Rudy Fernandez’s Future: Lost in Translation

The fact that Rudy isn’t happy with the way things are in Portland is nothing new; it’s just funny to read the different statements he gives to the media (depending on which language they speak): “After doing an interview in New Jersey this week with a Spanish newspaper, an article was published painting Fernandez as if he wanted out of Portland. Frankly, I was stunned to hear the tone of some of his comments. That wasn’t the Rudy I had been around this season. When I caught up with him in Toronto, I discovered that the Spanish report had some truths, but also some exaggerations. ‘For sure I talked to Spanish media, but sometimes the Spanish media people write what they want,’ Fernandez said outside the Blazers locker room before the Toronto game. ‘But for sure, I want to play more. I am comfortable with you, I can talk to you right now, and for sure I want to play more. And for sure, sometimes I feel like the coach doesn’t trust me with my play. But I talk to coach after the All-Star break, and we talked together about the rest of the season. It was a good meeting. For both.’ Throughout our conversation, Fernandez made it clear that he was uncomfortable talking about his future because he and the team were in the middle of a playoff hunt. ‘I don’t want to talk about this right now. I want to focus on Portland and play hard every time I’m on the court,’ Fernandez said. ‘That’s my only goal right now.’ Fernandez said he has every intent of finishing the two years remaining on his contract. The talk of him returning to Spain to play for Real Madrid is overblown, he says. ‘I only said I won’t close doors,’ Fernandez said.”