=== Blazers, Fernandez ready for divorce ===

By John McMullen, NBA Editor

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Rudy Fernandez has more than enough
ability to play a major role on a top-tier NBA team.

I'm just not sure he wants to.

The disgruntled Trail Blazers swingman has been griping about his playing time
for Nate McMillan in the Pacific Northwest after he averaged 8.1 points, 2.6
rebounds and 2.0 assists last season, a year after bursting on the NBA scene
by setting an NBA rookie record with 159 3-pointers.

Fernandez's agent, Andy Miller, went public on Wednesday informing several
media outlets that the Spanish star wants to return to Europe and is willing
to sit out for the next two seasons, the time left on his Portland deal.

That's just posturing, of course, but it was enough to get the NBA's attention
and the league fined Fernandez $25,000 on Thursday for comments "detrimental"
to the league.

Detrimental may be a bit of a stretch, but rules are rules and the NBA strictly
prohibits players or their representation from publicly requesting a trade.

And make no mistake, that's what this is about. Fernandez, who is currently
......