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This morning, ESPN’s Marc Stein tweeted the following:
League sources say Minnesota, in the wake of the Jimmy Butler deal, remains intent on trading Ricky Rubio as it searches for more shooting.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 26, 2017
If the Minnesota Timberwolves do choose to deal their primary ball-handler, they will either need to acquire another one in return, find a free agent, or do more dealing, as they will be left with only Tyus Jones at the one.
As SLC Dunk standout Jordan Cummings wrote here, Dennis Lindsey is still looking for a solid vet to steer the ship for the Jazz, and Rubio’s elite passing could lead to some fun plays if he were to be paired with, say, Rudy Gobert. Critics of the idea point to Rubio’s struggles on offense, as his shot probably gets him more calls from bosses in the National Bricklayers Association than in the National Basketball Association.
Dennis Lindsey likely feels that young guards Donovan Mitchell, Dante Exum, and Raúl Neto need the mentorship and guidance that comes from having a veteran playmaker on the team, and Rubio could almost certainly provide that.