Mavs' Rudy Fernandez to Madrid?

[SlyPokerDog]

Could Rudy Fernandez 's stay with the Dallas Mavericks be only temporary?
Less than two weeks after the draft-night trade that sent the 6-foot-6 Spanish shooting guard from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Mavericks, Fernandez has reportedly been offered a six-year contract from Real Madrid that would make him the highest paid player in the history of the Spanish ACB, the most successful professional league in Europe.

According to a report Sunday in the Spanish sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo, the struggling Real Madrid franchise hopes to revive its fortunes by luring the popular Fernandez, 26, back home with promises of riches he may not find in the NBA.

The newspaper said the proposed six-year deal amounts to about $4.35 million a year. Under the NBA's now-expired collective bargaining agreement, Fernandez was due to make $2.2 million next season, after which he could become a restricted free agent with a qualifying offer of $3.2 million for the 2012-13 season.

But with the NBA in the early stages of a potential protracted work stoppage, salaries are expected to become more restrictive under a new CBA and Fernandez, heading into his fourth NBA season, might find a second contract to be less lucrative than playing in his home country.

The report says that if Fernandez agreed to the Real Madrid deal, he would return to the Mavs whenever the 2011-12 NBA season begins, finish the season and then cut ties with the NBA to join the Spanish club.

Fernandez played three seasons with the Trail Blazers, averaging 9.1 points on 39.4 percent shooting. He is a career 36.4 percent shooter from 3-point range. He struggled during Portland's first-round playoff loss to Dallas, averaging 2.8 points on 22.2 percent shooting.

Because of the lockout, the Mavs officials are not permitted to speak with Fernandez or his representatives.

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=6735080

 

[Natebishop3]

He's still locked in for one more year, so this doesn't matter.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Now that would be funny.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

He's still locked in for one more year, so this doesn't matter.

Why doesn't it matter? It's an interesting offer and tough decision for Rudy. If he were still in Portland it would be a no brainer to me but now that he is in Dallas and most likely a starter, IMO, it makes it more difficult.

 

[e_blazer]

He's still locked in for one more year, so this doesn't matter.

Rudy would play out his last partial season and then say adios to the NBA. Can't say as I blame him.

The report says that if Fernandez agreed to the Real Madrid deal, he would return to the Mavs whenever the 2011-12 NBA season begins, finish the season and then cut ties with the NBA to join the Spanish club.

 

[julius]

if that happens, it makes the trade that much more...well, uh...nothing actually.

 

[Minstrel]

Fernandez is going to do really well for Real Madrid and haunt Portland for years.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Wasn't it obvious to everyone that he would only be in the NBA one more year? That's why he had limited trade value. When he was "thrown in" for Felton I could have cared less.

 

[Public Defender]

Wasn't it obvious to everyone that he would only be in the NBA one more year? That's why he had limited trade value. When he was "thrown in" for Felton I could have cared less.

I think it's possible Fernandez would've stayed longer than one more season in the NBA if he was on an East Coast team that was paying him a whole lot and using him differently. His main complaints were that he "missed Spain" and that he didn't enjoy basketball in McMillan's system. If he was in a different system, and was closer to home (flying to Spain from the East Coast is a whole different scenario), I could see him sticking around.

 

[Run BJM]

So was he just sick of McMillan/Portland or is his mind made up that he wants to go back to Spain? What if he starts and does well in Dallas and they make another deep playoff run and Cuban offers to pay up for him? Seems like a pretty attractive deal unless hes just done with the NBA and the U.S. Not completely insane either given that the Mavs have an open starting SG spot and he'll be playing off of Kidd and Dirk.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think it's possible Fernandez would've stayed longer than one more season in the NBA if he was on an East Coast team that was paying him a whole lot and using him differently. His main complaints were that he "missed Spain" and that he didn't enjoy basketball in McMillan's system. If he was in a different system, and was closer to home (flying to Spain from the East Coast is a whole different scenario), I could see him sticking around.

Does it really make that much difference in how often you get to go home? (west coast vs east coast) I used to think the same thing. But other than maybe the all-star break (which still is not long enough) a 7 hour flight each way just is not do-able during the season. I guess it would be easier on his family visiting, but still either way he is not getting home during the season. It has to be hard on these guys.

 

[maxiep]

Sergio & Rudy, together again.

 

[jlprk]

Because of the lockout, the Mavs officials are not permitted to speak with Fernandez or his representatives.

For the next year, Rudy will hear only one side. It'll be hard for the Mavericks to win this game when they aren't allowed to enter the stadium.

 

[MARIS61]

Rudy is now the starting shooting guard for the NBA CHAMPIONS DALLAS MAVERICKS.

No amount of money or Spanish Fly will change that.

 

[jlprk]

His Spanish name will boost TV ratings in Texas more than it would in Oregon.

Cuban is smart...

 

[Ed O]

Could Rudy Fernandez 's stay with the Dallas Mavericks be only temporary?
Less than two weeks after the draft-night trade that sent the 6-foot-6 Spanish shooting guard from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Mavericks, Fernandez has reportedly been offered a six-year contract from Real Madrid that would make him the highest paid player in the history of the Spanish ACB, the most successful professional league in Europe.

According to a report Sunday in the Spanish sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo, the struggling Real Madrid franchise hopes to revive its fortunes by luring the popular Fernandez, 26, back home with promises of riches he may not find in the NBA.

The newspaper said the proposed six-year deal amounts to about $4.35 million a year. Under the NBA's now-expired collective bargaining agreement, Fernandez was due to make $2.2 million next season, after which he could become a restricted free agent with a qualifying offer of $3.2 million for the 2012-13 season.

A $26.1m deal would be the largest ever?

I think this demonstrates how little power to go overseas NBA players really have (barring some China governmental intervention ).

Ed O.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

A $26.1m deal would be the largest ever?

I think this demonstrates how little power to go overseas NBA players really have (barring some China governmental intervention ).

Ed O.

i believe that would be net, and in euros, so basically around 10 million a year US, not too shabby, and as ive heard, free mansions and cars and all that jazz

 

[BrianFromWA]

yeah, the underplayed part of this is that the benefits don't go into the contract cost. If they buy him a house, it's not part of the contract. If they pay his taxes...not part of the contract. Childress' 3/20M contract with Olympiakos was related to be equivalent to a 3/32.5M NBA deal, and that didn't include his house and car.

 

[jlprk]

It doesn't cost the team much. Houses cost less there and Volvos last forever.

 

[Mediocre Man]

A $26.1m deal would be the largest ever?

I think this demonstrates how little power to go overseas NBA players really have (barring some China governmental intervention ).

Ed O.

That's net, and with all of the perks, it is truly a life fit for a King.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Rudy turns offer down.

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=6738790

Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Rudy Fernandez will pass on becoming the highest-paid player in the Spanish ACB, the strongest of the European leagues, to remain in the NBA -- at least for now.
According to a report Tuesday on the Spanish sports website Marca.com, Fernandez has decided not to accept a six-year, $26 million contract offer with Real Madrid, meaning he will not return to his home country this season, regardless of how long the NBA lockout lasts.
The 6-foot-6 Fernandez will play out the final year of his contract with the Mavs, and then, according to the report, decide where he prefers to continue his career.

 

[Ed O]

i believe that would be net, and in euros, so basically around 10 million a year US, not too shabby, and as ive heard, free mansions and cars and all that jazz

Not according to that article. It "amounts to $4.35 million a year". "$" means "dollars" most of the time.

And "not too shabby" is an accurate understatement, but for the highest-paid player in league history, I'd expect something more than what, say, Marvin Williams (5 years, $40m) makes.

yeah, the underplayed part of this is that the benefits don't go into the contract cost. If they buy him a house, it's not part of the contract. If they pay his taxes...not part of the contract. Childress' 3/20M contract with Olympiakos was related to be equivalent to a 3/32.5M NBA deal, and that didn't include his house and car.

Do they do all of that, though?

And, even if they did, it's, what? Another 40% bump from the base? So a $26.1m deal is the equivalent of $52m deal? Over six years?

Kirk Hinrich signed for $47.5m over five years.

I grabbed two random guys off of the first NBA team (alphabetically) who are/have/will make as much as Rudy would have... and they're nothing special.

I'm not saying that the team is being cheap, and I'm not saying that Rudy would have been dumb to take it--I think it might have been a great move for him.

I just don't think that it's at all realistic that the Euro leagues could absorb a couple dozen--let alone a couple hundred--players at NBA-level salaries. And the "living like a king" stuff makes perfect sense to us, but we might not avoid places like Utah because of culture shock like many NBA players.

Ed O.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I equate it a bit to this, Ed.

My family has a vacation house in Bocas Del Toro (we will retire in Panama at some point), and we are treated like freaking royalty there. The home we purchased included a maid, chef, and driver. Keep in mind, my family is in no way rich either. It's a different way of life in other countries.

 

[Ed O]

I equate it a bit to this, Ed.

My family has a vacation house in Bocas Del Toro (we will retire in Panama at some point), and we are treated like freaking royalty there. The home we purchased included a maid, chef, and driver. Keep in mind, my family is in no way rich either. It's a different way of life in other countries.

I respect what you're saying. I just think that the step up you take from upper-middle class in the USA to the same level of wealth in Panama (per capita GDP: $8k) is significantly larger than the step you take as a US-based multi-millionaire living in Spain (per capita GDP: $30k).

**shrug**

Ed O.

 

[Nikolokolus]

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=6738790

Looks like he's gonna try and stick with Dallas ... at least for now.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Rudy turns offer down.

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=6738790

Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Rudy Fernandez will pass on becoming the highest-paid player in the Spanish ACB, the strongest of the European leagues, to remain in the NBA -- at least for now.
According to a report Tuesday on the Spanish sports website Marca.com, Fernandez has decided not to accept a six-year, $26 million contract offer with Real Madrid, meaning he will not return to his home country this season, regardless of how long the NBA lockout lasts.
The 6-foot-6 Fernandez will play out the final year of his contract with the Mavs, and then, according to the report, decide where he prefers to continue his career.

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=6738790

Looks like he's gonna try and stick with Dallas ... at least for now.

Yupp!

 

[3RA1N1AC]

And, even if they did, it's, what? Another 40% bump from the base? So a $26.1m deal is the equivalent of $52m deal? Over six years?

as far as 6/52 or whatever goes, the point point i was making is that that is likely more than he will demand here

cant really compare their salaries to the nba though, im not sure who did that

http://www.ballineurope.com/european-competition/euroleague/top-10-salaries-in-europe/

this is where i got the euro tidbit, but i confused euroleague with acb, rudy would get 3 million eu a year, still the top all time acb contract i believe, but down from top euroleague deals such as Sarunas Jasikevicius (Panathinaikos) 4.2 eu

 

[Minstrel]

And "not too shabby" is an accurate understatement, but for the highest-paid player in league history, I'd expect something more than what, say, Marvin Williams (5 years, $40m) makes.

I think a crucial issue you're perhaps overlooking is the talent level of the players. Fernandez is actually worse than the players you point out make as much as that contract offer. Has the ACB ever had a player that was as talented as LeBron James, Chris Paul or some other superstar? Should we really expect that the highest contract offered in the ACB should mirror high salaries in the NBA regardless of talent (in evaluating whether Spain or Europe in general can provide NBA level compensation)?

Lower talent level means less exciting basketball and therefore less demand, lower ticket prices and less team revenue. Less revenue obviously means lower salaries. That doesn't tell us what ticket demand, and therefore prices and revenue (and ultimately salaries), would be if (what are currently) NBA superstars and stars were studding ACB (or Euroleague) rosters.

I'm not arguing that European nations can or cannot provide a reasonable alternative for NBA players. Just that this contract offer being the "largest in ACB history" doesn't tell us much either way.

 

[BBert]

Rudy has nothing to lose by waiting (unless his back completely gives out on him). One would think he could get even more in Spain if he does well in Dallas, especially if he's sporting an NBA championship ring. Or, he may get even more staying in Dallas.

 

[Klinky]

Fernandez is going to do really well for Real Madrid and haunt Portland for years.

The layover to Mardrid is going to kill our guys... Oh wait! We never play Real Madrid and the Spanish ACB isn't comparable to the NBA. That said I wish Rudy the best if he decides to go to Spain. I'd take the offer. Better money, easier opponents.