially since it appears he's more an undersized SG than a big PG, and the team's SG just signed a 5 year max contract. Not pick up his option? That won't happen.
He's played one season...it's far too early to use words like "forever." He can certainly be third-string for one more season, in order to prove to coaches he's ready for the next step. Play well and he's second-string in his third season. Continue to improve and he's a starter in his fourth season, taking over for Andre Miller. His path to being a starter is right there, assuming he develops. Development is obviously a prerequisite for more playing time, in any situation. Anything is literally possible, but the chances of a likely not NBA-caliber player bumping Bayless off the roster is absurdly small. Bayless played, last year, like a 20 year old in over his head. Not like a player who was likely to be out of the NBA in a season or two. He didn't have an objectively "good" season, but he certainly resembled an NBA player when he got more playing time during Blake's absence to injury. He has to improve, but concocting scenarios where a late second-rounder knocks him off the roster seems rather unproductive in terms of analysis.
bayless is a below average nba player. and has a very low bball IQ. he also does not have the physical gifts to play the 2 guard in the nba and has one of the worst looking jumpers I have ever seen.. he will be in the leauge for a long time but will not become anything worth talking about. Look for him in a clippers uniform soon.
Yeah, we'll take your word for it. It is not as if you haven't already proven that every post from you is a knee jerk reaction or flat out attack. You have clearly demonstrated a rational, non-confrontational manner in which to succinctly convey your opinions. I am sure that your analysis of a 19 year old player that just finished his rookie season playing behind a 25 year old two-time all star and the most decorated Euro last season are spot on. I am sure you are known in scouting circles for spotting low BBIQ guys, assessing 2 guard body types and jump shots. The fact that you grace us with your knowledge is truly special. How did we get so lucky?
no doubt, but heres some hope... it seems every offseason the chat in our community goes off the deep end with the posters having free reign to let their imaginations/fears run wild. Once the preseason play starts up a lot of solid posters (who don't want to deal with this sort of predictable nonsense) come back into the fold which helps... so does having actual play and endless fresh quotes from the principles to discuss rather then just worst case/chicken little speculations from those who think they know whats going on in someone's head by looking at them. To counter OIG's latest bleep, there was a recent interview with Bayless stating he absolutely would not be a cancer that was linked right here on this board... I recall discussing it with Min among others. So I guess he'll have to find some other end of the bench issue to fret over. Only a few more months to go STOMP
QFT. If Bayless gets all upset and pouts his way through the season, then we all know when the going gets tough he will fail. No one wants Bayless to succeed more then I do but the fact remains he isn't even close to the answer yet. If he can't beat out Blake then he probably should find another career.
I think Minstrel explained it well. Bayless is still very young, inexperienced, and a tweener. It's only his second year trying to learn to be an NBA point guard. At this point he has to know he is the legitimate 3rd string PG. Although he could surprise me, I don't think he'd be so delusional as to think he's ready to be a major contributor ahead of better more experienced players -- and every team has them. Certainly Nate will convince him otherwise if he does. Last year he was no where near ready -- heck, Sergio was better. Lets let him have a year of tutelage under Miller then the Blazers will evaluate what guards to keep and/or trade for. It may very well be that he earns Blake's spot. Bayless strikes me as a competitor, not a whiner or a quitter.
You sure speculate a lot. Bayless has shown no sign of pouting, and in fact IMO, has shown he is very humble this year and knows he needs to learn more. It's too early to give up on him, there have been a ton of PG who came into the league after only a year in school who took 3 to 4 years to hit their stride in the NBA, and that included playing off the bench and learning.
Really? You go back and watch the interviews with him talking about what he needs to do and you show me once there where he isn't humble. He talks about the difference between this year and last year, and even talks about how it humbled him. So back up your talk ODENISGOD. Maybe you should change your name to IAMHOTAIR.
Apparently, the new catch phrase around here is "fail." I think I hate it worse than "been there, done that."
