THROUGH THE WIRE: NEWS (10/12/10)

Rudy Fernandez still wants to break away from the Portland Trail Blazers but it seems all this desire has left him is broke. Rudy has yet again Blazed Portland with his Trailblazing comments and yet again the NBA has fined him but this time to the tune of $50,000 for public statements detrimental to the NBA. So will it still be the same song for Fernandez who was previously fined $25,000 by the NBA on the 19th August for more statements desiring to be traded or waived as soon as possible? The Spanish star is out of favour with Portland and the association it appears things are coming to an end for Rudy. So where next to start? It's a shame because a talented player like him needs more time in the NBA but complaining to the PTB about his PT is not the way to go about it.



As Portland prepare to watch one guy go, they keep their door revolving by adding another player to their roster. The organisation have signed 7-foot center Steven Hill. The Trail Blazers have been looking to supplement centre's Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla who are rehabbing from knee surgeries and they seem to have found that in Hill who spent the last two years honing his skills in the NBA Development League. It's hoped that Hill can help Portland with their uphill struggle. The Blazers have had no luck with the centre position with most of their guys burnt out over knee injuries. Even Jeff Pendergraph went down last season to another knee's up injury. The Blazers still have tenacious, defensive centre Marcus Camby, who has also had his fair share of the injuries in the past. Oden and Przybilla should be back sometime this season which would then give the Blazers one of the best four man centre rotations in the L. Let's just hope Portland return the favour and keep Hill on their records and don't end up in another players bad books as you never know when any of these injury prone post pivots may go down again.



The Phoenix Suns have take some shine off their preseason roster by waiving veteran, journeyman guard Chucky Atkins. Phoenix's roster now stands at 16. Chucky Atkins has 11 years of experience on his NBA resume and in that time he's played for the Magic, Pistons, Celtics, Lakers, Wizards, Grizzlies and the Nuggets. In all that time he's even managed to log some time in the Detroit work books last season. The tenacious guard may have only averaged 1 Point and 1.7 assist in the Suns preseason but that was only for 3 games. Atkins speed and shooting ability will still make this guard a great pick up for any team. Let's just hope it's not somebodies pick up team because this guard deserves more burn. Good luck Chuck.TIM DAVID HARVEY.