The Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly mulled trading Ricky Rubio, but the Spanish playmaker will likely stay at least before the start of the 2015-16 NBA season.
Rubio, who was the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, averaged 10.3 points on top of 8.8 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game last season, but only played in 22 games due to injuries. He also suffered a torn ACL during his rookie season in 2012.
His health issue is reportedly one of the reasons why the Timberwolves might decide to part ways with him. But according to Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors, Rubio might get a new lease of life if he can prove in training camp that he is healthy enough to lead the Timberwolves next season.
"The latest report says the Timberwolves have lost faith, but I'm not so sure this is the end of his time there," Myron said, referring to Rubio. "I think if he can prove his health in camp and early in the season, the team might change its mind. And Flip Saunders has referred to him as an important piece in recent months."
The Timberwolves might shop Rubio again before the upcoming season begins, but Myron is unsure if Minnesota can find an attractive trade package to pull the trigger on the trade. Teams might also decide against giving valuable assets in exchange for Rubio because the 24-year-old appeared in just 22 games last season.
NBA senior writer Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report mentioned the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks as possible destination for Rubio, but no deal is imminent at this point.
Rubio recently told Gulf News that he is aware of the trade talks surrounding him. He is confident that Minnesota want to keep him, but he also added that anything can happen in the coming months before the trade deadline in February.
"I have confidence that the team wants me, but you know in this league anybody can get traded," Rubio said, when asked about the recent trade rumors. "You don't listen to the rumours. You just live day-by-day and that's it."
If he will have it his way, Rubio also insisted that he has no desire to leave Minnesota, especially now that team is oozing with promising prospects like 2015 NBA Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins, 2015 NBA Draft first overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns, former first-overall pick Anthony Bennett and 2014 first-round pick Zach LaVine.
