As it turns out, Allen’s reason for missing one of the Blazers’ most emphatic victories of the year was so that he could catch a glimpse of what the Blazers future may hold.
Allen traveled across the Atlantic to the city of Badalona, Spain, to watch Rudy Fernandez (whose NBA rights are held by the Trail Blazers) and his current team, DKV Joventut, defeat MMT Estudiantes 97-89 in an ACB League match. Fernandez made Allen’s trip more than worthwhile, leading all scorers with 30 points in 30 minutes of work while adding four rebounds and three assists in the win. Rudy’s impressive night was helped by going 5-of-11 from three point range and 13-of-15 from the free throw line.
Along with getting a chance to see Rudy play in person, Allen also had a chance to talk to the 6-6 forward’s father during the game. Allen joked that, despite being the owner of the team, he was simply fulfilling the duties of an advanced scout for the Trail Blazers.
The trip might have come as a surprise to Fernandez, but the news was hardly surprising to Trail Blazers General Manager Kevin Pritchard, who talked to Allen on Wednesday.
“He was pretty excited,” Pritchard said. “His trip reinforced what we already know, that Paul is the best owner in professional sports. He loves this team, and is committed to doing whatever he can to ensure our success.”
16 comments:
Thank you Mr. Allen! Hopefully he will be a Blazer next year. Roy and Rudy has a nice ring to it.
Casey, Great to hear that Paul's taking such an active role in building the franchise, and having a positive influence on Rudy's impression of what a NBA team owner is like. He will be a huge addition to our young squad that is destine for great things! Roy, Rudy, L.A, Oden, Outlaw as your starting five! Are you kidding me... Rip city!
While its nice to get all these new [and tall] players, I can't help but think of the current team we have. We might not be able to make it to the playoffs and we have struggled throughout the season, but this is a great group of guys. Every time I have a "favorite player" and love the team as a whole, somebody that has a good role with the team ends up leaving. :( I'm tired of all the guys leaving. I'm very happy with the team we have right now. I am going to be greatly disappointed and frustrated if yet another good player ends up leaving us this summer during the draft and with trades. :( I really love our current team... it has got to be the best Portland has ever had. :) GO BLAZERS - love ya guys!
Sincerely,
Fan since I was wee young
I agree with Project... I really don't want to see people on our team leave, I've come to really like this group and just feel I can relate to them whenever I watch them play. I hope no one really moves this summer except people who don't play like Darius... I hope we don't lose people on our team just to make room for Rudy...
To all of you out there, I have the blazers logo tattoed on my arm, and iam orginally from iraq, but i love portland to death. And will always be there for my blazers. love yall GO BLAZERS, WE WILL SEE THE NBA FINALS IN A FEW YEARS BELIEVE THAT.....
Let's see, the best owner in sports, plus the #1 pick, plus the ROY, plus the best player in Europe, plus LMA, plus a bunch of great young role players equals DYNASTY!
Is there any way we could get Dolan to buy the team?????? Bwahahahahahaha
Way to go Paul, thanks for being awesome!
What has to happen for Rudy to come next year? Does he just need to make up his mind to accept our offer? Why is our offer less than what he would get in Europe? How does salary cap play into this.
Thanks,
Andy
Hola a todos!! teneis suerte de poder llevaros al mejor guard que hay hoy por hoy en europa... espero que Portland sepa aprovecharlo mejor que a Sergio Rodriguez. Saludos desde España.
Great comments everybody. Much appreciated.
natedogg: Word up on that.
project and dreamcloud: It is sad to see guys go, but as players always say, it's a business.
blazing07: You have to be real devoted to do something like that. Good for you.
greg: Too soon to throw out the word "dynasty" but I agree that we've got a chance to achieve something like that.
chad: Dolan would snatch this team up in a second.
andy: If I'm not mistaken, Rudy's contract with DKV has a $500,000 buyout clause, which also happens to be the most an NBA team can pay of a player's buyout. If Rudy wants to come over after he finishes the season with his club team, it will happen.
As far as money goes, the NBA collective bargaining agreement sets rookie contracts at a set amount based on where you were drafted, meaning that there's no negotiation possible between Rudy and the Blazers. They can pay him what the NBA says they can pay him, at least as a rookie. Teams outside of the NBA can basically pay Rudy as much as they like, so at least initially, he'll end up making less money playing in the NBA. But after than initial rookie contract, Rudy can make as much as any other non-rookie, which is significantly more than what players are paid overseas.
Paul Allen es un tipo listo, en serio, no os podeis imaginar como es el juego de Rudy hasta que lo veis en directo y cuando eso ocurre, impresiona.
Si al final cruza el charco, solo puedo daros mi enhorabuena desde aquí porque os llevais al mejor escolta europeo de la actualidad. Gran equipo para el año proximo.Salu2!!
Casey was right about the clause. Just adding to this that best European Teams are estimating to pay 5-8 million dollars for him. Despite of all, Rudy wants 2 go 2 NBA, always having good minutes (not as his good friend Rodriguez).
To the people who think that Rudy is not neccesary for the team, I recommend 'em 2 write "Rudy Fernandez" on YouTube and see how he plays.
Greetings from Spain
If the Blazers finish up only so-so they will likely get a very high draft pick they dont need. Anybody have suggestions?
The problem is, if Oden had been in the line up with this group this year, we'd probably have a playoff team, even here in the West. I wish he had played even for just the last month or two of the season, just so we could have seen how the chemistry worked with the most successful Blazers team in years. Now next season is going to be a whole new team, because there are executives and fans looking to fix what ain't broke. All they needed this year was the big guy in the middle to rebound, defend the low post, and draw in the defense to free up the shooters. That's Oden. Don't mess up a great group of guys by bringing in free agents, who will upset the balance this team has shown. I'm not saying don't pick up Rudy, but that along with a trade for some free agent, or a high draft pick could end up changing three of the starting five of what has been a successful team on the rise. The chemistry could easily backfire as everything they've built on this year is cast aside. Look at every team not making the playoffs. Most of them have a line up that looks as good on paper as what Portland would have next year with a couple big names added. Portland has fewer big names, and more wins than most of the teams in the East, and a couple in the West. I hope they add no more than one new player they intend to have as a starter. I can certainly understand moving the guys who don't currently play to the benefit of the franchise and the players, but leave the rest alone. If you have the money to put together a team like the Celtics, that can make a championship run from day one, it seems like a great idea, but those teams never stay together for more than a year or two. The price tag, aging superstars, and free agency see to that, and injuries usually expose the lack of depth. The Blazers have built the team the right way to be a force for years to come, so far... Don't blow it now with too many new players (you already have Oden) or some lame move like Phoenix getting Shaq. I lived in Spain a couple years ago, and there was an awesome player there who led his team to the championship, and was scoring 30 or so on a regular basis. He was 6'9, built tough,and played the game smart too. I said; "this guy would do great in the NBA." His name was Walter Herrmann. He now plays for the Bobcats, and averages 3.2PPG. In Spain he looked like a superstar, and I don't know if he's gotten a fair shake in the NBA, but just don't get your hopes too high. Frankly, put Oden in there with the current guys, and lets go to the playoffs next year.
The problem is, if Oden had been in the line up with this group this year, we'd probably have a playoff team, even here in the West. I wish he had played even for just the last month or two of the season, just so we could have seen how the chemistry worked with the most successful Blazers team in years. Now next season is going to be a whole new team, because there are executives and fans looking to fix what ain't broke. All they needed this year was the big guy in the middle to rebound, defend the low post, and draw in the defense to free up the shooters. That's Oden. Don't mess up a great group of guys by bringing in free agents, who will upset the balance this team has shown. I'm not saying don't pick up Rudy, but that along with a trade for some free agent, or a high draft pick could end up changing three of the starting five of what has been a successful team on the rise. The chemistry could easily backfire as everything they've built on this year is cast aside. Look at every team not making the playoffs. Most of them have a line up that looks as good on paper as what Portland would have next year with a couple big names added. Portland has fewer big names, and more wins than most of the teams in the East, and a couple in the West. I hope they add no more than one new player they intend to have as a starter. I can certainly understand moving the guys who don't currently play to the benefit of the franchise and the players, but leave the rest alone. If you have the money to put together a team like the Celtics, that can make a championship run from day one, it seems like a great idea, but those teams never stay together for more than a year or two. The price tag, aging superstars, and free agency see to that, and injuries usually expose the lack of depth. The Blazers have built the team the right way to be a force for years to come, so far... Don't blow it now with too many new players (you already have Oden) or some lame move like Phoenix getting Shaq. I lived in Spain a couple years ago, and there was an awesome player there who led his team to the championship, and was scoring 30 or so on a regular basis. He was 6'9, built tough,and played the game smart too. I said; "this guy would do great in the NBA." His name was Walter Herrmann. He now plays for the Bobcats, and averages 3.2PPG. In Spain he looked like a superstar, and I don't know if he's gotten a fair shake in the NBA, but just don't get your hopes too high. Frankly, put Oden in there with the current guys, and lets go to the playoffs next year.
1 -What???Hermann a superstar in Spain???...jajajajajajajajajaja.
2- Scoring 30 points in regular basis????...jajajajajajajajaja, false, he averaged 13.8 points in his better season in Spain.
3-Led his team to the championship???...jajajajaja,false.He played in Unicaja Malaga,and yes,he get the championship...but he wasn´t a star.The stars of the team were Garbajosa and Cabezas.
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