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Ricky Rubio Trade Scenarios
The Timberwolves got their man on draft night. When they traded Randy Foye and Mike Miller to the Wizards for the No. 5 pick, Minnesota was targeting Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio, even trying to move up to the No. 2 spot to assure that they landed him. As it played out, Rubio fell right into their laps at five and the T-Wolves couldn’t have been any happier.
But the wedding may be annulled quicker than Britney Spears’ brief matrimony to Jason Alexander (no, not THAT Jason Alexander.) Rubio is apparently pulling an Eli Manning/Steve Francis/Eric Lindros and is cold to the idea of living in Minnesota, reportedly threatening to head back to Spain to play for a couple more years rather than suit up for the Wolves.
So what is new Minnesota general manager David Kahn to do besides try to convince T-Wolves’ fans that he is not the second coming of Kevin McHale? Kahn recently sent an e-mail to season ticket holders saying that he was willing to wait a couple years if necessary while Rubio played out his current contract in Spain. The two parties reportedly met face-to-face over the weekend, but that has yet to be confirmed.
The way I see it, Kahn has two options. He can play hard ball, call Rubio’s bluff, and insist that they are not going to trade him, eventually hoping the flashy point guard agrees to play with the T-Wolves whether it’s this season or three years from now. Or he can coward up, give in to Rubio’s demands, and deal the Spaniard for a couple valuable pieces (or six point guards.) Here are some possible deals that would land Rubio in a desirable location while adding to the T-Wolves’ youth movement.
Trade One: Minnesota deals Ricky Rubio ($3.3 million) and Brian Cardinal ($6.75 million) to Dallas for Josh Howard ($10.9 million), a 2010 second-round pick, and 2011 first-round pick.
With Jason Kidd a free agent and getting up there in age, acquiring Rubio would give the Mavs a point guard of the future at a much cheaper rate. Minnesota lands an all-star caliber in talent in Howard who would provide a major boost on the wing. Dallas doesn’t own the rights to their 2010 first-round pick which is why they give up their 2011 selection.
Minnesota
C: Jefferson/Thomas
PF: Love/Songaila/Pecherov/Madsen/Smith
SF: Gomes/Brewer
SG: Howard/Ellington
PG: Flynn/Telfair
Dallas
C: Dampier
PF: Nowitzki/Nivins/Cardinal
SF: Wright/Stackhouse/Williams
SG: Terry/Carroll
PG: Rubio/Barea
Trade Two: Minnesota deals Ricky Rubio ($3.3) and Brian Cardinal ($6.75) to Clippers for Eric Gordon ($2.8), Marcus Camby (7.65), and 2010 first-round pick (top-four protected)
Clipper fans would finally have something to look forward to; a possible long-term combo of Rubio to Griffin that could eventually become the Stockton-Malone of the next decade. The biggest wrench for the Clips would be moving Davis off the ball which may cause even more sulking than there already is, which seems impossible. This would instantly make the Clips a real playoff contender. Dealing Camby opens up more playing time for Griffin without weakening their front court.
Minnesota gets the starting shooting guard they currently don’t have. Camby provides a defensive presence and is a free agent after this season, so that would open up some more money. The 2010 first-rounder would likely fall in the late lottery/mid-teens.
Minnesota
C: Jefferson/Camby/Thomas
PF: Love/Songaila/Pecherov/Madsen/Smith
SF: Gomes/Brewer
SG: Gordon/Ellington
PG: Flynn/Telfair
Clippers
C: Kaman/Jordan/Skinner
PF: Griffin/Randolph/Cardinal
SF: Thornton/Ricky Davis
SG: Baron Davis/Collins
PG: Rubio/Taylor
Trade Three: Minnesota deals Ricky Rubio ($3.3), Sebastian Telfair ($2.5), and Mark Madsen ($2.8) to New York for Chris Duhon ($6.0), Wilson Chandler ($1.2), Toney Douglas ($1.0), and 2010 first-round pick (top-four protected)
The Knicks have been the most likely destination for Rubio since word came out that he didn’t want to go to Minnesota. This would be a huge get for New York and yet another way to entice LeBron, D-Wade, or one of the top free agents next summer to come to the Big Apple to play with a pure point guard with an unbelievable ability to distribute the basketball.
Minnesota adds a veteran point guard who is a free agent next summer in Duhon, a combo guard in Douglas who plays well on both ends of the floor, and an improving Chandler. The key to this trade is the 2010 first-round pick which would almost certainly be in the lottery. Jordan Hill could be another name to possibly throw in this trade but the T-Wolves would be better off improving other areas since they already have the Jefferson-Love duo up front.
Minnesota
C: Jefferson/Thomas
PF: Love/Songaila/Smith/Pecherov/Cardinal
SF: Gomes/Chandler
SG: Brewer/Ellington
PG: Flynn/Duhon/Douglas
New York
C: Lee/Curry/Milicic
PF: Hill/Jefferies/Madsen
SF: Harrington/Gallinari
SG: Hughes/Joe Crawford
PG: Rubio/Robinson/Telfair
Trade Four: Minnesota deals Ricky Rubio ($3.3) to Portland for Rudy Fernandez ($1.1), Jerryd Bayless ($2.1), and 2010 first-round pick
The Blazers need to find a point guard of the future and Rubio would the perfect young point guard to lead one of the up-and-coming teams in the NBA. Portland would still have about $9 million to spend in free agency and could land a veteran small forward to help them creep a little closer to the top of the Western Conference.
Minnesota would acquire a shooting guard in Fernandez which they could immediately insert into the starting lineup. They also get a young combo guard in Bayless who is far from reaching his potential and could be a great bench player if given the chance. The 2010 first-round pick is not a huge addition since it would likely be in the mid-20s.
Minnesota
C: Jefferson/Thomas
PF: Love/Songaila/Smith/Pecherov/Cardinal/Madsen
SF: Gomes/Brewer
SG: Fernandez/Ellington
PG: Flynn/Bayless/Telfair
Portland
C: Pryzbilla/Oden
PF: Aldridge/Frye/Pendergraph
SF: Batum/Outlaw/Cunningham
SG: Roy/Webster
PG: Rubio/Blake/Mills
Trade Five: Minnesota deals Ricky Rubio ($3.3) and Craig Smith ($2.5) to Miami for Michael Beasley ($4.6), Daequan Cook ($1.4), and Mario Chalmers ($0.8)
The thought of Rubio playing alongside my favorite player, Dwyane Wade, literally turns me on. While Chalmers had a solid rookie season, he does not have near the long-term potential of a player like Rubio. Acquiring Rubio might also be a great selling point as to the direction of the Heat franchise and help keep D-Wade in South Beach.
Minnesota gets three players to help their youth movement. Beasley showed flashes of being worthy of the No. 2 pick in last year’s draft, but also struggled to find his niche at times. Chalmers would serve as a nice point guard option alongside Flynn. Cook has great range on his shot, the type of player the T-Wolves lack.
Minnesota
C: Jefferson/Thomas
PF: Love/Songaila/Pecherov/Cardinal/Madsen
SF: Gomes/Beasley
SG: Brewer/Cook/Ellington
PG: Flynn/Chalmers/Telfair
Miami
C: O’Neal/Anthony/Blount
PF: Haslem/Smith/Dozier
SF: Jones/Moon/Wright/Diawara
SG: Wade/Beverly
PG: Rubio/Quinn
Written by Paul Banks of NBC Chicago and the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
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