Knicks Trade Rumors: Pros And Cons Of Swapping Derrick Rose For Ricky Rubio

The New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves have reportedly discussed a Ricky Rubio for Derrick Rose trade. Should the Knicks pull the trigger?

The New York Knicks are closing in on a trade deadline that will define the future of the organization. Team president Phil Jackson is working the phone lines and exploring options that will either help New York swim or sink its postseason aspirations in 2016-17 and beyond.

Perhaps the most intriguing rumor to emerge thus far is one that’s centered around point guards Derrick Rose and Ricky Rubio.

It was recently reported that the Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves had discussed a potential trade. The foundation of the trade was Rose being shipped to Minnesota to reunite with former Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau.

According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, the potential return for the Knicks could be centered around Rubio.

"It is unclear what Minnesota would offer in a potential trade for Rose. Sources say the Timberwolves are motivated to trade veteran point guard Ricky Rubio, as team president and coach Thibodeau sees rookie Kris Dunn as the point guard of the future for Minnesota."

The only feasible way to make the money line up in a trade would be to include Rubio’s contract.

Rose’s contract is worth upwards of $21 million, and Rubio and Nikola Pekovic are the only players on the Timberwolves making upwards of $10 million per season. Pekovic has played a grand total of 43 games since 2013-14, which implies that Rubio is the preferred target.

The question is: should the New York Knicks actually pull the trigger on a Rose-for-Rubio swap of point guards?

The pros and cons may answer that question.