That's why it'll have to be an unlikely Luis Scola situation all over again. Where a team is in danger of losing out on getting anything in return for a draft pick if he chooses to stay in Europe. If he signs for Barcelona he'll be locked in for maybe the next 4 or 5 years. He'll be 27/28 after that contract and presumably at his peak but Portland will only be able to offer him 800-900k for the next two years because he was the 24th pick in the first round.
It's different situations. The Spurs had tried to trade Scola even the summer before. Last summer, the Cavs didnt get Scola only because they refused to take on Jackie Butler's contract. And Scola wanted to join the NBA. But Fernandez obviously shows his reservations to join the NBA. Moneywise, Fernandez is bounded by his 1st round pick status. If Fernandez is not ready to join the NBA, I dont know why teams are willing to trade for a 1st round pick that will hold out for years. If Fernandez wants to join NBA, the Blazers will sign him. Just dont see a trade scenario happen for now.
Sounds like a Fran Vasquez like situation to me. The Spurs selected Luis in 2002 when he wasn't ready for the NBA and let him develop.Unfortunately for them and fortunately for us he couldn't get out because of his buyout situation despite his desire to play in the NBA. Rudy Fernandez sounds like he doesn't want to come to the NBA just like Vasquez. This pisses me off,if you don't want to come just stay where you are and don't waste anybodies' money and time. Just imagine our predicament if he refused to come to Houston if he had dropped down to us.
It isn't the same. Unbelievably, the Magic wasted the 11th pick in 2005 on Vazquez. The Blazers paid cash to the Suns for the 24th pick (and James Jones) last summer. The Magic's stupidity will go down in history. If Fernandez never plays in the NBA, the Blazers gave up little.
Paul Allen can light his cigars with hundred dollar bills if he wants to and never ask for change. The guy is loaded. If he wants Fernandez, money won't be the problem, so in that respect, it isn't an SA situation. Good call by hooroo to notice the Scola similarities, though. Who knows? We should never have been able to sniff Scola, much less get him for almost nothing and from a division rival. So strange things can and do happen.
But since he was taken in the FIRST round Portland is limited in what they can offer him, and if he stays in Europe for 3 or 4 years he will be making more money than Portland can legally offer. DD
By then, he'd be looking at a new contract extension and a lot more more money with Portland (or the Rocks). I think we have a pretty good record in the "wink wink" department. Don't know about Portland. I just know that Allen can spend if he wants to.
Even if Paul Allen got in bed with a chinese shoe company it wouldn't be kosher. The business interest is genuine because of Yao. Stern knows it and the rest of the league knows it through "chinese heritage nights" or whatever they market it when Yao steps into their towns. 8 Rockets including Bonzi and Adelman have chinese shoe deals. Morey can point out he can potentially make more money in Houston than what Barcelona offer him. Les can make it happen through ANTA.
No what they are saying is that if Portland does not bring him over this year, he may not come over for 4 more years and then it may be too late, because he will be making more money in Europe. DD
Hmm...what if Rafer wasn't hurt tonight. The Rockets are just taking this opportunity to showcase Brooks to Portland...
It really is amazing how much talent the Blazers accrued in so little time. They vaulted back to respectability this year, but despite their winning record they'll still end up with a lottery pick this year. So next season they'll add Oden, a lottery pick and possibly Rudy Fernandez to a roster team that was already .500. And that's without even getting into free agency. Not bad at all.
You guys are missing the entire point....Scola as a 2nd round pick was not locked into any constrictions in his salary deal. The point is that Rudy is a first round pick and thus falls into a scheduled contract payment....NOTHING MORE.....so the point is that if he stays in Europe he will surpass that salary per year and why would he come over to the NBA at 27 or 28 for LESS money..... So, it is almost like he needs to come now, and if they can't reach an agreement, it will be like a Scola type of deal where they need to get rid of him before he has no ability to come over later for less money. DD
What's also interesting is Morey is friends with Jeff Ma the MIT Blackjack guy who also happens to help draft for the Blazers.
