T'Wolves: Is Rubio the Right Fit for Their Future?

(Getty Images: Jim McIsaac)

This is a subject I've been debating since the first year Rubio came to play for the Timberwolves. Everyone loved his ability as dynamic passer transitioning to the NBA, which he has shown he can do when he's healthy.  (Let's look past the fact that we had the #5 and #6 pick that year and we didn't select Steph Curry. Johnny Flynn was super great though, right?) His 'no look' passes, his dimes that thread the needle, and his alley oops that always seem to be on point: So what's the deal with everyone wanting to get rid of him?

36.5% shooting percentage. Barf City.

This is the biggest flaw anyone can find on Rubio and it's something that people just won't let go of. And I totally get it.  Fans want each player to be a franchise guy who does everything for their team.  When a fan finds a reason they don't like a player, they focus only on that statistic and beat it into the ground.

Instead of telling you all the reasons why you are wrong about wanting to trade Rubio, I'll lay it out in an argumentative manner and try to represent both sides as best as I can fathom with logic and statistics.  So, here we go!

Team Trade Rubio:

(Star Tribune: Marlin Levison)

We will go with the most obvious reason to start off: He can't shoot.  Well, let me rephrase that.  He can shoot, but not at a level that all the other point-guards.  35.7 % is pretty atrotious. Even in the picture above you can see he gets no elevation on his jump shot.  I mean he's not even close to being a decent shooter.  He's a full 16% under the top shooter in the league in Tony Parker at 51.4%. That is something you can't really have on a starting roster in the NBA. At least if you want to win games, which the Wolves are having a hard time doing so far this year.

(Star Tribune: Marlin Levison)

Rubio is also extremely injury prone.  In 2012 Rubio tore his ACL after only playing 41 games which carried over to 2013 in which it only allowed him to play 57 games.  After a healthy campaign in 2014, he severely sprained his ankle which led him to only appearing in 22 games in 2015.  It doesn't help his cause that he is a gritty player who takes charges, crashes boards, and dives after loose balls. If he can stay healthy through the rest of 2016 and again in 2017, he can slowly remove that label from himself.  Until then, it will be a liability for his team and his future in the NBA.

He lacks speed at a generally speedy-needy position. He gets beat to the rim.  A lot.  It's very frustrating during games seeing Ricky get beat to the rim. It allows the point guard to either score an easy layup, feed a big man for a dunk (because their defender switches to defend the rim), or a dish to an outside shooter who is now open because the shift crashes to the inside to help the middle.  This has been a big problem with Ricky from the get go and it causes an even bigger problem for the team (that's 23rd in points against and 26th in opponent field goal percentage) to win games.

And Finally, worst of all: He isn't even American! I mean, come on dude. So, un-point-guard like. 10 points deducted from Timberdor.  Nay, 100 points!

Kidding, of course.

Team Keep Rubio:

Again, starting with the strongest argument from the opposite side: Rubio is a pure passer.  One of the purest passers in the league.  He's 3rd in assists per 48 minutes at 13.8 only behind Rajon Rondo and Russell Westbrook.  Which is very good company.  Also, he's 5th in the league in assists per game at 8.8.  He basically just gets it done on the offensive end for a young group of players who aren't all on the same page yet and that's saying a lot.  If you haven't watched his highlight reel, I suggest you do.

He isn't prone to turning the ball over.  Rubio's assist to turnover ratio is second best in the league at 3.79.  It's nice to have someone who is the main point on your team that can facilitate like he can. Teams dream of having a player who's in control that can keep the ball out of the other team's hands as well as distribute like he does.  This deals a lot with his vision on the court, which I think is matched by only the greatest in the game.

He has some of the quickest hands in the league on defense and is 3rd in steals at 2.16 (2nd is 2.17). That isn't a statistic to completely look over.  He can either force the other team into bad situations or knock it out of a unsuspecting players hands for an easy 'pickpocket'.

Rubio, without a doubt, is a very passionate player.  He wears his heart on his sleeve and he uses that energy at the end of games to step up his play on both sides of the court.  I've never seen him let his emotions make him reckless or give up too early.  Passion is a must in the NBA if a player wants to win or make the next step as a player, and Rubio has that passion.

Conclusion:

KEEP HIM!

(Getty Images: David Sherman)

I could talk for days about Rubio and what he can and cannot do. However, we don't have that kind of time. Looking at both sides of this argument, I fully stand on the side of the Wolves keeping Rubio. Everything except for the speed on defense, Rubio is trying to correct.  If he stays healthy and he shows that he can improve on his shot (which he is working on with a separate coach) he will be a top 5 point-guard in my eyes.  The reason I say that, is we've become too connected with the idea that every player needs to average over 15 points to be considered an all-star type player.  I disagree in the case of a point guard.  Rubio, in the basic sense, is what a true point-guard should be.  Yeah, it would be nice if his shooting percentage was 10 percent higher (and he's passionate enough to become a better shooter).   But that's not who he is and that's not what a true point is.  A point guard is the coach on the floor, the eyes on the court, the skill player, and the one who is supposed to create opportunities for others.  That is the main goal of the point by definition.

It sucks he's not a pure scorer like Westbrook, Curry, or Lillard; and that's okay.  We have weapons like Towns, Wiggins, LaVine, and Dieng that can score, too. It'd be nice for everything to be perfect with Rubio and while I think his shooting will improve, everything takes time.  He's still 25.  And he has the tools that many would dream of having in his vision and passing abilities.

Let's hold on to him, because in a few years when these young pups grow into their own, they will need a leader who will do the dirty work so they can look like stars.  That man is Ricky Rubio.