I joke, I joke. There’s absolutely no reason to talk about Rudy or any reports that come out of Marca right now. It’s clear that there is some strong disdain for the Blazers coming out of that media outlet, along with some iffy knowledge of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement. So let’s just push that aside and put it on our block list for the moment.

Credit KP for not following the character arc of this fellow. Though KP could use a hat like that. Someone get KP a hat.

The real topic of the week is Kevin Pritchard, obviously, about whom I can start by saying I respect just for not going full on Johnny Ringo on the Blazers right now. The best course of action is probably just for KP to stay quiet and do his job, though the same isn’t true for the rest of the Blazers front office, who could be doing much more to set the situation right — even if that means leaking “the truth” to some outside sources, as they’re basically trying to combat their own leaks with corporate speak. Tough to do.

So, for starters, what do you think KP should be doing? Should he resign?

SJ: I have no idea how the Blazers could have botched this so bad. It smells like how the Bulls treated Vinny Del Negro without the story of Larry Miller and KP almost coming to blows. It’s amazing how far this franchise has come…remember when the fans were for firing the GM and now the majority of them are fighting to keep him around. Let me get this out of the way, the whole thing does not make any sense to me. With all of the boneheaded GMs running around the NBA, why run off someone who is doing their job correctly? What’s the justification for letting him go? Too many saavy moves? I’m not saying KP is perfect, but it’s hard to argue that he has not done a phenomenal job building this team.

The worst part about all of it is how it has played out publicly. The melodrama has just been insane, about a gajillion times better than the final season of the Hills. It’s almost come time for the Blazers to either come out and say ‘We’re keeping him’ or to cut him loose because this limbo is doing no one favors. Neither is coming out and saying “We’re still evaluating him”. What’s to evaluate? That great Camby trade?

If anything by keeping his mouth shut and doing his job, KP is making people forget about all the things that came out of Wojo’s initial ‘Ether’ report. It would almost have been better if the Blazers front office just said ‘no comment’, at least that could garner respect. (More after the jump)
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If he decides he wants to play for Real Madrid, the Spanish team will have to reach a settlement with Portland. Or perhaps the Blazers will find a deal that works for both sides and trade him to an NBA team that suits him.

Regardless, Fernandez’s days with Portland are numbered. Enjoy him while you can.

From quotes like this:

“I have a contract with Portland,” he said. “I have to be with this team. But I tell you, sometimes I miss my family and my friends. And I miss the Euro competition, too.”

“I’ll focus right now on playing hard the rest of the games and trying to help my teammates,” he said. “This summer, we’ll see.”

Not much more needs to be said about this, because absolutely nothing has changed. Rudy is frustrated — partially because he’s been fairly awful — and doesn’t have a huge support group immediately around him outside of hoops. It’s perfectly understandable, and not at all different from what he was saying in February when that Marca story came out that had some of its facts wrong.

To rehash, Rudy can’t legally play anywhere else next season unless he can organize a buyout with the Blazers. Sure, he could pout and refuse to play, but given how poorly he’s been playing, he doesn’t have a ton of leverage.

I want him to do well, just as I do everyone else on this team, but I’m also, as I’m sure many of you are, very open to the idea of trading Rudy this summer. It’s not tough to think that way, given the on-court performance, but this team isn’t going to change just to suit Rudy’s needs, ever. It’s a longshot, but would anyone be opposed to trying to get a Ty Lawson or Darren Collison with Rudy as the centerpiece of a deal? It’s only realistic if he has a good playoff run, but, as it seems is the case with everyone in the organization, Rudy’s future with the team will certainly be reevaluated after the season. Until then, let’s just hope he plays better, because even if you don’t have any fondness towards Fernandez left in you, it’s still good for everyone involved.