Why be a decent NBA bench player when you can be a starter in Europe? I think a lot of these guys know they don't have what it takes, and would prefer being a big fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a big pond. Is Rubio going to be that type of player?
Rudy was never given a chance in Portland. Pritchard just drafted players left and right and ended up with an overstacked roster. Rudy starts on at least 5 teams in the NBA right away. He's that good. Rubio? He's the best player in ALL OF EUROPE. He'll make noise here no doubt about it. Have you ever been across the Atlantic ocean in your life because I have a feeling your global perception is limited?
this is precisely why you dont trade for him....it's been the same story for a while now and i'm glad houston didnt trade for him...otherwise the same thing would have happened here because he'll be a back up in a limited role.
pretty much... 2x Acropolis Tournament MVP 2007, 2009 Euroleague Final Four MVP 2009 Greek League MVP 2009 EuroBasket 2009 All-Tournament Team Balkan Athlete of the Year 2009
Or like a fish OUT of water. I think personality fit and culture differences play a big part, along with actual skills. We older people forget how young these guys actually are. Youth can either be adventurous and exploratory, or PURELY a product of their home environment. V-Span sulked not just cuz he didnt fit in on the court, but also cuz he didnt fit into US culture. Probably didnt fit in with the NBA guys. Didnt care for the music, the tv shows, style of talk, the women, etc...some people adapt to the culture shock, some dont. Some guys keep translators for 10 years and dont care, like Hideki Matsui. Some guys like Darko Milicic, still just seems like he got off the Serbian boat.
Yes, I have traveled abroad, but why the snide comment? Especially, since it makes no sense within the context of this discussion. And Rudy isn't asking to be traded to another team, he's asking to be released, so he can run back home.
My bad but your comment on Rubio seemed to be critical of him. Like you haven't seen how talented he is and are putting him in the same circle of talent as Rudy (which he's not). Rubio is probably the best Basketball player in Spanish history. Rudy is just frustrated in the way the Blazers have treated him. I'm sure if we traded for him he would love to play here as a significant rotation player at SG. If Morey could guarantee him significant minutes it would happen but with Chase and JT I can't see it.
I just keep up with the Blazer topics posted in the Dish but it looked like he was never that happy here. Back when we played them in the playoffs he was a crowd favorite, and he was also rookie or sophomore status, but 2 seasons since then his role has not grown (minus the 2010 playoffs). Understandable since he's behind Roy but it must be stressful wanting and deserving of more but being in a bad situation. They also had to give minutes to their 1st rounder Bayless, their returning starter Webster, and Batum who also showed promise and was a starter by the end of his rookie season. Then they trade away his closest friend (either because of language barrier or unfriendliness) on the team in Sergio and then there was that quote about him celebrating his birthday alone. That just sucks.
He could have proven himself as a starter last year. Outlaw was traded, Roy and Batum were on the shelf for an extended period. He can get hot from beyond the arc, but he hasn't shown any signs of improvement like some of his teammates.
He was vastly overrated by internet nerds. The majority of European players just don't have the stop start dynamics to be impact players in the NBA; their finesse play just doesn't translate against more physical opponents, tighter defenses and more athletic big men. He's just too discombobulated around his center of gravity for the NBA, so he struggles to square up for shots and play in rhythm with his teammates. As usual, I called it. Men may come, and men may go, but the Ronny will live on forever.
Those of you saying Rudy is an NBA starter, I just don't buy it. He is a very solid spark of someones bench. A spot shooter who moves without the ball. He can't defend though consistently, he is not a guy who can really create his own shot, and he's too weak physically to guard NBA 2's consistently. I guess he's a starter on a REALLY bad team. And based on how much he talks to the media about going home, he seems like a mentally weak player. Never really bought the hype about this guy at all. His ceiling was always set to be an NBA role player.
Just heard on sports radio here in Portland from Jason Quick - (insider Blazers reporter) rattle off 4 deals for Rudy that didn't go down. One was a straight up Rudy for Courtney Lee swap that the Rockets balked at. They had 3 previous draft day deals and even a protected top 15 pick that Portland turned down. Rudy's agents have been waiting a month to sit down with new GM Cho with no luck. If a trade doesn't happen quick it sounds like he will not be coming back to the NBA.
