Signing a point guard to replace impending free agent Darren Collison was always going to be a priority for the Indiana Pacers heading into this summer. The fact that Collison recently announced his retirement at just 31 years old only heightened that sense of urgency.
The Pacers had reportedly shown interest in former Utah Jazz point guard Ricky Rubio for weeks, and it may be just a matter of hours before Rubio is headed to Indiana.
With the Jazz acquiring Mike Conley to run the point, Marc Stein of The New York Times reports that Rubio and the Pacers have essentially been in agreement on a potential deal for the better part of a week now:
Talk of Ricky Rubio and a "virtual done deal" with Indiana has been circulating for a week. That's another one many teams have circled as a likely Day 1 verbal agreement after the opening bell sounds at 6 PM Eastern
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 30, 2019
Rubio averaged 12.7 points, 6.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds with the Jazz last season, although he barely shot above 40 percent for the year. Still, Rubio's proficiency in pick-and-roll and his potential as a playmaker and distributor are vital to Indiana.
Pacers president Kevin Pritchard made it clear in his first offseason press conference that the team would look to acquire players who could create for their teammates. Rubio seems to fit that mold well.
Even though he had to play in more of a combo guard role alongside Donovan Mitchell, Rubio showed a knack for making the right pass off the bounce and having some ability to push the tempo in transition. It was also just three years ago that he averaged 9.1 assists in his last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Pacers still need to surround Rubio with more perimeter shooters, but he is the kind of team-first guy who could prove to be of vital importance when Victor Oladipo returns from injury.
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