Wolves Press Clippings

Wolves Press Clippings

Just a few random thoughts about the trade deadline for a Tuesday morning with no basketball for the next couple of days.

Gonna leave the Rubio stuff alone. We talked about it enough yesterday. I'll be shocked if he's traded.

Otherwise, I doubt we see the Wolves do anything, though I'm beginning to think it's possible they move Shabazz Muhammad. I would still guess it's a long shot to happen, but if teams are interested, I would guess the Wolves are talking.

I have mixed feelings about that. On the one hand, he seems to have stagnated, and his numbers are mostly down from last year. His defense has not improved measurably, and mostly because of that he remains one of the poorest players getting regular time in the league according to measures like RPM. Given that, if teams are interested enough to actually trade something of even moderate value in exchange, it makes sense to do it.

On the other hand, I enjoy watching him when he's going well. I love his relentless pursuit of the ball, and sometimes of shots (when they're going in). He brings a noticeable energy and an edge to a team that frankly seems to lack guys with edge for the most part. Of course, that whole idea could be bullshit, but I do like watching him.

Ultimately it's always the better guess to assume a guy won't be traded, but it wouldn't shock me to see it at this point.

Otherwise...the Wolves might find a taker for Kevin Martin, though his theoretical wrist problem and fact that he hasn't played in a while can't be helping. It wouldn't surprise me if they can't find a taker at his salary.

What else Wolves wise?  I suppose some team might offer to take Andre Miller. Frankly, given that the return would be nothing, I'd just as soon keep him, but I think if you get a firm offer you go to him and let him decide.

Doogie suggested that the Wolves are one of the teams talking to Sacramento about Ben McLemore.  Don't know what they would be looking for or what the Wolves would offer, but he wouldn't be the worst pick up. Seems to be rounding into form as a three point shooter and while he isn't good defensively, he also isn't quite a Shabazzian catastrophe. I wouldn't pay starter price for him, but he could be a useful backup.

Around the league...big names always get thrown around at the deadline, but it's so tough to get things done. Dwight Howard...I'm sure the Rockets are asking for the moon, when he simply isn't worth any celestial body at this point in his career.

Sounds like the Hawks may actually do something with Al Horford; we'll see what, but I doubt it makes them better. Horford is pretty damn good.

Unless things are even messier in the locker room than I imagine with the Cavs, I don't see why they would trade Kevin Love. It isn't going to help them win a championship this year, which has to be their goal. Or at least, I don't think it will.

Wolves Press Clippings

The NBA's trade deadline is Thursday and now that the festivities of All-Star weekend have come to a conclusion, trade rumors have started to spread like wildfire. The main one that should be of interest to Minnesota Timberwolves' fans is one reported by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, in which he says that Ricky Rubio is "readily available and the feeling is that the Spanish guard could be moved" before Thursday. In the paragraph prior to the quote, Isola speculates that Zach LaVine, fresh off of his Rising Stars challenge MVP and historic showing in the dunk contest, may win the starting point guard spot.

It is not surprising to see Rubio's name come up in trade rumors as he is a quality starter playing at the league's most valuable position, under a favorable long-term contract. His agent, Dan Fegan, has also always been enamored with seeing his client play in a major market. However, what good would come from trading Rubio at this time? The only way trading him would make sense is if the team either upgrades at the point guard position (a move that is unlikely due to the importance and value of high quality point guards across the league) or is provided an unexpected offer they simply can't refuse, one that will pay serious dividends down the road as the roster matures.

If anything, the speculation does provide an opportunity to explore the question of whether or not Rubio should be considered a cornerstone for the team going forward and, thus, be considered untradable? I think the answer to that question is no; anybody on the team not named Andrew Wiggins or Karl-Anthony Towns should be considered movable for the right price.

The Wolves find themselves in a position in which the roster is an amalgamation of young, high-ceiling talent with more talent of that variety coming in the upcoming draft. At some point, the team (specifically the general manager and president of basketball operations) will have to decide if it is best to hold on to that talent and form the team around it or to move a couple assets for more established veterans.

And therein lines the problem with the Wolves: is that Milt Newton's job or is that the job of someone else? It appears as if Newton is the one tasked with answering calls and being involved in trade discussions (he is the general manager, after all), but what is unclear is if he has the power to pull the trigger on a move, specifically on one as large as moving a fan favorite in Rubio.

So, will Ricky Rubio be traded before the clock strikes 3 p.m. eastern time on Thursday? I would be extraordinarily shocked to see that, as would most followers of the team. It makes almost no sense at this point in time. Rubio is on a good contract, by all accounts he likes playing in Minnesota, and he's a high quality starting point guard that makes the team legitimate when he's on the floor. Besides, who knows if Milt Newton even possesses the authority to make such a big move without any long-term commitment from the franchise. But that doesn't make Rubio untouchable. I wouldn't be shocked to see him moved should Minnesota be blown away by an offer near the draft or at some point in the offseason, one that clearly makes them better. However, as it has been stated before by people smarter than me, it is important to first decide if Newton is the right guy going forward before any major transactions are made. And I don't see that decision being made until after the trade deadline has long passed.

Wolves Press Clippings

The waiting period begins. 

These next few days will likely be very quiet around the league as players are enjoying their well deserved breaks. There will be a flurry of trade rumors as the upcoming trade deadline is right around the corner. Whether or not many of these "scoops" will be substantiated at all is anyone's guess, as we have already seen with the recent Rubio trade rumors that broke in the last day.

While there may be a few trades that go down during the next few days, if last year is any indicator we will likely have to wait until the last moment before we see any major movement around the league.

The 2015 trade deadline was one of the craziest moments in the NBA that I can remember. Grantland's recap (Article Here) does a great job highlighting the confusion as the media scrambled to catch up to all the moves. Although reading over that article has made me sad all over again due to Grantland's semi-recent demise.

There obviously isn't a lot of other Basketball news, Timberwolves or otherwise, so I will just let this serve as an open thread.

Wolves Press Clippings

Martin, who has missed the team's last nine games after suffering a wrist injury, is shooting a career-low 37.5 percent from the floor while averaging 11.3 points, 1.3 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 22.6 minutes per contest this year.

His decline in production and injury problems, along with the development of Zach LaVine, have pushed Martin out of the starting rotation for the first time since he joined Minnesota in 2013-14.

On Saturday, Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press reported that the team has actively been shopping Martin, but “there’s no market” for him. However, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald noted that the Miami Heat could be interested if Minnesota buys him out.

Broussard indicated that Minnesota is also looking to move Adreian Payne and is open to dealing Ricky Rubio. The Wolves would like to add Miles Plumlee from the Milwaukee Bucks, according to Broussard.

The Wolves are a team to watch in the coming years with a young core of LaVine, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. By moving the 33-year-old Martin, Minnesota could try to add another young playmaker to its roster.

Wolves Press Clippings

Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio has played slightly reduced minutes from a year ago as fellow point guard Zach LaVine continues to show improvement, making Rubio an intriguing trade chip for the franchise.

Continue for updates.

Rubio Reportedly Being Shopped by Timberwolves

Monday, Feb. 15

One factor in Minnesota's decision to shop Rubio is that his production is down from a year ago, albeit only marginally. The 25-year-old is averaging 9.7 points, 8.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 30.3 minutes per game, all lower than his totals from last season.

Meanwhile, LaVine has emerged as the team's third-leading scorer behind Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, averaging 12.8 points in 24.4 minutes per game. And LaVine—who just won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest for the second year in a row—fits in nicely with the young, athletic core the Timberwolves are building.

Rubio's struggles with injuries in the past may also factor into a decision to trade him if the team goes that route, along with his mediocre jump shot. As Derek Bodner of Draft Express noted, Rubio has defined strengths and weaknesses in his game:

Further, if the Timberwolves want to continue to surround Wiggins and Towns with young talent, Rubio is surely the best trade chip they have, as he would be appealing to a contending team looking for a pure, playmaking point guard. Rubio is an excellent plate-setter at the position and plays solid defense, so his appeal is obvious.

But that may ultimately keep him in Minnesota, as he's also still young and under team control for the next three seasons. But the Timberwolves will likely do their due diligence on the market anyway, hoping a team blows them away with an offer for the talented point guard.

Wolves Press Clippings

The Minnesota Timberwolves are open to moving point guard Ricky Rubio, according to a report from the New York Daily News' Frank Isola. Isola reports that the Timberwolves' lead guard is "readily available" to teams.

The 25-year-old is having one of his best seasons, averaging 9.7 points. 8.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game. More importantly, he's missed just six games all season and is averaging more than 30 minutes per night. The Timberwolves, however, are just 17-37 and Rubio continues to struggle as a shooter.

Rubio is signed through 2019 and is owed $42 million. But the Timberwolves like what they've seen out of his backup, the 20-year-old Zach LaVine, and would hand him the starting point guard job if they traded Rubio, according to Isola.

Why the Timberwolves will trade Rubio

While he's only 25, Rubio is still about five years older than the core Minnesota is now building around. Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns are both 20. LaVine turns 21 in March. That Rubio is five years older than them, with a ton of mileage on his tires thanks to all those international competitions, means that by the time that trifecta fully blossoms, he might already be over the hill.

Instead of making that gamble, the Timberwolves could move Rubio now, get some young players or draft picks back in return and continue to solidify their roster in a way similar to what the Thunder did with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Rubio is the type of savvy, team-first player that could help a lot of teams, especially with his strong perimeter defense. Minnesota might be able to take advantage of a desperate franchise on the playoff bubble looking to make a splash.

There's also the question as to how Rubio fits into today's NBA. He remains a fantastic ball-handler, defender and passer, But his crooked jumper has never been fixed. Rubio is shooting just 29 percent from deep this season and just 36 percent from the field. Opponents don't guard him above the foul line, which makes it difficult for everyone else to score. With LaVine continuing to improve (12.8 points and 3.2 assists in 24.4 minutes, 43 percent shooting, 35 percent from behind the three-point line), trading Rubio at his peak could be the prudent move for Minnesota.

Bottom of Form

Why the Timberwolves won't trade Rubio

Despite all his weaknesses, the Timberwolves remain a much better team when Rubio plays. Minnesota is 10.5 points per 100 possessions better when Rubio is on the court compared to when he sits, per NBA.com. The majority of that difference comes on the defensive end, where Rubio remains a stud. His quick feet allow him to stay in front of even the most explosive of scorers. That he's 6'4 with long arms means he can close down passing lanes, too.

Having a good defensive point guard obviously helps in the short term, but it can also do wonders for the development of a young team. It means less opportunities for Towns to pick up cheap fouls. It means more chances for Wiggins to learn proper defensive rotations. On offense, a veteran like Rubio can act as a stabilizer even with his poor shooting.

While Rubio may not be churning at full speed by the time the Timberwolves are ready to compete, his presence on the team can help push that process along.

Likelihood (4/10)

Rubio's locked up for the next three seasons, so there's no rush on this. If the Timberwolves receive an offer they like, chances are they'll take a good look. But they're not shopping Rubio yet, and given how few true contenders there are this season, it's unlikely they receive a great offer.

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