The Timberwolves are “actively shopping” point guard Ricky Rubio in trade discussions, league sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. According to Wojnarowski, Minnesota has attached Rubio to Shabazz Muhammad in trade offers to several NBA teams.
Rubio, who is under contract through 2018/19 and will earn $14MM+ in each of the next two years, has been viewed as a potential trade candidate since the Wolves selected Kris Dunn with the fifth overall pick last June. According to Wojnarowski, the Wolves have been seeking a sort of “bridge” guard in their trade discussions — such a player would be capable of starting in the short term before eventually giving way to Dunn.
[RELATED: Trade Candidate: Ricky Rubio]
The Kings have “a strong interest” in landing Rubio, but there’s currently no movement toward a deal between those teams, league sources tell Wojnarowski. According to The Vertical’s report, the Wolves are making an effort to exhaust the market in search of an offer stronger than what Sacramento could put on the table.
Minnesota is currently well below the salary cap, as our 2016/17 Salary Cap Snapshot shows, and moving Rubio could free up even more future cap room. However, the Wolves value him and won’t give him away unless they’re getting solid value in return, as Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press and Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News observe (Twitter links).
Rubio, 26, got off to a poor start this season, slowed by an elbow injury, but he has been thriving for the Wolves over the last couple weeks. In his last five games, the Spaniard has averaged 11.4 PPG, 12.6 APG, and 2.6 SPG, improving his full-season averages to 7.6 PPG, 7.9 APG, and 1.9 SPG.
I feel like this storyline could have been from any day in the past 5 years
Lol. Yea… and a team is really going to have to like Shabazz since he’s an RFA next year which means inflated $$ for a role player. Rubio is better as Ricky Rubio Backyard Wrestler than Starting Point Guard.
Meanwhile no one in the NBA is considering Rondo.
I wonder if the Knicks would dump Rose…Thibs would seemingly be a short list of willing coaches
What is his actual trade value? He makes 14mil a year. He can’t shoot. His defense is pretty bad. He’s a veteran on a young losing team with loads of talent around him. I wouldn’t trade for him. Unless he develops a shot overnight i rather just trade for Rondo who makes less but will run a offense better and would be easier to get.
Lol you sound terribly misinformed. Yeah, his shot is terrible, everyone knows that. But his defense for a PG is top notch. Hes an amazing distributor with superb court vision. Rondo and Rubio are not even on the same planets. Rondo is a terrible, terrible basketball player who cannot run any offence whatsoever and plays 0 defense. Rubio gives you great defense, and can run an offense magnificently. The lack of success the Wolves are having has very little to do with Ricky.
You can’t lead the league in assists without being able to run an offense. I’m not pro Rondo by any means, but it appears that YOU are misinformed.
Rondo’s been noted to assist hunt and is too old now where his best days are behind defensively. At best, he can run a 2nd team offense.
I understand, but to say he is terrible and can’t play offense is overboard.
Well honestly what does he dk on offense anymore though? He makes people around him better because all he dkes is pass and look for assists, but that doesn’t necessarily mske the team better. Rubio is at least an 80% free throw shooter where you can at least hope he becomes a thrrat shooting one day. Rondo was only good because he played with 3 hall of famers that didn’t need to dominate the ball and he was still young and injury free where he was an asset on defense.
Defense is “pretty bad”? Lol okay buddy
Trade him to Chicago for Rondo straight up.
In no universe would that happen. Rondo is terrible. Shouldn’t even be in the league
Where are the Sixers on Rubio?
Not wanting to take $14 mil in cap room beyond this season for a decent at best point guard. Plus, if you want a PG with a crappy shot, keep McConnell or go after a young guy like Smart, who can still improve.
Damn would he be a good fit for Philly, Shabazz would help out there too with his scoring. I’m still hoping my Pistons make a move for Rubio, he can’t shoot and SVG loves his shooters, but our lack of passing has been killing us since Jackson came back from injury
While I can see the Kings jumping at such a bad move, the Wolves may need to attach their 2017 pick without any restrictions to get a team to bite.
Don’t see that happening. If they had to attach the pick, they’d keep Rubio.
Wolves have their pick attached to the Adreian Payne trade (pick protection). Cannot trade their pick.
Not true. Payne pick is next year, but this years pick cannot be traded because of the Stiepen Rule
Hmmm…Twolves have all that cap space and the former Bulls coach. Knicks have two former Bulls being paid lots of money. Hmmm…
As a Wolves fan, I can’t wait to see Bazz in another uniform. So selfish on offense, and so terrible on defense. Don’t let the door hit ya in the…