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Chicago Bulls: Is Ricky Rubio worth targeting in free agency?

By Luke Askew

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 23: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz smiles prior to a game against the Chicago Bulls on March 23, 2019 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 23: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz smiles prior to a game against the Chicago Bulls on March 23, 2019 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Ricky Rubio is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Should the Chicago Bulls consider going after him when he hits the open market?

The Chicago Bulls have oodles of options for how they can solve their point guard problems. There’s a guy in Los Angeles that might be available via trade (Lonzo Ball), there are two likely top-10 picks worth pursuing in the draft (Darius Garland and Coby White), and there are a number of point guards that will be free agents this summer. One of the better free agent options is Ricky Rubio.

The 6’4″ Spaniard has put together a nice career since joining the NBA. In Minnesota, where he spent the first six years of his NBA career, Rubio spent most of his time as an unselfish facilitator with iffy players around him. He averaged an impressive 8.5 assists and only 2.8 turnovers per game. Not bad.

After getting traded to the Utah Jazz, Rubio’s career took a turn. During his six seasons with the Timberwolves, they never finished with a record above .500. Their best season with Rubio was 2013-14 when they finished with a 40-42 record. Nothing to write home about. Over the last two years on the Jazz, though, Rubio has been on a winning team – one with large playoff aspirations.

This past season, the Jazz won 50 games and earned the No. 5 seed in the loaded Western Conference. They ended up losing to future Hall-of-Famer James Harden and the Houston Rockets in five games. Regardless, Rubio is now a tried and true winner.

You know who could use a winner at the point guard position? The Chicago Bulls.

The elephant in the room with Rubio is that he’s not a very good shooter. That’s true, but he still knows how to run an offense. He’s as savvy as it gets, and he has incredible court vision.

via GIPHY

In the first play above, Rubio does a nice job of keeping his dribble alive when Steven Adams jumps out at him. Then, he delivers a dart right on target to a rolling Rudy Gobert.

In the second play above, Rubio adjusts in mid-air to avoid the help defense and drops a crafty bounce pass to the corner for an open three.

via GIPHY

Just because Rubio doesn’t shoot well from deep, doesn’t mean he can’t score. In the above play, Rubio snakes by a lazy Klay Thompson and finishes with a slick reverse layup after getting bumped by DeMarcus Cousins. And one.

I’m not saying Rubio is an elite offensive player by any means, but he’s competent. Is he a guy you can win a championship with? Probably not. Are the Bulls looking for a championship-level point guard right now? I mean… they should be happy with a guy that can play in the playoffs.

Rubio definitely wouldn’t be my first choice to replace current point guard Kris Dunn if I was running the Bulls, but there are far worse options out there. If they don’t get Garland or White in the draft, and if they can’t trade for Ball, Rubio would be a great fall-back option.

Next. Can Chicago jump Phoenix in the draft?. dark

Plus, I’m not sure if Rubio has gotten a haircut since he got traded to the Jazz, and I’m always a fan of weird hairdos on NBA players. That’s a massive bonus in my book.