OKC to pass on Rubio?

If, indeed, RR's agent can convince Memphis not to draft him...

Oh joyous day!!

Too good to be true?

over 2 years ago BPaoliano 20 comments 0 recs |

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Come on NBA KARMA!!!

Bring Chris Bosh to California!!!

by Shizzo on May 28, 2009 10:08 PM PDT reply actions

I think it's too good to be true

because Memphis is not afraid to say “screw you”. Case in point, the Darius Miles scenario. They also were not afraid to give away Gasol for peanuts.

by kingme on May 28, 2009 10:35 PM PDT reply actions

Gasol was a giveaway, but

this is the sum total of that deal after the Griz have dealt some of the Gasol trade assets:

Darrell Arthur (acquired by dealing Donté Greene, a pick acquired from the Lakers)

Marc Gasol

A conditional 1st round pick from Washington (via the Javaris Crittenton trade)

2010 1st round pick from the Lakers

This is still a great deal for the Lakers, especially if they win a championship with Pau. But Memphis wound up getting a lot more value and potential than anyone had originally thought.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on May 28, 2009 11:03 PM PDT up reply actions

True but they could have gotten more for him

by kingme on May 28, 2009 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions

And don't forget the >10 Million dollars they've saved already

Which is quite important for a franchise on sale

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

by DaniBCN on May 29, 2009 1:53 AM PDT up reply actions

It's not like high quality players are lining up to sign with their franchise puhhleeez

by kingme on May 29, 2009 2:32 AM PDT up reply actions

Nope, but say some Vegas guy buys the team...

and wants to go after a ’10 free agent.

Also, they can make some profit out of the team

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

by DaniBCN on May 29, 2009 6:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Counter point

(And sorry about the thread hijack here)

Would you ship JT, Donté, Kenny Thomas and a pair of 1st round picks (lottery protect them for a couple of years if you like) to LA for Pau Gasol? Because that deal is not too far off from what Memphis got for him.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on May 29, 2009 8:31 AM PDT up reply actions

No

Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....

by pookeyguru on May 29, 2009 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions

For this Kings team no

If Pau was the final piece that would make us contenders then yeah.

Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott

by Kfan in Korea on May 29, 2009 7:41 PM PDT up reply actions

This is a good point

Heisley is running the team on the cheap with the hopes of selling it. Luol Deng (for example) would have added millions to the books had the Griz done the on/off rumored deal with the Bulls.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on May 29, 2009 8:26 AM PDT up reply actions

I expect Rubio's agent to start playing hardball

If the rumors are true and I suspect that they are. Rubio has his eyes set on LA or Sacramento. This means the ball is in Rubio’s court to do with as he pleases and to land himself in Sacramento if he wants… If he lets Memphis and Oklahoma city know that he doesn’t want to go play for them and that he’ll ride out his current contract if they pick him … Why on earth would either Memphis or Oklahoma City pick him? He can make life a living nightmare for them if they call his bluff and he stays in europe. Niether one of those teams can afford to put themselves in that situation.

With that said Rubio and his agent can finagle their way to Sacramento much more easily then if they wanted to go to LA instead. Given that he will get more playing time in Sacramento then he would in either Memphis or Oklahoma City and that there is a large Latino population in and around Sac. that would embrace, I got a feeling that he will be in a Kings uniform… Like I said before business is business and he will make more money off of endorsements and get more playing time in Sac then he would in either Memphis or Oklahoma. When Rubio and his agent sit down and really evaluate the pros and cons of were they would like him to play he will end up in a Kings uniform.

by AyyJude on May 29, 2009 10:04 AM PDT reply actions

I definitely see that as one scenario.

A confounding variable is the myriad trade possibilities. What if the Clips get good value to trade down and take RR. Or Some one else (NY) trades up?

Rubio to Kings is no where near a sure thing.

Frank Army

by BPaoliano on May 29, 2009 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions

I think the Clippers will keep Griffin.

It’s a good thing the Clippers didn’t get the number 2 or 3 pick because if they did Rubio for sure would be going to L.A. .. I think you can count out N.Y. because they would have to give up to much to get him. The only other team that I believe has the assests and ability to get Rubio would be Portland. They could give up a couple of their younger players to try and get him, but I don’t think they will. With all the talent they currently have Portland doesn’t need Rubio. What Portland needs is a good veteran to come in and help the younger guys grow.

The more I think about it from a business perspective the more sense it makes for Rubio to want to come to Sacramento. It will bring him greater fame and fortune to come to Sacramento then to end up in Memphis or Oklahoma City. Unlike any other draftee in the draft Rubio is in a unique situation because of his current contract…. In away he is almost kind of like a free agent who can almost go were he wants to go. Once he looks at all his options I think he’ll end up in a Kings uniform.

by AyyJude on May 29, 2009 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions

If the Kings want Rubio

They will have to trade into the top3 draft positions because of his buyout.

by Sabonis4Ever on May 30, 2009 3:37 AM PDT up reply actions

Please explain this to me

(I am not being snarky here – I am truly interested)

The max that a team can offer to a buyout is $500k, regardless of where the player is drafted. So are you saying that it is the additional $400k that Rubio would make at #3 as opposed to #4 that would make the difference? I can buy that to a point, as that would equate to about $1.3 million over the term of the contract.

However, Rubio will need to declare that he is staying in the draft prior to knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt where he will be selected. I would think that if he is going to refuse to come over if he is not drafted in the top 3, agent Fegan will make that crystal clear to the involved teams. He has said no such thing to this point.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on May 30, 2009 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions

Let me ask Norsktroll

by Sabonis4Ever on May 30, 2009 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I think several things are coming into play here

The earlier Rubio gets drafted in terms of age, the earlier he reaches that second and third NBA contract that would truly bring the big money. Unlike college players he can go multiple times through the process and pull out very late (three times I think). But each year also puts that next contract further away. Not to speak of the possibility that future drafts could be more loaded up front (and 2010 looks like it will be). So it is in his best interest to stay in the draft.
On the other hand, while I don’t have a link I think Ford and others said Rubio expects to be drafted top 3 or he probably wouldn’t come over. That could just be a claim by his agent, but on the other hand the buyout is huge (and in Euro huge) so it does make a difference if he goes 2 or say 5. And obviously he does want to have a big say in where he goes. Which wouldn’t exclude the Kings if reportedly he likes the team and Memphis or OKC is in love with other players and willing to deal. A smart GM (which should include Presti who managed to get 3 first round picks out of Kurt Thomas; Wallace to a lesser degree) shouldn’t just let a coveted player drop past him.

So I think there is a decent chance you could get him, but likely would have to move up / let another team pick for you however this technically will be constructed.

by Norsktroll on May 30, 2009 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Interesting

Thanks!

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on May 30, 2009 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions

On the contract point 214

That has been one of my main points about why Rubio can afford the buyout. It’s a long term strategy that he’ll get big money on the 2nd contract, and possibly the 3rd contract that would be more feasible if he starts his NBA career at 19 as opposed to even 21.

Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....

by pookeyguru on May 31, 2009 1:05 AM PDT up reply actions