Sunday, June 20th, 2010 at 9:00 am  |  42 responses

Wolves Chasing Rubio

According to the AP, Minnesota wants to bring Ricky Rubio over sooner rather than later: “As the Minnesota Timberwolves prepare for next week’s NBA draft, their top pick from a year ago, the precocious teenager that many believe holds the key to turning around one of the most moribund franchises in the league, remains thousands of miles away overseas. Ricky Rubio balked at an opportunity last summer to leave Spain and join the Wolves, electing to remain in his home country for at least the next two seasons. Team president David Kahn and coach Kurt Rambis visited Rubio in Spain last month and have started the delicate process of forging a relationship with him while he plays for another team. ‘Very important,’ Kahn said on Friday. ‘He is a Minnesota Timberwolf in certain ways. He’s part of us, and yet he’s not on the team yet. I want him to feel as if there’s no reason for us to delay the opportunity for him to start following us, being integrated, learning us and feeling comfortable with us.’ The Wolves selected Rubio with the fifth overall pick last June and, after a drawn-out negotiating period, he decided to remain in Europe for at least the next two seasons…’As opposed to the draft process a year ago, we didn’t have an opportunity to meet him in that context,’ Kahn said. ‘Through either last summer, this year, and with Kurt coming over, I felt it was very important for us to stay connected, but not so connected that he or his team feel overwhelmed.’”

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  • SKD

    If the T-Wolves really wanted Rubio, they would have drafted a complimentary piece with the 6th pick, not a damn 5’11” guy who plays the same position. If they were smart, they would have taken Steph Curry and have had their backcourt solidified for the next 10 years.
    But as we have seen though the years from Darko to Marvin Williams to Thabeet, most of the GM’s in the NBA are f***ing retarded.
    Why OK City, a team full of scorers, didnt take the best passer to come into the NBA since Chris Paul is beyond me.
    Why David Kahn, a former marketing exec, has a job in the NBA as a GM is also beyond me.

  • Ronald

    Thabeet isn’t that bad. He contributes when he gets on the court.

  • Brett

    Well said SKD.

    TWolves need to have a strong look at what direction they are heading in

  • Lazarus

    rubio is a spoilt duuche. calling bust and i hope he is. though i like the wolves. hopefully they come to their senses and draft cousins!

  • http://thekobebeef.wordpress.com LDR4

    Rubio is just another lazy Spaniard. When he heard that there were no siestas in Minny and that the TWolves werent the Knicks or Lakers he threw a temper tantrum. Really hope this cry baby stays in Spain, dont want his kind in the NBA. I bet hes a flopper too.

  • rich

    everyone is a flopper, its part of the game. id say 60% of charges taken, the plaayer didnt need to fall down to do it, but thats the only way refs see it

  • http://staticseth.blogspot.com Seth

    Poké guards: Gotta catch ‘em all.

  • Buppie

    Rubio is young. He’s a talented player. He isn’t going anywhere. Let him season his game over there if he feels the need. Then let loose. He has a solid game already it seems.

  • Tom

    If you don’t want to play for a certain team then dont enter the draft. I think its a disgrace.

  • http://twitter.com/HarryByrdMan44 LA Huey

    You guys with your disdain for Rubio and silly ideals…Thanks for the laughs.
    But this is a good idea by Minny (they still should have drafted better), stay in the guy’s ear and make him feel like a part of your culture (even if its the one that wasted a decade of KG’s career).

  • MikeC.

    When I read the headline, I pictured Rubio being chased by a pack of real wolves. Grrrrrrrr bark bark.

  • madis

    Wasn’t the thing with Rubio that he had to pay his club something like 3 or 5 million dollars to be released from the contract? And I think he did (does) want to come play in the NBA but he just doesen’t have the money. Wolves were not willing to help with that then and doesen’t seem to be willing now either. For me it just seems like a cheap PR trick from the Wolves… Just reminding the fans that it could all turn around… in a year or two.

  • Atrain

    Simmons is right: Kahn is a joke and they’ll never win with him in charge

  • The Philosopher

    Shout out to Todd Murphy.

  • The Philosopher

    Shout out to Gundars Vetra.

  • what?

    You don’t know what you’re talking about. Rubio never said he didn’t want to play for Wolves. Actually, last week he said that he felt lucky to have an opportunity of being trained by Kurt Rambis. People told him that he could be a third pick, that’s why he entered the draft. If he came back to Spain it was because of economical problems. And I think it’s been a good thing, because Rubio is getting better and he could be one of the best PGs in the world in a few years.

  • nastierthanu

    What an ego boost to have an nba squad fly to ur country and kiss ur a$$ must be nice. I’m happy if someone asks me to play on their summer league team. @ philosopher who is GV?

  • Ronald

    @Co-sign What?: Would everyone say the same thing if they were required to pay millions of dollars to fly over to another country to get less than a few millions of dollars to do the same thing with no job security?

  • T-Money

    I’m calling BS on Rubio and his camp. Jonny Flynn is the reason you’re not coming to the NBA? Jonny freaking Flynn?! I’m sorry but if you’re not sure that you can take the spot away from Flynn then stay where you are. / what? : that could have been true if he had not said that he didn’t even care about the money and would play for free in his first year because he wanted to move to the NBA so bad. David Kahn worked out a buy out that was acceptable to Joventut last year and Rubio said no and moved to Barça. Look it up. / My problem with Rubio is that he is pulling a Steve Francis and nobody wants to see it.

  • The Philosopher

    @nastierthanu: Gundars Vetra was a minimal fringe player for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 1989-1990 NBA season. He had a little hype coming into the League, for he was among the rare European players to enter the League during that day. He was a 6’6″ shooting guard.

  • The Philosopher

    ^^My bad… the 92 – 93 season…^^^

  • The Philosopher

    Well… Brandon Jennings DID kick Rubio’s a$$ during workouts. That can do things to one’s confidence as a ballplayer.
    Ricky Rubio has, in my opinion, smart people in his camp who know what time it is. Truth be told, there are many players from Spain who are and were turned off by the NBA. Rudy Fernandez being clearly among them.
    Even if Rubio is destined to be a backup point guard, that is considered successful isn’t it? Not saying he is a backup, but the League is indeed the best league in the world. Backup PG in The League is NOTHING to be ashamed of.

  • http://dsfrjklfl.com JukaI

    There’s a lot of misinformation in this comment section…
    a- madis is wrong. The Wolves were willing to help Rubio EXTENSIVELY to lower his contract. Not only were they giving the 500k, but they were willing to give his old DKV club contracts from Khan’s other businesses and guaranteed pre-season game match-ups IN Spain. Does that not qualify as “willing” to you? Why say things you don’t know anything about?
    b- T-Money is wrong. Rubio never said the reason he didn’t go was because of Johnny Flynn. Where did that come from? Rubio didn’t go because he didn’t like the city and the idea of playing for a crappy team so he stayed in Europe. He wanted to be paid big bucks, top three bucks, but didn’t want to play for the top-3 teams. But johnny Flynn was never a reason, maybe a slap on the face a bit, but never the reason. Why say things you don’t know anything about?
    b- The Philosopher is wrong. Rubio never COMPETED in workouts against Jennings. Rubio worked out twice, only with the Kings, privately, with no ball and no teammates and certainly no other draft players like Jennings around. Jennings mostly worked out in full-court five-on-five sets. The reason for this was the questions behind both of them: people questioned Rubio’s athleticism, people questioned Jennings’ game smarts. The “Jennings kicked Rubio’s butt in workouts” is the most blatant piece of misinformation spread here. This never happened. Why say things you don’t know anything about?

  • ios

    @ Jukal. I agree with you but Rubio didn’t say that he didn’t like the city or the team. The came back because of economical problems. He’s already said that he’ll play for the Wolves at least in the season 2011/12. Stop saying that Rubio is arrogant because I’m spanish and I can assure that he is NOT.

  • what?

    @ Jukal. I agree with you but Rubio didn’t say that he didn’t like the city or the team. He came back because of economical problems. He’s already said that he’ll play for the Wolves at least in the season 2011/12. Stop saying that Rubio is arrogant because I’m spanish and I can assure that he is NOT.

  • http://www.hypebball.com Sam Raphael Chadwick

    He wont come to the NBA till at least 2011/2012 season according to him and his agent however if the Wolves can convince him that they hav the building blocks of a good team they maybe change him mind especially after Barcelona’s loss to Caja Laboral in the playoffs.

  • The Philosopher

    @Jukai: He DID, and if you prove me wrong, we’re even. You said Kobe Bryant is a better shooter than Larry Bird? Why say that?

  • Scottie Pimpin’

    im getting tired of listening about this guy…either your gonna play in the NBA or not.

  • T-Money

    Jukai: Technically, he didn’t say anything else but “I wanna be in the NBA so bad in 09/10, I’d even play for free.” And he DID say that, which was, of course, BS. / It was widely reported that his camp weren’t happy with the Jonny Flynn pick and didn’t want a training camp competition for the 1 spot. Get off your high horse, you’re not the only voice of truth for all things Rubio.

  • http://dsfrjklfl.com JukaI

    what?: Yeah, he did. Right after the announcement, his parents complained about the cold of the city and how Rubio would be really peeved playing in that cold… then during his Barcelona press conference, he insulted the T-Wolves a bit more. Why do you think he’s making statements that he’s ‘warming up’ to the idea of playing with them? Obviously his decision centered around making a lot of money (Barcelona gave him a pretty nice contract) before coming to the US, but if he had gotten selected by Sacremento or traded to New York, LA, etc… he I doubt there would be any complaints about ‘economics.’
    The Philosopher: Buddy, just google it. Rubio only did a total of two pre-draft workouts, with the kings, and they were all testing athletics and were without teammates. Rubio complained about it because it didn’t highlight his strengths, which then the world replied “dur hur.” Jennings never even worked out with Sacremento, to my knowledge, because he was never expected to go that high. Rubio was not at the draft combine because his team in Europe was in the playoffs (I think it was his ACB team, not positive). So, yeah, please look it up and stop spreading that rumor. People will believe you, and it’s not true.
    And yeah yeah, I knew my statement about Kobe and Bird would get me crap. Look, I’m a well known Kobe basher and I think Bird brings more to the table than Kobe, so there’s no taking my statement with a grain of salt: Bird had his spots he would get to to take shots. He had a boatload of spots, but he still had them. Kobe really doesn’t have “spots.” He, on any given occasion, will shoot the ball anywhere. So even though Bird made them more often, that’s more ‘efficient’ offense to me. I think Kobe’s a better shooter.
    That’s an opinion, feel free to disagree. The Rubio/Jennings thing isn’t opinion, it’s fact,. they never worked out together.

  • http://dsfrjklfl.com JukaI

    T-Money: It was true that his camp was ‘unhappy’ with the Flynn pick, I’ve read it was mostly considered a slap in the face as it showed Minnesotah wasn’t ENTIRELY set on building the team around Rubio (something I still believe Rubio thinks will happen)
    but you said that was the reason he didn’t go for the T-Wolves.
    Exact quote: ” Jonny Flynn is the reason you’re not coming to the NBA? Jonny freaking Flynn?! I’m sorry but if you’re not sure that you can take the spot away from Flynn then stay where you are.”
    There’s no editing on SLAM online. You know how many times I’ve been bashed for calling Shawn Kemp the Rain Man? If your mistake was semantical and you were only complaining about one aspect of Rubio’s decision to not come to the US, fine, even though that wasn’t a big one… but re-read what you wrote, man. It’s a bad statement.

  • The Philosopher

    Jukai, those two had a one on one matchup on Minnesota’s watch. Jennings got the best of Rubio. One can argue that a one on one isn’t a workout. To me, it is. That is my opinion, feel free to disagree. Now, I’m not afraid to be wrong. I don’t think I am. And, Bird is a better shooter than Kobe in every way.

  • http://www.threadsandkicks.com.au Eduardo

    Rubio is just doing a Steve Francis and doesn’t want to play for the Wolves because he knows that they’re a losing organisation. If he got selected by a better team he would have come to the NBA otherwise why put your name in in the first place.

  • Kap

    @Philosopher…Are you even old enough to have seen Larry Bird play back in the 80′s???

  • http://shinefluid@aol.com CHRIS

    JUST LIKE BRANDON JENNINGS SAID “IM NOT THAT IMPRESSED BY RUBIO”

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    He put his name in the draft because it was a decent business decision.
    All that crap about “Love of the game” was mostly crap. Yeah, he likes ball, but that wasn’t his primary concern.
    And I don’t blame him for that, I just don’t like the hypocrisy. But, since that’s what fans demand, so be it.

  • http://dsfrjklfl.com JukaI

    The Philosopher: That never happened, man. You’re lying through your teeth. Rubio and Jennings never played each other in Minnesota in any type of workout environment. You’re making stuff up to not look like an idiot. It’s failing.
    The ONLY time Jennings and Rubio went up against each other was one regular season game in the Euroleague. Jennings got the ‘better’ of Rubio, but Rubio had just come back from surgery on his wrist and only played eight minutes… Jennings played 22… neither guarded each other…
    Because you continue to recreate reality, I wont bother arguing my points about Kobe/Larry. It’s pointless.

  • The Philosopher

    Jukai: I’m lying? Look, in all seriousness, that’s what I heard, and say what you want, I’ve been pretty accurate with my sh!t. I could be wrong though, (I don’t think I am) and that’s cool with me. I have no problem with that. I do have a problem with you calling me a liar. If that’s the case, you ARE LYING when you have the AUDACITY to come up here and try to convince people that Kobe Bryant is a better shooter than Larry Bird. That is some serious lying… and THEN you try to back that up with some more idiotic rhetoric. I mean, who are you trying to kid? Yourself?

  • The Philosopher

    I have no reason to lie up here, for I have NOTHING to prove. What, it didn’t happen because it GOT BY YOU? If that’s what I heard, (for my sh!t has been accurate) that’s what I heard. I mean, some people up here heard that KOBE BRYANT IS A BETTER SHOOTER THAN LARRY BIRD. I mean, that’s worse than ANY of my sh!t by a long shot.

  • The Philosopher

    Jukai: Another piece of food for thought:
    For a guy as smart as you are (well, at least as YOU THINK you are) it must have been VERY stressful on you the very moment you realized that you HATED the hours that you work… or whatever you do, for you weren’t afforded the time to come up here and spew some of that lunacy you call commentary. You know, for a ‘smart guy’ like yourself… they LOVE ALL the hours AND cherish EVERY moment. Obviously, you don’t. You’re a fraud. The masses hiss at you.

  • T-Money

    uh?

  • Ronald

    You know, the whole Kobe being a better shooter than Bird has it’s merits. It’s not like he’s saying Kobe is a better teammate than Bird. It really depends on your definition of shooter. I mean, if it was an empty gym Bird might get the better of Kobe (can’t be sure of this) but Kobe might be better with a hand in his face.

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