Is Rubio Ready?

I just want to weigh in on the upcoming draft and all of the buzz that is going on with the Kings as they prepare for the number four pick in the draft. Every mock draft that I have looked at so far has been different, and some insiders think there is a strong chance that Ricky Rubio becomes a King on draft day, while others seem to think that Rubio may opt to stay in Spain and may not become a member of the Kings or that the Kings would be better off going for an older player ready to make an immediate impact.

There are a lot of complicating factors in this and that is why it is difficult to speculate at this time. First, there are three teams that pick in front of the Kings and after Blake Griffin is likely selected with the number one overall pick, Rubio could go at number two to Memphis or three to Oklahoma City. Rubio was expected to go that high in the draft initially, but he could opt to not play for either club and Oklahoma City already has a young point guard in Russell Westbrook. Rubio holds all of the cards on this because he is already under contract in Spain, so he could choose not to play for any of the teams that select him. A scenario that could play out if he decided that Memphis was not a good fit for him. If he opts to play in the U.S. next season, he will have to buy out his own contract, so in order to make that choice, he is essentially playing for free initially. So, he will need to go high in the draft to offset those costs of buying out that contract. He will not want to slip below the Kings in the fourth spot.

The Kings seem like a natural fit for Rubio as they are in desperate need of a young point guard and preferably one that can generate some excitement. Rubio would be the flashiest lead man in a Kings’ uniform since Jason Williams, a player that Rubio has openly been compared to. However, the Kings will need to be patient should they choose the 18-year-old Spanish star. He is 6-foot-5, but also has a lot of growing to do in the NBA game as well as physically. The two major questions confronting the Kings organization are whether Rubio is ready for the the NBA and whether the franchise can afford to wait on his development if he is not.

According to the Bee’s Sam Amick, Rubio is one of four possible choices entering the fray at the number four pick, with the Kings also entertaining the idea of a fifth choice in Hasheem Tabeet should he unexpectedly fall. The four choices that seem most likely at this point are Ricky Rubio, Stephen Curry, Jonny Flynn, and Tyreke Evans.

The draft will take place this Thursday night, just enough time for me to go on a short family vacation before coming back and giving you a complete profile on the Kings new draft picks. So, look for the next edition of Kings Kingdom next Friday as I will be discussing and offering a complete profile on the newest members of the Sacramento Kings. Have a good week and check back here next Friday for all things Kings.