Boston, Chicago and N.Y. leading candidates for Fernandez

[Gant]

The guy over at clubblazers who supposedly has a Portland source says the Celtics have been unwilling to give up two first rounders for Rudy and Pryzbilla. So that deal seems to be inert as it was rumored, especially if Shaq signs.

[Celtic Esquire]

The guy over at clubblazers who supposedly has a Portland source says the Celtics have been unwilling to give up two first rounders for Rudy and Pryzbilla. So that deal seems to be inert as it was rumored, especially if Shaq signs.

No way do I want to give up two firsts for those two guys. One is a spot up shooter and the other guy is perpetually injured.

[sully00]

The guy over at clubblazers who supposedly has a Portland source says the Celtics have been unwilling to give up two first rounders for Rudy and Pryzbilla. So that deal seems to be inert as it was rumored, especially if Shaq signs.

We offered one they asked for two. Like mentioned my guess is they are trying to flip our package to NO for Collison and NO wants more than BOS first rounder.

That said it doesn't seem like POR has a better offer than ours with one first and if they want Collison bad enough they can kick in the extra first themselves. NO wants to send out some salary in any deal so.

Agreed that with Shaq Boston could get by with him and Wafer but it wouldn't stop me from making the this deal as well. Boston still needs the help on the wing, can never have enough size especially with ours being as old and fragile as it is and Przy could be a nice trade chip at the deadline healthy or not.

[campybatman]

I think that Boston is officially out of the running for Fernandez. You've signed Wafer and, apparently, Shaq.

[GreenMachine]

Agreed that with Shaq Boston could get by with him and Wafer but it wouldn't stop me from making the this deal as well. Boston still needs the help on the wing, can never have enough size especially with ours being as old and fragile as it is and Przy could be a nice trade chip at the deadline healthy or not.

This.

Do it Danny!

Rondo/Nate/Avery
Ray/Rudy/Wafer
PP/Marquis
KG/Baby
JO/Shaq/Pryz/Perk

And go ahead and sign Del West too!

THAT would be a TEAM.

I could see lots of 3 guard sets... along with two BIG men... we could play full out for 48 minutes, never having a drop off or giving the other team a rest!

[campybatman]

I think that Boston is officially out of the running for Fernandez. You've signed Wafer and, apparently, Shaq.

I guess I was right. From Rotoworld...

The Celtics are reportedly "doubtful" to be in pursuit of Rudy Fernandez.
It has previously been reported that the Knicks are out of the running too, so it's looking like Rudy's options are dwindling. Chicago remains a potential option, but it remains uncertain what (if anything) will happen.

Source: A. Sherrod Blakely on Twitter

[Gant]

Blakely also says the Celtics are doubtful for Delonte West.

It looks like Portland might just let the Rudy situation simmer for a while (until the pot boils over, I guess).

[Celts17Pride]

#Blazers still exploring options for possibly moving Fernandez. A wide variety of deals are being considered, but nothing is pending.
about 4 hours ago via web

http://twitter.com/blazerbanter

Who really knows. My guess is teams are just trying to get the best deal they can. Just a little poker playing see who blinks first.

[sully00]

I think that the new GM Cho vastly misread the situation and didn't appreciate that teams had been waiting for an answer and when he came back after a month and tries to squeeze everyone they just said screw it. He is going to have a problem even getting a first rounder now as teams have already made moves and spent money, that is what made trading for Fernandez so attractive. Teams can't assure him a much larger role than what POR has for him, so they could end up in the same situation as POR is were they give up a 1st for him and then he says he wants to go back to Europe over playing time. I don't think Rudy Fernandez is coming to camp.

[campybatman]

Well, this should confirm it for New York.

The Knicks are expected to sign veteran shooting guard Roger Mason to a one-year, $1.4 million contract.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/knicks ... roger.html



I read this on the Portland board. But I don't buy it as legitimate. Because I thought Portland didn't have an interest in acquiring James Johnson. Besides, the trade doesn't work financially. On the other hand, trading for Taj Gibson does... Or Portland would've to include a low salary player like Dante Cunningham or Jeff Pendergraph with Fernandez.

@TommyDeeTKB: Source says a deal with Rudy Fernandez and the Bulls could be done by monday. James Johnson to portland but blaz want a draft pick as well.

http://www.theknicksblog.com/2010/08/05 ... ds-likely/

[bceltic55]

Keith Boggins signed by Chicago, so why would he go there. Market is drying up.

[campybatman]

It would appear that all three teams, New York, Boston and Chicago, have moved on from targeting Fernandez. Or it could be the belief by these teams that Fernandez really does desire to play overseas instead.

A poster on the Portland board suggested that, perhaps, Portland is waiting for Fernandez to raise his value by performing well with Spain in the World Championships.

[Slartibartfast]

he'd definitely play over Wafer if he came here. I still think we should try to grab him.

[AsijsLV]

NYK sign with Mason, CHI with Bogans. that means they don't need Fernandez. Get him, Danny!

[shackles10]

It could also mean Portland's asking price is too high.

[campybatman]

It's still unclear to me as to what more does Portland want in addition to acquiring a first round pick. They must be haggling for a good role player as well.

Fernandez wants a prominent role as much as McGrady does, judging by the 25-year-old’s well-chronicled pining for minutes in Portland. But sources with knowledge of the Bulls’ thinking have maintained for days that they would rather gamble on trying to fit in the Spaniard -- whose 3-point shooting fills what they see as a greater need -- than the two-time scoring champ.

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau hinted at that thinking Friday in a radio interview with ESPN 1000's "Waddle & Silvy Show” in Chicago before TNT’s David Aldridge broke the Bogans news on NBA.com. When asked about McGrady, Thibodeau confirmed that the Bulls hadn’t ruled him out completely but made it clear that acquiring a proven shooter was their priority.

Hours later, Chicago clinched Bogans’ signature, which doesn’t conclusively fill that void … but also doesn’t affect the salary-cap space needed to acquire Fernandez and might just convey to the Blazers that the Bulls aren’t going to keep waiting around.

In one of its proposals to Portland, sources said, Chicago has offered to absorb Fernandez's modest $1.25 million salary for next season with cap space in exchange for a future first-round pick.

Sources say Portland, however, has believed that it can do better in a Fernandez deal and is holding out for more, even though New York also balked at the Blazers' demands this week and elected to sign Roger Mason to a bargain one-year deal at the veteran minimum of $1.4 million.

It’s widely assumed that the Blazers want Taj Gibson back from the Bulls, but sources say Chicago is not about to include Gibson in Fernandez talks. James Johnson is the best young player Chicago has made available.

The Oregonian reported last week that the Knicks and Celtics were the other teams, besides Chicago, chasing Fernandez hardest, but we’ll have to see how choosy Portland intends to be from here.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_ ... -for-t-mac



In other news...

MB: How are you progressing? What does your workout schedule involve right now?

JP: I'm doing a lot of biking, and I love that. I started jumping this week, and that's actually a big thing for me. I was just in Portland and saw Dr. (Don) Roberts. He's very happy with where I'm at right now. He's got me jumping rope, and doing some light stuff on the court. I can't believe how far I've come. I would hope by mid September I'll start going much harder on the court. They want me to get to the point where I can jump, and land, comfortably. We're shooting for me being ready to roll on opening night. It's a realistic goal and it's all I'm thinking about right now.

MB: So, to speak of training camp is probably music to your ears.

JP: No question. I'd love to be ready for the start of training camp, but they're kind of pulling back on the reigns a little bit. Dr. Roberts is very conservative, and that's understandable. I want to be playing in the playoffs next season. If that means I miss a few days of training camp, it's not that big of a deal. I just can't wait to get back out there with the guys.

http://mikebarrettsblog.blogspot.com/20 ... ctive.html

[realfung]

No way, cannot believe if the Celts steal Rudy too.

[campybatman]

Fernandez's agent does makes some valid points.

Rudy Fernandez will not report to the Trail Blazers training camp in October and the disgruntled guard has no intention of playing for the Blazers for the remaining two years of his contract, his agent said Wednesday.

What has been a simmering trade request since last summer has now reached a boiling point: Fernandez has informed agent Andy Miller that he is prepared to be suspended by the Blazers and forfeit the final two years of his contract in order to return to Europe and play in his homeland of Spain in 2012.

Miller said new Blazers general manager Rich Cho has "overreached" in his attempt to trade Fernandez, turning down offers from Chicago, New York and Boston, leaving Miller and Fernandez with no option other than to hold firm that the former first-round pick will not report.

"All I can do now is stand on the roof top and scream 'He's not coming!'," Miller said. "He's just not coming back ... I've made that clear."

Cho said he has made offers, counteroffers and talked about package deals with teams, but has yet to find a scenario that makes sense for the Blazers.

"I'm not going to be pressured into making a deal,'' Cho said. "I'm not going to make a trade just to make a trade. It has to be the right deal for the team.''

Cho has maintained that the Blazers value Fernandez as an asset, and will not under any circumstance release him. However, Miller is asking Cho to release Fernandez in a goodwill effort that Miller says will also go a long way to show international players that the Blazers can be reasonable. FIBA has an agreement to honor NBA contracts, so Fernandez cannot play in Europe unless the Blazers release him.

"I would like to have an amicable divorce," Miller said. "That's the best resolution at this point. I have tried to let them get an asset back but that hasn't worked. Portland's stance is that they have legal rights, but they can't let this type of thing take place. If you send the message that this is how you will treat one of the most highly decorated players in Europe, why would anyone come to you?"

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazer ... z_pre.html

[Celts17Pride]

Rudy will be traded within a week. This is all part of the game of negotiations.

[Grime_Wizard]

Rudy will be traded within a week. This is all part of the game of negotiations.

his agent just said he is leaning toward playing overseas