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NBA trade rumors: 5 destinations for Ricky Rubio

By John Buhler

February 3, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) moves the ball up court against Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
February 3, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) moves the ball up court against Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 10, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) steals the ball from Philadelphia 76er forward Brandon Davies (0) in the first quarter at Target Center. The Timberwolves win 116-110. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) steals the ball from Philadelphia 76er forward Brandon Davies (0) in the first quarter at Target Center. The Timberwolves win 116-110. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlantic. Philadelphia 76ers. 2. player. 93. . East

Maybe the Philadelphia 76ers are done with their hypertanking efforts? The Process

sort of

worked, as the 76ers will select LSU Tigers small forward Ben Simmons No. 1 overall in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Though Simmons is adept at handling the ball from the point forward position, he’ll probably need a proven NBA starting point guard to help him adjust to his first year in the NBA. Yes, the 76ers are hoping to move up and take Dunn out of Providence at No. 3 in a trade with the rival Boston Celtics, but if he’s off the board before Philadelphia picks again they’ll have to look for other options at the point.

If Philadelphia wants to win more than 10 games in 2016-17, 76ers general manager Bryan Colangelo is going to have to get Simmons and Philadelphia head coach Brett Brown better starting point guard options than Ish Smith and T.J. McConnell.

By orchestrating a trade with the Timberwolves for Rubio, Philadelphia could get the point it needs to get out of the cellar. The 76ers could also be able to part ways with at least one of their young front court prospects to free up some minutes for the others. Seemingly Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Dario Saric, and Joel Embiid could be on the table in this trade.

Minnesota could use another young front court player to pair alongside Towns for the next several years. Noel feels like the best option for the Timberwolves, as he would thrive in Thibodeau’s defensive scheme playing alongside fellow Kentucky Wildcat in the Minnesota front court.

Next: 1. Milwaukee Bucks.

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