There is still time until the 2016 NBA draft’s fifth overall selection, Kris Dunn, takes over as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ point guard – which is why the franchise is still resisting trade overtures for Ricky Rubio, league sources told The Vertical.
The Sacramento Kings are the most determined of several teams expressing interest in finding a pathway to a Rubio deal, league sources said, but Minnesota president and coach Tom Thibodeau is reluctant to move Rubio – outside of bringing back a no-brainer package, of course – until Dunn’s progress illustrates this season that he’s ready to fully take over the team.
Thibodeau doesn’t anticipate Dunn becoming the starter until approximately 20 games into the regular season, league sources said.
Dunn has done nothing to diminish Minnesota’s belief that he’s the franchise’s point guard of the future, but the organization hasn’t wanted to rush him into the starting job. Rubio, 25, is well aware of the franchise’s plans with Dunn, but has been welcoming in his attitude toward mentoring and working with Dunn.
Unless he turns out to be a complete bust, it seems Dunn is their point guard of the future, so Rubio is either transitioning into a backup role or moving on at some point in the future. It got me thinking, though: how would you evaluate Rubio's NBA career to date?
I remember some people hyping him up as the next big sensation when he was drafted fifth overall in 2009, and his eventual debut being highly anticipated as he played out a couple of years before coming to the NBA. I also remember saying at the time that I thought he was either going be a tremendous success, or an extremely disappointing bust. At the time, it seemed like his NBA career was going to go towards one extreme or the other.
However, I'd have to say that if anything, he's been somewhere in the middle. I think it's fair to say he hasn't lived up to all of the hype, but he hasn't been a dismal failure, either. He hasn't developed into a reliable free throw shooter (except from the free throw line), but he's been good for around 10 points and 8 assists per game on his career, and also racks up a bunch of steals. He's also only 25, so it's still a bit too early to give up on him completely. I doubt he's ever going to be the superstar point guard that some predicted he would be, but I'd say at the very least he'll remain a solid player and capable starter, especially if he can ever raise those shooting percentages.
