Does Jerryd Bayless want out of here?
I don’t think there’s any question Portland needs another big man, preferably a power forward but possibly a backup center. And to get one, you have to give up something.
Multiple sources in the NBA have told me that Jerryd Bayless seems to be the most available player on Portland’s roster. A couple of sources indicated over the weekend that Bayless has asked the team to trade him, because of his lack of playing time. I wouldn’t blame him — young players want, and need, to play. And if he wants out, the team should try to accommodate him.
Bayless has begun to see more action lately, but you have to wonder — is that being done to help teams get a better look at him? A showcase? I mean, how can you ask a lot for Bayless when he’s not even playing significant minutes for you? If I’m sitting in another NBA office and the Trail Blazers are asking me if I want Bayless, I’m going to have to answer, “Why would I want somebody you don’t think is good enough to play for you guys?”
Even with Bayless as bait, I’m not sure what the Blazers could get in return. On Dec. 15, Andre Miller can be traded and I think he would be a better trade piece. Miller is more respected around the league than he seems to be in Portland. Somebody might be willing to bite on him.
But you wouldn’t likely deal both Miller and Bayless. More likely, it will be Miller OR Bayless. Man, the decision to keep Patty Mills around is really beginning to hurt. Ime Udoka would be a pretty handy fellow to have around right now, quite obviously.
The Blazers, during the Kevin Pritchard era, have not been anxious to make trades in mid-season. I’m afraid, though, that philosophy is going to have to be abandoned right now. This situation screams for some sort of deal — and to be fair, it has all along, even before the injuries.
NBA, Trail Blazers | Dwight Jaynes | December 7, 2009
Andre Miller, Dwight Jaynes, Jerryd Bayless, Kevin Pritchard, Portland Trail Blazers
Unless Paddy Mills is a “can’t miss”, Bayless is the only dude we have that can keep up with other fast guards and put dribble pressure on their defense. His shot is iffy, but getting better (sort of like Clyde when he came into the league).
This ain’t going to happen, but Blake is the best trade bait if you are going to try to add another big.
Don’t forget that Jeff Pendergraph is almost ready to play and he looked solid in the Summer (especially with his fundamentals- which is usually a very good thing in the NBA)
We will find out if Pritchard is more than just a
drft day GM. He has to make some moves, they can’t even practice 5 on 5.
I hope you are incorrect on this one Dwight. An overemphasis on the short term is not what we need right now. We need to continue to think long term–the window has already closed for this year.
Maybe this is part of the long-term plan. Dwight is speculating that we’d trade him for a big, but who really knows.
I totally agree, however, that the goal of this season should be building for the future. Making the playoffs this year is gravy. Gearing up for next year should be the front office’s goal. Let the players and coaches worry about winning this year.
Bayless may well get an extended opportunity, esp. with Rudy out, the Blazers are down to four guards now.
KP made a prediction last year, that Bayless would probably not start looking like a legit NBA player, until sometime this year. Last year, he certainly looked the clueless rookie.
We shall see. At any rate, if any current Blazer guard is expendable, it’s probably Blake or Miller; though given the M*A*S*H state of the team, I wouldn’t make any stupid moves if I were KP.
I really hope the Blazers do not trade Miller. I hope they learn to appreciate him. It seems as though BRoy has already started to do so. And it seems to me that the person who doesn’t know what to do with Miller is McMillan. Too bad we can’t trade the coach.
Still feel this way after last Miller’s performance against the Knicks last night?
Dwight, I gotta call you on this one:
The headline, even posed in the form of a question, makes it sound like there is evidence of miscontent on Bayless’ part. Maybe there is; maybe you’ve heard something off the record–but the article contains no evidence whatsoever to support the proposition; merely speculation that he’s unhappy with his role–not based on anything that Bayless has said or done, but based on the general principle that NBA players will complain if they don’t get “enough” playing time (which many of them will indeed do).
And, no, I don’t suspect Bayless is being showcased. I suspect he’s playing more because a) he’s earning it in practice, b) Rudy is hurt (you will note that Bayless played mucho minutes against Houston) and c) Blake has been rather ineffective this year, so there may be an opportunity. He got extended burn last year when Blake went out–looked quite good for a few games, and then returned to suck-dom once NBA coaches had him thoroughly scouted, and realized that if you played him for the drive, he wasn’t about to beat you. Wnen Blake came back from the injury, Bayless went back to the end of the bench. Such is the life of rookies, especially ones who have one-and-done NCAA careers.
If you have heard ANY rumblings about Bayless wanting out (that you are able to share), by all means, spill it. But this article looks a bit like stirring a pot, when there’s nothing in the pot but water.
this isn’t a newspaper.
I know it’s not. But Dwight is, or at least was, a journalist. By “journalist” I don’t mean someone who gets paid to do journalism–Dwight does this blog gratis–but someone who actually does reporting (interviews with primary sources, deep-diving into public records, etc).
Dwight used to do this stuff for the Oregonian and the Tribune. Now he no longer works for, nor is credentialed by, either paper. There are many credentialed bloggers (Ben Golliver, for instance), who have excellent access to the team–but without credentials, access is a problem. If J. Random Blogger were to try and call Kevin Pritchard for an interview, he wouldn’t get past the receptionist.
Dwight does write in the sidebar that “I still have all those old news sources who want to clue me in, though, and it seems a shame to let them go to waste”, suggesting that he does have some access to primary sources–and may know things that he can’t share. (Or at least think he knows things–one problem with sources who won’t go on the record is some of them lie to reporters; either to engage in a smear campaign, or to throw journalists off the scent. This is most prevalent in politics, but it certainly happens in sports–witness the constant KP-bashing attributed to anonymous sources in Woj’s columns).
Columnists of all sorts have a fine line to walk between reporting (which many of them do at least some of) and analysis/commentary. As a reader, I always find it frustrating when a columnist, of any sort, presents conclusions based on specific information that he is privy to, but unable to share. While such things CAN enhance the public’s knowledge of a given situation, there are too many columnists out there (and I’m defintely NOT saying Dwight here) who abuse this position, and attempt to insert narratives into the public record which are not supported by facts.
Bottom line, though. It doesn’t matter if this is a newspaper or not. What matters is whether or not Dwight considers himself a reporter (in his present role), or just a guy with a blog, a part-time radio gig, and a set of opinions. Dwight’s been around a long time and has seen a lot of stuff, so his opinions (on sports) are probably more informed than many of us–but the distinction between what is journalism, and what is not, is important. Or at least I think so.
And it sounds like Dwight is decidedly on the journalist side, which is good to hear.
At any rate…the fact remains this is an opinion-centric Blog. I don’t think anyone needs to go calling out the author as if it were a newspaper.
See Dwight’s note below.
The Blazers might be willing to get Orlando to part with one of their extra bigs (Bass or Gortat) in exchange for a package that included Outlaw or Blake’s expiring contract, Jeff Pendergraph, and either a pick or an overseas prospect (most likely Victor Claver).
Bass and Gortat both just received huge contracts.
Not happening.
Bass gets paid 4 million a year. Not huge by any means. Gortat gets paid 5+ this year, also not huge.
Gortat is a huge man, though!
If I had a message to Paul Allen, I’d say sometimes it goes so badly you just have to laugh. You can’t afford to be down about the Blazers right now.
Don’t trade anybody especially not to shore up the roster for this year. This year is down the toilet.
Keep everyone and just write off this season except to develop younger players.
Hopefully, Brandon will also get enough personal glory to start thinking in terms of the team. It was a very interesting comment Nate made after the disaster the other night. He said for the first time this season, the team played scrappy like last year. Why?
Why did Brandon have to wait ’til the Oden rivalry was settled to decide to be himself again?
He’s got to mature and start seeing teammates as a way for him to get what he wants – rather than as rivals.
I say keep Bayless and everyone else. Then start the dream up again for next season.
Paul, think optimistically about the future and stay positive:
Imagine next year with you in much better shape, Nate healed, Travis, Batum, and Oden healed. The young Blazers who got the time this year ready to contribute.
This could all work out. We could look back at this year as a big test.
But let’s not compound things by making trades for the short term.
There isn’t much to be salvaged from this season. Bayless should get enough time right here to be happy. He should study Andre’s game and learn from that.
Why try and fight the obvious:
When enough stuff goes wrong, you have to realize it’s not your year.
I agree Bill. Making changes right now is operating from weakness, and that never turns out good.
Play the rookies and play them often. Use this season as a summer camp and take notes of who you want and who is expendable ect…With the loss of Batum, Outlaw, and now Oden we are better served to just play it out and not overreact with trades that won’t get us a ring
Pritchard makes the majority of his moves in the off-season for good reason. No need to panic now.
Scotty — READ what I wrote. Isn’t that why you come here? Here’s what it says:
“Multiple sources in the NBA have told me that Jerryd Bayless seems to be the most available player on Portland’s roster. A couple of sources indicated over the weekend that Bayless has asked the team to trade him, because of his lack of playing time.”
I don’t get all my information from the Trail Blazers. I don’t ask Jerryd Bayless if he’s asked to be traded. I talk to multiple GMs in this league on a regular basis. I talk to agents. I talk to coaches.
I don’t think Bayless is a malcontent. The guy hasn’t said anything about this in public. That’s the right way to handle it. It’s handled that way a lot behind the scenes. In fact, the ONLY way to find out about it is to hear it from the people the Blazers have approached.
Will there be denials? Of course. But I’ve been hearing this for a while now. It’s not new. You can ignore it, not believe it or whatever.
But Scotty, I didn’t make it up. I’m not even saying it’s going to happen. I’m reporting what I heard. And it’s out there — anybody with his ear to the ground would know it.
OK, I didn’t catch that part.
Bayless is probably gonna get some extended burn, so we’ll see what happens.
And NO, Scotty, those GMs don’t want to be identified for obvious reasons. Don’t even ask. I won’t give them up. It’s why they talked to me in the first place, because of trust. I have spent 25 years building sources in the league and I’m not going to start burning them. Just know that when I say I’ve talked to GMs and/or coaches, I have.
Does that mean he will be dealt? Nope, from what I have heard, the Blazers have rather unrealistic expectations of what they want in return.
Don’t worry–nobody expects you to betray confidences.
But keep in mind–if opposing GMs (or other sources who aren’t close to Bayless) are telling you that a) Bayless wants out, and b) KP is asking too much–it sounds like someone is trying to lower the price to me. Anything another team’s GM tells you about Portland’s players, you gotta ask why. If multiple GMs say the same thing, that increases the chance that it’s true, but still–anonymously talking down a player that you hope to acquire is an old trick. And I’m sure you know it.
Which is all part of the game.
RE: Bayless’ trade value
I essentially agree that we need to play Bayless to trade him – but couldn’t a possible answer to your question (“Why would I want somebody you don’t think is good enough to play for you guys?”) is because we are stacked at the 1 & 2? Especially if we’re talking to a team with a few too many big men in need of a speedy scoring guard?
Remember, Pau Gasol was essentially traded for Kwame Brown and a sack of potatoes.
The NBA: Where lopsided trades happen.
Yes, the Blazers are so stacked at the 1-2 positions and that’s why their record is 21-0!!!
Oh wait…they’ve lost 3 or their last 4 games??? Never mind.
That’s a sack of Marc Gasol potatoes, and they seem to cook up pretty well in Memphis – for cheap!
We’re stacked at 1? Seriously? Miller has a nice resume, but his performance this year has been mediocre. And Blake is a solid PG, but nobody in their right mind would argue that he’s good enough to keep an amazing talent on the pine behind him.
Our best argument would be that Bayless, like Jack, doesn’t fit well in our system. Jack has become a very solid combo guard now that he’s in a system that suits him better. I think the proper sales-pitch for Bayless is something similar. That said, we need to give him some run so we can showcase his combo talents. And with our roster being as depleted and listless as it is, there’s no way we can argue that there isn’t room for Bayless. I fiery combo guard should excel coming off the bench for a short-handed, offensively challenged, team.
And to echo Sherman, the Gasol trade wasn’t a talent give-away. The financial considerations were important. And Marc Gasol was a very nice chip.
On talent alone, the Lakers clearly got the better end of the deal. But, wasn’t Memphis rationalizing that it was a salary dump on their side and/or they would lose Gasol anyway, so why not get something for him?
Pretty hard to compare the circumstances of the Gasol trade to this one. And really — stacked at point guard? Yeah, loaded. Sure. Teams are clamoring for Steve Blake — and Andre Miller had a lot of suitors on the free-agent market, too. Patty Mills? He was a lottery pick, right?
Sarcasm, I love it! It would seem Rudy might get us the most packaged w/Travis. His consistency is right up there with Martell’s. Portland needs to fall out of love with EVERY player and learn to let them go.
Blake’s expiring contract is appealing.
Face it Dwight you have never liked Bayless and your simply using this unfortunate time for the Blazers to push your propaganda for getting rid of a player you don’t like.
It cracks me up how you try and hide your agenda behind a story like this. Sorry bud but you just aren’t as clever as your ego thinks you are
The other sure thing about the NBA is you WILL get kicked when you are down. KP would be dealing from desparation and given the perception of him and the Blazers way of doing things, teams will ask for way more than Bayless or Miller to get a difference maker. I would not hesitate to part with Rudy (he’ll be gone after this contract anyway) or Martell (relative bargain and still has some upside potential) in a package with Bayless and or Miller.
Excellent point!!
Here’s is where the Blazers get paid back for their “don’t sign Darius Miles or we’ll sue you” e-mail.
It was pretty easy to be aggressive when they had all the chips. But now that they’re playing with a short stack their opponents might have a little trouble feeling sorry for them.
Unless you thing Oden will return to full capability next season, Miller is trade bait at this point. Roy doesn’t like playing with him and their not going to run plays for Pryzbilla in the low post. The only advantage to keeping him around is if you are trying to develop LMA’s low post game. And I don’t see LMA wanting to do that anytime soon.
think, not thing. D’oh!!!
BRoy “doesn’t like playing with him” is wrong. BRoy didn’t like playing Oden’s style of game. Miller did. IMO this is where the “problem” between BRoy and Miller occurred. With Oden out for the season this is no longer the case. I think LA likes Miller’s game, easy buckets. Hopefully Oden’s injury will give BRoy a chance to SEE and experience another year of what NOT playing inside out does for the Blazers. And he will EMBRACE Oden’s return. Of course I also think another coach would help this process alsong.
Little did we understand that Roy’s real problem was not with Miller, but with Oden. Which brings Roy down considerably in my estimation, Maybe he’s one who should be packaged in a trade.
Yep, Roy is terrible. Terrible player and teammate, that’s why he was right by Oden’s side after he went down with the knee injury, that’s why the replays show him holding Greg’s hand, that’s why all he has done is said words of encouragment to Greg. Yep. He sure is horrible.
What about the dynamic through fall camp up to Oden’s injury. Roy doesn’t like Miller, became Roy doesn’t like Miller feeding Oden, became Roy doesn’t like the inside-out offense. Did you miss noticing that?
Trading Bayless could be Jermaine O’Neal part 2. The guy is a workout warrior who is gonna do nothing but get better.
FREE JERYDD BAYLESS
FYI — if I were writing that item for a newspaper, I’d have written it just as it was.
Except you’d have an editor screaming about column inches.
Roy doesn’t want the team to trade Miller:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/features/rumors?date=20091207&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2ffeatures%2frumors%3fdate%3d20091207#13024
FROM ESPN RUMOR CENTRAL:
Andre Miller | Trail Blazers Top Email Brandon Roy agrees that Andre Miller has been unduly criticized for the apparent lack of chemistry on the Blazers and that his comments he made last month about Miller were taken out of context.
“People are reading a little too much into things, and the comments when coach Nate McMillan went to a three-guard lineup,” Roy told AOL FanHouse. “I wanted to be a shooting guard rather than a small forward and people assumed that I wanted Syeve Blake to be the point and Andre out. And that wasn’t the case at all, I didn’t mind if Dre started or Blake. I wanted to be the shooting guard.”
Both Roy and Miller hope there isn’t a trade.
“Yeah,” Roy said. “I think he’s a good player, especially with the guys we’re losing. He can make plays for us and that’s what we need right now.”
“There is where I want to be,” Miller said. “I’m comfortable. Everything’s not going to be gravy when you get into a new situation. So I just take it in stride.”
If Brandon wants André to stay, André WILL stay.
Dwight, when you talk to all those folks in the NBA, do they really just answer questions with additional questions?
I ask because that’s all you give us.
Anyway, the answer is that with this particular team, our other pieces seem to fit better. It does not follow that all teams have the same pieces as Portland, which, if you’re honest, you’d have to admit.
So, given that other NBA coaches know this, we have to wonder why a question is all you offer … given that you have all these sources communicating with you.
Oh well.
why would the Blazers trade the only player in Bayless that has any semblance of perimeter defense. Blake is an expiring contract and he sucks, dump him off for a second round pick or just to get more cap space and let Bayless be the full-time back up. Trading Bayless would be a huge mistake, almost as big a mistake as playing Blake on a daily basis.
I can’t agree with you more Joe B. Well said.
I really hope Bayless can sit tight. He has the devotion and desired to be an excellent player and I think it would be a huge mistake to lose him. I would rather see Blake dealt and then Bayless can get more run. Bayless is a much better shooter than he has so far shown and is a true combo guard that would greatly compliment Roy. I would rather see Rudy dealt honestly, the dude is great to watch but he has been injured a lot. I think guys that can play multiple positions are valuable in this league. We have to hold off on trading Bayless IMO. I think Blake has to go. He can hit the 3… but he shoots like a kid from the chest and will not be able to get hsi shot off over anyone come playoff time when teams are defending the perimeter.
There is an obvious distinction between “being the most available player” and “asking to be traded”.
Clearly no opposition GM or Coach is telling Dwight that Bayless is asking to be traded – as the Blazers lose all trading leverage if they expose that detail. Even smart players these days know not to handicap their existing team by going public with trade demands – as it can end up hurting their chance to get traded.
If I understand Dwight clearly he is saying that someone in the Blazer organization, or close to, told him of Bayless asking to be traded. In addition, GMs and Coaches in the league have confirmed he is the most available player on the Blazer team.
What is missing from this article is the reality of the situation with reference to Bayless making so littley money, being on a Rookie contract, which prohibits him from being traded alone for anything substantial.
Thats just it. Portland no longer has trade assests because most of them are injured or on rookie contracts. Before the season began, they really needed to do some 2 for 1s or even 3 for 1s, but instead, attrition has more than taken care of the logjams. So much so, this team is now under-manned with very little options.
Face it. This season is sunk before the 1/2 way point.
Lance… Good logic. But it doesn’t always work that way. Yes, the Blazers would NEVER tell another team that the kid had asked to be traded. But there’s another link in between that’s always talking. And you missed it.
I can only assume you’re referencing either Agents or Journalists.
Obviously, there is reason to leak information when it benfits your client. And, since Jerryd will be paid the same no matter where he is traded, the agents priority would simply be to get him traded. The greasy wheel gets the grease?
I guess a Journalist could be another source, as you yourself have acquired this knowledge.
Lance, Bayless probably stands to make more playing for another team. If he stays buried on our bench until it’s time to negotiate his next contract, he won’t have much leverage. He really needs a year where he gets significant minutes before his rookie deal runs out.
I think Dwight is almost certainly referring to the fact that agents talk to other teams. For instance, Bayless’ agent could go to other teams and tell them that Bayless wants out of Portland and try to broker a deal.
First of, Bayless is one of my favorite Blazers. He is so fun to watch and I hope with the tragedy that happened on Saturday, he somehow gets more time. With that said, I was disappointed in Jerryd on the last play of the game when Houston had the ball and trying to win the game with a last second shot. If you look at the bench you will see Bayless with his back to the play as if he doesn’t care because he is not in the game. It is probably nothing, but it seems to me his requesting a trade would be true with his lack of interest in being a team player. I hope I am wrong. I would like to see us get rid of Blake but don’t think we’ll get anything out of him. Lets sit tight and let our younger players get more time to develop for a big run at LA next year.
Dwight Jaynes is a damn good writer. I grew up reading him and was fired up to have found this site today. The game has changed for sportswriters and it is cool DJaynes is still going…shows he’s in it for the love of the game.
Hey Dwight… borderline conspiracy theory here. Is it possible that the Blazers are pretending to shop Bayless in order to have more leverage in getting rid of Blake? Or is this all crazy talk? I have heard there is a lot of head games and gamesmanship between the GMs of the NBA.
Dwight…
Keep this insider info coming my good man….it is what sets you apart from the 101 other Blazer blogs…these knuckleheads that question your right to report this just do not understand what blogs are for….if I was Bayless I would be asking out too…makes perfect sense…he is a very smart kid and has figured out the Blazers aren’t
If they trade Bayless it will be a huge mistake, he is way better then Blake and Miller ALREADY, but of course Blake has to play all game every game
i hope Kevin Garnett or Kobe Bryant back become an MVP against,
thx
Hey Dwight- I’d like to hear your thoughts about the Blazers being 8-3 with Outlaw and 5-6 without him. Haven’t heard anyone else mention that. Coincidence, or is the guy undervalued?
I know I’m not Dwight, but my .02 cents – I think it is coincidence, although not having him does exacerbate the lack of depth on the team. Travis is one of the most one dimensional players in the league, and many nights that one dimension simply isn’t there.
Can someone confirm this thought, I hadn’t seen it mentioned anywhere in here yet. Didn’t the Blazers pick up a trade exception sometime in the last year for about $3,000,000? I think with the trade of Sergio. If so, couldn’t that exception be used with Blake or Miller to get a $5,000,000 to $8,000,000 per year player?
You can’t combine trade exceptions with players. They have to go out on their own in trades.
So you couldn’t use an existing player and the trade exception to pick up another player similar to a 2 for 1 trade?
Man, why didn’t we just keep Kareem Rush?
Dwight Jaynes running players out of town with his propaganda…no way, it has never happened never will, just ask Rasheed
It’s absolutely maddening to see that Jerryd Bayless would even be talked about in a trade. EngineerScotty said, “Blake has been rather ineffective this year.” Umm…he’s shooting 38% from the field when most of his shots are wide open, 7.5 points and 3.9 assists doesn’t cut it when he’s playing 29.3 mpg and starting over players far better than him. Not to mention that he’s shooting an awful 69% from the line, below even Oden. Jerryd Bayless is averaging 5.9 points and shooting 54% from the field, nearly as many points in 10.3 minutes as Blake scores in 3 times as many minutes. Miller is averaging 11 ppg and 4.6 apg while adjusting to a new team and playing fewer minutes. Blake is simply terrible. Period. Last year was his “break out” season and he shot 43% from the field and averaged less than 5 apg. With the talent around him, assists should come easily. He simply doesn’t have the defensive ability or speed of Miller or Bayless, thus leaving Oden vulnerable to injury after Brooks blew by him (Trust me, this happens all the time, it just caught up with us this time). Nate McMillan is a joke as a coach, all the stats and information say play Miller and Bayless more and Blake is a bum. Yet writers such as Dwight Jaynes don’t even mention what a terrible job Nate is doing. Blake barely belongs in the league, much less getting every key minute of every game on a playoff contender. In the decisive game 6 against the Rockets, Blake had 2 points on 1-4 shooting in 41 minutes in the biggest game of his career. I can keep bashing Blake, but it’s pointless, if you can’t see it, you are completely blind. Yes, sure Nate, that’s a great idea, let Rudy and Jerryd waste away on the bench while you give 41 minutes a game to Blake, who is slow, small, weak, and has no chance on defense against the likes of Aaron Brooks, Chris Paul, Derron Williams, and the list goes on forever. It works perfectly for Dwight Jaynes though, an atrocious coach who is constantly shafting talented players for Blake, hey you know there will be stories to write about disgruntled players. All I ask for Christmas is to please restore some dignity to the Blazers and get rid of Nate McMillan and Steve Blake by the time Oden gets back and then maybe we can actually contend for a championship, or at the very least begin to live up to our potential.
Dwight is putting too much credence in GM gossip here.
If The Rex wants out, it will be clear. He’s not an idiot, he knows that Blake is a free agent-to-be and is playing like crap and that Andre Miller is in the tail end of his career.
He’s not gonna force his way out of a situation that would have to look pretty golden…
I realize this is a month old, and I am wondering if your position still holds. In the last month we have seen a frustrated Miller that doesn’t fit. We have seen a promising Bayless that can score, defend and is getting better at shooting and finding the open man. When Bayless and Brandon went to work on the Lakers I honestly thought this duo could be the best backcourt combination we have seen since Porter/Drexler. Bayless might not be a floor general but we don’t need that from our PG (as evidenced by the Memphis mixup). Miller on the other hand is not going to get any better. He is not going to become any less of a liability from long range with the shot clock winding down. He is an old dog that may be able to learn new tricks but doesn’t want to. For years we have had a question mark at PG and I think the pecking order should be clearing up these days. Bayless starts, Blake backs him up and we trade Miller for a big that hopefully proves to be as good a find as Juwan Howard has become.
Alleviate the logjam, give Bayless the playing time he has earned, and get on with the future.