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Rockets showing interest in trading for Ricky Rubio?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Disciple2123, Jun 25, 2015.

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coachbadlee Member

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Anyone who wants Rubio on this team is not a fan of this team. That is all.

#1241 coachbadlee, Jun 30, 2016

slpntz Member

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Why won't this thread just die already?

#1242 slpntz, Jun 30, 2016
Rudyc281 Member

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slpntz said: ↑

Why won't this thread just die already?
Click to expand...

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/w...ade-block-and-these-are-his-possible-suitors/

This is why

#1243 Rudyc281, Jun 30, 2016
digitallinh Member

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Good article on Rubio, Zach Lowe, pretty spot on. IMO worth the risk he keeps improving his jumper at his salary range. He's only 25....

The question is, can and will Harden ever play off the ball?

link

It has become harder to play a non-shooter, and, holy hell, is Rubio a non-shooter. He has never approached 40 percent overall, or even cracked 50 percent on shots within three feet of the basket. His jumper looks smoother after years of work with shooting experts, but he's still shooting just 30 percent from deep and 38 percent on long 2s. And those long 2s are Rajon Rondo shots -- wide-open looks defenses happily concede. Even if you hit them at a 40 percent clip, that still yields a lower points per possession figure than a functional half-court offense.

Rondo ruined the Dallas Mavericks' equal-opportunity offense last season because he is useless when he doesn't have the ball. He's doing better in a more ball-dominant role with the Sacramento Kings, but it's tough sledding for any offense when the opponent can duck under every screen and dare your opponent to shoot.

Carter-Williams is coming off the bench now in Milwaukee, Elfrid Payton is bricking away with the Orlando Magic, and even the pass-happy Atlanta Hawks quaked in last season's playoffs when dialed-in defenses gave Jeff Teague space to shoot. Rubio makes Teague look like Stephen Curry, and would undoubtedly face the same under-every-pick treatment in the playoffs, when teams craft opponent-specific game plans. Scoring from the post is a challenge, since teams double-off Rubio -- even when he is just one pass away.

A point guard who can drain 3s off the dribble is a foundational piece for a good offense. A point guard who can't shoot from anywhere can be a chunk of debris gunking up the machinery.

Rubio also lacks the explosive athleticism John Wall, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and others used to compensate for their (initially) shaky jumpers. Go under against those guys, and they'll hit the jets, beat you to the other side of the screen and dunk on some poor help defender. Westbrook developed into a good midrange shooter, and Wall is at least approaching league-average from deep. Tony Parker made the leap by becoming an elite midrange shooter.

You can't blame Minnesota for being unsure that Rubio is the right point guard for its young core. But that's what makes this hypothetical swap so fascinating: there is something about Rubio that works in the NBA, even with all the indicators blaring that he should be a hugely damaging offensive player. And this goes beyond defense, where he's among the very best at his position -- a long, tough steals machine with a Ginobili-esque sense of when to sneak away from his man and lunge for steals. He and Manu should form a bank-robbing duo after Rubio retires.

The Wolves have been better on the court every year of Rubio's career, sometimes dramatically so, and more efficient on offense in every season but his rookie campaign, per NBA.com. They even did fine when Rubio played without Kevin Love on the floor.

There is a ton of noise in those numbers, obviously. The quality gap between Minnesota's starters and reserves during Rubio's time, and especially between Rubio and his primary backup in the past two years, probably inflates them. Other stats, including ESPN.com's adjusted plus-minus, paint him as something like an average point guard on offense, though he's even doing well there this season.

But Rubio does something on offense that defies expectations. It's rote to say he's a genius passer, but the dude is a genius freaking passer. There are lots of team executives who still believe in Rubio's ability to lift a team to higher places; he might have more trade value than you'd think, especially since he's on a team-friendly deal through 2018-19.

"We win games when I'm out there," Rubio told me in the fall. "I've just got to stay healthy."

All good point guards can make the paint-by-numbers passes at a high level. Turn around the screen, and hit the big man popping open for a jumper. Read the help defender pinching in from the weak side, and skip a cross-court pass to the open shooter there. If that second big man lurches up from the back line, thread a pass to his guy in the dunker spot.

Rubio makes those passes a bit differently, and a tick earlier, than almost every other point guard. The rhythm of his game is a micro-beat off in a way that helps his teammates. He might kick the ball back to Towns for an open midrange jumper while Towns' defender is still sliding away from Towns -- and toward Rubio's driving lane. Probe another half-second, as most point guards would, and Towns' defender has time to settle his feet, gather his momentum and rush back out to challenge Towns.

That skip pass to an open shooter will be airborne while that shooter's man is still sliding toward the paint -- making it almost impossible for him to scurry back out in time.

Rubio has a bunch of tricks that accelerate the timing of his passes. He can whip blind behind-the-back passes with either hand, saving the half-second it might take to turn his head, face his target and throw a two-handed pass.

He's one of the last real no-look passers in the NBA. He doesn't lock in on his target, start his passing motion and only then dramatically snap his head in the other direction. Those phony no-look jobs don't fool defenders as often, or hold their attention as long. When Rubio whips a no-look pass, he actually doesn't look at his target, and that creates an extra blip of confusion for defenses.

Basically: When you get the ball from Rubio, you get a little bit more of a head start than you would receiving the same pass from the typical NBA point guard. He sees you sooner, gets rid of the ball faster and uses some nifty delivery that widens your advantage. Rubio takes away spacing with his bad shooting, but he opens some up with his passing. If you're ready to drive or shoot the moment a Rubio pass hits your fingertips, you should have plenty of room to execute.

It's great to have as much shooting as possible. Duh. But not everyone can be the Golden State Warriors, and several teams are reminding us you can build a perfectly nice offense with blah shooting -- provided you keep the rock moving, so defenses can't load up off your weakest links.

Rubio also sees passes almost no one else sees, and slices defenses apart in transition. He doesn't dribble the air out of the ball -- playing under former coach Rick Adelman will drill that out of you -- and he can be a vicious screener away from it.

People love playing with him, and that matters. It means teammates will play hard for him, and for one another. Rubio finds mismatches almost the moment they happen. During the second half of Golden State's win against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night, Kevin Durant found himself one-on-one with Curry around the foul line as Westbrook dribbled along the left side. Durant begged for the ball. Westbrook ran a wild pick-and-roll and flung a line-drive floater off the backboard. Durant's shoulders sagged and he pounded his arms against his sides.

That would never happen with Rubio.

There are also plenty of coaches and GMs who see Rubio's shot as fixable, and would bet on him following the same jumper-improvement trajectory as Kidd.

There is a tendency to look at Rubio as both a finished product and a relic. You can understand why Minnesota would offer him up for Middelton, and it likely would win that exchange. But Rubio's still just 25, and he has spent half his career either injured or leading terrible teams. There are obvious flaws in his game, but there is also something bigger that works. I'd love to see him on a better team. Hell, I'd love to see him on a Wolves team with Middleton and Wiggins starting on the wing.

Rubio is something of an unsolved NBA mystery. I can't wait to see where he goes from here -- whether it's in Minnesota, or someplace else.
Click to expand...

#1244 digitallinh, Jun 30, 2016
basketballholic Member

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I want Rubio on this team.

#1245 basketballholic, Jun 30, 2016
digitallinh Member

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basketballholic said: ↑

I want Rubio on this team.
Click to expand...

Rubio and Horford on this team would make me ridiculously happy.

Rubio
Harden
Ariza
Horford
Capela

Once Harden sees that every time he cuts into open space, Rubio hits him on the money, he will probably do it all the time!

#1246 digitallinh, Jun 30, 2016
digitallinh Member

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digitallinh said: ↑

Rubio
Harden
Ariza
Horford
Capela
Click to expand...

This would probably also be a top 10 defense with an improving Capela. Rubio arguably the best defensive pg in the league and Horford are huge improvements to what we have now.

#1247 digitallinh, Jun 30, 2016

basketballholic Member

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digitallinh said: ↑

This would probably also be a top 10 defense with an improving Capela. Rubio arguably the best defensive pg in the league and Horford are huge improvements to what we have now.
Click to expand...

Rubio
Harden
Batum
Noel
Durant

#1248 basketballholic, Jun 30, 2016
Nachobar Where’s my chips?

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Last I've heard regarding Rubio was around 5pm. He's definitely gone. Rockets are definitely a player but it's up in there air if it'd be Brewer or Ariza in a trade, but Ariza is a "friendlier" option for receiving teams (obviously including Minn.).

(Following IMO) Things are moving together fast. Bazemore reports could open up the flood-gates. It won't take the reported $18-19m. Looking at around $16 over 3-4 years. A line-up of the following would be sick:

Rubio/Bev
Harden
Bazemore
Horford/DMo
Capela

#1249 Nachobar, Jun 30, 2016
RocketsHero Member

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jrossharden said: ↑

Last I've heard regarding Rubio was around 5pm. He's definitely gone. Rockets are definitely a player but it's up in there air if it'd be Brewer or Ariza in a trade, but Ariza is a "friendlier" option for receiving teams (obviously including Minn.).

(Following IMO) Things are moving together fast. Bazemore reports could open up the flood-gates. It won't take the reported $18-19m. Looking at around $16 over 3-4 years. A line-up of the following would be sick:

Rubio/Bev
Harden
Bazemore
Horford/DMo
Capela
Click to expand...

Good to hear! He's very very underrated. Huge get if true.

#1250 RocketsHero, Jun 30, 2016
ThatBoyNick Member

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Rubio's contract is looking amazing now.

Mozgof will make 3 mill more per year the Rubio, let that sink in.

#1251 ThatBoyNick, Jun 30, 2016
Ming The King Member

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with the Bazemore sign
next Ariza + bev for Rubio

Rubio
Harden
Bazemore
Dmo
horford

could it be?

#1252 Ming The King, Jun 30, 2016
ilovehtownbb Member

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Ming The King said: ↑

with the Bazemore sign
next Ariza + bev for Rubio

Rubio
Harden
Bazemore
Dmo
horford

could it be?
Click to expand...

So that's enough to win the west?

#1253 ilovehtownbb, Jun 30, 2016

RasaqBoi Member

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ilovehtownbb said: ↑

So that's enough to win the west?
Click to expand...

Lol that team doesn't make playoffs. I'll bet on it.

#1254 RasaqBoi, Jun 30, 2016
ksny15 Member

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Ming The King said: ↑

with the Bazemore sign
next Ariza + bev for Rubio

Rubio
Harden
Bazemore
Dmo
horford

could it be?
Click to expand...

Hell no!

Ariza and Bev should fetch FAR better than a guy who can't hit an open shot let alone lay up. Especially with their contracts.

#1255 ksny15, Jul 1, 2016
Rudyc281 Member

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jrossharden said: ↑

Last I've heard regarding Rubio was around 5pm. He's definitely gone. Rockets are definitely a player but it's up in there air if it'd be Brewer or Ariza in a trade, but Ariza is a "friendlier" option for receiving teams (obviously including Minn.).

(Following IMO) Things are moving together fast. Bazemore reports could open up the flood-gates. It won't take the reported $18-19m. Looking at around $16 over 3-4 years. A line-up of the following would be sick:

Rubio/Bev
Harden
Bazemore
Horford/DMo
Capela
Click to expand...

Sign me up. Hope something gets done tonight lol

#1256 Rudyc281, Jul 1, 2016
skroodup25 Member

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I'm getting the feeling that there is a Trevor/Bev for Rubio/Pek/Jones trade coming.... If Morley can't squeeze out jones then we'll sign either jack or DJ A as a backup to Rubio

#1257 skroodup25, Jul 1, 2016
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digitallinh said: ↑

This would probably also be a top 10 defense with an improving Capela. Rubio arguably the best defensive pg in the league and Horford are huge improvements to what we have now.
Click to expand...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oA3OYmI9uqM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Harden disagrees

#1258 axaznshortyxa, Jul 1, 2016

zeeshan2 Member

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Because everyone was ripping Ricky Rubio last week. He's paid less than Timofey Mozgov and was 2nd in NBA amongst PGs in defensive RPM.</p>— Ian Kenyon (@IanKenyonNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IanKenyonNFL/status/748745359371874309">July 1, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Minnesota Timberwolves had eyes on trading Ricky Rubio on draft night last week, and the indications have been that his time with the Wolves is at an end, especially after the team drafted Kris Dunn (and didn't trade him for Jimmy Butler). Rubio is an incredible passer and brilliant defender; the Wolves have been much better with him on the floor than off (9.3 net points per 100 possessions better). But his upside seems to have stagnated at age 25 and the problems with his jumper and finishing at the rim continue.

Still, they couldn't find a deal for him, and the Sporting News reports the team is likely to wait until after free agency cools down to try and move him again. However, Sean Deveney also reports a list of potential suitors who may still be interested, and says that the Wolves may keep Rubio ... until mid-season.

Minnesota also has not ruled out the possibility to hanging on to Rubio and letting him help ease in Dunn before trading him at some point next season. The Celtics did that with Rondo after drafting Marcus Smart in 2014, trading Rondo in December that year.
Depending on how free agency shakes out, league sources said there would be no shortage of teams interested in Rubio, including Philadelphia, Houston and the Bucks, who were unwilling to part with Khris Middleton to land Rubio four months ago. The Mavericks, with an interest in signing Mike Conley as a priority, would be a potential partner and a team for which Rubio might like to play.

As for his suitors:
Philadelphia: They need NBA players, especially at point guard, and Rubio is that. Rubio and Ben Simmons would make for the most times opponents have gone under one team's screens to let them shoot in NBA history, but it would also be crazy fun with the kind of passing and athleticism they'd have.

Houston: The Rockets could really use Rubio's playmaking and defense, and in a Mike D'Antoni system, Rubio might break the single-season assists record. However, they have a tough defender who can hit shots in Patrick Beverley, so it kind of creates a dilemma. If only they could meld them into Rickrick Bevubio.
Click to expand...

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/wolves-ricky-rubio-is-reportedly-on-the-trade-block-and-these-are-his-possible-suitors/

#1259 zeeshan2, Jul 1, 2016
larsv8 Contributing Member

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"Paid less than Mozgov"

Are you factoring in eating Pekovic's contract?

#1260 larsv8, Jul 1, 2016

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