The Minnesota Timberwolves could look to shop Ricky Rubio this season, and among the potential destinations for the Spanish playmaker include the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs.
Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical claimed that the Timberwolves are hesitant to move Rubio until Kris Dunn proves himself capable of running the point for Minnesota. Rubio has been at the center of trade rumors after the Timberwolves' selected Dunn as fifth overall in this year's draft, suggesting that Minny could be ready to move on from the Spaniard.
"There is still time until the 2016 NBA draft's fifth overall selection, Kris Dunn, takes over as the Minnesota Timberwolves' point guard - which is why the franchise is still resisting trade overtures for Ricky Rubio, league sources told The Vertical," Woj wrote.
"Thibodeau doesn't anticipate Dunn becoming the starter until approximately 20 games into the regular season, league sources said."
There should be plenty of teams interested in adding a talented point guard like Rubio. In five seasons with the Timberwolves, Rubio posted averages of 10.1 points and 8.3 assists per game, and while his shooting remains a concern, his ability to make plays and to immediately find open teammates makes him a desirable acquisition for a handful of teams.
Max Ogden of Hoops Habit determined a list of potential destinations for Rubio, and two of the teams who could use the point guard's services are the Mavs and Spurs.
Aside from Tony Parker, the only other reliable point guard for the Spurs is Patty Mills. But with Parker already past his prime, San Antonio could consider Rubio as another option to run the point, with the Spurs being known to let international players flourish within their system.
"Rubio could be a wise addition based on the reputation San Antonio has of helping international players excel. Parker and Manu Ginobili are the prime examples, but the likes of Boris Diaw and Tiago Splitter have also stepped up," Ogden wrote.
However, it would not be too easy for the Spurs to orchestrate a deal for Rubio, but giving up Danny Green could work under NBA salary guidelines. Green would give the Timberwolves depth at the shooting guard position and his ability to knock down open shots beyond the arc should see him as a valuable boost for Minnesota.
Meanwhile, the Mavs are also predicted to have interest in trading for Rubio.
The Mavs already have a solid rotation at the point guard spot, with Deron Williams, JJ Barea and Devin Harris all expected to contribute at the backcourt. But none of the mentioned floor commanders have the ability to make an impact without the aid of scoring points.
"If the Mavericks managed to execute a trade without giving up too many assets, the starting lineup could be quite promising. Rubio would join Wesley Matthews, Harrison Barnes, Dirk Nowitzki, and Andrew Bogut as members of a well-rounded starting five," Ogden wrote.
Like the Spurs, the Mavs do not have much assets to facilitate a feasible deal for the Timberwolves. But in Ogden's trade scenario, Dallas could throw in a package of Justin Anderson, Dwight Powell and Harris to entice Minny to let go of Rubio.
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