Timberwolves GM: Rubio won't go to Knicks

Timberwolves eccentric GM David Kahn is friends with Donnie Walsh, serving as understudy to Walsh with the Pacers. They had dinner together Monday night in Manhattan.

But Kahn won't do Walsh any favors and bluntly said before last night's 132-105 Knicks rout at the Garden the Knicks president does not have the pieces to trade for 19-year-old Spanish point guard sensation Ricky Rubio, who's playing this season in Barcelona.

With Walsh a few yards away, Kahn, prone to grandstanding, stood on the Garden sidelines and told reporters the chances of Rubio becoming a Knick anytime soon are almost nonexistent because of the Knicks' lack of prime-time assets.

"Donnie and I have talked a grand total of three times in the last nine months (about Rubio)," Kahn said. "From the moment we talked, I said to him -- and I mean no disrespect to the Knicks or Donnie -- what kind of trade can they possibly propose?"

Kahn said their first conversation took place right after the draft and another one came when the Wolves signed another point guard, Ramon Sessions, in September. Kahn said his remarks to Walsh occurred as Danilo Gallinari was coming off back surgery, but the Minnesota boss still feels the same way.

Kahn believes Rubio would be the second pick of this year's draft behind John Wall.

"There is just no way," Kahn said of a deal happening with the Knicks' current roster state.

The Knicks are still in the market for a backup point guard by the Feb. 18 trade deadline and are looking at point guards with expiring contracts. There are a good handful who fit the bill. The Knicks are holding scouting meetings this week to evaluate the point guard bounty.

Sources indicate the Blazers are willing to deal Steve Blake. Detroit's Chucky Atkins and Washington's Mike James can also be had. Other point guards the Knicks could pursue who have expiring pacts include Miami's Carlos Arroyo, Indiana's Travis Diener, Golden State's C.J. Watson, Oklahoma City's Kevin Ollie and Memphis' Marcus Williams.

The Knicks have long coveted Rubio as their point guard of the future. Kahn contends he expects Rubio to play two seasons with Barcelona, which is one of the top teams in Europe. A person familiar with the situation said if Rubio somehow signs with Minnesota this summer, Kahn will shop Sessions.