NBA Rumors: Will Lakers make a run at Ricky Rubio?
The Los Angeles Lakers could be looking for a quick fix and may use their seventh-overall pick in 2014 NBA Draft to facilitate a bigger move.
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On the other hand, the Minnesota Timberwolves are on the verge of losing star power forward Kevin Love and it looks like point guard Ricky Rubio could be next. Rubio has made it clear he wants to play for a winner and if the Timberwolves lose Love – and most expect that they will – Rubio could be the next one out of the door. If the Timberwolves dealt for the seventh-overall pick, sending Rubio to Los Angeles, they could potentially draft former Oklahoma State Cowboys’ point guard Marcus Smart to replace him.
Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders was asked about a potential Rubio deal.
"If the Timberwolves decided that they wanted to move on from Ricky Rubio, I’d think that they could fetch a better deal for him on the open market. Let’s also consider that if they are trading Love (or otherwise lose him), they will need to stock their cupboard with draft picks to try to rebuild that franchise.If I’m the Lakers, I would certainly consider this deal if it was pitched to me, though it depends on who’s around at No. 7. I don’t think Exum makes it down there, but if it’s Julius Randle, then you never know.Good deal for the Lakers, not so good for the Timberwolves, I don’t think… Not unless you’re SURE that Marcus Smart is going to be a top flight point guard… The Wolves can’t afford another Jonny Flynn situation."
Rubio put up 9.5 points, 8.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game while shooting 38.1% from the floor, 33.1% from beyond the arc and 80.2% from the free throw line.