Does Ricky Rubio Deserve Starting Point Guard Money?
Where will Ricky Rubio end up next season? The point guard is an unrestricted free agent this off-season. He’s going to have suitors. However, will any team give him a starting role?
Rubio has seen his role decrease in Utah. Despite starting almost every game he’s played in, there isn’t a lot of optimism for him to carve out a big role on another roster. Rubio isn’t the best shooter, and his assist totals have dwindled this season.
The 2018-19 season hasn’t been the best for Rubio. It has been a lot better than 2017-18, where he had a career-low 5.3 assists. This year, Rubio is averaging only 6.1 assists. For a player that has made his name on passing the ball, these are very pedestrian totals.
There’s a spot for Ricky Rubio on a roster. He might not be the 9 assists per game player from his Minnesota Timberwolves days. Ricky Rubio is not the point guard he once was. How many teams will give him what he wants come free agency?
Utah was considering trading Rubio at the deadline. They don’t want to bring him back as a starter. The Jazz would be nuts to bring him back for $16 million a year as a bench option. Assuming he takes a pay cut, Utah is probably out on Rubio.
Despite Utah’s probable resistance to Rubio, there are other teams that could take a look. A lot of his market depends on other free agent signings. Again, there’s not a big market for him as a starter. Rubio might be forced into signing to a roster as a bench player.
Teams won’t be willing to give Rubio full control of the offense. He’s a streaky shooter who’s a pass-first guard. Most winning NBA rosters have an all-around point guard at their disposal. Rubio’s main skill is dishing the ball. Are the team’s going to rely on him to pass and do very little else? Probably not.
It says something when Utah was willing to trade Ricky Rubio at the deadline. The Jazz knew they needed an all-around guard like Mike Conley (who Rubio was rumored to be traded for). It’s tough to win with a pass-first guard on your roster in today’s NBA. The point guard spot needs to rely on a bit of scoring and passing. He’s not an effective NBA starter. That’s going to hurt his value on the free agent market.
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Daniel is a guru of baseball and basketball prospects. He’s a very experienced Amusement Park traveler as well. Follow him and his hot takes on Insta @dgentleman9288
