Ricky Rubio is probably beside himself, having been made the centerpiece of the Chris Paul trade deal the Suns made to send him to OKC.
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Long considered one of the best pure passers in the game, Rubio’s game has steadily become better over the years. When he first came into the league, he was a non-shooting point guard. But over time, the Spaniard has grown into a passable shooter, nullifying his major weakness.
Rubio signed a 3-year deal with the Suns last summer, expecting to be part of a playoff push by the franchise. After a season where he played upto expectations, he must have been raring to have another go at the chip. It’s a pity he’s now on another franchise with little to play for.
Ricky Rubio’s tweet reveals all that is wrong with the NBA
The 30-year-old was one of the 4 players and pick traded by the Suns in order to acquire Chris Paul. While this trade is a no-brainer for the franchise, you have to feel sorry for a player who clearly liked the situation he was in.
… what a business 🙃
— Ricky Rubio (@rickyrubio9) November 16, 2020
Countless people associated with the league have retweeted his response to the trade, and with good reason. The DeMar DeRozan trade in 2018 inspired the same kind of responses from around the league. The business-oriented nature of the league means that some good matches may never meet their logical conclusions.
The players other than Rubio sent to Oklahoma City include Kelly Oubre Jr, Ty Jerome and Jalen Lacque. The Suns also gave up a pick, top-12 protected in 2022, top-8 in 2023, top-5 in 2024 and unprotected in 2025.
With this haul, the Thunder have enough assets to draft an entire roster over the next 6 years. Ricky Rubio is likely to be traded away once again, for many teams across the league need a player of his caliber.