Minnesota acquired draft picks (first round pick protected top 14 in 2018-20, else 2020 second round pick and 2021 second round pick) (2018 #20-Josh Okogie) while sending out Ricky Rubio in the 2017-06-30 transaction with Jazz.
Minnesota sent Ricky Rubio to Utah on June 30, 2017 for a protected 2018 first-round pick that originally belonged to Oklahoma City. The Timberwolves had already moved toward a different backcourt plan under Tom Thibodeau, and the trade converted a six-year starter into a future asset rather than losing the value of that roster decision. The pick ultimately conveyed at No. 20 in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Rubio became Utah's starting point guard immediately. He started all 77 games he played in 2017-18, averaging 13.1 points and 5.3 assists as the Jazz won 48 games and beat Oklahoma City in the first round. He followed with 68 games and 67 starts in 2018-19 for a 50-win team. Utah therefore received real competitive value from the trade, even though Rubio left for Phoenix after two seasons and did not become a long-term Jazz piece.
Minnesota used the conveyed No. 20 selection on Josh Okogie. He played four seasons for the Timberwolves, appearing in 244 regular-season games with 123 starts. Okogie's best offensive season in Minnesota was only 8.6 points per game, but his defense and energy kept him in the rotation while the club transitioned from the Jimmy Butler era toward the Anthony Edwards timeline. The asset produced a longer run of team-controlled rotation value than Rubio's two seasons in Utah.
Utah's side should not be treated as empty value: Rubio started on consecutive playoff teams and helped the Jazz win a postseason series. The difference is duration and asset conversion. Minnesota traded a veteran it was prepared to replace, received a first-rounder, and turned that pick into four NBA seasons from Okogie. The canonical B for Minnesota and C for Utah reflects that longer asset life while still recognizing that the Jazz received useful immediate production.
Wolves Win — Minnesota B, Utah C. Ricky Rubio gave the Jazz two seasons as their starting point guard, including 77 starts for a 48-win team that reached the 2018 Western Conference semifinals and 67 more starts for a 50-win club in 2018-19. Minnesota's protected first-round return conveyed at No. 20 in 2018 and became Josh Okogie, who played 244 games and made 123 starts across four Timberwolves seasons. Utah received meaningful short-term playoff value, but Minnesota converted a veteran it was replacing into a younger asset with a longer run of team-controlled contribution.