James Johnson opts in, Wolves send him to OKC in Rubio deal

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder have finalized a trade that will see Ricky Rubio return to the Twin Cities.

The Timberwolves are sending James Johnson, who's exercising his $16-million player option for the 2020-21 season, to the Thunder as part of the swap.

Johnson and the draft rights to big man Aleksej Pokusevski, the 17th pick in Wednesday's draft, appear to be heading to Oklahoma City. The Timberwolves will receive 30-year-old Rubio and the draft rights to the 25th pick, guard Immanuel Quickley, and the 28th pick, Jaden McDaniels.

Minnesota then sent the rights to Quickley and the No. 33 pick, forward Daniel Oturu, to the New York Knicks in exchange for the rights to the No. 23 pick, Argentinian shooting guard Leandro Bolmaro.

The Thunder acquired Rubio earlier this week as part of the trade that sent Chris Paul to the Phoenix Suns. The Spaniard, who played his first six seasons with the Timberwolves from 2011-17, averaged 13 points, 8.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game last season and hit a career-best 36.1% on 3-pointers.

The 33-year-old Johnson, who Minnesota acquired from the Miami Heat last February, put up 12 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks in 14 games with the Timberwolves last year.