Today’s Smack dropped the “Out like Rubio”. Well, maybe not. The report that Ricky Rubio was officially headed back to Spain appears to be more of a rumor than a report. Team Rubio is insisting that no decision has been made.
Here are what seems to be Rubio’s options:
1. Continue to sue his Spanish team in hope of a lower buyout and sign with the Timberwolves now.
2. Drop the lawsuit and return to Spain to fulfill his contract.
3. Continue to negotiate a buyout in Europe and sign with a different Euroleague squad.
4. Force the Wolves to trade his rights (and continue negotiating the buyout).
5. Sit out one full year of basketball and re-enter the draft (yes that is a real option).
What do you think WILL happen and what do you think SHOULD happen?
And there you have it. If a Spanish media outlet’s report this morning is accurate, Ricky Rubio has decided to stay in Spain for two years to finish his contract with DKV Joventut instead of trying to play in the NBA with the T-Wolves (or whatever team would have traded for him).
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Only a few second-rounders from the 2009 NBA Draft justify the “slept-on” label. DeJuan Blair slipped to the Spurs at pick No. 37 (of course), and Outback trailblazer Patty Mills plummeted all the way to No. 55 before getting seized by the Trail Blazers (of course), and also respect to Sam Young and Jermaine Taylor.
As for the rest, “carry-on” is probably more appropriate — before you get too attached to your second-round additions, you should get to know the second round: Read More »
I’m confused. I’m going to write this rumor off as not true, but I’ll break it down anyway. Our boys over at RealGM.com have the following story on their homepage right now:
“The Knicks offered the Timberwolves the eighth pick and forward Wilson Chandler for the fifth selection in last week’s NBA Draft. Minnesota declined, and used the fifth overall pick on Ricky Rubio. Reports indicate that New York would have used the selection on Rubio, not Stephen Curry.”
Can’t be true right? If so, the Wolves passed up coming away in the draft with Stephen Curry at the 6th pick, Jonny Flynn at the 8th pick (the Warriors didn’t workout Flynn and had no intention of taking him) AND landing Wilson Chandler. Read More »
Why would Minnesota take Jonny Flynn? You’re basically using a Top-6 pick on a backup, because [Ricky] Rubio and Flynn won’t start in the same backcourt. Aren’t you just setting Rubio up to fail if Flynn comes in and bulldogs the starting job away from him?
That’s what I wrote when the Wolves took Syracuse PG Flynn right behind Spanish PG Rubio in last night’s draft. While everyone is still questioning Minnesota’s thought process, GM David Kahn wrote an open letter to T’wolves fans, posted in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Here’s an excerpt: Read More »
The morning before the ‘09 NBA Draft, we asked you guys to act as your team’s GM. On the day after, now’s your chance to play critic and do the hindsight-20/20 thing. Grade how you think your team did on Draft Night: Read More »
Every year, in every draft, there’s a player or two or four who falls farther than expected. Whether it’s a projected Top-5 pick who sticks around until the double-digits, a Green Room guy who stays in the arena longer than everyone else, or a first-round talent who drops to the second, it’s an annual tradition.
Then there are those guys who wait by the phone all night and never hear their name. This year’s most notable snubs… Read More »
Lots of talent left on the board, guys we didn’t think would drop into the second round. DeJuan Blair, Sam Young, DaJuan Summers and Chase Budinger among those who fell out of the guaranteed paper. Let’s see what happens…
BURTON: Stu Scott asks Bilas why Thabeet was picked 2nd and Blair hasn’t been picked yet even though Blair dominated him in college. Bilas says, “One game doesn’t make you an NBA player.” OK, except Blair routinely beasted Thabeet.
The Kings take Arizona State’s Jeff Pendergraph, who apparently has exercise-induced asthma and fixes his own cars. But can he play? Oh wait … turns out Pendergraph is being traded to Portland for Sergio Rodriguez and a pick. Read More »
The last part of the first round, meaning dudes are really sweating out that promise of guaranteed money versus fighting for a roster spot in a bad economy. If you could bring the guys slated to go in these slots to the Green Room, this would be the most tense portion of the draft.
BURTON: The Bulls take USC big man Taj Gibson 26th. I thought they were in love with DeJuan Blair? I thought Blair was going in the ‘teens? Gibson is good, but he’s less of a sure thing than Blair. (Whenever Gibson, DeRozan and/or O.J. Mayo have their next conversation, will the NCAA have the phone tapped? They’re all safe now that they’re in the NBA, so they might let something shady slip.)
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