It's an interesting question. Conley gets to the Free Throw line twice as much as Blake (but who doesn't), and he's a better passer than Blake. He's a better shooter and much, much better passer than Bayless, but Bayless' future is still sky-high. Way too much upside on Bayless left to risk trading him. He isn't going anywhere.
I'm not advocating trading Bayless for Conley but it's interesting that you talk about Bayless' future being sky high. Conley is only one year older, has a longer wingspan, substantially better vertical and a better lane agility score. Maybe he has some room for improvement also.
Bayless has had very few minutes in his short NBA career to grow.
Conley's had 5459 minutes.
Bayless has had 1534 minutes.
Conley's minutes have been of the quality type while much of Bayless' minutes have been short spurts where often he's been asked to stand on the 3-point arc and do something he's not yet capable of doing in his career....hit the three. (Nate's so stupid sometimes, and Nate's stunted Bayless' growth since Bayless has been here. It's so good that Blake is finally gone, so Bayless can finally learn how to play in the NBA.)
Kevin Pritchard thinks exactly like I do when it comes to basketball. Everything he's done, I would have done, and everything I've wanted done, he's done. So, I'm pretty sure that Bayless is still untouchable this season and this summer. Until Bayless gets some real playing time and some significant minutes that proves he can't be what Pritchard wants him to be, he's going to remain a Blazer.
Bayless' ability to get opponent's in foul trouble and to take pressure off of Brandon Roy, while making everyone around him more open (because of the collapse of the defense when he drives), is the type of asset that wins Championships.
Bayless' only problem in his very, very short career has been Nate McMillan. That's because Nate has put Bayless in positions to fail. Nate's stupid "hand the ball to LaMarcus or Brandon and everyone else stand on the 3-point arc and watch" style of basketball has been killing this team, and killing Brandon Roy, shortening Roy's career. It almost cost us the game against the Clippers as Nate's butthole got tight when the Clippers were rallying and Nate went to that stupid Offense of his again leading to a 5-point lead by the Blazers. The Blazers called a timeout, ran something "different" for a change, a Marvin Webster drive to the basket off a Aldridge pick, and Webster turned it into a 3-point play, an 8-point lead, and the beginning of an 11-0 run to put the game away.
When Bayless gets to the 4000 minute mark of his career (the end of the 2011-2012 season), he's going to be a dynamic player. He also will be a .340+ 3-point shooter by then as he'll have two more seasons to work on his jumper. It takes several years in the NBA before someone can become a 3-point shooter. It doesn't happen naturally during your first couple of years in the league.
That's how I see Bayless. And, I know that's how Pritchard sees Bayless. It's Nate that's the problem right now with Bayless.
