Point guard of the future

by Blaze of Glory on May 1, 2009 11:29 AM PDT

I like Ty Lawson. He’s shorter, but stocky and quick listed at 6’ and 195. He’s a good shooter and can run the break. He penetrates and can score and draw fouls. He can distribute, 6.6 apg last season. He’s currently going between 10-16 on many mock drafts, but I’m sure if KP wants him, he’ll be able to pull something off draft day. I know a rookie may not be the direction to go, but he's got the right skill set.

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College prospects are intriguing for sure,

but I think we are past developing young talent. I don’t think Lawson could get past Sergio or Bayless on our depth chart. I’m sure KP and the gang have their eyes on an established PG. Remember our next step is to WIN a playoff series.

by dario argento on May 1, 2009 11:51 AM PDT reply actions

Umm... Jerryd Bayless, that is my vote.

I wouldn’t mind moving up to draft a kid like Lawson or better, having him fall to us… but my hopes and money would be on Jerryd Bayless.

by Portland Dynasty on May 1, 2009 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions

no rookie pgs next year

cp3!

by elconquistador on May 1, 2009 12:04 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I would rather

Develop Bayless rather than draft Lawson. He has basically the same skill set if he learns to distribute a little better and he is 3 inches taller. If you want to trade up into that range I would rather take someone like DeJuan Blair so he can bang down low for about 10mpg while Aldridge rests.

For a PG i personally would love Sessions if we can get him away from Milwaukee next year (and with their money problems we just might). He has 12.4ppg and 6apg plus a steal. I know his +/- is a little lower than Blake but with Portland that may not be the case. He also only attempts about 9 shots per game (which are usually drives to the basket to draw fouls the exact kind we need) so we would not need to worry about him taking shots away from Roy and Aldridge in the first unit. Plus the guy is only 23 so he is not anywhere near his ceiling. I say KP can make this happen.

by BRoyTheNatural on May 1, 2009 12:14 PM PDT reply actions

Can someone tell me. If we in theory offered Sessions

“One-hundred BILLION dollars!” (Puts pinky to corner of mouth) would we get him? I mean if we simply outbid Milwaukie is that it we win? I don’t understand how RFA’s work exactly.

"Death is not final," Gita says. "If any man thinks that he slays, and if another thinks that he is slain, neither knows the truth. The Eternal in man cannot kill: the Eternal in man cannot die. The soul in man is neither born nor does it die. Weapons cannot cut it; fire cannot burn it; water cannot drown it.

The Bhagavad Gita

by Idog1976 on May 2, 2009 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions

We can only offer what we have in cap space. That is likely more than the MLE, but it wouldn't put the Bucks into "impossible to match" territory.

Their salary structure while over the cap looks actually slightly better next year, with overpaid Damon Jones and his $4.5 million coming off the books. The other free agent they have to retain is Charlie Villanueva, who has a similar qualifying offer as Channing but can command likely quite some more on the open market. They will likely offer everything to Villanueva and Sessions that doesn’t yet put them in luxury tax territory.

by Norsktroll on May 4, 2009 5:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Bayless would have to improve his distributing skills more than just a little to match Lawson

It is extremely unlikely that Bayless will ever become as good a passer as Lawson.

by trk on May 3, 2009 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Hinrich

His defense keeps our bigs in the game much longer

by Omgcoffee on May 1, 2009 12:14 PM PDT reply actions

Kirk Hinrich would be a great addition...

Kirk has a $10 million or so contract and he is locked in, so we would need to trade for him. I think we could do a sign and trade of Channing Frye plus Sergio Rodriguez to get Kirk Hinrich. If need be, Portland could sweeten the deal with a 2nd rounder or two…. worst case scenario, throw in this year’s 1st Rounder with the package of Frye/Sergio, and I think that would be worth Hinrich into our mix.

The thing that Hinrich has really impressed me on in this playoffs is that he can defend three positions in the NBA: PG, SG and SF… and he has done a great job guarding one of the toughest offensive players in the league in Paul Pierce. I say we go get him.

But even with Hinrich, Jerryd Bayless is still the PG of the Future for this team. Hinrich would ultimately be replacing Steve Blake.

by Portland Dynasty on May 1, 2009 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions

yeah Bayless is just a big ? to me still

Mostly because he wasn’t given enough time to judge fairly. He had some moments of brilliance on an East Coast swing but at the same time laid a few eggs elsewhere. You certainly can’t deny his drive or intensity, but can they translate into a serviceable NBA point guard? To me he seems like a natural but short 2 guard. In KP we trust, i suppose….

by Omgcoffee on May 1, 2009 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions

What might have been?

I wore out the ESPN trade machine with trade proposals involving Hinrich last February. If KP had added Kirk (and upgraded the backup 4) we’d all be getting ready to chant “beat LA” right about now

But now that RLEC has expired, I don’t have as much hope of Hinrich coming to Portland. It’s not going to be nearly as easy to find a salary “match” with the Bulls. The contracts of Travis+Sergio doesn’t get it done. Frye is a UFA.

I think this ship has sailed. And as much as I like Cap’n Kirk’s defense, I don’t see him as the offensive PG that the team needs to penetrate, break down the defense and dish to the big guys

We’ll have to keep looking. Nash, Kidd, Miller and Bibby are on the “wrong” side of 30. Kenny Vance thinks that Tony Parker might be available? That’s a pipe dream…but…if KP offered Batum and Rudy and Sergio and draft choices and Paul Allen’s money and a trade exception…?

Woah baby, TP in a Blazer uniform would look awfully nice

by two4larue on May 1, 2009 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Kenny Vance is an idiot

by jksnake99 on May 1, 2009 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Can Hinrich distribute/see the floor particularly well?

by TrentEdwardsHoF2018 on May 1, 2009 5:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Let's talk about PG of the present: I like Andre Miller

He’s not too old. He’d be perfect for us for a few years.

by baduk on May 1, 2009 12:31 PM PDT reply actions

He'd be my pick too.

RUDY! RUDY! RUDY!

by sagebru5h on May 1, 2009 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Andre Miller, 33, is at the end of his prime

I expect a huge dip in production from Miller next season, even if he re-signs with the Philadelphia 76ers.

by AK1984 on May 1, 2009 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Does Mr. Lawson represent an improvement over Sergio?

Same height. Same quickness to the hoop. Mr. Lawson looks like a better 3-point shooter.

Point guard is one of the positions we need to improve. I would like to see Chauncey Billups as the Blazers’ point guard next season. I don’t see Mr. Lawson having the raw ability to play at that level next year. – Elgin

Brandon Roy: Strengths-remarkably efficient player who appears to effortlessly score and facilitate. Weakness-he’s just a figment of your imagination. - Canis Hoopus

by 22baylor on May 1, 2009 12:40 PM PDT reply actions

agreed... no more PG projects.

Listen to your momma and finish what you started before you start something else.

by Escrote on May 1, 2009 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions

uh... how are you going to get Chauncey Billups?

He’s finishing his career in his hometown.

by jksnake99 on May 1, 2009 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree that it would probably be impossible to get him at this point.

But that’s the level of play we need. it doesnt help us to sign another bonus baby right now. – Elgin

Brandon Roy: Strengths-remarkably efficient player who appears to effortlessly score and facilitate. Weakness-he’s just a figment of your imagination. - Canis Hoopus

by 22baylor on May 1, 2009 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions

well, if Bayless isn't the answer, and I don't think he is...

… then we need to find the answer. I think there are better alternatives than the draft, ie Kirk Hinrich, but it may be the draft is the only place that makes sense.

by jksnake99 on May 1, 2009 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Bayless ins't an answer because we haven't seen him yet

Nate didn’t play Bayless in my opinion, much in part due to his experience with our offense. The same was true with Sergio. As Bayless learns the offense he’ll get more minutes. We know Bayless can score though we haven’t seen him get lots of regular season playing time to get used to that competition. Bayless will be our main perimeter slasher and we knwo he is very capapble of range too. He is too smart not to learn Nate’s offense and too tireless or a worker. Right now he is an unknown only to those outside of the organization. But Nate Knows what we got and how Bayless is progressing.

by NWfan on May 1, 2009 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Blazer could score for a short stretch

He proved to easily beaten later in the season. And don’t give me the minutes stuff either. 17 minute stretches are plenty in a game to get yourself going.

by Zaig on May 1, 2009 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Bayless is our project...

It would be better to get an instant upgrade over Blake, like a move for Kirk Hinrich. But if we land a PG in this draft so be it, it will be tough not too because of how deep the PG pool is and how weak the draft is at most other positions…

by Portland Dynasty on May 1, 2009 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Yes

Lawson should be better than Sergio, even as a rookie. In fact, I expect him to be better than Blake before the end of his rookie year.

by trk on May 3, 2009 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Yikes

Lawson is not a very good half-court facilitator and at 5’10 he’d get abused trying to guard bigger point guards (which pretty much includes all of them) and would be worthless on switches.

Let’s put it this way, if Bayless was in this year’s draft as a sophomore point guard and hadn’t had the struggles of a rookie season, he’d probably be a top 3 pick going behind Rubio and Griffin … he’s that much more of an athlete and specimen.

I’m not anti-draft when it comes to getting a point guard, but counting on them to come in and be a contributor right away is fool’s gold, KP needs to get a veteran that is better than Blake and try to develop Bayless or go for a homerun and try to trade for a young stud.

by nikolokolus on May 1, 2009 12:53 PM PDT reply actions

agreed...

if Bayless stayed in school we would be banging the draft Bayless drum.

by Escrote on May 1, 2009 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd want to pry that drum away from y'all and smash it into a million pieces.

by AK1984 on May 1, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions

come on a long hair like you would take that drum to Eugene and join in the giant drum circle.

by Escrote on May 1, 2009 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Aaron Brooks is 5'10" and doesn't get "abused"

sorry nik, but point guards who are 5’10" do dish out some abuse of their own quite often in the NBA… there is this thing called speed, and another thing called court vision, and another thing called aggressiveness, and… well, hopefully you get the point. That point is so OVER USED and so far from the actual truth it isn’t even funny. Portland has better size at every position and still lost to Houston.

by Portland Dynasty on May 1, 2009 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree with you except

for Portland having better size at every position. Yao > Przy, Artest > Batum, Battier > Roy.
Maybe a bit nit-picking, but we didn’t have a size advantage across the board. How can you when their center is 7’6"?

by Blaze of Glory on May 1, 2009 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions

I prefer someone like Eric Maynor from VCU

Bayless is a penetrator/scorer in the mold of Monta Ellis. He is not by any means a distributor. Maynor is 6’3" and he can do both. Last season he averaged 22 pts and 6 assists per game.

Of course, ideal would be Ricky Rubio. Maybe we can unload Sergio, Outlaw and cash to Washington and get our hands on him. I’m sure he’d love to play with Rudy!

These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx

by RDreamer on May 1, 2009 1:18 PM PDT reply actions

no way we're getting Rubio

Besides that we have enough potential, I’m ready for tested. Of course this is just my opinion (except on Rubio we will not get).

by Omgcoffee on May 1, 2009 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions

How is Maynor as a defender?

Brandon Roy: Strengths-remarkably efficient player who appears to effortlessly score and facilitate. Weakness-he’s just a figment of your imagination. - Canis Hoopus

by 22baylor on May 1, 2009 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions

He gambles a lot

So he can be either brilliant or terrible. However, he has serious scoring ability and top-notch court vision.

These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx

by RDreamer on May 1, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions

I got to see Maynor a lot these past few years as I live in Richmond(where VCU is). He reminds me of a young Sam Cassell. I think he can develop into that in the league but it’s a big step up from the CAA to the NBA so I expect it to take him some time to adjust.

by danielfarrell on May 1, 2009 8:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Here we are like every year...

I love Ricky, and he can fit any system, but what do we do with the best backup, the young promise and the best court vision on the NBA?

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

by DaniBCN on May 1, 2009 1:48 PM PDT reply actions

My plan

Sign a veteran for a 2-3 year run. Candidates to me are Kidd and Miller. Neither one can shoot the 3 well, but both can get us out running on the break, and both can create in the halfcourt and setup teammates for some easy buckets. Both provide leadership.

That gives us a couple years to groom Bayless or some other young guy.

How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009

by douglast on May 1, 2009 2:13 PM PDT reply actions

add Nash to that talk

i have dreams, too

Yellow Mamba FTW!

by northwestj on May 1, 2009 8:47 PM PDT up reply actions

3 young prospects

Ty
Rubio
And what’s his face out of HS.

Any 3 of these guys should be good by their 2nd or 3rd year at the latest and we can probably steal the number 4-5 pick if it goes to a broke team.

Keep Blake and deal with it for one more year, ship out Sergio and Bayless and let our rookie get some good backup minutes. These guys are all POINT GUARDS. I know 2 of the 3 can play defense too.

I’m fine with getting younger at the backup PG spot for one more year if it means one of these 3.

by Zaig on May 1, 2009 2:20 PM PDT reply actions

We should trade Ruffin for Derick Rose

staright up….well maybe we can throw in the trade exception.

by Escrote on May 1, 2009 2:30 PM PDT reply actions

Rose doesn't smile enough to be on the Blazers

And I wouldn’t trade Ruffin – he’s too much of a fit chemistry-wise. Stay the course KP! ;-)

by bamkapow on May 1, 2009 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions

This is a good trade.

I think there is a good chance the Blazers would end up with the better end of the deal. I will hold my breath.

by TrentEdwardsHoF2018 on May 1, 2009 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions

I think you guys are focusing on the wrong position!

Hello everyone, I was just surfing the net about potential trades I thought of that could help certain teams and I came across here. Im not a Blazers fan, but Im a basketball fan. Sorry if Im posting in the wrong place, but I think you guys should go after Bosh. Bosh is a bonified PF stud, while Aldridge has the potential to become one, would you rather a bonified stud or a potential one?? Bosh will provide consistent scoring in the paint, and I think Oden will do much better with Bosh simply because Bosh commands double teams while Aldridge has yet to do so. I think you guys can offer Aldridge, Fernandez, & possibly Outlaw to sweaten the deal. Bryan Calangelo in Toronto has been trying to build a European style team in the NBA and he’ll love to have Rudy at the 2, and they need 1. Bosh is out of position playing Center, and while he is a better player the Aldridge, Aldridge will do a better job for them at the Center because of his shot blocking capability. I think Batum can continue to start at sf for ya’ll as he has improved both his defense and 3point shooting significantly and can become ya’ll Bruce Bowen. have Toronto re-sign and include Joey Grahm and Kris Humphries, that would help out your now depleted Bench. Joey Grahm is a poor man’s gerald wallace and Humphries is a decent post scorer and very good rebounder. Blake is decent, and with Bosh in the post itll make him way better as he will get more open shots— so if blazers do not bring in a better pg like Hinrich or who ever, its not that bad. What do ya’ll think???

by KHAM83 on May 1, 2009 4:07 PM PDT reply actions