TwinCities.com wrote:
The Minnesota Timberwolves' top draft pick, Ricky Rubio, 18, will remain in Spain to play for his DKV Joventut basketball team for the remaining two years of his contract rather than try to move to the NBA this season, El Periodico reported today.

The Barcelona newspaper also says Rubio, who was paid $97,000 last season, plans to withdraw his contract lawsuit against DKV Joventut.

www.twincities.com/sports/ci_12741576?source=rss

Hm... interesting. It's bittersweet obviously, as no one wants to see Rubio in Europe for 2 more years, but at the same time, it lets me breath a sigh of relief on Flynn's behalf because this just means he's that much closer to getting 2 years to prove to everyone that he's got game to be in our future blueprint for a [unlikely] championship run.

However, I only believe this report to be 70% accurate, as Rubio's situation has changed back and forth in the past week. It's very likely that things could change in the next few days as well. Rubio could be calling Joventut's bluff and putting the ball back in their court (Although I'm well aware that they handed this matter to the Spanish government).

RotoWorld.com wrote:
The paper also says Rubio plans to withdraw his contract lawsuit against the team. This is a very fluid situation and information could change on a daily basis, but it really looks like Rubio may finish out his contract in Spain rather than play for the Wolves.

If the story is accurate, I agree--relief that the issue is finally resolved cleanly and that Rubio will have two more years to mature and develop his game before his NBA contract starts. Hard to believe he'll still be only 20 when he comes over.

Suddenly, Kahn is looking very smart in drafting Flynn. Wonder if all those ESPN talking heads who criticized the move will change their tune now?

I think YoLeo is dead on when he says this is 70% correct. Rubio seems to follow the breezes of whim with his future. This time last year he was 100% staying in Spain, then it was time for the NBA, now it is time for Spain.

I'd treat this like a statement from a CEO saying the employees jobs are safe. He'll say that until the day you find out they aren't.

If this is true, it blows.

Discouraging and disappointing. We are going to suck bad. Oh well at least we'll get a higher pick next year and not lose it to the Clippers.

The Wolves need to find a way to replace 30 points a game from last year.

jbird wrote:
The Wolves need to find a way to replace 30 points a game from last year.

WHY? Because that 30 points got us to a whopping 24 wins? Brewer will get 2 or 3. Love will get 4 of those. Flynn will get 4 of them. Bassy will get 4 of them. That's almost halfway there! We'll get a great pick next year and pray that he doesn't opt to kill himself before playing here like everyone else.

What Rubio has said and what the press says he said are 2 different things. I would guess the Spanish media is equally as iresponsible as the american press is. I don't think anyone has a firm grip on what is actually going to happen. I believe in the end money will talk, and playing in the NBA will be big money for Ricky. If he needs buyout money it will come from somewhere.

College Wolf wrote:
Oh well at least we'll get a higher pick next year and not lose it to the Clippers.


but we already know that the nice draft pick we will have next year is destroyed. because we always screw it up.

I'll believe it when I see it.

How someone can go from

- Play in the NBA this year, sue their club team
to
- Play with their club team and drop the lawsuit

so quickly is a bit odd to me. It doesn't make much sense, really. He would be better off playing for another team in Turkey or something if he didn't want to play with MN for two years, as he could lower his buyout amount and he would get a big pay hike when he moved to a new club.

By doing this he is losing the most amount of money and leverage... so it doesn't make much sense to me.

If this is true then it's a win win situation for the wolves, although bittersweet that we won't see Rubio next year.

Here's another tidbit that I stumbled upon.

SI.com wrote:
Here's a little Rubio primer worth remembering: Minnesota will hold his NBA rights indefinitely. The only exception would be if Rubio were to sit out a full year from basketball -- professional or otherwise -- and resubmit his name for the draft (at which point the Wolves might select him again anyway). When he does come over, he will be paid the mandated salary for the No. 5 pick on the rookie scale in effect at that time. So it behooves the player and Fegan to start his rookie deal -- two years guaranteed, two one-year options, one qualifying season -- as soon as possible.
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/s...io.wait/?eref=sircrc

And...

RotoWorld.com wrote:
And for what it's worth, the Wolves say they have not heard from Rubio's camp that he is returning to Spain for two years.

I'm sure most of you already understand this situation so this isn't "breaking news," but just something to chew on. And as many sources have said, if Rubio declares for the draft again, it seems like we have a better than outside shot of re-drafting him, not that I would want him 3 years from now. Even if he does improve his game and frame, I don't want some Spanish fcuk who opts to stay in Europe for 2 years to "fulfill his contract" *cough*AvoidTheWolves*cough*, then sits out an entire year from playing basketball just to have a chance to play for another team. If that turns out to be the situation, then get that future tumor out of our franchise. I'll take guys like Flynn and Love who genuinely enjoy playing basketball over "young European superstars", who are way in over their head, any day.

I can't imagine any situation where he actually SITS OUT for a year just to re-enter the draft. He might play in Spain, but that's different.

Even if he doesn't want to stay here long term, the sooner he comes the sooner he can get to free agency and his next contract.


I can't decide if it would be hilarious or depressing if he re-entered the draft and the Wolves took him again.

Guys, guys, guys

The Spanish media are interested in Rubio either being in Spain or being in a big market.

The other option that presents itself is the chance to get his buyout expidited.

The Joventut chairman has been resolute in saying they will not negotiate while a court case is hung over their heads. The removal of that lawsuit opens the door for the parties to talk.

First thing is sort the buyout. The rest follows from that. But we have to keep following the money.

AusWolf wrote:
Guys, guys, guys

The Spanish media are interested in Rubio either being in Spain or being in a big market.

The other option that presents itself is the chance to get his buyout expidited.

The Joventut chairman has been resolute in saying they will not negotiate while a court case is hung over their heads. The removal of that lawsuit opens the door for the parties to talk.

First thing is sort the buyout. The rest follows from that. But we have to keep following the money.

Why does it take someone who lives on the other side of the world to see the reality of this situation. Evryone on this forum is convinced that Ricky Rubio does not want to be a Timberwolf. Some of us are even convinced that he will sit out a year and re enter the draft. Please, please read between the lines. This has only to do with money. Jovenut is broke and in bad need of income. Ricky Rubio wants to play in the NBA. Rickys lawsuit was getting in the way of negotiations. Read. Process. Understand.

Thank you Auswolf. Howl to you.

I don't mind if he spends a year in spain. It will be interesting to see how he will perform in Europe as an NBA draftee, and not just as a basketball wunderkind. I also assume that the T'Wolves will have some say in his training and help him improve his shooting and physical strength. Furthermore, it will allow Flynn to play as a primary PG.

However, I don't think Rubio will spend two years there. Next summer he will have the upper hand on his buyout. He can give his team ( or Spain's IRS, whoever holds his rights ) an ultimatum: either lower the buyout significantly, or you will lose me next summer ( summer of 2011 ) for nothing. I think he will be able to get them down to about 1.5M$.