NBA Rumors: Latest Updates on Joel Embiid, Ricky Rubio and More
The preseason may be underway in the NBA, but there are still questions and rumors surrounding many players.
Whether it be an injury concern, an unsigned veteran or young guns looking to get an extension on their rookie contract finalized before the end of the window on October 31, there are plenty of storylines to follow before the regular season gets going.
Here's the latest on the happenings around the basketball world.
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
With Embiid's injury expected to sideline him for at least another few months, there are rumblings that the 76ers may shut him down for the season, as they did with Nerlens Noel a year ago.
Embiid was taking shots from a chair as recently as a week ago, per Sixers beat writer Tom Moore of Calkins Media:
That leaves one wondering if Philly may look to shut Embiid down for the year to allow him more time to rehabilitate.
After all, Philadelphia isn't exactly looking to contend this season.
Recently, however, Jake Fischer of The Boston Globe and A. Sherrod Blakely of CSN New England reported that Embiid has been moving around without a protective boot and was seen stretching and taking a few shots Monday in Boston:
If Embiid does come back at some point this year, it will be very intriguing to see how he and Noel play together and how dominant the frontcourt pairing can be.
Whether the organization plays it slow and shuts him down for the year or brings him back into the fold in the second half of the season to allow him get comfortable within the team's system remains to be seen.
Ray Allen, Free Agent
Well, the buzz that Ray Allen is heading to Cleveland to reunite with LeBron James is gaining some major traction.
ESPN's Marc Stein indicates that while a deal between the Cavs and Allen seems likely, it's not done just yet:
If this deal does end up going through, it would do wonders for the Cavs on a number of fronts.
First, he brings a load of experience and leadership to the club. The fact that he's won NBA championships—one of which he won with James in Miami—doesn't hurt either.
Allen would also form one heck of a three-point shooting tandem with Mike Miller—a partnership that worked out well in Miami during the 2012-13 championship run.
With both Miller and Allen being career 40 percent shooters from downtown, the Cavs would have yet another weapon to complement the likes of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and James.
Without Allen, the Cavaliers are probably still the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference, but picking up the seasoned veteran would certainly make their odds that much better.
Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves
With the deadline to extend players heading into the final year of their rookie deals looming on October 31, the Minnesota Timberwolves are trying to get a deal worked out with Rubio.
According to Sean Deveney of the Sporting News, the team has extended Rubio an offer worth roughly $48 million over four years.
He also states that Rubio is looking for a max deal, which the Wolves aren't willing to give him.
Darren Wolfson of ESPN Radio in Minneapolis also mentioned that the point guard and his agent, Dan Fegan, are looking for a max five-year deal:
Rubio may be able to induce a bidding war in the offseason as a restricted free agent, but his limitations on offense are sure to weigh on the minds of any team looking to sign him.
Last year, Rubio shot just 38 percent from the field and is a career 37 percent shooter.
Assuming he will be offered a max deal by another team next offseason may be not be the best idea for the soon-to-be 24-year-old Spaniard.
Taking the four-year contract from Minnesota would be a smart move. It would guarantee good money over the next four years and allow him to work on his offensive game in hopes of cashing in when he reaches free agency.
To put the situation into perspective, Spotrac indicates Kyle Lowry inked a four-year, $48 million deal in July with the Toronto Raptors:
| Kyle Lowry | 32.9 | 14.8 | 41.4 | 37.4 | 4.7 | 6.9 | 1.5 |
| Ricky Rubio | 31.9 | 10.1 | 36.8 | 32.3 | 4.1 | 8.1 | 2.3 |
It's hard to justify giving Rubio more money than that at this stage of his career.
All statistics obtained courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.
Follow Jon on Twitter @JonReidCSM.
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