The Timberwolves no longer believe in Ricky Rubio as the long-term solution at point guard and have surveyed the trade market for him, as Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher hears (video link). They’re not engaging in trade talk about him now, Bucher adds, nonetheless suggesting a decent chance exists they again explore the subject when the season starts. The dispatch comes despite Rubio’s continued insistence that he would prefer to remain in Minnesota and a recent report from Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities that the Wolves weren’t shopping him.
Bucher said that the Nets, Mavericks, Knicks and, most of all, the Bucks make sense for him as a trade destination, though that appears to be speculation. The Knicks “tested the waters” to see if they could trade Jose Calderon, according to Bucher, though it’s unclear if he’s referring to the team’s reported attempts to deal Calderon before the trade deadline this past winter or if he’s heard of more recent efforts on that front.
Wolves coach/executive Flip Saunders made mention of Rubio in June when he listed some of the team’s cornerstone players, referring to him as “a great point guard,” so that would run counter to the idea that the Wolves are ready to move on from the former fifth overall pick. Reports in May conflicted on whether Rubio’s camp, which includes agent Dan Fegan, was trying to convince the Wolves to trade him, but Rubio came out shortly thereafter to deny that he wanted out of Minnesota, and Rubio’s most recent comments reiterated that.
The incentive-laden four-year, $55MM extension that Rubio signed last fall kicks in for this coming season, when he’s slated to make $12.7MM. The 24-year-old who turns 25 next month is the highest-paid player on the Timberwolves. He played in a career-low 22 games this past season, chiefly because of injuries to his left ankle.
Do you think the Wolves should part with Rubio or keep him? Leave a comment to let us know.
They should get the best offer they possibly can. He will never be an elite PG in the NBA…can’t shoot, can’t finish & is too slow. His trade value is only going to go down.
Given how low his value is now coming off the injury-riddled season he had last year, I don’t know if I agree with this. He’s demonstrated that his team plays better with him on the floor, as evidence by his excellent on/off +/-, and he seems likely to improve his shot once he can consistently get in games. I don’t like the idea of selling low on him, especially since LaVine is not a true point guard and Jones doesn’t appear to have the upside Rubio does. I hope they let the year play out and see how these guys mesh together; there’s really no urgency to win now since all of the young talent they have is locked up for a good number of years.
hahaha: most of all, the Bucks make sense for him as a trade destination, Didn’t they trade Lakers 1st round pick for MCW?
That pick went from Phoenix to Philly in the three-team trade that also sent MCW from Philly to the Bucks. I’m not sure if the Bucks had the option to simply do a trade that swapped the pick and Brandon Knight.
Knicks. Nets. …… Cavs!
Huge improvement over Dellavadova offensively for a team trying to win now. Insurance against another Kyrie Irving injury.
Cavs have Brendan Haywood’s trade exception, plus they have young players like Dellavadova, Josh Harris and Cedi Osman they could give back to Minnesota. For all their recently acquired first round picks, Wolves don’t have a young wing shooter like Harris.
Big time Homer here. No way no how the Cavs invest 55 Million + assets in a back up PG
bunk. They are not trading him
Knicks.
I like Rubio but I don’t think Rubio like playing a full season. I think Minnesota should trade him.
If Rubio isn’t the future in Minnesota, I wonder if Tyus Jones is or if they have their eyes on someone else.
I think ricky rubio goes to the mavericks along with Kevin martin. The reason is because one Raymond felton is not going to be third string PG for the rest of next season so felton is going to Minnesota along with Dwight powell. If u add rubio and martin on the mavs roster then look at this:
Deron Williams
Wesley Matthews
Chandler Parsons
Dirk Nowitski
Zaza Pachulia
Ricky Rubio
JJ Barea
Kevin Martin
Charlie Villiveanua
Justin Anderson
Devin Harris
Samuel Dalembert
This is a good starting lineup and a strong bench for the mavericks so if I’m Mark Cuban I want Ricky Rubio on my team. GO MAVS
They wouldn’t trade Rubio and Kmart for those 2 mediocre players.
Sure they would besides Minnesota is rebuilding and I know rubio said he wants to stay in Minnesota bit if the twolves r rebuilding get rid of rubio and about k mart remember when he was on the trade block last season he said he wanted to play for the mavericks remember????
Unless McGee is ready to go, I see Powell having a decent shot at making the Mavs front-court rotation. While I love what Mo Ndour did in Summer League, without Powell, I don’t see many (healthy) options to back-up Dirk at the Four? Not to mention building up the log-jam in the back-court.
Powell was decent last year and I think the mavericks go after rubio and Kevin Martin for Samuel Dalembert and a pick
I think they should keep Rubio and let him show you what he can or can’t do then decide
We already seen rubio what he can do if your Minnesota pull the trigger now and trade him to the mavericks
I think they should keep them cause he is a really go pg and after his injury he never shown wat he could do with and good team there good now so now let’s wat he can do lets give him a chance wit the new team