Could Ricky Rubio be traded to the Rockets??

by grungedave on Jun 26, 2009 9:52 AM CDT in Whimsical Posts Comment 70 comments

I am wholly speculating here, but with the Minnesota Timberwolves trying to become the Detroit Lions of the NBA last night (three draft picks... three point guards), and with Ricky Rubio now claiming that he might stay in Spain for another 1-2 years and that he does not like cold weather...

...could this be the perfect opportunity for Daryl Morey to pounce?!?

I know there were early rumors that Morey tried to trade with Memphis to get the 2nd pick overall. And the only logical reason would be so the Rockets could acquire the Spanish Chris Paul. With Minnesota's GM proving to be Isiah Thomas-esque already... I could definitely see this conversation taking place:

[Daryl Morey places collect phone call to Minnesota... T-Wolves GM David Kahn accepts the charges.]

Boy Genius Daryl Morey: [trying hard to refrain from laughing] Say... David... what's up?

Minnesota GM David Kahn: [confused] What? Who is this? Is this Mr. Rubio?

Morey: [barely able to keep from laughing] No... no. This is Daryl Morey. I'm with the Houston Rockets. I see you had quite the, uhh, interesting draft last night. You certainly solved the hole you guys had at point guard last night. I really loved the Jonny Flynn pick at #6. That guy is a keeper.

Kahn: Well, my mom met Jonny and liked him. My hands were tied after that. He seems like a nice kid.

Morey: I hear ya. You just can't say no to mom. So, uh, listen, I hear you might be having some problems with one of the other players you drafted. Something about a threat to stay in Spain for another year or two? I also heard he might not be fond of the weather up there in Minnesota? That's a tough break, David.

Kahn: Tell me about it... all this time I thought it was cold in Spain. But now I have his dad saying threatening things to the guys at ESPN and making me look foolish! It's not fair!

Morey: What if I told you I might be able to help?

Kahn: You can help me? Aww, shucks, how nice of you! Thanks!

Morey: No problem. No problem at all. If you want, I can take that problem child Ricky Rubio off your hands. You won't even have to buy-out his contract with the team in Spain. We can do that for you. And there's more. I'll even give you a couple players from our team so that you can have something to show for it. And I know your mom will just love Aaron Brooks... he dresses very nice.

Kahn: Oh, I remember that outfit. That's a sharp-looking suit there! And the bow-tie was a nice touch.

Morey: So, do we have a deal?

Kahn: Hmmm, I'm not sure... I think I need to run this by the owner guy. I also need to make sure Kevin Love is okay with it. Last thing I need is for him to criticize me on Twitter again.

[Morey waves his hand over the speaker part of the phone]

Morey: These are not the droids you are looking for. Oh, uh, I mean... you don't have to run anything by them, do you? You're the man in charge! The main decision-maker! I'm here to help... no need to make this complicated! Let's just finish this trade. You and me.

Kahn: You know what -- you are right. Mom always said I need to stand up for myself! Here's my chance. You have yourself a deal. Now I can concentrate on getting Mr. Flynn to start spelling his first name properly. Thank you, Daryl!

Morey: Anytime, David. Anytime. You let me know if you ever have any problems controlling Al Jefferson, okay? If he ever becomes a disruption, you can be sure we will take care of him here!

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I would like to see more on this rubio guy

before we start getting rid of proven players. The rockets managed to aquire a good team chemistry at the end of the season, and i would hate for them to mess that up.

by mutombo4life on Jun 26, 2009 10:20 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

good idea but...

The problem is that most of our players have reached their absolute peak.

It might be time to sell “high” on Brooks and Landry while we can.

Thad said, if we trade Yao or Scola I am starting a riot.

by grungedave on Jun 26, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm more sold on Landry having reached his peak

But why Brooks? Given the complexity of the position, PG’s typically break out later and usually continue to improve. Is there any reason to thing he won’t continue to get better?

by oelayat on Jun 26, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well...

I think Brooks proved to Morey and others in the playoffs why he’s reached his “peak” of sorts. It’s clear he’s a shoot-first PG who doesn’t distribute the ball well and has a tendency to disappear. On the other end of the court, Brooks is an absolute liability on defense.

Meanwhile, we have Kyle Lowry sitting there who is much better suited to be a starter and he’s also better at defense.

On most teams Brooks would be a 7th man on the bench… translation? Sell high.

by grungedave on Jun 26, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

7th man on the bench?

Brooks was only in his second year in the NBA playing for one of top 5 teams in the NBA and was asked to run the offense and be a go-to scorer for large portions of the game. Kyle Lowry is a very nice player, but never see him developing into an elite PG. The fact that Morey (and Adelman to an extent) put so much faith in Brooks in trading away Alston tells me all I need to know. Morey also refused to include him in the Kings trade for Artest last year which almost caused the deal to fall through.

With the rule changes of a few years ago, players like Brooks are unguardable. He can blow by ANY defender in the league at will, can shoot from almost anywhere, and has really improved his mid and close range finishing. He was fantastic at times in the playoffs- granted the players trying to guard him were Blake and Fisher, but regardless, he is an absolute nightmare to guard. What young player does not disappear at times? Hell, even in-their-prime stars disappear (See: Rashard Lewis) at times…

As for defensive liability, the Rockets defensive efficiency ACTUALLY improved after the Alston trade. Granted there are small size issues there, I think it’s a bit harsh to call him a defensive liability just because he is lightweight. How many times did we really a PG abuse him?

The idea that we should devalue a PG because he is not “pass-first” is absolutely ridiculous. In today’s NBA, we have Chauncey Billups, Jameer Nelson, Devin Harris, Derrick Rose are all outstanding “shoot-first” PGs. Traditional player roles are pretty irrelevant in the modern game. Also, you need to remember that Adelman’s offense has never required a pass-first PG- Terry Porter and Mike Bibby were great fits for the system and were definitely in the shoot-first mode.

All in all, Brooks is an above average PG that is 1) Young and improving 2) Very cheap. He is a very valuable trade piece if we are acquiring a real game changer. I understand the fascination with Rubio given his age and all the hype…but for me, he is so far away from a sure thing that we’d be really risking wasting the last few years of Yao’s prime on an experiment with a young foreign guard. Hollinger over on ESPN has a pretty good read on Rubio’s shockingly low scoring rate which he sees as a really big red flag.

by oelayat on Jun 26, 2009 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Agreed

I could not agree more. I would rather have Aaron than Rubio. Aaron was our best player after Yao went down against the best team in the league in the playoffs. He has stepped up on a big stage. Rubio had a nice olympics but other than that hasn’t proven shit. He can’t shoot, he doesn’t have the lateral quickness to play d. He might be a great player but I’ll take Aaron. I would not trade Aaron in any package unless it is for an all-star who is a proven game changer.

by clutchcity on Jun 26, 2009 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

funny

This is the same logic that allowed teams to pass on John Stockton, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, etc. etc. — you have to gamble sometimes to land a once-in-a-lifetime point guard.

Aaron’s ceiling is below all-star level.
Rubio’s ceiling doesn’t exist.

by grungedave on Jun 26, 2009 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

For 3 points..

can anyone tell me what John Stockton, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Steve Nash and Jason Kidd have in common?

"I am from one of the top 15 cities in the world. Buffalo, New York." - TrentEdwardsHoF2018

by Artest4Prez on Jun 26, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was gonna guess gorgeous eyes, but then I realized that you listed players besides Chris Paul.

by seanbergmanrules on Jun 26, 2009 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Awkward.

Not what I was getting at.

More like they combine for as many championships as I have.

"I am from one of the top 15 cities in the world. Buffalo, New York." - TrentEdwardsHoF2018

by Artest4Prez on Jun 26, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

Brooks can never be an all-star? I’m not saying it’s a certainty or even super likely, but you have to be a pretty strong naysayer to say that a 24 year old PG in only his 2nd year in the league who just put up 13 and 4 in his first shot at real minutes (28 mpg as a starter) will never be an all-star. Why can’t he continue to improve? The difference between his 1st and 2nd year was pretty drastic.

As Rubio, I think his ceiling is pretty well defined. He’s Jason Kidd minus the ability to score. We are talking historically low scoring rate for a Euroleage PG- I know the game is different there and more team-oriented, but that is a REALLY, REALLY big red flag. There’s no precedent for that transition at all.

Rubio can end up being a once-in-a-generation PG- I concede that point. I just don’t think it’s very likely, nor do I think it is in anyway worth it to risk the last few years of Yao’s prime on a 18 year old PG.

Sorry…one last point to nitpick: Deron Williams is no way a once-in-a-lifetime point guard. He’s really, really good….and probably will get even better, but he’s arguably not even a top 3 PG in the league at this point so lavishing not much praise on him seems a bit premature/unwarranted.

by oelayat on Jun 26, 2009 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you are so wrong about D-Will it's not even funny

Considering the fact that I never say anything nice about Utah… the fact that I say something nice about Williams has to register with you.

by grungedave on Jun 26, 2009 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's not like he's saying something bad about Williams, Dave.

He’s saying he’s a good point guard. That’s the truth. He’s one of the five or six best in the game right now.

But he’s not any kind of “rival” to Chris Paul, nor is he the second-best PG in the West. And I’d say that he’s behind Tony Parker, Jameer Nelson, and Devin Harris amongst the young point guards in the NBA. If Rondo’s for real, I’d include him in that group, as well. Rose will probably be in that group next year, too.

He’s good, but he’s nowhere near as good as Utah fans think he is.

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by Only_A_Lad on Jun 26, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

Chris Paul is far, far ahead of him. Deron is sort of a tease in that he has the tools to be the best PG in the league- quickness, strength, passing ability, shooting, and finishing at the rim. He just hasn’t really been able to put it together yet. He might at some point, but right now-for me at least- he’s just a really, really good player, not great.

by oelayat on Jun 26, 2009 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

WHAT?

Devin Harris and Jameer Nelson better than Deron Williams?

I’ll give you Frenchy, but Frenchy, CP3 and Deron are my top 3 in the league anyway… Paul is by far the best but he may be the best PG of all time when it’s said and done. Deron may end up being top 10 all-time. He’s that good.

by grungedave on Jun 26, 2009 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes

Devin Harris is (much) better at getting to the line, and he converts those opportunities at roughly the same rate as Williams. He’s a slightly better rebounder, and he is less turnover prone than Williams. I think, at the very least, the two are comparable, and I think Harris will turn out better over the next few years.

Nelson just kicks Williams’ ass from here to next week. He’s a better defender and a better shooter. He’s not quite the passer Williams is, but he’s less turnover prone. Now, it’s a little silly to compare two players who are asked to play two different kinds of PG, but I think Nelson is better at performing that role than Williams is at performing his own.

Your friendly neighborhood Dreamshake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jun 26, 2009 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exposed

You’ve been exposed Lad. I’ve been looking for reasons to call you out, but you just did it to yourself.

D-Will is one of five or six best in the game right now? You have some seriously high Basketball IQ.

Rondo? Rose? Who do they play night after night in the East? Jameer Nelson? Oh yeah, why not throw him in there. How about Speedy Claxton and Raymond Felton? Oh and don’t forget AI. They are all light years ahead of D-Will.

Moron.

We bleed True Blue.
www.truebluejazz.com

by CB Jack on Jun 26, 2009 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why, hello to you too, Jack.

Nice to see you here.

Is that seriously the best you can do? That they play in the east?

Stick. Remove from ass.

Your friendly neighborhood Dreamshake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jun 26, 2009 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

and, again,

how is saying a player is one of the best in the game a bad thing? I’m not saying he’s a bad player, just that I don’t think he’s quite as transcendent as you and your fellow Jazz fans think he is. He’s still an all-star quality guard, dude.

Your friendly neighborhood Dreamshake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jun 26, 2009 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jazz fans?

Dude. It’s not just Jazz fans that think that. Dave agrees with me. He’s a top three. Period.

How do you even fit in Devin and Jameer’s Jock Strap? I’d love to know cause you’re spending an awful lot of time in there.

We bleed True Blue.
www.truebluejazz.com

by CB Jack on Jun 26, 2009 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’d love to know cause you’re spending an awful lot of time in there.

First you can’t stop thinking about how to call me out, and now you’d love to know more about how I get into guys’ pants. I get it, you’re obsessed with me. But that’s creepy and you need to back off. Let’s just be friends.

Look, I’ve given you reasons why I think Harris and Nelson are more valuable in their systems than Williams is in his. If you’re just going to go off on this “omg how can u think tat?” line, there’s very little for us to discuss.

And, frankly, I don’t give a shit if Dave agrees with you. Dave’s a smart guy when it comes to basketball, but smart people can disagree on these things. I’m sorry you can’t see that and have to resort to calling people “morons” for giving a pretty well-reasoned opinion.

Your friendly neighborhood Dreamshake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jun 26, 2009 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

but he’s arguably not even a top 3 PG in the league at this point so lavishing not much praise on him seems a bit premature/unwarranted.

Oh, thank God. I thought I was the only one who saw this.

Your friendly neighborhood Dreamshake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jun 26, 2009 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's clearly in the top 3 in my book

He’s number 2 by a long way actually. I like Nelson, but do it for more than half a season. Same with Harris. I think Devin Harris has that potential though

www.TheDreamShake.com Co-Founder and Writer

by UofTOrange on Jul 1, 2009 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

agree w/ clutchcity and oelayat....

it is way too early to decide where aarons “ceiling” is, and to give him up b/c ppl are so up on rubios nuts is ridiculos, let him play 1 season in the nba and then evaluate. but for now im happy with abz, HE’S ONLY BEEN IN THE LEAGUE FOR 2 YRS! and for him to take over and produce under the circumstances, he responded very well. who knows what he can develop into? nobody, even if you feel your the big s**t of a blog. not to say he will cause i cant predict whats going to happen, but aaron is more than capable of becoming a PG in this league. and tro throw this in, so can lowry, yes his shooting my not be the greatest now, but it did seem to improve as the year went on, especially his 3’s.

p.s. landry’s ceiling cannot be told now either, hes dominant in the paint and can become more dominant and his shot is coming around NICELY, key words…coming around! once again he has had limited years in the nba and was SHOT IN THE LEG this year!………how bout giving these guys some time, in the time they’ve had good things have come……ceiling…..come on.

by kg_2005 on Jun 26, 2009 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree on Landry

He’s turning 26 in a few months- I think at this point he is what he is. A very productive backup at the power forward position. He could probably be an average starter as well, but he’s never going to be anything special.

by oelayat on Jun 26, 2009 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not the big shit of the blog

but Daryl Morey is the big shit of the Rockets…
and if he’s trying to trade ABZ, that should be all the evidence you or I need.

by grungedave on Jun 26, 2009 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would be the first to approve a trade of Brooks

If it was part of some package to improve the team. Trading for Rubio in no way does that. He is a valuable asset and I’m sure teams around the league realize that given his age and contract.

At the same time, does the fact that Morey is using Brooks as possible trade bait indicate he’s down on him? Hell, I’m sure he’d trade Yao in a heartbeat if he could get Lebron or Wade.

by oelayat on Jun 26, 2009 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, but much like Yao for Lebron

the ceiling for Rubio is similarly different than the ceiling for Brooks.

And I saw somewhere above talking about Rubio’s scoring in the Euroleague, give me a break. The kid was 18 years old playing with grown men. No, he’s not going to come into the NBA tomorrow and dominate, but he certainly has the potential to dominate on both ends. Calling him Jason Kidd without a shot is laughable. Jason Kidd doesn’t have a shot.

www.TheDreamShake.com Co-Founder and Writer

by UofTOrange on Jul 1, 2009 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good stuff, oelayat

The idea that we should devalue a PG because he is not "pass-first" is absolutely ridiculous. In today’s NBA, we have Chauncey Billups, Jameer Nelson, Devin Harris, Derrick Rose are all outstanding "shoot-first" PGs. Traditional player roles are pretty irrelevant in the modern game. Also, you need to remember that Adelman’s offense has never required a pass-first PG- Terry Porter and Mike Bibby were great fits for the system and were definitely in the shoot-first mode.

This is a point that I think a lot of Rockets fans miss. Adelman’s system requires big men who can pass (Yao) and guards who can shoot well. It distributes play-making and scoring duties throughout the team, and Brooks is an excellent 1-guard for that role.

Yeah, he could be taller. He could be bigger. But what’s important is that his amazing quickness allows him to nullify the problems lack of size create on the offensive end, mostly because he’s able to create a lot of separation off of screens.

That’s not to say he’s perfect for the role. There are better options out there, but none of those are likely to come the Rockets’ way (Nelson, Harris, etc).

Granted there are small size issues there, I think it’s a bit harsh to call him a defensive liability just because he is lightweight. How many times did we really a PG abuse him?

Yeah, I kept hearing throughout the playoffs about how larger PGs might post him up and destroy his defense, but I think we only saw Fisher try it a few times. I think it’s probably an overstated issue.

The fact that Morey (and Adelman to an extent) put so much faith in Brooks in trading away Alston tells me all I need to know. Morey also refused to include him in the Kings trade for Artest last year which almost caused the deal to fall through.

We saw what Brooks can do when he’s confident in his shooting abilities. Maybe those games in the playoffs were just flukes created by teams with significant problems defending point guards of his type, but maybe not. Personally, I’ve got a good feeling about him next year, and I think a full year of starting is going to do a lot for him.

I understand the fascination with Rubio given his age and all the hype…but for me, he is so far away from a sure thing that we’d be really risking wasting the last few years of Yao’s prime on an experiment with a young foreign guard. Hollinger over on ESPN has a pretty good read on Rubio’s shockingly low scoring rate which he sees as a really big red flag.

It seems to me that Rubio’s skills would be, to whatever degree, wasted with the Rockets. And his inability to score would be a major liability. Would those problems outweigh what he might do with his passing abilities? I have no idea. I’m leaning towards “yes” on that question, though.

The only Minnesota PG who I think would really "fit’ the Rockets’ system would be Lawson, but he’s going to Denver.

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by Only_A_Lad on Jun 26, 2009 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That

And his inability to score would be a major liability. Would those problems outweigh what he might do with his passing abilities? I have no idea. I’m leaning towards "yes" on that question, though. bq

by oelayat on Jun 26, 2009 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry- Major Posting Fail

You harped on really the major question with Rubio. There’s is really no precedent for a PG with such a low scoring rate being successful. All the great pass-first PG’s we think of…Stockton, Magic, etc were all very competent scorers.

The worry is that no one will bother to guard him essentially nullifying his great passing abilities to an extent. The only somewhat reasonable comp is Jason Kidd, but even he scored in a bunch of college and was a reasonable enough scorer that teams had to respect that part of his game.

by oelayat on Jun 26, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And at 18 all of those guys you listed were in HS.

Do you really think Rubio couldn’t score in a HS game? He didn’t get the college ranks like they did to hone their games. Rubio got something even better, a chance to play with much older players. The guy held his own

www.TheDreamShake.com Co-Founder and Writer

by UofTOrange on Jul 1, 2009 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The collect call part was pretty funny.

Clutchfans.net - Chuck 4
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by Mike Kerns on Jun 26, 2009 11:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Who would we have to give up now?

Landry?

LOL at "These are not the droids you are looking for "

Check out nickandroll.blogspot.com

by n1ck34 on Jun 26, 2009 11:28 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

brooks

If we are happy with our PG’s why trade and complicate it?
I’d rather have them move She-mac and Landry for a quality guard or a center or both.
We are good at PF with Scola, dorsey should get better and CHuck in for D.
Amare wouldn’t be a bad idea either, he can move to C when Yao rests…What say?

by Sidwho on Jun 26, 2009 11:50 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I will never want a player who has had microfracture to play a major role on my team. I agree that Landry is fairly expendable, as Scola and Hayes, plus Dorsey if he heals, can hold down the position. But I have always thought Lowry was the better point guard, and have always expected Lowry to take over once he learns the offense. If we can sell high on Brooks as part of a package to acquire a legitimate franchise PG, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

by seanbergmanrules on Jun 26, 2009 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Umm

Some do come back strong from micro fracture.
it is a risk, no doubt but then again it’s houston yao n mc grady r more injured than no, well not really but everyone has their share..yao mcgrady battier ..artest for a bit
lowry hustles…drives to the basket but he can’t really shoot..lets see how it goes…
we need to keep up with spurs …and lakers..if we want to make it past the 2nd round!!!

by Sidwho on Jun 26, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

who?

Only players to even moderately come back from microfracture in the NBA are Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin… but those guys are still maybe 1/2 of what they used to be.

Amare Stoudemire relies exclusively on athleticism… and he’s become more injury prone than Yao Ming in recent years. His microfracture should scare everyone. And that’s ignoring the fact that he may have the lowest basketball IQ of any all-star ever.

by grungedave on Jun 26, 2009 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmmm

maybe a lowry, + the draft picks like Llull and Taylor and maybe more…

Id be willing to add t-mac for Al jeff (haha)

by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Jun 26, 2009 1:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ugh...

I want Ricky to come play here in MN more than anything. This is absolute bullshit that he might not come. Why even have a draft if players can pick and choose where he wants to go? How is it fair that our franchise gets the shaft because of the weather… Since would did professional athletes become such wusses? Garnett played here for 12 years and loved it. It’s not like its cold here year round. What a pussy.

by AndyReierson on Jun 26, 2009 1:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

*since when

haha

by AndyReierson on Jun 26, 2009 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

no offense

But I’d quit any job/profession that made me live in Minnesota.

it’s fucking cold there.

by grungedave on Jun 26, 2009 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Snow is God's joke on man.

That’s all I can figure. That shit’s just awful.

Your friendly neighborhood Dreamshake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jun 26, 2009 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

But you didn’t see AP bitching it about when he got drafted to the Vikings.

"I am from one of the top 15 cities in the world. Buffalo, New York." - TrentEdwardsHoF2018

by Artest4Prez on Jun 26, 2009 3:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

not his fault

Purple Jesus is only working with an Oklahoma education… how’s he supposed to argue against the injustice of being sent to Minnesota?

by grungedave on Jun 26, 2009 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its like when..

Eli Manning didn’t want to play in San Diego and him and his dad refused to let that happen. I hate guys like that.

I think Mr. Morey is working on something big and if he really likes Lowry, then there is a good chance that Brooks is gone. This is the first time in a long time that I really have 100% faith in the front office of any Houston Team.

I play real sports...Not try to be the best at exercising.

by wescox10 on Jun 26, 2009 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why even have a draft if players can pick and choose where he wants to go?

Well, from a league perspective, it’s a great way to keep the cost of players down and defraud them of their true value. So, since it’s essentially blatant exploitation, I think it’s great that he’s challenging at least some small part of it. More power to him.

Your friendly neighborhood Dreamshake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jun 26, 2009 2:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh

Setting aside the pros and cons of this hypothetical move…I love these phone call transcripts.

by RedRyan on Jun 26, 2009 2:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"I am from one of the top 15 cities in the world. Buffalo, New York." - TrentEdwardsHoF2018

by Artest4Prez on Jun 26, 2009 2:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!

"He walked 18."
"New league record!"
"Struck out 18."
"Another new league record! In addition he hit the sportswriter, the public address announcer, the bull mascot twice...also new league records! But, Joe, this guy's got some serious shit."

by Elephande on Jun 27, 2009 11:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

All in all.....

i would say pass on rubio, we have two very good PG’s that have room to grow and improve, and what ive seen, improve alot. im perfectly fine with the PG’s we have now, and landry is a beast, can’t wait to see him 100% next year.

just a rumor i heard though, if anyone can clarify this b/c i dont really want it to happen…..landry, abz, and tmac for stoudamire and barbosa.

by kg_2005 on Jun 26, 2009 3:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

valid, but...

Look the mere fact that Morey has dropped Aaron Brooks’ name in trade discussions means that Morey and the coaching staff are not sold on ABZ. And in Daryl Morey I trust. If he thinks Rubio is the guy… go get him.

by grungedave on Jun 26, 2009 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

stop talking about it like it's a fact, dave.

Christ, you’re working with rumors and hearsay. All we’ve heard is “The Rockets have inquired about Rubio” and little else. Remember when we “inquired” about Nash? This is what GMs do: they ask about everything. It’s just that the Rockets have good enough pieces on the table that their inquiries warrant mention.

Your friendly neighborhood Dreamshake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jun 26, 2009 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

from all reports...

From all reports… Morey is the one pushing to make trades. And I haven’t heard him or anyone come out and say that ABZ is off limits…

by grungedave on Jun 26, 2009 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

All I'm saying

is take it as the rumor it is.

Your friendly neighborhood Dreamshake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jun 26, 2009 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

how about a contrapositive...?

Have you heard Luis Scola’s name in ANY rumors?

No.

And you know why? Because Morey isn’t shopping him. The same cannot be said for Aaron Brooks. And hey, I like ABZ. I just think he’s worth using as bait to get Ricky Rubio.

by grungedave on Jun 26, 2009 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's a good point

but I think these rumors never really convey the level of seriousness in trade discussions. I don’t doubt that the Rockets have asked about Rubio (probably every team in the league has; well, except Sacramento), or that Brooks’ name has been dropped, but we never know if these talks have gotten anywhere beyond, “Hey, what about X?”

Your friendly neighborhood Dreamshake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jun 26, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How is that negative?

The reason Scola is not get shopped is he’s a 28 year old role player power forward. Those are not the types of players opposing GMs want as a cornerstone of a trade.
On the other hand, potential all-star 24-year old PGs do fit into that category.

Hence, I’m sure every GM in the league is asking about Brooks in trade talks when Morey inquires about Player X or Y. For me, that’s a compliment for Brooks, not in same way evidence of Morey discounting his value.

by oelayat on Jun 26, 2009 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Minnesota has a jillion power forwards...

and no swingmen, guards, or true centers. The teams that’ll be able to pry Rubio away from them will probably need to provide at least one good young player at those positions.

What teams have those assets and need a better pg? Miami? Memphis?

"I've hacked into your brain. You're throwing a party and no one's showing up."

by ignign*kt on Jun 26, 2009 8:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Rubio=unproven at a mediocre level

Brooks = Proven in the NBA playoffs against the Blazers and Lakers.

by Cactus Jack Sancho on Jun 26, 2009 8:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

In all reality...

If we did get Rubio, we would probably give up McGrady to get him. Which would mean that the only player with any sort of ball-handling skills that could possibly be a starter would be gone.

Now, the real question. Who would catch Ricky Rubio’s flashy passes?

Yao Ming would even say “LOL” if he knew that e-language.

Ron Artest? His ball-handling skills have been proven. When he starts dribbling, all of Houston wants to go down to the court themselves and rip the ball away.

Scola? He is the man but he catches passes about as good as Shaq shoots free throws.

Battier? Maybe but only when he is hidden in the corner.

I say we stick with our young point guards, work on a back-up center, and either keep McGrady or find a scorer to replace him. We have prospects to make this happen and I believe something big is coming soon. And although I think Rubio has the potential to be one of the best in the NBA, I just don’t think he is right for the Rockets at this time.

by Im Naming My Kid Scola on Jun 27, 2009 12:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

okay, this was posted over at ClutchFans:

It’s Sergio Llull’s crossover on Ricky Rubio.

Your friendly neighborhood Dreamshake mod.

by Only_A_Lad on Jun 27, 2009 2:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

oh shit

contributing nothing substantial to your blog, since 2008!

by misterterrific on Jun 28, 2009 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A Real Look At Ricky Rubio What A Joke This Cat Is.

What A Douch Bag ….Garbage!!!
Thanks Rockets For Getting Sergio Llull
Damn! Rubio You Just Got Crossed The Fuck Up.
I Heard You Hate The Cold But It Looks Like An Ice Pack Is Needed Son.
HA,HA,HA,HA, HAAAH…..

by mr.duce11 on Jun 29, 2009 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rubio is not worth the risk if we want to win a championship in the next 2 years...

I might be wrong about this, but it’s highly unlikely that he will have a much greater impact on our team winning games than the PG’s we already have, Brooks and Lowry are a great combo that give the Rockets different players who can distribute the ball and also SCORE…He could turn out to be a great player, but I think it will take a few years for him to develop and we dont have that time with our current team.

What we need is a good back up center and a proven scoring guard, otherwise we’ll have a hard time against this new San Antonio team. We also havent resigned Artest which I think is a must…if we dont follow that route we can sign Turkgolu, and I really think we should trade Tmac the first chance we get because if he plays and turns out to be damaged goods, then we lost a huge chance to maybe get a solid player that could help our team…

I am also excited to see what our other players can do in the summer league, and that includes Dorsey, White, Taylor, and Budinger…Although I think one or two of these players can included in a package with Tmac and/or Barry, Heyes, and Von (I dont support trading Landy because he is the spark we need many times off the bench)

by Rockets4LIFE on Jun 27, 2009 3:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Aaron

Do not trade Aaron for a unproven 18 year old who score 10 points overseas. Aaron still has upside. He only started last season for hal;f the season. Give the guy a whole season first. Landry on the other hand has hit his peak. He has max value now. Now if that amare thing ever comes up again then unload both of those guys plus Tmac for Amare. We dont need Barbosa in the trade if thats the deal breaker. We can have Lowry starting and a free agent.

by robbin on Jun 28, 2009 2:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i'm interested

in seeing whether or not rubio does summer league, and if so, how he performs there. if he’s close to, or beyond, jaw-dropping, i say take him. otherwise, it might be best to stick with the one with more experience.

Wafer . . . again. (Marv Albert, HOU v. CLE Feb 2009)
-one of the FEW at Toyota Center who has the Wafer jersey

by olivarezq1 on Jun 28, 2009 3:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

More to the point

Why would Minni want Brooks when they have just drafted a starting PG in Jonny Flynn?
AB isn’t going to want to play second fiddle to a new rookie on a shit team, and it’s probably the same vice versa. The Wolves would only need a backup PG – mainly a vet.
It’s like the magic nets trade- Alston is going to be either traded by Feb (maybe to the hawks) or let go at the end of the season. He going to say I’m a starting PG on a finals team but no way will he get mins from Harris

"It's who we are," Battier said. "I don't think we're going to get the love of the six foot blonde bombshell. That's what the Lakers are here for. It's alright, I like our demographic."

by DREAM34 on Jun 28, 2009 8:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I actually don’t want Rubio as we don’t really have time to see him develop.

Scola is in his prime
Yao is in his prime
ARtest is gonna steadily get worse
T-Mac is gonna steadily get worse.

by VBG on Jun 28, 2009 9:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Rubio A Waste Of American Dollars

I Think All This Rubio Jock Riding Crap Is A Bunch Of Shit.
This Dude Havent Proved Himself Not To One NBA Fan
That He Was Worth Even Being Drafted.
What A Little Bitch Crying About The Weather Thats Why You Get Paid And
Accomodate Yourself With The A House And Warm Clothes To Wear.
I Would Of Traded Him To The Raptors..Now Thats Cold Weather For Your Ass
Havent Seen This Much Whinning And Drama Since T.O. Stunt In Dallas.
You Do The Math: A Young Inmature 18yr Old Drama Queen Already

by mr.duce11 on Jun 29, 2009 12:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs