Possible Picks We Could Trade Up For
Portland: Are looking for a veteran point and have too many young players to benefit much from the 13th pick. Rudy Fernandez is, supposedly, the next Ginobili. If he's even half as good, Fernandez, the 13th (for Westbrook) and their top 2nd round pick for Jameer would be awesome. We would probably have to add something to appease Portland, like a pick. Not to mention taking a likely crappy contract in return to make the salaries match.
Indiana: Need help everywhere except the 3 (they have that Granger guy we passed on). We may be able to swipe their pick and Dunleavy for Hedo--Dunleavy plays like Turk anyway, and is 2 years younger. With his breakout season last year, he may well continue improving. It appears that Love is going much higher in the lottery, so he's probably out of the question at Indiana's position. But someone is likely going to fall between Gordon and Westbrook, and either would be great. Even Arthur wouldnt be a reach at their position.
Phoenix: Hope against hope against hope that they fall in love with Redick and take him straight up for the 15th (Rush). Can we get Redick on the next flight to Phoenix for private workouts at the Suns facility. Or we could just setup a backyard hoop in their office parking lot and have him shoot 25 footers in front of Kerr's office.
New York: in Seven Seconds or Less, D'Antoni talks about his love for Hedo. If only Isaiah were still in charge, we could probably get 3 first rounders and Lee for Turk. Alas, with Donnie Walsh, we're likely not to get that much, but theres no doubt D'Antoni loves him, and even with the Dolan's deep pockets, I'm sure Walsh is looking to acquire cheaper players who are more in line with the run and gun philosophy (so Curry and Randolph are out). Two firsts and Randolph for Turk and a sign and trade w/ Arroyo would work for both teams. The Knick's draft position opens the door to pretty much everyone outside the big two in the draft. And if you think Randolph isnt worth 13 mil for his black hole game, you're right. But he's still young, can hit 18 footers if Dwight gets doubled, is the most offensively talented big in the eastern conference not named Garnett or Rasheed Wallace, and he would be awesome anchoring the second unit. Walsh probably balks at paying 2 firsts and Randolph for Turk, but with D'Antoni on board, Randolph's value is severely depressed for NY and conversely, Turk's value skyrockets in their new offense.
NY actually presents a lot of intriguing trade possibilities because of the number of expiring contracts they possess, the Dolan's inclination to spend money and their future first rounders. If Rashard starts lukewarm next year and looks he's breaking down, we may be able to move him to NY for Marbury's expiring deal.
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No to trading Nelson. No to trading Hedo for Dunleavy or Randolph. Hell yes to trading JJ for the 15th.
'Coach, Dwight is a nice guy. Dwight don't hit anybody. But Superman will knock the crap out of you.' - D12
by Eyriq the Red on Jun 2, 2008 6:01 PM EDT 0 recs
Phoenix
... considering Steve Kerr wants to have his team be more defensive-minded, the idea of having acquiring Redick straight up for the #15 pick is more unlikely than me moving to Nepal permanently.
Freelance Writer for the Chicago Tribune
Class of 2009 - DePaul University
by erivera7 on Jun 4, 2008 2:07 AM EDT 0 recs
Rudy Fernandez
Isn’t on any trading block. Kevin Pritchard worked very hard to get him to accept the rookie scale NBA contract of a million a year, when he could make 5-8 million Euros a year for the next 6 seasons (and with no taxes too; the teams pay those in Europe). Rudy is coming to the NBA to be a Blazer, not to be traded somewhere else.
He’s the best player in Europe, Portland is extremely high on Fernandez and he is nearly as untouchable as Roy, Oden, or LMA. He isn’t being traded for anyone.
Let alone a PG who isn’t really an upgrade, plus we lose the #13 pick. We don’t have any bad contracts left to trade as well, aside from Raef’s expiring deal (which will either lead to lotsa cap room or a good player). Jameer is a good player, but Rudy Fernandez is a big part of the Blazers’ future plans and everyone is very excited to see what he can do.
He’ll need some time to adjust because he’s a skinny Euro, but he’s the Kobe of Europe. If we trade him, he’s a lot more likely to Fran Vasquez out and not come over. He likes the Blazers specifically because of the GM, and the players.
The #13 pick is up for grabs, and while Portland wants to upgrade their PG play it doesn’t necessarily need to be a PG.
Ya know, I don’t think your Knicks trade idea is bad. NY seems to want to get rid of Z-Bo and his fat contract, but in the right situation Randolph can be VERY effective. He’s a great rebounder and one of the best pure post scorers in the NBA. He just plays no defense and loves to shoot. Dwight Howard, a defensive beast, is a great center to pair Z-Bo up with. And like you say, Z-Bo is actually a really good jump shooter… he’s just better down low. I think Orlando could be a good home for Zach, and I think Hedo and ridding themselves of Z-Bo’s contract could be enough to get their draft pick.
Rashard to NY would also be a great way to get out of his mega-deal.
Mortimer
by Mortimer on Jun 6, 2008 3:48 AM EDT 0 recs
yeah
no way in hell we (portland) trade Rudy after working so hard to get him here. Phoenix was so dumb to sell that pick to us, he is going to light it up.
by mark twain on Jun 6, 2008 6:57 PM EDT 0 recs
Fernandez
To whom does he compare? I suppose being a Euro two-guard means Manu Ginobili…
by Ben Q Rock on
Jun 6, 2008 6:59 PM EDT
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well
i wouldn’t compare him much to anyone yet. He’s fast, high flying, good outside shooter. He’s literally the best player in the Spanish league, which is literally the 2nd best pro league in the world after the NBA.
by mark twain on
Jun 6, 2008 7:00 PM EDT
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maybe like a mixture between
Kobe and MJ but better! =)
by mark twain on
Jun 6, 2008 7:03 PM EDT
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So you're saying Rudy Fernandez is good at the game of basketball?
by Ben Q Rock on
Jun 6, 2008 7:31 PM EDT
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um, yep!
He’s probably good at smoking cigarettes too since he’s a Euro
by mark twain on
Jun 6, 2008 7:40 PM EDT
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Even though it seems too obvious
His game probably does closely resemble Manu’s, even down to the flopping.
He’s a slasher, but also a very good 3 point shooter. Watching his YouTube highlight reels (just search for Rudy Fernandez on there, there’s a ton of mixes) you see he dunks a lot and finishes a lot of alleyoops—plus throws a lot of them.
He’s a better shooter than Manu at the same age. He’s way skinny, and has to get a lot stronger. Early on, he’ll rely on his great shooting touch and wily BBIQ.
Kevin Pritchard has described him as a SG who can play PG, kinda like Brandon Roy. He is a 50/40/90 player, meaning he shoots 50% from the field, 40% from three, and %90+ from the FT line.
Some of our Spanish friends who post on Blazers Edge has described him as the Kobe of Europe, both in relative skill and in how he is either hated or beloved. He’s won a lot of different MVP trophies in all the various tournaments Euro teams play in, and he is considered the best player outside the NBA (and he’s only 23).
Aside from the YouTube highlight reels, which obviously only cherry pick the good stuff, you’ll be able to see him on the Spanish Olympic team this summer. I believe they are playing the American team at least once, so you know every Blazer fan will be watching him closely.
In short: he’s a great shooter, should struggle (at least at first) on defense but gets lots of steals, great passer/playmaker, flops like a true Euro, is very skinny, can actually jump and dunk well for a Euro, and the Blazers got him from PHX for nuthin’ but change out of Paul Allen’s couch cushion.
Mortimer
by Mortimer on
Jun 7, 2008 4:18 AM EDT
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I'd describe myself as Blazer-positive (like Roy, Oden, Aldridge, Frye, Blake, even Przybilla...)
But if what you say about Fernandez is accurate, I look forward to roundly booing him for the next 15 years.
by Ben Q Rock on
Jun 7, 2008 4:46 PM EDT
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I worry about that
I totally understand, because I hate hate hate floppers. I know it’s different when they are on your own team, but I worry about Rudy making us the new team to hate… like the Spurs.
We’ll be pretty good, which will bring some hate, and will likely be a contendor who crushes other western team’s playoff dreams. That’s all standard issue and we can live with that hate. But for being floppers? Ooooh I dunno…
One thing we got going for us, is we’ll probably be fun to watch. Oden, LMA, Roy, Travis, Martell, all asthetically pleasing basketeers. Rudy should be also.
Oh, but the flopping, the floppin…
Hopefully, it stops with him. We can handle one Manu. The Spurs are ALL dirty floppers, and I would not like that. I want to be good and I don’t mind people hating our goodness, but I think it would really suck to be hated for dirty flopping. Gag me with a spoon and then shoot me in the head and use the spoon to spell out ‘NO FLOPPERS’ with my brains, if that happens.
(Also) hopefully, his dunks and alleyoops will seperate him from noted Euro floppers such as Sasha Vujacic and Vlade Divacs. Crossing my fingers…
I promise to not hate any of your guys if you promise not to hate mine. Let’s agree now before Rudy plays and ruins our promise!
(pinky swear)
Mortimer
by Mortimer on
Jun 7, 2008 10:31 PM EDT
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no way we trade rudy for jameer
jameer isnt that much better than jack, and jack isnt a good player imo
Oden...Aldridge...Roy.....THE REAL BIG THREE
Watch my brandon roy vid http://youtube.com/watch?v=RC3Byp4ID1E
by CroRupt on Jun 7, 2008 10:37 AM EDT 0 recs
A note of caution about Euro players. Its possible, Fernandez turns out to be the next Ginobili or even better. But its equally likely, and that likely understates the probability, that he never pans out or only becomes a halfway decent rotation player.
Is Fernandez any more athletic than Brandon Rush? Is he a better 3 point shooter? Is he a defensive stopper like Rush? Is he a better open court finisher? I’m sure Fernandez’ mid range game and his passing ability surpass Rush and he plays against tougher competition, but I’m not sure about the rest.
by WhatAboutFran on Jun 18, 2008 4:04 PM EDT 0 recs









