TURNING POINT
As deadline arrives, Knicks mull dealing Rose for Rubio
Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio started following Kristaps Porzingis on Twitter on Wednesday. Whether they become teammates to join a growing legion of Europeans in the Knicks’ locker room likely won’t be answered until the 3 p.m. Thursday trade deadline.
With Carmelo Anthony likely to stay and face Cleveland on Thursday despite all the commotion, the Knicks have shifted some focus to gauging the assets they can net for Derrick Rose. Sources have confirmed the Timberwolves approached the Knicks about Rose, who won his 2011 MVP with Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau at the Chicago helm. A source said the Timberwolves have offered Rubio.
Rose sat out the part of scrimmage reporters were allowed to watch Wednesday, but the Knicks claim he participated earlier.
Rose is in the final year of his contract, and sources indicate Knicks brass is leery of giving him a longterm, max contract. Knicks president Phil Jackson is most surprised at Rose’s lack of defensive urgency — his late closeouts on 3-point shooters cost the team last-second games against Atlanta and Phoenix.
Sources have told The Post that Thibodeau hasn’t believed in Rubio as his future point guard since November despite a long-term contract. The Wolves drafted their point guard of the future, Kris Dunn, at No. 5 in June.
The Knicks had interest in Rubio, much more of a playmaker than Rose, at last year’s trading deadline. Ever since Rubio was drafted in 2009, the Knicks have had an unusual fascination with him, stemming from their Barcelona-based European scout Kevin Wilson knowing the family.
According to USA Today, the Knicks have asked for Minnesota power forward Nemanja Bjelica to be thrown into a Rubio-Rose deal.
The Knicks also have looked into the trade value of backup point guard Brandon Jennings and backup big man Kyle O’Quinn, both of whom have movable contracts. An ESPN report stated the Knicks inquired into Houston guard Patrick Beverley, whom they pursued as a free agent in 2015.
Because of Rose’s $21 million pact, Rubio is the only return that seems feasible if Rose is going to reunite with Thibodeau. Rubio has two years and $29 million left on his pact after this season.
When asked Wednesday if there’s a deal to make his team better, Thibodeau said, “Not at this point.”
Timberwolves owner Glen Tay- lor wants to make the playoffs now after a 13-year drought, and the team is 2 ½ games out of the eighth seed in the West.
“The Wolves think Rubio needs a new environment for his own good, he’s been there for years and lost a lot,’’ one NBA official said. “He’s a good player, but not a top-level starting point guard. Thibs seems to want anyone he’s coached before with the Bulls.’’
Rubio, averaging 8.9 points and 8.4 assists, would fit in well in the Knicks’ locker room. Rookie center Willy Hernangomez, played with Rubio on the Spanish Olympic team in August and the two spent time together in Mexico over All-Star Weekend. (Hernangomez played in the Rising Stars Challenge Friday in New Orleans before departing for Mexico.)
“I’m friends with him — he’s playing good,’’ Hernangomez said. “He’s a very good player. I would like to play with him. He likes Minnesota. He knows [New York’s] a nice city. But he still likes Minnesota.’’
There’s already a lot of Spanish spoken in the Knicks’ locker room. Porzingis, who played in the Spanish League, converses in Spanish with Hernangomez and Mindaugas Kuzminskas, a Lithuanian who also played in the Spanish League. The Knicks have four Europeans, including Slovenian Sasha Vujacic, who also speaks Spanish.
“He’s a great passer,’’ a Western Conference scout said of Rubio. “But in today’s game, you have to be a good 3-point shooter, which he’s not.”
Jackson likely is waffling on whether Rubio is his point guard of the future — the penetrating, playmaking force eager to learn triangle principles. Rose has yet to be the playmaker the Knicks had hoped with his barrels to the rim and he also is a reluctant 3-point shooter.
The Knicks could keep Rose, let his expiring contract run out and open up $21 million of cap space. They could then decide to invest in Jennings, draft a point guard with the likely lottery pick, or hope free-agent-to-be Jrue Holiday is interested in joining forces with his brother, Justin. Chris Paul is likely to re-sign with the Clippers and already has a negative view of the Knicks stemming from the Charles Oakley fiasco.
Rose has put up good numbers this season (17.7 points, 4.5 assists), but admitted last week the tough adjustment of not playing in a heavy pick-and-roll offensive scheme as he did in Chicago. Jeff Hornacek’s blend of a triangle and a motion offense doesn’t feature a ton of pick-and-rolls.
Porzingis also admitted over All-Star Weekend he wished he had a stronger connection with Rose on the court, and an NBA scout thinks the former Bulls point guard is not good for the second-year pro’s development.
Coincidence or not, Hornacek invoked Thibodeau’s name Wednesday when discussing Rose’s season. Hornacek has said in the past he wished Rose would kick out more when he drives to the basket and doesn’t have a play at the hoop.
“He’s been great for us, learning a new system, balancing between his strength and breaking between people and running the offense,’’ Hornacek said. “He’s been in a system in Chicago with Thibodeau. So he knows how to run plays. The sets we’re in have a little more reads you have to do. He’s getting better and better every day.”