The Minnesota Timberwolves could look at a trade with Ricky Rubio at some point after trading Kevin Love this summer to the Cavs, as he reportedly is looking for a max contract and that could be too expensive for the Minnesota Timberwolves and some teams that could be interested in exploring a deal include the To Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Rubio is set to get a contract extension this year if the two sides can agree before November, but if he is asking for a max contract that could change things with the Wolves. The team is deep into trade talks with the Cavaliers and this could be a move way down the line once they take care of all of that. Rubio averaged less than 10 points last season per game, but he was tops in assists for the team and at just 23 years old he has plenty ahead of himself for his career.
The Wolves love Rubio and know that he is their only real star if Love gets traded, but the team may not want to dole out such a big contract and if things get contentious, a trade could happen. Rubio will be a restricted free agent if the two sides cannot come to a deal agreement and while him being an RFA gives the Wolves some control, the Rockets felt the same way about Chandler Parsons, but they still lost him to a deal with the Dallas Mavericks when he was signed to a big offer sheet that the team did not want to match.
The Wolves are now looking at Thaddeus Young as a potential trade target if they deal Love, as they see him as a replacement for him in the lineup. Young has size and athletic skills and is in on a solid deal from the 76ers and they could look at trading him after the Love deal is complete. The Sixers obviously will want some draft picks for him or at least some prospects and that could happen after the Cavs make their move or perhaps it will be a three team deal as some have speculated on.
The Wolves reportedly are only talking to the Cavaliers now and this comes after the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors also had interest in making the deal. The Wolves want to keep Love, but he has made it clear he wants to leave and this is their best shot at trading him this summer. The team likes the deal from the Cavs since it gives them a potential star player in Wiggins as well as a first round pick in the future.
The Wolves have signed Mo Williams this offseason after he played with the Blazers last year and it is on a one year deal according to ESPN.com, the Wolves are trying to move JJ Barea and Kevin Martin and that would open up some time in the rotation for Williams. Barea and Martin could be part of the Cavs deal or a three way/side deal with the Sixers, as the Wolves are loking to offload salary in the Love trade.
