If the New York Knicks have doubt regarding their point guard position, they can no longer look to the Minnesota Timberwolves for help. Rumors have been swirling for most of the offseason that New York was aiming to upgrade their point guard rotation despite having three players and fourth coming into training camp. After getting linked to Ricky Rubio, the Minnesota Timerwolves are making it clear the point guard is not available.
The Knicks' interest in Rubio stemmed from a report from Sportando that New York was interested in acquiring the point guard at the mid-season trade deadline after the Boston Globe reported that the Timberwolves were getting impatient with the veteran and might favor moving on from him with Tyus Jones taking over. However, the Timberwolves are denying all reports.
According to general manager Milt Newton, the Timberwolves are not shopping Rubio and like what he brings to the team's young core of players with Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. Rubio signed a four-year, $56 million contract last year and then promptly only played 22 games with ankle issues.
"We're not talking to anybody about trading Ricky," Newton said, via The Associated Press. "We expect Ricky to be an integral part of our team this season. We expect him to be here come training camp and leading our team. He's one of the best facilitators in the NBA. We've got a young team of guys that are athletic, that are going to get up and down. And we're going to utilize those talents that they have."
According to Ian Begley, Jose Calderon is favored for the starting job heading into training camp. The Knicks were hoping he would be the main point guard last season, but injuries forced Langston Galloway into the spotlight. Now healthy, Calderon is favored to start with Galloway and Jerian Grant fighting for court time. Team president Phil Jackson is looking to put the best group of players around Carmelo Anthony, a role he says he will be much more active in this season in order to turn the franchise around.
"I thought that maybe I stepped back too far last year," Jackson said, via ESPN.com. "I wanted Derek to be his own person, to have his own feel for this, and that was multiplied in numbers of ways. Derek's kind of asked me to be a little more present this year, actually. Not in the aspect of coaching, but just in being around and talking basketball and influential in observations. I think I'll probably be even more involved than I was last year as far as being here and being watchful and suggestive, watching film together with Derek at times."
Could the Knicks still target Rubio? Of course, especially if Grant, Calderon and Galloway struggle in the role. Jackson wants to load the roster with more marquee players and Rubio fits that description. If Jones excels for the Timberwolves, Rubio is always an option to get shopped regardless of preseason talk.
