Do I sense sarcasm? Rudy for a 1st round pick is fine, but I think what he's getting at is that Chicago is projected to be around what, maybe a 22nd-25th pick? What's the point in that? The Blazers will likely already have a 25th-28th pick and those picks have to be signed to a roster spot with a guaranteed contract or released. So we'd just be using up roster spots with late round prospects (hence the reason we could buy those picks with Paul Allen's money if we wanted to sit on some Euro players since most teams don't feel it's worth getting a 20-something pick that you have to sign to a contract. If it's the best, then OK, but hold out for something better than a sack of flour.
Solid post, Mook. I'll disagree with the "imposing" C though. A player sporting street clothes 70% of the time is hardly imposing... I asked myself what I like about Rudy and what value he is to the team. I liked (likED) his fire, passion, guts, flashy skills and 3 pt shooting. I guess I see a player who lost his guts after a hard foul and appears to have lost his fire and passion, since it appears he doesn't even want to wear a Blazer uni anymore. I compared Rudy's stats to Matthews. Matthews makes 10% more of his FG's. Matthews even shot a higher % from the three line. Other stats are similar, but I believe Matthews often was defending a higher caliber player and was in his rookie season. From what I hear, Matthews is very discipline, a hard-worker and a team player --- and this goes back to his college years. To me, he's everything Rudy isn't. He's solid. He is going to make our team better and he'll play hard on both ends of the floor. I don't care if Rudy shows or not. I'd like to get something of value for him, but I don't think he has much value after pretty much being proven as the weakest man on the floor in last years playoffs. For me, Rudy can stick it. He needs Portland a lot more than Portland needs him.
Chicago will be luck to get a pick that low. I say 20-25, so at worst case 25th pick in the draft for a player that has stated he wants to play in Europe is amazing value. Rudy knows he can make a gazillion times more money there then in the NBA
Agreed. Blazers have already lost this battle by Nate's refusal to incorporate Rudy into the team, leaving him gathering dust in the spare parts bin since he arrived. Once the season starts without Rudy here they will lose what little value he still held for them. Either way, the Blazers totally blew this and are much weaker for their mistake.
Showing up is not the same as playing well. Do you really think Nate would force him into a game against his wishes? You can't be fined for not playing well.
Rudy has no leverage at all. If he's a no-show, he sits at home and wastes away two years of what should be the prime of his career and gets paid nothing from the Blazers. He can't play pro basketball anywhere in the world as long as he's under contract to the Blazers. Endorsements are pretty hard to come by if you're not playing. If Nate blew it by failing to incorporate a guy who can't defend, doesn't have much of a handle, and has shown himself to have a tendency to disappear when things get tough, color me a fan of his blown decisions.
"Either way, the Blazers totally blew this and are much weaker for their mistake." How is that? Did you even watch Rudy in the playoffs last season? Rudy is the weak one... The Blazers haven't lost anything except PA's money. It's Portland who is stronger and better when Rudy is NOT on the floor. Tell us how we are "weaker" due to mistakes?
Great analysis! that's why I come to this forum. Can't get that kind of stuff on RealGM! I would like to complain, however, about the fact that when I googled for "chicken eye drops" all I found was "Angels' Eyes Tear Stain Supplement for Dogs, Chicken Flavor, 120 gm Angels' Eyes eliminates unsightly tear stains from the inside out! Angels' Eyes starts working before the tear stains begin and never adds food dyes or wheat which can have negative effects on your pet." Which, to be honest, is, if not racist, specist!
I'm not really seeing how either side is in a good spot. If Rudy sits, he gets no money and the Blazers get no value. If Rudy reports, they have to pay him but there's little role for him and it's awkward for everyone. A pick seems fair value, but I suppose it's always possible to try and use him in a consolidation trade.
I think by that time Rudy will be wise enough to realize that by playing well it only helps his cause so he will be playing his best. If by then he still doesn't get it then it's a lost cause and so what we might have lost a late round draft pick that PA can easily buy if he wants, but then again we still might be able to include him in a trade. We shall see.
I think that's the real key. We've got no reason to unload him for nothing. But an opportunity may come along where he can be included in a package with other talent for an upgrade at PG. Count me in the category of "not being impressed with a late first round pick." If that's all Rudy is worth, jeez. I'd rather just hang onto him and see if he can turn things around after having his ego smacked around a little. We can buy a 25th or so pick a lot of years--what's the point in trading him for something we could probably buy? (Assuming we had the roster space for such a guy.)
Exactly right. I hope that Cho is looking, at a minium, to upgrade our backup PG spot. Nothing against Bayless, but the thought of him running the team if Miller got hurt does not fill me with confidence.
I am surprised that there are any fans that think this. I, and others who more or less agree on the likely rotation of Nate, see a pretty solid, well balanced roster. As is. Right now. With no other moves. We have been discussing this since draft day. Nothing has changed to change the dynamic. Rudy is gone. Either traded or sits out. Either way. Don't care. These are the starters: Miller, Roy, Batum, Aldridge, Oden. These are the probable regular rotation players in order of minutes: Bayless, Matthews, Camby, Cunningham, Pryz. The rest of the roster, consisiting of rookies and 2nd rounders, are injury backup players. The roster is balanced. The roster is fine.
Meh, I think that's a best case scenario actually. I would rather Rudy sit out, go back to Europe and boost his value. I'd rather him playing hard in Europe than sand bagging it here. If he sits out two years, we can tender him a qualifying offer and have him sit in Europe like Josh Childress.
Do not think this works under the CBA. The Childress situation happened because he was a RFA - Rudy is not, he is under contract.
The guy DID come back from back surgery way ahead of schedule. Did he do that so he could then tank and kill his trade value? That makes no sense to me.
The biggest issues to me are whether Oden will be ready for camp, and how Roy's knees hold up during camp.
Agreed. But you wouldn't think that from the amount of time spent on this board worrying about what's going to happen with Rudy.
