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LA Clippers: Pass or Pursue on 5 Point Guard Targets

By Seth Kimbrell

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 19: A view of the court at Staples Center during the game between the LA Clippers and the Houston Rockets on December 19, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 19: A view of the court at Staples Center during the game between the LA Clippers and the Houston Rockets on December 19, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LA Clippers Ricky Rubio Paul George
LA Clippers Ricky Rubio Paul George (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

The LA Clippers should pursue Ricky Rubio

Another rumor that’s more recent than the rest. With the Phoenix Suns pursuing Chris Paul, there are talks that the Clippers could get involved in the deal. The assumption here would be that the Suns would move Ricky Rubio to the Clips as a part of this.

This is a deal that the Clippers should be eager to pursue. At 30 years old, Rubio still has prime years left in him, and he is more than able to run an offense, which is a need for the team. Last year for the Suns, Ricky averaged 13 points and 8.8 assists per game with solid but not spectacular defense.

He fits the Clippers’ needs perfectly. He’s a player who’s not going to require a ton of shots – he only shot it 12.4 times per 36 minutes last season. He’ll facilitate the offense, make the right reads and won’t be a negative on defense.

If Patrick Beverley is a piece that needs to move for Ricky, this is still worth pursuing. Rubio can give us 80% of what Bev gives us. He’s not the elite defender that Bev can be, but he’s a very good defender. He’s not elite in the catch and shoot game, but he’s very good. But he will foul less (3 fouls per 36 minutes for Ricky vs. 4 for Bev). And he can run an offense with the ball in his hands at a level that Bev can’t.

Rubio would unlock the offense and let Kawhi play much more off-ball. It would be an approximation of the dynamic between Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard in Toronto, and let Kawhi focus more on scoring and defense and less on playmaking.

If there’s a reasonable shot for the Clippers to make a play for Rubio, they should definitely pursue here.

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