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BlazerFan1
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Post subject: Blazers’ strategy a mystery for now
 Posted: Jun 28, 2008 - 11:20 PM PST
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Site Admin
Joined: Apr 18, 2005
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The scene following Thursday night’s NBA Draft was unfortunate, because so many questions needed to be answered.
The Portland Trail Blazers’ top brass gathered at the Rose Garden for a press conference. But league rules prevented them from saying anything.
They couldn’t acknowledge the trade that brought in Arizona guard Jerryd Bayless — a move that seemed to catch the entire NBA community off guard, but was hailed on Friday by national analysts as another brilliant draft-day maneuver.
The Blazers officials couldn’t discuss their thought process. They couldn’t say whether they felt Bayless addressed their needs at point guard, or whether they felt his talent would complement Brandon Roy in the backcourt.
And so the night ended without anyone gaining a clearer picture of what the Blazers’ moves were about, making this draft much different than previous years.
The last two drafts ended with instant clarity. Picking Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge addressed the team’s culture and need for young talent. Taking Greg Oden last year and trading Zach Randolph rounded out their core and allowed Aldridge to play his natural position at power forward. It didn’t take much imagination to understand either strategy.
Unlike Thursday.
The move for Bayless left some lingering questions that will need time to solve — at least until July 9, when the trade is officially completed and the Blazers are allowed to talk about the deal and reveal their strategy.
It’s not that the move was a bad one — far from it.
It’s just ... unclear.
Certainly Bayless is an intriguing selection, and far from a bad addition. He is a prolific scorer, quick and athletic — a need the Blazers had hoped to address this summer — with a good feel for the game. Some analysts have compared him to Washington’s Gilbert Arenas, others to San Antonio’s Tony Parker. And really, could you complain about either comparison?
His addition could allow the Blazers to provide Roy with an explosive sidekick. And while he may not be a true point guard, having a versatile backcourt — with Bayless and Roy sharing the point guard duties, rather than designating one as the exclusive floor general — could offer some unique strategic strengths. A three-guard rotation of Roy, Bayless and Rudy Fernandez certainly appears lethal on paper.
If that is the Blazers’ vision, then you can understand their excitement.
Yet, there are still questions hanging out there that have not been addressed.
Questions such as, is Bayless the ultimate answer at point guard when it doesn’t appear to be his natural position?
Will he complement Roy, or compete with him? Since his high school days in Arizona — when his career scoring average of 28.3 points was the highest in the state’s history — Bayless has been the lead guy on his teams. Is he ready to defer to Roy, possibly becoming a role player?
Is that even the Blazers’ plan?
It’s hard to answer those questions at this point, and therefore difficult to understand the overall picture. This may turn out to be a blockbuster draft. It may only be mediocre.
It certainly was not a failure, though. Portland managed to make five trades and acquire Bayless without giving up their most valued young assets or disrupting their coveted salary cap room after next season — which could make them a significant player in free agency. That maneuvering was nothing short of brilliant, and makes this draft, at worst, a break-even event.
But did it make the Blazers better? Did it address their most pressing needs?
It’s hard to say.
Because right now, the league’s gag order prevents Portland officials from unveiling their plan and explaining their reasons for excitement. And until we get those answers and understand the bigger picture, it will be tough for this draft to offer the same clarity that the last two provided.
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNe ... or-now.cfm |
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