Rudy Fernandez choosing Dallas over Real Madrid?

By turning down Real Madrid's $26 million offer, Rudy Fernandez expects big things from himself with Dallas. (Photo: Reuters/Steve Dipaola)

The NBA is currently locked out. There may not be a 2011-2012 season. This is obviously incredibly detrimental to the league for the fans, players, and those people who work at arenas and in any other capacity affiliated with the NBA. As a result, some players are thinking of playing overseas for the time being. Rudy Fernandez is one of them.

He has desired to play in Spain for a long time has a decision to make: go to his homecountry, where he can be their highest-paid player, or remain in the NBA, wait out the lockout, and eventually suit up for the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, with a management that thinks he can help the team to another title.

He has reportedly been offered a six-year deal by Real Madrid, and overall it is a tremendous contract for a player who has struggled the past few seasons. CBSSports.com has the details:

“The offer equates to $4.35 million per year at current exchange rates. In other words, the deal would be worth $26.1 million, a hefty sum for a player that has been subject to the NBA’s rookie scale so far during his career and was essentially buried on Portland’s bench the last two seasons. Fernandez is set to make $2.1 million in the 2011-2012 season and would be line for a $3.2 million qualifying offer next summer with the opportunity to enter restricted free agency if no extension with Dallas was agreed to.”

For years he has desired to return to Spain, being outspoken enough to frustrate fans. But despite this, it appears he will turn down this lucrative offer and remain with Dallas. If this news, as reported by Spanish newspaper Marca, is true it is quite a shocking decision.

His skillset is perfect for the Spanish League’s style of play, and his knowing many of the players over there would produce great chemistry. When he was at his best with Portland he had Sergio Rodriguez on the floor with him. He would be with him again, as Rodriguez signed a three-year deal with Real Madrid beginning in 2010. The situation would be ideal for Fernandez.

He is taking a huge gamble, but the Mavericks think it will turn out to be the right move. Dallas’ President of Basketball Operations Don Nelson has said Fernandez “can help us win right away”, so they think he can do some good with a fresh start. He is leaving money and the chance to play with his countrymen on the table, but is nice to see that he is so well-liked by the Mavericks.

Given their excitement around him, it is no surprise that they had a hand in him staying with Dallas. ESPN Dallas’ Jeff Caplan writes: “Mavs owner Mark Cuban recently gave an interview to Marca.com and said he has long admired Fernandez’s all-around game and that Dallas had made unsuccessful offers for the Spaniard before. According to the report, Cuban’s support helped to sway Fernandez’s decision, at least for the upcoming season.”

Throughout his three-year career with Portland Fernandez expressed his desire to start. He was grumpy much of the time, especially after Rodriguez was traded in 2009, and wasn’t consistently effective in the 20 or so minutes per game he played. He may see more minutes in Dallas, perhaps as a starter, according to Caplan:

“Fernandez gives Dallas the tall, athletic and youthful shooting guard they have long desired. He instantly becomes the top candidate to start at shooting guard with Rodrigue Beaubois again coming off foot surgery and Jason Terry entrenched as the team’s sixth man.”

There was plenty not to like about Fernandez in Portland: his streaky play and comments to the media. But there was a lot to like, too: his talent when his shot was falling, his Three Goggles, and his overall enthusiasm, pizzaz, and energy. This is why there is some intrigue as to how he will fair with Dallas, a team that is stacked and will be in the hunt to repeat as champions whenever the NBA resumes.

He lacked confidence in Portland and didn’t trust his shot. He must believe he will be the polar opposite with Dallas if he is turning down Real Madrid. If this belief translates to confident play on the court the Mavericks may strike gold with his acquisition. And I hope they do.