(Crystall Ball Time) Three backcourt players, three question marks ...

[Nikolokolus]

Kevin Pritchard would appear to have some decisions to make about a few guys who are either squeezed for playing time, or who have been wildly erratic on this year's backcourt.

So, where do you see the following players in a year's time (by next trading deadline)? And give an explanation for why you think they'll either be here or somewhere else and/or what you think their role will be (here or somewhere else)?

My take,

Martell: I say he'll still be here; he's a useful reserve at worst, and an inconsistent, decent starter at best, but he at least tries hard on defense and he doesn't seem to squawk much about changing roles and being moved in and out of the starting lineup -- in short a fine 7th or 8th man. But more importantly he's making about the full mid-level exception for production that is somewhere south of his salary and there are multiple years left on the deal which will make him tougher to move with the impending lockout and changes to the CBA. The only way I see him on the move is if we take back a worse contract in some kind of package deal.

Bayless: I'm a little torn here. Bayless definitely showed a lot of improvement from last year to this year (a doubling of his PER is pretty remarkable), but despite the improvement you have to wonder just how his game is going to translate to a full time backup point guard role or even more improbably to a starting point guard role in the next year. He certainly has NBA skills, but are they the sort that compliment the rest of this team? My best guess, he gets the rest of the season to show what he's got, but if he doesn't demonstrate much improvement (shooting and on defense especially) I won't be shocked if KP looks to move him for a young-ish point guard with a slightly more complimentary game -- likely a player with a decent outside shot and some defensive chops to give this team a different look than Andre Miller in the near term as a backup, but somebody with the potential to take over for him when Dre's time with the team is up. (I'm thinking along the lines of Mario Chalmers, Darren Collison, etc.)

Rudy: With the up and down two years that Rudy has had (more down this year than up) and the fact that he's already made numerous comments about being unhappy or at least questioning his role and future with the team (his comments made during the pursuit of Hedo, the recent minor controversy with Marca) I think it's pretty clear that he's not long for this team, I assume his value is still somewhat high around the league and it shouldn't too hard to get some value for him if they try to move him. The only way I see him staying is if the other two guys above are moved over the summer or perhaps before next season's trading deadline

 

[THE HCP]

TRADE
KEEP
KEEP

 

[Pinwheel1]

Aside from of course getting a no brainer in return, I would go with this:

Keep (Not easy finding quality role players who are content with their role)
Keep (Still too to early to give up on-he works hard to improve his game-intense)
Trade (Not sure he will ever be happy in Portland)

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Crystal ball says the PG of the future isn't Bayless.

It's Koponen.

 

[THE HCP]

^ But he's white?

 

[ehizzy3]

keep
keep
trade

 

[Natebishop3]

Rudy is the odd man out. I like Rudy. I wish he was part of our future, but I don't see him staying here past his rookie contract. I would rather deal him for something that helps us.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Trade
Trade
Keep

That was easy. This should be a poll.
(Of course, this is other things being equal: for example if a team with a player we wanted asked for any two out of those three, and we got to pick. But obviously, Rudy would net more in trade than either of the other two. I have never heard any rumors of teams asking for either Martell or Bayless.)

 

[Rastapopoulos]

^ But he's white?

No, it's just that Finnish black people are very pale.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Aside from of course getting a no brainer in return, I would go with this:

Keep (Not easy finding quality role players who are content with their role)

Agreed, but that's not Martell. He's no good as a "role player". Unless he starts, his game is pretty much crappy. That's why Outlaw was better - he actually played well off the bench. Martell should've been traded the day before Batum got back.

Keep (Still too to early to give up on-he works hard to improve his game-intense)

I work hard to improve my game, too! Can I get a contract?
Bayless is what he is. Corey Maggette minus 6 inches (in the legs - about 8 inches in the arms).

Trade (Not sure he will ever be happy in Portland)

He seemed pretty happy last year. He's been injured this year. Once Koponen is here to throw him alley-oops again, he'll perk up.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Agreed, but that's not Martell. He's no good as a "role player". Unless he starts, his game is pretty much crappy. That's why Outlaw was better - he actually played well off the bench. Martell should've been traded the day before Batum got back.



I work hard to improve my game, too! Can I get a contract?
Bayless is what he is. Corey Maggette minus 6 inches (in the legs - about 8 inches in the arms).



He seemed pretty happy last year. He's been injured this year. Once Koponen is here to throw him alley-oops again, he'll perk up.

You always need outside shooters. If Martel has no trade value than what exactly are you going to trade him for? Somebody better. OK who

You can work on your game all you want. But you will still suck. Bayless can play. Ask Chuck

If Rudy is happy here....keep him. I have no clue. i will defer to KP on that one.

 

[EGame]

Don't care about Webster, trade him, keep him whatever.

Keep Bayless. I still have faith, even though his jump shot is very hard to watch there may still be a chance he can get it down consistently, plus I like him guarding opposing PG's moreso than Roy and Rudy.

Trade Rudy.

 

[illmatic99]

TRADE
KEEP
KEEP

Agreed.

 

[oldmangrouch]

It all comes down to what they are worth to the Blazers vs what they are worth to another team. All have some value right here, but none of them appear vital to Portland's future plans.

My best guess is that Rudy has the most value as a trade chip in comparison to his worth if he stays.

 

[B-Roy]

WAIVE
WAIVE
WAIVE

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Keep Bayless. I still have faith,

About what? That he'll suddenly lose the tunnel vision and become aware of other players on the team?

I like him guarding opposing PG's moreso than Roy and Rudy.

Well, yeees, but I'd prefer someone who can actually play defense over any of them.

Trade Rudy.

Boy, I guess Rudy has stepped into the whipping boy shoes left vacant by Blake and Outlaw. Why, I wonder? People aren't really taking seriously the quotes in the Spanish papers, are they? Granted he's been patchy, but he's had a pretty nasty injury. And he was getting absurd amounts of steals before the surgery. I admit, I'm more ready to move him this year than last, but he's got a lot (a LOT) more basketball awareness than the other two.

 

[EGame]

About what? That he'll suddenly lose the tunnel vision and become aware of other players on the team?



Well, yeees, but I'd prefer someone who can actually play defense over any of them.



Boy, I guess Rudy has stepped into the whipping boy shoes left vacant by Blake and Outlaw. Why, I wonder? People aren't really taking seriously the quotes in the Spanish papers, are they? Granted he's been patchy, but he's had a pretty nasty injury. And he was getting absurd amounts of steals before the surgery. I admit, I'm more ready to move him this year than last, but he's got a lot (a LOT) more basketball awareness than the other two.

So I guess I no longer have an opinion without it getting torn to bits? I mean, I could tear your rather ignorant statment that Bayless is a short Maggette, but I decided to just ignore it and let you have your opinion. Just because I prefer to keep Bayless (I am more biased towards him, yes) and trade Rudy shouldn't warrant me getting torn. And where the hell did I mention anything about wanting to trade Rudy because of the recent quotes? Assuming a little to much to try and make your argument better or something? I am merely for trading him because he has more value than the other two IMO and in the end, I don't see him being happy about playing behind Roy once his contract is up. Plus, I am not to fond of the streaky shooting.

 

[Todd]

Trade them all if you have to, no big loss really!

 

[Entity]

I had a dream that we traded Brandon for Rasheed for whatever reason. It was then a contest between Martell, Jerryd, and Rudy for the starting two. But Brandon ended up playing for Detroit, and not Boston. I was very sad.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

I enjoy each at times, and each, at times, frustrates me.

I see nothing in any of them that would keep me from trading them should a sufficient offer come along (no, it doesn't even have to be a great offer to obtain any one or more of them).

Gramps...

 

[Pinwheel1]

About what? That he'll suddenly lose the tunnel vision and become aware of other players on the team?



Well, yeees, but I'd prefer someone who can actually play defense over any of them.



Boy, I guess Rudy has stepped into the whipping boy shoes left vacant by Blake and Outlaw. Why, I wonder? People aren't really taking seriously the quotes in the Spanish papers, are they? Granted he's been patchy, but he's had a pretty nasty injury. And he was getting absurd amounts of steals before the surgery. I admit, I'm more ready to move him this year than last, but he's got a lot (a LOT) more basketball awareness than the other two.

Sounds like that vacancy went to Bayless and Martel to me.

 

[Minstrel]

So, where do you see the following players in a year's time (by next trading deadline)? And give an explanation for why you think they'll either be here or somewhere else and/or what you think their role will be (here or somewhere else)?

Slightly boring take, but I don't see any of them traded away.

Webster is a reasonably-paid reserve. There's no pressing need to trade him, since the team needs a reserve small forward. His value to other teams is not sufficient to generate a big enough return to force Pritchard's hand.

Bayless is progressing approximately the way you'd hope a raw, high-level prospect would. He had a poor rookie season but with flashes of impressive talent. He followed that up by nearly doubling his PER to the production of a roughly average starter, with even more flashes of excellence. Observational evaluations of course are going to differ, but my own impression is that Bayless is showing more court awareness and ability to find open teammates. Again, his value around the league isn't going to be high enough to force Pritchard's hand, so why wouldn't he continue to see how Bayless develops?

Fernandez has been the main non-Oden-related disappointment to me. He isn't playing well enough to trade for value...trading him at this point would be trading him at the bottom of his value. I think he's better than he has played this year, so the team is much better served holding onto him and hoping he rebounds into an above-average player.

If a consolidation trade comes along in which the other team wants those players, I can definitely see them being moved. But I don't see that being a reality. So they'll likely all be parts of the bench next season, in my opinion.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I don't think there is much interest by other teams in either Webster or Bayless; Webster would only be included in a larger deal where his contract would make the salaries match. The Blazers probably figure it's better to wait and hope Bayless gets better since right now they could not get much back for him.

Rudy has more trade value as some teams might be intrigued by his ability to attract fans in their area and also may feel like he could do better with more playing time, so he might be the most likely to go. But he really hasn't had that much injury-free time to develop his game as a Blazer so I think the Blazers might want to see him for another year: I think that would be their best choice. If his game improves they could find a bigger role for him or if it looks like he still is not happy with them, his trade value would be higher.

 

[Public Defender]

I think the most interesting bigger question you raise here is: how do the Blazers fill the starting point guard position in the next few years?

Or, more pointedly - do the Blazers think that Andre Miller, at his age, is the PG for the Blazers' "championship window"?

If yes, then I think holding onto Bayless is a good idea, as a decent combo guard off the bench. I think that's the role that he's best suited for. He'll never be a good enough ball-handler or passer to be a starter-quality PG, and possibly not good enough to be a reserve who's exclusively expected to run the offense. But he can create his own shot against another team's reserves - or against starters who aren't expecting it. And he's a good enough ball-handler not to screw things up royally.

If Miller is not the PG for the championship run, then I think the Blazers have to deal Bayless - and probably one of the other two guys mentioned (Webster or Rudy, but probably Rudy since he has greater trade value) - and pick up a point guard.

 

[Bosco]

I think the most interesting bigger question you raise here is: how do the Blazers fill the starting point guard position in the next few years?

Or, more pointedly - do the Blazers think that Andre Miller, at his age, is the PG for the Blazers' "championship window"?

If yes, then I think holding onto Bayless is a good idea, as a decent combo guard off the bench. I think that's the role that he's best suited for. He'll never be a good enough ball-handler or passer to be a starter-quality PG, and possibly not good enough to be a reserve who's exclusively expected to run the offense. But he can create his own shot against another team's reserves - or against starters who aren't expecting it. And he's a good enough ball-handler not to screw things up royally.

If Miller is not the PG for the championship run, then I think the Blazers have to deal Bayless - and probably one of the other two guys mentioned (Webster or Rudy, but probably Rudy since he has greater trade value) - and pick up a point guard.

Yes. Totally agree, however, I still wouldn't mind holding onto all three of them for one more year. I think they all have more in them. But maybe I'm just being a homer.

 

[hasoos]

I don't think you answer this question until you see how they do the rest of the year. The young guards just got committed to at the trade deadline. There is a reason they committed to them. They want to see them play and improve. You don't commit to your young guards, and then give up on them a week later. You take your lumps, and hope they will improve.