Blazers' Summer League Watch: Bayless and Roy extension talk

Portland Trail Blazers point guard Jerryd Bayless had his moments, and, given his willingness to pass, he may be turning into a point guard. " title="Jerryd Bayless" width="300" height="400" />

Portland Trail Blazers point guard Jerryd Bayless had his moments, and, given his willingness to pass, he may be turning into a point guard.

To tune up for his rookie season with the Portland Trail Blazers, guard Jerryd Bayless took the Summer League by storm. In his first game, he lit up the Washington Wizards for twenty eight points in thirty three minutes, and finished his four-game stint of development averaging twenty nine points per game. This is all well and good, but not what the Blazers wanted.

Bayless, a scorer in his lone year at the University of Arizona, took the initiative, aggressively drove to the hoop. He attempted sixty one free-throws in those four games, including twenty three in his debut. He trusted his outside shot, too. However, Portland had to be discouraged. He’s not a point guard by nature, but has a point guard’s build, so Portland wanted him to mature into a true point guard.

Bayless, though immensely talented, could not. In those four games, he rarely passed, tallying only five total assists, including a goose-egg in his first outing. Then, during the season, he didn’t have a point guard’s unselfish mentality. Yes, he was trying to adjust to the NBA game, and yes, he was just 19-years-old, but to be considered a commodity and their point guard of the future he had to show the Blazers he possessed the qualities the position demanded.

With a season under his belt, albeit one in which he saw little action, he entered this year’s Summer League somewhat changed. He dished four assists in the first seven minutes in their opener against the Toronto Raptors, leading fans to believe he was developing into the point guard their team needs him to be. Then, he started firing and stopped passing.

He was confident offensively, which is something Portland’s fans, including myself, have only witnessed during the Summer League. He wants to shoot, and show off his explosiveness, and the Blazers want him to trust his outside shot and continue to be aggressive, but to succeed with the team, he has to consistently make savvy decisions and display the qualities of a leader.

Bayless crossed over his defender repeatedly, drove the basket, and created shots off the dribble. Some of his attempts were ill-advised, but his perimeter game showed great improvement, with a wider array of shots. He took seventeen shots and scored twenty two oints. Though he looked to score in spurts, he passed with regularity, but didn’t rack up the assists because his young, inexperienced teammates failed to reward him by missing countless attempts. He had three assists over his final 25 minutes.

He was aggressive on defense, which cost him early, to the tune of three fouls in the first half of the first quarter. He settled down, and committed just one foul the rest of the way, but his on-ball defense suffered, perplexing considering his quickness. He was pass-happy, yet missed his target numerously, which led to six turnovers. To be a floor general and a venerable backup to Steve Blake this season, he has to know where his teammates are at all times, especially when he drives into the lane, which he did repeatedly. Still, Bayless showed promise, and is in the right place to improve and turn his weaknesses into strengths.

While Bayless and incoming rookies, power forward Jeff Pendergraph (12 points, 9 rebounds) and small forward Dante Cunningham (21 points, 9 rebounds), led the Blazers in defeat, star Brandon Roy and the team’s management stil had a difference of opinion regarding an extension.

Evidently, this is the holdup: Roy wants four years guaranteed and a fifth year player-option, while Portland is reportedly offering four years without a player-option. The Blazers brass should give Roy what he wants, clearly, considering he’s their present and future.

I can see why Roy is “frustrated” about his lacking of an extension. The Blazers offered current Toronto Raptor Hedo Turkoglu five years,  how can they fail to go the extra year for their best player? It’s befuddling to say the least. Also, with the four-year offer to free-agent power forward Paul Millsap, it appears the Blazers are negotiating with everyone else but Roy and his sidekick, LaMarcus Aldridge. This is not a good sign. Portland’s biggest priority this offseason should be signing both longterm.

General Manager Kevin Pritchard said they, “will be here for a very long time” but he doesn’t make the final decision. As much as I think he’d extend both with maximum contracts, owner Paul Allen, who’s worth more than $17 billion, has the final say. He’s the holdup, because if he was willing, at this time, to offer five years to Roy, the guard would be signed.

Allen, who was up out of his courtside seat every time Roy or any other young talents appeared injured, has to understand what he means to the franchise. Portland has such a bright future, and though I think a deal will eventually be hammered out with Roy, it could be a lot dimmer if he isn’t around.