Ricky Rubio Likely to Stay in Spain

Posted Aug 31, 2009 9:25PM By Matt Watson (RSS feed)

Remember last week's report out of Spain that Regal Barcelona had acquired the rights to Ricky Rubio, who in turn agreed to a six-year deal that included an affordable buyout in 2011?

The report was shot down by U.S. journalists almost as quickly as it was translated, but after one final weekend of failed negotiations by Timberwolves GM David Kahn, several published reports (on both sides of the ocean this time) have finally confirmed that the original report has in fact come true: Barcelona has acquired Rubio's rights, and Rubio will stay in Europe until 2011 at the earliest.

Although several days premature, last week's report looks startlingly accurate in hindsight, all the way down to the nitty-gritty details. Barcelona will pay DKV Joventut, Rubio's original team, slightly more than five million dollars ($5.28 million, according to ESPN's Ric Bucher) -- or more than ten times what NBA rules allowed the Timberwolves to contribute. And even though Rubio has agreed to a six-year deal, his new contract includes an affordable buyout after two years. Assuming all goes according to the new plan, Rubio could make his long-awaited NBA debut as a 21-year-old in 2011.

Even though Rubio and Jonny Flynn (drafted by the Timberwolves with the fifth and sixth overall picks, respectively) won't be sharing the court anytime soon, the two point guards will forever be linked. If Flynn establishes himself as a franchise cornerstone over the next two years, it seems likely that Rubio could be traded. But if Rubio develops into the once-in-a-generation superstar that many have predicted of him, it's Flynn who could be shipped out.

Either way, the Timberwolves have ample time to figure out how to best manage their assets as opposed to trying to juggle the development of both players this year. It may not be the outcome that impatient fans in Minnesota were hoping for, but in the long run, Monday's news is probably for the best.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-31-2009 @ 11:09PM

Lakergregg said...

I don't know if Rubio's going to suck or not, but like I've been saying before the draft he will end up with the Lakers.
It makes too much sense.
Gasol's in L.A. and Rambis is now the head coach in Minnesota.
Guaranteed 2011 NBA draft Stern says, "we have a trade to announce, the Lakers send a player and a pick to Minnesota for Ricky Rubio."

8-31-2009 @ 11:11PM

And that's only if the Lakers don't acquire his right before then.

9-01-2009 @ 12:20AM

Giles said...

If Rube stays healthy, this will probably best best for him and the T`Wolves in 2 years. Meanwhile, the T`Wolves, and Lakers, and others, need to make some improvements now. Fisher is under contract one more season for the Lakers, but maybe shouldn`t be. And Artest maybe ought not replace him a starting guard. He is an inside shooter, at best, and outweighs many centers. Neither he nor Bryant should have to play quick little guards, trying to defend speed at their age. If the Lakers trade Bynum for Bosh, Artest should back him at small forward. The Lakers would prefer big and fast, but they need speed at the point, big or not. The T`Wolves need athletes. They have two starting power forwards, maybe they trade the older one, Jefferson, who can also play small center. They need quality at every other position. They are the biggest market in the northwest division by default. They need to try to play like a division leader, which means beating Denver, which lost Kleiza and Jones, both part time starters. Enjoy Catalunia, Ruby.

9-01-2009 @ 4:06AM

Andi said...

He was not ready for the NBA. All that fancy Pistol Pete wannabe dribbling does not cut it in the NBA. The better guards in the league would murder him his first two years in the league. It is best he matures in his country an continues to play for his country.You saw what happened to Parker(Spurs)his first wo seasons. Marbury rode him like a horse in that playoff series when Duncun was out hurt.Nasty, just plain nasty.Parker did improve. This young guy has to buy a jump shot from somebody. He can't shoot.Gotta keep the defense honest. Maybe in two seasons he can join the NBA. Pistol Pete never won a championship and I am not sure he was ever in the playoffs. Pleasing the fans with tricks is fine, but winning an NBA championship is better. Also, a lesson needs to be learned about bringing in foreign young #1 player. That player Detroit brought in who was drafted ahead of Bron-Bron,Melo and Wade, was too young and not ready for the NBA. He did get a ring sitting on the bench. Now, he is playing better in the league. Watching TV and looking at the NBA players is dfferent than playing against the NBA players. The Olympics don't count because he had NBA players on his Countries team. Good decsion to stay home and get better.

9-01-2009 @ 4:58AM

Pistol Pete Magic Maravich joined the Atlanta Hawks in 1970. He averaged 23.2 pts. per game as a rookie, 8th in the nba, 2nd on the team, to Lous Hudson, also 6`5, who averaged 27.1 pts. Atlanta lost in the playoffs 1 - 4 to the Knicks. It was a come down of sorts, perhaps due to being in the East for the first time. The year before, Atlanta won in the west, 4 - 1 against Chicago, but lost 0 - 4 to the Lakers in the west finals. The next year, `71 - `72, Maravich was injured, didn`t qualify among stat leaders, but the Hawks again made the playoffs, losing 2 - 4 to Boston in the east semis. His third year, he averaged 26.1, 5th in the nba, and 6.9 assists, 6th in the nba. His teammate, Lou Hudson, was 4th, with 27.1 again. They again lost to Boston in the east semis, 2 - 4. In`73 - `74, he was second to Bob McAdoo, with 27.7, the first season Maravich failed to make the playoffs, partly because Lou Hudson was injured and failed to qualify among the stats leaders. In `74 - `75, he was traded to the New Orleans Jazz expansion team, and averaged 6.2 assists, 5th in the nba, but that was the only Jazz stat among the leaders, they failed to make the playoffs. In `75 - `76, he averaged 25.9, 3rd in the nba, but it was the only stat the Jazz had among the leaders, they missed the playoffs. In `76 - `77, after the Aba/nba merger, PM led the combined leagues in scoring, with 31.1, but it was again the only Jazz stat among the leaders, and they failed to make the playoffs. It was his last season among the stat leaders.

9-01-2009 @ 5:06AM

In `79, Maravich was traded to Boston, which won the east semis 4 - 0 over Houston, but lost the east final, 1 - 4, to Philadelphia. Maravich`s career scoring average was 24.2. He retired in `80.