Celtics one of three teams in Rudy Fernandez race
Did you know Rudy shot 38% from the field last season?
Danny Ainge is looking for a shooter. Rudy Fernandez can shoot. The Celtics need a shooting guard off the bench. That just happens to be Fernandez’s position. See where I’m going here?
Then it makes sense that the Celtics are one of three teams leading the race for Fernandez. (The Oregonian)
Boston, Chicago and New York are all in the running to land the 6-foot-6 Spaniard, who set an NBA rookie record two seasons ago by making 159 three-pointers.
Some of the teams interested in Fernandez have offered a future first round draft pick, while other offers would pair Fernandez with another Blazers player, but agent Andy Miller would not get into specifics.
Rudy is definitely getting traded. Now it comes down to which team makes the best offer. The Celtics can’t give the best draft pick, or at least I hope they can’t, because they should have a very good record. But they have Sheed’s retiring contract as a trade chip that neither Chicago or New York can match. I’ve probably said this every day of the summer, but Joel Przybilla and Fernandez for Sheed and Oliver Lafayette would be pretty damn perfect for the Celtics. But… I just don’t see it happening. The Blazers’ big men are too frail to give one up just for salary relief. Unless they’d want to give up Oden…? But nah, they wouldn’t do that. They can’t give up on him yet, can they?
Other than packaging Oden and Fernandez for Sheed and either Gaffney or Lafayette, I don’t see any trades that make sense. And I really don’t think Portland would part ways with either of those centers. So, umm, I’m starting to think the Celtics are going to lose out on Fernandez too. Pardon me while I try to talk myself down from the ledge. It’s just Rudy Fernandez! He’s not even that good! He shot 38% last year! He couldn’t defend my dog! There’s a reason he’s asking for a trade… because Nate McMillan cut his playing time last season!
Okay, I’m back from the ledge. But seriously, Fernandez would have been a pretty good fit. He can hit the three and he can almost defend shooting guards, which would be all the Celtics would ask him to do. Maybe the Celtics should brace for him going somewhere else though. If he’s willing to take the minimum, Roger Mason sounds pretty damn good.
Related posts:
Celtics Blog, Featured | Jay King | July 28, 2010
Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Rudy Fernandez
The Spaniard and Pryz for The Walking Technical’s Contract and Lafayette seems too good to be true. The Celts would be killing two swords with one stone. Maybe if we wish really, really hard…
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And by swords, I mean birds
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I don’t know. I’ve seen some swords killed in my day.
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In my mind, Rudy and Eddie House are the same situation. Both are shooters who provide little else, can’t defend anyone regardless of position, and had really bad years last year. OK, Rudy occasionally dunks the balls he gets on fast breaks.
But then again, Eddie didn’t pout his way out of a team and become hated by fans and teammates alike. Eddie has had a multiyear career of great shooting while Rudy has only had one year.
This is not my argument for bringing back Eddie, this is my wondering why the same people who are so vehemently against bring back Eddie are so for trading for Rudy when they’re essentially the same player.
Pryzbilla though I’d take in a second.
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Fernandez is far more athletic and he’s about six inches taller. Those are two pretty big differences. He definitely offers more than House, but he seems like a whiny little bitch. So I dunno.
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He’s a spaniard, of course he’s a whiny bitch.
But on a Basketball court, here’s no comparison. He’s incredibly athletic, can finish at the rim, can create his shot when need be, and has the ability to be a great spot up shooter. He’s also a true 6’6 SG, and can guard smaller 3s for small stretches. His shooting has been consistent since that crazy year, but he obviously has the potential.
He needs to learn to play defense, but how many times have we said that with players coming into Boston, and they always seem to get better.
Defense is a system, not just one player.
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I couldn’t agree more with your post. He is soooo much better than House or West. Defense can be taught and he just needs playing time in a SYSTEM that allows his skills to flourish. And I hope everyone stops trying to dump Sheed’s contract as he is more valuable than getting a wing or some other big stiff. Just give a first rounder and OL/TG and close the deal. Rudy will get more time with the Cs and a chance for a ring. With Chicago he’ll be getting less time and with the Knicks he’s several years away from getting a ring if even that. Go CS…
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West is a betetr player than Fernandez. Definitely. Better defender, better ball handler, better slasher. But he bring other stuff to the table too.
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Two words for Rudy: Weight room. Other than that, he’s better and more versatile than House. But people are overrating him.
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Just because Rudy has the potential to be a different player than Eddie doesn’t mean he has been. Yes he is taller and more athletic. But your height doesn’t really matter when you’re letting people go by you like a subway turnstile anyway. And your athleticism isn’t important if you’re not slashing or creating for yourself but rather relying on screens and set plays to get open.
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That being said, and all true, I would add that he’s far better running the lane in transition. He can also be used on alley-oop plays, something that wasn’t exactly House’s forte.
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People who believe Rudy is a savior, we need to put things in perspective…he will not be an end all player, but for those comparing him to House? Please.
He would be a piece to the puzzle, and would fit perfectly to be honest. He has the athleticism needed to run the break with Rondo on the court, the ability to stretch the floor with 3 point shooting, and the length and quickness to stay in front of SG’s. Those are all he would be asked to do in the C’s system.
The team defense and rotations within their system will come as he learns and he will become more committed on that end of the floor.
Rudy is not the savior of the season…but he’s definitely not dog meat.
The C’s need to up the anty a bit. If other teams are offering a pick the C’s need to offer 2. If the bulls offer a second, the C’s need to offer a first.
Think about it. What have the C’s got in the draft the past few years? Giddens, Walker, Hudson. That doesn’t inspire so let’s just cut the crap and move forward. Rudy’s only 24 and would be a nice trade chip if things didn’t work so just do it Danny. Do not lose out to CHI or NY again.
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What if the Knicks traded Billy Walker for Rudy? Wouldn’t that be a female dog?
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We should have kept Walker. And I’d still take Rudy over West anyday. Go Cs…
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I’m not sold at all. West is a better defender, more efficient offensive player, better ball handler, and doesn’t whine about coming off the bench. There are problems with West, sure, but everything on the court points toward West.
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West has been better in the PAST, but I think Rudy has more upside.
He’s a whiner yes but I mean come on, he’s teammates with Gasoft! Of course he’s going to whine! They both learned from Kobe!
West is just…a risk I think. Although KG would smack him around if he got out of line. And if KG caught him anywhere near his momma, that’d be the end of West man! LOL!
I’d take West if we can get him at the minimum, he wouldn’t hurt that’s for sure.
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And the C’s already know West. They know what his mood swings are like and how delicate his personality can be.
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