(I swear, you take one afternoon off from the internet and this is what happens. I'm sorry, internet. It will never happen again.)

Well, here's one thing we now know about the Portland Trail Blazers new GM Rich Cho: dude is not afraid to make some moves. After signing beef jerky heir (not true) Fabricio Oberto, Cho then turned around and immediately cleared some roster space by cutting loose the lovable Jeff Pendergraph and then trading Jerryd Bayless to the New Orleans Hornets for a (protected) first round pick.

J-Bay has been a lightning rod of controversy around Blazers camp ever since he arrived in 2008 as the 11th pick in the draft—a selection the team acquired from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for their 13th pick (Brandon Rush), Jarrett Jack, and Josh McRoberts. Bayless' kamikaze drives through the lane were something to behold, as was his beady eyed intensity, but he never adapted into his role as a backup point guard. That fact, coupled with the great preseason start by recent draft pick Armon Johnson, were the writing on the wall for Bayless. He'll actually fit in well in the Big Easy, playing under the game's best point guard in Chris Paul, and reuniting with former Blazers assistant coach Monty Williams. But considering Bayless' habit for recklessly crashing through barriers, keep that man away from the levees.

In addition to the pick and empty locker space, the Blazers also got some luxury tax relief. The team is over the cap so they'll benefit from Bayless' salary being off the books. As for the draft pick Portland received, it's top-seven protected for next year, and top-eight protected from 2012-2014. The Hornets are not a terrible squad, but nor are they the postseason-bound team they were a few years back, meaning the pick will likely be the 8th-13th selection of the draft.