What if Rubio refused to workout for any team other than The Knicks could we get him?

I wouldn't pay too much attention on leaping ability. Tony Parker has none. The same goes for John Stockton and even big man like Zach Randolph can get along if the have some basketball instinct. I think Rubio definitely has. There MUST be something about this kid if has played in Europe's toughest national league since he was fourteen. I think this is the simple and understandable reason behind most scouts assumptions that he is going to be a great player. I know he delivered these stats in a youth tournament, but they are great nonetheless and would be recognised among highschoolers playing highschoolers: 51 points, 24 rebounds, 12 assists and 7 steals. And it was an international turnament, not some Spanish village league. There is always the chance that things don't go as planned and I am all for drafting according to talent and not to immediate team needs. Drafting a center just because you need one usually ends in Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan. So if he is available, I'd go for him.

I agree....leaping ability is overrated

That being said, both Rubio and Gallo can get up. Not like 40 inches, but up. I have seen clips of Rubio slamming with 2 hands on the break and I have seen Gallo catching an oop with his elbows at the rim. These guys are far from earthbound, just not elite.

It's too early to say Gallo's a bust. He played fairly well despite his back injury. Now that he's reportedly not feeling any pain, we'll need to see what he can do next season before we grade him.

Rubio is nice! Lots of flashy passes and moves from what I've seen on youtube anyway, but that shit wont fly in the NBA. He'll need to stick to fundamentals and slowly incorporate the flashy moves. He'll need to bulk up and get stronger. I don't see him being much of a defensive stopper in the league. I wouldn't mind if the Knicks got him to back up Duhon. Starting is out of the question. But that's a stretch. We'd have to trade up, way up. Right now Rubio is projected to go first or second in the draft.

He played against the US Olympic team

And did just fine. Not overwhelmed at all. He's better than the detractors say.

http://www.authenticbasketball.com/olympic_games/boxscores/2008fi_usa_spain.htm

2008 basketball Olympics- USA vs. Spain

Ricky Rubio
6 points, 1-3 fg, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 29 minutes of playing time

What's so special about that?

LOL @ people not wanting Rubio.

*favorites this thread for future humilitation*

donchris said:

It's too early to say Gallo's a bust. He played fairly well despite his back injury. Now that he's reportedly not feeling any pain, we'll need to see what he can do next season before we grade him.

Rubio is nice! Lots of flashy passes and moves from what I've seen on youtube anyway, but that shit wont fly in the NBA. He'll need to stick to fundamentals and slowly incorporate the flashy moves. He'll need to bulk up and get stronger. I don't see him being much of a defensive stopper in the league. I wouldn't mind if the Knicks got him to back up Duhon. Starting is out of the question. But that's a stretch. We'd have to trade up, way up. Right now Rubio is projected to go first or second in the draft.

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If you think Rubio is just "Flashy passes" you obviously failed as a scout.

alphad0gz said:

That being said, both Rubio and Gallo can get up. Not like 40 inches, but up. I have seen clips of Rubio slamming with 2 hands on the break and I have seen Gallo catching an oop with his elbows at the rim. These guys are far from earthbound, just not elite.

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You've been climbing the ranks in this forum...comtinue with the excellent insight and information.

If you're serious, Metro, thanks

I know I've disagreed with you a few times but you always have a reason for your opinion (even if its wrong when different than mine) . I can respect that

metrocard said:

If you think Rubio is just "Flashy passes" you obviously failed as a scout.

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If Rubio comes in the league and does well I'll give you credit. After all you've been riding him harder then Cherokee D' Ass in a booty clap porno flick for the last year and a half. There's too much hype around this kid right now. I think he can be a good point guard in the league but he's going to be a project. I doubt Rubio will be like Labron or Carmello, dominating off gate. Let's not get ahead of our selves.

donchris said:

If Rubio comes in the league and does well I'll give you credit. After all you've been riding him harder then Cherokee D' Ass in a booty clap porno flick for the last year and a half. There's too much hype around this kid right now. I think he can be a good point guard in the league but he's going to be a project. I doubt Rubio will be like Labron or Carmello, dominating off gate. Let's not get ahead of our selves.

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Rubio's resume holds weight for all that hype.

Rubio has been an elite pro since 14 in the highest level of competition outside the NBA.

His potential is unlimited.
IQ is immortal.
and attributes are maxed.

I'm tired of messing with smaller players, trying to make them the main man: we tried making Steph into the man, same with Crawford. Both guys, IMO, were capable of doing that, and both were/are top offensive weapons in this league, even though people were calling them cancers. The reason they failed was that Isiah never gave them the right big man to help them: to secure rebounds, to play help D, to screen for them, to intimidate penetration. You cannot win, without these.

Eddy Curry has stalked Crawford for his whole career. Marbury was doing all right, until he ran into the Knicks and Jerome James and Eddy Curry. Prior to the Knicks, he had success with Amare Stoudamire and Kevin Garnett as his big men. It's like the Knicks are still trying to prove that they're better without Ewing. It isn't true now, just like it wasn't true then. They NEED to get a real big man, nothing else will do.

metrocard said:

Rubio's resume holds weight for all that hype.

Rubio has been an elite pro since 14 in the highest level of competition outside the NBA.

His potential is unlimited.
IQ is immortal.
and attributes are maxed.

Click to expand...

The key stat you listed is IQ. IQ IQ IQ. In this system, smart players benefit, and one of the most undervalued intangibles in all of the NBA and hell all of sports is intelligence.

It's just something you can't teach. Having a SMART PG trumps almost every other stat, they'll make the right passes, see the play before it develops, know exactly what to do. You can have all the athleticism in the world, but if you're as dumb as a bag of rocks, I don't want you on this team.

Finding a smart PG is critical, I can take a slight bump in passing ability or ball handling for a genius-level basketball IQ. I believe that's what Rubio possesses and THAT'S why he's so valuable. He just understands how to play basketball.

The problem I have with Rubio, is why wouldn't a team like Sacramento, LA Clippers, Washington, Oklahoma, Minnesota just take Rick Rubio with the #1 or #2 pick. Say the knicks offer the 2009 pick, a future 1st round pick, Wilson Chandler and 1 of Nate or Lee for the pick. I can't see any of those teams taking that offer. Rubio is someone you want to pick and build a team around. He isn't a guy you look to trade away.

Even if they do accept that offer, I don't think its in the Knicks best interest to make a trade like that since they already have little depth in the lineup after this season.

I think if they don't extremely lucky in the lottery like the Bulls last year, then they should just keep the pick and go with whatever is best available.

Not sure why people are so down on Rubio, his passing ability, court vision, dribbling skills, IQ and speed are all very good. He seems pretty strong for a small guy too. If you are judging on the Olympics he was 17, didn't get a huge amount of minutes, and was playing on one of the biggest international sports stages in the world. I also think with coaching from an NBA coach he could become incredible.

I wouldn't pick him for the Knicks since he's probably not NBA ready coming out of the gate, and beyond that we will almost certainly not luck out in the draft enough to get that high of a pick anyway.

Talking about PG's with speed, did anyone see Rose vs the Celtics, that guy is starting to look amazing. That and the allstar skills challenge makes me think this guy is gonna be one of the top PG's in the league next season.

It is incredible that in all drafts there is at least one European prospect that has GM's drooling. This year is Rubio, to go with an 18 yr old Donatas Motiejunas a lefty that is being compare to Toni Kukoc.

As for the topic being discussed, we should trade up to Rubio. The Wizards currently hold the 2nd slot in the draft after winning a coin toss againts the Clippers making them picking at 3rd. The Clippers have Baron Davis and Wizards have Arenas. Mike Dunleavy's job is on the line so he is not drafting a project like Rubio. The Wizards don't need a point, as Arenas show flashes of himself towards the end of the season. The Thunder have Westbrook, so the team that gets Rubio might be some team like our Knicks and the Timberwolves that are desperate at the moment.

This is very weak draft and we don't own a pick for next year so we have to hit a home run this time around. We gotta be aggresive and get this kid.

Well, Dave....

I would never offer that much. You can't gut the team even for Rubio. #8 and a re-signed Lee or Nate should be enough. Why would those teams deal him? What if he says he won't ever play for them or if he says he is going to walk as soon as his contract is up? He would only be 21-22 years old and an unrestricted FA. They could risk getting nothing back. Euro players can put their name in the draft 3 times and withdraw it before they can't do it anymore. He holds a lot of cards because of his age. Why would a team draft a guy they wouldn't see for a few years if ever? A good team could risk it. A rebuilding team? Can't afford to do it. They might pick him to trade him....I would if I were them.

alphad0gz said:

I would never offer that much. You can't gut the team even for Rubio. #8 and a re-signed Lee or Nate should be enough. Why would those teams deal him? What if he says he won't ever play for them or if he says he is going to walk as soon as his contract is up? He would only be 21-22 years old and an unrestricted FA. They could risk getting nothing back. Euro players can put their name in the draft 3 times and withdraw it before they can't do it anymore. He holds a lot of cards because of his age. Why would a team draft a guy they wouldn't see for a few years if ever? A good team could risk it. A rebuilding team? Can't afford to do it. They might pick him to trade him....I would if I were them.

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Yea and everybody is gay and happy with that approach!!! Common now man, that is the freaking conservative route that I don't want this franchise to take. Re-signing Nate and Lee won't take us anywhere, let then walk and not even attempt to match non of the offers they get on the market. We traded Randolph and Crawford to get cap relief for 2010, do you think Walsh is stupid enough to re-sign both and then not have the ability to get a Joe Johnson, D-Wade, Bosh over here? Case closed...

To give up a pick, Chandler, and more to move up

from 8 to 2 is far too much. We'd end up with Rubio (who will take a couple of years) and Gallo. Everybody else is crap. How does that help? Not enough to entice a FA and clearly not enough to win. Going all out is fine if it makes the team better. That is the goal, is it not? Trading Chandler, who is coming on, is nonsensical in this case since we improve PG somewhat now(much more down the road) and lose a quality starter. We get worse now and more unattractive to FAs. We don't even have a pick next year. We would be screwed.

Chandler and Gallo HAVE to stay. No more "one step up, one step back" maneuvers.

alphad0gz said:

from 8 to 2 is far too much. We'd end up with Rubio (who will take a couple of years) and Gallo. Everybody else is crap. How does that help? Not enough to entice a FA and clearly not enough to win. Going all out is fine if it makes the team better. That is the goal, is it not? Trading Chandler, who is coming on, is nonsensical in this case since we improve PG somewhat now(much more down the road) and lose a quality starter. We get worse now and more unattractive to FAs. We don't even have a pick next year. We would be screwed.

Chandler and Gallo HAVE to stay. No more "one step up, one step back" maneuvers.

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I agree, there are 3 decent looking PGs coming through this draft, and a few nice looking bigs too. I don't see why we want to give away assets to move up a few places to draft a wildcard. Sure Rubio looks good, but so do Jennings and Lawson, why give up a load of stuff to get him? We can also pray we get some nice luck in the lottery and move up a few places that way.

If we're looking at 2010, whatever PG/Big we get has a year to develop, and we have half a season + 2 offseasons to look at trading for whatever we don't get in the draft.

Where Chandler is concerned, I also think he has some untapped potential. He is a 6'8 who can play SG, if he improves his jumper he can really be a mini Lebron with his athleticism, I can see him being a 20-5-5 guy if we develop him next season. He is also one of the only good defenders we have.

For me, Chandler, Gallo are the only untouchables on this team at this stage for me, Lee has too many defensive downsides plus his lack of a jumpshot, Nate is fun to watch and that's about it. Wilcox can be a nice bench player if he resigns for a decent price.