Is Rudy Fernandez worth a #1?

[mcshane41]

Time to re-analyze the Rudy option. Seeing the talk of bring back House, West or any other player currently out there on the veteran minimum scrap heap got me thinking. This is a title contending team so why bother going bargain hunting? Why not go for it! It isn't likely we will luck out and get the 19th pick again. More likely we'll be drafting in the mid to late 20's. Will there be anything better than a young swingman like Rudy? Heck you can likely buy a pick that late for $3M if you want to. Rudy is under team control (cheaply) for the next 3 years and can help us win now and develop into a future starter.

Checkout the SBnation write up: http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/35052/Rudy_Fernandez

"Combo Guard with Star tools"

I can attest from seeing him in person that this guy is electric. He gets the crowd fired up. He can get hot and score in bunches and he hustles. We love Rudy in Rip City. But he struggled playing with a score first PG (A. Miller). So did B Roy actually. A pass first team like the C's would be a nice fit.

Career #'s from two seasons so far: (2pt/3pt/FT) 40.6%/38.7%/85.1%. 2.5 Boards, 2 assists & a steal a game. Not shabby.

So Portland wants #1 for Rudy. I say its a fair deal. I live in Portland and the consensus is that Rudy is gone. He is a fan favorite and can really get hot but with so many wings here he has no legit role.

In my amateur opinion Rudy would excel playing with Rondo and could be the scoring SG we need to complete this team. At 25 he can develop into our starting SG by next year so Ray Ray can slide into a more appropriate 6th man role to extend his career. (He hates being #2 to Roy b/c he'll never get a chance with us that chance is right around the corner due to Rays age).

It seems to me like a easy move to make considering our other options. Maybe Danny is stonewalling to get a better deal, but I hope he has this on his burner...

[pearljammer10]

Definitely worth a number one... Would you rather have Rudy or Avery right now? I go Rudy by a long shot.

[Jon]

Definitely worth a number one... Would you rather have Rudy or Avery right now? I go Rudy by a long shot.

Definitely.  And given our limited window, next year's first round pick is worth far less to us than other teams.  We need players that can help us now, not next year (or many years after).  I'd trade Avery Bradley right now too if we can upgrade the roster. 

[indeedproceed]

Definitely worth a number one... Would you rather have Rudy or Avery right now? I go Rudy by a long shot.

Weelllllll...yes and no I say to this.

Would you rather have a middling at best shooting guard who doesn't want to even stay in the United States and has openly campaigned for a buyout to return to Spain, or a guy who was one of the most highly touted prospects coming out of high school who played in a poorly suited system for a year who has a pretty high ceiling, but is at current an unknown commodity.

Now future first that will probably be pick 18-20 at best in what is being said to be a terrible draft walking into a lockout year? Yeah...getting Fernandez as is with the possibility of turning his intentions and seeing how he develops? Sure he's worth that.

[kozlodoev]

Career #'s from two seasons so far: (2pt/3pt/FT) 40.6%/38.7%/85.1%. 2.5 Boards, 2 assists & a steal a game. Not shabby.

You're right. It's not shabby. It's downright horrible.

[Change]

At 25 he can develop into our starting SG by next year so Ray Ray can slide into a more appropriate 6th man role to extend his career.

made me chuckle

Short Answer: Hell No!

Long Answer:
Rudy can't defend, and he can't create his own shot. Add his rebounding inefficiency, and his inability to get to the line. Rudy would useless asset for the Celtics. He'd be lucky to see any meaningful minutes in the playoffs if Doc is he coach. Rule #1: Must Defend. And his uncertain status (Staying or leaving for Europe) would make the trade unlikely.

[cornbreadsmart]

     Rudy makes exciting plays. Opponents make MORE exciting plays around HIM. He is pathetic at moving his feet on defense and he has shown signs of being kind of a bad teammate. He has a selfish style of play. He will often stop ball movement in order to go one on one with his man and usually he gets blocked or ends up taking a wild prayer at the hoop. No thanks.
      I see how he can appear to be a better player than he is but all he offers us is a hole in our defense.

[aporel#18]

Rudy Fernandez is already better than Ginobili at the same age. He's way better than Delonte West (by a mile) and when he's given a role, he plays with a lot of heart. You will all see at the WC, with Pau Gasol out of the team, Rudy will be the team leader. He can play defense, he's no Joe Dumars, but who in the league is that good right now?

And I'd rather have Rudy than the ballhog Brandoy Roy, and I'm serious. McMillan made his choice, and there is only one basketball. Rudy has struggled this year when playing at the 1 and at the 3, not at his natural position, the 2. In the playoffs, when things looked ugly for the Blazers, McMillan gave him minutes and he didn't do so bad.

I'm not saying he'll be an All Star, but he's a better player than anyone the Celtics could pick at #25 next june. And he'd play great alongside Rondo. Yes, the 2011 first round pick can go to Oregon if they send Rudy Fernandez to Boston.

[Jon]

At 25 he can develop into our starting SG by next year so Ray Ray can slide into a more appropriate 6th man role to extend his career.

made me chuckle

Short Answer: Hell No!

Long Answer:
Rudy can't defend, and he can't create his own shot. Add his rebounding inefficiency, and his inability to get to the line. Rudy would useless asset for the Celtics. He'd be lucky to see any meaningful minutes in the playoffs if Doc is he coach. Rule #1: Must Defend. And his uncertain status (Staying or leaving for Europe) would make the trade unlikely.

And regardless, unless some very established star comes here next year, Ray is always going to start for us.  We may see his minutes go down or even get to the point where he doesn't close out games (but not with the way the 2/3 looks now), but Doc isn't going to bench a future Hall of Famer and arguably the greatest shooter of all time for anything less than another All Star, whether it makes sense or not.  

[mcshane41]

Uh, no way he's useless to the C's, come on now. And whoever says that is a dreadful stat line, I guess you didn't think much of Posey's shooting when he was here b/c he shot about the same percentages in 08. If given the minutes and role Rudy can excel in the league. He's an uptempo player stuck in a 1/2 court offense so his game suffered this year. Don't let that blind you, the talent is still there.

As one of our local guys said recently, he can shoot. And shooting doesn't go out of style.

Scouts smarter than us agree he has the tools to be a great scorer, am I being optimistic thinking he could eventually start? Yeah, you got me there. But 'm not the only one with that idea:
 http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Holding-patternAinge-trying-to-work-while-NBA-waits-on-James-47250634

D is his weakness, but not many of the current C's were thought of as defenders until KG and Thibs showed up. Rudy generates a lot of steals when he plays, so he can have some impact on D. For 2010/11 he could at least fill the 'eddie house 3pt specialist role' and would do well running in the C's uptempo style with Rondo.

[Change]

D is his weakness, but not many of the current C's were thought of as defenders until KG and Thibs showed up.

The difference is C's player had the ability to defend. Rudy is no Pierce/Ray/Rondo. Do you really think Rudy can guard a Kobe or Wade?

For 2010/11 he could at least fill the 'eddie house 3pt specialist role'

So the measuring stick is Eddie FREAKING House! Again Eddie didn't have to guard Neither Kobe nor Wade.

would do well running in the C's uptempo style with Rondo.

Celtics are half court team. A lot of those fast break was Rondo & TA doing. Rudy isn't in that stratosphere.

Scouts smarter than us agree he has the tools to be a great scorer, am I being optimistic thinking he could eventually start? Yeah, you got me there. But 'm not the only one with that idea:

Yes, I got you cause AGAIN dude can't defend. Doc is a lot like Nate McMillain maybe even more stricter. No defense=No Minutes

I guess you didn't think much of Posey's shooting when he was here b/c he shot about the same percentages in 08.

Please don't make that mistake again. Rudy ain't (NO) Posey!

[mcshane41]

Change you seem pretty bent, I think you are taking my words a little to earnestly. My basic point is that Rudy, his sweet shot and his potential is worth more to us no as a backup 2 now than a late rd pick next year.

Consider your points, most are not really relevant to the backup wing position under discussion.

Can't guard Wade/Kobe. Like he has to? We are talking about a backup 2/Sharp Shooter, not a shut down defender. D is what Daniels was signed for.

Posey & House, who provided successful bench depth are certainly the measuring stick. This is a post about a backup wing, not about how we find the next Larry Bird. Lower your expectations. Who do you really expect us to sign or trade for? Yeah I postured he might be able to be groomed into a starting 2 based POTENTIAL but that is hardly the reason for the move or the main point in my argument to land the guy, so don't dwell on it.

1/2 court team?  I think its obvious that Rondo's fast break abilities are top notch and that he is the future of this team and a major key to our success. This team will run. As for our 1/2 court, I think clogged toilet was how Bill Simmons aptly described it.

Never said Rudy WAS Posey, said he could shoot. Proved it by referencing a good 3pt shooter from our recent team who posted similar %'s. End of comparison. They can both shoot. A shooter is what we need to complete our bench. There really isn't anything to argue here. If you don't think Rudy can shoot you expectations are too high.

I can't really say much else. I still like his talent and the spacing and running he could bring off the pine. Apparently Ainge agrees or he wouldn't have looked into the trade.

[LilRip]

would love a trade for Rudy Fernandez. i haven't seen him a whole lot but i know he can definitely play. i'd trade him for a first round pick!

given our team, i'd rather get someone who can help us win now than someone who might or might not develop into a solid role player 3-4 years later.



- LilRip

[Greenbean]

Change you seem pretty bent, I think you are taking my words a little to earnestly. My basic point is that Rudy, his sweet shot and his potential is worth more to us no as a backup 2 now than a late rd pick next year.

Consider your points, most are not really relevant to the backup wing position under discussion.

Can't guard Wade/Kobe. Like he has to? We are talking about a backup 2/Sharp Shooter, not a shut down defender. D is what Daniels was signed for.

Posey & House, who provided successful bench depth are certainly the measuring stick. This is a post about a backup wing, not about how we find the next Larry Bird. Lower your expectations. Who do you really expect us to sign or trade for? Yeah I postured he might be able to be groomed into a starting 2 based POTENTIAL but that is hardly the reason for the move or the main point in my argument to land the guy, so don't dwell on it.

1/2 court team?  I think its obvious that Rondo's fast break abilities are top notch and that he is the future of this team and a major key to our success. This team will run. As for our 1/2 court, I think clogged toilet was how Bill Simmons aptly described it.

Never said Rudy WAS Posey, said he could shoot. Proved it by referencing a good 3pt shooter from our recent team who posted similar %'s. End of comparison. They can both shoot. A shooter is what we need to complete our bench. There really isn't anything to argue here. If you don't think Rudy can shoot you expectations are too high.

I can't really say much else. I still like his talent and the spacing and running he could bring off the pine. Apparently Ainge agrees or he wouldn't have looked into the trade.

Posey was an elite defender who shot those percentages. Rudy is an ofeensive player who shot those percentages. Big difference.

I would bring him in but I am not as high on him as you are.

I would rather get a small forward and roll the dice on Bradley at the 2.

[StartOrien]

In a heart beat I would. Maybe we should get off his 'ceiling' or his 'many faults' and look at it simply.

Rudy Fernandez has shown that at the very least he has the ability to stay in the league for a while if he chooses. I'd take that over gambling on a late first round pick.