Knicks Rumors: Ricky Rubio Remains Significant Trade Target
New York Knicks rumors: Ricky Rubio remains a significant trade target just hours before the NBA Trade Deadline.
New York Knicks rumors have begun zeroing in on talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves are interested in acquiring point guard Derrick Rose from New York, while they want to move on from point guard Ricky Rubio.
It has been a rumored deal for a couple of days now, as the Timberwolves have been the most aggressive team going after Rose. Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau used to coach Rose when he was a member of the Chicago Bulls and would like to reunite with his former point guard.
If the Timberwolves are going to acquire Rose, they will have to find a taker for Rubio. Luckily for Minnesota, Rubio is someone that Knicks President Phil Jackson is reportedly is a fan of. The Knicks also like Nemanja Bjelica, but Rubio is who they are focusing on as a trade target according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.
Minnesota's Ricky Rubio remains a significant target for the Knicks today, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 23, 2017
It makes sense that Rubio would remain a significant trade target for the Knicks. If they move Rose, they will need to bring a point guard back to help fill the void. With Brandon Jennings also receiving interest in the trade market, the Knicks could have a rebuilt backcourt for the unofficial second half of the regular season.
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While Rubio has his flaws, specifically scoring the ball, he would probably be a better fit in the Knicks system than Rose. Rubio is an excellent playmaker that wants to get his teammates involved. He is averaging 8.4 assists per game this season and 8.3 per game in his career.
That is something that Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis would benefit greatly from. While Rose provides a good scoring punch, he doesn’t make anyone on the court better. The Knicks are better with Rose on the court offensively, but defensively he has been very poor this season.
That is where Rubio will be a big upgrade. Rubio is a superior defender and has excellent size at 6-feet-4 inches. He would help take pressure off the Knicks big men that have had to constantly switch and protect the rim because of Rose’s poor performance. Rose isn’t the only poor defender on the Knicks, but an argument can be made he has been the least interested player on the team on that end of the court.
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Will the Knicks be able to land Rubio from the Timberwolves in a Rose deal? We will have to wait and see. It would be a relatively big move for the Knicks, who would be remaking their backcourt and taking on salary for the next few seasons; Rubio is owed just over $29 million the next two seasons.