The Ricky Rubio-to-the-New York Knicks rumors live on.
New York talked to the Minnesota Timberwolves at the trade deadline about a potential Derrick-for-Rubio swap, but nothing ever materialized. Apparently, though, there’s a chance talks could be rekindled, according to Basketball Insiders’ Steve Kyler:
The worst-kept secret in the NBA is that the Timberwolves are ready to move on from guard Ricky Rubio, and it seems that Rubio may feel the same way. The Wolves entertained a few things last summer involving Rubio and revisited his trade value at the trade deadline back in February. . . .
Sources near the Knicks situation said it’s also possible the team looks to Rubio as the immediate answer at point guard and swings for the fences in the draft targeting a huge upside player like Jonathan Isaac, especially as the Knicks try to move on from Carmelo Anthony this summer.
The issue here is that the Knicks have lost what was, in theory, their best Rubio bait. Rose is a free agency, and if the Timberwolves want him, they can sign him outright. That would then almost force them to move Rubio, unless they’re using Rose as a super sub and/or cutting Kris Dunn out of the rotation completely. But it wouldn’t mean the Knicks can offer them enough to get the deal done.
Maybe New York slings Kyle O’Quinn and Lance Thomas, two players the Timberwolves can actually use. But that seems like a high price to pay for a point guard Minnesota doesn’t actively seem to want.
It was one thing when the Timberwolves and Knicks were swapping misfit point guards. It’s another thing entirely for New York to give up actual value and assets for that same player—particularly when he isn’t a good fit, in theory, for the triangle.
