Jerryd Bayless to take center stage at summer league

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Jerryd Bayless to take center stage at summer league

"A major focus on the Trail Blazers' entry in the Las Vegas Summer League will be Jerryd Bayless and his development as a point guard.

 

The 6-3, 200-pound Bayless was primarily a shooting guard at Arizona, but his NBA future is tied to ability to being able to run a team from the point-guard position.

 

"I'm running the point the whole time, and I'm getting more comfortable with the nuances of the offense," Bayless said after the first training-camp session at the Blazers' Tualatin practice facility. Summer league "is a good learning tool. I'll go in there and learn, get comfortable and play as much as possible."

 

Portland assistant coach Monty Williams liked what he saw from Bayless during a six-minute scrimmage on Thursday.

 

"He finished, hit guys who were open, came off pick-and-rolls and made the right plays," Williams said. "It was encouraging to see him do that."

 

Bayless - the MVP at Las Vegas Summer League a year ago - was asked if he'll defer more to teammates and look less to set himself up.

 

"I'm still going to take the open shot," said Bayless, who turns 21 on Aug. 20. "If it's there, I'm going to shoot it. I'm going to take the ball to the middle and try to make the right decision."

 

Bayless averaged 4.3 points, 1.5 assists and 12.4 minutes in 53 games last season, shooting only .365 from the field and .259 from the foul line. Was his self-confidence down with the limited role on the club?

 

"It definitely was last year, but I've had a lot of time to recuperate," he said. "It's back to an all-time high again. I'm good to go."

 

With the Sergio Rodriguez traded to Sacramento, Bayless and Steve Blake are the only veteran point guards on Portland's current roster.

 

"It gives me a lot of confidence," Bayless said of Rodriguez's departure. "When he left, it throws me into that slot (as Blake's backup). Steve is still going to get the reins, and I'm going to try to come in and help out where I can."

 

Bayless said he hardly took a break after the season before diving into off-season workouts.

 

"Jerryd has always been a hard worker," Portland coach Nate McMillan said. "He has been in Columbus (Ohio) working out with Greg (Oden), and he has also worked out hard in Phoenix and Portland. He has been waiting for this opportunity. Now it's here for him."

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