Ricky Rubio (Photo : REUTERS)
The Minnesota Timberwolves may not be settling with just one lottery pick in the upcoming draft, as sources close to the team reported that they are trying to add another top-10 pick with Ricky Rubio emerging as their trade bait.
The Timberwolves, who already have the no.1 overall draft pick at their disposal, are targeting an additional high pick in hope of scoping up another highly-touted youngster in the draft. As Karl Anthony Towns looks more and more a locked to be taken first, the Wolves are also showing a great deal of interest in several prospects in this class.
D'Angelo Russell has been labeled the best point guard prospect available because of his already above-average passing and shooting game. Some scouts even mentioned the former Buckeyes standout good enough to give Towns a run for his money as the best overall prospect in this class.
The Wolves are also intrigued by 7-foot-1 Kristaps Porzingis, who generated incredible buzz around the league after blowing away scouts with his athleticism and shooting ability in his first and only workout prior to the draft.
In his NBA Draft article last May. Chad Ford of ESPN talked about the possibility of the Wolves picking Russell or Porzingis in case they slipped all the way to no.3. But after winning the draft and giving themselves a shot at taking Towns or Jahllil Okafor, many thought that they were no longer in play for these prospects.
However, Ford stressed that the Wolves are very much in position to add another top-5 pick, as they have the assets to offer teams in the top-5 a deal that is hard to refuse. Rubio, who just signed a four-year, $55 million contract last summer, might be the biggest trade bait in order for T-Wolves to pull off the deal.
"That obviously can change as we get closer to the draft. Workouts and interviews and lobbying from staff (I hear most of the rest of the staff favors Towns) could push Towns back atop. And do not totally discount D'Angelo Russell here either. I am told Saunders is also a big fan and might be willing to move Ricky Rubio for the right deal," via Ford.
The Philadelphia 76ers (no.3) and New York Knicks (no.4) are both seeking stability in their backcourt, and often linked as possible destinations for Russell and another playmaker Emanuel Mudiay.
The Sacramento Kings, who hold the sixth overall pick, sent a trade offer for Rubio last season, but never came up with a better trade package for the Spanish passing wiz. Having said of that, it would not be shocking if the Kings make another run for Rubio, who could thrive well in George Karl's up-tempo offense.
