Ricky Rubio is likely going to need to find a new team.
The former Timberwolves first-round pick announced Saturday that the Utah Jazz are not making him an offseason priority.
“Utah has already let me know I’m not a priority for them,” Rubio told Spanish journalist Ernest Macià, according to Sportando.
Rubio, still just 28 years old, will become a free agent on July 1 as he enters his eighth NBA season. The point guard played for the Wolves from 2011-2017 before spending the past two seasons with the Jazz.
- Rubio averages with Minnesota: 10.3 points, 8.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 37.5% shooting
- Rubio averages with Utah: 12.9 points, 5.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 41.2% shooting
The Wolves drafted Rubio fifth overall in 2009, then used the sixth overall pick to take Jonny Flynn while the Warriors took Steph Curry seventh overall and DeMar DeRozan went ninth overall to Toronto (insert curse words).
Jeff Teague, Minnesota’s current point guard, was taken 19th overall by Atlanta in the same draft (feel free to curse again).
Anyway, this story is about Rubio needing a new home, not whining about what could’ve been (curse again). With that, where does Rubio rank among potential free agent point guards? According to Hoops Hype, he’s sixth.
- Kyrie Irving (player option)
- Kemba Walker (unrestricted)
- D’Angelo Russell (restricted)
- Malcolm Brogdon (restricted)
- Goran Dragic (player option)
- Ricky Rubio (unrestricted)
If the Nets match the highest offer for Russell and the Bucks do the same with Brogdon, Rubio would then become a top-four free agent point guard. Other point guards sure to get attention if they hit free agency include Derrick Rose, Terry Rozier and Patrick Beverley.
