The Minnesota Timberwolves have reportedly traded Ricky Rubio to the Cleveland Cavaliers, marking the end of a homecoming that lasted just one season.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Timberwolves will receive forward Taurean Prince, a 2022 second round pick and cash considerations back in the deal.
Rubio averaged 8.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists in 68 games with Minnesota last season. The veteran guard shot 30.8% from three, well below the 36.1% he shot from deep in 2019-20 with the Suns.
The Timberwolves acquired Rubio in a draft day trade with the Suns but he had trouble adapting to a role off the bench. Although he took over as starting point guard late in the season his $17.8 million salary for this upcoming season made him an intriguing trade chip.
Prince was a nearly full-time starter with the Atlanta Hawks 2017-2019 before being traded to Brooklyn. He started 61 games for the Nets in 2019-20 – averaging just over 12 points and 6 rebounds – before his role was diminished, ultimately leading to the Nets trading him to Cleveland midway through the last season.
Prince provides Minnesota with depth on the wings. He’s a 6-foot-7 small forward who can shoot from deep. The 26-year-old shot 41.5% from three last season and is a 37% shooter from three in his career.
Taurean Prince is a high-level catch and shoot 3-point shooter. Stroke, at his size, is arguably even better than his numbers suggest. And the numbers are good.
Catch + shoot 3-point numbers
20-21: 39%
19-20: 35.8%
18-19: 42.8%
17-18: 42.1%
16-17: 34.1%pic.twitter.com/2c5avNT5SK— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) July 29, 2021
The trade comes in advance of tonight’s NBA Draft, where the Timberwolves are without a pick due to the Andrew Wiggins deal that sent D’Angelo Russell to Minnesota.
