NBA Rumors: Minnesota Timberwolves Not Trading Ricky Rubio

Aside from the rare exception like Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, NBA owners generally do not chime in on trade rumors. According to ESPN, Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor states that Ricky Rubio is not on the trade block. That is somewhat surprising because the Timberwolves spent a high draft pick on Kris Dunn.

Before the NBA Draft, Kris Dunn had been viewed as the best point guard coming out of college. He ended up being the fifth overall selection by the Minnesota Timberwolves. During summer league, Dunn showed enough potential and productivity that the Timberwolves are confident that they picked the right player.

Job security is a pretty big thing in the NBA, as there are only so many roster spots available. Ricky Rubio publicly acknowledged that his tenure with the Minnesota Timberwolves could be coming to an end soon. He even mentioned it before the team drafted Kris Dunn.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor thinks it is unlikely Ricky Rubio will be traded.https://t.co/3KN8ANyYag

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 18, 2016

There were talks of trading Ricky Rubio for front court depth once the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Kris Dunn. Of course, that was before the team signed Cole Aldrich and agreed to terms with Jordan Hill, as reported by ESPN. The Timberwolves now have plenty of depth up front, so Rubio does not need to be sacrificed.

Minnesota Timberwolves president and head coach Tom Thibodeau might have opted to keep Ricky Rubio around because he wants to win now. By pairing Rubio with Kris Dunn, he can have 48 minutes of quality play at the point guard position on any given night.

By having Ricky Rubio on the roster, there would be a lot less pressure on Kris Dunn during his rookie season. Rubio can serve as his mentor for a year before stepping aside to allow Dunn to become the starter. Rubio can become the sixth man for the Minnesota Timberwolves or request a trade to another NBA team.

Interestingly enough, Glen Taylor told the media that he wants Ricky Rubio to improve on his shooting ability. Taylor praised Rubio for being an excellent defender and passer. Some believe that Taylor is trying to challenge Rubio to become a better player, which seems a bit odd.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have not been in the NBA Playoffs since 2003. It makes sense that Glen Taylor is extremely involved and excited about his franchise. Management has done a tremendous job over the past couple of years of adding a ton of talent to their roster.

In addition to Ricky Rubio and Kris Dunn, the Minnesota Timberwolves also have Karl Anthony Towns. He is the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year. The 6-foot-11 center proved that he has the potential to become one of the best big men in basketball and a perennial All Star player.

Andrew Wiggins is also on the roster. Last season, he started showing flashes of why the Cleveland Cavaliers made him the first overall selection in the NBA Draft. The 6-foot-8 small forward was so valued that the Cavaliers were able to convince the Minnesota Timberwolves to give up Kevin Love, an All Star center.

Zach LaVine is another asset that the Minnesota Timberwolves own. Those that have been watching the NBA Slam Dunk competition over the past couple of years are already familiar with how athletic the former UCLA Bruins star is. LaVine is still trying to figure out how to convey that athleticism during regular games.

Since he is just 25-years-old and wanting to continue to build his legacy in the NBA, it is understandable that Ricky Rubio wants to remain a starter in the league. However, the Minnesota Timberwolves are building something very special, so it might be hard to walk away from that.

[Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images]