BOSTON — Rudy Fernandez enjoyed Manhattan last night, having a business dinner with his agent Andy Miller.
The Knicks play their home opener tonight against Portland and the Blazers’ Spanish-born shooting guard still would prefer to make New York City his home. According to a league source, Miller plans to meet tonight at the Garden with Blazers president Richard Cho to discuss Fernandez’s future.
“What Rudy wants is irrelevant,” one person familiar with the situation said. “It’s what the Blazers want.”
In August, Knicks team president Donnie Walsh pursued Fernandez, who wants to be traded to New York or have his contract terminated so he can go back to Spain. Fernandez has been fined twice for $75,000 because his European agent announced Fernandez wants out. Fernandez has filed an appeal of the fine.
Without a pure shooting guard on the roster, Walsh offered two second-round picks for Fernandez — a modest deal to say the least. The Blazers turned it down, and one source said Walsh’s reluctance to hike the offer demonstrates the Knicks aren’t gung-ho.
Fernandez is averaging 19 minutes in two games, shooting just 33 percent (4 of 12). There are rumblings the Knicks would like to get Portland involved in a three-way deal with Denver for a chance to get back Carmelo Anthony and Fernandez.
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The Celtics are mired in controversy after troubled Delonte West
and teammate Von Wafer
got into a scrap at yesterday’s morning shoot-around in preparation for last night’s Knick encounter.
Reportedly, West, who is serving a 10-game suspension for a weapons charge, chased Wafer to the locker room and took a swing.
“There was a fight and that’s all you need to know, the unusually somber Boston coach Doc Rivers
said. “I’m not thrilled with it. I’m not happy with it. It could [affect us]. I hope not.”
West’s reported off-court antics may have led LeBron James
to bolt Cleveland.
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Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni
smiled broadly when asked about nemesis Nate Robinson
fitting in well in Boston. D’Antoni and Robinson warred during their two seasons together in New York.
“He’s done well,” D’Antoni said. “Nate’s a very good basketball player a lot of times. He was great last season in the Finals, I thought.”
According to a league source, Robinson had a chance to sign with Miami, but turned it down.
“He’d rather beat them than join them,” said the source, who added Robinson also was pursued by the Nets.