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Just curious as to how everyone is feeling about the Pacers trading Bayless for Rush now. Rush hasn't shown anything that has clearly justified the trade, but Bayless was just traded for the third time in his 2-year career. This is also the second time that Jarrett Jack has been traded for Bayless. Are there still some that think the trade was a huge mistake?

Looking back, I like it. We got Jarrett Jack briefly and he was a lot of fun to watch in Indy. But long-term, I think Rush will be better than Bayless. Bayless obviously isn't too impressive even as a backup if Portland and New Orleans are all willing to give up on him. And if these trade rumors go through, Bayless likely isn't the reason Toronto will pull the trigger - it's Peja's $15 million expiring contract.

Bayless hasn't shown the ability to run the show (and in fairness hasn't really had an opportunity behind Andre Miller and Chris Paul) and Rush is improving on wing defense which is so important considering all the great wing players in the league today. Now if only he could get his offense more consistent (and stop smoking dope), he'll be a great piece in Indy's rotation. And, had we taken Bayless, we MIGHT not have Darren Collison right now. I wasn't a big fan of it at first, but with Rush's improvement and the fact that it kept a PG hole open for us to get Collison, I'm cool with it now.

i remember there was quite an uproar when we traded Bayless originally. It looks like the Pacers made the right move because even if Rush doesn't figure it out offensively, his defense and outside shot still makes him a solid rotational player.

I just don't think Bayless is a winning player. I said it then, and I'll say it now. He's in a point guard's body, but he's just a scorer with a me-first mentality. That type of player rarely wins anything.

Actually Bayless has been stuck behind very good players. When given minutes last season in Portland, a few Pacer fans were pissed that we moved him because of how well he played.

I am not saying who got the better end of the deal because it is still undecided, although you also have to consider we got McRob too.

Hopefully Bayless goes to Toronto and gets a ton of minutes, so we can settle this once and for all. At the very minimum Rush is awfully solid, nothing great, but not a bust either.

PR07 wrote:i remember there was quite an uproar when we traded Bayless originally.

As I remember, that would be a bit of an understatement.


And yes, at the time, I was one of the hoodlum's helping to lead the uproar.

Bayless > Rush/Jack

BUT

Collison > Bayless, so im content.

FreeRon wrote:Just curious as to how everyone is feeling about the Pacers trading Bayless for Rush now. Rush hasn't shown anything that has clearly justified the trade, but Bayless was just traded for the third time in his 2-year career. This is also the second time that Jarrett Jack has been traded for Bayless. Are there still some that think the trade was a huge mistake?

I was pretty mad at the time but it does make sense. The only way Pacers would look bad looking back on it is if Bayless did become a very good NBA player. Which he hasn't done yet and who knows if he'll ever be that player. Pacers needed to draft skill but also needed high character and leadership, and Brandon Rush filled that void back then, and Jarrett Jack was a very stable PG for a team needing some positives.

It's different because he was in a different situation. He didn't play much in Portland but I feel as if he would have gotten a good amount of playing time here in Indy and he would've panned out differently

Who cares! We have a PG far better than Bayless will ever be and this suspension seemed to lite a fire under Rush!

I can understand the Portland argument, but being traded from New Orleans for the second time in less than 6 months isn't exactly a ringing endorsement. One really can't make excuses for him in that situation because it's essentially the role that Darren Collison played in for a large chunk of last season (aka behind Chris Paul or even playing in the same backcourt simultaneously) and played very well in. The fact that New Orleans felt he wasn't apt to be the backup PG going forward isn't a good thing.

Jack, Rush, and McRoberts
Bayless, and Diago

the ONLY way you can say we got the short end is if you value Bayless at the level he was projected before the draft. Diago's gone. Bayless has yet to find a home. Jack would still be here if Toronto hadn't overpaid him. McRoberts and Rush are getting significant minutes. what's not to like? bottom line, our talent scouts were right when they concluded that the draftniks had him overrated.

Indiana should be happy enough, they're set to develop reasonably well.

I'm not super-enthused about Bayless but he's got potential and we've got a different kind of guard to back him up and take minutes enough that we don't have to worry if he isn't the greatest true point. We could use another scorer until we find some decent frontcourt players to rebound and defend, heh.

Wanna give us our pick back? Bayless for Hibbert, c'mon, it'll be great!

*wink wink, nudge nudge*

The original trade in the grand sceam of things was a pretty minor transaction. Trade down 2 spots and get a little value for your trouble. Jack's production the one season here was well worth the sacrifice. Neither Rush or Bayless to this point has evolved into more than a rotation player. Which is what guys drafted at this place in the draft typically end up being.

As noted earlier the uproar was due to most draft sites over estimation of Bayless' talents. Looking at the Hornets willingness to move Bayless already isn't a ringing endorsement of his potential or development to this point in his career. Throw in that he's basically being traded for a secondary piece in the origainal trade and the fact that Rush and McRoberts remain with us and are at worst rotational players forces a conclusion that we killed on that trade.

Head to head Bird 1 Prichard 0. Why would we want to fire Bird and replace him with Pritchard?

Bayless just hasnt found his place in the league yet...I'd still take him over Rush/Jack/w.e