The NBA trade deadline is set to strike this Thursday and there’s a chance Ricky Rubio could be on his way out of Minnesota.
According to the New York Daily News, the Knicks are in search of a point guard and Rubio might be the ideal fit for general manager Phil Jackson. More from the report:
“Incumbent Ricky Rubio is readily available and the feeling is that the Spanish guard could be moved prior to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
Phil Jackson is in the market for a point guard but it’s hard to envision the Knicks having the assets to acquire the 25-year-old Rubio, whose season average in points (9.7), assists (8.6) and minutes (30.3) are down this year.”
The problem with the Knicks, per Pro Basketball Talk, is that the only players another team might want are players the Knicks probably don’t want to trade: Carmelo Anthony and star rookie Kristaps Porzingis.
Rubio out of Minnesota would also mean Zach LaVine taking over the point guard role. LaVine, the two-time slam dunk champ, hasn’t proven to be an efficient point guard, according to Britt Robson, who thinks LaVine is better suited to play shooting guard.
Whether Rubio is “readily available” is another debatable question. Just three days ago KSTP’s Darren Wolfson reported this quote from Wolves general manager Milt Newton:
“To this point, no one has called us about Ricky. Whatever is out there is not accurate. Will someone call? I don’t know, but if that happens, it behooves the organization that I listen,” Newton said.
Rubio is still only 25 years old and he has three years remaining on his contract, so the asking price for him will likely be quite high.
For the record, if Rubio is traded – to the Knicks – it would create an awkward moment Saturday because the Wolves host the Knicks and it’s Ricky Rubio Bobblehead Day.
The Ricky Rubio bobble head giveaway Saturday at Target Center sure will be interesting… with Ricky playing for the Knicks and all.
— Dana Wessel (@DanaWessel) February 15, 2016
We’ll keep tabs on the rumor mill all week. Stay tuned.
