Golden State 100, Portland 78: Despite Blazers' preseason losses, Rudy Fernandez's game is all smiles

He used the offseason to publicly demand a trade.

He used media day to express his unhappiness with the NBA and plead for the Trail Blazers' front office to release him so he could cure his homesickness by returning to his native Spain.

But with just one exhibition game remaining before the start of the regular season, one unquestionable truth has emerged: When Rudy Fernandez steps on the court, he sure doesn't look unhappy. And with every passing October day, every swished three-pointer and every highlight-reel play, Fernandez's coaches and teammates say they have discovered one more truth:

They can depend on the disgruntled guard, homesick or not.

"I can count on Rudy," All-Star Brandon Roy said before the Blazers' 100-78 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Monday. "I can trust Rudy to play hard and do well for this team. We all have moments where we want to get home. I'm a 2 1/2-hour drive away from home (in Seattle) and I get homesick. But I think Rudy will be good despite everything that's happened."