The Minnesota Timberwolves have been talking the Kevin Love trade rumors for the entire offseason and now Ricky Rubio could get traded in the near future after the team drafted Zach LaVine from UCLA and teams like the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, NY Knicks or Los Angeles Lakers could be options if they make moves with Rajon Rondo or Kyle Lowry.
The Timberwolves come into the season knowing they likely will lose Kevin Love in the future and they have to decide on trading him or not. ESPN.com writes that the longer the team waits to trade Love, the less of a deal they will get since teams know that he wants to opt out of his contract come next summer. Rubio is the point guard for the team and now LaVine comes in and that could open up the team to trading Love and Rubio this summer or during the season at the trade deadline.
Flip Saunders said to NBA.com that he was targeting LaVine with the first round pick for the Wolves and that if he was available, the team would take him. LaVine played with some very NBA-ready players, including Kyle Anderson and Jordan Adams, who were also drafted and now he has the chance to be a solid point guard for the team and he has great athleticism and skills at his position. LaVine was not a starter while competing with Adams and Anderson, but he played very well when he was on the court and he is considered to be one of the most prepared players from the Bruins squad.
LaVine only played one season with the Bruins, but he was strong shooting from long range and averaged 9.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists. LaVine also was named to the Pac-12 freshman team and he was in double figures for nine of his first 10 games and he is considered to be a strong prospect coming out of the draft. Saunders said that LaVine and Rubio can play together and that is what the team is expecting, but there is always a chance they could make a trade.
The Knicks have Jose Calderon now so unless they move him they won't deal, but the Raptors could be an option if the team loses Kyle Lowry, while the Celtics may look at trading Rajon Rondo. The team picked Marcus Smart and could make a move there, while Rubio would be a major target if the Wolves signal they are willing to deal him. LaVine is just 19 years old and he has a huge upside and years to develop and the Wolves are thrilled to get the pick.
Rubio has been one player that has been vocal about Kevin Love and he spoke in the media about hoping to keep him in the city, as long as he actually wants to stay. Rubio was a high draft pick and he has expectations in Minnesota and while he likely will not be traded, this draft pick at least opens up some speculation that it could happen.
