Ricky Rubio's next contract is likely to shape the rest of his NBA career, as the Utah Jazz have been mum about their willingness to re-sign him. Rubio survived a turbulent trade deadline, including rumors of a potential point guard swap with Memphis Grizzlies lifer Mike Conley.
Rubio was well aware of those implications and what it would mean to start again elsewhere, especially in a rebuilding situation:
“If you analyze it as a business, which is what it is, I can understand it because in June I become a free agent and they had nothing in return,” Rubio said to Spanish outlet AS, via Eurohoops.
“Maybe they thought they had a ‘sticker' that expired in three months and they’d change it for another one that had three years of contract like Mike Conley. This makes you think. You don’t know if it’s because maybe you’re not playing well or if what they wanted was to make some change to improve. In the end, you can’t take it personally.”
Rubio will test free-agent waters in less than two months, but he prospects as a mid-tier point man and a fringe starter at best at this point of his career. It's no secret that the Jazz have tried to upgrade at his position, though all Rubio can do is sit and wait until the first chips fall and see which franchise could align with his aspirations:
“All that has affected me, without a doubt,” said Rubio. “If the question had been asked a year ago, I’d signed with [the Jazz] with my eyes closed. Now, from here to July, many things can happen.”
Rubio will likely have to wait for other point guards like Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker to find a home first before visualizing his next landing spot. The 28-year-old point man made $14.8 million this past season and will be among secondary options like Darren Collison and Patrick Beverley once the main targets clear.
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