Ricky Rubio seems as confused about where he’ll be playing next season as the team that drafted him last week, the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“I have more uncertainty about my future now than before the draft; every minute I’m in a different place,” the flashy point guard from Spain told the El Periodico newspaper of Barcelona in today’s edition.
Rubio, 18, and his father were to quietly fly to Minneapolis last Saturday for conversations with Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn.
“It’s like being in a bag and not knowing what is going up or down,” Rubio said. “For now, I think I may return to the ACB, but we’ll see.”
The ACB is the Liga Asociacion de Clubs de Baloncesto, which is the Spanish Basketball League.
From Mundo Deportivo (Link and translation from KFAN Rubechat):
Ricky Rubio of Representatives are scheduled to meet today with officials from DKV Joventut Badalona of trying to reach agreement in the dispute who have to lower its current clause, valued at 4.7 billion euros, as announced by the player. After he was elected last week to forecast the number of 5 ‘draft’ for Minnesota Timberwolves, the green base has now landed in Barcelona and has declared that it is not playing in another European team than the green next season . “We look at what process to follow, speak with the Youth to see if we reach an agreement,” said the young base, who believes that the lawsuit filed against the club Badalona is an issue that has been exaggerated.
“It has been too so far, is not as serious as people think,” insisted the base who, after the drawing for the ‘draft’ left the door open to return to play another year in the ACB League, as the destination of Minnesota was not among their predilections. In any case, Ricky said that would not involve a step backwards not to play this upcoming season in the NBA. “Far from it, because I am still prepared to make the jump over to the NBA. I think I’m ready, but if I have to be a year and earn about experience, much better,” he explained.
“It has been too so far, is not as serious as people think,” insisted the base who, after the drawing for the ‘draft’ left the door open to return to play another year in the ACB League, as the destination of Minnesota was not among their predilections. In any case, Ricky said that would not involve a step backwards not to play this upcoming season in the NBA. “Far from it, because I am still prepared to make the jump over to the NBA. I think I’m ready, but if I have to be a year and earn about experience, much better,” he explained.
From Reuters:
Pau Gasol and Ricky Rubio were included in the Spain squad on Monday for the 2009 European Championship (Eurobasket) in Poland.
Pau Gasol and Ricky Rubio were included in the Spain squad on Monday for the 2009 European Championship (Eurobasket) in Poland.
It’s starting to become relatively clear that there never was much credibility to the rumors of Ricky Rubio potentially heading to the New York Knicks via trade, so at this point it seems healthiest for Knicks fans to just let go of that idea. Sources close to the situation have told HOOPSWORLD that nothing substantial was ever discussed between Minnesota and New York, so Rubio is, for the time being, a member of the Timberwolves.
Rubio, his parents and agent Dan Fegan had made it clear they didn’t want the youngster to play at Memphis or Oklahoma City. The same is true for Minnesota, where he skipped out on an introductory post-draft press conference and is threatening to remain in Europe next season.
That’s OK with Kahn, who by the way, has a good relationship with Fegan, and wasn’t going to be bluffed into passing on Rubio – blessed with Pete Maravich-like flair and passing skills – at No. 5.
That’s OK with Kahn, who by the way, has a good relationship with Fegan, and wasn’t going to be bluffed into passing on Rubio – blessed with Pete Maravich-like flair and passing skills – at No. 5.
From Andrew Katz/Dime Magazine: Rockets Offer Battier and Brooks for Ricky Rubio