The Minnesota Timberwolves have the Kevin Love trade basically done and now heading down the line, names like Ricky Rubio, With JJ Barea, Alexey Shved and Kevin Martin also could be options to move, as the team has a new point guard of the future with Zach LaVine and they also will be getting Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Rubio is looking for a five year max extension when he gets the chance to sign another deal and that could lead to a trade in the future. While the Wolves aren't shopping Rubio or anything like that, if he demands a deal at five years or for max money, the team may look at moving him for other pieces. Wiggins is coming in with tons of potential and LaVine is a few years younger than Rubio and Rubio is just 23 years old.
ESPN.com reports that the Wolves are looking to shed some salary in the Kevin Love deal or after that and they could move players like Corey Brewer, JJ Barea, Alexey Shved or Kevin Martin. The team also reportedly is interested in trading for Thaddeus Young with the Philadelphia 76ers as a replacement for Love and that could turn the Cavs-Wolves deal into a three team trade potentially.
There were reports that the Wolves may use a third team in the trade, but that appears unlikely now and the team may look at making moves after the trade is complete. The team will receive two former number one overall picks and reports have the Wolves potentially sending Anthony Bennett to the 76ers for Thaddeus Young. Minnesota is looking at Young to replace Love and while he is not the same caliber of player, he can give the team some solid support in place of Love.
The idea of trading Rubio doesn't make much sense now with the way things are going with Kevin Love, but down the line if he gets too expensive and the team needs to make a move, they may have no other choice but to do it. Flip Saunders and Rubio have spoken initially about trying to keep Love in Minnesota, but clearly that will be nearly impossible to happen with how deep talks have gotten with the Cavaliers.
The Wolves may not see him as a starter right away, but Zach LaVine could be a reason why they eventually trade Rubio, as he has shown this summer he has some skills. LaVine put on a show in a summer dunk contest and he is young coming out of UCLA and has heaps of potential. The team selected the Bruins point guard in the first round with the 13th pick and many thought he would be a top 10 pick and that is one reason why the Wolves jumped on him. Rubio is 23 years old and LaVine is just 19 and that gives the Wolves a solid backup if a trade ever goes down.
