Bayless!

[Effigy]

Oh and for the record I would still want Jack and 13 for 11.

How quick things change.

When the Pacers drafted Bayless, I was in shock that my hometown Pacers could have a top player fall in their lap ala Danny Granger a few years ago. When the Blazers drafted Rush, the shock went from the good kind to bad. It was even worse when it was announced initially as only JJ and Rush for him. Even with Ford, I keep a top tier PG over a SG.

McRoberts may turn out ok, but JJ in a running offense is going to be a disaster. My feeling is that this trade was agreed to before the draft and the Pacers just stayed true to the agreed terms. For months we have been worrying over what it was going to take to get a top PG. Who would have thought it was #13, JJ, and McBob?

I am happy as a season ticket holder, but embarrased that Bird did not get more.

Yeah man, I could tell you weren't happy at the draft party. I felt guilty when the rest of us were cheering as the deal got better (Diago) and you just stood there in shock. Bayless and Ford couldn't play together, they're way too little, and you traded Jermaine, the best player you've had since Reggie for Ford, so you couldn't very well bench him for Bayless. I can't explain why they didn't demand the 27 from us, I guess because they (like you) thought it was a worthless pick, but there were several good prospects available, and had they known they could get Arthur or Green or Batum, maybe they would have demanded the pick.

[Blaze the Nugz]

I'd like to give myself props for predicting this. In the draft predictions thread yesterday I believe I wrote "Jerryd Bayless. KP told me." and it happened. Thank you, thank you, good night, I'm hear til Saturday.

[EGame]

Is this trade going to be "officialy" announced by the league on July 1? Isn't that when all the salaries and whatnot match? Sorry if this question was already answered I am a little tired and mainly too lazy to look through all the pages

[DaVoiceMaster]

Correct and the teams cannot comment about the speculated trade until then.

[ForeignBlazer]

Correct and the teams cannot comment about the speculated trade until then.

That's why Larry Bird said it was speculation when he was interviewed on ESPN.

[Yadadimean]

Portland needs a passer, not a shooting PG. They already have that with Roy and Aldridge.

Yeah damn that Brandon Roy - the shooting shooting guard and damn that Aldridge - that shooting point guard.

[Spykes]

First Portland interview with Bayless for anyone who wants to hear it...

http://955thegame.com/Portals/0/media/J ... -27-08.mp3

He was pretty honest about his initial feelings about the trade. Sounds like he really wasn't that happy with going to Portland right away, but after he realized what kind of team he'd be going too, he changed his mind.

[PritchSlap]

Seems like a solid person

[BballFanAddict]

hmmm... did i hear him right when he said he was actually upset about being traded from Indy to Portland, because he was stoked to go to Indy!?!?

Here I thought Andy Katz was being a moron and missed the fact that Bayless was upset about sliding and not about the trade, but it seems he was indeed upset about going to Portland instead of Indiana!?!

No disrespect to Indiana, but, really, Indiana? Their team is a mess right now, although I think they did great the last few days, and Portland is shaping up to be a powerhouse.

I realize he gets it now, but, what would possess him to be interested in Indy in the first place?

[ghills88]

Thats not how I heard it. It sounded to me like he was mostly disappointed in sliding that far and then said he was upset about going to Indiana, but was glad when he realized he was going to Portland.

[Effigy]

Yeah, first of all he fell. A lot. The difference in the 4th pick in the draft to the 11th pick is about double the money. Just looking at Acie Law and Al Horford (who helpfully are on the same team)'s salaries. So the slide cost him about $2 million per year. Also he landed in Indy where he was going to be behind a 25 year old point guard that they just traded their franchise player for. I think he was just in shock.

[EGame]

I get the feeling he is glad he is coming to Portland and it doesn't sound as if he has to be the main guy on the team. Now, I don't know if he is in to the big market thing or not, but I don't necessairly get the feeling he will bolt ASAP unless of course he is into the bigger markets.

[The Sebastian Express]

Yeah it sounds like he was answering the first part where they said "obviously you were probably disappointed slipping a little further than expected" and he started off his answer with "yeah I was definitely a little frustrated" and then he commented on being stoked to go to Indiana but then becoming excited with going to Portland. I think he may have been excited to go to Indiana because he could have been like a second option there where here he will be 4th/5th, but then he probably realized "Hey, wow I am going to get so many open shots with Oden and Aldridge and win so many games. Damn".

He speaks very well, and seems to be honest which is nice. I know I read he had some "hot dog issues" according to one analyst, but even he does I don't think that'll last here or be a problem here.

[Yangsing]

He speaks very well, and seems to be honest which is nice. I know I read he had some "hot dog issues" according to one analyst, but even he does I don't think that'll last here or be a problem here.

Brandon will put him into check if that attitude issue is even true.

[Bskey]

He speaks very well, and seems to be honest which is nice. I know I read he had some "hot dog issues" according to one analyst, but even he does I don't think that'll last here or be a problem here.

Brandon will put him into check if that attitude issue is even true.

He sounded like he was sincerely a fan of our big three and excited to play with them, Outlaw and Frye. While Roy is young himself he's already so mature I think he'll be the perfect "vet" to show Bayless the ropes.

[T-Spot]

Portland needs a passer, not a shooting PG.

Bayless looks a lot like a Barbosa type scoring point-guard/combo-guard. I've seen Blazer fans talk about how Barbosa would not be a good fit due to their log jam at the wings and their need of a real distributer. IMO, I don't really see how Bayless would fit within the Blazers.

[Milkdud]

He reminds me of Ben Gordon but with more ability to handle the point. Bayless at least looks somewhat capable or running the offense, if it wasn't a transition play or a spot up 3 Barbosa looked clueless out there.

[Walton'sBeard!]

IMO, I don't really see how Bayless would fit within the Blazers.

I can't think of a team that he fits in with better. Did you watch a Blazer game last year?

[T-Spot]

I can't think of a team that he fits in with better. Did you watch a Blazer game last year?

How does he fit with the Blazers? Roy/Aldridge/Oden will get their touches. Guys like Outlaw/Fernandez/Bayless will also want their touches. Who's going to assure everyone gets theirs? There's no real point-guard running things.

[Walton'sBeard!]

I can't think of a team that he fits in with better. Did you watch a Blazer game last year?

How does he fit with the Blazers? Roy/Aldridge/Oden will get their touches. Guys like Outlaw/Fernandez/Bayless will also want their touches. Who's going to assure everyone gets theirs? There's no real point-guard running things.

That's why I asked if you saw the Blazers play last year. If you did you would have seen a team full of guys that didn't really need to shoot. Other than Travis Outlaw our team rarely looked like they wanted to score, they'd rather pass to the next guy and let him score. I thought all along that we needed a guy that can bring the ball up the court under pressure, defend the other team's PG and score in bunches. Bayless meets all those requirements, probably as good as Barbosa. I can't speak for anyone other than myself, but I think he is the round peg for our round hole.