Minnesota Timberwolves floor general Ricky Rubio has been the subject of several trade rumors these past weeks since the team drafted Providence point guard Kris Dunn as the 5th overall pick inthe 2016 NBA Draft.
ESPN noted that the 25-year-old Spaniard "has been the topic of widespread trade speculation" since then and his public acknowledgment of considering a new team at the end of the 2016-2017 season even before the draft was held last month did not help in extinguishing the flame of rumors regarding his potential exit this summer.
However, team owner Glen Taylor confirmed in an interview that any trade involving his team's starting point guard is remote at this point and that he does not "see that as a likely possibility", according to the report.
"I just think the coach, everybody, likes Ricky," said Taylor. "I think we want him to come in and improve on his shooting. But his other things, he plays defense, he gets assists, he helps the others get better. He has some wonderful qualities."
Rubio is entering the sixth season of his career and is considered a "young veteran" who is ideal to lead the Wolves' even younger core of Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, Zach LaVine, and now Dunn.
He just agreed to a four-year, $56 million extension in November of 2014 and has three years left in the deal before he becomes an unrestricted free agent and leave as he wish, but Rubio had expressed his desire to suit up for another ballclub if the Wolves do not advance to the playoffs next year.
The Wolves indirectly responded to his "complaint" by hiring former Chicago Bulls taskmaster Tom Thibodeau and, according to Taylor, the 58-year-old bench tactician will be bringing in a special assistant coach to help Rubio enhance his shooting, which is a sign that he is still in the team's plans for the long term.
"I think the coach wants to bring an assistant coach to help Ricky on his shooting and I think that's where we're going to start out and go and we'll see how good Kris Dunn is," the owner said.
Meanwhile, CBS Sports reported that the Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, and Milwaukee Bucks have all approached the Wolves for a potential deal involving Rubio.
The report also said that even if a Rubio trade is not pushed through this summer, its possibility is still there up to midseason as the point guard's suitors are said to be willing to wait for Minnesota to put him on the block.