13 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, in 30 minutes of playing time. Plus, 50% shooting from the field, and 70% shooting from the line. Bayless just proved something to me. I think he deserves more burn.
Bayless just played his way out of any minutes. No way Nate plays the kid now, especially when he can turn to Blake and Outlaw and their combined - 17,843
I don't care how good Bayless has looked (and could look with consistent burn) there aint no fucking way McMillan is going to make him a regular in the lineup ... unless he's so thoroughly destroying Blake AND Miller in practice that he's got no other choice. And by "destroy" I mean is able to sit in the corner and play catch and shoot off of Brandon kick-outs, and never get more than 1 turnover per game Just kidding ... but only just. Bayless is pure fucked on this roster.
Hard situation. Bayless deserves PT but the only way that happens is if an injury occurs or Blake is traded. I dont think we get rid of a Pg that knows this system as well as anyone so that Bayless can prove he MIGHT be our future guy. Hopefully we let Blake go this summer and show Bayless he's definitely apart of the future.
Here's another question? If you think Blake has some value, but you're probably not willing to pay him 4 million+ per year (he'll be an undersized 30 year old point guard next year) and he's a semi valuable rotation player with an expiring contract wouldn't you rather trade him by the deadline and get something of value in return rather than just letting it evaporate into thin air? I have no idea how this season is going to shake out, but after hearing from a number of sources that Rudy's body language has been awful and he seems withdrawn and (possibly) unhappy and you've got Travis on an expiring contract and a questionable fit with regards to his particular skillset as a backup 4, I wonder if our most tradeable players could be Blake, Trout and Rudy ... and if so what could a package of those three get you on the open market (7 million in expiring contracts on players that can still provide meaningful contributions and an exciting second year prospect shooting guard who just about 1/2 of the league would be happy to have as their starting 2)? Lots of looming questions.
Go download the Wheels podcast from today at 955thegame.com, and you can listen to jason quick's podcast at oregonlive today ... it was mentioned in both.
http://tribeca.vidavee.com/advance/doc/75F51679D5015B8A629A2D10757FB346?AF_deliveryChannel=play Interesting to see the reaction of some his teammates ... Oden, Miller and Howard all clearly like him, the rest ... I think there's like mixed with other emotions.
Don't blame Nate. Bayless has two better PG's ahead of him and he stunk in Vegas. One meaningless pre season game does not a coronation maketh. Nate will give him all the playing time he earns.
I think trading Blake would be a huge gamble. I'm not opposed to the idea but I think saying he is a "semi valuable rotation player" is short changing him a little. I don't even like Blake but overall he did a pretty good job of running this team last year. I don't feel comfortable enough with Nic and Martell to get rid of Outlaw YET but maybe that changes in a month. I think the general consensus is Rudy is capable of being a starter in this league and while I think he is overrated I would love to see a consolidation trade so long as it makes us noticeably better. With KP's track record unless the trade takes place around draft time, it's probably not going to happen. We are either going to get both Outlaw/Blake for cheap this summer or we're going to lose one or both. One thing is for sure, we aren't paying them face value with all the guys on this team that are going to need new contracts in the near future. There are plenty of scenarios that can play out, I'm not worried about it. This year is going to be fun.
Or he could absorb everything from Andre Miller as possible and be gold if he keeps working his ass off in practice in the coming years. He is 20 years old why is everyone so quick to send him packing? He's got a lot to learn and now has a great vet to learn it all from. Patience people!
