Report: Rudy Fernandez Signs With Real Madrid

Dallas Mavericks shooting guard/small forward Rudy Fernandez has agreed to sign a four-year deal with Spanish basketball powerhouse Real Madrid, according to multiple reports. According to Sportando, Fernandez will join the Mavericks when the NBA lockout ends for only the 2011/12 season, the last on his rookie contract, at which point he will leave the NBA and re-join Real Madrid.

Fernandez has yet to play for Dallas, as the defending champions acquired the 26-year-old from the Portland Trail Blazers on the night of the NBA Draft. He owns career averages of 9.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, along with a respectable 36.4 percent mark on three-pointers. However, Fernandez's field-goal and three-point percentages have declined in each of his three seasons, from 42.5 percent and 39.9 percent, respectively, as a rookie to 37 percent and 32.1 percent last season.

Despite his flaws, the Mavs--who could use an infusion of young talent--saw fit to trade for him, giving up only the draft rights to Jordan Hamilton and Tanguy Ngombo in the process. It appears their investment in Fernandez will be strictly short-term, though, as his agreement with Real Madrid ensures he'll leave the NBA at the conclusion of this season.

Fernandez is among the few players the NBA has fined for publicly requesting a trade, as he did prior to last season due to his dissatisfaction with his Trail Blazers role. Now free from Portland and soon to be free of the NBA entirely, he ought to be much happier.

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