The Timberwolves trade guard Ricky Rubio to the Jazz for a first-round pick.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves reached an agreement with Utah on Friday to send point guard Ricky Rubio to the Jazz to clear salary-cap space for a big run in free agency.
The Jazz sent a protected future first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Timberwolves in exchange for Rubio, the Spaniard who has struggled with injuries at times over his six years in Minnesota. Utah received the pick when it traded Enes Kanter in a threeteam deal in 2015.
The two sides agreed to the move hours before free agency opened. The Jazz needed to make the deal before July 1 or would have lost the salary-cap room necessary to pull it off.
They Jazz are looking to bolster the roster with hopes of convincing All-Star free-agent Gordon Hayward to return to a Jazz team that reached the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
Rubio’s arrival likely means the end of George Hill’s run in Utah, though general manager Dennis Lindsey said Wednesday that Hill remained a top priority. Hill averaged a career-high 16.9 points after being acquired from Indiana last summer. Injuries limited Hill to 49 games and caused him to miss the final three playoff games against Golden State.
The deal means Minnesota can clear as much as $32 million in cap space to make a run at free agents to pair with Karl Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and the recently acquired Jimmy Butler. Targets could include Jeff Teague and J.J. Redick.
Rubio was drafted in 2009, but did not come over from Spain until 2011, electrifying a stagnant franchise with his enthusiasm and no-look passes. Teaming with Kevin Love, Rubio had the Wolves in position to make the playoffs when he tore the ACL in his knee against the Lakers in March 2012. Rubio also missed 60 games in 2014-15 with a severely sprained ankle that required surgery.
Bulls waive guards Rondo, Canaan
The Bulls bought out veteran point guard Rajon Rondo for $3 million Friday rather than exercise a $13.4 million option for next season. He signed a twoyear deal to come to Chicago last summer.
The 31-year-old Rondo was in and out of the rotation, chided Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade for criticizing the team’s effort and finished the season on a strong note before missing the final four playoff games against Boston because of a broken right thumb.
The four-time All-Star averaged 7.8 points and 6.7 assists. Rondo became expendable when the Bulls acquired Kris Dunn from Minnesota in the Butler trade on draft night.
Chicago also waived guard Isaiah Canaan.
Odds and ends
The Atlanta Hawks took a step to prepare for Saturday’s start of the free-agency period by requesting waivers on backup wing player Mike Dunleavy . ... The Cleveland Cavaliers will extend a contract offer to free-agent forward Kyle Korver. Korver is a priority for the Cavs as one of the best outside shooters in the league. Free agents can begin negotiating with teams on Saturday but can’t sign new contracts until July 6 . ... The Knicks waived forward Maurice Ndour before his 2017-18 contract would have become guaranteed. Ndour would have been due $1.3 million if he was still on the roster after Friday. Ndour averaged 3.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in 32 games last season . ... Summer League starts Saturday morning in Orlando, Fla.