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And, without Ricky Rubio, who is left? Spanish bad streak in the NBA

One month has passed since Ricky Rubio’s serious knee injury and the outlook for the Spanish in the NBA clouded over at that same point without improving since then. The six representatives of the country in the best basketball league in the world have been orphaned by losing the player who was shining the most this season, making the Cavaliers reborn and playing some of the most exciting minutes of a career that is full of them. In an increasingly international NBA, with three foreigners -Jokic, Embiid and Antetokounmpo- fighting for an MVP that two of them have already achieved, Spain has seen the constellation of men with which it was going to participate in said competition reduced. From the ten that became these six, but with little participation from the majority, many changes in sight and an image that is far from that of the national group, current world champion after the success achieved three years ago at the Wukesong Arena in Beijing (China).

The analysis is due, although suffering from the point of view of the compatriot. Six players, six different situations. What is left in this 2021/22 without Ricky Rubio?

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Ricky Rubio. The game director will not play minutes again this campaign. The Cavs found a replacement to do their phenomenal job in Rajon Rondo, who has experience lifting young teams or at least keeping them from falling. The contribution along with Darius Garland, a brighter star every day, is necessary to offer a counterpoint in a team that aims to enter the first eight places in the Eastern Conference. The doubt remains with Ricky. It is his last year of contract. Anything can happen. Also that it be included in a transfer even if it is prevented. The player is a very valuable piece of change for Cleveland if they want to rush the market, leaving that contract to another team that gives them compensation in the form of a player. It’s unknown if the Cavs will want to extend Ricky’s deal, understood to be down, next summer, which would make them keep him knowing he won’t play. Also on the downside, it could come from July to a team with many more options to be champion, there have been many who have kept an eye on their progress to try an assault. The Rubio from Minnesota has transformed since he appeared with the National Team ahead of the Games and his role in JB Bickerstaff’s team has been that of the best Rubio in the NBA, so only this second knee injury keeps him away from the Cavaliers and other franchise dreamers who bet even bigger. They are not expected until November or December, missing the EuroBasket, so everything that surrounds him is unknown, although he will rely on the almost perfect work done this year to hunt for a new contract, be it short or long. And, in addition, having warned that his career there has, at most, five years left due to family needs.

· Serge Ibaka. At 32 years old, the Hispanic-Congolese has a championship in his cabinet, but arriving at the Clippers meant taking the step to win another. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have made the Los Angeles fans dream of their first title. Injuries have brought the project down so far and we will see if this story ends here or not. Serge is one of those who has suffered the most from physical problems, apart from coronavirus. This season he has returned after the operation on his back that made him miss half of the previous one, his first in the Clippers, but the constant adjustments to which Lue is forced have left him short in progression. His 6 average points are the worst of his career, from humble beginnings after arriving from Manresa in 2009. The coach often tries with Morris and Batum in pivot position to play open even though they are forwards, Zubac is still the main ‘5’ and Hartenstein has responded so well that he has taken away participation. Ibaka has already flirted with the idea of ​​going to another team, as Ántoni Daimiel remarked in Movistar +, and the option makes perfect sense for both parties: Los Angeles has the opportunity to test another player who can give a better performance and Serge Ibaka can raise his numbers in another team to better position himself for a summer in which He will be a free agent. Again the search for a contract conflicts with the collective options, although in this case it is beginning to be clear that these Clippers are not the ones that were sold to us three years ago.

· Juancho Hernangomez. He is suffering on the bench more than on the courts, which is not a good sign. He bounced back to the Celtics and there he only entered to play in 18 of 45 games and with very few options: 5.3 minutes per appointment. A disaster for which he needed a way out. San Antonio could be. In conditional, if it is not transferred again. Gregg Popovich is known for squeezing talents that have been lost in the hard journey that is the NBA, he can do it again in a Spurs that are beginning to have real problems for climbing beyond the tenth position in the West despite having a dream baggage in the last 23 years. The man from Madrid has been there since 2016 and there have only been flashes between Denver and Minnesota, not a regularity with which to ensure a future. His current contract was the result of one of them, but it has a peculiarity: the third year, which he enters from June 30, is not guaranteed. Lucas Sáez Bravo published in The world Real Madrid’s interest in making him their next goal if the player is unchained and goes free, and it would be a recurring goal since his situation has been monitored in recent years. Like it in those offices. It would be too hasty to put yourself in that scenario when you have the option to dismiss doubts about your future in the United States, but that plan exists and the ball is not in your court but in that of what is now your team.

Willy Hernangomez. His case is for Mulder and Scully or Iker Jiménez to deal with. The mystery does not reveal the forest, full of work when the NBA stops and that does not translate into enough minutes for a player who, at least in attack, fulfills most of the times that he is trusted. The Knicks and Hornets have already experienced it closely and the Pelicans are not Willy’s moment either. Guaranteed future in the medium term, as he wanted, but without even being the substitute center of a tremendous Jonas Valanciunas. He has even broken his record for points in the NBA in one of the games in which he has seen more than his average minutes. Jaxson Hayes is an obstacle for him and Zion Williamson will be if he finally plays something for the rest of the course, an option that is increasingly distant. His teammates have highlighted in their different teams how prepared he is even if he stops playing for a prolonged period, it is what is required at this level but not all of them comply with it, but it does not fully materialize. The good news for the Roceño is the margin he has: he has another two seasons guaranteed in the US to progress and enter his thirties with renewed energy, be it in the Pelicans or wherever they leave him.

· Usman Garuba. Coming and going to the G-League has not been enough punishment for the former Real Madrid player. It is a casual injury, a wrist has been damaged in such a way that it has to go through the operating room. His potential as a defender has gone unnoticed by Stephen Silas despite the fact that what they are looking for are versatile pieces with which to build a good team for the future. The Rockets are not being a good experience for Usman, at least for now: 1.3 points and 2.3 rebounds playing 15 games out of 48.

· Santi Aldama. It was predicted that he would be the one with the most problems and that prediction is being loaded. Little by little and having valleys of play, but he is getting his head into a team that is going like a shot. The Grizzlies are the revolution and Santi, despite having competition in the center position and a noticeable professional inexperience, averages 3.5 points and 2.4 rebounds playing 26 games out of 50.

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