A trade for Ricky Rubio would bring obvious advantages to the Knicks. He would be ideal for a classic point guard role. Rubio has long been one of the most effective ball distributors in the league. He has a career average of 7.7 assists per game and an average of 8.8 as soon as the 2019-2020 season. This year, he posted a solid 6.5 cents per game despite only getting 25 minutes per game as a backup in Minnesota.
At just 30, Rubio is also young enough to make an impact on the pitch. It is much more than a passing novelty that brings little else to the table. He is still a capable scorer who bounces well for his position and is a good source of steals.
Even more important is the recent history of victories. His Utah Jazz teams won 48 games in 2017 and 50 in 2018. So Rubio’s presence on a previously underperformed Phoenix team helped the Suns score 34 wins during a shortened season in 2019. He was a part key team from the standing basement to a post-season contender and the darlings of the NBA COVID bubble.
The former 5th overall pick also has a huge reputation as a leader. First pick in the 2020 draft Anthony Edwards has publicly called Rubio the “best leader he has ever seen”. A New York team made up mostly of young talent would benefit enormously from this type of player.
In fact, the Knicks would have one of the best locker rooms in the league with veterans like Rubio and Rose in the lead.