Improving Rudy's Trade Value

Rudy dunking on….Rudy in the 2008 Olympics?!?!

Two years ago people who love up tempo exciting play had the spanish connection and the sky seemed the limit. Last year people who love heady, fundamental basketball had Cunningham. The Rudy camp has taken a morale hit, but the “sky” (solid role player) still appears the limit for Team Dante.

is very important to the future of the franchise, as all the young talent is. He may be the 8th or 10th guy presently, but you never know when Batum goes down again, or he is converted to a place of need. I think he has game, and could be a valuable piece, given the right circumstance.

he deserves to have a legitimate opportunity to earn minutes. The team should neither automatically sit him nor automatically grant him a certain amount of playing time.

I have a tough time with the word “deserves” after the statements that Rudy and his agent have made this summer. Sure, Portland could promise him a chance to compete, but what kind of assurances can they give him that he hasn’t already heard? The ball is in Fernandez’ court, either report or be suspended. We’ll see who blinks first. Personally, I hope Rudy’s done enough at Worlds for one NBA GM to desire him, and that Rich will put a deal together that helps give all parties what they need

That is, each player comes into camp all even, from Roy on down. Once you assume otherwise, you begin to stagnate your team before you even get out of the blocks. You simply cannot predict the season ahead, so if you don’t give all your horses an equal chance at the watering hole, your cheating your team out of developing an identity that can survive the long haul.
   When I played ball (different sports and levels) I was involved in many varying formats when the team was assembled and finalized. Working hard and being coach-able not only,helped me be a better player, but also leveled the field a bit when talent alone was not enough. Oddly enough, when I go back and review those times, I find that the more open and less ‘pat" the atmosphere, the more they seemed to produce the better teams. There also seemed to be a better “team” feeling overall.
   The bottom line and I think this is what you are saying is; everyone has to earn their minutes from start to finish. Equal opportunity to show how you fit and what options you can provide to help the team.
    A cut and dry atmosphere will favor more talented players and also the ones that fit the system better. It’s to be expected that bias (if you can call it that) will always prevail when you have obvious talent or otherwise proven players in the mix., but as long as it is a fair working environment that doesn’t show favoritism, then no player will have the right to claim he didn’t get a fair shake.
   I will go on to say, it appears that, at the start of the 09-10 season, both Nate and Roy had an issue with Miller. In other words it is presumed that Miller’s style of playing the point guard as a floor general, caused a lot more confusion and ruckus than it should have. The idea that you can reinvent a veteran player was foolish and not at all fair to a guy that was clearly brought in to help fill a gap. Another story, but hopefully a lesson learned and a better approach in future training camps.

we would be the franchise where Euros would know that they’d get a fair shake if things went poorly.

The flip side of this is Portland would be known as the team that will let a player out of his contract if he’s unhappy. There’s a European PR cost if Cho/Allen hold Rudy to his rookie agreement, but they’d be undermining their leverage with potential players and their agents if they back down. (Not just Euros, but any future player.) Besides, I don’t know if the Blazers could even receive permission from the league office to do the “mutual agreement” that you’re suggesting. It’s either release Rudy and gain nothing in return, or hold him “hostage” for 1-2 years and hope a deal with another NBA team develops

We’d be the franchise were they know they can cry their way out of when they start playing bad.

If Rudy wont play and we can’t trade him then he should ride the bench. And we should make him a qualifying offer each year until he’s 30 to make sure he never plays for another NBA team.

you’ve got Michael on your mind

 I’m sure there must have been one, but that was one hell of smokescreen they laid out to cover it up. Doesn’t seem like a whole lot of wisdom was being applied in either case..( By this I mean a plan could have been in place but not that good of one.)
   Rudy could be considered just another odd man out, on a team with it’s identity still not yet defined. ’Evolving" is the term KP once used during the “awareness” test last year.
   When the team does establish an identity they can hang their hat on for the entire season and into the playoffs, they will be much more prepared for any future player acquisitions.
  
    

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