Three Teams That Could Trade for Timberwolves’ Ricky Rubio
By Noelyhoops
Free Agent Point Guards
First, it is important to note that there is a distinct possibility of Rubio being traded even if the Timberwolves don’t draft Dunn. If the team is willing to acquire a replacement in a trade or test its luck in free agency, it may be worthwhile to capitalize on their point guard’s value while it is high.
Of the free agents that will be available beginning in July, former Grizzlies floor general Mike Conley is the only ideal option. He is, however, a highly sought after player that will procure a max contract. The Wolves will be able to afford him, but will they be his preferred suitors?
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Rajon Rondo would be a reasonable fit if it weren’t for the fact that he is Rajon Rondo. With him being the worst imaginable influence on a young locker room (and a presumably terrible mesh with noted disciplinarian Tom Thibodeau, although they were together in Boston), the remaining options are primarily scorers that have seen their best days pass; Deron Williams, Ty Lawson, Brandon Jennings, and Jeremy Lin.
Matthew Dellavedova looks like an ideal fit as a backup, but that would require the Timberwolves to have a starting point guard. Is the scrappy Cleveland folk hero a starting-caliber NBA point guard? We could engage in a long discussion, or we could cut to the chase—No, he is not.
Now take the previous paragraph and replace “Matthew Dellavedova” with “Mario Chalmers” and replace “scrappy Cleveland folk hero” with “waived by the Grizzlies after rupturing his achilles tendon.”
In other words, don’t expect Minnesota to even consider getting rid of Rubio unless the team has already found a suitable replacement. To that end, there are three possibilities:
- Draft Dunn
- Sign Conley
- Sign one of the second-tier free agent point guards along with Dellavedova, Chalmers, or another similar-caliber player.
Now, on to some potential landing spots for Rubio via trade.
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