Knicks to Inquire About Rubio

The Minnesota Timberwolves used the fourth pick in the NBA Draft to take Ricky Rubio, but now there are serious doubts about whether the Spanish sensation wants to play there. Rubio was non-committal immediately after being selected, saying he was excited to come to the NBA, when answering a question that asked if he was excited to go to Minnesota.

A little later on draft night, Rubio's father was quoted by a Spanish news site as saying that he would probably "remain one or two years in Europe." With it becoming increasingly clear that Rubio has no interest in playing in Minnesota, the Knicks said that they would make the call to the Timberwolves to see about bringing him to New York.

"I haven't spoken to Minnesota; I will," Walsh said at the press conference to introduce draft picks Jordan Hill and Toney Douglas. "He (Wolves GM David Kahn) took a lot of point guards. I want to ask him why he did that. I just want to find that out.

"He (Rubio) was one of (our) top players," Walsh added. "I would never say never to anything. We're in the offseason. We'll be checking everything out."

The question of all those point guards in Minnesota is a good one; hopefully if Walsh does get the answer he'll share it with the rest of us.

Meanwhile, Kahn has said that he didn't draft Rubio to trade him, and that he believes the Timberwolves are in a position to wait for him for a year, or even two. He reiterated those thoughts on The Dan Patrick Show today (via Sports Radio Interviews), when asked what the odds are that Rubio plays for Minnesota next season.

"[Dan Fegan, Rubio's agent] called me right before we made the pick and I told Dan if there's a team out there, we're the team that can wait...what does it hurt us to wait a year," Kahn said. "We're not in a position we're contending next year, maybe probably for two years.

"I don't know what the odds are. It will be a very turbulent summer here up and down, but I think ultimately he'll be a Minnesota Timberwolf and I'm very, very excited about it."

Before the draft, Rubio said that New York would be a "dream city" to play in. And based on the way that Rubio is handling the Minnesota situation -- you know, by not showing up to the team's introductory press conference -- it appears that unless his agent can work a deal to bring him to the Knicks, we'll get to see just how serious the Timberwolves are about playing the waiting game for his services.