Ricky Rubio ended his 2018-19 season, his second with the Utah Jazz, likely knowing it would be his last there. The veteran point guard soon looked to find a new home and after the Jazz traded for Mike Conley, it was a sure thing he wouldn’t come back there. Rubio quickly pivoted to the Indiana Pacers, hoping to make the most of the mutual interest, according to his agent Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, to join his friend Bojan Bogdanovic on the team. Once Bogdanovic inked a four-year deal with the Jazz, Rubio had second thoughts about landing in Indy.
With Rubio not ready to commit, the Pacers pivoted their focus to point guard Malcolm Brogdon and asked Schwartz if Excel client Jeremy Lamb might be available as well. Schwartz was already talking to Charlotte about Lamb but didn’t want Rubio left stranded if the Pacers moved on. Schwartz contacted Phoenix, which was interested in Rubio and quickly agreed to a three-year, $51 million deal with the Spaniard. With Rubio locked in with Phoenix, Schwartz firmed things up for Lamb, who got $31.5 million from Indy after Brogdon committed. The whole process took less than an hour. Speed dating.
Ricky Rubio ended his 2018-19 season, his second with the Utah Jazz, likely knowing it would be his last there. The veteran point guard soon looked to find a new home and after the Jazz traded for Mike Conley, it was a sure thing he wouldn’t come back there. Rubio quickly pivoted to the Indiana Pacers, hoping to make the most of the mutual interest, according to his agent Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports, to join his friend Bojan Bogdanovic on the team. Once Bogdanovic inked a four-year deal with the Jazz, Rubio had second thoughts about landing in Indy.
With Rubio not ready to commit, the Pacers pivoted their focus to point guard Malcolm Brogdon and asked Schwartz if Excel client Jeremy Lamb might be available as well. Schwartz was already talking to Charlotte about Lamb but didn’t want Rubio left stranded if the Pacers moved on. Schwartz contacted Phoenix, which was interested in Rubio and quickly agreed to a three-year, $51 million deal with the Spaniard. With Rubio locked in with Phoenix, Schwartz firmed things up for Lamb, who got $31.5 million from Indy after Brogdon committed. The whole process took less than an hour. Speed dating.