Friday, May 22nd, 2009 at 9:00 am  |  85 responses

Is Ricky Rubio Giving Memphis the Cold Shoulder?

by Marcel Mutoni

The Grizzlies won the second overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, and with that right came the widely-held assumption that they’d try and get their hands on Ricky Rubio. There’s just one tiny problem. Ricky is reportedly not interested in moving to Graceland.

According to a report on Draft Express , Rubio and his people might pull a Steve Francis on the Grizz should Memphis draft him:

From what people around the league are saying, Rubio’s camp may already be sending out feelers indicating that he’s not interested in the least bit in playing in Memphis. “Rubio doesn’t want to go to Memphis, and he especially does not want to pay money out of his own pocket with that huge buyout for the honor of doing so. Fegan [Rubio’s agent] wants him in L.A., and if he can’t have him there, he wants him in Sacramento. Definitely not Oklahoma City.”

Unlike Griffin or Hasheem Thabeet, who don’t really have any choice where they will play next season if a team decides to play hardball, Rubio has a reasonably attractive alternative option at his disposal—returning to Spain.

“He’ll pull out if he doesn’t like what he’s hearing,” the NBA source tells us. “Or he can stay in and force the Grizzlies to call his bluff—would they really take him knowing that he may never come over? That’s one way to get him to fall to three.”

The Grizzlies plan on meeting with Ricky to see if they can’t change his mind, otherwise all of these new ticket buyers are gonna be some kind of mad.

Much of the basketball watching public on this continent only knows Ricky Rubio through grainy YouTube footage, and his stellar performance during the Olympics last summer.

I think it’s important to recognize that just because we barely know about him, doesn’t mean he’s not fully aware of how to play the political game to get what he wants in this League.

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  • http://phoenixsunsrising.blogspot.com Hersey

    Grizzlies should be relegated

  • Joker

    Just got word that he’s coming to Orlando to back up Jameer next season.

  • CDef28

    Another classic example of why I hate foreign players. More often than not they end up accomplishing nothing in the L. Rubio should go back to his hole. The guy is not even a rookie yet and he’s already picking and choosing. The Grizzlies aren’t in Canada anymore, but I guess that’s not good enough for him. Look at OJ Mayo. He’s playing in Memphis and he was much more proven coming to the NBA than this guy.

  • Josh

    Up yours, all you unpatriot a-holes to bad mouth a U.S. city such as Memphis, for the sake of cowardly Spain & some young buster who has not gone through all the battles of young college youth. The objective should be to come to the NBA with the opportunity to win. This young 6’3 180lb is to good to play along-side Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, & even M.Gasol(Spain). Well let him carry his candy-@ss on…. I’d rather have B Jennings anyway…if I’m the Grizz.

  • Miguel Ferreira

    I think most people who commented here are just afraid a euro player might actually be THAT good, and only 18, nd u knw y this happens? because people close their minds to other ideas, let the kid live plus at least he knows what he’s doin he has played pro ball, he’ll show everyone hw to pay defense in the NBA

  • Quail

    i wouldnt care if the 15-67 heat from last year drafted me. as long as i get to play ball and get paid.

  • Yassi

    ….if the Heat drafted him, he would probably go…..

  • Tim Dennis

    The Kid is just looking out for his best interest!
    He would make more money in NY/L.A and he will need it with that huge 8mill Buyout that the team can only contribute a small amount too
    I think he is a great player and would help the nba’s global reach more but if memphis get him 2nd he will be pretty broke

  • Zabba

    “nd his stellar performance during the Olympics last summer.” I didn’t see all his games during the Olympics so I could be wrong, but Rubio was not “stellar” during the playoffs. What he was was an over-achieving, young teenager. He’s stellar when he’s playing against chumps in his age bracket, but right now he’s getting way too over-hyped.

  • ab_40

    he can make far more money then his rookie contract excluding the buy out so I get it we’ve seen it with tiago spitter (spurs) and fran vasquez(magic) that these guys if they don’t like what they see or have a screwed in the head girlfriend like vasquez they’re not goint to the other continent to sit on a bench

  • james

    realistically memphis will probably pay a large percentage of his buyout anyway. guys just a dick, he should say hell only play for the lakers or something while hes at it, might as well go the full nine yards

  • swifthammer

    As a grizz fan i wanted him to put some butts in the seats, but if doesnt wanna be in Memphis oh well. Memphis is the truth, I love when people make comments on cities they have never spend anytime in.

  • rav

    “Look at OJ Mayo. He’s playing in Memphis and he was much more proven coming to the NBA than this guy.” how does one year at USC and high school ball compare to someone who has been a pro since he was 14 (and played in euroleague games and in atmosphere’s that are far, far more intimidating and intense than anything in the US) and played in an olympics and reached the final!! lol some people on here crack me up – and as someone else said earlier no-one in the states gave guys like kenny anderson, alonzo mourning and other guys who refused to show up in toronto this level of stick

  • http://www.myspace.com/weezyleezy337 weezy f. leezy

    i hopes memphis drafts him now…screw ricky rubio…jason kidd had way more game comin out then this kid. he aint even jason williams. not beleivin the hype..not yet.

  • CDef28

    Rav, um I’m sorry, but when Kobe says that OJ is the best player in the draft from last year, you listen. Has anyone even seen Rubio play? The game notes from last year from the game when he played Jennings made it sound like he couldn’t shoot and he was foul-prone.

  • CDef28

    And rav, Darko played from a young age. How did that work out?

  • http://phoenixsunsrising.blogspot.com/ Hersey

    Teams can only contribute 500k to a buyout. Rubio has to pay the rest out of pocket, thus the need for endorsements and the need to be in a big market. The Grizzlies have been unable to build a fanbase in two cities. I can fully understand not wanting to play there.

  • era

    he has to pay an 8m buyout, wich means, he is playing about 2 years FOR FREE! And so he wants to go to a place where he is somehow able to make up for that. Option A: big market. Option B: a team that has a management capable of putting together a playoff team. Option C: Memphis! Hmmmm I wonder….

  • lawlow

    why would they pick him #2 anyways? rubio is all hype

  • bulletsforever

    slip to 5 ricky…DC wants you

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Even Eazy Yi played ONE season in Milwaukee… I mean, besides Latrell Sprewell, who else is there to hang out with over there?
    Now this punk Rubio is complaining about going to OKC?! Yo, he’d be an idiot to not want to play with Westbrook, Durant, and Green. Wait…

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/officerbarbrady what

    I will laugh when this azzhole come to the NBA and disappoints just like 90% of the Euros in history. NBA >>>>>>>> Euroleague.

  • Coney Islander

    Why are we talking about this guy again?

  • Cyrus The Virus

    Smart move by Rubio. Kobe refused to sign with anyone other than the Lakers when he came out, which is why he slipped to #13 and traded for Vlade Divac.

    Rubio must be picked in the top 3 – just like Pau Gasol – so that he can afford to buy himself out. He otherwise will have to play wait longer to make the move to the NBA.

    He is currently making less than $300,000 annually and he stands to actually lose money if he has to buy himself out of his contract… he should only do this if he – and his parents – feel right about the situation… he is a teenager still and this is a huge decision.

    Memphis should leverage the pick if they can, he should be able to bring some value back… I like a trade with Miami for Michael Beasley as an option.

  • morsvolta

    spoiled ass kid

  • http://Pnpfamilyplaycenter.com Wanu

    This is just bullsh*t to make this piss poor draft more interesting…

  • The Promise

    Dont matter.. John Wall would smoke him any day of the week.

  • Cyrus the Papyrus

    Is anyone else in the draft paying $8million to play in the NBA?

  • Quail

    i’d like to see Jennings go at 3 and Rubio go at 4. Sacramento was one of Ricky’s choices anyways. and Jennings isnt a spoiled brat, so he would take OKC.

  • Yassi

    @Cyrus: correct. And he is only making 300.000$ a year because the spanish club more than doubled his income voluntarily but only out of fear that legal actions by the league would be coming soon. He was only making about 100.000 a year which is hugely disproportional considering he has this 8 million buyout clause in the cobntract. Not that the proportions got that much better, but they figured better do something than nothing to make it looking better.
    Anyhow Rickys team got eliminated from the playoffs last saturday and by the way he was carrying himself a jump to the league seems a little more likely. He had a terrible game, looked distracted, helpless and sad. At the end of the game the away (!!!) fans gave standing ovations and were shouting “Ricky, Ricky” saying their goodbyes and paying tribute while he was crying and tortured by the media about this being his last game for “La Penya”. One lady of this one TV channel even made a cut throat motion with her hand whilest asking that. Its all blown out of proportion by a million miles. poor kid.
    Anyhow I dont remember who did the piece on Jennings and Rubio in the euroleague: “Forza Penya” is not abvout any club being strong but means “Go Badalona” (his club) ;-)

  • Yassi

    btw, question: why is Kobe literally chosing the club where he wants to play no problem at all and Ricky Rubios agent saying that he does not want him in this or that city a huge thing for all you guys? I dont get it………..

  • Ulme

    Rubio probably is spoiled. He grew up in a system where he could go anywhere at any price in Europe. There is neither draf nor salary cap in Europe. If a club has enough money, they could get Kobe, Dwayne, LeBron etc. to play on the same team. They do it in Soccer and I don’t like that . Maybe that’s what he’s used to.
    But that’s why I love the American Draft system. It leverls the playing field.
    At the moment the soccer “draft” system over here works like this: You find a 12 year-old gifted boy no matter what country he’s from and pay him and his family to go to your club’s youth program.
    I’ll wait till after the draft before I condemn him. He might mature till then.

  • Rodney Dodge

    If you’ve ever been to Barcelona, you would clearly understand why a person in their right mind wouldn’t want to move from their to Memphis or OKC for goodness sakes! Coupled with the fact that he has to pay a bank load just for the priviledge of paying there?! He should use all his leverage to get what he wants.

    Frankly, with the rookie salary cap in place, I’m surprised more late first round and second round American projections don’t just skip “the college experience” and just go directly to Europe and get PAID. The colleges are just trying to exploit them for money anyway. Turn the tables and head overseas for an amazing enriching European experience. If you’re bored and alone, pay a buddy say $50,000 to come hang out with you for the 5 month season. These players need to get a little creative – time is not on their side.

  • dhowardmagic

    Simple solution: Sacto trades their #4 pick, 2nd round pick, and Bobby Jackson to the Grizz for the #2 pick and draft Rubio. Everyone’s happy right?

  • http://nbacheapseats.blogspot.com Chendaddy

    I don’t think the problem is that Americans don’t realize how nice Barcelona is versus Memphis; it’s that too many sheltered NBA fans aren’t following the progression of international basketball.
    Think of it this way. If you wanted to change from your current job to a better one, but your only option is to pay 3-4 TIMES your annual salary out of your own pocket to move to Massillon, Ohio, and assuming everyone in
    your current city worshiped you, do you think you’d be psyched to go?

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