Making Room For Rudy
Rudy Fernandez is finally coming to Portland, and the Blazers are finally
putting the pieces together for next season. But how exactly does Rudy fit
into the plans in the Blazers backcourt?
After numerous recruiting visits from the Blazers front office – including
owner Paul Allen - over the past few months, Fernandez announced on Friday
that he's agreed to join Portland, a decision Fernandez admitted was not an
easy one by any means.
"It wasn't an easy decision to take but it is the time for a new challenge
after a fantastic year with (DKV) Joventut," the 23-year-old shooting guard,
who plans to join the Blazers after the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer
, said.
"They have pushed hard for me to join them and have assured me I will be an
important figure for them."
The question now is will the "important figure" make the Blazers starting
five? Or does Fernandez join the likes of friend and countryman Sergio Rod-
riguez in the second unit, a role even Rodriguez had difficulty cracking for
head coach Nate McMillan? Then again, finding a role that fits Fernandez –
and the Blazers - best is one of several adjustments GM Kevin Pritchard and
head coach Nate McMillan will look to solve this offseason.
Now with Fernandez available at shooting guard, does McMillan finally make
Brandon Roy the Blazers full-time starting point guard? Does Pritchard select
another point guard in the upcoming NBA Draft, or shop the free agent market
for a floor general?
Obviously, Portland will be better off with Fernandez, a two guard who has
a shelf full of MVP trophies and continues to draw comparisons to the San
Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobili, than without him. And although many of the back-
court and roster dilemmas in Portland will play themselves out in the coming
months as player pieces begin fall into place, Fernandez' arrival certainly
creates a ripple effect on the rest of the team.
James Jones– an unrestricted free agent and perhaps one of the most integral
members of the Blazers last season – has a choice to make about returning
to Portland this offseason.
With Portland already crammed at small forward with Travis Outlaw and Martell
Webster, the addition of Fernandez could have a bearing on his decision.
Jones (8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 44% 3pt fg) was troubled by a knee injury for the
majority of last season and appeared in only 58 games, but when healthy and
on the court the sharpshooter made every minute and shot count. Knowing
Portland's obsession with getting older instead of younger, losing Jones
to free agency would be a major loss in the locker room and on the floor.
Martell Webster is also sure to have his role re-adjusted.
Throughout all of last season, it was more common than not to have McMillan
and his coaching staff to ask for more consistent scoring from Webster. Yet
the jury is still out if the Blazers liked what they saw. Did Webster really
improve? Was he aggressive enough going to the hoop when he put the ball
on the floor? His numbers were up (10.7 ppg., 38% 3pt fg) and so were his
minutes (28.4 in 70 starts), but will that be the case next season?
Webster – who has been rumored to be on the block in Portland – may be
the odd man out at small forward, especially considering how crucial Travis
Outlaw was to the Blazers success last season and knowing the supporting
minutes behind Roy may not be there anymore.
Jarrett Jack will also fill some ill effects with a new guard in town.
Jack is no stranger to trade talks, and last season was rumored to land in
Cleveland or New Jersey at February's trade deadline. After sharing time with
Steve Blake and Segrio Rodriguez in the Blazers backcourt, Jack often found
himself watching from the sidelines in the fourth quarter while McMillan
opted for placing the ball in Brandon Roy's hands. McMillan has already
admitted he isn't opposed to having Roy run the point more often next season.
Couple this with Fernandez' recent arrival - and belief that the Spaniard
could even soak up minutes running the point now and again - and Jack's days
in Portland could be coming to an end.
Portland now finds themselves in a high stakes poker game with plenty of
chips to work with.
They have some players available to move if needed (read: Webster, Jack, and
perhaps even Channing Frye), and four draft picks (13, 33, 36, 55) to use as
liquid assets. The rest of June and surely July will bring more changes for
the organization, but for now there is a true excitement around Portland
with Rudy Fernandez named the newest member of the Blazers.
Let the chips fall where they may.
HOOPSWORLD：http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=8993
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