With The Minnesota Timberwolves offering a max contract to restricted free-agent point guard Eric Bledsoe, is Ricky Rubio no longer part of the team's future?
In an unexpected move, the Timberwolves suddenly made a late push for Bledsoe after pulling off a blockbuster trade with Cleveland Cavaliers that sent Kevin Love to Ohio in exchange for no.1 overall picks Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and a first-round pick.
The T-Wolves also acquired Thaddeus Young from the Philadelphia 76ers in a separate trade, but reports from ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst indicated Flip Saunder's interest in bringing in the 24-year old Bledsoe, who averaged 7.7 points, 5.5 dimes and 4.7 assists last season with the Suns.
According to the insider, the T-Wolves offered Bledsoe a max deal worth $63 million over four-years. Bledsoe and the Suns have been on a stalemate since the start of the free-agency period, as the camp of the former Kentucky Wildcats star continues to demand for a deal worth $83 million over five years.
But getting Bledsoe would not be straightforward trade, as cap restrictions required the Timberwolves and the Suns to work on a sign-and-trade deal, according to Windhorst.
"The Wolves are offering Bledsoe the four-year, $63 million maximum level contract that he has been seeking, sources said, but because of cap restrictions, the only way he can join the team as currently constructed is through a sign-and-trade deal."
Who's Going to be Wolves' Trade Bait?
Like the Suns, the Timberwolves are also on a contract stalemate with their point guard. According to reports, Ricky Rubio's camp rejected a four-year and demanded a five-year max contract.
Many analysts consider Rubio an excellent passing point guard, but his inability to knockdown jumpers in an efficient rate limits him to make a big impact on the floor, and thus he's not any near of a max player level.
"Rubio is a fine point guard. He's a nifty passer and effective defender at a position where defense is lacking, but his inability to shoot from outside really limits his impact. He's just 23, so I expect him to improve, but you can't pay him anywhere near the max until he shows much more progress," according to NBC Sports Dan Feldman.
With the Timberwolves making a late push for Bledsoe, there are speculations that Rubio could be used as a trade chip should the Suns agree to let their point guard walk away.
The 23-year old Rubio averaged 9.5 points and 8.6 assists last season. However, it appears the Wolves are ready to move on from the Rubio and Love era and start their rebuilding process all over again with a core consists of Bledsoe, Young and Wiggins.
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