The NBA trade rumors reach their peak as the trade deadline nears and one name that has been around all season is bound to reach a new destination.
The Minnesota Timberwolves seem to have decided on their point guard of the future with their draftee Kris Dunn, so their starter Ricky Rubio is most likely on the way out.
In this report from Britt Robson on Minn Post, the fate of the Spanish guard has already been decided.
"From the start last spring of his five-year tenure here, Thibs determined that Rubio was not the point guard of this team's future. Through his agent and with an occasional statement (during the off-season he said he wanted to play for a winner for a change) Rubio has indicated that he doesn't appreciate the animus and would sooner be traded than put on the shelf."
Thibodeau still waited for rookie Kris Dunn to develop, but there is little reason to keep Rubio beyond the trade deadline especially if real offers come their way. ON that note, writer Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report offered a scenario where Rubio becomes the playmaker that LeBron James was aspiring for.
The rationale for this proposal is that the Timberwolves had the desire for Iman Shumpert of the Cleveland Cavaliers. This was confirmed by Zach Lowe of ESPN. Now that shooting guard Zach Lavine is out for the season and beyond with an ACL tear, the Timberwolves need to beef up if they actually want to make a run at the playoffs.
But another scenario has Rubio going to the New York Knicks in a move that will reunite Derrick Rose with his former coach Tom Thibodeau.
Yaron Weitzman elaborated: "There's no reason for the Knicks to keep Rose if they ship out Melo and start rebuilding. They could waive the former league MVP (he's a free agent this summer), but why not see if Timberwolves coach-president Tom Thibodeau is interested in giving his former player a shot?"
The Knicks could use Rubio as the best complement for Kristaps Porzingis who will become (and rightfully so) their franchise player if a trade for Carmelo Anthony takes place.