Ricky Rubio rumors: Could Minnesota Timberwolves trade Rubio?
It is pretty clear that Minnesota Timberwolves’ point guard Ricky Rubio is seeking a max contract. It’s just as clear that the Timberwolves don’t want to give him a max contract. With Rubio’s limitations shooting the ball, the Timberwolves would like to sign him to a four-year deal worth between $40 and $50 million.
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Jerry Zgoda of The Minneapolis Star Tribune believes the Timberwolves may instead opt to trade Rubio.
"I don’t think it’s going to happen this fall. Rubio’s agent is shooting for the moon — the max five-year max — and I doubt he comes down to the real world (at least 4 yrs, $48M like Lowry got). It’ll probably go to next summer, if he isn’t traded by then."
One reporter suggested a Rubio-for-Eric Bledsoe deal because the Timberwolves are reportedly high on Bledsoe but acquiring him in any way seems like a long shot.
Trade Rubio also could be a tough sell. Although they hope Andrew Wiggins is eventually their marquee player, the face of their franchise is Rubio at the moment and after already parting ways with Kevin Love, fans could grow restless with Rubio gone as well.
Rubio averaged 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 last season. In his career, he’s put up 10.1 points, 8.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game while shooting 36.8% from the floor, 32.3% from three and 80.1% from the charity stripe.
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