For much of Thursday afternoon, the Knicks and Timberwolves were locked in a staring contest in their talks on a potential Derrick Rose deal. Phil Jackson and the Knicks were looking for a second asset in a potential Rose-for-Ricky Rubio swap, per sources. The Timberwolves were unwilling to give up that second asset, whether it was a draft pick or a player. They made that stance clear as late as a half-hour before the deadline. It became a matter of who would blink first.
More on Ricky Rubio Trade
Shortly before the deadline, sources say members of the Knicks organization lowered their demands of that second asset. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Knicks eventually offered the Wolves a Rubio-for-Rose trade, straight up. Sources say that deal was offered minutes before the deadline. According to Stein, Minnesota balked at the deal.
Marc Stein: At the finish line, league sources say, New York was prepared to trade Derrick Rose for Ricky Rubio straight up. But the Wolves balked.
Marc Stein: On Deadline Day, Minnesota ultimately decided to walk away from the Ricky Rubio-for-Derrick Rose trade, league sources say
Ian Begley: A half hour ago, MIN had been unwilling to give up an additional asset in talks with NYK on a Rose trade, per source. Who blinks first here?
Adrian Wojnarowski: Minnesota remains engaged with several teams on a Ricky Rubio trade, including New York, league sources tell @The Vertical.
Marc Stein: The Knicks and Timberwolves remain engaged in trade talks toward a deal headlined by Derrick Rose and Ricky Rubio, league sources tell ESPN.
Tim Bontemps: Ricky Rubio remains available, with Wolves having talked to Knicks, Pistons and others. After weeks of talks, hard to see him not moving.
Sam Amick: The T-Wolves have continued to shop Ricky Rubio to non-Knicks teams too, even as they've continued to talk with NY about a Derrick Rose deal
Jake Fischer: The Timberwolves are willing to part with Shabazz Muhammad to help move Ricky Rubio, according to multiple sources.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Minnesota's Ricky Rubio remains a significant target for the Knicks today, league sources tell @The Vertical.
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Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau declined to address that he and his team have held negotiations to trade Rubio to New York in a deal for forthcoming free-agent Derrick Rose or points elsewhere, among other reported discussions that also include reserve forward Shabazz Muhammad.
The team’s prime candidate to be traded by then, point guard Ricky Rubio, declined interview requests after Wednesday’s practice, choosing to wait until after practice on Thursday.
Minnesota arrived at the All-Star break a mere 3.5 games out of the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference, and rival front offices are becoming more skeptical that Thibodeau will pull the trigger on a Rubio deal. One thing about Thibodeau: He has a visceral need to win games, and there's a feeling both inside and outside his organization that he lacks the patience to turn the team—and the season—over to an inexperienced point guard. "It's not like Kris Dunn is knocking the door down," one of the rival executives said.
Even if the Wolves do trade Rubio, there's a belief among rival teams that it would signal Thibodeau's intention to pursue a veteran point guard in free agency, such as George Hill or even Rose himself — not that Dunn was ascending to the starting job.
There have been whispers the aforementioned players could be part of a package deal for Minnesota point guard Ricky Rubio, whom the Bucks looked into acquiring at last year's trading deadline. Rubio is expected to be dealt to open a starting spot for highly-regarded rookie Kris Dunn
Sources have told The Post that Thibodeau, since November, doesn’t believe in Rubio as his future point guard despite a long-term contract. The Knicks had interest in Rubio, much more of a playmaker than Rose, at last year’s trading deadline. Ever since Rubio’s was drafted in 2009 the Knicks have had a fascination with him because of their Barcelona-based European scout, Kevin Wilson.
“The Wolves think Rubio needs a new environment for his own good, he’s been there for years and lost a lot,’’ one NBA official said of the Wolves thinking. “He’s a good player, but not a top-level starting point guard. Thibs seems to want anyone he’s coached before with the Bulls.’’
Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio started following Kristaps Porzingis on Twitter on Wednesday. Whether they become teammates to join a growing legion of Europeans in the Knicks’ locker room likely won’t be answered until the trade deadline at 3 p.m. Thursday
Rubio would fit in well in the Knicks’ locker room. Rookie center Willy Hernangomez, who played with Rubio on the Spanish Olympic Team in August, went to Mexico with his brother and hung out with Rubio over All-Star Weekend. Hernangomez played in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday in New Orleans before departing for Mexico.
A Rubio-for-Rose swap works under the salary-cap guidelines, as explained by ESPN’s Tom Penn. Some in the Knicks organization are wary of taking back any player who has multiple years remaining on his contract, according to sources familiar with the team’s thinking. That might factor in if Rubio is being offered -- the 26-year-old is under contract for a total of $29 million over the next two seasons -- though others who have been in touch with the Knicks recently came away with the impression that Jackson is a fan of Rubio.
Ricky Rubio is by far the most likely Wolves player to be traded before Thursday’s deadline. You’d be hard pressed to talk to a team that hasn’t heard from Minnesota about the point guard. League sources confirmed the Wolves’ pursuit of Reggie Jackson, and the team is willing to attach Shabazz Muhammad to help move Rubio.
Brian Windhorst: One of the most likely players to be traded between now and Thursday afternoon is Ricky Rubio. And what the Knicks have been talking to the Wolves about is a Ricky Rubio for Derrick Rose swap. But it’s not only the Knicks that are an option here.
Brian Windhorst: The Pistons have had talks with the Timberwolves about Ricky Rubio and Reggie Jackson, and if there’s a second point guard that I would bet to get traded by Thursday would be Reggie Jackson. Here’s the problem though, the Timberwolves don’t want Reggie Jackson, from sources telling me, so they’re looking for a third team.
MP: There has been a lot of talk about the fact that you and Rubio haven’t been comfortable with each other from the beginning. Is there any truth to that? TT: No. My job — and I have told him this from the beginning — is to lay out the plan and tell him the truth as I see it each and every day. And then we are all working together. When you look at what a coach does, it is leadership, it is communication, it is teaching, it is motivation. It really comes down to those four things.
Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks are "very interested" in acquiring Ricky Rubio, according to Movistar+ journalist Antoni Daimiel.
Van Gundy said he normally doesn’t address trade rumors with players, but when Jackson’s agent called general manager Jeff Bower, he felt the need to text Jackson on Friday night. “I just said, ‘Look, this is the crazy season. We’re not trading you for Ricky Rubio,' and that was it,” Van Gundy said. “I normally don’t address it, but the fact that it was out there and it concerned his agent enough to call, I addressed it, but these discussions happen all the time …”
Pistons president-coach Stan Van Gundy poured cold water over the rumor earlier in the day, but it was time for Jackson’s thoughts. “Thanks for giving me the news,” Jackson said. “I don’t even listen to y’all so most of the time I just go home, chill, watch TV, play games, keep with my brother. I don’t really follow all that. I’m just happy to be able to play basketball.”
The Wolves, sources say, are actively shopping Rubio and have tried to engage numerous teams about a potential deal involving him. Sources say Minnesota is attaching swingman Shabazz Muhammad to offers in hopes of enticing a team to take on Rubio, who has two seasons and just over $29 million left on his current contract.
"Around the league, every GM is having 10 to 15 discussions a day," Van Gundy said. "So, did somebody mention any specific trade you have? The answer is probably yes. That doesn't mean it's considered or anything else.I texted Reggie and just said, 'This is crazy season and we're not trading you for Ricky Rubio.' That was it. I don't normally address it, but the fact that it was out there and it concerned his agent enough to call, I addressed it."
"I'm not denying that the discussion took place -- they take place all the time, but that's a lot different than consideration," Van Gundy said. "And clearly, we didn't make that move. If we want to report on all those … Well, we wanted to see if Cleveland would go (Michael) Gbinije for LeBron. That discussion took place. It took place. If I ask about a guy, that discussion took place. It's all so much bullshit."
Jon Krawczynski: Ricky Rubio is away from team for personal reasons (not trade). Will miss game Sunday
Detroit Pistons president-coach Stan Van Gundy denied an ESPN report that there are currently trade discussions with the Minnesota Timberwolves involving point guard Reggie Jackson. In a series of texts to the Free Press, Van Gundy said the organization doesn't "have a single thing under consideration." ESPN.com, citing unnamed sources, is reporting a Jackson-for-Ricky Rubio multiplayer swap has been discussed.
Marc Stein: Any deal would expand to involve other players -- such as Shabazz Muhammad -- but sources say for now the teams are in the talking stage
Van Gundy said general manager Jeff Bower is doing his due diligence with teams. "Jeff is in constant contact with every other NBA team as he should be," Van Gundy wrote. "That is normal NBA personnel work. Nothing more. Nothing less."
Sources told ESPN that no deal appeared imminent Friday but said the teams have engaged in dialogue this week on a potential multiplayer exchange that would be headlined by Rubio and Jackson.
Marc Stein: Story going online now with @Chris Haynes: ESPN sources say Minnesota and Detroit have discussed a PG swap of Ricky Rubio and Reggie Jackson
Now that a Yahoo Sports report Tuesday said the Wolves are “actively shopping” him to make room eventually for rookie Kris Dunn, Rubio said before Thursday night’s game against the Clippers that he will just play on. “Just do what I do,” said Rubio, who went scoreless in the first half Thursday and didn’t play in the second because of tightness in his left hip. “My name or every name is going to be out there at some point, but you can only worry about things you can control. Right now, what I can control is playing my best and do what I’ve been doing.”
Jon Krawczynski: Before Wolves left for the road, Rubio was very encouraged by what he was seeing. My take: he wants to stay. But we'll see what happens. The Kris Dunn issue remains real. Definite feeling that he's going to one day be the PG here. So that certainly factors in to the thinking. But Thibs has shown that he's not ready to give Dunn heavy minutes yet. And that's why they're not going to give Rubio away.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are actively shopping point guard Ricky Rubio in trade proposals, league sources told The Vertical.
Minnesota has been seeking something of a “bridge” guard in return, a player capable of starting in the short term, but who’ll ultimately settle into a backup role and give way to rookie Kris Dunn to become the long-term starter, league sources said.
The Sacramento Kings have had a strong interest in acquiring Rubio, but there’s no traction on a deal between those two teams, league sources said. So far, the Timberwolves are trying to exhaust the market elsewhere for a better return of assets than the Kings can offer.
Chris Mannix: "The market for him [Ricky Rubio], despite that reasonable contract, has shriveled consistently because of how he has played this year."
The Sacramento Kings are the most determined of several teams expressing interest in finding a pathway to a Rubio deal, league sources said, but Minnesota president and coach Tom Thibodeau is reluctant to move Rubio – outside of bringing back a no-brainer package, of course – until Dunn’s progress illustrates this season that he’s ready to fully take over the team.
Hence the question: Do you still want to get traded? “I didn’t say I wanted to get traded,” Rubio said. “I want to play with a winner. I think we have the right mentality. It’s changing.”
NBA reporter Mitch Lawrence said on Sirius XM Radio a trade for a point guard was in the cards for the Sacramento Kings before the signed Ty Lawson: "I have heard in the last couple of weeks that the Kings were telling people, 'We're close to making a deal for a point guard'. And a lot of people thought that was going to be Ricky Rubio."
Darren Wolfson: As Taylor said on the Scoop podcast, Ricky Rubio starting year here. But Sac. has long admired him, as reported. #twolves - RT: SiriusXM NBA: @Mitch_Lawrence says the #Kings had been telling teams they were close to trading for a PG - was thought to be Ricky Rubio. Appears off now.
Though Minnesota is largely expected to hold onto Rubio as its starting point guard for the beginning of 2016-17, Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500 said that Rubio might end up getting moved to another Western Conference team: the Sacramento Kings. Wolfson knows that Rubio will start the season as the Timberwolves’ starting point guard, but when Dunn elevates his play by midseason, Rubio could very well be shipped to lowly Kings of Northern California.
One thing Taylor did say is that he doesn’t believe point guard Ricky Rubio will be traded at this point. “I don’t see that as a likely possibility,” he said about a Rubio trade. “I just think the coach, everybody, likes Ricky. I think we want him to come in and improve on his shooting. But his other things, he plays defense, he gets assists, he helps the others get better. He has some wonderful qualities.
“I think the coach wants to bring an assistant coach to help Ricky on his shooting and I think that’s where we’re going to start out and go and we’ll see how good Kris Dunn is.”
Jon Krawczynski: Just hard to see how Rubio gets traded now. His contract makes him a bargain and hear that Thibs wants to work w/him. Expect him in camp
The Timberwolves were active in seeking a deal for Rubio before the NBA Draft, but around the league, the price was considered too high when deals were discussed last week. Thanks to a very thin point guard class, that could quickly change. “Check back around July 10, July 15,” one NBA general manager told Sporting News. “Once teams are left holding the bag, he’s going to be a pretty big target. They will get better offers, better ones than they have been.”
Depending on how free agency shakes out, league sources said there would be no shortage of teams interested in Rubio, including Philadelphia, Houston and the Bucks, who were unwilling to part with Khris Middleton to land Rubio four months ago. The Mavericks, with an interest in signing Mike Conley as a priority, would be a potential partner and a team for which Rubio might like to play.
Philadelphia explored the possibility of working a trade for Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio on draft night, though that would likely have to be a three-team deal in order to provide the Timberwolves with the kind of veteran help the Sixers lack. Rubio is expected to be available again this summer. The Sixers have also expressed interest with the Rockets in point guard Patrick Beverley, a source told Sporting News.
KC Johnson: Reported last night but bears repeating: When Dunn dropped past 3, TWolves offered Rubio and No. 5 pick for Butler. Bulls said no.
Shams Charania: Vertical Sources: Chicago and Minnesota talks for Jimmy Butler broke down. Bulls wanted Zach LaVine, not Ricky Rubio. Chicago wanted Zach LaVine and the No. 5 pick, Kris Dunn, sources tell The Vertical.
Ricky Rubio: Next season is key. It's a key season because the truth is that I've been five years in the NBA and six years without playoffs would be a long time without experiencing the playoffs. I would be 26 years old and I would have to start thinking about being on a team that can make the playoffs and win.
The Milwaukee Bucks made several overtures to Wolves GM Milt Newton, and the rumors stung Rubio. Rubio said Newton told him that he was "almost traded, but we didn't because the other team didn't offer what we wanted." "When the GM comes to you and says that's what happened, it hurts, but you've got to be professional," Rubio said. "You've been here all your career and thinking they were supporting you. At some point, they weren't. But I'm professional. I'm going to give it my all. I love playing basketball and every time I step on the court I want to win."
But Newton believes Rubio may have misinterpreted the conversation the two had after the trade deadline passed. "I told him we've never, ever called another team to trade you, but it is my job to listen," Newton said. "I even shared that with his agent. I never told him we almost traded you, because we didn't almost trade him."
Newton said he would have further conversations with Rubio to clear up any misunderstanding. He called Rubio "extremely valuable to the organization" and said he has already run some possible roster moves by him to get his point guard's input. "I know that he needs a little bit more communication," said Newton, who took over as the team's front office leader after Flip Saunders died in October. "If that's what it takes for a player to play to the best of his ability, those are things I'll have to realize and facilitate."
"Before the All-Star break they talked about the possibility of trading me because if the team is not going well they always want to make changes. Now I feel comfortable and I think they're not going to trade me anywhere," Ricky Rubio told 'Tot Gira' Spanish radio show of Catalunya Radio.
Jon Krawczynski: Lot of questions about Rubio-Middleton talks tonight. Here's what I was told at the time from multiple people... Bucks called several times that week trying to get Rubio. Each time they were told "Khris Middleton has to be involved to have talks." And each time the Bucks said they wouldn't part with Middleton. So that was the end of that.
After some initial talks, the Wolves told Milwaukee they would swap Ricky Rubio for Khris Middelton, and when the Bucks declined, Minnesota even discussed the possibility of tossing in a protected 2016 first-round pick, per league sources familiar with the matter. Other outlets have reported Milwaukee's interest in Rubio -- Jason Kidd seems to have a thing for rangy point guards with busted jumpers -- but Milwaukee never seriously entertained trading Middleton, sources say.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker were never on the block, leaving Milwaukee with only one real counter: a point guard challenge trade of Michael Carter-Williams for Rubio. Minnesota obviously wasn't doing that, and the discussions died, sources say.
Ricky Rubio: "Never being safe comes with the job. I was confident they wanted me here. When the team is not working, they always try to improve things. This time it was my turn to be mentioned in trade rumors, but I'm still here and I feel confident."
Maybe they'd have a better shot at a postseason berth if Phil Jackson & Co. upgraded the roster prior to Thursday's deadline. The Knicks expressed interest in guards Jeff Teague, Ricky Rubio and Kevin Martin but didn’t execute a deal. Jackson said last week that he didn’t have a strong cadre of assets to use in potential trades, so it’s not a huge surprise that the Knicks couldn’t strike a deal for an impact player.
"It's fun to see all the trades," he said. "Unless it's you. I mean, it's all rumors and if it happens, it happens. When your name is out there, it's not fun. But it's part of the business." This year, his name was often rumored and after Thursday's 2 p.m. deadline Wolves GM Milt Newton said he fielded calls from teams -- Milwaukee and New York, among them -- interested in Rubio, as his job requires him to do, but said he never sent a call out shopping Rubio around.
Darren Wolfson: Milt says he didn't make any Rubio calls. Took enough.
Ian Begley: Knicks recently expressed interest in Ricky Rubio, source confirms, but it's unlikely anything happens. NY Post earlier reported the talks.
Rambis said he expects to be notified if anything — even something minor — is on the table. According to a source, Knicks general manager Steve Mills had discussions with Minnesota about point guard Ricky Rubio, whom Rambis coached in his failed run with the Timberwolves and would meet Knicks president Phil Jackson’s preference for taller guards. However, the Knicks are convinced Rubio won’t be dealt.
Minnesota hasn't been actively searching for a trade for point guard Ricky Rubio this week, but that is likely to change this summer, league sources told The Vertical. Minnesota may start canvassing the market for a better shooting point guard to pair with young stars Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins. One NBA coach who has long been enamored with Rubio, league sources said: Milwaukee's Jason Kidd. The New York Knicks' desire to find a point guard could lead them to Rubio, too.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Minnesota has no ongoing trade talks for guard Ricky Rubio now, league sources tell @The Vertical. That may change in the summer, though.
