Speculations abound that after the Minnesota Timberwolves acquired Duke champion point guard Tyus Jones in the recently concluded NBA Draft, the team is going to deal its starting playmaker Ricky Rubio to the Houston Rockets.

Minnesota traded their 31st and 36th-second round picks and a 2019 second-rounder to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Jones, who was the Cavs' no. 24 overall pick, as per Twin Cities.

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The Timberwolves had actually been eyeing Jones even before draft night as the 19-year-old is considered a hometown hero in his native Apple Valley where he spent his high school career.

Wolves' owner Glen Taylor admitted that the team did not expect getting Jones going into the event as they projected that other teams would be interested in the prized point man. So when the opportunity presented itself, they immediately grabbed it.

However, Taylor seemed to suggest that Rubio is not in danger of getting replaced by Jones as they plan to use the latter to back up the Spanish star at the point.

"He is a Minnesota kid who seems to be a really nice young man, and he played well, and if we had an opportunity, we should do it, because the position behind (Ricky Rubio) is open," Taylor said. "It isn't like we were making a job for him. We had a real job for him, and if we got down to (No.) 31 and used our pick, we probably would have done it on a guard anyway to back up Ricky."

This had been contrary to reports that Rubio is headed to the Rockets, which allegedly needs an upgrade at the no. 1 spot even when Patrick Beverley comes back from his injury, according to Sports World Report.

The Rockets were said to have been interested in Rubio since last year and the report suggested that the timing is now right with Jones and Zach LaVine in the lineup.

Rumors swelled earlier this month that Rubio could be on the block, but the 24-year-old Spaniard was quick to refute such reports. He said that he was not ready to leave Minnesota and he intends to stay with the franchise for the duration of his career.

Star Tribune's Chip Scoggins indicated that Rubio is set to experience a "hometown problem" now that Jones is in the city.

Jones is deemed as a beloved son of Minnesota who had won it all in high school and college and is expected to bring the same winning tradition to the Wolves.

Scoggins said that if Jones performs well, the tendency to compare him with Rubio is something that the latter must be able to handle on a regular basis if he wants to stay as a Wolf. 

TagsNBA 2015, NBA news, NBA News 2015, NBA rumors, NBA Rumors 2015, NBA Trade Rumors, NBA trade rumors 2015, Ricky Rubio, Tyus Jones, Minnesota Timberwolves