I don't get why he is so vehemently wants to move back to Europe, and why he had to explicitly say it out loud. That just means we get him for two more seasons (maybe), and lose any hope of obtaining value. His interview was really disappointing. http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2010/09/trail_blazers_media_day_video.html
He gave the Blazers almost 6 months to trade him. They didn't, so he owes them nothing. He feels free to sabotage his trade value by now saying he won't sign an extension with any team he is traded to. I'm on his side. It's just really, really stupid not to trade your 8th guard whose talents are unsuited to his coach's system, even if he ISN'T asking for a trade for the last 6 months. Management deserves him destroying his own trade value in that interview, which is why he did it.
He owes them hard play for the time left on his contract. Screw him if he doesn't want to honor it. Go Blazers
The problem with low-end rookie contracts is that I imagine Rudy would give a flying fuck at this point, and Cho is on record saying he isn't going to be bullied by Rudy, which does not at all help matters. He'll make much more money in Spain on endorsements alone.
I was talking more about your post saying he needed to play hard. He's here, he's unhappy, he's getting paid. Should be a fun training camp. I'm not on Rudy's side, but the bluster from Cho seems to have exacerbated the situation. Hopefully Rich learns from this.
Sounded like the league-endorsed hit on him by Trevor Aziza played a big factor in this all, and it seems that is about the time his view of his place here changed. Bush-league crap like that is why it's hard to have any respect for what the NBA has become under David Stern. I understand him missing home, and I understand him enjoying the more exciting, more creative European style more. The Blazers have never given him a role or used him for anything more than an occasional 3 pt threat, even though he personally gave up millions to give this a try. If the Blazers (Paul Allen) had any class they'd simply release him.
The thing is, with Matthews and Bayless ahead of him, McMillan isn't going to give him any minutes. So why is the team fighting him so hard to stay? He's thinking, "These loco Americans, they love to rumble--hombre, geeve me another taco weeth Jack in the Box sauce, queek."
just thought I'd add a little to the fire He did not participate in Contact drills today due to "Blurry Vision" according to BE.
...caused by eyedrops during an eye exam during his physical on Media Day. You notice in the videos when he said he wanted to go back to Spain, that he looked dazed, and wasn't looking at reporters with bright camera lights behind them.
