Rudy Fernandez Trade Options: Toronto, Houston According to NBA.com and The Oregonian, the Blazers are in talks with both the Rockets and Raptors about moving the perennially unhappy Rudy Fernandez in exchange for picks tonight: “The Portland Trail Blazers continue to have discussions with several teams about reserve guard Rudy Fernandez, who has fallen out of favor with Coach Nate McMillan and has been seeking a trade for almost a year. The most serious suitors at the moment are the Toronto Raptors and Houston Rockets, with Toronto offering its first-round pick, the 13th pick overall, as part of a package. Chicago and Washington have also expressed interest in Fernandez, 25, who was acquired from Phoenix in 2007 on Draft night and signed with Portland the following summer. The Bulls would like to move their first-round pick, 17th overall, for Fernandez. The Wizards offered guard Nick Young for Fernandez but were turned down. Earlier reports that the Knicks were serious contenders for Fernandez were overblown.” link
Yeah, I'm watching NBATV, and they are still scrolling the report from David Aldridge that the Blazers are talking to the Raptors and Rockets about a Rudy Fernandez deal. It doesn't look like a three-way deal, though. Probably just that Portland has two potential suitors for Rudy. With the additions of Eliot Williams and Armon Johnson by the Blazers (let alone adding Luke Babbitt), there just isn't any room left for the disgruntled Fernandez. I think Portland almost HAS to trade him at this point. That, or just agree to void his contract and allow him to return to Spain. But why void his contract when they can at least get SOMETHING for him. I just don't know what assets the Raptors have at this point. Davis? Forget about it. The Rockets could easily absorb Rudy's salary via the $3M trade exception they generated in the Carl Landry trade. Would their 2011 second rounder be enough to get Rudy now? Perhaps the Rockets' own 2012 first rounder. Rudy would be a great backup TRUE SG behind Kevin Martin. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
So this rumor is still alive? Interesting. Was this briefly talked about during NBATV or did they go in depth a little?
what about the negative? how he is inconsistent during the reg season, and how he becomes invisible man when the play-offs approaches.
Hope we can get something done to get him. He's a good player and would be perfect coming off the bench. What are the chances the Blazers will give him up for two 2nd round picks?
Easy to disappear when you've been wanting out of the blazers for almost a year, and they traded away your closest friend. Doesn't speak so highly on his mental toughness though.
"Blazers trade Rudy for #14 or #13! 13th(actual 16th) pick - George/Bradley/Babbitt 22nd pick - Williams/Bledsoe/Seraphin 34th pick - Williams/Armon Johnson/Brackins/Lawal If we could land Geroge, Williams and Brackins in the same draft I'd be freakin ecstatic. Right now, my wish list(realistically) for my Blazers is: 1- Paul George 2- Avery Bradley 3- Elliot Williams 4- Kevin Seraphin 5- Eric Bledsoe 6- Armon Johnson 7- Craig Brackins I love Crawford's game, and Stphenson's a little, but I doubt we go in that direction." LOL, I was pretty dang close. I would've had Babbitt in front of Bradley, but I though he'd be taken. The rest of my list was spot on. 16th pick - George was taken, so we went with #2 on list(Babbitt). 22nd pick - Seraphin, Bledsoe, Brackins, and Bradley all take. Draft #4 on list, Elliot Williams. 34th pick - Everyone on list taken except Armon Johnson. Blazers draft him. I'm a genius.
This rumor is STILL on NBA TV's scroll at the bottom! I have not heard David Aldridge say a single word about it since the draft ended, yet it still shows that, according to DA, the Blazers are in discussions with the Raptors and the Rockets regarding Rudy Fernandez. I'm getting very close to calling BS on Aldridge unless I hear something new from him.
I believe discussions could still be ongoing. Fernandez is not going to be a Blazer next year. Portland has Roy, Batum, Gomes, Miller, Babbit and Elliott Williams. Roy, Batum and Gomes will command most of the minutes, and Miller can play with Bayless at times. Eliott is a potential combo guard. Fernandez is a Pritchard pick that hasn't worked out, and Fernandez will ramp up the complaining to the new regime in order to get a fresh start, i believe. the question is how much is Portland looking for. An asset like Sergio Llull stashed overseas might be enticing.
Gomes's contract is partially guaranteed, but only if he's waived before July 30. If he is, that'll make Rudy the primary experienced backup behind Roy and Batum. Did anyone bring up the Fernandez trade talk with Morey?
Agreed (although I'd like to see if Gomes is still on the roster next week). Personally, I'd rather see if the Rockets could get Fernandez using their 2011 second rounder. I'd like to hold onto Llull's rights, either for him to play with the Rockets down the road or in a sign-and-trade with Toronto. Apparently, Bryan Colangelo really likes Sergio.
The guarantee kicks in on JUNE 30, so we'll know pretty soon what Gomes's fate will be for this summer and next year. Agreed. If only there were room in the Rockets' frontcourt for him. I've always liked Gomes and think he's a Morey kind of player. (I actually think Morey played a hand in the Celtics drafting Gomes out of Providence in 2005 with the 50th pick, which would be one of Morey's best picks as an NBA executive.) I've been saying for months now that, if Gomes is waived in a salary dump, I'd love to bring him in to the Rockets. We'll just have to see how the summer plays out.
If you're talking about offering only 2nd rounders and such to Portland than why wouldn't they instead deal with the Lakers, Celtics, or Phoenix. All those destinations would be ideal for Rudy and they may be willing to part with an actual first rounder considering they would be late picks and wouldn't get anyone better than Fernandez likely...except Phoenix. Phoenix may be in trouble next year.
Gomes and Gerald Wallace are my two favorite underrated players in the league. That aren't Rockets at least.
Late 1st rounders really suck compared to 2nd round picks for GMs. The Trailblazers would be limited be the rookie scale and it would be guaranteed for 3 years. A 2nd round pick allows them go after international talent, than the $400-500k available to a late 1st rounder. When teams are limited to paying only $500k to a player's buyout, the player has to make up the difference by using his salary. If he is a late 1st round pick, the player will be unable to afford the buyout with a $400-500k/yr salary. Scola, for example, signed a 3 year deal for $9.5 mil, about $3.2/yr. It was only possible, because he was a 2nd year player. Ginobili signed a contract starting at $1.3 mil. 2nd round picks also allow them to take on higher risk players without tieing up a roster spot for 3 years. Look at Carl Landry and Dorsey. Dorsey flopped after 2 years, the Kings waived him. Dorsey didn't have a guaranteed 3-yr contract like a 1st round contract.
Agreed on the general concept that early second rounders tend to offer better value than very late first rounders. However, two points of clarification: (1) First round rookie scale contracts are now only guaranteed for two seasons. However, the third year team option must be exercised by October 1 before the SECOND season. So, unless the first round pick is obviously a bust in his first year, he'll tend to get at least three years. But just wanted to point out that it's not always the case. Look at Joe Alexander. He only ended up getting two years on his contract. (2) Scola could have still gotten his contract in 2007, even if he had been a first round pick. If a first round pick waits at least three seasons after being drafted before coming over, he is no longer bound by the rookie scale salary. This is why Tiago Splitter (drafted in 2007) waited until THIS summer to decide to come over to San Antonio. This is also why there is a distinct possibility that Ricky Rubio (drafted in 2009) may wait until 2012 to come to Minnesota. Back to the subject of Fernandez. I think that the Rockets' 2011 second rounder may potentially be a nice pick. From the Steve Novak trade, the Rockets now have the right to swap second round picks with the Clippers. Now, I actually think the Clips may be decent this year, but I think the Rockets will be better; so that pick is maybe the best second rounder the Rockets will have (pre-draft night) for some time.
