Cavs-Timberwolves Trade Centered On Ricky Rubio Now Official

The Cavaliers and Timberwolves trade involving point guard Ricky Rubio and small forward Taurean Prince is now official, as the NBA announced the deal on its official trasactions log (via Hoops Rumors).

Per the official announcement, the Cavs acquired Rubio in exchage for Prince and draft consideration.

The timing of the anouncement is interesting, given that the league is operating under the free agency moratorium, when trades can’t be completed. But the NBA lists the deal as having taken place Monday, prior to the start of free agency.

Either way, it’s now official, and revealed on the same day that Rubio scored 38 points for Spain in a loss to Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics.

Rubio is 6-foot-3 and will turn 31 when the season starts in October. He averaged 8.6 points and 6.4 assists in 68 games last season, shooting 87 percent from the line.

He is viewed as a steadying force who could help the development of starting point guard Darius Garland and even backcourt-mate Collin Sexton, should Sexton remain with the team.

Right now, it seems, that is an iffy proposition as the Cavs reportedly have made Sexton available in trades. More recent reports suggest the Cavs do not intend to trade Sexton, at least not anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Prince gives the Timberwolves another veteran presence on the wing, as he played well when healthy in Cleveland.

After being acquired early in the season as part of a multiteam deal with the Nets, Prince averaged 10.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in 29 appearances with the Cavs.