Ricky Rubio Wasn't Thrilled About Trade To Cavaliers

[RealGM Wiretap]

Ricky Rubio has had a positive impact for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the early part of his tenure with the team. Rubio is one of Cleveland's key veterans on a roster filled with young players. 

"Without getting too far out over my skis and getting aggregated too much, Ricky Rubio, from what I understand, was not thrilled about being traded to Cleveland," said Brian Windhorst on his podcast.

"And at this point in his career, I don't really blame him."

"It was also like the 14th time he was traded in the last two years," interjected Tim MacMahon.

"He signed thinking he was going to be playing alongside Devin Booker in Phoenix and next thing he knows he is in Cleveland. Okay, so it took some convincing to get Rubio sold on that this was the best place for him. Whatever they did, they got Rubio focused and he is providing very level-headed competent ball handling and execution, which considering the last couple of years, they've played with very young and sometimes very wild guards. Putting Rubio out there makes a difference."

Via Brian Windhorst/ESPN

[niha17]

well its the cavs and lebrons gone so my question is who would be thrilled. i wouldnt want to play on the cavs with their 5 point guards.. horrible team structure and inept front office

[dickfox]

They essentially won the lottery with Mobley. They need keep garland and get rid of sexton. Okoro will be their 3 and D guy eventually. Just need to get another solid wing and they are set.

They are gonna be fine.

[JonFromVA]

They essentially won the lottery with Mobley. They need keep garland and get rid of sexton. Okoro will be their 3 and D guy eventually. Just need to get another solid wing and they are set.

They are gonna be fine.

The Cavs need someone who can just get buckets when they need them and Collin Sexton fills that role fine. They can't lose Collin unless they also replace what he's bringing.

For instance, I doubt the Cavs beat the Clippers even holding them to 79 points without Sexton's scoring and tenacity in that game.

[dickfox]

They essentially won the lottery with Mobley. They need keep garland and get rid of sexton. Okoro will be their 3 and D guy eventually. Just need to get another solid wing and they are set.

They are gonna be fine.

The Cavs need someone who can just get buckets when they need them and Collin Sexton fills that role fine. They can't lose Collin unless they also replace what he's bringing.

For instance, I doubt the Cavs beat the Clippers even holding them to 79 points without Sexton's scoring and tenacity in that game.

But do you really wanna keep him at a max or close to max number and then have to not pay someone else in the next few years?

Garland, Okoro, Mobley are better "NBA" guys that can turn into a really nice core.

[JonFromVA]

They essentially won the lottery with Mobley. They need keep garland and get rid of sexton. Okoro will be their 3 and D guy eventually. Just need to get another solid wing and they are set.

They are gonna be fine.

The Cavs need someone who can just get buckets when they need them and Collin Sexton fills that role fine. They can't lose Collin unless they also replace what he's bringing.

For instance, I doubt the Cavs beat the Clippers even holding them to 79 points without Sexton's scoring and tenacity in that game.

But do you really wanna keep him at a max or close to max number and then have to not pay someone else in the next few years?

Garland, Okoro, Mobley are better "NBA" guys that can turn into a really nice core.

No, I don't want Collin at the max (unless he shows he deserves it), but who's going to offer Collin more than the Cavs are willing? He is a restricted free-agent, and even if he moves on, there's a decent chance it happens in a S&T.

The Heat and the Knicks might have considered it, but they seem to have both moved on.

It basically comes down to Collin at $20M+ or what?

[HotelVitale]

The Cavs need someone who can just get buckets when they need them and Collin Sexton fills that role fine. They can't lose Collin unless they also replace what he's bringing. For instance, I doubt the Cavs beat the Clippers even holding them to 79 points without Sexton's scoring and tenacity in that game.

But do you really wanna keep him at a max or close to max number and then have to not pay someone else in the next few years? Garland, Okoro, Mobley are better "NBA" guys that can turn into a really nice core.

No, I don't want Collin at the max (unless he shows he deserves it), but who's going to offer Collin more than the Cavs are willing? He is a restricted free-agent, and even if he moves on, there's a decent chance it happens in a S&T. The Heat and the Knicks might have considered it, but they seem to have both moved on. It basically comes down to Collin at $20M+ or what?

I could see him taking the QO, he's the range of player that has done that before. Good and puts up enough stats that some teams would love to have him, but not good enough (or the right fit) for their current team to invest a huge contract into them. It doens't happen for max players because they can't make more money and will definitely lose at least a year of a max if they take the QO, but it can work for guys in Sexton's range. (Worked for Ben Gordon, for example.)

Plus Sexton's QO would be like $8-9m so he's actually not risking that much by taking that instead of a deal starting at $20m. It's still a longshot cuz the QO is definitely riskier than money in hand, but it's on the table in a way that is often isn't for young guys with Sexton's stats.

[JonFromVA]

But do you really wanna keep him at a max or close to max number and then have to not pay someone else in the next few years? Garland, Okoro, Mobley are better "NBA" guys that can turn into a really nice core.

No, I don't want Collin at the max (unless he shows he deserves it), but who's going to offer Collin more than the Cavs are willing? He is a restricted free-agent, and even if he moves on, there's a decent chance it happens in a S&T. The Heat and the Knicks might have considered it, but they seem to have both moved on. It basically comes down to Collin at $20M+ or what?

I could see him taking the QO, he's the range of player that has done that before. Good and puts up enough stats that some teams would love to have him, but not good enough (or the right fit) for their current team to invest a huge contract into them. It doens't happen for max players because they can't make more money and will definitely lose at least a year of a max if they take the QO, but it can work for guys in Sexton's range. (Worked for Ben Gordon, for example.)

Plus Sexton's QO would be like $8-9m so he's actually not risking that much by taking that instead of a deal starting at $20m. It's still a longshot cuz the QO is definitely riskier than money in hand, but it's on the table in a way that is often isn't for young guys with Sexton's stats.

Or he could explore a short term deal. The Cavs probably wouldn't offer him a 1+1, but a 3 year deal is a possibility considering the timeline of the team's other young players.

He stands to lose a lot of money if he bets on a QO and he can't even get a $20M deal from someone.

[El Hespiritu]

I think that thrillingless RR was a short stage.

I can tell. I know him a bit and I can read what he means between lines and even out of his body language.

I don't know if it was Koby, J.B. BicCristal or Kevin Amor who spoke to him but Ricky displayed an evident change of attitude roughly since Media Day.

He went from: Clecaus?... Whatever... they will probably trade me in a few months anyway...

And then to: They say they trust me. They say they don't plan to trade me. They say whatever I'm starter or bencher, they need me in the hot-moment game and even at the clutch. That's all I ask for. I'M IN!!

If some chip still remains... well... J.Jonah and Monty told him they wanted him to stay long-term at Arizona.

Let's hope Altman and BicCristal stick to their word a bit less flexibly than that.

[fredweis]

Rubio is a stable replacement for Sexton or another mid-season trade asset for Cavs. Every team needs vet PG depth. Injuries happen and Rubio can plug in to any offense. His defense is underrated.

There are 10 better young PG’s than Sexton in the NBA and a few HOF players still killing it. We haven’t seen Cade yet. NBA is a PG league right now. Look what Schroeder got paid by Boston. Rubio is a backup.

What’s the demand for Collin Sexton? He hasn’t proven anything beyond stat stuffing on bad teams.

Cavs NOT extending Sexton when they just gave Allen 100m, Garland about to get paid too. They’re better off getting pieces that work around their big three of Allen, Mobley and Sexton. Namely shooters.

Sexton would benefit being a sixth man on a playoff team. I like him in Denver, especially with Murray working his way back from injury. Cavs and Nugs have a lot interchangeable parts to make a trade benefits both teams. Gary Harris, Wil Barton great fits for Cleveland.

[fredweis]

But do you really wanna keep him at a max or close to max number and then have to not pay someone else in the next few years? Garland, Okoro, Mobley are better "NBA" guys that can turn into a really nice core.

No, I don't want Collin at the max (unless he shows he deserves it), but who's going to offer Collin more than the Cavs are willing? He is a restricted free-agent, and even if he moves on, there's a decent chance it happens in a S&T. The Heat and the Knicks might have considered it, but they seem to have both moved on. It basically comes down to Collin at $20M+ or what?

I could see him taking the QO, he's the range of player that has done that before. Good and puts up enough stats that some teams would love to have him, but not good enough (or the right fit) for their current team to invest a huge contract into them. It doens't happen for max players because they can't make more money and will definitely lose at least a year of a max if they take the QO, but it can work for guys in Sexton's range. (Worked for Ben Gordon, for example.)

Plus Sexton's QO would be like $8-9m so he's actually not risking that much by taking that instead of a deal starting at $20m. It's still a longshot cuz the QO is definitely riskier than money in hand, but it's on the table in a way that is often isn't for young guys with Sexton's stats.

Sexton is NOT 20m/season player. There in lies the rub. As a straight up FA 3 yrs 40m, ascending salary per season with 3rd season team option with 2m buyout.

[JonFromVA]

No, I don't want Collin at the max (unless he shows he deserves it), but who's going to offer Collin more than the Cavs are willing? He is a restricted free-agent, and even if he moves on, there's a decent chance it happens in a S&T. The Heat and the Knicks might have considered it, but they seem to have both moved on. It basically comes down to Collin at $20M+ or what?

I could see him taking the QO, he's the range of player that has done that before. Good and puts up enough stats that some teams would love to have him, but not good enough (or the right fit) for their current team to invest a huge contract into them. It doens't happen for max players because they can't make more money and will definitely lose at least a year of a max if they take the QO, but it can work for guys in Sexton's range. (Worked for Ben Gordon, for example.)

Plus Sexton's QO would be like $8-9m so he's actually not risking that much by taking that instead of a deal starting at $20m. It's still a longshot cuz the QO is definitely riskier than money in hand, but it's on the table in a way that is often isn't for young guys with Sexton's stats.

Sexton is NOT 20m/season player. There in lies the rub. As a straight up FA 3 yrs 40m, ascending salary per season with 3rd season team option with 2m buyout.

That's no rub, the Cavs would just have to offer him enough so he doesn't take the QO.