| 31 August 2009
From Chris Sheridan/ESPN:
Minnesota Timberwolves general manager David Kahn spent the weekend in Spain in his latest attempt to bring Ricky Rubio to the NBA.
There was no official word on whether progress was being made in talks with Rubio's current team, DKV Joventut, but a source briefed on the talks said Kahn's continued presence in Spain could be taken as an indication that the odds of Rubio coming to the Wolves next season had improved.
There was no official word on whether progress was being made in talks with Rubio's current team, DKV Joventut, but a source briefed on the talks said Kahn's continued presence in Spain could be taken as an indication that the odds of Rubio coming to the Wolves next season had improved.
In only three months on the job, he already has overhauled the roster with successive moves -- more than one aimed strictly at salary-cap maneuvering-- reminiscent of a fantasy football team owner. He has remade the coaching staff and appears on the verge of cleaning house in the front office.
He signed head coach Kurt Rambis to a four-year contract earlier this month in a move Kahn called the most important he'll probably ever make as president of basketball operations, and the Wolves will announce an eclectic coaching staff that includes Dave Wohl, Reggie Theus and Bill Laimbeer.
But if Kahn returns home with Rubio signed, it will be the most telling example of his expansive thinking yet.
Any deal likely will include not only the $500,000 the Wolves can pay but also a tapestry of other creative financing expected to include endorsement deals for Rubio (most of the buyout money technically will come from his own pocket) and the promise of a Timberwolves exhibition game or games against Joventut in Spain (Oct. 10, 2010, already is a targeted date).
He signed head coach Kurt Rambis to a four-year contract earlier this month in a move Kahn called the most important he'll probably ever make as president of basketball operations, and the Wolves will announce an eclectic coaching staff that includes Dave Wohl, Reggie Theus and Bill Laimbeer.
But if Kahn returns home with Rubio signed, it will be the most telling example of his expansive thinking yet.
Any deal likely will include not only the $500,000 the Wolves can pay but also a tapestry of other creative financing expected to include endorsement deals for Rubio (most of the buyout money technically will come from his own pocket) and the promise of a Timberwolves exhibition game or games against Joventut in Spain (Oct. 10, 2010, already is a targeted date).
From ESPN:
Bill Laimbeer is heading back to the NBA.
The former Detroit Pistons center, who coached the WNBA's Detroit Shock to three titles, will join Kurt Rambis' staff with the Minnesota Timberwolves, a league source confirmed to ESPN. Former Kings coach Reggie Theus also will join Rambis' staff.
The former Detroit Pistons center, who coached the WNBA's Detroit Shock to three titles, will join Kurt Rambis' staff with the Minnesota Timberwolves, a league source confirmed to ESPN. Former Kings coach Reggie Theus also will join Rambis' staff.
From Dunking With Wolves: DKV To Make Decision Tomorrow (Monday)
From El Mundo Deportivo (link and translation via Hoopshype):
Wolves GM David Kahn, agent Dan Fegan and DKV Joventut president Jordi Villacampa had dinner together last night. In that meeting, Kahn made his last offer and right now nobody knows if it's better than Barcelona's. "I'm very proud that the Wolves come to Spain to get me –said Ricky Rubio yesterday–. It doesn't surprise me, because they have been there all the time and I always said that my priority was to go to the NBA. I know there was a meeting last night and now there's chances for both sides."
Also from El Mundo Deportivo:
The exhibition game between Wolves and Joventut would be be played in Badalona on October 10, 2010. Wolves have told Villacampa that DKV would earn about $715,000 dollars, but obviously it's only a estimation.
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