DeMarcus Cousins and Ricky Rubio (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Sacramento Kings have been the team most interested in trading for Ricky Rubio, but the Minnesota Timberwolves could ask for DeMarcus Cousins in any potential deal.
There is a real chance the Timberwolves could trade Rubio this season with Kris Dunn emerging as the team's next top option at the point guard position. According to Jeff Turn of ESPN 99.1, the Timberwolves should move on from Rubio and consider a trade that would make the team a true contender.
"Rubio has never lived up to the hype and his flashy passes and assists and have never created a winner in Minnesota," Turn wrote. "It's time to move on and since you have the point guard of the future in Kris Dunn who you just drafted in the NBA Draft this past summer, it makes perfect sense."
Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical claimed the Timberwolves are "resisting trade overtures" for Rubio until Dunn develops into a bona fide playmaker for Minnesota. But if the Timberwolves could find a deal that could instantly turn them into a playoff team, Rubio is likely the center of any potential packages.
It is hard to imagine trading Rubio could give a valuable return for the Timberwolves, but as suggested in Turn's report, adding a 2017 first round pick and a 2018 second-rounder could the team Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins.
Many believe Cousins is one of the few big men likely to get traded this season, considering his rocky relationship with the Kings and the franchise's dysfunction in the past seasons. ESPN's Marc Stein believes it won't be surprising to hear Cousins' name in every trade rumors, despite the Kings' determination to make the playoffs this season.
"Sacramento is determined to make the playoffs this season, or at least a credible playoff run, which somewhat compels the Kings to keep their best player," Stein wrote.
"But the reality is that Cousins has only one season left on his current contract after this one. If the Kings keep him beyond Feb. 23, they better be sure they can re-sign him, because they're sure to fetch less in return for Expiring Contract Boogie."
The Kings could use a talented point guard like Rubio to maximize the team's core of young big men. Rubio, who has career averages of 8.3 assists per game, should see him as a key cog in Dave Joerger's schemes. Losing Cousins in the process of the proposed deal could force Sacramento to decline otherwise, but two future picks would be valuable to the Kings' rebuild.
It could only be a matter of when before the Timberwolves trade Rubio. Likewise, Cousins' days in Sacramento could already be numbered, especially if they fail to reach the postseason once again. But any chances of the Kings agreeing to acquire Rubio for Cousins are very slim, unless Minnesota includes another young talent.
Video courtesy: YouTube/FreeDawkins
