Ricky Rubio is busy playing the point for Spain in the Olympics but a number of NBA teams are doing due diligence on a potential trade for the veteran point man, Darren Wolfson of KSTP tweets. The Celtics, Clippers and Lakers are keeping tabs on the Timberwolves guard. Rubio has a $17.8MM expiring contract for next season.
We have more trade chatter from around the league:
- The Pelicans and Pacers discussed a Lonzo Ball deal, Ian Begley of SNY.TV reports, though it’s unknown if those talks ever reached an advanced level. Ball will be a free agent, so a deal would only be possible via sign-and-trade.
- In the same piece, Begley writes that the Knicks plan to maintain enough cap flexibility to pursue top free agents in 2022, a class that could include Zach LaVine and Bradley Beal.
- The Wizards have received calls on their best young players, Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington reports. Those players are presumably Rui Hachimura, Daniel Gafford and Deni Avdija. The front office could be motivated to move one or more of those players to appease Beal in a win-now scenario.
- There’s been plenty of speculation about a potential Ben Simmons trade. The latest from Mark Medina of USA Today (Twitter link) is that the Sixers are looking either for an All-Star talent in return or a starting-caliber player along with multiple draft picks.
The Sixers are not getting an All-Star talent in return for Simmons.
Unless they are the one who includes draft compensation in the trade.
“All-star talent” doesn’t necessary mean “decorated all-star”. CJ McCollum I don’t think has ever made an all-star team but is every bit an all-star level talent.
The 76ers are not trading Ben for CJ…perhaps Tobias would work but I don’t think that would significantly improve either team.
And why wouldn’t they get an all star for Ben?
He is 3 x All star
ROTY
2 x all defense
Since he gets voted to the all star team by coaches and players it seems like he is thought of more highly by the league than the media/fans.
Ben is still a top 25 (18 by me) player…that seems like a guy worthy of top 15-30 at a minimum player that needs to be the starting point of any return. We have already seen Brogdon and the 13th does not interest Philly. We are still a top 3 at worst in the East with Ben…Morey is smart he will keep Ben or get tremendous equal value for him. CJ and the likes are not improving the 76ers
Ben Simmons sucks you homer, you listed some awards about him as if they matter, he shrivels in the playoffs and was the reason you guys lost in the second round after 10 years of “the process” get a grip
He is also part of the reason that we had the one seed. Unless you get that kind of return you keep him or trade him for equal value. Expecting an equal return is not homerism?? Anyway if you actually watched the sixers playoffs Ben was merely part of the reasons:
The #1 reason transition D, that was not on Ben at all.
Sounds kinda like you are the one who needs to get a grip
I think he should stay, but Embid deserves better.
I think there is a good chance that he stays. I am not sure anyone will give what is needed to get Ben, nor do I think they will take a bad offer like the pacers tried, or CJ or DLO or Bagley/Hield. Ben is a solid D guy (best in the league IMO) and the recent tweaking of foul rules are only going to benefit guys like him (and Thybulle) even more.
@Phillyfan
Yippy!!! Ben helped them to the #1 seed. They lissy to the #5 seed in a embarrassing fashion. The average point differential in the losses were 4 points. If Ben didn’t pull a Houdini disappearing act in the 4th quarter or could hit st last 70% of his FT then the 76ers who’ve advanced.
A guy has one playoff meltdown and he sucks. Ppl have short memories and cannot think for themselves. Take the name away, and your favorite team would draft or trade for a guy with those accolades. Many superstars have choked let alone All star Very young players like Simmons who can rebound. Guys who talk about him choking couldn’t even go to a philly game with another teams jersey on, let alone play there. Defensive player of the year Candidates don’t grow on trees. It was not a secret for the past 3-4 years they couldn’t win with Ben and em I’d bc they take up the same space.
As a wizards fan I’d rather not have him a d keep beal(or take the huge GSW offer) because we wouldn’t be able to truly rebuild if he was acquired. But the narrative of Simmons being worthless is true Madness!
As a wiz fan I agree that he’s not the return I’d want for Beal, but if philly threw in maxey and we moved him to Toronto for the four I’d be ok with that
@phillyPhan
I wasn’t suggesting CJ in a trade. I was providing an example of a all-star talent that hasn’t actually participated in an actual all-star game as of yet.
That being said, his perceived value has OBVIOUSLY dropped. How do we know this? Because the team that has invested time, money and energy in him and is in “win now ” mode is trying to trade him. Accept that fact fam. It’ll ease the pain.
You can make what ever case you want for Simmons talent, he’s a talented guy, he’s a bad fit for a team who’s best player is a big, plain and simple he has no jump shot, he’s not getting a jump shot and any team that gets him has to build a certain way
Appreciate all these articles, HoopsR writers!
Gonna be burning the midnight oil tonight, good luck.
NBA draft tonight and the MLB trade deadline tomorrow. Should be a fun couple of days.
Yes a super Frenzy day on the internet. Tomorrow will be awesome too and we had the NHL stuff earlier this week. Good times !!!
@Gary: Gallo last night and Scherzer right now. This is shaping up to be a great trade deadline.
Yankees picked up Gallo right? Couple more moves and they’re right back in the hunt. It’s amazing with all the injuries they’re still at 500. Couple guys come back and they’ll be breathing down our necks as usual…, or actually the other way around !! We are always looking up at the Yankees LOL.
Rizzo too !!?
What’s going on down there LOL
ACKSHUALLY…sorry, not to be that guy, but the Pelicans CAN still sign & trade Ball if they offer him a qualifying offer and make him restricted. They just cannot sign and trade him if he signs another team’s offer sheet.
Good to hear the Knicks seem to be continuing down a road of logical prudence as opposed to offering Dennis Schroeder a max contract.
ha, there’s so many moves that I look at now and I’m glad we have Rose and West instead of previous regimes. Schröder, offering a crazy deal to Dinwiddie, trading for Westbrook, etc. Steve Mills probably would have traded 19 and 21 plus more for Siakim.
What would Rubio bring back to MN??? A late 1st round pick or a early 2nd round pick?? Get his $$$ off the books to go after a PF….god knows they will have to overpay to get anyone to come to MN.
I seriously am asking what kind of value he could have???
Nobody’s just taking his contract without getting picks (not giving them) or sending back a large contract, which is more likely.
@wade like @dxc said, he’s not likely to bring back a pick unless they take back a worse contract (Kevin Love-ishh) and even then it’s likely a 2nd rounder.
OK Thanks…….Hard being a timberpuppies fan…….so many crappy drafts……….Ownership screwing up with stupid under the table deals with nobodys like Joe Smith( Taylor/McHale cost th team what 3 or 4
first round picks)…..horrible luck in the draft orders……..Literally never draft higher than projected….EVER……….almost always drop backwards……arena in a downtown that people are staying away from and prolly lots that will NEVER return……always having to overpay to even get free agents to even consider coming here.
“.. the Knicks plan to maintain enough cap flexibility to pursue top free agents in 2022”
This is the first good “report” (I won’t call it news, since its Begley) I’ve read this week on the NYK. It means they won’t do the ultimate stupid thing and use all their cap space on a couple of high priced FAs this year, ending the rebuild in the middle of the pack in the East.
I’m glad, too. imo, patience is key. They can’t let a surprise playoff appearance alter their thinking. They’re in the early/mid stages of a rebuild and need a few pieces before even thinking about contending.
I see you are coming around finally.
Once again the Knicks say wait till next year. Lavine or Beal not coming to NY. Where is the sense of urgency.
Can you tell me Saturday’s lottery numbers, too? Since you know so much about the future.
It’s gonna be real awkward at the beginning of the season when Simmons is still a Sixer after the team spent all offseason very publicly trying to trade him while simultaneously pearl clutching him.
Simmons will be moved Morey has just been making him look good. He can help a lot of teams. Should be an interesting Draft night. Hopefully many trades to come. KP, Hield, Tristin Thompson, Turner, Sexton and Rubio.
I expect the Knicks to trade up. Mitchell and Johnson seem to be falling. Either could start for us next yr. Murphy I liked a lot. But it seems he’s out the bag now. Most have him in lottery now. Giddey too has been moving up. Would have been nice to get Murphy and McBride at 19 n 21 . I guess now it will be McBride and Jackson. I’m good with that. McBride is a lot like Mitchell a better shooter. Not as good a game manager. He’s tough and he got guts. I’d be very happy with McBride and Jackson (4-5)