It seems that Nate has his confidence with Rudy over Bayless. They are both Rookies but Rudy has more experience with ball handling skills, international experience, reading his teammates, etc. I can only imagine that Bayless is frustrated inside and wants to play but I still ponder to myself that Bayless was better off staying at Arizona for another year to gather more experience, confidence, etc. I am thinking that Bayless will come out with frustration towards his manager for playing time this summer (09) just like what Sergio did.
I think we're taking the slowly-but-surely rout in developing Bayless. By his 3rd year he'll be the full time starter at the point.
Jerryd knows his time will come soon enough. He's just stuck behind a ton of guards who have more experience than him. Whether he's our future starting PG still remains to be seen IMO.
JB has talent but where is he going to play? Im still not conviced its at the point and he will NEVER beat out Roy or Rudy at the SG. Blake and Sergio have done a great job at the point so who knows..a lot of talent at the guard spot ,not to mention Martell. Seems to me that there is going to have to be a two/three for one type of trade.
Add to that, trying to make him a PG is an experiment as he's too short to be an effective SG in anything more than very limited circumstances. Now, if Bayless can become a good PG that's a real plus for us. I like his attitude and ability to drive. But only time will tell.
Rudy is better than Bayless... Blake and Sergio are better PGs than Bayless (though overall I think Bayless is a superior player to Sergio) There is nowhere for him to play... the backup PG doesn't get more than 10-12mpg and probably less come playoff time. He had his chance, he did awesome in his first round of playing time, but when Nate gave him a chance at backup PG he just stunk it up, and we can't afford to let someone learn the position right now in the midst of a playoff race for HCA. Also, as we've seen throughout the season, the backup PG needs to be someone that can set up the scorers in the 2nd unit like Outlaw and Rudy. Sergio is better for our 2nd unit, imo. The kid is going to be very good in the future, but i'm starting to think that (like Sergio) he may never be a valuable player in this system. I see him as a Monta Ellis with better defense, we will see if that is the type of player that will work for us (I think it is, but i'm not always correct), and if we are willing to develop him or just trade him. I'm all for trading him if he is a part of a trade that brings on any of the PGs on my list... But overall I really want JayBay to succeed on this team and be our future PG. His work ethic, attitude and how he gets along with the coaches and players make him seem like a great fit for now and the future (and his age of course).
Bayless/Blake/pick for Steve Nash, pick saves them 7 million. then we move up and get Steph Curry Curry would play the Bayless role this year while being around the team, bulking up a little, and honing his PG skills, but then would get playing time as soon as Nash left or we dropped Sergio (after next year probably, Rudy = fully adjusted by then). Nash/Sergio/Curry/Koponen Roy/Fernandez Batum/Webster Aldridge/Outlaw/Freeland Oden/Pryzbilla Sure Curry's not the greatest physical specimen or have the purest PG skills, but he's got a decent handle, very good vision, plays extremely well off the ball, and is a tireless worker. I think eventually a Curry/Roy starting lineup would work very well, even if Curry was only playing 20mpg as the starter.
Rudy is also 3 years older. I'm not worried about Bayless's growth curve stagnating on the bench... young guys regularly develop in practice. He just needs to stay focused. It may not happen in Portland, but I'm pretty sure his day will come. I hope KP is open to all possibilities to improve the team, but I'm sticking to Rudy Roy and Bayless as my best guess at the future guard rotation in a season or so. Both Blake and Sergio will be at the contract crossroads shortly... I doubt both will be back for next year. STOMP
Why shut the book on the idea that Bayless can develop better PG skills? He would be a sophmore in college right now. He may never be the type to disect defenses, but if he reaches his potential in other areas, it won't matter, because the Blazers are going to be (Brian Wheeler voice) "NAAAASTY!". Imagine having a lockdown defender at the point, Oden inside and Batum on the wings. Besides, there will be other ways to get him minutes. All summer, people were asking "How can Rudy get playing time as the backup SG to Roy"...well duh, play a 3 guard lineup for a streach each game. Think outside the box a little folks.
