How you like Bayless now?

[Rastapopoulos]

Having seen Bayless now for most of two seasons, is he our PG of the future?

 

[MIXUM]

my take on bayless....

- no jumper with consistency whatsoever
- no true pg skills where he should ever start for a good team
- decent SG backup off bench that can get to the line
- awful defender
- in a pinch(like when roy was hurt for a game) hes serviceable to start at pg or sg... in a pinch
- seems like a guy who would do well in dleague

in closing, i say a below average combo guard who cant shoot, pass or defend. His game is getting to the rim and thats where it ends. im still shocked he scored 31 vs SA.

 

[EGame]

He's excellent, thanks.

 

[MIXUM]

who voted hes the pg of the future???????? thats comedy. NO CHANCE IN HELL.

did you notice nate had to insert miller when we were up 20 in the 4th vs minny cause bayless let them go on a 10-0 run?????? hes dreadful!!!!!

 

[mook]

I went with "Del Negro", but really I would've preferred an option like "Jury is still out."

The kid has made a huge amount of progress in 1.8 seasons. If he can make the same kind of jump he did from last year to this in the next year, watch out.

I definitely want a few options available to choose from as the eventual successor to Miller. At this point I'm quite happy having Bayless in one of those slots. By the end of his third year I think I'll have a better idea how realistic that hope is.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm half-way between "had high hopes and now kind of disappointed" and "he's not a PG, but he can be a valuable Microwave type". The most shocking thing for me has been how poorly he's shot from distance after having such an accurate stroke at U of A ... in restrospect I didn't pay enough attention to his release when he was in college, which probably worked fine when he was matched up against inferior defenders, but now appears to be too slow and low against NBA guys.

I'm am hopeful that he can be a valuable combo guard off the bench eventually, but I'm not so sure he and the team are going to have enough patience to let that develop here in Portland.

 

[hasoos]

None of the above. Blazer fans are going to have trouble being patient with him obviously, but I don't think he will hit his stride as an NBA player for about 2 years, and at what level that will be will be a mystery. He has a lot of tools and upside. He seems to struggle with limited minutes though.

 

[e_blazer]

I think that Bayless is the type of player who doesn't respond well to playing spot minutes. I also think that while he's made some improvement in his ability to run the team, he's never going to be a pure PG. He played well as a 2G when Brandon was out and I really think that's his ideal position. I think the Blazers will need to look at whether they want to keep Bayless or Rudy for that spot and move one of them. I also think that they're going to need to get a better floor general for the backup PG spot. Whether that's Blake, Koponen, or some new prospect this summer, I don't know, but I do believe that a lot of the problems the second unit is having relate to Bayless's shortcomings as a PG.

 

[Minstrel]

He's our future starting guard alongside Roy and a possible All-Star. That's currently my expectation.

I realize his inconsistency has led some to decide he's not improving, but his production is actually way up from last season. Unlike a player like Webster or Outlaw (or Rudy, for that matter), he's actually showing a big improvement from year 1 to year 2.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think he's a future starter.... somewhere else. I still maintain that this team needs a distributing point guard who can score when needed, like Andre Miller. Bayless is great as a spark plug off the bench, but I would like to see us get someone who knows how to make plays, and I'm not convinced that Bayless will ever be that guy.

 

[illmatic99]

There needs to be a middle ground between the first and second choice.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think he's a future starter.... somewhere else. I still maintain that this team needs a distributing point guard who can score when needed, like Andre Miller. Bayless is great as a spark plug off the bench, but I would like to see us get someone who knows how to make plays, and I'm not convinced that Bayless will ever be that guy.

Yup. With guys like Batum blossoming on offense, Aldridge being as good as he is off the catch and shoot, Greg eventually needing the ball fed to him and Brandon at his best scoring, the need for a scoring point guard with middling defensive ability (those short arms are killing him) I don't see a great fit at the point as a starter for him.

I'd be really curious to see how well Koponen is dishing the ball, because I think with his length and ability to hit an open outside shot he might have some potential on this roster as the eventual starter (assuming he ever wants to come over).

Barring Petteri, I'd push hard to get a guy like Collison in a trade, or maybe even Mario Chalmers who appears to be somewhat out of favor in Miami.

Attributes I see as key are (in order):
1. Distribution skills (plus some ability to handle the ball and collapse a defense with the dribble a must)
2. Defensive ability/potential
3. ability to hit a jump shot

 

[MrJayremmie]

There needs to be a ton more middle grounds.

I think he has been slightly disappointing, but nothing he can't overcome. As for our future PG, I'm not so sure.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yup. With guys like Batum blossoming on offense, Aldridge being as good as he is off the catch and shoot, Greg eventually needing the ball fed to him and Brandon at his best scoring, the need for a scoring point guard with middling defensive ability (those short arms are killing him) I don't see a great fit at the point as a starter for him.

I'd be really curious to see how well Koponen is dishing the ball, because I think with his length and ability to hit an open outside shot he might have some potential on this roster as the eventual starter (assuming he ever wants to come over).

Barring Petteri, I'd push hard to get a guy like Collison in a trade, or maybe even Mario Chalmers who appears to be somewhat out of favor in Miami.

Attributes I see as key are (in order):
1. Distribution skills (plus some ability to handle the ball and collapse a defense with the dribble a must)
2. Defensive ability/potential
3. ability to hit a jump shot

Miller is proving what many of us have preached for the last couple years. We need a guy who moves the ball, pushes the offense, and makes heady plays. I don't know if we can get that from a young guy. I'm glad we have Miller locked up for another couple years. We have so much young talent, it's nice to have a solid veteran to keep things under control.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I think Bayless has the opportunity to be a top 10 to top 15 pg in the league. He might crack the all star game once or twice, but more than likely average around 15/6 as a starter playing CONSISTANT minutes.


It also depends what kind of offense we run as well.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think Bayless has the opportunity to be a top 10 to top 15 pg in the league. He might crack the all star game once or twice, but more than likely average around 15/6 as a starter playing CONSISTANT minutes.


It also depends what kind of offense we run as well.

MM do you think he is the kind of point guard that we need though, or just a player that could be an All-Star one day? I think there's a distinct difference. I could see Bayless as a Devin Harris type player. Good scorer. Puts up good numbers, but not necessarily a championship caliber point guard.

 

[Blazer4ever]

I'm pessimistic when it comes to Bayless. Like others said, he hasn't shown he can run the offense - the most important trait for "our PG of the future", is medicre-shooter at best and isn't a great defender, even though he has the physical tools. I don't like it when he enters the game, I feel like our starting PG has improved from last year but Bayless-over-Sergio isn't an improvement in my eyes. If we can bring back Blake over the summer, like was suggested in a different thread, it makes Bayless tradable. You can also include Martel and if we re-sign Camby, you can also include Joel in the trade. Bayless, Martel and Joel in his final year for Hedo? I've suggested it in another forum, not sure the Raptors do it, though.

 

[LameR]

I don't think he and Rudy can coexist given what I think their motivations/aspirations are. Neither can get the minutes they want with the other here unless something drastic changes (Miller gone, but that would do more harm than good).

 

[MAS RipCity]

He is my fv player on the team after Trav left, and although an upset at his play lately..I still can't forget how well he filled in when he started/got 25+ minutes in Dec/Jan. He just needs consistent minutes but right now games are too important. With Dre being 34 next year, his mins will have to be cut back so that opens the door for Jerryd to get his 15-20 a night. If he doesn't show improvement next year, I might way off the wagon, but for now he is still my pg of the future.

 

[BGrantFan]

 

[MrSelfDestruct]

I'm pessimistic when it comes to Bayless. Like others said, he hasn't shown he can run the offense - the most important trait for "our PG of the future", is medicre-shooter at best and isn't a great defender, even though he has the physical tools. I don't like it when he enters the game, I feel like our starting PG has improved from last year but Bayless-over-Sergio isn't an improvement in my eyes. If we can bring back Blake over the summer, like was suggested in a different thread, it makes Bayless tradable. You can also include Martel and if we re-sign Camby, you can also include Joel in the trade. Bayless, Martel and Joel in his final year for Hedo? I've suggested it in another forum, not sure the Raptors do it, though.

Really? I think the they take that and run (laughing all the way to the bank). Hedo's contract is awful given his production. That's amplified by his attitude as of late and the rumblings of him mailing it in (I haven't watched enough Raptor games to say for myself). Couple the fact that the move takes minutes from a blossoming Batum, and I would say if KP makes that trade I hope he is fired immediately.

Then again, I was never really on the Hedo wagon to begin with.

As for Bayless, I've been disappointed thus far, but given his young age and work ethic, I'm more than willing to let him play out his rookie deal here to see what happens.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Hedo is a great player. Bayless, Martel and Joel - not as great. The same kind of move as the camby trade, use depth to upgrade talent.

 

[MrSelfDestruct]

Hedo is a great player. Bayless, Martel and Joel - not as great. The same kind of move as the camby trade, use depth to upgrade talent.

Not at all in my eyes. You're trading two young, relatively cheap contracts and an expiring (assuming Joel doesn't return to form) for a player who has a career per of 14.9--average, not great. Bayless this year is 15.8.

Camby on the other hand is a career 18.2 PER while Blake and Outlaw are both lower than that. Add the fact that there is no impact to future cap space. Do you really want to take on Hedo's contract not knowing what the next CBA is going to be like? I'd hate to let Batum or Oden walk because we brought in Hedo.

The two trades are similar only in that they include multiple players for one in return.

 

[Minstrel]

Hedo is a great player.

Hedo is not great. He's a very average player who had a very nice playoffs last year.

An average player attached to an enormous, long-term deal is a terrible "asset."

 

[mook]

I'd let the Raptors unload that lousy Hedo contract on us in exchange for Przybilla's expiring deal, provided Joel is indeed done (or we're able to re-sign Camby). He'd be a pretty useful player coming off the bench.

But I can't imagine any team is excited to give up real value for Hedo. There's probably not another guy in the league who has seen his stock drop more this year. (Well, I guess Gilbert Arenas.)

 

[MickZagger]

I'm half-way between "had high hopes and now kind of disappointed" and "he's not a PG, but he can be a valuable Microwave type". The most shocking thing for me has been how poorly he's shot from distance after having such an accurate stroke at U of A ... in restrospect I didn't pay enough attention to his release when he was in college, which probably worked fine when he was matched up against inferior defenders, but now appears to be too slow and low against NBA guys.

I'm am hopeful that he can be a valuable combo guard off the bench eventually, but I'm not so sure he and the team are going to have enough patience to let that develop here in Portland.

At UA his jumpshot was effective when he pulled up in semi-fast break situations. He was never a really good set shooter in the half-court offense. He was very similar to Patty Mills in college, except Bayless was much more of an explosive athlete.

That said, I don't think he'll ever be a good starter in the league. Maybe, a Vinnie Johnson type role or what Bobby Jackson did for those Kings teams in the early 00's.

 

[MARIS61]

49% agree with what I said the day we got him.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

my take on bayless....

- no jumper with consistency whatsoever
- no true pg skills where he should ever start for a good team
- decent SG backup off bench that can get to the line
- awful defender
- in a pinch(like when roy was hurt for a game) hes serviceable to start at pg or sg... in a pinch
- seems like a guy who would do well in dleague

in closing, i say a below average combo guard who cant shoot, pass or defend. His game is getting to the rim and thats where it ends. im still shocked he scored 31 vs SA.

Mixum, I can say for the first time I agree 100% with a post of yours.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Hedo's stock has plummeted and that's the only reason we can even dream of getting him for what I suggested. Hedo is a good player, probably as skilled offensively as Camby is on defense. I think he starts for us, but even if not he'll be very valuable. we'll have two major pieces in our 2nd-unit's backcourt, in Rudy and Hedo, we could play them with any of the starters or bring someone like Blake back this summer.
Last year, Hedo was going to cost us Andre Miller. If we can bring him this summer for spare parts we should definitely go for it.

Think of this depth chart (Rudy, then Hedo, then Blake off the bench):

Miller/Hedo
Roy/Blake
Batum/Rudy
LMA/Howard
Camby/Oden

+Cunningham and Pendy 11 and 12
++Mills, Our rookie, one of the Euro's on the IR

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Hedo's stock has plummeted and that's the only reason we can even dream of getting him for what I suggested. Hedo is a good player, probably as skilled offensively as Camby is on defense. I think he starts for us, but even if not he'll be very valuable. we'll have two major pieces in our 2nd-unit's backcourt, in Rudy and Hedo, we could play them with any of the starters or bring someone like Blake back this summer.
Last year, Hedo was going to cost us Andre Miller. If we can bring him this summer for spare parts we should definitely go for it.

Think of this depth chart (Rudy, then Hedo, then Blake off the bench):

Miller/Hedo
Roy/Blake
Batum/Rudy
LMA/Howard
Camby/Oden

+Cunningham and Pendy 11 and 12
++Mills, Our rookie, one of the Euro's on the IR

Hedo is a train wreck. He got his bling and now he's "retired on court". What would possess us to even consider him?