Report: Thunder Like Rubio; Nobody Knows What Is Going On
by dishingoutdimes on Jun 24, 2009 9:32 PM CDT
in Draft Coverage
39 comments
Well, the only segue I can think of is that Sam Presti is notorious for running a very tight ship. Therefore, it's not surprising that we're getting a lot of conflicting rumors. However, here's the latest from DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony:
Oklahoma City appears to have narrowed in on Ricky Rubio as their top choice with the #3 pick, at least according to what most NBA teams have on their board at the moment. For now, it seems like they will be keeping him. While we’re told that the Knicks will definitely explore a sign and trade with David Lee to acquire Rubio, it might take more to convince Oklahoma City to make that trade.
It will be interesting to see what the fallout is from Russell Westbrook’s camp after this, as he’s been extremely vocal publicly about not wanting to relinquish the full-time point guard duties, which is bound to happen eventually with Rubio around. Westbrook is currently scheduled to be on Jim Rome’s show tomorrow, so we may expect some fireworks.
It's fairly impossible to figure out what the Thunder are going to do at this point, so I've resigned myself to passing along the rumors. For the record, my gut instinct was always Rubio at #3, and that's what I thought yesterday night. The ESPN report earlier today seemed pretty certain that the Thunder were staying away from Rubio, but now I'm not so sure anymore.
Certainly does increase the anticipation, right?
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Yes, I was planning on watching the Jim Rome interview tomorrow. I even twittered RW0 to ask his opinion. No response, and I really don’t expect one. I really think the Westbrook fallout is all hype at the moment. Daily Thunder summed up my thoughts about a Westbrook/Rubio backcourt quite nicely…
Rubio is the distributor. The guy that wants to pass, wants to make teammates better. And Westbrook could continue to do what he likes doing – driving recklessly at the bucket and scoring and creating. Just because Russ would technically be penciled in at shooting guard in the box score doesn’t mean he would have the ball in his hands. They can feed off each other. If Presti took Curry I think the same thing would happen. Heck, if he took James Harden I think Westbrook and Harden would share a lot of the ball-handling duties. Even if OKC goes with Thabeet, you’ll see a lot of Livingston-Westbrook, Thabo-Westbrook, Weaver-Westbrook anyway. Scott Brooks said one time that he sees five point guards playing together in the NBA in 10 years. Maybe that’s the vision they have now.
My major concerns would be turnovers and poor perimeter shooting. That is why I’m still favoring Harden, even though I would love to have Rubio in OKC.
Also Known as "4D" one step beyond 3D
Yeah I think he put it about as well as you can
Russell Westbrook isn’t being relegated to a bench role. In fact, I would suspect he’ll get similar minutes or more minutes this year. He would be a slashing guard who would need to work on extending his shot, but we would have two scorers (Durant, Green), a pure distributor (Rubio) and a slasher/scorer (Westbrook). Sounds okay to me.
by dishingoutdimes on Jun 24, 2009 9:47 PM CDT up reply actions
no!!!!
i disagree.pairing rubio and west could be a disaster. neither is a good shooter.westbrook can drive to the lane but thats about where his offense ends.he does not have a 3 point shot nor a mid range jumper. same for rubio. pairing both will cause opposing defenses to load up on durant and green.
load up on durant and green?
and let rubio drive to the basket? or worse let westbrook drive to the basket? That’s a higher percentage shot than having Kevin Durant spot up from 18 feet don’t you think?
More rumors, lol
Sacramento has reportedly offered Detroit the #23 and #31 picks in exchange for the #15. The Kings may target DeJuan Blair at 15 if he’s available, while the Pistons like Toney Douglas and possibly DaJuan Summers.
Minnesota supposedly may not be done making moves, and could be looking to package some assets and move up even higher in the first round. Right now they seem to be dangling the #18 pick and Nikola Pekovic, possibly to Detroit sitting at 15. Gerald Henderson could very well be their target, as he’s likely gone one pick later by Chicago.
by dishingoutdimes on Jun 24, 2009 9:46 PM CDT reply actions
I do feel bringing Rubio in would...
hinder Westbrook’s development into a hybrid between Rondo and D-Wade.
Also Known as "4D" one step beyond 3D
Makes little sense unless Presti plans on trading one. Too many turnovers, too little shooting. An unhappy Westbrook, Presti reports.Yuck.
draft dejuan blair
Call me crazy
But I don’t think Westbrook will be a hopeless shooter for his entire career.
by dishingoutdimes on Jun 24, 2009 10:12 PM CDT reply actions
he can become a decent shooter, but teams will still pack the paint and dare them to shoot.
Harden is a much, much better fit.
draft dejuan blair
by Cablinasian on Jun 24, 2009 10:13 PM CDT up reply actions
About half the time I want Harden for OKC
by dishingoutdimes on Jun 24, 2009 10:18 PM CDT up reply actions
drafting Rubio would give the Thunder two 1s and two 3s. That doesn’t make much sense.
draft dejuan blair
by Cablinasian on Jun 24, 2009 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Rubio is a great passer
Westbrook is not, yet. I don’t know if Westbrook will ever have GREAT vision. I think Westbrook will be a combo guard for the Thunder. He already kind of was. When Watson was in the game, Westbrook played the 2 and had a PER 2 points higher than when he played the point. When a guy like Weaver or Sefolosha was in the game, Westbrook ran the point.
Again, Westbrook can play the 2. He was statistically better at it last year than the 1.
by dishingoutdimes on Jun 24, 2009 10:29 PM CDT up reply actions
I think Westbrook would be better long-term as a shooting guard, but he seems pretty dead-set on being a point guard, as told by Givony.
Here’s the problem: neither Westbrook or Rubio is a natural shooter. Durant is not a guy that you can camp out at the three point line. He’s a major weapon, not to be wasted as a spot-up shooter. Green is playing the 4. can you really plant him out at the three point line much and expect any kind of offensive rebounding?
With Westbrook, Durant, and Green the Thunder has to have a three point threat at the other guard position. It would make their lives easier. Drafting Rubio means that teams can fall back in zone, shading toward Durant. Remember how the Blazers shut Durant down in the final two matchups? McMillan put Batum on him, denying the ball, and shaded another defender toward him, with no ramifications. Why? Because the Thunder couldn’t hit from long distance and make the Blazers pay.
My other concern is making Westbrook defend the 2. His big advantage as a prospect is that he is physically dominant at the point guard position. Making him guard the 2 doesn’t play to his strengths.
draft dejuan blair
by Cablinasian on Jun 24, 2009 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree
I wish there was a way we could get both. I still think Rubio is a guy who will be a star, and I have a hard time passing those guys up, even if they aren’t at a position of need.
by dishingoutdimes on Jun 24, 2009 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions
From an outside perspective, I’d draft Rubio and use Westbrook to get a nice 2 who can shoot and defend. Westbrook seems set on being a point guard, but he really isn’t one. It would be helpful to have a pure 1 like Rubio to get the ball to your scorers.
On the other hand, one of Rubio’s greatest strengths is the pick and roll. The Thunder really have no one to set great picks and be a great force on the roll.
draft dejuan blair
by Cablinasian on Jun 24, 2009 11:26 PM CDT up reply actions
The safe pick is Harden
If I was Presti, I don’t know if I’d have the cajones to pull the trigger on drafting Rubio. At the same time, I can’t deny his potential
by dishingoutdimes on Jun 24, 2009 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Additionally,
I know for a fact that Presti isn’t going to want to break up the core he’s set up. That would probably be the first wildly unpopular move he’d make
by dishingoutdimes on Jun 24, 2009 11:29 PM CDT up reply actions
the biggest mistake that a GM can make is to make decisions based on the public.
Right now the Thunder are a team who plays offense one-on-one. Want to be a team that passes the ball? Get a true playmaker. One-on-one offense is easy to scheme against, especially in a series.
draft dejuan blair
by Cablinasian on Jun 24, 2009 11:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Harden is actually at his best in isolation sets too
So that wouldn’t improve the one-on-one offense. It seems like the Western Conference is more open, attacking kind of basketball which requires a point guard who’s looking to pass, has creativity, and exceptional court vision.
It’s a really tough call.
I try to look at the glass half full: either way the Thunder will be getting a great prospect. And they still have ANOTHER first round draft choice and a fair amount of cap room.
by dishingoutdimes on Jun 24, 2009 11:36 PM CDT up reply actions
I am flip floppin on those two like crazy.
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain
by blackvanilla on Jun 24, 2009 11:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Draft Preview on ESPN right now
If you’re interested
by dishingoutdimes on Jun 24, 2009 10:13 PM CDT reply actions
On the positive
The ads on the side of the site have disappeared.
by dishingoutdimes on Jun 24, 2009 11:30 PM CDT reply actions
Looks like
another trade…this time, Shaq to Cleveland.
by ElectricPencils on Jun 24, 2009 11:59 PM CDT reply actions
i love that move
that move is great news for the thunder. if shaq is gone phoenix with the cast they have now will be even worse and thus improving the value and position of our pick next year. this moves screams of desperation from Cleveland though and says they are more worried about lebron leaving than i thought they should be.
Just heard that now too
Definitely helps the Thunder. Phoenix seems to be in rebuilding mode
by dishingoutdimes on Jun 25, 2009 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions
by the time the Thunder are good, Shaq would have expired and Nash will be 36/37. They were never really a threat to the new wave teams.
draft dejuan blair
by Cablinasian on Jun 25, 2009 12:30 AM CDT up reply actions
not the point
the point is the thunder own phoenix 1st round pick next year unprotected. so losing a solid if aging player hurts them in their ability to win games thus increasing how high that pick is.
Hmmm, I can see Phoenix being pretty good next year. Nash-Barbosa-Richardson-Amare is still a deadly lineup in a fast-paced offense. Not playoffs good, but about 13th-14th pick.
draft dejuan blair
by Cablinasian on Jun 25, 2009 12:44 AM CDT up reply actions
Maybe not
new rumor is T-Mac Aaron Brooks and Landry for Amare and Barbosa.
tell me u think that Nash, Richardson, Lopez, Brooks and Landry is better than one of the worst 10 records in the league. Only thing that would make this better is if the suns cause they dealt shaq and might deal Amare go after Mullens to be a future big.
also on the rumors
last year in the days leading up to the draft all the talk was about how presti loved brook lopez and he was a lock at 4 so lets not read too much into the rubio hype as if its true he can get him and if its not it raises the price to get presti to move out of the 3 spot and also adds to the hype around Rubio.
I hope this is also true when it comes to Mullens as he is hoping to get teams above where he might be to bite on him and have someone else fall. as long as presti doesnt deal next years 1st rounders i think that we will definitely at least be satisfied with the draft, while some moves could make it an ecstatic reaction
I don't know why,
but I just get the feeling that Presti will stick to his bread and butter – foreign talent. He’s famous for being the driving nail behind selecting Tony Parker in San Antonio. He selected Serge Ibaka not too long ago. And now – if he wants the best talent available, he’s got a chance to pick up a kid that fits perfectly in Oklahoma City in terms of marketing and the ability to win games. If he takes Rubio, he creates what becomes an essential traveling circus – except this is a show everyone will want to see. Not taking Rubio because Westbrook will be unhappy doesn’t seem like a good enough reason not to take him…
That and I think we can see Westbrook being a hybrid two-guard down the road. He’s a bigger body for a point guard and shoots from the elbow better than anyone gives him credit for.
I say take Rubio and let the kid run the fastbreak with Westbrook and Durant. You’ll be making Durant a superstar and that Ford Center will go nuts with how many points that team will score.
i agree with the foreign talent
but im not rubio will be the foreign pick. i have a feeling like ibaka that late first will be one like Casspi. I agree an unhappy westbrook is not a good enough reason to not take Rubio, but i still believe Harden is the better fit for this team. Get the 5 and the 18 from Minnesota and take Maynor or Lawson, even Teague since 1 will definitely be there and i take them in that order to allow Westbrook time to roam at the 2. Anyone of those 3 can run with our unit and you then have 2-3 players stashed in Europe with Ibaka, Casspi, and Hardin.
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