HoopsHype.com Rumors

In the end, Bill Bayno’s departure from the Trail Blazers’ coaching staff came down to one thing: Security. The Minnesota Timberwolves and new coach Rick Adelman offered the former Blazers assistant coach a four-year contract — three more years than the Blazers would offer — and a difficult decision became a no-brainer for Bayno. “We talk all the time about this being a business when players get traded or coaches get fired and its no different in this situation,” Bayno said in an e-mail to The Oregonian. “My first choice was to stay and I did everything in my power to do that. But in the end, I had to take this offer. It was too good to pass up.” Oregonian

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Bill Bayno, Rick Adelman 

“I thought he was a very good coach for us and I hate to lose him,” McMillan said. “Billy brought an energy and kind of a spirit to the team and the bench. He did a real nice job.” Oregonian

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Bill Bayno, Rick Adelman 

“We’re going to be OK,” McMillan said. “There’s no rush for me to go and get another guy because I think we have plenty of what we need right here on this staff. It’s just a matter of making a decision on the roles that we want our coaches to play this year.” Oregonian

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Bill Bayno, Rick Adelman 

Joe Freeman: Helping fill Bayno's player development role is Buck Williams. He'll join staff full-time this year after serving part-time role a year ago. Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Buck Williams, Bill Bayno, Rick Adelman 

Rick Adelman hasn’t been introduced yet as Wolves coach, but his staff is starting to take shape: According to league sources, Portland assistant coach Bill Bayno is expected to join a staff that also could include Adelman’s son R.J., Jack Sikma and T.R. Dunn from Adelman’s Houston staff. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Bill Bayno, Rick Adelman, Jack Sikma, RJ Adelman, TR Dunn 

Blazer assistant coach Bill Bayno, who is as good as they come in the player-development game, spends his summers flying from city to city, beating on Portland players and helping them prepare their bodies and minds. His latest report will be music to any Blazer fan's ears. Thursday, he was a guest on Wheels at Work, on 95.5 The Game in Portland. "L.A. called me a few weeks back, and asked if I could come to Dallas," says Bayno. In his typical style, Bayno was on the next flight. Bayno can be very complimentary to the players he works with, but usually doesn't gush unless he totally impressed with what he sees and hears. "I can't say enough about how good LaMarcus looks," says Bayno. "He hired a personal trainer in Dallas, a guy who works with a bunch of the Dallas Cowboys. He did that totally on his own. He's up to about 260, maybe 262 (Aldridge was listed at 240 before last season). He's stronger and bigger, and hasn't lost any of his quickness." NBA.com

Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, Bill Bayno 

Trail Blazers assistant coach Bill Bayno, who has been down in Dallas working daily with forward LaMarcus Aldridge, joined Wheels at Work on Thursday with an update on Aldridge's summer: He's working. He's wearing me out to be quite honest with you. He hired a personal trainer, a guy that works with a couple of the (Dallas) Cowboys. He's really gotten stronger; and he's done that on his own. I think he's probably up to 260, 262 (pounds). Considerably stronger and bigger, but hasn't lost any quickness. One of the things we've been working on is improving his first step. I can't say enough good things about him. He's taking it; I'm literally beating him up. He's probably doing 100 possessions a day once we get through, where I'm just forcing him baseline, forcing him middle, forcing him to his left hand, and just really cracking him with the pads and working on getting and-ones, and just continuing to be good at creating that contact and finishing with contact. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, Bill Bayno 

He's not afraid to say that he wants to be an All-Star. I would not bet against him this year. I would place that bet on him, that he's ready to make that step, because he's putting the work in and he's adding things to his game that quite frankly I don't think the defense is going to have an answer for. They're not going to be able to crowd him this year. They're not going to be able to double team him as much, adding these face up moves to his game. He's already told me he's coming back August 30th and we're going to have the whole month of September. He's going to stay on this path and work right up through into training camp. You're talking having six or seven weeks of intense training coming into training camp and there's no doubt in my mind it's going to pay dividends." Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, Bill Bayno