Blazers players on the block?

Rudy is like 23-24, bro.

I also really think Rudy is a SG, and is/will be a starting caliber SG in this league. Possibly a borderline all-star for a couple seasons.

But IMO he will be a backup on this team, getting around 25mpg. Which is great, and very needed... but if Rudy, Bayless, Outlaw, etc... can get you a starter at a position of need that will play 30-35mpg, I think you need to do it.

I think if we can get our guard rotation down to a 3 guard rotation, like Minstrel said, and have Roy, Rudy and lets say Bayless all split time playing PG and SG (as they all can), maybe he would be happy with that. But IDK if he would want to re-sign here, honestly.

 

Crap! I just have this feeling he too will opt out for a bigger market like New York and then he hits his Pistol Pete stride along with Lebron and we'd be in serious trouble. Rudy will be a star, he's smarter than any player on our team, outside of maybe ROY. Not a player you want to give to another team if it can be helped.

 

fortunately we don't have to worry about that for 3.5 years.

 

Rudy is a heck of a player now, regardless of his poor shooting, and he'll get better. Rudy isn't a primary scorer or creator who you just put the ball in his hands and ask him to carry a team like a Kobe, LeBron, Wade, CP, or Roy. But he'll be a dang good complimentary scorer who makes basketball plays all over the court, and makes your team better. His greatest value is in a motion offense and a running game. He's not untouchable, but he's easily one of the top 4 players on our team. It's pretty unlikely that Rudy is going anywhere. As far as him not resigning with us because he can't start: he's starting now; I expect Roy to continue to miss lots of games in his career with injuries; and I just have a feeling Rudy is more team oriented than some might give him credit for.

 

Actually we never drafted Rudy, we traded for him. Personally I am not convinced that Rudy will ever be a starter for any playoff team. Doesn't mean he won't get 30 minutes a game, but he is kind of one dimensional. And i am not sure he ever said he needed to start. Just that he wanted minutes.

On another note has Bayless really complained to Nate that we wanted more playing time? i don't remember seeing that exact quote.

 

If that's the measuring stick, then Oden and Batum are in trouble, too. Both have played fairly poorly when given an opportunity, though Oden has had a few decent games. I doubt the Blazers are going to give up on a guy like Bayless, who has played only sparingly so far in the first half of his rookie season. It takes longer than that to evaluate a young player.