Make no mistake about it, the Minnesota Timberwolves are looking to deal Ricky Rubio.
The wheels of that decision were set in motion when the Wolves drafted Kris Dunn with the No. 5 overall pick in June and it’s only gaining steam as the NBA Trade Deadline nears and the Wolves continue to struggle.
There will be a lot of rumors and a lot of reports over the next month about possible trade deals, and it won’t be easy to see through the smoke, but we’ll do our best to help.
What does Minnesota need?
Reports last week suggested the Wolves were looking for a bridge point guard to start until Dunn is ready. While that may be part of any deal, it doesn’t fit what the Wolves really need. Minnesota needs depth inside.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng have been good, but they haven’t had a lot of help. Cole Adrich and Jordan Hill have provided Minnesota very little and Adriean Payne hasn’t developed.
What trades might make sense?
The deals where Minnesota adds a big man are the one’s to pay attention to. According to CBS Sports, the Knicks and Bulls are both interested in Rubio – but New York doesn’t seem like a great match.
Let’s start with the Chicago Bulls. Things aren’t going quite how they hoped this year, and they might be willing to make a move. Don’t forget the team’s had talks about Jimmy Butler during the offseason, while he’s not exactly a big man, he is a favorite of Wolves coach and president Tom Thibodeau.
Other deals to look at.
The Star Tribune’s Michael Rand points to both Orlando and Denver as potential trade partners. Both teams have a surplus of big guys and could use a player like Rubio.
Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic has been linked to trade rumors – he could be a fit for Minnesota.
Denver also is looking to move Jusuf Nurkic. While his salary wouldn’t be enough to match Rubio’s, Rand notes that a deal with Nurkic and point guard Jameer Nelson (a bridge point guard) might.
How it will work out is hard to say, but it will be an interesting month. The NBA Trade Deadline is Feb. 23.
