At first, Ricky Rubio was regarded as the icing on the cake in the hopes of re-signing of Gordon Hayward for the Utah Jazz. However, after Hayward decided to leave, he now represents the future of the organization.

After spending six seasons as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA fans know exactly the type of player that Rubio is. Averaging a career-high 11.1 points along with 4.1 rebounds and a career-high 9.1 assists for the T-Wolves last season, Rubio is a pass-first point guard on the offensive end with clear shooting and scoring deficiencies, but has proven to hold his own on defense.

Checking in at 6’4”, Rubio is tall for his position, and has been able to use that height to his advantage despite the fact that he doesn't possess an elite level of athleticism that is comparable to some of the other point guards in the West. Based on his size and nightly triple-double threat, some have compared him to Jason Kidd.

Rubio opened up to Ryan McDonald of the Deseret News and revealed that while he initially felt some pain after leaving the only NBA team he ever played for, he’s excited for the new opportunity.

“To get traded, it’s not fun, but I was really excited to go to an organization that really believed in me,” he said. “It’s a great basketball organization with a good tradition. It was a little weird. I was six years in Minnesota. My name was in the papers with rumors and all that stuff for the last couple years, but never traded. This summer, I guess it was time. I have no regrets. I had a great time in Minnesota, but I think it was time for the both of us to move on. I think it was that time of our relationship that it didn’t work out the way we wanted, and we move on.”

Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey already made the Kidd comparison to reporters, which made Rubio smile.

“Having the GM talk that good about me, it’s great,” Rubio explained. “The confidence that they showed in me from the beginning, it’s awesome, and now I have to answer that confidence with good games. I have confidence in me, and I’ve worked hard this summer. I think I can bring a lot to that team.”

The emphasis in Utah will, once again, be on the defensive end of the floor. Last season, the Jazz gave up the fewest points per game in the entire NBA, surrendering just 96.8 per contest. They were one of two teams (along with the San Antonio Spurs) to allow less than 100 points per game. Anchored by Rudy Gobert on the low block, they also ranked second in terms of opposing field goal percentage (44.3) as well.

Therefore, Rubio has a clear sense of what he needs to do to fit into a culture that prides itself on creating stops.

“I know what I can bring to the table,” Rubio said. “Of course my defense is a strength of mine. I’ve been working on my body this summer to be stronger and to be ready for this league that has so many good point guards and so many athletic point guards that every night you face top point guards and you have to be ready for that. I feel confident in my defense and I think I can really help the team to improve even more.”

While Hayward’s departure will undoubtedly hurt in the scoring column, it seems as though the team will survive and maintain their status as one of the top defensive squads in the entire Association.