Unlikely Big NJN-MIN Trade

shrink · Post #1 » by **shrink** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 4:58 pm

Barca's next play-off game is against CSKA Moscow, which is owned by billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov -- next year's owner of the New Jersey Nets. He'll get another up-close look at the guy we hope to be our savior, Ricky Rubio. I should say up front that I highly doubt Kahn will trade Rubio, but I also believe that no player is untradable for a high enough offer.

Is it possible Prokhorov would love rubio enough to offer the #2? If there was ever an aligning of the planets to see an over-priced offer for him, its right here. You have:

1. NJN with a good chance at a Top 2 pick in this year’s draft.
2. NJN bringing in a new owner with no loyalty to Devin Harris
3. NJN's new owner will want to put his own stamp on the team, and it may be international.
4. NJN’s new owner may be as familiar with Rubio as he is with NBA players.
5. NJN moving to NYK, where Rubio’s star power would shine brightest and he'd have maximum value.

I have high hopes for Rubio, but I don’t think any team would offer a Top 2 pick in this year’s draft for him. However, if there’s an owner who would, I think its Prokhorov.

#2 for the Rights to Rubio?

Post #2 » by **The J Rocka** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 5:04 pm

Most definitely. I have said this many times and will say it again: I would trade pretty much anybody or anything to get Evan Turner.

eToasT · Post #3 » by **eToasT** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 5:17 pm

So it's possible that we land the #1 and the Nets still do this trade for the #2?

Wishful thinking. I really really like Rubio but I'd probably do this trade.

Post #4 » by **Worm Guts** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 5:19 pm

Given that Rubio is most likely stuck in Spain for another year, I'd say no chance of this happening.

Foye · Post #5 » by **Foye** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 5:34 pm

Wishful thinking.

Love + Flynn for Turner anyone? I'd probably do it.

Steve_Holiday · Post #6 » by **Steve_Holiday** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 5:59 pm

He won't come over for AT LEAST another year - and will have a ton of contract negotiating leverage if he waits two. Throw in the uncertainty of the looming lockout, and you have a giant question mark. Not to mention the fact that Rubio is still a PROSPECT, not a slam dunk.

I would guess that we'd have to throw in quite a bit more than just Rubio for a top 2 pick.

vincecarter4pres · Post #7 » by **vincecarter4pres** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 6:14 pm

I don't see anyway NJ does this, or any team for that matter. I personally don't think Rubio is worth the #2 pick by any stretch of the imagination. Maybe the #4 overall if Turner and Cousins are both off the board already, but even then, he is pretty much a lock(or is it a definitive lock?) to stay in Europe for a season or two more and the Nets really need to make a serious impact splash with their pick after finishing with the worst record in the league, at least if they miss out on the big FA's like Bron, Wade and Bosh, which they likely will.

shrink · Post #8 » by **shrink** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 9:23 pm

Do you think there is any owner that may value Rubio more?

Despite his age, I view Rubio as less of a prospect than the players in the draft, because he's played professional basketball against grown men.

Now let me move from the unlikely to the unimaginable, rules-rapist that I am.

As MIN fans know all too well, NBA rules prevent owners from contributing more than $500,000 to a buy-out. Prokhorov isn't an NBA owner yet -- he owns CSKA Moscow. Suppose the owners vote to install him for the next NBA season on June 1. He them makes a rich offer for Ricky's contract that Barca liked, and he signed Ricky to a new contract with no buy-out? He would then have made Ricky eligible for 2010.

Who complains? Barca's happy - they made money. Prokhorov can now trade MIN for Ricky and bring him over this season. Ricky's happy. MIN's happy. Stern's happy -- the sooner Ricky's in the NBA, the faster they can make money marketing him.

Yeah, I'm just wistful today.

lobishome · Post #9 » by **lobishome** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 9:57 pm

Taylor sells me The Timberwolves for one dollar. He buys Rubio's rights. I sell Taylor the Timberwolves for a million of dollars. Taylor's happy, Barça's happy, Rubio's happy and I am the happiest of everybody.

mandurugo · Post #10 » by **mandurugo** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:52 pm

Foye wrote:Wishful thinking.

Love + Flynn for Turner anyone? I'd probably do it.

Definitely.

Guy986 · Post #11 » by **Guy986** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:58 pm

lobishome wrote:Taylor sells me The Timberwolves for one dollar. He buys Rubio's rights. I sell Taylor the Timberwolves for a million of dollars. Taylor's happy, Barça's happy, Rubio's happy and I am the happiest of everybody.

Genius plan.

But after Taylor sold you the team, Taylor has nothing to do with the NBA anymore. How can he buy Rubio's rights?

cpfsf · Post #12 » by **cpfsf** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:58 pm

Wall/Turner will be coming to the NBA next season. Rubio won't come until 2011 or 2012. It was either Kahn or Rambis who said we can wait. The Nets can't wait because they want to compete now. I think the only trade that will work is Wesley Johnson for Ricky Rubio. I don't think I would do that though.

Post #13 » by **revprodeji** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 12:10 am

My understanding is that Kahn's plan is based on building around Rubio. He is in love with him as a player and I have even heard someone say "Rubio is Kahn's KG".

That being said, it would take an incredibly change of mentality for us to move Rubio for anything. Anytime I have heard discussion about Turner or Wall it is always about how they would play with Rubio. We could almost say he is the only safe player on this team.

Just my 2 cents.

lobishome · Post #14 » by **lobishome** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 12:23 am

revprodeji wrote:My understanding is that Kahn's plan is based on building around Rubio. He is in love with him as a player and I have even heard someone say "Rubio is Kahn's KG".

That being said, it would take an incredibly change of mentality for us to move Rubio for anything. Anytime I have heard discussion about Turner or Wall it is always about how they would play with Rubio. We could almost say he is the only safe player on this team.

Just my 2 cents.

"it would take an incredibly change of mentality for us", ... it's a fine way to say "more money, dude"

Post #15 » by **revprodeji** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 4:35 pm

No not at all. It is not even about Money. It is about the vision for the team. Right now that vision is to build around Rubio. Bring players in that fit his style and create the best situation for him. He is committed to coming here so we are in turn building around that.

What does Money have to do with it?

Post #16 » by **C.lupus** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 4:53 pm

I guess they feel comfortable that the triangle (err motion) offense fits Rubio's style? That's the part I have questions about. I can see Rubio in the up-tempo game no problem.

Post #17 » by **revprodeji** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 6:32 pm

Rubio will be fine in this version of the triangle. Ball pounding pgs have problems. Ricky is not a ball pounding pg. He moves very well without that ball and is comfortable spotting up from the triangle spots.

lobishome · Post #18 » by **lobishome** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 9:03 pm

revprodeji wrote:Rubio will be fine in this version of the triangle. Ball pounding pgs have problems. Ricky is not a ball pounding pg. He moves very well without that ball and is comfortable spotting up from the triangle spots.

When this forum talk about Rubio idoneity for the triangle, always it's refering about the offense triangle. I remember you asking about if Rubio could defend the best point guard. I think you was thinking about Ricky defense against teams using the offense triangle.

Surely, you have watched many Rubio's games this season. Do you think that Rubio could defend the best attack guard?

Post #19 » by **revprodeji** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 10:18 pm

I think with current NBA rules nobody can truly guard an attacking pg. What matters is the help defense rotations that the front line can help. Parker and Manu are not great individual defenders, but the team is committed to defense and they have the front line needed to play that defense.

Can Rubio harass people? yes. Can he disrupt passing lanes? Yes.

My comment about Rubio in the triangle is that Rubio is not a pg that always needs the ball in his hands for 20 seconds of the shot clock. He can move well without the ball, understands proper spacing and can spot up. He is similar to a Jason-kidd in that he can contribute without dominating the ball.

Flynn struggles to contribute when the ball is not in his hands. This is a big difference between the two.

horaceworthy · Post #20 » by **horaceworthy** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 10:22 pm

I'm not sure that Rubio's ability to work without the ball will matter as much as surrounding him with guys that understand if they get the ball back to him, more than likely he'll end up getting them a better opportunity than the one they passed up. There don't seem to be too many guys on the team who fit that criteria.