Rubio may seek trade if Timberwolves miss playoffs again

It sounds like Ricky Rubio has had just about enough of watching the NBA playoffs from home.

The Minnesota Timberwolves point guard said he might have to consider a future away from Minnesota if the team fails to reach the postseason again next year, he told Spain's Catalunya Radio, as transcribed by ESPN.

"Next season will be crucial for me," Rubio said. "I've been in the NBA for five years, and six years without playoffs would be a long time. At 26 (years old), I'd have to start thinking about teams that can get to the playoffs and win in The Finals."

Rubio, selected fifth overall by the Timberwolves in 2009, has averaged 10.1 points and 8.3 assists through five injury-riddled seasons.

"When I arrived to Minnesota, my hope was to break the seven years' streak without (a) presence in (the) playoffs. I still have that hope, but it's very tough mentally when year after year that goal is not met."

The Timberwolves own the league's longest postseason drought, having last made the playoffs in 2004. The team is seemingly on the right track, though, with the last two Rookie of the Year winners - and No. 1 overall picks - in Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, and the recent hire of Tom Thibodeau as head coach and president of basketball operations.

The Timberwolves also own the No. 5 pick in this month's draft.

Rubio, an excellent playmaker and defender who's had trouble shooting the ball throughout his career, is owed more than $42 million over the next three seasons.

While that could be seen as a bargain given the rising salary cap, it's fair to wonder whether the Timberwolves would be just as eager to move on from Rubio should Minnesota once again fail to end its playoff drought amidst heightened expectations in 2016-17.