Rubio/Fernandez Backcourt
I think Kahn should make an aggressive play for Rudy Fernandez. Rubio and Fernandez were an electric backcourt on Spanish National team and it would certainly help Rubio's transition to MN and NBA. Perhaps more importantly, I think he'd a fantastic future SG for us.
I was over at our sister site, Blazer's Edge, and there is speculation that they'll have to trade Fernandez because they won't be able to afford new contracts for all their young stars.
http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/6/13/908390/rudy-fernandez-trade-bait
Not sure if we have the right ammo, but Flynn, future picks etc. Obviously, they have Aldridge so they don't need a PF, but Love is a hometown hero...is it crazy to consider Love for Fernandez plus one of their SFs (Batum, Webster, Outlaw)? I'm not suggesting that...just brainstorming.
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I Love me some Rudy Fernandez
He would be a great get. I don’t really see how to make it happen though. I don’t think a package centered on Flynn is enough.
I would give some serious thought to a Love for Fernandez deal, as unpopular as that might be here, but I’m not seeing that as a real fit. Frankly, what does Portland need? They could use an upgrade at the point, I guess, but I doubt they see Flynn (a rookie) as the answer there, and I don’t think they are ready to punt on Bayless, which getting Flynn would mean.
by Eric in Madison on Jun 27, 2009 7:48 AM CDT reply actions
Please don't bring Blazers fans back to this site...
However, what about Rudy for the Charlotte #1?
by pagingstanleyroberts on Jun 27, 2009 9:54 AM CDT reply actions
Too late! But now that we're here...
I’ll start with Love. He’s hometown, but I don’t think many here consider him much of a hero. Besides that, he’s definitely not good enough to replace Aldridge, and he’s probably too good to just get the leftover scraps (12 min/game). He doesn’t fit a need, so it is unlikely we’d give up Rudy for him.
As far as PGs go, we are searching, but I think we will only go one of a couple ways:
1. Either an established vet where we know what we are getting, such as Hinrich, Miller, Kidd, etc., or…
2. A serious swing-for-the-fences kind of young guy.
For the young guy, Rubio would fit that description. Flynn would not. I’m not saying I don’t like Flynn. I think he could be a good player. However, we have Bayless, a similar prospect with at least the same potential. Rubio could be crazy good, but a lot of people see him as a bigger risk.
I’ll be shocked if Rubio isn’t traded this summer. I suspect he was only picked as trade bait.
Rex is a starter by the 2010 trade deadline. Watch.
As a Blazer fan...
I tend to agree with Eric. Although the Wolves are a team I like to follow, their assets aren’t compatible with Portland’s needs. If, however, a three-way trade could be constructed that nets Portland a veteran 3rd option-type-scorer, we’d listen to the offer.
Portland needs: Veteran PG & SF capable of creating their own offense if needed. They must also have the basketball IQ necessary to play solid team defense. Rookies need not apply.
Rudy is a solid piece to our puzzle. I’d go as far as saying he’s just short of being one of our core players since he’s such a great complimentary player. I fear the price we’d ask would make a deal difficult, if not impossible. To make matters worse, Portland will be under the cap this summer, making it harder to pry any solid player away for cap relief purposes. The longer free-agency goes on without us having addressed our needs, the easier it will be to get Rudy out of Portland.
I’d hope that the Wolves get themselves a coach in place, and establish their style before making any more moves. I’d be curious to hear your suggestions for the position. I’d recommend one of our assistants to you. Coach Monty Williams is a strong, up and coming coach with a knack for teaching the game to young players.
To David Khan: Don’t let Rubio force your decision. If he wants to go, make him give you three teams that want him. From there it’s simply a matter of getting the best deal. If none of the deals are worth a #5 pick, let him play in Europe. The better he plays there, the stronger your bargaining posture becomes in any trades for his rights. If he sucks in Europe, he didn’t cost you any wins because you’ve been developing Flynn. You have the luxury of time…he doesn’t. Negotiate accordingly.
by Steve The Hedge on Jun 27, 2009 11:45 AM CDT reply actions
If Rubio stays, you let Portland struggle with Bayless, Blake etc, watch them realize that improving from 50 wins to championship contender status is just as difficult as getting out the lottery, showcase Johnny Flynn with RR in Spain for another year, then make this trade next offseason when Portland doesn’t improve, Bayless fails, Flynn has a solid year, and Fernandez becomes a redundant piece with one of the best SG in the league in Roy.
by Ebomb on Jun 27, 2009 12:40 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Fernandez and Roy play too well together to make him redundant.
Roy guards the SFs and Rudy plays offense like Nate’s SFs do. Stand in the corner and shoot threes.
by Sabonis4Ever on Jun 28, 2009 1:33 AM CDT up reply actions
yeah, rudy isn’t redundant, but he’s probably not as helpful as a legitimate starting point guard would be (though i don’t mind blake, there’s a decent shot that flynn will be better soon). of course, outlaw might not be around for long and in that case, rudy becomes very, very useful to the blazers.
heart of a champion, will of the warrior.
That would be the way I'd play it as well ebomb
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
I kind of think this works for both teams
I’d be inclined to believe that we could make a deal with some combination of Flynn and draft choices work to get Rudy. They have been struggling with the point guard position for years now and would likely want to get a player that could grow with their young nucleus. It really would be a good deal for both teams.
PS: They would have no need for K Love, but a couple of number one’s and Flynn may get this done.
by TheFlingerofPoo on Jun 27, 2009 3:15 PM CDT reply actions
I doubt it.
The Blazers have moved on from being at the development stage. They need to spend the next few years trying to win. I suspect that if they go get a point guard, which is one of their few needs, it will be more of a veteran guy. Even if it’s someone with less ceiling than Flynn.
by Eric in Madison on Jun 27, 2009 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions
A couple of number 1's unprotected and Flynn for Fernandez. Deal.
If minnesota wants to give a couple of number 1’s for Fernandez and a decend point Portland would do the deal and flip the assets for a point they need now I would think or hold on for a couple of top ten picks.
"Knowledge will get you from A to B. Creativity will get you anywhere." Einstein
by Garden of ODEN on Jun 29, 2009 4:17 AM CDT up reply actions
Don't give away picks.
The Wolves are bad. Those picks will be high.
by princelyfrank on Jun 29, 2009 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Based on what folks are saying in this thread
It sounds to me like the Wolves’ and Blazers’ needs don’t match up too well directly, so probably some third team would need to be involved (Boston maybe? Flynn to Celtics, Rondo to Portland, Fernandez to Wolves as a starting point? No idea how the contracts balance out, just an idea off the top of my head.)
Sadly, I don't see a match
I would absolutely love to get Fernandez.
by Eric in Madison on Jun 27, 2009 5:02 PM CDT reply actions
you can have our entire bench save rudy for rubio,........... joel pryzbilla batum and bayless.
done done and done… we’ll take 1 or 2 crap contracts back if we have to, but really he’s just not going to play for mini. won’t. and can’t. his buy out at a #5 pick just won’t work.
I know that the team can contribute to it, but is mini really equiped as well as say portland to negotiate a buy out? (reading between the lines here, SPAM is able to grease the wheels much better than any entrepenuer out of mini can.
Honestly Mini is gonna want to much for him, and Portland won’t want to give it up. We’re just tight like that.
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
"New Man Law: If you don't show up for the draft you don't get to come later if you're picked. If you believe in yourself, show up and sit there. If nobody else believes in you, take it and cry like a man...in front of the cameras."
-Dave
It doesn't matter if it's Donald Sterling
or Warren Buffett. By league rules, the most an NBA team can offer to offset a contract buyout is $500,000.
(and even a poor little billionaire like Glen Taylor can afford that).
Rooting for a Rubio Revolucion since roughly 10:20 a.m. on June 24th, 2009
I wonder if Paul Allen could call up Phil Knight
And help set Rubio up with a nice fat Nike contract.
Wow, that looks really shady when I put it in writing.
Rex is a starter by the 2010 trade deadline. Watch.
boom
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
"New Man Law: If you don't show up for the draft you don't get to come later if you're picked. If you believe in yourself, show up and sit there. If nobody else believes in you, take it and cry like a man...in front of the cameras."
-Dave
Rubio doesn't need anyone's help...
Getting a shoe deal.
by pagingstanleyroberts on Jun 28, 2009 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions
I think he is already in a contract.
He has his own shoe. Like “Rubio Zoom” or something.
Officer:Why did you kill your husband ?
Crazy Woman: Because I love too much!
by YikesItsCameron on Jun 29, 2009 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions
FYI...
His rookie contract is what it is, no matter if we keep him or trade him. He’s getting paid the same over the life of his first NBA contract no matter what team he plays for. Now, his endorsement money could change, but since Portland is a significantly smaller market than Twin Cities, hard to believe he’s getting bigger bucks in the Pacific Northwest.
by TWolvesFanInLA on Jun 28, 2009 1:16 AM CDT up reply actions
SEATTLE.
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
"New Man Law: If you don't show up for the draft you don't get to come later if you're picked. If you believe in yourself, show up and sit there. If nobody else believes in you, take it and cry like a man...in front of the cameras."
-Dave
I believe the Seattle Times had a draft preview for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The blazers were a rival of the Sonics for years, and to be honest, most people I know that are from here and were sonics fans absolutely hate the NBA with a passion after Stern and Bennett stole the squad. Not a lot of love for the NBA around town.
What about
if we had taken Stephen Curry?
I realize this is a hypothetical within a hypothetical, but would Curry for Fernandez go down? Curry seems to fit the job requirements given by both dan_the_man and Steve The Hedge.
-“A serious swing-for-the-fences kind of young guy”
-“a 3rd option-type-scorer”
-“capable of creating their own offense if needed”
-“the basketball IQ necessary to play solid team defense.”
To use my own words, it seems like the Trailblazers value Steve Blake for his ability to stretch the floor and commitment to playing an efficient team game on both ends of the floor, but wish he were more of a scoring threat. Is that not Curry? What’s more, their ability to effectively run their offense through Brandon Roy with Curry off the ball means they needn’t be as concerned about his ability to develop as a pure point guard.
That's an interesting hypothetical. I'll play.
Here’s why the Blazers don’t need Curry, or a lot of the other PGs from this draft. Is curry a PG, or is he an undersized SG? I don’t claim to be an expert on Curry, but he seems to be an undersized SG who may turn out to be a good PG. We have an undersized SG prospect who may turn out to be a great PG. His name is Jerryd Bayless. Frankly, I think he has at least the upside/potential as Curry, Flynn, etc, and I’d rather have Bayless.
Bayless, once the rough edges are smoothed out, is a 3rd option scorer, capable of creating his own offense, and is very intelligent. I actually think he is our man. I’m only really interested in including him in a trade if we’re getting a total stud like Devin Harris.
Rex is a starter by the 2010 trade deadline. Watch.
or ricky rubio :)
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
"New Man Law: If you don't show up for the draft you don't get to come later if you're picked. If you believe in yourself, show up and sit there. If nobody else believes in you, take it and cry like a man...in front of the cameras."
-Dave
curry played the point pretty well last year, and i’m very excited to see him in a warriors jersey this year. think mike bibby or mo williams as the closest comparisons for him.
and bayless has a ton of “rough edges” to smooth out considering how awful he was last year. i’m not saying he can’t do it, but wow, for someone who is supposed to turn out to be a 3rd option scorer, he couldn’t hit a shot last year.
heart of a champion, will of the warrior.
For this to have any chance at working
I think it would take a third team. The wolves and blazers assets and needs just don’t match.
I like the sound of a adding a fernandez type player at the SG. Would give up Flynn but not much else for it.
Beater of the early Thabeet drum ... but not so much of the late one
It will take more than Flynn to pry Rudy out of our hands.
Without you out there, we're nowhere here
if you still had Miller, or Salmons, then rudy could be a decent trade
but as said above, Love is too good to play backup PF behind Aldridge, and not good enough to supplant him, it is possible though, that his game would work in portland, if we got rid of Pryzbilla, Love actually would complement LMA in a smaller line up because Love does center type stuff (rebound, outlet) a lot where aldrige does more PF stuff, posting up, running the floor, defending perimeter, etc. (not that both guys can’t do a little bit of everything) not worth trading pryz. IMO though. Yeah, Love could make up for what outlaw lacks in the 2nd unit, but like David Lee, he wouldn’t get enough minutes in the 2nd unit for how quality he is.
MillsFanBoy

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