It may be time for the Wolves to trade Ricky Rubio, as Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders explains (video link). Minnesota isn’t contending for the playoffs this season and Kyler believes it’s likely the team makes a move by the trade deadline. Rubio has long been the subject of trade rumors and according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, the Wolves are “actively” shopping him. The Bulls and Knicks were recently linked to Rubio and Kyler added that he could envision the Magic making a run a acquiring the point guard.
[RELATED: Trade Candidate: Ricky Rubio]
Here’s more from Minnesota:
- If Minnesota deals Rubio and hands Kris Dunn the starting job, the team should prioritize the rookie’s development, Chip Scoggins of The Star Tribune contends. Scoggins believes the Wolves should resist trading for a stop-gap point guard to replace Rubio and they should give Dunn the minutes necessary to evaluate whether he is the long-term answer for the franchise.
- Dunn nearly had a triple-double in Sunday’s win over the Nuggets and coach/executive Tom Thibodeau believes the point guard is ready for a larger role, as Scoggins passes along in the same piece. “He’s been coming on for a while,” Thibodeau said. “Defensively he’s been good from the beginning. Offensively he’s figuring it out. He understands the speed and size of the game. He wants to make plays for others. Defensively there are a lot of hustle plays he makes. He’ll rebound in traffic. You’re not going to knock him around. Kris has a lot of toughness in him.”
- The Dunn-Tyus Jones backcourt works well for the Wolves, Kent Youngblood of The Star Tribune writes. Dunn’s versatile game allows the team to employ several lineups with him at the shooting guard. “Kris has the ability to play two positions. He can defend three positions, actually. So you can use him in that way,” Thibodeau said.
I mean they are only 2 games out of the playoffs after beating Denver
2010 selkirk pl.team chemistry is starting to grow. There are three guys on the bench that can be traded without hurting this development. We will rue the day we trade Rubio just as the rotations are working.
Shabazz & Rubio for Vucevic & Meeks works.
Rubio + Shabazz for Noel works. I expect the Sixers to take Rubio for a 8th seed push this season, draft a PG in the off season, and then look to trade Rubio for a piece over the next 2 years of his contract. Ideally for a shooter or a draft pick. Basically getting something for Noel.
Like it
Sixers aren’t trading Noel. Okafor cant play with jo jo so Noel is staying
Rubio needs to stay, if anyone should be shopped it’s Dunn. He’s the next Johnny Flynn, a Big East PG who ultimately can’t start in the NBA.
Put it out there that he’s available now before people fully realize he won’t be a star, and get something valuable in return. LeBron wants a backup for Kyrie…offer Dunn for Korver and a future pick. Wolves get a shooter that puts them in better shape for the 8 (not to mention it satisfies Thibs weird craving to have an ex-Bull on his roster), and makes the PG position better as it elevates Jones to backup Rubio as he should have been doing all along.
I can’t believe i’ve read this much dumb in one paragraph.
Just because 1 franchise drafted 1 bad pg doesn’t mean they r doomed to do it over and over. Unless ur the browns then it’s an acceptable comment