The Timberwolves and Ricky Rubio’s representatives haven’t given up on getting the 18-year-old point guard out of his Spanish contract for the coming NBA season. A little birdie says Rubio already has $600,000 in endorsements lined up if he legally can get to Minnesota.

Although Rubio’s DKV Joventut contract has a $6.6 million buyout, that’s expected to be negotiated down to about half that with the team, and loans to Rubio would allow him to pay them back over several years.

Timberwolves President David Kahn was asked if he would have drafted Ricky Rubio as the fifth player in the NBA draft had he known all of the problems he would run into to get the Spanish star to Minnesota. “Absolutely,” Kahn said. “He is 18. He is too young and he has too much value and he has too much upside for us not to have done what we did. I have been saying consistently: I recognize that if it doesn’t happen right away, the worst-case scenario for us as a team is that we wait a year or two. In our sport there have been many instances where teams had to wait a year or two, not only for European players but other situations were really rewarded for their patience. Of course we would have done it, I have absolutely no second thoughts.”

Timberwolves star Al Jefferson, who missed most of last season after injuring his knee, was asked how close he was to being 100 percent. “I think I’m 90 percent, I really think I can do contact work,” he said. “I know for a fact that I will be ready for training camp. I will be 100 percent, nonstop, I’ll go two-a-days.”

From Paula Duffy/Sports Examiner:
The streets were hopping by noon on Saturday as the Lakers 3 on 3 tournament and festival kicked into weekend gear…
Laker fans got a chance to say farewell to former Lakers coach Kurt Rambis who has taken the head coaching job for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kurt was honored with a proclamation that had gone through the California state legislature.
From Sam Amico/Pro Basketball News:
* Kurt Rambis was a good pick as T-Wolves coach. He struggled as Lakers coach 10 years ago, but that was a veteran team that was used to being successful. It probably needed a veteran head coach. These Timberwolves are much younger, and Rambis can shape them as he sees fit.

* Believe it or not, it will be worth your time to check in on the Timberwolves every now and then. They have no shot at the playoffs, but there’s still some young, exciting talent that’s worthy of your attention. I really like power forward Al Jefferson, and here’s to hoping he bounces all the way back from the knee injury that ended his season. He could be an All-Star with a complete recovery.

* Minnesota’s starting lineup will probably look something like this: C Jefferson; PF Kevin Love; SF Ryan Gomes; SG Damien Wilkins; PG Jonny Flynn. Jefferson and Love will rotate in the pivot depending on matchups.