I think this move definitely signals the end of Rudy Fernandez in Portland. Frank Isola is reporting that NY still has interest in Rudy and where there's been smoke for such a long time, there's usually fire. My gut tells me this guy will be a Knick before the start of the season. Donnie and MDA love the guy, Pritchard is no longer in Portland (he was perhaps Rudy's biggest fan out there) and Rudy has said he wants NY..Looks like it might require a third team to strike a deal though:

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/knicks/2010/07/new-york-knicks-still-covet-ru.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nydnrss%2Fblogs%2Fknicks+%28Blogs%2FKnicks+Knation%29

Too bad we signed Mozgov and Utah dealt away Kosta Koufos to Minny as part of the Al Jefferson deal -- Sending Chandler to Utah for Koufos and a pick would've made a lot of sense right now, esp. with Utah losing Matthews & Korver.

iSergio wrote:Maybe we can have this conversation when Rudy Fernandez puts up 15/5, plays D and shoots 46%.

simrud wrote:I don't think Rudy should be compared to Chandler. I'm sure everybody understands that.

Nalod wrote:If Rudy can blossom under the MDA way, then yeah bring him in.

But he didn't like him in Phoenix. He was the one that traded him right away at the 2007 draft. Ironically enough the players that the Suns were interested in were Chandler and Dudley. Who were taken right before they pick. This is also the same guy who said he needs to take a lot of shots to be effective in his last outing where Blazers could have use some production. Something MDA said worried him after he was traded. Be careful with this guy.

My bet would be that Donnie is low balling the Blazers with an offer and the Blazer's are trying to find something better on the market.

iSergio wrote:Kelena Azubuike > Rudy Fernandez

You know, I keep saying I'm pleased we got Azubuike, but I'll be honest- I've never seen him play and know nothing about him except his shooting percentages looked good and he's been called a good defender- has anyone actually seen him play much?

smackeddog wrote:

iSergio wrote:Kelena Azubuike > Rudy Fernandez

You know, I keep saying I'm pleased we got Azubuike, but I'll be honest- I've never seen him play and know nothing about him except his shooting percentages looked good and he's been called a good defender- has anyone actually seen him play much?

All I can remember is watching him against us a few years ago and wondering where he came from and how he looked pretty good for an undrafted player.

He improved almost every year in college, and was doing the same thing before his injury last year.

Paladin55 wrote:

iSergio wrote:Kelena Azubuike > Rudy Fernandez...

...Assuming he is back to where he was prior to his injury.

The real question- the answer to which may make Chandler trade bait- is whether Azubuike is a better SG than Chandler is, and Donnie is thinking about this as we speak, I expect.

Personally, I'm not a big Rudy fan, and would rather keep Chandler, but the Knicks may be thinking that a Rudy/Azu combo is better than 35 MPG of Chandler at this point.

Good assessment Pal..I think you hit the nail right on the head. If Azubuike's healthy he's a real nice component, I think starting SG caliber..Athletic shooter/scorer/capable defender...Alan Hahn mentioned quickly on the latest Knicks Live special that Kelenna feels he'll be ready for training camp. Don't know if that's totally accurate but coming directly from Kelenna, it sounds like good news..Definitely encouraging..Someone on the Knicks Live panel, forgot if it was Gus, Kelly or Hahn, also compared him to Raja Bell and I think that's pretty accurate...Buke might even be better than Bell to be honest but definitely similar..This dude's a player that should thrive here if healthy..

I tell ya, when you think about GS, they sure have had there problems putting together a finished product that clicks but there's no denying that team knows how to pick the right d-league players...I mean it's uncanny -- every single player they've brought up the last few years has become a major contributor -- CJ Watson, Kelenna Azubuike, Anthony Tolliver (saw on hoopshype that the Knicks might be interested in this dude btw), Chris Hunter (played much better for GS than he did for us) and now Reggie Williams who looks like the best call up of them all. And I believe there are others that don't come to mind right now as well..Williams' strong play I think had a lot to do with them trading Maggette and also in their willingness to deal Anthony Randolph for Lee..that team has even drafted pretty well the last few years...I'd keep an eye on their scouting department personnel--if the new ownership ever decides to part ways with anyone in their scouting dept, they should get a job here in a nano second--Lord knows we could use the help..The proof is in the pudding --- those guys are flat out good at what they do.

smackeddog wrote:

Nalod wrote:

Wishful thinking is prevelant with our new players.

I'm guilty of that wishful thinking too- despite all 3 Golden State players having major, season ending injuries that nearly a year later still haven't fully healed, and reports indicating Turiaf and Azubuike may have to have more surgery, I'm still just assuming they'll be back at 100% come the start of the new season with no linger effects!

Me too but when you hear Randolph say he's ready to go, Turiaf too and now Hahn reporting that he heard directly from Azubuike himself that he'll be ready for training camp, it's pretty encouraging...

Someone remind me -- what was Turiaf's big injury last year? I know he had the major heart procedure done while he was with the Lakers but he's moved past that...How did he hurt himself last year for the Warriors? I don't remember..