The Minnesota Timberwolves are trying to trade Kevin Love for either Klay Thompson or Andrew Wiggins this offseason and as those negotiations continue with the Cavs and Warriors, the team is getting news that Ricky Rubio wants a max contract extension and if that deal eventually fails, the Wolves could consider trading Rubio to teams like the Mavericks, Warriors, Pacers or Sixers, as they selected young point guard Zach LaVine this year in the draft and he could be next in line to start.
According to ESPN.com, the Cavaliers are willing to trade Wiggins in a deal for Love and this comes as negotiations are heating up between the warriors and Wolves involving Thompson. The Warriors have been unwilling to add Thompson and the Cavs were the same with Wiggins until recently, as LeBron James has made it clear he would like to play with Love. Pro Basketball Talk is now reporting that Rubio is using this situation to his advantage, as he sees a void if Love leaves and now his agent is trying to get a max deal for his client.
Pro Basketball Talk reports that this situation could play out a bit like the Gordon Hayward deal with the Jazz, as Rubio and the Wolves have until October to hammer out an extension. Rubio will be a restricted free agent this summer and at just 23 years old, he has plenty of basketball ahead of him and now the Wolves will have to decide what the best move is for their franchise in the future.
Wolves owner Glen Taylor is holding out hope that Love remains with the franchise, but right now that is not looking good. According to ESPN.com, the team wants to make another run at the playoffs and also at getting Love to stay, but all reports have Love wanting to test the market when he gets the chance. A trade obviously changes that, but Love is looking to cash in once summer 2015 hits and teams like the Lakers and Knicks will be lining up for him.
LaVine scored 20 points in his last summer league game for the Wolves and he could make Rubio slightly expendable if the team sees him as a long term option. LaVine had some solid stats at UCLA and his age gives the Wolves a chance to build with him after averaging 9.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists as just a freshman. Obviously he is not as established as Rubio, but the team likely does not want to give a deal that big to a player who has not taken his team to the playoffs since coming into the league.
Rubio is a fine player and has tons of potential still, but he is likely not worth a max deal right now in the eyes of most of the league. LaVine is 6-5 and that size can help him in the NBA and he also was great from three point range in college and that also could be a big part of his game in the league. The Wolves had another year of missing the playoffs and now they will try and break that streak.
