The VERY latest on Trudy Fernandez

[Luther]

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2010/08/10/whats-happened-to-rudy/?ls=iref:nbahpt1

A slender swingman with deep range and a wicked first step, Fernandez is the sort of fearless, moderately priced and athletic role player good teams love to have. Fernandez flashed the same swashbuckling style he displayed for the Spanish national team in his rookie season with the Trail Blazers two years ago.
We suspect he’ll turn some heads at the world championships in Turkey later this month. Will a solid, or even spectacular, showing there be enough to raise his stock with NBA teams?

Maybe … maybe not.

We checked with two Western Conference scouts and one Eastern Conference executive about Fernandez and got lukewarm responses about him, which we must admit was a bit surprising.

While they acknowledge the talent and explosive scoring ability, all three voiced concerns about the fit in Portland and potentially anywhere that Fernandez doesn’t warm to immediately.

“Something was missing from his game last season. He just didn’t play with any fire the times I watched him,” the Eastern Conference executive said. “For a guy whose games is all about energy and passion, that was an alarming sign for me. But he’s still young, just 25, and learning his way around this league. So I wouldn’t close the book on him yet.”

 

[Nikolokolus]

I find it strange that people are so surprised that other team's executives and scouts are so ho-hum about him. He's not only got some real flaws to his game that bring into question his ability to fit in with any given team, but his narrow list of desirable destinations and circumstances paints a picture of a prima donna or at least somebody who needs a whole lot of accomodation to be placated or made happy in the NBA.

If he doesn't land in an ideal situation via trade, then I fully expect him to return to Spain at the end of his rookie scale deal.

 

[maxiep]

Yep. He sandbagged. Even a basketball know-nothing like me could see it.

 

[Eastoff]

Hey Trudy, do you like potatoes? I hear the Stampede likes Spaniards!

 

[hasoos]

Yep. He sandbagged. Even a basketball know-nothing like me could see it.

Yep thats what I felt. He actually had to intentionally play bad to play as bad as he did.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I thought it had to do with his back surgery and general unhappiness over not having a defined role on the team.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I thought it had to do with his back surgery and general unhappiness over not having a defined role on the team.

I think it was his general unhappiness having to play next to Jerryd Bayless

 

[maxiep]

Rudy fucked up. If he hated it here, sandbagging was the worst thing he could have done. Now his value is so low we might as well keep him.

Andy Miller needs to tell him the quickest ticket out of Portland is to play to the very best of his considerable abilities.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I would like to give Rudy the benefit of the doubt, but players who are legit hurt generally don't fuss about wanting more playing time and a bigger role.

 

[alex42083]

At this point, I don't consider Rudy a part of this team or this team's future anymore. Give his minutes to Matthews, Bayless, Williams or whoever actually wants to be here.

 

[hasoos]

I thought it had to do with his back surgery and general unhappiness over not having a defined role on the team.

A true professional does not allow problems to hold them back. I have a hard time believing that Rudy line anyhow. Through 3 quarters of one playoff game alone he was 0-12 at one point, and most of them were wide open jumpers he was missing. Rudy had plenty of opportunities in the playoffs to nut up and show his stuff. The team went out of their way to try and get Rudy going IMO. The facts are Rudy missed a ton of wide open shots and pussed out. The facts also are that in the pre game warmups prior to all the games he played this season, he never practiced with vigor. What would you think as a coach if your player only sat in the corner practicing one handed 3 pointers, and 3 point trick shots all warm up session long, and then not practice the shots from where he will get them in the offense at all?

He was sandbagging pure and simple. If Rudy put out effort and played hard, I would have no problem rooting for him even if he wasn't a big producer. But the opposite is true.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I would like to give Rudy the benefit of the doubt, but players who are legit hurt generally don't fuss about wanting more playing time and a bigger role.

They also generally own up to the injuries slowing them down and are usually a little more upbeat about coming back the following year and making up for it ... typically they don't talk about being "deceived," or replying, "I'm under contract" when being interviewed and asked about coming back for another season.

 

[jwhoops11]

The facts also are that in the pre game warmups prior to all the games he played this season, he never practiced with vigor. What would you think as a coach if your player only sat in the corner practicing one handed 3 pointers, and 3 point trick shots all warm up session long, and then not practice the shots from where he will get them in the offense at all?

You noticed that to? I saw that on several occasions and was a bit dismayed that an NBA'er would practice left handed threes from the corner during warm-ups. The one game I remember in particular (and I don't remember the opponent) Pendegraph was shooting threes with him. Now, Rudy did hit like 5 in a row with his left hand at one point, but probably not the best way to use his time prior to the game.

...I'm not suggesting this speaks to the sandbagging comment, but I do wonder how serious he takes the game.

 

[Masbee]

I thought it had to do with his back surgery

Then what was he doing on the floor getting such big minutes?

and general unhappiness over not having a defined role on the team.

Yes, like has been said - Sandbagging.

 

[handiman]

I find it strange that people are so surprised that other team's executives and scouts being so ho-hum about him.

To me it speaks to what I said a while back about Rudy being a guy worth acquiring simply because he'll sell tickets. He has star appeal with the general sports audience. The people that watch closely are well aware of his flaws, but those aren't the people that fill the seats. As such, I think you'll find the vast majority of people would be surprised at how lightly he's regarded by scouts and execs.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Has anyone else noticed that Jason Quick fell on the face of the freaking earth within the last week or so?

 

[ironcrotch]

too much drama

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Has anyone else noticed that Jason Quick fell on the face of the freaking earth within the last week or so?

Maybe he's on vacation. Crazy thought, I know...

 

[oldmangrouch]

Maybe he's on vacation. Crazy thought, I know...

Yeah...a Hunter Thompson type vacation, where he consumes mass quantities of drugs and visits the darkest recesses of his frontal lobes!

 

[MickZagger]

Yeah...a Hunter Thompson type vacation, where he consumes mass quantities of drugs and visits the darkest recesses of his frontal lobes!

Maybe if he were to do that he'd atleast be entertaining if not factually correct.

 

[Sug]

Rudy is a baby? Wow revelation there eh?

 

[MARIS61]

Yep. He sandbagged. Even a basketball know-nothing like me could see it.

Well, you're half right, anyway.

You're obviously wrong about the sandbagging though, as anyone who understands athletes would tell you. It's contrary to their very competitive nature, and obviously never a good way to increase your contract value.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Well, you're half right, anyway.

You're obviously wrong about the sandbagging though, as anyone who understands athletes would tell you. It's contrary to their very competitive nature, and obviously never a good way to increase your contract value.

Yeah, it's completely unreasonable to assume that he thought if he played like shit then the Blazers would be eager to trade him, guys who played like shit before him (probably not intentionally) were certainly shown the door. Luckily for Rudy his contract is worth exactly the same no matter how he plays, but if he really plays like shit and gets released from his contract so he can go back to the ACB then he makes about 3 or 4 million more per season -- minimum. Yup, no reason to sandbag. No reason at all.

 

[MARIS61]

Yeah, it's completely unreasonable to assume that he thought if he played like shit then the Blazers would be eager to trade him, guys who played like shit before him (probably not intentionally) were certainly shown the door. Luckily for Rudy his contract is worth exactly the same no matter how he plays, but if he really plays like shit and gets released from his contract so he can go back to the ACB then he makes about 3 or 4 million more per season -- minimum. Yup, no reason to sandbag. No reason at all.

Rudy already turned down millions of $ to be a star in the NBA.

He was promised a key role in an uptempo system by KP.

Nate refused to honor that promise, or even consider it.

Nate also refused to implement the uptempo system, despite KP specifically getting him an entire roster (except Roy) that plays their best ball in such a system.

So naturally Rudy asked to be traded to an NBA team like the one KP said he was building.

Obviously, the other team would have to want him. They'd have to know he could play their style, and play it well and play it consistently. They'd want to be sure he wanted to play and could fit in.

Obviously, sandbagging would prevent all that. Any idiot can see that.

You're no idiot, but I know you can see that too.

But putting all that simple logic aside for the moment, Rudy has an ego. He has been idolized by millions since his early teens. He's an Olympic Silver Medal Champion, and a FIBA World Champion, and a EuroBasket Champion.

For that reason alone he would never sandbag, as with pretty much every other professional athlete in the world would never sandbag.

It's about the silliest, naivest slander a fan could throw, and implies a total lack of understanding of the competitive mind.

 

[BGrantFan]

Rudy fucked up. If he hated it here, sandbagging was the worst thing he could have done. Now his value is so low we might as well keep him.

Andy Miller needs to tell him the quickest ticket out of Portland is to play to the very best of his considerable abilities.

Rudy had a higher PER in the playoffs, and shot at a better percentage, than did our new $9 million man, Wes(ley) Matthews.

I'd say check the stats, but no one seems to care about actual statistics.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Rudy had a higher PER in the playoffs, and shot at a better percentage, than did our new $9 million man, Wes(ley) Matthews.

I'd say check the stats, but no one seems to care about actual statistics.

It's actually a lot simpler than that, we just don't care what you have to say ...

 

[BGrantFan]

It's actually a lot simpler than that, we just don't care what you have to say ...

Of course you don't. I mean, the actual statistics show the opposite of the meme on this board by you (who is on a hell of a posting streak, btw), and some others.

But, the "we" card shows your own insecurity, so we're even.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Of course you don't. I mean, the actual statistics show the opposite of the meme on this board by you (who is on a hell of a posting streak, btw), and some others.

But, the "we" card shows your own insecurity, so we're even.

No it's actually "we," there's a private forum where "we" all get together and talk about how much "we" don't care what you have to say.

As for Matthews I guess I don't recall being his most vocal cheerleader? The Blazers did probably overpay, but if you're going to overpay for a guy at least he supposedly shoots a high percentage and plays defense (I guess)?