Ricky Rubio's threats that he would go back to Spain rather than play for the Timberwolves were real. Rubio is reportedly going back to Spain to play two more years with DKV Joventut.
The T-Wolves own his rights in perpetuity (or so I'm told), so if he gets much better in the next two years, the T-Wolves can use him as some big time trade bait. But it's now unlikely that he'll ever don a T-Wolves jersey.
So I can't think Minnesota was banking on Rubio just denying playing for them, but looking at it now, they have to be pretty glad they got Flynn right after Ricky.
Henry Abbot had an interesting idea for Rubio if he really really doesn't want to play for Minnesota...
The way the collective bargaining agreement works, the Timberwolves hold Rubio's NBA rights so long as they make him an offer, and he plays professional ball in some FIBA-sanctioned league, which is just about all of the leagues he'd consider playing in. But if he doesn't play professionally anywhere, then he can be right back in next year's draft.
That is an interesting idea but I have to think the Wolves took Rubio knowing that he wouldn't want to play for them. Of course had they just taken Flynn and Curry like they should have, none of this would have been a problem and we would have gotten Rubio on the Warriors.
Henry Abbot had an interesting idea for Rubio if he really really doesn't want to play for Minnesota...
The way the collective bargaining agreement works, the Timberwolves hold Rubio's NBA rights so long as they make him an offer, and he plays professional ball in some FIBA-sanctioned league, which is just about all of the leagues he'd consider playing in. But if he doesn't play professionally anywhere, then he can be right back in next year's draft.
That is an interesting idea but I have to think the Wolves took Rubio knowing that he wouldn't want to play for them. Of course had they just taken Flynn and Curry like they should have, none of this would have been a problem and we would have gotten Rubio on the Warriors.
That assumes Wolves management can think rationally and not get distracted by shiny things. Obviously, they can't.
They could trade his rights, but if he signs a contract over there, with no release, then I guess the Wolves are stuck. Pretty arrogant move on his part, sends a terrible message and may have teams in the future shy away from drafting overseas if this kind of bs is going to happen. Guess Ricky gets the Whiner of the Day award.
If your going to the NBA stay in the NBA I don't care what the situation is. Then you should of went in the draft two years later.
Totally agree. Ridiculous that he's going to waste all this energy and time everyone spent fawning over him. There should be a penalty to declare for the draft and then change your mind after someone spends a high pick on you.
He could at least let the T'Wolves keep a lock of his glorious hair.
They could trade his rights, but if he signs a contract over there, with no release, then I guess the Wolves are stuck. Pretty arrogant move on his part, sends a terrible message and may have teams in the future shy away from drafting overseas if this kind of bs is going to happen. Guess Ricky gets the Whiner of the Day award.
Yeah, I hope the rest of the NBA GMs see this for what it is, a punk kid from Euro Ball holding the NBA hostage. Not like this guy was every gonna be anything in the NBA anyway, he's too scared to play so he's gonna stay in Europe. I guess he learned something from going up against Team USA in the Olympics, i.e. he can't hang in the NBA.
I hope the NBA reacts to this tactic by avoiding drafting Euro players when they have a choice of drafting an equivalent US player.
Anyone who is blessed enough to get drafted like this in the *best* league in the world and then who craps all over that opportunity shouldn't have a chance to come back to the NBA later. Just my thought.
Yeah, I hope the rest of the NBA GMs see this for what it is, a punk kid from Euro Ball holding the NBA hostage. Not like this guy was every gonna be anything in the NBA anyway, he's too scared to play so he's gonna stay in Europe. I guess he learned something from going up against Team USA in the Olympics, i.e. he can't hang in the NBA.
I hope the NBA reacts to this tactic by avoiding drafting Euro players when they have a choice of drafting an equivalent US player.
I don't know if you watched that Gold Medal game but Rubio more than held his own against Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Jason Kidd.
I don't know if you watched that Gold Medal game but Rubio more than held his own against Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Jason Kidd.
Yeah I watched it, several times in fact. I still have it saved on my DVR. I just disagree with the assessment that Rubio held his own. I didn't see it that way. To me it looked like he got owned.
I have to admit, I haven't paid much attention to basketball in the last 10 years. However, I've watched some of this kid's highlights, and I hear comparisons to Pete Maravich. He has similar hair - that's where the comparison ends, IMHO. Skill wise, he couldn't hold the Pistol's floppy socks.