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NBA Trade Rumors: Most Ideal Landing Spots For Ricky Rubio

By Maxwell Ogden

Oct 19, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) dribbles in the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Target Center. The Timberwolves beat the Grizzlies 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) dribbles in the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Target Center. The Timberwolves beat the Grizzlies 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 1, 2016; Bossier City, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Buddy Hield (24) and forward Anthony Davis (23) and guard Tim Frazier (2) and guard Lance Stephenson (5) walk onto the court after a time out against the Dallas Mavericks during a game at CenturyLink Center. New Orleans won 116-102. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Bossier City, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Buddy Hield (24) and forward Anthony Davis (23) and guard Tim Frazier (2) and guard Lance Stephenson (5) walk onto the court after a time out against the Dallas Mavericks during a game at CenturyLink Center. New Orleans won 116-102. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /

4. New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans will be without starting point guard Jrue Holiday for the foreseeable future. Langston Galloway has two-way potential at point guard, but the Pelicans have postseason aspirations and little time to waste.

If the Pelicans somehow manage to trade for Ricky Rubio, one would be inclined to believe that Anthony Davis’ job would become significantly easier.

Rubio is a masterful facilitator, a quality rebounder, and one of the best defensive players at his position. His ability to distribute the ball would enable Davis to create less for himself and capitalize on opportunities to score off of feeds from his teammates.

Holiday has helped in that regard, but he’s missed at least 40 games in two of his three seasons in New Orleans.

Defensively, Rubio’s ability to contain point guards and force turnovers would fuel the Pelicans’ transition offense. Alvin Gentry likes to run, and Rubio is the ideal point guard for such a strategy to be executed.

This isn’t a necessary trade, but if the Pelicans move on from Tyreke Evans, then Rubio could be the ideal replacement as a big guard who can do a bit of everything.

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