Rubio

[HMFFL]

“Rubio doesn’t want to go to Memphis, and he especially does not want to pay money out of his own pocket with that huge buyout for the honor of doing so. Fegan [Rubio’s agent] wants him in L.A., and if he can’t have him there, he wants him in Sacramento. Definitely not Oklahoma City. “ Link

All the more reason for us to pursue a trade with Memphis. If Rubio's doesn't look at us as a destination that he's willing to play for, so be it, and we pursue someone else.

[HoopsGuru25]

Fegan pulled a similar stunt with Yi 2 years ago so I'm not surprised. Tough break for the Grizzlies as this is the same thing Francis did before the draft 10 years ago. It's pretty clear that Memphis won't(or shouldn't)outright pass on him at number two though. There is just too big of a drop off in value from picks two to three to consider that.

[MaceCase]

Ahhh sounds like a Fegan special. "Oh I'm representing an international phenom no way in hell will he play in some hick town. He needs the warm embrace of a New York or LA where he can run free amongst his people....and make me some marketing dollars." We saw how well Yi turned out, let's not hope that Rubio plays 2nd fiddle to the other Spaniards in the league like YI does to Yao. Either way I doubt Atlanta offers him a better scenario, Fegan seems to like his client in a big market or atleast in the shadow of one.

[killbuckner]

Personally I'll wait for something more substantial than an anonymous NBA source talking to draftexpress before I believe that Rubio wouldn't play in Memphis

[shortstuff5023]

i think atlanta has more to offer as a basketball market than memphis, but i'm afraid that with woodson developing him he could turn into another darko.

[dms269]

How long does a team hold rights to a player if drafted in the first round? Forever?

If so, then Memphis could just say that if Rubio ever wants to play in the NBA, it will be for memphis and draft him. Force the agents hand.

[tontoz]

Has anyone here actually seen Rubio play?

[parson]

Video clips, mostly, although I did watch him last year for about a half. I thought he reminded me of an out-of-shape Pete Maravich wanna-be. He's not a bad player, but most of the hype about him - to me - seems to be about his potential. He shows defensive anticipation that MIGHT turn him into a defensive force, but he's not now. He show good offensive form that MIGHT turn him into a scorer. You get the idea. As I said earlier, think Pete Maravich with a soft body, a worse jumper and no elevation.

To be fair, however, our guys (Dream Team) gushed about him when they played against him ... and they're certainly better judges of talent than I am.

[tontoz]

Video clips, mostly, although I did watch him last year for about a half. I thought he reminded me of an out-of-shape Pete Maravich wanna-be. He's not a bad player, but most of the hype about him - to me - seems to be about his potential. He shows defensive anticipation that MIGHT turn him into a defensive force, but he's not now. He show good offensive form that MIGHT turn him into a scorer. You get the idea. As I said earlier, think Pete Maravich with a soft body, a worse jumper and no elevation.

To be fair, however, our guys (Dream Team) gushed about him when they played against him ... and they're certainly better judges of talent than I am.

They gushed about Yi too and he is weak. I think it may just be standard procedure to compliment the other team's best players.

I don't know if it would be worth it to trade for this guy. I would be more inclined to go after Thabeet. At least we can be pretty sure he can block shots and rebound.

[evildallas]

If International play is a decider then we need to revisit the thought of Patty Mills because he could to the hole against the US defense with regularity.

The reality of the situation is that Horford is our only realistic chip to make a deal with Memphis (Josh can't be traded to them because of the offer sheet match). In order to consider Rubio we'd need a plan to replace our starting center (at minimum).

[lunarblues]

with rubio you have to remember that he'd be taking a severe pay cut to come play in the NBA. he's not gonna want to lose money to play for a team that his own teammate (navarro) basically said wan't worth his time.

[It_Was_Typed]

#2 and Gay for Horford and #19

[HoopsGuru25]

We don't need Rudy Gay and that trade sucks for Memphis. I also don't see why people think Memphis is even interested in trading the pick.

[evildallas]

I agree that is a bad trade for Memphis. If they are trading the #2 pick, they could demand Horford and the 19th pick without include Gay. They are under the cap and don't need to match salary.

[conleyorbust]

This is a strange scenario for Memphis because Griffin would have slipped into that lineup perfectly but now they have to decide whether they feel comfortable passing on the consensus #2 guy for non-talent related reasons or they have to trade Conley who started to show a lot of promise going ~15-6-5 with a real shooting touch after Iavoronni left.

I think in the end, they really want Thabeet and they'll try to move down one pick or they'll just take Hasheem at #3 and hope that he learns how to play offense and hope that Rubio doesn't ever reach his potential.

Parson, why do you think Rubio looks like Maravich other than the haircut and the tight handle? Their games are diametric opposites where one is the consumate playmaker and the other was a remorseless chucker.

[killbuckner]

I don't get why Memphis would want Thabeet. I'll even put aside my belief that he is going to be a total bust- I just don't see how he and Gasol are at all a fit together.

[conleyorbust]

I don't get why Memphis would want Thabeet. I'll even put aside my belief that he is going to be a total bust- I just don't see how he and Gasol are at all a fit together.

Me neither. You can play two pivots together when at least one of them is quick enough to handle more perimeter oriented PFs but I just can't imagine either one of those guys trying to chase KG, Dirk, Jamison, Boozer, Amare, Bosh, etc. around outside of 12 feet.

I'd imagine a platoon would be the general hope wherein Gasol gets points and Thabeet stops them.

[playa_lev]

Has anyone here actually seen Rubio play?

I saw him a couple of times( = about15-20 ), and I was shocked after every game. It’s unbelievable how mature this 18 year old kid is, and the way he sees the floor, the nasty steals are more than you can imagine. If he can translate his game to the NBA, he will be one of the best young pg in years.

This whole thing with him not wanting to play in Memphis or Oklahoma is BS. From the Olympics to this day he was saying that he doesn’t cares where he will be drafted, he has a dream like many other basketball players, he wants to play in the NBA … and he feels ready for the challenge.

The only problem is his buyout, about 8 million USD. Somehow this has to be paid, so it’s logical that a big market like LA or Sacramento would be better place for him, but as I wrote before, al he wants, is to play basketball for an NBA team, this is his dream.