Trade Rudy Fernandez ASAP!
by SurReal on Apr 27, 2010 3:30 PM PDT
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PrintI know that their are probably Rudy supporters out their, and I was one of them for a long time! This post is not meant to be a knee-jerk reaction as the result of Rudy having one bad game, or even a couple of bad games. Nor is this post meant to blame Rudy for personally being responsible for ruining our playoff chances.
The fact of the matter is that outside of a couple of glimmers of fools gold Rudy has not delivered this season! I know that some will blame it on his injuries, but unless he is still injured that is just an excuse. He has had plenty of time, and opportunities to get his game back, and in this playoff series with the Suns it seems as though he is sabotaging his/our chances by playing poor defense, and committing silly fouls.
Clearly his head/heart is not into the playoffs at all, because this is not the Rudy we knew, and fell in love with. He has made reports to news organizations that he is unhappy here (missing being home in his country) & with his playing time (which he certainly is not earning, so it appears that his heart is not with playing for the Blazers.
Rudy at one time was on my "Do Not Trade List" with all his potential, but now it appears obvious to me that in the best interest of Rudy & the team that he should be Traded (how about them Knicks? - Benefits being potential playing time, style of play, and with a larger community of Spaniards to support him possibly making him feel more at home). When you have a player that is vocally unhappy with their situation you need to remove, or resolve it quickly, as it is just like Cancer.
For those that disagree with me...Thanks for allowing me to express my opinions!
All the best,
Jeff
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im with ya,
i used to think he was untouchable, now i could care less if we cut him…i know that harsh but after watching every dribble of his pro career, he just doesn’t have what it takes mentally to be a good player in the NBA. The physical tools he has, but he just isn’t tough enough mentally.
Maybe the Timberwolves
would want him as an enticement to get Rubio to come over and play for them.
I’m all for trading him at this point, but I do not believe his trade value to very high. I wouldn’t be broken hearted if they traded Aldrirdge at this point either, so maybe they can package them for some shot at Bosh or Lee (yes, I realized Lee is weak defensively… he does board and give effort… something I see from Aldridge only occasionally).
I say keep Aldridge...
because with a couple of other offensive threats he is very good.
I think you're right.
Rudy has checked out. I believe that he’ll go back to Spain. He seems like a guy who is lonely to me. I’ve read stories about how he misses his friends and family. There is no fire or emotion coming from him and he just seems disinterested. How can a guy be disinterested? It’s the NBA playoffs!!! To me, his issues seem deeper than just losing confidence. Just a guess..
I agree its more than just confidence.
That lack of interest is what I find unacceptable. No excuse for not giving your best!
amlmart1 wrote that Rudy's family and g/f left PDX
back when Roy hurt his hamstring and Bayless was elevated to the starting lineup ahead of Rudy, last winter
how do you habla “slow burn” in Espanol?
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I have 2 issues with trading rudy
Number 1, what can we really get in return with his salary and 2, who would even want him on their team after seeing him in this playoff series
Do you think that his stock is going to rise greatly
playing next year here in PDX? If the roster/coaching stays the same I do not think that will happen . + His contract will be up after next season, and we should get something in return if we can. 1st round draft pick maybe?
his NBA contract will not be "up" until after the 2012 season
and then the team he plays for will have the option of making him a “qualifying offer” for teh 2012-2013 season, as well
I hope he has been off the Blazer’s radar for a long period of time before that QO decision needs to be made
What say you, Mr. Allen?
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Do you seriously think the Blazers would not pick up Rudy's 2 mil$ option?
That’s just crazy talk. They may trade him but they won’t just release him
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I wish he had been gone before now
but it’s up to the owner to make the call
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Rudy wants out of Portland anyways
It’s all so obvious and sad at the same time. He’ll go to another team, something in him will click, and he’ll play better.
Unfortunately, his recent play doesn’t make him much of a bargaining chip. He’ll go to New York or possibly one of the other Run n’ Gun teams.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if he returned to Spain.
Treat people well because Karma can hit you at any second.
At this point i’m all for trading Rudy but I have a deep fear of seeing it come back to haunt us when he is dropping threes left and right and making between the leg passes.
by ripcitychamp on Apr 28, 2010 12:06 AM PDT up reply actions
Maybe we can just trade Przybilla for Calderon
then Rudy will have a new BFF and be happy and productive.
I hope this is tongue and cheek
the time and need for making Rudy “feel better” about his role in PDX should be long past. Fernandez is not that important to the future of the TB’s to make any deal involving Joel Przybilla
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Pryz will be around until atleast the deadline next yr
He won’t be 100% until atleast a month or 2 into the season and will have an expiring contract in the 8 million range. So KP will keep him around for insurance in the 2nd half should Oden or Camby go down, and trade him for a playoff piece if by some miracle the big men are healthy. IMO
by SerenityNow! on Apr 28, 2010 3:46 PM PDT up reply actions
I like the guy too but,
who knows if the Blazers can get a quality player back in exchange. Portland should have let him go when they could still get something for him.
We can still get something for him.....
There are lots of different scenarios to get good players/draft picks in return. Such as: part of a multi player deal for a player currently playing great, or for a player like Rudy where it is obvious there is potential, but just not the right situation. Or a cheap owner that would trade away a lottery pick for cash & Rudy. The possibilities are endless.
not really
for a trade to work, the salaries have to be in the same ballpark. For as crappy as Rudy has been, we’d be hard pressed to find something better for the same salary.
I believe he'll return
only because his value is too low. We’ll never get anything outside of a 2nd round pick for him at this point, which is just not worth it. He’ll return next year, because he has played himself out of a realistic, fair trade.
he could
a)be a smaller part of a package deal
or
b)say “Heck with the NBA – back to Mallorca.”
Treat people well because Karma can hit you at any second.
he can't play Euro ball unless the Blazers let him out of his contract
and what’s Portland’s motivation to do that, to buy him out and send him on his way?
A trade makes more sense from the organization’s perspective. It’s just a shame the owner didn’t allow the deal to be made before Rudy’s trade value dropped off the table
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Perhaps Rudy buys out his own contract
with the help of the Euro team that wants to sign him. I don’t see why this can’t be done both ways.
What’s Portland’s motivation to keep paying a player that clearly doesn’t want to be here?
Treat people well because Karma can hit you at any second.
Has Rudy clearly said he doesn't want to be here?
If so… yikes, I missed that.
Some people say that cats are sneaky, evil, and cruel. True, and they have many other fine qualities as well. - Missy Dizick
It's up to the Blazers
Only the Blazers can release him. He can’t buy himself out and he can’t just go play in Europe until his contract has officially ended, at the end of next year.
He could be packaged with somebody like Joel to get a good player, but another team would be less willing to do that now, with Rudy’s value being so low.
Other teams have to really want him to make this work. That is not feasible to me, at this point.
by ItsMrHarris2u on Apr 28, 2010 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Knicks, GSW,
play the kind of ball that Rudy would thrive in, and any good GM could see that.
What’s Portland’s motivation to keep paying a player that clearly doesn’t want to be here?
You’ll have to ask Paul Allen that question. I’m sure Nate wouldn’t mind not having to insert Rudy into the lineup every night to make his owner happy. If you haven’t read Jason Filippi’s comments about Paul’s manlove for #5 yet, here’s the link
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
*sigh*, Rudy.......
I hate to say it, his number is in my name but……..if the guy is unhappy here he should go somewhere else. It isn’t good to have dead weight. And that’s what he is right now, dead weight. We need someone more interested in our team and he just isn’t it. Whether it be homesickness or not fitting in with Nate’s style, it just isn’t working anymore. I wish it weren’t true, and I wish the situation was salvageable, but I don’t believe it is. He’s a great player, and we are a great team. All parties involve deserve the best.
I understand the sentiment but,
Rudy is not worthless, or a bad person. I think he just needs a different environment (Team/Coaching style) to thrive.
In order for Rudy to come around means alot of playing time for him….so what do we do? take all of next yr, 30 min per game. thats what its going to take hes got to many weak areas..its not just his shooting..its his Attitude as well which has been mentioned here…who wants to throw away a season for a guy to be a great player for us to then trade? You think he would want to stay here 2012 and play behind Roy Or Bayless? I dont… I think we destroyed several games letting him play defence the way he has..not to mention games 2 and three…actually three I blame on Nate..thats a whole post of itselfs..when u have 4 on 5 out on the court “him being on the Court” it messes the whole team defence up!!!! unless your a die hard fan you dont even notice it…..teams are not scarred of his scoring threat and they know he will leave guys wide open…things are always possible I say trade him as soon as it can be done…to hold out for a few more nicles will damage next yr season as well as the season after…..like one has said here…we need to treat it like a cancer….we has to be removed!!! sorry
Nate is bending over backwards for Rudy
Rudy is getting playing time that he hasn’t earned. The Blazers have a lot invested in Rudy so I doubt that giving him away is an option.
So what you are saying is that
Rudy has had plenty of opportunities to show his value. Sometimes you have to cut your loses. Do you really want to risk having Rudy in the rotation next year? Even if we did, and he showed glimmers of good play, do you really want to risk going into the playoffs next year, and have Rudy get in a funk…..playing again like he is?
I would rather have Martell take his minutes even though he has not been hitting his shots, because at least we can see Martell is trying hard to be productive in other ways. I can accept a player in a slump, but not giving it his all, is not OK!
Can he play in Spain next year with Victor? Dont know how that works.
Dont we just retain the rights like the rest of the euro’s we have? I was calling for a trade at the beginning of the season when his value was high. I do not see many teams looking at him like a legit SG now. The dude made alot of money for Blazers; my whole family has his jersey. I feel they will cut ties this summer through a trade or retaining his rights.
Its delightful, its delicious, its delug
A Canal Plus guy said:
He can go back to Spain, but if he later wants to come back to the NBA, then he´ll need the agreement by all NBA teams.
he can't
he can’t play in Europe until his NBA contract has expired…. Unless the Blazers, and only the Blazers, release him (which makes zero sense).
by ItsMrHarris2u on Apr 28, 2010 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Really? What difference does it make?
Is Rudy going to play worse now? If anything maybe if by some freak of chance heard/read the post it would fire him up to give a darn & play well.
Trade talk!!
Aldridge, Bayless, Rudy, Pryz(for salary) and a #1 for Bosh and Calderon?
I know Bosh would have to agree to a sign/trade, but any thoughts people?
by SerenityNow! on Apr 28, 2010 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Toronto would be a great destination for Rudy!
He could play next to Calderon with Belinelli and Bargnani in their Euro-centric lineup. Perhaps they would give up their draft pick for him?
Or if we paired Rudy and Martell (who also seems to have lost his place/opportunity) perhaps Toronto would give up Reggie Evans whom I bet Nate would love to add for toughness and another playoff run (plus it’s an expiring contract).
Evans would be a nice banger behind aldridge
been saying that for awhile
by IndustrialRevolution on Apr 28, 2010 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions
with Camby, Pendergraph and Cunningham
I’m not sure there’s a need for Evans, even if Howard isn’t resigned
before the Camby trade, I would’ve been in favor of adding Evans. But I have a feeling that he’s been “available” during the past few years and that Nate doesn’t really want to coach Reggie again
just a hunch
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Who is this Rudy person you speak of?
I seem to remember a guy who played inspired basketball with flair and gusto, bringing energy and an element of excitement to the game. Wow, I really miss THAT guy. But I haven’t seen him in a long time.
Agreed, I want the Rudy from last year back.
by ripcitychamp on Apr 28, 2010 12:08 AM PDT up reply actions
At this point his trade value might get us a half-box of Girl Scout Thin Mints
This is the problem with a lot of fans of any base. As soon as someone plays poorly… TRADE HIM!!! But that’s not the way things work, at least not if you want to get anything of value in return. Playing healthy, and with confidence, Fernandez is a tremendous weapon for whomever he suits up for. Obviously some systems would highlight his strengths (SSOL or any team with Nash comes to mind) and some systems will use his strengths, but expose his weaknesses in one-on-one defense, and dribble-driving (Nate’s system, Spurs)
Put it quite simply, if the Blazers had traded him at the end of the season last year, his trade value would have been through the roof. Likely landing a good player plus a first round draft pick (though likely not lottery). This year the Blazers would be lucky to get a high second rounder, let alone at the same pick the Suns got Rudy three years ago.
Plus, if Rudy doesn’t want to play for the Blazers I see no reason to “keep him happy” and trade him to a team where he does damage to the Blazers, whether in the regular or post seasons.
In short: If he plays in the NBA, I want it to be for the Blazers, otherwise I want him in Europe, far, far away.
I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.
A couple of things
First of all, I understand your concerns about “selling high” when dealing a player, I’ve voiced the same comments on numerous occasions
I don’t know if you’ve read the Marca interview that I keep referencing with Jason Filippi from back in February (there is at least one link to amlmart1’s excellent translation elsewhere in this thread) Jason spilled the beans about how much Paul Allen liked Rudy and how the owner refused to let the front office complete a trade involving Fernandez, this winter.
Many of us have been anticipating a future train wreck with Fernandez and advised that he be traded before events ever got to this point. But now we know why our “free advice” wasn’t followed. The owner didn’t want Rudy to be dealt, so Rudy wasn’t dealt. PA may be feeling differently now re: #5, but what “might have been done in the past” is water under the bridge. The Blazers have to decide if they want to keep Rudy around and play him significant minutes again next fall, in hopes of his trade vaule increasing. Or, let him (or a Euro team) buy out his contract so he can play overseas, or to trade his rights to another NBA team.
Since Portland can’t receive any players from a European team in return for Rudy, the “buy out” option is not really in the team’s best interest. I doubt the owner would consider the small amount of money that they would receive (and save) is not adequate compensation for ridding the franchise of a disgruntled player. OTOH, a trade to an NBA team could provide the Blazers with another player (or draft choice) that could improve the roster next year and in the future. I suspect that the risk that “Rudy will come back to the RG and make Portland regret ever trading him” in the future is a much smaller concern for the front office than for the fans.
Many Blazer fans (over 30) have the “Jermaine O’Neal syndrome” when it comes to dealing away young players who might become all-stars for another NBA team. I can understand the fear of future embarassment if Fernandez developes into a star in another city (like Petrovic did) but at this point, the team has to look at “how can we best improve the roster to compete for a championship?” beginning next fall. I’m hopeful that this evaluation will involve dealing Rudy during the offseason. Even if the “return” for him is small, the minutes that he has been given at the SG position would be better off going to Roy and Bayless next fall. (I am so looking forward to Brandon not having to defend opposing SFs, in the future, and another veteran PG could be acquired to backup Miller.
It’s time for Portland to move on, and not have to worry about what Rudy will be doing (and feeling) for the rest of his basketball career
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
looks lateral to me. Explain why above-average defender with a 12 PER in Pietrus is better than an above-average defender with a 12 PER in Martell.
Finals experience/Kobe defense
More efficient scorer.
Better 3% then Rudy & Martell.
Better defender then Martell.
Most importantly he is well expierienced in not having plays called for him, but still scoring within the offense.
by IndustrialRevolution on Apr 28, 2010 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Really?
Pietrus: 37.8% 3pt
Webster: 37.7% 3pt
Pietrus: 55% TS
Webster: 54% TS
Pietrus: 10% TO Rate
Webster: 7.8% TO Rate
Virtually the same useage as well.
How is Pietrus more efficient?
As far as defense, I know Pietrus is a player who focuses on defense. However, I see no indication that he is one of the top wing defenders in the league. Pelton didn’t have him in his top 5 SFs or SGs in his season-end breakdown. He’s also never even received a vote for All-Defense team. So he’s a decent defender, but certainly no world beater.
I think you could say the same for Martell, who Kelly Dwyer saw fit for DPOY consideration at mid-season. We’ve also seen him give outstanding efforts vs. Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, among others during this season. So I don’t really see how it’s an upgrade.
Marty is a headcase
Marty’s #’s are almost all derived from the month or so when the Blazers where DECIMATED with injuries and he got to play 35-40 mins a game. No question he was very productive and a tip of the cap for it. However, it is equally clear that Marty is not capable of being a solid bench contributor as when his minutes are not consistant and plentiful as he plays like crap. Are you willing to hand him 30-35 mins a game ahead of Batum? If not then a guy like Pietrus, who has shown he can produce as a guy off the bench, is a nice alternative.
by SerenityNow! on Apr 28, 2010 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions
that's not supported by the evidence
FG and 3 pt % by month:
Pietrus:
.375 .286
.385 .393
.485 .397
.409 .302
.358 .289
.452 .455
.536 .513
Show me how Pietrus is more consistent than Webster. Webster put up decent shooting numbers in February and April despite playing less than 25 mpg.
Webster:
.474 .500
.400 .361
.346 .343
.425 .389
.438 .377
.338 .286
.541 .538
Headcase
Martell scored 35 of his 64 pts in APR reg season in games that were a blowout (Den 92-109) and of no consequence (GS last game of season). He averaged a little LESS than 6 in the other 5 games. Wow he really held his own in games that are out of reach or of no consequence. Same with the playofss. Martell stinks in the beginning of the game when its still in doubt, then gets a bunch of garbage pts when the game is out of reach. I’ll take the devil I don’t know over the Devil i do.
by SerenityNow! on Apr 28, 2010 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions
look, I have no problem throwing out April, it’s obviously a small sample size anyway. What difference does it really make? This is also just false:
Martell stinks in the beginning of the game when its still in doubt, then gets a bunch of garbage pts when the game is out of reach.
He was huge in our tight games vs. San Antonio and at Detroit, and also shot well in our close game vs. Phoenix.
Furthermore, I don’t know what good it does to just keep whittling down the sample size—our numbers from this last year show that Martell has exactly the same numbers as Pietrus, and is basically just as consistent. Nicolas also had huge games offensively in relatively comfortable wins vs. Memphis and Minny, and nobody’s trying to deduct those from his offensive stats. Throwing out someone’s good games because they happen to be blowouts is just not an accepted mode of analysis.
Headcase?
I will say the “grass is always greener” with some other dude. I’m sure there are people in Orlando who think Pietrus stinks (for the record I don’t think Marty does). That said Martell is one of the most infuriating players beacuse for a few mins/quarters/games even he looks like a legitimate all-star caliber player. Then other times he’s air-balling wide-open threes and you wonder why he ever gets off the bench. It’s never effort, dude plays hard, sometimes he just disappears. I don’t think coincidently he plays well when he knows he’s going to have consistant minutes. Some guys need that continual vote of confidence. As is he’s always looking over hios shoulder wondering if he misses a few shots if he’ll get off the bench again that game. As a result he presses and his performance suffers. I have no idea if Pietrus is more consistant with inconsistant minutes, but I’d love to get a guy who doesnt have the peaks and valleys, but you you can count on every night. Pietrus or otherwise.
by SerenityNow! on Apr 28, 2010 4:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Package Rudy with Bayless
Try to get a 6th man of the year back-up shooting guard (someone to not make the hole on the court when Roy’s out seem so gaping…). Bring back Blake as back-up point. Get a PG in the draft to bring up.
Bring back Steve Blake so we can all just start hating him again?
No thanks. Bayless showed promise that he can be effective in the Playoffs. Not so much in the regular season but I’d rather have an effective Bayless in the Playoff’s rather than the off-season. Trade Rudy and Lamarcus.
"Nicolas Batum with ice water in his veins, hits a 3, a 3, a 3 pointer!!" Brian Wheeler
"He (Roy) just got up and touched the floor and good things are already starting to happen." Mike Barrett
That's my point: Bayless is doing well in the Playoffs...
And that’s because it’s Phoenix, a team he did well against during the regular season; one of the few teams he did well against. Because he’s doing well right now his stock has gone up.
Aldridge takes the same kind of unfair heat that Nowitzki does—weak on the boards, doesn’t rebound. He’s one of the few guys on the team that regularly puts up points for us. I think he’s doing fine. He also has to contend with constant double-teaming because we don’t have enough consistant firepower out there.
Both Bayless and Rudy are good players, but I don’t think they compliment the team, it’s playing style, etc. That said, Rudy probably does more so than Bayless but, unfortunately, Rudy hasn’t been that 15-points-off-the-bench-when-we-need-it kind of player.
(As a sidenote, we apparently wasted our 22nd pick on the rights to another Spanish guy who doesn’t seem to even want to play in the NBA. Announced himself to the draft for leverage possibly?)
Blake also took too much heat. He, Roy and Przybilla were the only ones who seemed to show up last year for Playoffs. Blake could also hold onto the ball and shoot 3s. He spread the floor a bit—more than Miller, and definitely more than Bayless does. Blake makes a great back up point guard. And he’s good enough to start in a pinch.
Bayless is NOT a point guard. I don’t think he ever will be. He just doesn’t see the floor like a point should. He’s basically a lesser Jarrett Jack with a higher turnover to assist ratio and mediocre 3 point shooter at best.
That’s my 2 cents, anyway.
Pietrus
Would dominate here imo.
by IndustrialRevolution on Apr 28, 2010 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions
What's up with Koponen?
Totally out of the blue, but any news on Peterri? He looked like the big athletic PG the blazers could use during his time in summer League. Random thought i know.
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