Develop Bayless and Batum

[Hank The Dwarf]

no trades - no FA signings.

That is all.

 

[Wheels]

and keep Blake?

 

[Hank The Dwarf]

and keep Blake?

Yes.

 

[Wheels]

Yes.

I agree on developing Bayless. but Blake is Odd man out IMO. Love the guy, but Blake is a backup, and Bayless isnt ready to start. 2 backups is not a good thing.

 

[Hank The Dwarf]

I agree on developing Bayless. but Blake is Odd man out IMO. Love the guy, but Blake is a backup, and Bayless isnt ready to start. 2 backups is not a good thing.

Do you trust Nate to develop Bayless if we bring in a FA or pull off a trade for a PG?

I don't.

If we don't move Outlaw or Webster - Batum will see no minutes next year either.

Unacceptable.

 

[Wheels]

Do you trust Nate to develop Bayless if we bring in a FA or pull off a trade for a PG?
I don't.

If we don't move Outlaw or Webster - Batum will see no minutes next year either.

Unacceptable.

Ideally Blake and Outlaw would be gone in the PG scenarios. a PG that is good for 30 MPG leaving 18 minutes for Bayless. Which is what he is ready for IMO.

 

[mook]

no trades - no FA signings.

That is all.

That's a plan that condemns us to not contending for a title next year. I don't know why anyone would sign on to that.

Any team that just won 54 games with such enormous holes at SF and PG would be foolish not to try to upgrade those spots and push for a championship.

 

[Hank The Dwarf]

That's a plan that condemns us to not contending for a title next year. I don't know why anyone would sign on to that.

Contend for a title next year?

unless Oden takes a trip to Oz and the Wizard gives him a new heart - it aint gonna happen.

Develop the talent we have.

 

[Reep]

I agree on Batum, but not sure on Bayless. Both players are about the same age, so you can compare them. Batum seems to always know where he should be. Bayless often gets lost on team defense, and often struggles when trying to run the offense. If his first option doesn't work out he starts channeling Damon.

Contrast Batum to Outlaw. Batum just knows where to be, Outlaw has improved, but still struggles with this. Will Bayless struggle with this for a long time as well? I love Bayless' attitude and body, I would just hate to pour three more years into him just to figure out that he never gets it. He seems to be intelligent, but I would like to see what he does this summer, and hopefully next year, before I give up on him.

The one way I would consider it is if you had a shot at a solid junior or senior PG in the draft who seems to naturally understand how to run the offense, penetrate, and play team D. Then I might be willing to punt on Bayless (who may never get those things).

Jarrett Jack on steroids is still Jarrett Jack . . . right? The extra hops and beef aren't what was holding Jarret back.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Like, say, Darren Collison?

 

[Reep]

Like, say, Darren Collison?

Eeeewwww!

No! Living down in SoCal, I've watched enough of Collison. I would rather trade the pick away.

 

[Wheels]

Like, say, Darren Collison?

Maynor>Collison

 

[mook]

Contend for a title next year?

unless Oden takes a trip to Oz and the Wizard gives him a new heart - it aint gonna happen.

Develop the talent we have.

That's just absurdly narrow-minded.

Over the past three seasons we added 11 wins, 9 wins and 13 wins.

We've got the 6th or 7th best player in the league who has made major strides every season.

We've got an 18/8 power forward, who is entering his 4th season (typically a breakout year for many young big men).

We're probably the only team in the league with two start-quality centers.

We won 54 games with our star center recovering from microfracture in his rookie year, a PG who has no business starting on a 50+ win team, and a rookie small forward who just turned 20.

And we've got Rudy Fernandez, a guy who just set the rookie record for three pointers, coming off the bench. And a lot of potential production out of Webster and Bayless.

I don't see how Pritchard approaches this fall without trying to position us for a championship run this year. Portland did so well last year while working with so many sub-optimal issues, they'd be nuts not to try to patch many of those issues up in the offseason and see how far we can get.

 

[Hank The Dwarf]

That's just absurdly narrow-minded.

Over the past three seasons we added 11 wins, 9 wins and 13 wins.

We've got the 6th or 7th best player in the league who has made major strides every season.

We've got an 18/8 power forward, who is entering his 4th season (typically a breakout year for many young big men).

We're probably the only team in the league with two start-quality centers.

We won 54 games with our star center recovering from microfracture in his rookie year, a PG who has no business starting on a 50+ win team, and a rookie small forward who just turned 20.

And we've got Rudy Fernandez, a guy who just set the rookie record for three pointers, coming off the bench. And a lot of potential production out of Webster and Bayless.

I don't see how Pritchard approaches this fall without trying to position us for a championship run this year. Portland did so well last year while working with so many sub-optimal issues, they'd be nuts not to try to patch many of those issues up in the offseason and see how far we can get.

We lost in the 1st round - we are not serious title contenders.

 

[hasoos]

I agree on Batum, but not sure on Bayless. Both players are about the same age, so you can compare them. Batum seems to always know where he should be. Bayless often gets lost on team defense, and often struggles when trying to run the offense. If his first option doesn't work out he starts channeling Damon.

Contrast Batum to Outlaw. Batum just knows where to be, Outlaw has improved, but still struggles with this. Will Bayless struggle with this for a long time as well? I love Bayless' attitude and body, I would just hate to pour three more years into him just to figure out that he never gets it. He seems to be intelligent, but I would like to see what he does this summer, and hopefully next year, before I give up on him.

The one way I would consider it is if you had a shot at a solid junior or senior PG in the draft who seems to naturally understand how to run the offense, penetrate, and play team D. Then I might be willing to punt on Bayless (who may never get those things).

Jarrett Jack on steroids is still Jarrett Jack . . . right? The extra hops and beef aren't what was holding Jarret back.

No Bayless doesn't get lost on defense, that is complete BS. In fact I would go so far as to say, he is hands down the Blazers beset defender at PG even in his first year. Bayless struggles have always been not being at "Game speed" during his first few minutes of play each time he does get minutes, and spacing on the offensive end. Not the defensive end. I do not know what the hell you have been watching, but his problems are definitly not defensive.

 

[Wheels]

We lost in the 1st round - we are not serious title contenders.

honestly I agree with you we werent this year.. but we also were tied for the #2 seed this year. And there is a good chance thatwitha a couple luckier bounces we are # 2 or #3 seed that we are still playing and gearing up for the Lakers right now.

 

[free_lafrentz]

We lost in the 1st round - we are not serious title contenders.

Denver has lost in the first round 5 straight years but all of a sudden is in the WCF. Why can't we do the same?

 

[Hank The Dwarf]

Denver has lost in the first round 5 straight years but all of a sudden is in the WCF. Why can't we do the same?

Chauncey Billups aint walking through that door.

Develop the talent we have.

 

[Wheels]

Chauncey Billups aint walking through that door.

Develop the talent we have.

And even with our inexperienced talent, and the Nuggets with that very same Chauncey Billups, they only had the same record as us. I agree on your developing point Hank, but these playoffs to me showed who will/should be around when we are playing big games deeper into the playoffs in the future. Outlaw wont/shouldnt be here, and Blake wont be the starter on a deep running playoff team.

 

[Nikolokolus]

honestly I agree with you we werent this year.. but we also were tied for the #2 seed this year. And there is a good chance thatwitha a couple luckier bounces we are # 2 or #3 seed that we are still playing and gearing up for the Lakers right now.

Frankly I think we got as many "lucky bounces" as a team can get last year. We came back from double digits deficits in 18 games, that's not exactly a bankable, repeatable feat. If anything I think the team vastly overachieved, and unless some moves are made I'm not sure you can even count on getting back to that 54 win level -- even with organic growth of certain players like Batum, Bayless, Oden, et al.

 

[Wheels]

Frankly I think we got as many "lucky bounces" as a team can get last year. We came back from double digits deficits in 18 games, that's not exactly a bankable, repeatable feat. If anything I think the team vastly overachieved, and unless some moves are made I'm not sure you can even count on getting back to that 54 win level -- even with organic growth of certain players like Batum, Bayless, Oden, et al.

right, maybe I should have said with a few more Blake free throws (Clipper Game) or a Hedo miss etc. I'm on your side on this one on the PG spot, but I do agree partially with Hank (*shutters*) about the developing part too.. but we need a starting caliber PG and Blake isnt that.

 

[adrenalize74]

I would be MORE than happy to start Sergio at PG and let Bayless get good backup minutes. OR....start Sergio, let Blake play his destined role of "quality backup PG" and let Bayless play combo/situational PG/SG minutes.


I would like to see a 2nd unit like this to see how it works out...

PG: Blake
SG: Bayless
SF: Rudy
PF: ??
C: whoever

I would be fine with keeping current backcourt personnel, adjusting their roles and just concentrate on upgrading the backup PF position.

This is assuming Sergio really puts some time/effort into improving his defense and shooting this summer....which I think he will, he did last year.

Ship out TO, Frye, contracts, etc and picks to either grab a good vet PF in trade or trade up in draft to get one we actually want.

 

[Hank The Dwarf]

right, maybe I should have said with a few more Blake free throws (Clipper Game) or a Hedo miss etc. I'm on your side on this one on the PG spot, but I do agree partially with Hank (*shutters*) about the developing part too.. but we need a starting caliber PG and Blake isnt that.

Blake is the perfect Nate PG - can stroke the 3 and cant run a fast break.

what's not to like?

 

[EPIC FAIL GILDERHUS]

no trades - no FA signings.

That is all.

That is the worst idea since someone came up with the idea for American Idol. I agree with developing our talent, but Outlaw/Sergio have to go. We've "baked" long enough IMO lets add a veteran PLEASE!

 

[Wheels]

Blake is the perfect Nate PG - can stroke the 3 and cant run a fast break.

what's not to like?

I see no reason to battle with you over redundant posts. If you have something to add to the actual discussion about developing talent etc then I'll respond. I'm not getting into a pro/anti Nate argument with you.

 

[EPIC FAIL GILDERHUS]

Blake is the perfect Nate PG - can stroke the 3 and cant run a fast break.

what's not to like?

The fact that he can disappear for entire parts of games.
Classic Blake line: 40minutes 7points 5assists 2rebounds 2turnovers
Thats good backup numbers, but he should be getting those stats in about 20 minutes though.

 

[Hank The Dwarf]

I see no reason to battle with you over redundant posts. If you have something to add to the actual discussion about developing talent etc then I'll respond. I'm not getting into a pro/anti Nate argument with you.

What are you looking for from a PG?

Nate is half court oriented coach - who designs his offense to get open 3 pt shots.

Blake is a good fit.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I would be MORE than happy to start Sergio at PG and let Bayless get good backup minutes. OR....start Sergio, let Blake play his destined role of "quality backup PG" and let Bayless play combo/situational PG/SG minutes.


I would like to see a 2nd unit like this to see how it works out...

PG: Blake
SG: Bayless
SF: Rudy
PF: ??
C: whoever

I would be fine with keeping current backcourt personnel, adjusting their roles and just concentrate on upgrading the backup PF position.

This is assuming Sergio really puts some time/effort into improving his defense and shooting this summer....which I think he will, he did last year.

Ship out TO, Frye, contracts, etc and picks to either grab a good vet PF in trade or trade up in draft to get one we actually want.

Ugh, Sergio stepping in as the starter next year is about as likely as Bayless.

As for Sergio improving from one year to the next, it is true he came back and performed moderately better compared to his 2nd year, but his sophomore year was so atrocious that if he hadn't, there was a pretty good chance he'd be close to out of the league had repeated that perfomance. Instead he still shot under 40%, had a fairly mediocre A/TO ratio of 2.4, couldn't fight through picks, had trouble finishing at the rim (getting blocked almost 20% of the time), couldn't coexist with Brandon, couldn't run the pick and roll, and did nothing to suggest that he's all that close to making a leap toward being a starting quality point guard for this team. To top it all off he's already made it pretty clear that he wants a change of scenery.

There is a slim chance Sergio sticks around as a backup (because he's probably got the least amount of trade value of any of our current 1s), but moving Chacho into the starting rotation just feels like a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Wheels]

What are you looking for from a PG?

Nate is half court oriented coach - who designs his offense to get open 3 pt shots.

Blake is a good fit.

one who can actually attack when needed. The 3 point line will have to be defended tighter with Webster, they cant just leave him like they do Batum. If we had a SF who could attack then Blake would be good in the role he is (kinda like swapping roles with the SF) but we cant have 2 who cant attack IMO.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Chauncey Billups aint walking through that door.

And a year ago, no one in Denver thought he'd be walking through their door either - but he did.

There are veteran PGs with play-off experience that could instantly increase the Blazers chances of making it deep into the play-offs and even to the finals. So yes, that would qualify the team as "championship contenders".

Develop the talent we have.

I'm all for keeping Batum and Bayless and developing them - by having them learn from experienced, play-off tested veterans. Acquiring veteran help and developing Bayless/Batum are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

Bring in Andre Miller to help the team win now, and tutor Bayless. Miller's game is much more similar to Jerryd's than Steve Blake's is. Miller is a penetrator who draws the defense to him and then either finds the open teammate or gets fouled. He's a much better role model for Jerryd Bayless than a spot-up jump shooter like Steve Blake.

I'd love to see the Blazers get someone like Gerald Wallace as a starting SF. I'd give up both Webster and Outlaw (and Blake, Sergio and our pick and our trade exception) to get him. Again, he'd help the team get deeper in the play-offs instantly, and would be a good role player/tutor for Batum.

Bringing in superior, veteran talent doesn't mean you have to give up on the young guys. With the right vets, it could actually accelerate the development of guys like Batum and Bayless - and it would improve the championship odds immediately. My ideal top 10:

Andre Miller/Jerryd Bayless
Brandon Roy/Rudy Fernandez
Gerald Wallace/Nicolas Batum
LaMarcus Aldridge/vet PF or wide body banger acquired through the draft
Greg Oden/Joel Przybilla

Anyone not listed is entirely expendable and could be used to help acquire Wallace and/or a back-up 4.

The starting unit would be significantly improved at both ends of the court. The second unit, assuming a solid back-up 4, would have a good balance of scoring and defense, and the team would be one of the best rebouding teams in the league. Wallace is young enough (turns 27 in July) to be part of the teams long term "core". Miller is older, but keeps himself in great shape and rarely misses a game. He could start for a couple years until Bayless is ready to take over and then move to the back-up spot.

This would get us into the championship window much sooner than standing pat, but it also would not jeopardize the teams' long term title prospects. The core (Roy/Aldridge/Oden/Wallace) would still be quite young, with promising youngsters Bayless and Batum on the bench. It would be a nice blend of experience and youth.

BNM