The Timberwolves’ top draft pick, Ricky Rubio, 18, will remain in Spain to play for his DKV Joventut basketball team for the remaining two years of his contract rather than try to move to the NBA this season, El Periodico reported Thursday.
The Barcelona newspaper also reported that Rubio, who was paid $97,000 in salary last season, plans to withdraw his contract lawsuit against DKV Joventut.
Timberwolves President David Kahn declined comment and Rubio’s agent, Dan Fegan, isn’t returning calls.
That short report in a Spanish newspaper strikes me as merely posturing in what looks like a protracted dance between the Timberwolves and Rubio’s camp. Sounds like he’s negotiating his Badalona team for a better buyout number by saying he’ll come back for two more seasons rather a news-making decision. He’s already signed for those two seasons anyway. Remember this is a guy who just a week ago was saying he wanted more than anything to play in the NBA.
David Kahn said by text message late this afternoon and early evening that he doesn’t know if the report is accurate and said he doubted whether it was a significant development in what he has predicted could be a “turbulent” summer because of the RRM (Ricky Rubio Matter).
The first question is where Rubio will play next season. Although Spanish newspapers reported this week that Rubio will stay put for the final two years of his contract, Kahn said Thursday that no one has told him that. The Wolves and their sagging fan base could certainly use Rubio’s marketing appeal immediately. But if he doesn’t want to play in Minnesota, a trade to another NBA team remains a possibility. Kahn said he is not seeking to trade Rubio, but neither is he telling teams the draftee is untouchable.
“That’s the biggest mystery of all,” Fraschilla said of where Rubio will be playing next winter. “It’s very much up in the air. The only thing I know about Ricky is that you can’t go to a ballgame and not keep your eyes on him the whole time. You never know what he’s going to do with the ball, and he’s a magician in that regard.”
Sid Hartman on Portland assistant coach Monty Williams:
He might be the top candidate; Kahn is from Portland and used to cover the team for the Oregonian back when he worked in newspapers.
Kahn has made it clear that he will not have any comment on the coaching situation until he selects the man for the job. However, he has told people that former Wolves player and Toronto coach Sam Mitchell was not a candidate for the job. The name of Mark Jackson has been mentioned as a possible candidate, but the ESPN analyst and former NBA point guard doesn’t have any coaching experience.
That’s because his Niagara Falls and Syracuse buddy Jonny Flynn is on the T’Wolves. Paul Harris and Jonny Flynn, Niagara Falls’ twin sons could be together again in the Twin Cities.
Dave McMenamin (A fellow SU alum) said that Harris is going to play on Minnesota’s summer league, and in a telephone interview Harris said:
“I feel like it’s a great fit for me going to Minnesota,” Harris said. “They’ve got other young guys fighting for spots just like me so I’m going in hoping to fight to make the roster, and I think it’ll be great playing with Jonny Flynn.”
Ricky Rubio – Look kid you are an incredible talent, maybe the one of the best at your position since Pistol Pete Maravich, BUT, playing in the NBA is a privilege not a right. I don’t care if you don’t like the cold – no one in Minnesota does, we suffer through it to get to the summer. You were drafted by the Timberwolves so just play for them. If you’re as good as they say you are, play well, put up stupid numbers then go somewhere else as a free agent. But just play!
I hate to have to to chide the Wolves here, but guys, you should’ve known better. Rubio was picky, and made no attempts to arrange things with you. But Kahn went and drafted him anyway. Forget about the Flynn pick (more on that in a second); that alone was a crazy move. Not gutsy, risky, or admirable. Just crazy. The Flynn pick is what insulated Kahn from being called “stupid.” After this latest news, what has he accomplished? Tempted his team’s fans with a prospect whose legend knows no bounds, and passed over the chance to build a perfectly soild backcourt of the future with Flynn and Stephen Curry. Now, we’ll have to put up with Rubio rumors for who knows how long. Some Wolves faithful will hold out hope, and the whole thing will distract from whatever good does happen with this young team. Sorry, Jonny Flynn, even thought that starting slot is yours, Rubio will overshadow you.
