ESPN.com is currently running a headline that Ricky Rubio may not be heading to Minnesota after all.
If you actually read the article, you’ll see that it’s nothing more than pure unfounded speculation that is being drummed up by the Worldwide Leader in order to create some off-season NBA buzz after their very own posterboys, the Miami Heat, went down in flames. Clearly “We are talking to Barcelona and we will soon see” is synonymous with “I will not play for the Minnesota Timberwolves”. Ricky’s other quote, that he was “very happy” that his team won the Spanish League Title, also indicates that he has no intention of coming to the NBA this season. If you click on the Sports Nation poll located on that page, you’ll also see that 59% of the masses believe that Rubio will be playing for Barcelona next season after hearing about these hard-hitting quotes.
Personally, I tend to believe the reports that came out a few weeks back that Rubio had already inked a deal with the Wolves and was just respectfully waiting for his team’s season to end before making an announcment. Those reports aligned perfectly with both logic and the NBA collective bargaining agreement. The fact that he didn’t don his T-Wolves jersey the second after the final buzzer sounded is no cause for concern. Let’s all give Ricky a little time to enjoy his team’s championship and soak it all in before he makes his big announcement. If we haven’t heard something by this time next week, then it’s time to hit the panic button.
In all seriousness, the Timberwolves simply cannot afford the massive backlash that would come from Ricky remaining in Spain, especially after those reports of him coming leaked out. If the Wolves had any indication that Rubio may not play for the team, they would have vehemently denied those reports instead of giving the very transparent “no comment” response. To do otherwise would have been setting the scene for a PR nightmare that would undoubtedly upstage LeBron’s “go back to their lives” comment as the biggest gaffe this summer. David Kahn may have made some questionable moves and said some dumb things in the past, but there’s no way he’s stupid enough to let the Ricky Rubio novela play out that way.
…Right?