Below the FIBA radar

Hmmm... the FIBA World Championships are in full swing, and where has all the Rudy Fernandez talk gone?  Nowhere, I say, which is exactly where Rudy will be going before the season starts.

Mi amigo, vamos a ganar

There's no doubt in my mind that ol' Rudy has grossly overvalued himself as an NBA player.  He doesn't seem to be helping his case much in Turkey, either.  If he thinks he'll be traded to a team where he'll be starting, I can tell him right now that the Washington Generals don't have the pieces for a trade, and I can't see him starting anywhere else.

Of course, anything can happen once the season starts.  Players get injured.  Unexpected teams start to make a run.  Before you know it, somebody needs some shooting and energy off the bench for their playoff push. 

Rest easy in Stumptown, Rudy.  You'll get your ticket out when the time comes.  You may even get a chance to play with one of your Spanish buddies once Sasha Vujacic wears out his welcome...

Where Will 'Melo land..?

As a side note, do we really want a league in which not only legitimate stars like Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul resort to strongarming their franchises with trade demands and list of destinations, but the likes of Rudy Fernandez as well?

We'd seen the signs...

But, to the issue at hand:  Since it's become clear that Anthony will be shipped out of Denver ASAP, it's also time to predict where he'll end up.  Y'know, because we all love predictions, especially bloggers... No skin off our asses if we're wrong, but we feel like Soothsayer Supreme if we're right. 

My vote(s): Either New Jersey or Golden State, with a slight lean toward the Nets. 

Sure, the Clippers are in LA and 'Melo's wife works there, blah blah... It's still the Clippers.  And sure, the MJ factor looms rather large in Charlotte, but it's still the Bobcats.  Remember, we're dealing with a list of demands.  Nobody demands the Clippers or the Bobcats. 

The Rockets have also been mentioned, but the uncertainty of Yao ever playing again is sure to put the kibosh on that one.  Plus, the Rockets play in Houston.  As far as I'm aware, nobody has ever demanded to go to Houston for any reason.

The Nets and the Warriors each have new owners, pending or otherwise, that are surely looking to make a big splash.  Jersey gets the advantage because of the bold swagger, the deeper pocketbooks, the City of New York, the prospect of completely owning Brooklyn, and the slightly more promising young talent. 

But at this point, would it really shock us if he signed with Miami...?

Four Teams, One Real Impact

I'm telling you... Nap Town is all that!

In the little trade that just went down between the Rockets, Hornets, Pacers, and Nets, much can be made of the Rockets shedding payroll, the Nets obtaining a hefty expiring contract, the Hornets picking up an athletic swingman that can shoot, etc. etc. etc.  Don't let the smokescreen fool you.  The fact is that this trade was swung for one huge reason and one only:  The Hornets are trying to make Chris Paul happy.  And the Pacers lucked-up and became the chief beneficiaries. 

By shipping out Darren Collison, who played far above expectations last season in Chris Paul's absence, the Hornets' front office is sending a clear message to Paul that they are committed to him for the foreseeable future. Someone apparently feels that Paul's ego and/or confidence is too fragile to have a promising young guard playing behind or beside him.  Or maybe Paul asked for this.  Who knows.  In any case, if there was ever a question, this is now undeniably Paul's team.


Forget that Collison's rookie contract will be paying him under $2 million for a few more years, right?  Well, I'll bet the Pacers don't forget it.  The team that's been famously hunting for a point guard as long as any team in the league just had one fall in their lap.  Yes friends, even in the NBA, patience can be a virtue. 

Baby steps?

So, what has Portland been doing in the midst of all this NBA hoopla?  Staying on the cusp.

Yes, flipping Martell Webster for Luke Babbitt and Ryan Gomes was the right move.  Gives them two more solid role players for the price of one.  Yes, Phoenix and Utah are weaker.  For now.  But are you really competing, even in the West?  Are they biding their time until the Lakers current dynasty is done?  The newsflash should be that the Thunder have already leapfrogged them.  We'll need to see a big move, involving LA, most likely, to stay near the top of the West.