NBA trade rumors 2016: Ricky Rubio to jump ship via trade with Sacramento Kings?
Ricky Rubio has been the subject of seemingly endless trade speculations across rumor land. Despite Minnesota Timberwolves owner, Glen Taylor's unyielding insistence that the franchise won't trade their Ricky Rubio, some basketball pundits are not entirely convinced. Although he's likely to be on Timberwolves' starting frontbench when the season starts, Rubio might land in Sacramento Kings sooner than expected.
"As Glen Taylor said on this podcast a couple episodes ago, Ricky Rubio will start the season with the Wolves. But I can tell you, as I've said a number of times, the Sacramento Kings are a team to watch...Keep an eye on the Sacramento Kings if slash when the Wolves decide to make a move on Ricky," said Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN on The Scoop Podcast.
While the 30-team National Basketball Association is getting an offseason break, teams are busy rebuilding their roster. Sacramento Kings, for example, is currently in a tight point guard situation and could use some help from trade. Darren Collison is currently distracted with domestic-violence charges. Adding more to their woes was Rajon Rondo's recent migration to Chicago Bulls as a free agent.
In Minnesota's side, Rubio is not a totally indispensable asset especially after drafting this year's NBA draft's No. 5 overall pick, Kris Dunn. As reported by NBC Sports, the Wolves could trade their Spanish-born point guard for one of the Kings' big men.
Meanwhile, Rubio has previously hinted of leaving the Wolves if the team cannot reach the playoffs in the upcoming 2016–17 season. Minnesota's long playoff drought could be a driving factor that could push him to search for teams with greater chances of reaching the playoffs.
"I've been in the NBA for five years, and six years without playoffs would be a long time. At 26, I'd have to start thinking about teams that can get to the playoffs and win in the Finals," said Rubio in an interview with Spain-based Catalunya Radio as reported by MPR News.
Rubio finished the 2015–16 season with an average of 10.1 points, 8.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game.