When the Cleveland Cavaliers dealt Mike Dunleavy and Mo Williams for Kyle Korver of the Atlanta Hawks, people around the National Basketball Association knew that a blockbuster would soon come before the NBA trade deadline. That epic deal might come in the form of a trade between Minnesota Timberwolves' Ricky Rubio and Detroit Pistons' Reggie Jackson.
The Timberwolves are looking to bolster their young core with a scoring machine in Jackson in return of dealing Rubio. Minnesota is reported to include Shabazz Muhammad in the trade to make the deal more enticing to the Pistons, ESPN reported.
Though they looked good on paper, Minnesota has struggled with a 15-28 record for 12th place in the Western Conference and they are looking to make a playoff push by adding some scoring in the backcourt.
Rubio, who is averaging 31.6 minutes per game, is averaging only 7.7 points per game and still has not found a go-to jumper amid playing five seasons in the league. Karl Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach Lavine have greatly benefitted from the Spaniard's 7.9 assist average but with Jackson (16.8 ppg and 5.4 apg this season) manning the point, he could offer more than just passing but scoring as well.
Jackson is only in his second season of his five-year, $80 million contract, but his injury struggles has made it quite easy for the Pistons, who are at ninth place in the East behind a 21-24 card, to decide to trade him. Meanwhile, Rubio still has two seasons left in his Timberwolves contract which is valued at $29.2 million.
In other trade news, the Los Angeles Clippers are trying to get P.J. Tucker of the Phoenix Suns out of Texas, offering a second round pick, Forbes reported. However, to deal Tucker, who is averaging 6.4 points and 5.7 rebounds, the Suns are demanding a first round pick.
Watch the video below for Rubio's highlights in January: