More hope...... maybe I shouldn't (Rubio rumor)

#31
1. We don't even know if Memphis like Rubio more than Thabeet. The truth is, Thabeet is more in line with what Memphis need right now and they may not have another chance at a 7'3 center in a long... time.

2. Assuming Memphis draft Rubio and the kid stays in Spain for 2 years. So what? Does Memphis have a big hole at PG? No. A Rubio absence actually gives the Gizz more time to evaluate Conley. If Conley blows up, the Grizz packages Rubio's right with other pieces for a star player to complete the team. If Conley falters then Rubio will come over just in time to take the reign.

3. Assuming Rubio stays in Spain for two years. What will his option be then? He no longer has to worry about a buyout but Memphis still holds his right. Is he really going to play this game of chicken and stay in Europe forever? Money talks - when playing for the Grizz is more lucrative than playing in Europe, the choice is obviious. The Grizz knows this. OKC knows this. What the Grizz and Thunder hear from Fegan is, "Draft my client and he stays overseas to work on his game on other people's dime while you evaluate Conley/Westbrook." If I'm running OKC or Memphis I'd be saying, "Sounds good to me."

4. Bottom line: Fegan's bluff is not scaring anyone.
 
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Capt. Factorial

trifolium contra tempestatem subrigere certum est
Staff member
#32
OK, for sake of argument, let's assume that Rubio and Fegan make it clear that MEM/OKC are out of the question, but SAC is fine, and also assume that Rubio's leverage is such that MEM/OKC are scared off of keeping him (meaning they'd draft him only for the purpose of a trade).

Under that scenario, Memphis probably wants Thabeet (though they might go for Hill). They can try to trade with us for #4, but after we take Rubio at #2, OKC will probably take Thabeet at #3 and leave Memphis at #4 with their guy off the board. Which means that if they truly want Thabeet out of this draft, they can't trade their pick to anybody but OKC, and OKC can't exactly take Rubio, either, so they'd likely grab Thabeet as well. So presumably the only way they'd trade the #2 would be to get a very solid package back under the assumption that Thabeet won't be there at #4 (or later -- they don't have to trade with us). Petrie will know this, and refuse to give up too much, leaving Memphis to just take Thabeet at #2.

Now it's OKC's turn. They at least have a good target at #4 (Harden) and would guaranteed get him if they traded us the #3. But they don't have the leverage to ask for Thompson/Hawes out of us. They may not even have the leverage to ask for the #23 pick. We might be able to squeeze the #3 out for the #4 and the #31, or the #4 and a future protected pick. But if they can't work a deal with us, unless they can find a trade that they like to go even deeper into the draft, they have to take Harden if he's their guy. If they take Rubio hoping to trade him to whoever grabs Harden, there's a good chance we might take Harden, and if not, then Washington very likely might and they're looking to trade for a vet by all accounts, not a rookie like Rubio. So they'd have to hope that Harden stayed on the board until Minnesota, which is questionable. I figure they'd cave and trade #3 for #4 + #31, and that's acceptable losses for us.

Anyway, this whole scenario is contingent on a lot, including Rubio refusing to go to MEM/OKC, MEM having their heart set on Thabeet, OKC having their heart set on either Thabeet or Harden...which is at least plausible. Do I think it's going to happen? Not really, but the pressures there could work in our favor if everything falls out right.
 
#33

rainmaker

Hall of Famer
#34
1. We don't even know if Memphis like Rubio more than Thabeet. The truth is, Thabeet is more in line with what Memphis need right now and they may not have another chance at a 7'3 center in a long... time.

2. Assuming Memphis draft Rubio and the kid stays in Spain for 2 years. So what? Does Memphis have a big hole at PG? No. A Rubio absence actually gives the Gizz more time to evaluate Conley. If Conley blows up, the Grizz packages Rubio's right with other pieces for a star player to complete the team. If Conley falters then Rubio will come over just in time to take the reign.

3. Assuming Rubio stays in Spain for two years. What will his option be then? He no longer has to worry about a buyout but Memphis still holds his right. Is he really going to play this game of chicken and stay in Europe forever? Money talks - when playing for the Grizz is more lucrative than playing in Europe, the choice is obviious. The Grizz knows this. OKC knows this. What the Grizz and Thunder hear from Fegan is, "Draft my client and he stays overseas to work on his game on other people's dime while you evaluate Conley/Westbrook." If I'm running OKC or Memphis I'd be saying, "Sounds good to me."

4. Bottom line: Fegan's bluff is not scaring anyone.
I don't think Memphis is in a position to draft Rubio if he won't come over for a year or two. They really want a 2 guard, and given what Fegan has publicly stated about Rubio's threat to return to Spain before playing in memphis, I would think they would be all over teague or harden. Pair either one of those players with another 1st rounder or another player from sac, and I am not convinced they wouldn't do it.
 
#35
I don't think Memphis is in a position to draft Rubio if he won't come over for a year or two. They really want a 2 guard, and given what Fegan has publicly stated about Rubio's threat to return to Spain before playing in memphis, I would think they would be all over teague or harden. Pair either one of those players with another 1st rounder or another player from sac, and I am not convinced they wouldn't do it.

What about OJ Mayo?

I think MEM is set at 1,2 and 3. They're weak up front with a big hole at the 4 and serviceable at the 5. Thabeet makes a lot of sense for them but this is the Grizz we're talking about.

However, if they think Rubio is a can't-miss then a NBA team cannot possibly let an agent scare them away from drafting that player.
 
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#36
Just remember that if Rubio and his agent think it's to his advantage he can still wiithdraw from this draft altogether and wait until next year.

If Rubio really wants LA or Sacramento, I'm wondering if we don't have to find a way to move up, so he can get the money he needs for his buyout? Is 4th pick money enough? (I'm assuming there's no way the Clips don't take Griffin, but who knows...it is the Clippers.)

Of course, if Wall is in next year's draft, then Rubio is not likely to be the number one PG in the draft then and could potentially fall farther than 4th next year, depending on the 2010 class.
 
#38
Memphis should just straight up trade picks with us because it's the right f'n thing to do.
If you were Memphis and Sacramento was Memphis would you trade pics, because Memphis thought it was "The right things to do", or because you thought a certain player didn't want to come to your team?

I don't know about you, but I sure wouldn't.
 
#40
Just remember that if Rubio and his agent think it's to his advantage he can still wiithdraw from this draft altogether and wait until next year.

If Rubio really wants LA or Sacramento, I'm wondering if we don't have to find a way to move up, so he can get the money he needs for his buyout? Is 4th pick money enough? (I'm assuming there's no way the Clips don't take Griffin, but who knows...it is the Clippers.)

Of course, if Wall is in next year's draft, then Rubio is not likely to be the number one PG in the draft then and could potentially fall farther than 4th next year, depending on the 2010 class.
The problem with waiting is that he may not get as high of a position, and may not make as much money. Also, he would be exiting his rookie deal later instead of sooner, and with the possibility of the league restructuring the rookie deals and cap with a new CBA, time could be a factor. This is a weak draft, and time is against him from a NBA salary standpoint, so it may be in his best interest to get in now on a team that will give him the best opportunity to play.
 
#44
Didn't work with Yi and it certainly won't work with Rubio!
The difference is that no one was willing to sacrifice enough to trade up for Yi, because they were not sure he was worth the cost. We would have a better shot at trading up 1 or 2 picks to get him at a price that would be reasonable for us.
 

rainmaker

Hall of Famer
#45
Fegan is representing Rubio and wants what is best for him. I doubt Fegan is making these public statements with out Rubio being onboard with it. It is very plausible that Rubio would not want to play in memphis. Who would? Of course this all depends on if Fegan actually made these comments. This scenario is not to difficult for me to believe that there is some truth to it.
 
#46
Repost from closed thread:

First off, Fegan tried this with Yi Jianlian, they called his bluff, and he ended up looking like an idiot. I don't think his preferences carry much weight.

Second, I'm still just not very excited about Rubio.
Nonsense. This is completely different than the Yi situation. Yi wasn't in a HUGE contract with China. Yi could have decided to go back to China and play there, but Rubio is still UNDER contract with his team, so if the Grizzles draft him and he doesn't want to play there, he can simply go back and wait until his contract ends.
 
#48
Yeah if Rubio doesn't want to play in Memphis or Oklahoma, what makes anyone believe he would want to play in Sacramento?
Well, the same source that said he doesn't want to play at those places is the same source that says he'd like to play in Sacramento. If we're going to speculate though, it might not be the geographical location and/or market size, but rather competition at the PG position.
 
#49
Nonsense. This is completely different than the Yi situation. Yi wasn't in a HUGE contract with China. Yi could have decided to go back to China and play there, but Rubio is still UNDER contract with his team, so if the Grizzles draft him and he doesn't want to play there, he can simply go back and wait until his contract ends.
Well, I think they're all empty threats, but it's kind of pointless to even argue about until there's some proof that this is actually Rubio's camp's position rather than a BS rumor on Draftexpress.
 
#50
Well, the same source that said he doesn't want to play at those places is the same source that says he'd like to play in Sacramento. If we're going to speculate though, it might not be the geographical location and/or market size, but rather competition at the PG position.
Got it. The PG competition argument would be the only logical reason for his choosing Sacramento instead of OKC or Memphis.. if this is in fact, true.
 
#51
Yeah if Rubio doesn't want to play in Memphis or Oklahoma, what makes anyone believe he would want to play in Sacramento?
That's already been addressed. The two main reasons are:

Sac is his best chance at taking over the starting PG position than in OKC or Memphis. Even if he doesn't start right away, he will get more minutes and a better shot at taking over during the season if he proves himself than against Coney and Westbrook.

And GP and the Kings have proven that they aren't afraid to draft and play international players, and the fanbase welcomes those guys. Plus, Cali > Oklahoma and Tennessee.
 

gunks

Hall of Famer
#52
Interesting stuff.

I'm not getting my hopes up, I didnt about the lotto and that saved me some heartbreak, but I think draft day could be a tricksy one.

Petrie never traded on draft day because we were always mid to late lotto. All the good draft day stuff tends to happen in the top 6. We'll see what happens. Petrie could fall in love with a player available to us at 4 and then nothing will come of it. Memphis could roll the dice with Rubio. Who knows.

I think we'll come out of the draft with a great player regardless...Even if it isnt Griffin. (And so what, JT is gonna step it up this season, yall watch!)
 
#53
“Rubio doesn’t want to go to Memphis, and he especially does not want to pay money out of his own pocket with that huge buyout for the honor of doing so. Fegan [Rubio’s agent] wants him in L.A., and if he can’t have him there, he wants him in Sacramento. Definitely not Oklahoma City.

I just cried a little.
 
#54
Im in favor of trading down and dumping kenny thomas we could get a couple of possible jems like terrence williams and patrick mills and a solid bench player like tyler hansbrough one player isnt going to turn this ship around......
 
#55
Wow... I sure hope he does! Sacramento is close enough to LA! Memphis should play it smart and not take a player that doesn't want to be there.
 
#56
I think I'll pass on Ricky "Primadonna" Rubio. You don't pick where you go, you play for the team that drafts you. Kid hasn't proven anything, yet is making demands like he's Kobe.
 
#57
<i>"Rubio doesn’t want to go to Memphis, and he especially does not want to pay money out of his own pocket with that huge buyout for the honor of doing so. Fegan [Rubio’s agent] wants him in L.A., and if he can’t have him there, he wants him in Sacramento. Definitely not Oklahoma City. "</i>

1. Why would he want to come to Sacramento? Small market, worst record in the league last year. Doesn't make sense. How are we fundamentally different than Memphis or Oklahoma City? (maybe Petrie visited him on a trip and impressed him? Of course, when will Memphis and OC GMs visit him?)

2. The draft left us as poor as we could be. No gift from the NBA gods here. So if we want to move up (which we can always do) it will cost us something. What would Memphis want? What are we willing to part with?
 

Warhawk

Give blood and save a life!
Staff member
#58
<i>"Rubio doesn’t want to go to Memphis, and he especially does not want to pay money out of his own pocket with that huge buyout for the honor of doing so. Fegan [Rubio’s agent] wants him in L.A., and if he can’t have him there, he wants him in Sacramento. Definitely not Oklahoma City. "</i>

1. Why would he want to come to Sacramento? Small market, worst record in the league last year. Doesn't make sense. How are we fundamentally different than Memphis or Oklahoma City? (maybe Petrie visited him on a trip and impressed him? Of course, when will Memphis and OC GMs visit him?)
You don't bother reading any posts before yours, do you? ;)
 
#59
<i>"Rubio doesn’t want to go to Memphis, and he especially does not want to pay money out of his own pocket with that huge buyout for the honor of doing so. Fegan [Rubio’s agent] wants him in L.A., and if he can’t have him there, he wants him in Sacramento. Definitely not Oklahoma City. "</i>

1. Why would he want to come to Sacramento? Small market, worst record in the league last year. Doesn't make sense. How are we fundamentally different than Memphis or Oklahoma City? (maybe Petrie visited him on a trip and impressed him? Of course, when will Memphis and OC GMs visit him?)

2. The draft left us as poor as we could be. No gift from the NBA gods here. So if we want to move up (which we can always do) it will cost us something. What would Memphis want? What are we willing to part with?
Playing time. Our PGs suck and are old. Memphis and OKC have young PGs
 
#60
I think I'll pass on Ricky "Primadonna" Rubio. You don't pick where you go, you play for the team that drafts you. Kid hasn't proven anything, yet is making demands like he's Kobe.
He's not a poor college kid whose dream is playing pro ball in the NBA, nor is he a guy playing in the D-league trying to make the league and doesn't care what team that gives him a shot. The attitude of "beggars can't be choosers" applies to those guys, but not when we are talking about a pro athlete who already has a career in another league that is coveted by NBA teams. He has an alternative, and thus leverage. He should use it, because again, he's not clawing and scratching to make a career in pro ball that needs the NBA, he's just looking for an upgrade and incentive for him to make that transition.