How long will Rudy be here?

[RickyRubio]

I am starting to think that more and more Rudy will not want to backup Brandon his entire career. And he cannot play any other position worth starting. And we more then likely will not use Brandon as our starting PG. So where does that leave Rudy down the road?

Don't get me wrong, I love having him on our team. A lot. But he isn't going to want to be a role player coming off the bench for too much longer, right?

What are some possible scenarios (in your opinion) of what we should do with him?

 

[RR7]

Keep him around for his career and win championships with him as a key piece.

 

[hasoos]

Until he can snatch the Goldfish from my hand. Then, he, will be the master!

 

[Wizard Mentor]

He'll be around for a long time. KP won't trade him, and Rudy will be comfortable in Portland by the time he has a chance to sign elsewhere.

 

[BlazerWookee]

He'll back up Brandon, but he'll also play alongside Brandon.

 

[blue32]

You're starting to think, or you agree with the Bleacher Report?

 

[Wheels]

He'll back up Brandon, but he'll also play alongside Brandon.

Exactly.. I see no reason why in the future when we really tighten our rotation, and Bayless is ready for the minutes.. we have a 3 guard rotation of Bayless, Roy, and Rudy. That will get Bayless, and Rudy around 30 MPG and 36 for Roy.

 

[RickyRubio]

You're starting to think, or you agree with the Bleacher Report?

The Bleacher report influenced my thought, enough to make me want to post this thread. As well as other posters on the forum in the past saying and thinking similar things and other articles that I have read saying similar things.

Your point?

 

[RickyRubio]

Oh great. MIXUM is back.

 

[Eastoff]

use occum's razor... we'll trade him for a piece we need and a new young back up sg when his rookie contract is going to expire and not before then.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I am starting to think that more and more Rudy will not want to backup Brandon his entire career. And he cannot play any other position worth starting. And we more then likely will not use Brandon as our starting PG. So where does that leave Rudy down the road?

Don't get me wrong, I love having him on our team. A lot. But he isn't going to want to be a role player coming off the bench for too much longer, right?

What are some possible scenarios (in your opinion) of what we should do with him?

I have the same opinion. Euro players, if they're like their soccer counterparts) might be much quicker to switch teams.

However, he's ours for at least a few more years so I like the idea of getting what we can out of him for now and then which way we want to go in a few years. I see no reason to push a panic button at this time.

 

[blue32]

The Bleacher report influenced my thought, enough to make me want to post this thread. As well as other posters on the forum in the past saying and thinking similar things and other articles that I have read saying similar things.

Your point?

No point there chief, just coincidence and the way you worded it sounded funny, as if you just had an epiphany.


Gear down big trucker. lol.

 

[BTOWN_HUSTLA]

Drazen Petrovic II!

 

[alex42083]

Exactly.. I see no reason why in the future when we really tighten our rotation, and Bayless is ready for the minutes.. we have a 3 guard rotation of Bayless, Roy, and Rudy. That will get Bayless, and Rudy around 30 MPG and 36 for Roy.

Yep, that's what I envision our backcourt being, manned by Bayless, Rudy and Roy. They all seem interchangable from SG to PG.
I just don't think Rudy's body is built to withstand starting 82 games a year at 35-40 mins per game. He'll break down or get injured easily playing a ton of minutes. I think he's perfect in the role he has as a super sub playing 25-30 mins a game and have the ability to start for Roy if he gets injured without missing too much of a beat.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

He'll be around until he can be moved for a point guard or a small forward with as much talent/skill.

For those that think Rudy will play along side Brandon, what happens if a player such as Ramon Sessions is brought in or Gerald Wallace or both?

I agree that they can coexist together just fine (heck they did quite well last year, and that was just the first season), but there may be a time when a better fit presents itself. That is unless Rudy or Brandon become better at the 1 or the 3 than at the 2.

 

[Wheels]

For those that think Rudy will play along side Brandon, what happens if a player such as Ramon Sessions is brought in or Gerald Wallace or both?

.

I could agree to that point, so for me, I'm more in the Kidd camp for PG, he would be a GREAT mentor, plus he wont need more than a 2 year Contract at best. By that time Bayless will be ready for starting and heavy minutes (provided he pans out) and Rudy will have those minutes I mentioned earlier. This is provided that we stand pat at the SF position, which it is looking more and more like we will do.

 

[Nikolokolus]

If he's happy being a super sub for his career and not playing more than 28 or so minutes a game then I'd love to keep him around for as long as possible, but since I don't claim to be a mind reader and so much changes from one year to the next I don't really have an opinion one way or another about how long he'll be here.

 

[LittleAlex]

He'll be around for a long time. KP won't trade him, and Rudy will be comfortable in Portland by the time he has a chance to sign elsewhere.

So a guy who has been used to being a star would be just fine being a backup? I kind of doubt it. Further, once his contract is up Rudy is going to look to get paid. He is making less this year then Sergio, after all.

The idea that Rudy, or any player, values loyalty over money is usually wishful thinking. Sure, it happens from time to time. More often then not, though, a player goes to where the money is. By the time Rudy comes up for a contract extension, Roy, LA and Oden will all be locked up long term. Not sure if there will be enough to keep Rudy, Batum and Bayless at that point no matter how rich Paul Allen is. Someone has to go and I am guessing it is going to be the dude who plays the same position as our best player.

 

[mook]

If he wanted to get paid like a bench shooting guard, he could've stayed in Europe. He's starter quality, and he knows it.

There's no fire drill to unload him, but eventually there will be if we aren't proactive. I'd like to see him as a key part in an upgrade at PG or SF, because if he is traded, it'll mean we're getting back somebody pretty special.

 

[SteelBlaze1]

I just keeping thinking of Manu Ginoboli of the Spurs. He is one of their best players and he is their super sub off the bench. I am sure deep down he would love to start, but understands the dynamics of the team and enjoys winning.

I would hope that Rudy will as well. And as far as "looking to get paid"...he will...by the Blazers.

 

[RickyRubio]

No point there chief, just coincidence and the way you worded it sounded funny, as if you just had an epiphany.


Gear down big trucker. lol.

I like that show Ice Road Truckers.

And turtles.

 

[hasoos]

Rudy will be here until I quit imagining he is here. Then he will be gone. Because my mind controls the whole universe!!

 

[MAS RipCity]

I've been saying we need to trade Rudy while his value is high for a while now. He can't be a 1 nor a 3. He plays the same pos. as our future HOF'er...get something great for him NOW..he may like it here as a 6th man for 2 more years, but he didn't league his homeland to be a backup imo.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

So a guy who has been used to being a star would be just fine being a backup? I kind of doubt it. Further, once his contract is up Rudy is going to look to get paid. He is making less this year then Sergio, after all.

Actually, yes! Did you watch the Olympics final? Rudy had no problem not starting (from reports). In fact, he wasn't subbed in in a hurry either, as I recall.

The idea that Rudy, or any player, values loyalty over money is usually wishful thinking. Sure, it happens from time to time. More often then not, though, a player goes to where the money is. By the time Rudy comes up for a contract extension, Roy, LA and Oden will all be locked up long term. Not sure if there will be enough to keep Rudy, Batum and Bayless at that point no matter how rich Paul Allen is. Someone has to go and I am guessing it is going to be the dude who plays the same position as our best player.

I think it unlikely that he will be offered a max contract by another team at any time in his career. Hopefully, we'll be in the finals by that time any way.

 

[LittleAlex]

Actually, yes! Did you watch the Olympics final? Rudy had no problem not starting (from reports). In fact, he wasn't subbed in in a hurry either, as I recall.

That was for national pride, not his job. The two are very different.

I think it unlikely that he will be offered a max contract by another team at any time in his career. Hopefully, we'll be in the finals by that time any way.

He doesn't need to be given a max deal to be too expensive if Portland is already carrying large contracts for Roy, LA and Oden. By that point, the Blazers would be paying 2 dollars for every dollar on Rudy's contract due to luxury tax. I see their financial future like the following:
Roy - Max deal. He is the face of the team and it's best player. This would be 25% of the salary cap.
LA - Near Max deal. Big men are always overpaid so even though he will not be at the same level as Roy, he will get paid similarly. Probably 23% of the cap.
Oden - Max deal. See LA, but even more so. 25% of the cap.

That makes for 73% of the salary cap being invested in 3 guys(Portland's big three).

After that, Portland still has at least 10 roster spots to fill. Batum and Bayless will need to be extended somehow, along with Rudy and whatever other 7 players Portland picks up. There just isn't enough money to go around.

 

[PapaG]

There's no reason to move him until his rookie contract is up. He's a bargain and will be for 3 more years. The decision will come when it's time for his next deal. Will PA pay the luxury tax if it means keeping Rudy? Or will a team with cap space make an offer that the Blazers can't make?

 

[Sinobas]

So far, he hasn't shown that he's worthy of being a starter in the NBA. So what is the controversy?

#2. We've got him at least through the 2012-2013 season.....which is the year the world is supposed to end anyway. So why worry?


#3. He could probably learn to play some PG.