Celtics on Rudy Fernandez's short list

[Birdbrain]

To Boston: Rudy Fernandez and James Posey

To New Orleans: Rasheed Wallace's expiring and a 2nd rounder from Boston

To Portland: Quincy Poindexter

IMO, this deal makes sense for all parties.  While Posey is overpaid, he has a two year deal and him/Fernandez really solidify the bench SF/SG positions.

New Orleans gets cap relief at the cost of Poindexter

Portland gets the local athlete.

Not a terrible idea, but...

Posey is absolutely cooked as an offensive contributor. I know that's not why you deal for him, but he is utterly awful at the offensive end (36.5% from the field, 33.5% from three, PER of 8.73 (!)).

His defense has also fallen off. He allowed opposing SGs to rack up a PER of 18.3 and opposing SFs had PERs of 17.0.
(I don't know why they used him at SG but they did, though it was for minimal minutes, probably based on matchups).

As a comparison, with Boston in 08, Posey held opposing SFs to a PER of 13.1 (and opposing PFs to a PER of 18.6). He played more PF in Boston than SF.

So, he's no longer that effective against SFs, although his help defense may be better than these numbers suggest. But there's a chance he hurts more than he helps. Especially with the Celtics continuing problems on offense.

Per for for bench players is very misleading and probably not something Danny is using as a determining factor. Not that I'm saying Posey would be a good fit to come back.  He took a payday (extra year?)  over winning so I doubt Danny is even considering him.  I wonder what his per was his last year in Miami?  I suspect the team a role player plays on will have some effect on his per.  If Brewer is healthy I would prefer him or Rudy because of their age and ability to finish on the break.

[Birdbrain]

Rudy's a whiner? I disagree. You hear "reports" that's he's unhappy there, but I have yet to hear HIM say anything negative organization. When Coach McMillan calls his number, he's ready. That's all that I ask.

I know there were rumors that Danny was interested in trading for him earlier but things fell through. Hopefully he revisits it - maybe offer up Gaffney and Laffeyette's non-guaranteed contracts now that they're available for trade. Maybe throw in a future 2nd round pick if needed.

He can be groomed as a Ray Allen replacement.

That may be a stretch.

It may, it my not. He hasn't been given an opportunity to shine.

Regardless, it's very hard to argue with the price. He can play at such a low salary, and the Cs would own a year's option next season, plus his restricted rights he following year.

Meanwhile, the problem with the teams on this list is they have -- like the Cs -- very little to offer. Chamlers aint gonna do it, Billy Walker aint gonna do it, James Johnson aint gonna do it, Oliver La-fi-yette certainly aint gonna do it, etc. One of these teams will likely have to give up a pick to get it done, and i'd imagine each team is waiting to see what else they can get out there without giving up future assets.

I've heard Chalmers described as the next Rondo in regards to break out players who will shine w/ a lot of talent around him so someone must think he's good.  He has good 3 pt range and some PG skills and youth so I can see Portland biting for him if they 'really' want to get rid of Rudy.  Miami would probably only do it they 'really' want to get rid of Chalmers though due to some of his tardiness last season.  That trade to me would be like 6 of 1 or 1/2 dozen of the other. In other words not too much difference unless like I mentioned both teams 'really' want these guys on different teams.

[Eddie20]

Rudy bolting to Europe,at some point, for a big payday is something that would concern me.

[ssspence]

Rudy's a whiner? I disagree. You hear "reports" that's he's unhappy there, but I have yet to hear HIM say anything negative organization. When Coach McMillan calls his number, he's ready. That's all that I ask.

I know there were rumors that Danny was interested in trading for him earlier but things fell through. Hopefully he revisits it - maybe offer up Gaffney and Laffeyette's non-guaranteed contracts now that they're available for trade. Maybe throw in a future 2nd round pick if needed.

He can be groomed as a Ray Allen replacement.

That may be a stretch.

It may, it my not. He hasn't been given an opportunity to shine.

Regardless, it's very hard to argue with the price. He can play at such a low salary, and the Cs would own a year's option next season, plus his restricted rights he following year.

Meanwhile, the problem with the teams on this list is they have -- like the Cs -- very little to offer. Chamlers aint gonna do it, Billy Walker aint gonna do it, James Johnson aint gonna do it, Oliver La-fi-yette certainly aint gonna do it, etc. One of these teams will likely have to give up a pick to get it done, and i'd imagine each team is waiting to see what else they can get out there without giving up future assets.

I've heard Chalmers described as the next Rondo in regards to break out players who will shine w/ a lot of talent around him so someone must think he's good.  He has good 3 pt range and some PG skills and youth so I can see Portland biting for him if they 'really' want to get rid of Rudy.  Miami would probably only do it they 'really' want to get rid of Chalmers though due to some of his tardiness last season.  That trade to me would be like 6 of 1 or 1/2 dozen of the other. In other words not too much difference unless like I mentioned both teams 'really' want these guys on different teams.

no -- he's not a great shooter, he can't penetrate and he's only an average defender. he'll play well on miami (like any scrub), but he's not of much value to portland, and he's not as good as rudy fernandez.

[Jeff]

how does a guy like Rudy have a list?  he's under contract right?  he has to be traded - why do the Blazers care where he wants to go?

[RJ87]

James Posey not coming back, guys. Danny wouldn't give him that contract to begin with, don't see him trading for it. 2008 Posey is not walking through that door, its time to move on.

Wonder if Portland would be interest in cap relief - as I said in a previous post, maybe we could send Laffeyette + Gaffney + a future 2nd rounder. Laff & Gaff are not guaranteed and Port could wave them.

[moiso]

Rudy's a whiner? I disagree. You hear "reports" that's he's unhappy there, but I have yet to hear HIM say anything negative organization. When Coach McMillan calls his number, he's ready. That's all that I ask.

I know there were rumors that Danny was interested in trading for him earlier but things fell through. Hopefully he revisits it - maybe offer up Gaffney and Laffeyette's non-guaranteed contracts now that they're available for trade. Maybe throw in a future 2nd round pick if needed.

He can be groomed as a Ray Allen replacement.

That may be a stretch.

Rudy Fernandez is already pretty close to Ray Allen in ability (present day Ray, not the player he was five years ago). He would be a very good replacement option.

No he's not.  Rudy played like he was lost on the court last season.  Don't know what you're talking about.

I was gonna respond to that post too.  Ability and actual performance are two different things.  I agree that Rudy has a ton of "ability" but so did Gerald Green and Gabe Pruitt.  The question is if he can use that ability to become an actual productive player.  Rudy wasn't last year, but he may become one.

[jr_3421]

I've heard Chalmers described as the next Rondo in regards to break out players who will shine w/ a lot of talent around him so someone must think he's good.  He has good 3 pt range and some PG skills and youth so I can see Portland biting for him if they 'really' want to get rid of Rudy.  Miami would probably only do it they 'really' want to get rid of Chalmers though due to some of his tardiness last season.  That trade to me would be like 6 of 1 or 1/2 dozen of the other. In other words not too much difference unless like I mentioned both teams 'really' want these guys on different teams.

Well to all the people who think this, I wouldn't get your hopes up. Despite what people outside of Boston think, Rondo showed a lot of potential in his first year. There was a reason that Seattle and Minnesota almost didn't pull the trigger on the KG and Ray deals because we refused to give up Rondo.

I think the best case scenario for Chalmers is a Derek Fisher type role. Play defense, hit shots when passed to and stay out of everyone's way.

[Snakehead]

Rudy's a whiner? I disagree. You hear "reports" that's he's unhappy there, but I have yet to hear HIM say anything negative organization. When Coach McMillan calls his number, he's ready. That's all that I ask.

I know there were rumors that Danny was interested in trading for him earlier but things fell through. Hopefully he revisits it - maybe offer up Gaffney and Laffeyette's non-guaranteed contracts now that they're available for trade. Maybe throw in a future 2nd round pick if needed.

He can be groomed as a Ray Allen replacement.

That may be a stretch.

Rudy Fernandez is already pretty close to Ray Allen in ability (present day Ray, not the player he was five years ago). He would be a very good replacement option.

No he's not.  Rudy played like he was lost on the court last season.  Don't know what you're talking about.

I was gonna respond to that post too.  Ability and actual performance are two different things.  I agree that Rudy has a ton of "ability" but so did Gerald Green and Gabe Pruitt.  The question is if he can use that ability to become an actual productive player.  Rudy wasn't last year, but he may become one.

If you watch Rudy play he is nothing like Gerald Green and Gabe Pruitt. You're talking about two guys who showed extremely brief flashes of talent on occasion on the court, but Rudy has shown good, quality play. A play where he hit a three and then hustled for an inbounds steal and then hit another shot come to mind.  Or he had a whole number of great cuts to the rim for alleys.  Again, he is a guy who can fly up and down the court and shoot the three and that would be perfect coming off the bench alongside Rondo.

I seriously think he is just in a bad situation in Portland.  To compare him to Gabe or Green is way off IMO, talent wise, effort wise, playing ability, and also keep in mind Rudy was a "rookie" in his mid 20's.  Not sure of his age now but he's not a kid, he knows the game.

[Who]

Rudy's a whiner? I disagree. You hear "reports" that's he's unhappy there, but I have yet to hear HIM say anything negative organization. When Coach McMillan calls his number, he's ready. That's all that I ask.

I know there were rumors that Danny was interested in trading for him earlier but things fell through. Hopefully he revisits it - maybe offer up Gaffney and Laffeyette's non-guaranteed contracts now that they're available for trade. Maybe throw in a future 2nd round pick if needed.

He can be groomed as a Ray Allen replacement.

That may be a stretch.

Rudy Fernandez is already pretty close to Ray Allen in ability (present day Ray, not the player he was five years ago). He would be a very good replacement option.

No he's not.  Rudy played like he was lost on the court last season.  Don't know what you're talking about.

I was gonna respond to that post too.  Ability and actual performance are two different things.  I agree that Rudy has a ton of "ability" but so did Gerald Green and Gabe Pruitt.  The question is if he can use that ability to become an actual productive player.  Rudy wasn't last year, but he may become one.

I disagree with the assertion that Rudy Fernandez played badly last season. I thought Rudy Fernandez played well last year. Struggled a bit with his shot + role (playing behind Brandon Roy) but made major improvements defensively.

Good defender + decent rebounder + good passer and ball-handler + an excellent complementary scorer with a beautiful jump shot.

If Rudy Fernandez got the minutes Ray Allen got, the screens + touches + shot attempts Ray Allen gets, he would provide somewhere close to the offensive contributions Ray Allen gives. Not quite as dynamic a scorer (which I don't regard highly with Ray because he is unreliable/inconsistent as a scorer) but he'd be in the same ball park otherwise. Rudy is also a better transition player and cutter which eats into some of Ray's dynamic scoring.

All while providing better rebounding + more consistent defense + comparable ball-handling and passing.

I don't think there is much of a difference between the two players overall ... Ray just plays more minutes and is given a bigger role offensively than Rudy.

[Bankshot]

how does a guy like Rudy have a list?  he's under contract right?  he has to be traded - why do the Blazers care where he wants to go?

This!  Does sound strange that he'd have a list. 

[StartOrien]

how does a guy like Rudy have a list?  he's under contract right?  he has to be traded - why do the Blazers care where he wants to go?

Jeff, probably because he does have the ability to bolt for Europe and the Blazers would recieve nothing in return. Theres a few articles out there, where Rudy has stated a strong preference to remain in the NBA, however many believe that if he was forced to return to Portland or another "unattractive team" that he would cross the pond.

I don't think the European payday is much to worry about for Fernandez, because I'd have to think he could make just as much if not more in the States when his rookie contract expires. I know the CBA is about to expire, but you'd have to think that he'd be able to command the full MLE (if not more).

[StartOrien]

That being said, I interpret this list to be Rudy's list of teams he'd play for. And it will ultimately be the Blazers' decision where he goes.

Sorry, "Souf Beach"

[timepiece33]

James Posey not coming back, guys. Danny wouldn't give him that contract to begin with, don't see him trading for it. 2008 Posey is not walking through that door, its time to move on.

Wonder if Portland would be interest in cap relief - as I said in a previous post, maybe we could send Laffeyette + Gaffney + a future 2nd rounder. Laff & Gaff are not guaranteed and Port could wave them.

1. Portland isn't going to trade Fernandez for "cap relief".  He has value and is cheap.  They'd get a first round pick for him.

2. Danny didn't give Posey a contract, but Danny also positions himself for moves in an offseason as well.  Now,Posey's contract runs the same as Ray's, Davis's, Perkins's, and Garnett's.

3. I don't want Posey back UNLESS I get someone cheap back that helps make up for the difference in salary to expected performance.   IMO, Posey and Fernandez together would average $3.8MM a year and I'd take that.

[ssspence]

how does a guy like Rudy have a list?  he's under contract right?  he has to be traded - why do the Blazers care where he wants to go?

Jeff, probably because he does have the ability to bolt for Europe and the Blazers would recieve nothing in return. Theres a few articles out there, where Rudy has stated a strong preference to remain in the NBA, however many believe that if he was forced to return to Portland or another "unattractive team" that he would cross the pond.

I don't think the European payday is much to worry about for Fernandez, because I'd have to think he could make just as much if not more in the States when his rookie contract expires. I know the CBA is about to expire, but you'd have to think that he'd be able to command the full MLE (if not more).

good point. he has the power to walk away if he remains in his version of purgatory...