Welcome back: Wolves acquire Ricky Rubio in draft night trade
FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2019, file photo, Phoenix Suns' Ricky Rubio poses for a photograph during media day at the NBA basketball team's practice facility in Phoenix. A person with knowledge of the situation says All-Star guard Chris Paul is being traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Phoenix Suns, where he'll play alongside one of the league's most dynamic young scorers in fellow All-Star Devin Booker. The Thunder are acquiring Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre, Jalen Lecque, Ty Jerome and a first-round pick that will be conveyed sometime between 2022 and 2025, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been finalized by the league.[(AP Photo/Matt York, File)]
In a trade involving draft picks and likely the contract of forward James Johnson, the Timberwolves are acquiring Ricky Rubio from Oklahoma City. One source close to the situation confirmed to KSTP the news, while another close to Rubio texted KSTP’s Darren ‘Doogie’ Wolfson a smiley face emoji.
The Thunder will acquire pick No. 17, while the Wolves will have picks 25 and 28.
Rubio averaged 13 points and 8.8 assists per game last season with the Phoenix Suns. He was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this week as part of the deal that sent Chris Paul to Phoenix.
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Rubio spent his first six seasons in the league with the Timberwolves, averaging 10.3 points and 8.5 assists. Then general manager David Kahn used the No. 5 overall pick on him in 2009, but Rubio opted to stay in Spain for two more years before making the jump over to the league for the 2011-12 season.
He played for the Utah Jazz for two years before landing in Phoenix, where he signed a three year, $51 million deal before last season started. A source tells KSTP that the Wolves were preparing to make a run at signing Rubio before he chose to join the Suns.
Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders is said to be a huge fan of Rubio’s.