With the conclusion of the 2020 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves and their fanbase were reunited with their beloved Ricky Rubio after a divorce three years ago. The Wolves elected to send the 17th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for the 25th and 28th picks and Rubio, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Thunder used this pick to draft Aleksej Pokusevski.
Minnesota is acquiring Oklahoma City's Ricky Rubio, the 25th and 28th picks for a package that includes the No. 17 pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 19, 2020
Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Gersson Rosas also shipped James Johnson to Oklahoma City in this deal to make the finances work out.
Minnesota is trading James Johnson to Oklahoma City as part of the Ricky Rubio trade, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. https://t.co/P0P0EuvqRW
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 19, 2020
In addition to grabbing Anthony Edwards with the first overall pick, the Timberwolves also acquired Jaden Mcdaniels, along with a solid backup point guard in Rubio and a respectable leader to guide this young team. Prior to this move, the Spanish guard was part of a blockbuster trade that sent his replacement, Chris Paul, to Phoenix and Rubio to Oklahoma City. Soon after, he was dealt away again, and posted his assessment of the situation on Twitter:
… what a business ?
— Ricky Rubio (@rickyrubio9) November 16, 2020
But alas, he’s home and ready to compete with and mentor guys like D’Angelo Russell, Karl-Anthony Towns, and now Anthony Edwards.
In Rubio’s six seasons with Minnesota, he averaged 10.3 points and 8.5 assists before being traded to Utah in 2017. Last season, as a starter for the Phoenix Suns, the 6-foot-4 guard continued to display his spectacular court vision and playmaking prowess, as he averaged 13.1 points and 8.9 assists per game — ranking fourth in the league in assists. His innate passing abilities will immensely bolster a severely lacking bench in need of playmakers.
