So we all know that even if Bayless (btw who ever thought of B-Rex…) doesn’t wow the staff at SL, he’ll get considerable playing time. I think the real test here is about Petko (yet another great nickname). It isn’t so much about getting someone to fill the final spot. It’s more about his abillity to replace a roster spot in Sergio. See, for KP to fill that last spot with Petko, means that he deems his value greater than the ability for roster flexability i.e. trades, injuries, etc. And for a GM with the aptitude and propensity to pull the trigger on deals where another may not, means he has a whole lot of faith in Petko’s ability to reach his potential under their steadfast watch, therby nullifying Spanish Chocolate’s exotic flavorful flair.

KP said a mouthful to the “O” when he said, ”...see if he improves as the week goes on … and if he does, he has a spot.’’ There it is: it’s Petteri’s for the taking. Whoever said that Sergio would be around for a year to acclimate Rudy and then hit the road, i think hit it dead on IF Petko is there to take his place. So then, the pressure is really on Sergio? If things go as they seem to be (if yesterdays game is any indication, and KP really meant what he said) and Petko continues to improve then it looks to me IMVHO, it’s very possible the Blazer’s will go into the season with count ‘em 4 PGs! And if that’s so, then the playing time will be fought out between Petteri/Sergio NOT Sergio/Bayless…

Again this is all just hypothesis on my amateur end, but I took a huge step back in what I was thinking would happen when Prithard Pritch-slapped me with what he said. Basically that the position is there for the taking if Petteri is willing to do the taking.

Does it appear as if Batum is O.K.? Seems like a rib injury is one of those that can affect a lot of things and not allow the player to demo all his skills. I hope the injury is minor and Batum shows a bit more tonight.

Speaking of demo-ing skills, I hope they allow Koponen to keep running the point so he can show what he can/cannot do. If we’re going to draft point guards, then let’s see what the player can do at his “natural” position. (And I think Bayless is more of a “natural” 2, but he should get some time to show his point guard skills as well.)

Finally, I hope all of the main three guys (Bayless, Batum, and Koponen) get the chance to play and make mistakes without facing irreversible, harsh judgments based on one or two games.

Personally, I thought Bayless showed a lot to be happy about but he was missing a critical attribute. He showed little to no interest or instinct for making his teammates better. I can forgive the lack of assists because the team was bad, but watching him play, it didn’t even look like he was looking for anything but his shot. Some guys have all the talent in the world, but can’t seem to make the players around them better which limits their ability to help the team no matter how much they score (see, e.g. A. Iverson). While others seem to have a natural instinct for making other guys better (see, e.g., Roy….and even Lebron….though he’s slipping some on that). After one game, you can’t really tell anything, but my biggest concern about Bayless wasn’t just that he didn’t get assists or shot too much because neither are his fault really, but that his natural instinct seems to be to score rather than to create.

Maybe though, if you are looking for a bench scorere rather than the PG of the future, that is what you want.

I think the discussion of roster flexibility as a reason for not signing PK is just plain stupid.

If we think PK can contribute at least as well as Sergio as a second backup (I do), he should be on the roster. If a proposed trade/signing later in the year requires creating a vacant roster spot, and the evaluation has already been done that PK/the acquired player(s) is/are better than Sergio, or at least as good (with more upside), than we can either trade Sergio for a folding chair or just cut him to create space.

The idea that keeping an empty roster spot is better than using that spot on a rising guard who is better than at least one player already on the roster makes no sense. Sign PK. If we find someone else better than Sergio to sign/trade for, Sergio is the one to get dumped. Fail to sign PK now, and we could lose him for years.

Dont get to play for Nate.It would be nice to keep Sergio long enough to show Rudy where the good Mex food is but Rudy is a pro and not naive about the biz end of things.
I hear that Rudy and PK both speak pretty good english,does any body have a clue about Batmans language skills?

Like Shac and Zack get traded all the time