Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid Share Mutual Interest

[Kai]

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/64971/20100224/rudy_fernandez_real_madrid_share_mutual_interest/

http://www.realgm.com/images/nba/4.2/profiles/photos/2006/Fernandez_Rudy_por.jpg
Real Madrid wants to sign Rudy Fernandez following the current season. Fernandez is reportedly uncomfortable in Portland and would be amenable to a return.

Fernandez appeared open to the idea when interviewed by Eurosport.

"Right now, in this situation, I don't rule out anything," said Fernandez. "Because I just want to play. I don't mind where."

Fernandez spoke of the difference in not playing beside Sergio Rodriguez.

"Last year we had a different team and at least I had Sergio, who understood my game. I have noticed a change this year. I don't get the ball as much and the system is different."

[nkdlunch]

:lol nonissue

[Andrew Bynum]

Blazers are an absolute mess. LOL people acting like this team was a dynasty in the making.

[Mike D]

NON-ISSUE

amirite?

[lil_penny]

People love seeing this team fall apart I swear lol.. he will be back next year if nate mcclueless gets the boot(which I hope)

[D-Wade #3]

Rudy, come play in Miami, son!!! I need some help!!!

[Phillip]

he would be a nice addition to the mavs, but for some reason, he just doesnt strike me as a guy who can get more than 20 minutes per game. he has skills, but just seems to miss something that i cant put my finger on.

mono would jizz his pants if he came to the mavs though

[angelbelow]

People love seeing this team fall apart I swear lol.. he will be back next year if nate mcclueless gets the boot(which I hope)

Im confident that most comments are targetted at Tlong and not at the Blazer players.

[duncan228]

Real Madrid Making a Play for Rudy Fernandez (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=tsn-realmadridmakingapla&prov=tsn&type=lgns)
SportingNews

Despite his secure status as a fan favorite, Rudy Fernandez hasn’t had the best of sophomore seasons in Portland. After looking like one of the top rookies last year, he suffered a back injury, missed time, and saw his numbers are down across the board (well, in everything except free-throw percentage and steals) with less playing time.

As he recently told EuroSport (http://es.eurosport.yahoo.com/24022010/47/nba-rudy-descarto-volver-europa.html), he doesn’t feel as comfortable with the Blazers as he did last year and might be considering a move back to Spain (translation via Interbasket.net (http://www.interbasket.net/news/2010/02/24/rudy-fernandez-may-leave-portland-return-to-europe/)):

“Right now I don’t rule out anything because I just want to play. I don’t mind where,” said Fernandez. […]

“Last year we had a different team and at least I had Sergio (Rodriguez) who understood my game. I have noticed a change this year. I don’t get the ball as much and the system is different. I guess I have to adapt to it. That’s it. Whenever I get on the court, I have to make the most of it. I have good games and bad ones. I must be more regular.”

"[Nate McMillan] is a coach who makes things very clear and has his philosophy. I don’t always get it. I try to play the way he wants, but I don’t feel the trust that he had in me the first year.”

The frustration is understandable, although you have to hope things will get better for Rudy. But even if he starts to fit in better with Portland, he may soon get an offer too lucrative to turn down (http://www.marca.com/2010/02/24/baloncesto/acb/1267001380.html). From Marca.com (translation via HoopsHype (http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm)):

Real Madrid wants to sign Rudy Fernandez for next season. The Spanish player is not comfortable in Portland and would be amenable to a return. Real Madrid would welcome him with open arms. […]

The player’s camp has let it be known that he’s willing to return. Florentino Perez (Real Madrid’s president) knows about this and is interested.

For those who don’t know, Marca is a Real Madrid paper through and through, so it’s likely Perez floated this idea through them to get things moving a bit.

My Spanish is a little rusty, but I believe the article also says something about Fernandez becoming the Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid’s basketball team, which refers to both his immense popularity and a potential Galacticos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gal%C3%A1cticos) campaign (a superstar-based system Perez has now enacted in two separate tenures with the soccer team as Real boss) for the basketball team. Yesterday, we linked to a story about Real going after Tiago Splitter (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/2010/02/23/spurs-face-a-possible-bidding-war-for-splitter/), so this certainly seems like their plan.

Rudy isn’t on the level of Ronaldo when it comes to global fame or talent, but his return to Spain would be a coup for European basketball. Players have jumped or returned to Europe from the NBA, but never someone with the popularity Fernandez has gained in Portland. If things don’t improve for him soon, this move to his homeland could become a reality.

[milkshakeballa]

http://basketball.realgm. (http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/64971/20100224/rudy_fernandez_real_madrid_share_mutual_interest/)

I don't get the ball as much and the system is different."



disgusting & selfish

[5in10]

disgusting & selfish

Says the guy who has Kobe as his avatar...

[lil_penny]

disgusting & selfish

Can't blame rudy.. he took a big drop in pay to come play for portland.. he loves the game, and nate isn't utilizing him the way he should.

[PGDynasty24]

I'd love him on the Lakers,spanish connection with im and Pau

[Chieflion]

I thought he still has some years for a team option.

[tlongII]

Rudy didn't look too unhappy tonight now did he? :lol

[jacobdrj]

I'd take Rudy on my team any day...