FIBA Worlds: Five Trade Suitors That Get Ricky Rubio Out Of Minnesota
This article courtesy of Rip City Report.
Ricky Rubio is on the verge of becoming the next big thing in international basketball.
Well, actually he already is.
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But as for now, there is only one things that stands in the way of Rubio becoming the next international superstar in the NBA, and that is the organization holding his NBA rights.
Or more so the city in which that organization is located.
Here's the run down:
The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Ricky Rubio with the fifth pick in the 2009 NBA draft. There were concerns within the NBA community that Rubio did not want to play in Minnesota, and those concerns were realized just moments after Rubio was drafted.
"It's too cold," he said, a day after announcing that his mother also thinks the city is too cold. "I have to think about that ... I'm going to talk with my agent about that and we are going to see."
The Timberwolves took a chance on a player that would either become the next big thing or the next big thing to never play a minute in Minnesota.
So now that the world has had the chance to watch Rubio play against NBA talent, everyone is pretty high on the new Spanish Phenom.
This article isn't saying that the Minnesota Timberwolves are completely willing to give up Rubio's rights.
Because I am not sure that they are.
But I think the Minnesota Timberwolves can read the writing on the wall.
Rubio may sign a contract with the Timberwolves in 2012 after the buyout clause with FC Barcelona comes into affect, but it will most likely be a short one.
Giving Rubio the option to leave the frigid winters of Minnesota behind and move to a better opportunity on a playoff team.
So what proactive actions could the Timberwolves take before 2012?
Well, it is clear that the Timberwolves won't release his rights, so that is out of the picture.
The only options left on the table are to find a way to sign him to a long term contract or to trade his rights to another team.
But who has the assets to obtain a high profile prospect and is willing to take on a gamble?
How about we start with the team that seems willing to take on any risk as long as it sells tickets?
The New York Knicks
Rubio wants to play in a big market, and it is tough to find a bigger basketball market than the Big Apple. In terms of assets, the Timberwolves probably don't want a point guard in return.
So, I'm sure that the Knicks could throw Felton out of these discussions.
If New York throws a future draft pick, Timofey Mozgov, and a role player such as Randolph or Chandler, that might be enough to get Rubio.
But heck, that could also be too much.
It is difficult to pinpoint what the rights of an international player is worth.
As big as Rudy Fernandez was in Spain, his hype still does not match that of Rubio's.
The New Jersey Nets
Russian Owner Mikhai Prokhorov has already promised the lowly Nets Franchise a championship within the next five years.
In order to do so, the Nets are going to need to make big changes.
First, the Nets have a very good asset with Devin Harris. I said earlier that the Timberwolves probably wouldn't want a point guard because they believe they found their own guard of the future in Johnny Flynn.
But i'm sure that the Wolves wouldn't be adverse to taking Harris in return for Ricky Rubio's NBA rights because he is currently an upgrade from Flynn.
If the Wolves feel that is too little to take in return for potential, then the Nets could throw in a draft pick or cash considerations.
Rubio wants to be in a big market.
It's a win-win.
The Dallas Mavericks
Jason Kidd is getting old, and it is about time that the Mavericks begin the search for his replacement. Ricky Rubio could be a gamble that pays off big time.
It just depends on the price.
The Mavericks have tweener talent. Either the too valuable to trade for Rubio or it isn't enough or it is something that the Wolves wouldn't want.
The Mavericks could send Jason Terry for Ricky Rubio, but would the Mavericks be willing to send that much in a gamble?
Or even on the other side, would the Wolves want to take an older player in exchange for a young prospect?
It may just not work.
Tyson Chandler for Rubio?
Maybe.
The Mavericks have the assets, but chances are that they will have to give up more because all their assets are aging.
The Portland Trail Blazers
After missing out on Chris Paul...well, actually deciding to sit it out, the Blazers could still use a point guard to replace the aging Andre Miller.
The Blazers have a variety of young talent that the Timberwolves would gladly accept, and they have a rich owner who is not afraid to send cash considerations and draft picks their way.
The Blazers would still have to pay the $6.5 million dollar buyout and then pay the man's salary.
The Blazers could throw in cash considerations if push comes to shove.
Heck, instead of giving up a first round pick, the Blazers have the rights to Peteri Koponen and Victor Claver.
Giving the rights of those two players and then another prospect should be enough for Rubio.
Portland is a smaller market than Minnesota...technically.
I say technically because the new zoning of the NBA considers Washington State to be part of the Portland Trail Blazers market ever since the Sonics moved out of town.
Thus making it one of the largest markets, but still not a top five, in the NBA.
Phoenix Suns/ Los Angeles Lakers
I combined the two because I am unsure about their situations.
First off, the Phoenix Suns are running out of time with Steve Nash. He is getting old, and they are going to need to find his replacement.
Do the Suns consider Dragic to be their future point guard? If so, they aren't going to pull the trigger on this trade.
If not, the Suns could give up Dragic and another role player, along with a draft pick for the rights to sign Ricky Rubio.
The balmy temperatures of Phoenix would tempt Rubio, and it is a big enough market that Rubio should be happy.
Second, The Los Angeles Lakers have talent that is tradeable.
They also have a big market with history in winning.
The Lakers, like the other teams I have stated, need to be looking for a future point guard.
Derrick Fischer is on his last legs, and as much as I like Steve Blake's game, he is not the kind of player that will help carry you to a championship.
If the Timberwolves would be willing to take on a risk, the Lakers could send Devin Ebanks, Derrick Character, and another role player along with a draft pick for the rights to Ricky Rubio.
Still, I am little worried that might be too much, and I am also worried that it could be not enough.
Another thing I am worried about is the Lakers' cap situation. They would need to get rid of a few role players to keep themselves under the threshold.
One thing that plays to the Lakers favor is the rookie player maximum salary, or around $1.5 million a year.
Potentially, you could find yourself a steal in that scenario.
Of course, this is all speculation. No one knows that the Timberwolves would be willing to trade the rights of Rubio, nor does anyone, but Ricky Rubio, know that he wants to be traded.
We can only base this off his past comments.
“I am still talking to Minnesota but at the moment it’s not foremost in my thoughts,” Rubio told Reuters. “Next year we’ll think about whether I go over there. I’ll talk with whom I need to talk to, with Barcelona, with Minnesota, with my agents, and we’ll decide.”
Exactly. Rubio will decide whether or not the NBA is the right place for him and that Minnesota is the correct place to start his career.
That will all be done by 2012, but as of right now, I don't see Ricky playing long term for the Timberwolves.
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