New York Knicks: Four pass-first point guards to target via Trade
By Allen Settle
New York Knicks target: Ricky Rubio
A trade for Ricky Rubio would carry obvious benefits and concerns. On the positive side, he would be the ideal fit for a classic point guard role. Rubio has long been one of the league’s most effective ball distributors. He holds a career average of 7.7 assists per game and averaged 8.8 as recently as the 2019-2020 season. This year, he has posted a solid 6.5 dime per contest despite getting just 25 minutes per game as a backup in Minnesota.
At just 30 years old, Rubio is also still young enough to make an impact on the court. He is far more than a passing novelty who brings little else to the table. He is still a capable scorer who rebounds well for his position and is a good source of steals.
Even more important is the recent history of winning. His Utah Jazz teams won 48 games in 2017 and 50 in 2018. Then Rubio’s presence on a previously underachieving Phoenix team helped the Suns post 34 wins during a shortened season in 2019. He was a pivotal part of the team going from the standing basement to a postseason contender and the darlings of the NBA COVID bubble.
The former 5th overall pick also has a tremendous reputation as a leader. 2020 1st overall draft pick Anthony Edwards has publicly called Rubio the “best leader he has ever been around.” A New York squad comprised of mostly young talent would benefit tremendously from this type of player.
In fact, the Knicks would have one of the better locker rooms in the league with veterans like Rubio and Rose leading the way.
Rubio’s poor shooting metrics and $17+ million cap hit this season and next are concerning factors. However, they should also lead to a low-price tag. The Knicks could likely add Rubio for their playoff push without sacrificing any other important assets.