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5 Ricky Rubio trades that we all can live with

By Dan Voicescu

Jan 24, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) and head coach Tom Thibodeau against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Timberwolves defeated the Suns 112-111. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) and head coach Tom Thibodeau against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Timberwolves defeated the Suns 112-111. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the young Minnesota Timberwolves out of contention for a playoff spot it is likely that Tom Thibodeau and Scott Layden will look to shake things up at the deadline and turn the former Spanish golden boy Ricky Rubio into assets for next season.  We look at five potential destinations for Rubio.

Zach LaVine’s season-ending injury changes the calculus for the Timberwolves and with a playoff spot potentially out of reach it might be time to address the cluttered point guard position — Ricky Rubio, Kris Dunn, and Tyus Jones. Jones and Dunn are more about potential right now, but in the near future all three of these guys could be starters on a dozen of NBA teams. It makes perfect sense to shop one of them. Tyus Jones is a local kid who is still 20-years old, and obviously the jury is still out on Kris Dunn who also offers the benefit of playing on a rookie contract for the next three years.

The main trade bait being dangled must be Ricky Rubio.

Oct 30, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (left) and center Jahlil Okafor (right) watch from the bench during the final minutes of a game against the Utah Jazz at Wells Fargo Center. The Utah Jazz won 99-71. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (left) and center Jahlil Okafor (right) watch from the bench during the final minutes of a game against the Utah Jazz at Wells Fargo Center. The Utah Jazz won 99-71. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Rubio for a 76ers’ big man

The Sixers boast a strong frontcourt made up of recent high draft picks, Joel Embiid has come back strong after battling foot injury and has taken the league by storm. Ben Simmons could be back before the season’s end. With Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor also in the mix, the Sixers frontcourt is stacked. However, T.J. McConnell and Sergio Rodriguez are not your point guards of the future. Ben Simmons may well end up being used at the one spot at times, but this team still needs an upgrade at point guard.

Ricky Rubio would make a lot of sense, at 26 he is still young and would be able to continue to grow alongside the young Sixers.

In return, the Sixers could send some variation of a package involving Nerlens Noel along with Gerald Henderson or Ersan Ilyasova to make the salaries work in the trade. Noel has been playing well lately and it seems like the Sixers would prefer to trade Jahlil Okafor, but Noel will net a more intriguing return.

Noel is limited on offense but has immense defensive potential. As a rim-runner he would nicely complement Karl-Anthony Towns’ inside-out offensive game, and Noel and KAT would could make for a devastating defensive duo.

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