Phoenix Suns officially sign point guard Ricky Rubio

The Phoenix Suns officially signed point guard Ricky Rubio to a three-year, $51 million contract, the team announced in a press release on Monday.

Rubio will don the No. 11 jersey next season.

Dollars & Dimes 🖋🏀

Welcome to Phoenix, Ricky! pic.twitter.com/VRvU0g6R5P

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 9, 2019

98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro says that part of the draw for Rubio to join the young Suns was the potential to team with shooting guard Devin Booker and center Deandre Ayton.

Phoenix’s agreement with Rubio was a surprise move in the first official hour of NBA free agency Sunday because he had long been tied to the Indiana Pacers. Indiana instead appears to be lining up a sign-and-trade to acquire point guard Malcolm Brogdon from the Milwaukee Bucks.

Rubio averaged 12.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game for Utah last year.

The 28-year-old Spaniard shot 40% overall and 31% from three-point range.

At 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, Rubio is a true pass-first point guard and above-average defender who averaged 1.3 steals per game.

His acquisition likely slides former starter Tyler Johnson into a third guard role, where he could either act as Rubio’s backup or play at shooting guard behind Booker.

Depending on how his contract pays out by year, it is likely Rubio’s deal will eat up all of the Suns’ available cap room barring other moves.

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