What Hinrich rumor? I can't find a rumor about the Blazers trading for Hinrich anywhere? I doubt KP would even think about trading for Hinrich. He hasn't played well last year or this year and is injured now. I would be pissed if we traded for Hinrich and played him ahead of Bayless. I would rather go with Blake/Sergio and Bayless then trading for Hinrich.
I don't buy the whole "we need a stopper at point guard" theory. Take Parker in San Antonio, for example. No one in their right minds would call him a defensive stopper. Hell, I consider him below average individually, but for the Spurs, Bowen usually guards the opposition's best perimeter player. That's where Batum comes in. If he can develop into our very own Bowen, then I don't think it will matter who we start at point, be it Rudy, Bayless, or Sergio.
If Batum develops into a Bowen type perimeter defender I would agree with you - but this is yet to be seen - and while I am as high on Batum as any of our other SF prospects (I think he is our SF of the future) - it is still premature to assume he will be able to do what Bowen does on opposing team's quick point-guards.
I'm not sure Rudy has the ball-handling chops to consistently bring the ball up the court against pressure. Ball-handling was one of his weaknesses in Europe and I can't tell from the games so far how much he's progressed at it. Most of his best plays have been working off the ball and hitting tough shots or making nice finishes.
A player I see Bayless turning into. We have to be patient with Bayless. The kid is going to be very good. Kirk is a nice stop gap until JB is ready.
