The Portland Trailblazers are set up well at the point for 2010-11. 34-year old Andre Miller will be back running the offense for the Blazers this year. Miller played in 82 games (66 starts) for the Blazers last season and he averaged 30.5 minutes, 14.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He has now played in 897 games (834 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 34.5 minutes, 14.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Miller has only shot 20.9% from the three point line in his career so he’s no threat from the outside. His game is driving to the basket for either a lay up, short jumper or a pass to a teammate. I look for him to have another solid year for the Blazers.

22-year old Jerryd Bayless played solid minutes off the bench for the Trailblazers last year. Bayless played in 74 games (11 starts) for the Trailblazers last year and he averaged 17.6 minutes, 8.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He has now played in 127 games (11 starts) in his two years in the NBA and he has averaged 15.4 minutes, 6.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Bayless will likely be a starter down the road but the Blazers have championship aspirations so he will be coming off the bench again in 2010-11.

21-year old rookie Elliot Williams will give the Blazers even more depth at the point this year. Williams played in 34 games in his only year at Memphis and he averaged 33.3 minutes, 17.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. His playing time will be limited unless Miller or Bayless get injured.

22-year old Patrick Mills didn’t get much of a chance to play as a rookie for the Blazers last year. He played in 10 games (0 starts) for the Trailblazers last year and he averaged 3.8 minutes, 2.6 points, 0.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. I think Mills is going to have a very hard time making the Blazers in 2010-11.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE TRAILBLAZERS POINT GUARDS IN 2010-11: B