Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 players that lost value in 2020-21

Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 players that lost value in 2020-21: Ricky Rubio

When the Timberwolves acquired Ricky Rubio this past offseason, it looked like a really solid addition to a great rotation of core players. Rubio was an impactful point guard on a budding Suns roster, and Minnesota needed that kind of veteran presence.

Rubio, however, regressed significantly.

Don’t get me wrong, Ricky Rubio has had his moments this season. There are some games where he has been the best player on the floor – a calming playmaker on a young team where things can get… hectic offensively.

The Timberwolves thought they would be getting the same Rubio that was on the Suns last year – the one that hit 36-percent of his 3-point attempts while also averaging nine assists.

Instead, Rubio’s 3-point percentage dropped to his career average (32-percent), and Rubio is averaging six assists with a much, much worse net rating.

Again, that is not to knock his leadership – which Anthony Edwards notes seemingly every night in postgame interviews. That part of him will always help the Timberwolves.

But with the $17 million price tag associated with him, hopefully Rubio will become more than a quality backup in 2021-22, if the Timberwolves don’t move on from him this summer.

Rubio is on an expiring contract, so it would not be surprising to see Rosas trade him in order to bring in a different player – perhaps someone that fits the roster construction more.