Philadelphia 76ers
On the other hand, if contention is a priority for Rubio, he couldn’t do much better than the Philadelphia 76ers.
If anything, the question will be whether the 76ers are interested in Rubio. Their starting backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and James Harden is solidified, and Shake Milton is a quality reserve. Still, they may make room for a veteran of Rubio’s caliber.
After all, Maxey is not a conventional point guard. In fact, he’s probably closer to this team’s de facto one, with James Harden clearly functioning as the primary playmaker. The Sixers wouldn’t bust up that backcourt to accommodate Rubio, but he could give them a unique look on occasions as a backup.
Teams that find themselves in Philly’s position need cheap talent; however, they can find it. They roster two superstar players: the championship window is now.
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It may, in fact, be closing rapidly. James Harden is already showing signs of decline in 2021-22. Joel Embiid has played his way into MVP consideration, but his history of injuries is troubling.
The 76ers need to strike while the iron is hot. They’ll have limited cap space, but they may be able to get Rubio at a discount. He’s coming off a significant injury, and the chance to play for a championship may be irresistible to the veteran.
