Rudy Fernandez in a Magic Uniform?

by Colossus57 on Jul 2, 2009 2:39 PM EDT Comment 27 comments

I saw this story yesterday on ESPN about Rudy Fernandez being upset that the Blazers are going after Hedo Turkoglu. If he really is upset, maybe the Magic can help by doing a Sign-and-Trade. If we are going to lose Hedo, I want something back.

Here's my suggestion:

Hedo Turkoglu for Rudy Fernandez and Joel Przybilla

I'm not sure how the numbers would work out salary cap wise. Hedo is looking for $10M a year. Rudy is on a rookie salary and is making $1.16M this coming year, while Przybilla will make $6.86M, so the total is right around $8M. We may have to throw in something else to make it work. (The problem is we don't really have anything to throw in.)

Why the Magic would do it:

The two biggest holes on the Magic right now are at small forward and backup center. Fernandez was great coming off the bench for the Blazers last year and would be a great addtion to our bench. There is also the possibility that he starts and we could keep MP as our 6th man. He's very athletic and is also a great 3-pt. shooter (40% last season). And he dunked on Dwight!!!!

Joel Przybilla is big and a good defensive player. He's also one of the best rebounders in the league and in fact led the league in Rebound Rate (taken from the Hollinger Stats page on ESPN.com):

Hollinger Stats: Rebound Rate - All Positions
RNK	Player	GP	Min	TS%	Ast	TO	Usg	ORR	DRR	RebR	PER	VA	EWA
1	Joel Przybilla, POR	82	23.8	.652	6.0	17.4	9.3	12.8	33.1	22.8	15.46	141.5	4.7
2	Dwight Howard, ORL	79	35.7	.600	6.6	14.1	23.0	13.8	29.5	21.8	25.44	624.8	20.8

Why the Blazers would do it:

I've already mentioned the fact that Fernandez is apparently upset with the Blazers. They have Roy, Webster, Outlaw, Batum, Bayless (listed a PG but could probably play at the 2 as well), and presumably Turkoglu. They could have a problem getting enough minutes for everyone. At some point, Oden has to have the training wheels taken off and be thrown to the wolves. Perhaps if there isn't someone backing him up that gives pretty much the same production, he and the team will work on the silly fouls, conditioning, etc. which would be needed to get him more minutes.

Why the Magic wouldn't do it:

It puts us into the luxury tax for the next two years. (Przybilla has a player option next year for $7.4M which I'm expecting him to take.)

Why the Blazers wouldn't do it:

Fernandez is really good and he's young. I also get the impression that he was pretty popular in Portland. As I mentioned, the Blazers didn't really lose anything when Oden was on the bench because of Przybilla's production. And Oden was on the bench a lot between injuries and foul trouble. They don't have another big on the roster after they let Channing Frye walk.

Tell me what you think.

This FanPost was made by a member of the Orlando Pinstriped Post community, and is to be treated as the opinions and views of its author, not that of the blogger or blog community as a whole.

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The Magic are going to be in the luxury tax, regardless.

That’s not why the team wouldn’t do it .. in fact, I can’t find any reason why Orlando wouldn’t do the trade.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 2, 2009 2:41 PM EDT reply actions

this

by fwedo on Jul 2, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree. Rudy will be a star, getting him would be TREMENDOUS

'Coach, Dwight is a nice guy. Dwight don't hit anybody. But Superman will knock the crap out of you.' - D12

by Eyriq the Red on Jul 3, 2009 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I would take rudy with no pryz

I dont think the salaries need to match up since the blazers are way under the cap. Lemme know if I am confused but fernandez and a draft pick will suffice for me i am a huge rudy fan.

by qbinfin on Jul 3, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions

A sign-and-trade probably won't happen.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 3, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

RUDY! RUDY! RUDY! RUDY!

by GuapoDCole on Jul 2, 2009 2:54 PM EDT reply actions

Deal makes sense, but still feels like stealing..

This would be a great move, especially if we start him.

"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z

by Wmillion on Jul 2, 2009 2:56 PM EDT reply actions

The Blazers wouldn't do it

Why would they? They can sign him outright, and NOT lose valuable and affordable players like Przybilla and Rudy.

Rudy isn’t furious, his real quotes came out today. He’s totally chill, yo.

And even when Oden is playing 35 minutes a night, ya need a good backup Center. I don’t see us moving Joel for someone we can get for “free”.

If we sign Hedo, it won’t be Rudy who is affected, it’ll be Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster. Most Blazer fans expect Outlaw would be the one who is moved.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Jul 2, 2009 3:04 PM EDT reply actions

Right .. I don't expect a sign-and-trade to go down, either.

Doesn’t make sense, since the Blazers can sign Hedo outright.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 2, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

yep, no way. they need przybilla , he was great for them. And Rudy they can retain even if he doesnt want to play for Porm but I hear its alot more overblown than it is too.
So its really only for rudy alone, and itd make sense if Portland was going to use Turk/Outlaw/Webster/Batum/Roy for the 2/3 spots. Rudy has like no real PT in that, and it would help clear room for a PG to come later.

by derekk on Jul 2, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

From a purely financial standpoint, it'd be better to move Outlaw and keep Fernandez.

It’d be nearly impossible to move Webster since he has a few years left on his deal.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 2, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

And a broken foot

"It's just senseless! 33 million for 2 years of Z-Bo? Might as well pay 33 million to get kicked in the balls 82 times a year."-Eric in Madison(Canis Hoops)

by YikesItsCameron on Jul 2, 2009 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Greg Oden playing 35 minutes a night?

Where? At Ohio State?

by Lee for three on Jul 2, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, that's no guarantee.

.. that’s why it’s good having Pryzbilla.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 2, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

In the future

He will likely be playing around 35 minutes a night.

This recent season, he was slowed down by conditioning problems (he wasn’t allowed to work on his legs, for example, until a few weeks ago), and foul problems. Both problems made each exponentially worse. When he was on the floor, though, he was usually very good, having very similar per-36 numbers to Dwight Howard’s rookie year (which is encouraging, since he missed a whole damn year and was out of shape). When he played 30+ minutes (i.e., when he stayed out of foul trouble), he averaged 15/11 and some blockies.

So, to me, once he gets his conditioning under control (which is only a matter of time), and does what every center does to manage his foul problems, he’ll be playing 35 minutes a night.

His micro is healed, he has no other injuries. If he is in shape, only foul problems will hold him back.

It could be some time before he is there, though. Maybe a few seasons. SO, that is why a good, strong backup like Joel Przybilla is necessary.

Plus, every other 7 footer gets hurt from being a big man, so it’s nice to have insurance with a good backup. Big man depth is a luxury that I don’t think the Blazers will be in a rush to rid themselves of. I’d rather they had a true 3rd center as well.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Jul 2, 2009 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions

We'll just take Rudy. K thnx

'Coach, Dwight is a nice guy. Dwight don't hit anybody. But Superman will knock the crap out of you.' - D12

by Eyriq the Red on Jul 3, 2009 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions

If a trade was going to happen....

It would be:

Hedo and the rights to Fran for Rudy and a trade exception.

Someone tell me if this is allowable. Since POR is under the cap, can’t they send a trade exception (similar to what we did for Rashard w/ Seattle).

POR does this because they have a logjam at SF, and Fran is a nice sweetener should he ever come over…although KP might be at wit’s end with Spanish player by now.

by TragicMatt on Jul 2, 2009 3:58 PM EDT reply actions

Rudy isn't getting traded .. it's nice to think about, but it's not realistic.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 2, 2009 4:36 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah.. Rudy's pretty popular here in PDX. They trade Rudy away, they trade away the female fans.

I don’t own a ‘I heart Rudy’ t-shirt for nothing! Rudy and Joel will be Blazers next year, and apparently so will Hedo.

by jenstcy on Jul 3, 2009 12:13 AM EDT reply actions

hehe, you guys will love Hedo. He is a great player, sad to see him leaving

by derekk on Jul 3, 2009 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe they'll make a "I Heart Hedo" shirt!! (or maybe not--don't want to get Rudy upset)

I’m kind of excited about the idea of Hedo coming to PDX. The fan base is kind of split 50-50. But I like him. I hope he can get Greg Oden some easy baskets like he did for Dwight.

by jenstcy on Jul 3, 2009 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Hedo is prolly one of the best of the wole league in throwing perfect alleyhoops =) He’s going to have the ball alot, but so he can make plays and pass alot, he will give alot of breathing room for Roy, because Roy looked like he was all alone at times in those last playoffs.

by derekk on Jul 3, 2009 8:27 AM EDT up reply actions