TRADE: Rubio to Utah for '18 OKC 1st

[shrink]

I don't know. I think MIN was willing to listen to offers last year, but I don't know if I would say he was "on the block," until the moment we traded for Jimmy Butler. That trade lowered his usefulness to the Wolves, and they accepted a trade for this value level now, that they may have declined three weeks earlier.

Based on the return, wouldn't you argue there may have been more to the Rubio for Rose rumors?

Definitely not. Not on this rumor or any of the rumors in the last eight years.

We only know of three legit offers where MIN had a price for Rubio and was turned down. Khris Middleton, and part of a Jimmy Butler deal, this year and last year. Thibs turned down offers of Reggie Jackson and Derrick Rose. So there was not a lot of overlap where a legitimate trade could happen.

I suspect they listened to Rose offers, waiting to hear whether NYK was going to include their lottery pick - he would have been cap space this year, just like Utah provided. When Rubio's usefulness declined with the Jimmy trade, the pick return they would accept declined as well.

[Worm Guts]

I think part of the reason Rubio was traded now was that there finally was situation that made sense. Thibodeau could finally trade Rubio and immediately replace him with someone he thought fit better and who was ready to play right now. Prior to this free agency period, trading Rubio had always meant turning the reigns over to someone who wasn't quite ready and taking a step back.

[Dual]

http://www.nba.com/article/2017/07/07/minnesota-timberwolves-might-miss-ricky-rubio-more-they-anticipate

[natureguy]

http://www.nba.com/article/2017/07/07/minnesota-timberwolves-might-miss-ricky-rubio-more-they-anticipate

In a conference call with reporters Friday, Thibodeau was careful not to criticize Rubio when asked about his preference for Teague. He simply praised the new guy, with this one jumping out: “You can’t go under on pick-and-rolls.”

[Ethomasp31]

http://www.nba.com/article/2017/07/07/minnesota-timberwolves-might-miss-ricky-rubio-more-they-anticipate

In a conference call with reporters Friday, Thibodeau was careful not to criticize Rubio when asked about his preference for Teague. He simply praised the new guy, with this one jumping out: “You can’t go under on pick-and-rolls.”

Yeah I get both points....that's why even though I loved to watch Rubio play, I'm okay with going a different direction if that is Thibs wanted to do. Its pretty tough to argue though that Rubio is the only player with a positive +/- since we traded Garnett....besides Garnett when he came back to play with us. That isn't a coincidence.....it's a pretty telling stat.

[theGreatRC]

I just want the season to start so I don't have to let the "we **** up trading him" thoughts linger in my head.

[AirP.]

I just want the season to start so I don't have to let the "we **** up trading him" thoughts linger in my head.

The interesting thing is that Jeff Teague has been the starting PG of a 60 win season team and was also an all-star that year(2 years ago) yet people think Thibs is downgrading from Rubio? Teague is going to be in his prime for basically his whole contract in Minnesota.

[Foye]

http://www.nba.com/article/2017/07/07/minnesota-timberwolves-might-miss-ricky-rubio-more-they-anticipate

In a conference call with reporters Friday, Thibodeau was careful not to criticize Rubio when asked about his preference for Teague. He simply praised the new guy, with this one jumping out: “You can’t go under on pick-and-rolls.”

Yeah I get both points....that's why even though I loved to watch Rubio play, I'm okay with going a different direction if that is Thibs wanted to do. Its pretty tough to argue though that Rubio is the only player with a positive +/- since we traded Garnett....besides Garnett when he came back to play with us. That isn't a coincidence.....it's a pretty telling stat.

There was no point whatsoever to trade away Rubio for a bag of peanuts.

Jazz gonna have fun with him. At the very least we should've asked for Exum in return.

Originally, I thought Thibs was a smart coach like Popovich who will adjust his game plan according to his players strengths.
It took him until after all-star game to do this last year. We were finally playing well and then he goes out and trades Rubio for a bag of peanuts instead of holding onto him.

Rubio
Butler
Wiggins
Gibson
Towns

Would've been a very decent lineup. There was no need to overspend and downgrade for Teague at all.

[Worm Guts]

If Teague makes us better than Rubio would have, which obviously Thibs believes, then there's nothing wrong with the trade. It's just how things had to happen. Of course I'm a little hesitant to believe Teague makes us better than Rubio, so we'll see if Thibs is right.

[KGdaBom]

I just want the season to start so I don't have to let the "we **** up trading him" thoughts linger in my head.

The interesting thing is that Jeff Teague has been the starting PG of a 60 win season team and was also an all-star that year(2 years ago) yet people think Thibs is downgrading from Rubio? Teague is going to be in his prime for basically his whole contract in Minnesota.

Please stop with the Teague all star stuff. He was an alternate and that was in the east. I like Teague. Good player.

[AirP.]

I just want the season to start so I don't have to let the "we **** up trading him" thoughts linger in my head.

The interesting thing is that Jeff Teague has been the starting PG of a 60 win season team and was also an all-star that year(2 years ago) yet people think Thibs is downgrading from Rubio? Teague is going to be in his prime for basically his whole contract in Minnesota.

Please stop with the Teague all star stuff. He was an alternate and that was in the east. I like Teague. Good player.

Sure but some people think Rubio is in the same class as Teague and in the NBA that's just simply not true. If you can't shoot it's damn hard to be a plus for your team.

Rubio had 3 20+ scorers and the team couldn't even get to .500 yet the team yet people are upset that Rubio is no longer on the team.

Once again, there's a reason why teams weren't trading him for "a bag of chips" like some posters say he eventually was traded for, he no longer fits in the NBA. If he adds a solid jumper/3pt shot he instantly turns into a potential all-star but for some reason getting better at shooting hasn't been high on his list for the 6 years he's been in the league. For a player as skilled as Rubio it's just the matter of putting in the work to get the muscle memory to shoot well.

[KGdaBom]

The interesting thing is that Jeff Teague has been the starting PG of a 60 win season team and was also an all-star that year(2 years ago) yet people think Thibs is downgrading from Rubio? Teague is going to be in his prime for basically his whole contract in Minnesota.

Please stop with the Teague all star stuff. He was an alternate and that was in the east. I like Teague. Good player.

Sure but some people think Rubio is in the same class as Teague and in the NBA that's just simply not true. If you can't shoot it's damn hard to be a plus for your team.

Rubio had 3 20+ scorers and the team couldn't even get to .500 yet the team yet people are upset that Rubio is no longer on the team.

Once again, there's a reason why teams weren't trading him for "a bag of chips" like some posters say he eventually was traded for, he no longer fits in the NBA. If he adds a solid jumper/3pt shot he instantly turns into a potential all-star but for some reason getting better at shooting hasn't been high on his list for the 6 years he's been in the league. For a player as skilled as Rubio it's just the matter of putting in the work to get the muscle memory to shoot well.

You're sounding like one of those guys who think shooting is the only skill that matters. Simply not true. Rubio playing on a very losing team for six years had a plus of something like 375. In other words when he was in the game we outscored the opposition. Rubio is a good player. Simple as that. Teague is s good player also. We will never know if the trade was good or not because the improvement we make will mostly be because of Butler.

[Worm Guts]

Rubio had 3 20+ scorers and the team couldn't even get to .500 yet the team yet people are upset that Rubio is no longer on the team.

I think that's a pretty misleading statement.

[AirP.]

You're sounding like one of those guys who think shooting is the only skill that matters. Simply not true. Rubio playing on a very losing team for six years had a plus of something like 375. In other words when he was in the game we outscored the opposition. Rubio is a good player. Simple as that. Teague is s good player also. We will never know if the trade was good or not because the improvement we make will mostly be because of Butler.

Shooting has become way more important the last few years, guys who can't shoot don't stay on the floor anymore in the playoffs. Teague may be a lesser defender, lesser passer, but neither one of those is close to how much better Teague is as a scorer or shooter. It's just a different game now that there are so many players who can hit 3pt shots. Rubio without the ball is a huge negative to his team.

Never said Rubio wasn't a good basketball player but that doesn't change the fact that there's a ceiling with a PG who can't shoot the ball, he'll get exposed in the playoffs, luckily for him he'll have Gobert who can't create for himself and will hang around the basket for a great Rubio pass and score.

[Ethomasp31]

In a conference call with reporters Friday, Thibodeau was careful not to criticize Rubio when asked about his preference for Teague. He simply praised the new guy, with this one jumping out: “You can’t go under on pick-and-rolls.”

Yeah I get both points....that's why even though I loved to watch Rubio play, I'm okay with going a different direction if that is Thibs wanted to do. Its pretty tough to argue though that Rubio is the only player with a positive +/- since we traded Garnett....besides Garnett when he came back to play with us. That isn't a coincidence.....it's a pretty telling stat.

There was no point whatsoever to trade away Rubio for a bag of peanuts.

Jazz gonna have fun with him. At the very least we should've asked for Exum in return.

Originally, I thought Thibs was a smart coach like Popovich who will adjust his game plan according to his players strengths.
It took him until after all-star game to do this last year. We were finally playing well and then he goes out and trades Rubio for a bag of peanuts instead of holding onto him.

Rubio
Butler
Wiggins
Gibson
Towns

Would've been a very decent lineup. There was no need to overspend and downgrade for Teague at all.

It's not the move I would have made either. I would have saved the $4 million a year and kept Rubio....but I was a fan of the Wolves before Rubio was born and will be a fan after he retires, so I'm not going to make a huge deal out of one move. I'm interested in seeing who we fill the roster out with....Thibs seems confident about it....hopefully he is right.

[AirP.]

Rubio had 3 20+ scorers and the team couldn't even get to .500 yet the team yet people are upset that Rubio is no longer on the team.

I think that's a pretty misleading statement.

Ok... Rubio couldn't help lead the team to .500 with a guy putting up nearly 26 and 13, another scoring 19 a night and a center putting up nearly 18 and 9. Is that better? 6 seasons and this team has barely sniffed .500 with him as the lead PG. Yes we can see all the assists he gets but something that can't be counted, how many points did he cost the team by not being able to space the floor with his lack of 3pt shooting, how many times did his teammates know they really can't pass to him near the end of a shot clock because he can't score? He has huge limitations in the current era of the NBA.

[Ethomasp31]

The interesting thing is that Jeff Teague has been the starting PG of a 60 win season team and was also an all-star that year(2 years ago) yet people think Thibs is downgrading from Rubio? Teague is going to be in his prime for basically his whole contract in Minnesota.

Please stop with the Teague all star stuff. He was an alternate and that was in the east. I like Teague. Good player.

Sure but some people think Rubio is in the same class as Teague and in the NBA that's just simply not true. If you can't shoot it's damn hard to be a plus for your team.

Rubio had 3 20+ scorers and the team couldn't even get to .500 yet the team yet people are upset that Rubio is no longer on the team.

Once again, there's a reason why teams weren't trading him for "a bag of chips" like some posters say he eventually was traded for, he no longer fits in the NBA. If he adds a solid jumper/3pt shot he instantly turns into a potential all-star but for some reason getting better at shooting hasn't been high on his list for the 6 years he's been in the league. For a player as skilled as Rubio it's just the matter of putting in the work to get the muscle memory to shoot well.

Rubio is the only player on the Wolves the last 13 years who has had a positive +/- when he is on the floor. How do you explain that?

[Worm Guts]

Rubio had 3 20+ scorers and the team couldn't even get to .500 yet the team yet people are upset that Rubio is no longer on the team.

I think that's a pretty misleading statement.

Ok... Rubio couldn't help lead the team to .500 with a guy putting up nearly 26 and 13, another scoring 19 a night and a center putting up nearly 18 and 9. Is that better? 6 seasons and this team has barely sniffed .500 with him as the lead PG. Yes we can see all the assists he gets but something that can't be counted, how many points did he cost the team by not being able to space the floor with his lack of 3pt shooting, how many times did his teammates know they really can't pass to him near the end of a shot clock because he can't score? He has huge limitations in the current era of the NBA.

If you look at RPM, the 3 guys who were scoring 20 ppg were among the worst at their position defensively and 2 were still just poor players in general.

[Foye]

Rubio had 3 20+ scorers and the team couldn't even get to .500 yet the team yet people are upset that Rubio is no longer on the team.

I think that's a pretty misleading statement.

Ok... Rubio couldn't help lead the team to .500 with a guy putting up nearly 26 and 13, another scoring 19 a night and a center putting up nearly 18 and 9. Is that better? 6 seasons and this team has barely sniffed .500 with him as the lead PG. Yes we can see all the assists he gets but something that can't be counted, how many points did he cost the team by not being able to space the floor with his lack of 3pt shooting, how many times did his teammates know they really can't pass to him near the end of a shot clock because he can't score? He has huge limitations in the current era of the NBA.

What was he supposed to do? Defend all 5 positions simultaneously?
Because the offense he ran in recent years clearly wasn't our problem.

[Pass_the_rock]

Rubio will be on a very good defensive team for the first time in his career. And so far the FO have been very supportive of him. We will see how it goes.