Blazers Aquisition & Update

The Blazers signed assistant coach Joe Prunty today, presumably to replace Bill Bayno, who took the head coaching job at Loyola Marymount University after last season. With Prunty comes experience, intelligence and three championship rings (from his tenure in San Antonio). He coached for Dallas last season and was one of Avery Johnson's first acquisitions as head coach of the Mavs. Here is a link to Prunty's bio.

This can only be a good thing, considering he worked for coach Greg Popovich and has the experience of winning a championship. Having coaches with playoff experience makes it infinitely easier for players in the post-season, so this is another step in the right direction. The talent is there, the coaching staff is coming along. Championship is imminent.

Another interesting piece of Blazers news is that Rudy Fernandez reported turned down $31 million to play in the NBA. CSKA of Moscow put up an offer of 20 million euros (roughly $31 million) recently. The Blazers can only offer Fernandez about $6 million for his rookie contract. You know he is telling the serious when he says that his dream is to play in the NBA. You don't turn down $31 million every day. From his interviews, it seems like he will be a great character guy and another important piece of the puzzle. Fernandez has the potential to be a better Manu Ginobli, a kind of player that is important to every championship team.