Monday, January 24th, 2011 at 11:55 am  |  223 responses

Report: Ricky Rubio Wants to Play on the East Coast

by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Ever since the Minnesota Timberwolves made him the fifth pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Ricky Rubio has never indicated that he ever intends to don a Timberwolf uniform.

Ricky Rubio is a star in Europe, making good money, soaking up the sun rays, and above all, winning a lot more than he could ever hope to do so in Minny.

It’s hasn’t all been positive, though, but as Rubio has experienced personal struggles on the basketball court. Many believe his best chance to flourish individually (and financially) would be for him to take his talents to the NBA.

Ricky, however, doesn’t sound like he’s in any kind of rush to make the jump across the pond.

The NY Times reports:

Last summer, Rubio had a golden opportunity to showcase himself as the future of Spanish basketball, playing for the national team in the world championships in Turkey … Instead, Rubio struggled. He shot 28 percent from the field, including 2 of 17 from 3-point range, and averaged 4 points in 25 minutes over nine games. Spain, the defending champion, lost in the quarterfinals. For the first time, cracks began to appear in the Rubio hype machine.

Though 28 games in the 2010-11 season, Rubio has continued to struggle. He is shooting just 32 percent from the field, including 11 of 61 from beyond the arc, and his team has lost more games in the ACB and in the Euroleague than it did all of last season.

[...]

The Timberwolves continue to push him toward the N.B.A. as soon as possible, contending privately that they have a commitment from him for next season. But Rubio’s camp does not appear to be convinced. “The bottom line is, why would he want to play in Minnesota?” a senior member of Rubio’s camp said this month. “He’ll continue to say all the diplomatic things, and Minnesota needs to keep his value up for trade purposes, but the family’s preference is to be on the East Coast, specifically New York, Miami or Boston. He wouldn’t be troubled if he has to stay another year.” … “I’m not focused on the N.B.A. right now,” Rubio said. “Right now, I don’t want to talk and I don’t want to think.”

Though Ricky Rubio himself has never explicitly said he doesn’t want to play for the Timberwolves, his people have given plenty of indication that he’s simply not interested in joining the franchise.

It might be time for Minnesota’s front-office to consider cutting their losses and getting something in return by trading away Rubio’s rights.

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  • CT9

    That’s a lot of comments, but here is my 2 cents. Stupid reporting from a stupid reporter. You never hear it straight from Rubio or his agent that he doesn’t want to come to Minnesota. It’s always, head of the Rubio camp, a representative, his homie from the hood, his dog, someone that knows him from somewhere. People get too worked up over stupid reporting when it’s not straight from Rubio.

  • http://airtsinelas21.blogspot.com Roy

    Rubio for Rondo — Hell no!

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    ROFL trade Felton for Rubio? WTF?! Also, Rubio didn’t “crack” anyone. I think most of this Rubio hype comes from Americans–I have RARELY seen a European fan hype Rubio up the way the media/fans do in America… Just saying.

  • http://slamonline.com AllBall

    Yeah, and people are calling CP over rated. He is the best PG in the L. No other PG would have this roster, with this schedule, at 30-16.
    Allen, are we still pretending Deron is better??

  • Mike From Spain

    @ The Ambassador, @ 7:09 Rubio is not coming to play to the NBA right away because he would have to pay his buyout of a few million out of his own pocket to come to the NBA to an (at best) second tier team, in what to him amounts to be ‘in the middle of nowhere’. At home he is a superstar, in Minny he’d be sitting half the time on the bench, getting no love. No wonder the decision is tough. But if he wants to be great, he should go to play with the T Wolves. This June he will have no buyout to pay, he’ll e free.

  • rikson

    Its funny how the same people who always complain, if somebody talks about the NBA without seeing too much of it, will make dump statements about a guy playing in europe, whom they probably have never seen play! American duoblestandards.. never ending story! (funny though…)

  • Mike From Spain

    How about trading Rubio to the Lakers? They sure need a defensive minded pass first point guard, they already have the bigs and Kobe to score

  • http://www.slamonline.com Coney Islander

    Rudy Fernandez is WAY better than this kid and he’s a 6th man! NBA PG’s will eat this kids lunch! He’s 6’3 with long are-fantastic that makes him an average NCAA PG. He’s gonna guard Deron Williams (who is his size?) ABSOLUTELY NOT!All this NBA talk is funny most of the guards in the ACC and SEC would do it to this kid. Slam I beg you, no more Rubio talk, lets reserve the NBA forum for people in the NBA!

  • roebro

    give him to the Nets!

  • Fat Lever

    Blame Lebron!

  • http://www.b-ballistics.com Darksaber

    Well he sure has one award he can take to the bank. Elite status among the most commented on Slamonline. Lebron, Rose, Kobe-level commenting for Ricky Rub? Sad.

  • Mike From Spain

    Hi Coney Islander, just review the video of the 2008 Olympics finals. I am not arguing that he could maintain this level or this kind of plays throughout a season, but it is a small measure of what the kid can measure up against. He’s not just a plain average NCAA PG, I assure you that.

  • IAMORANGE4EVER

    Rube Rube Rubio. Whoa.

  • http://www.redraidersports.com Nicolas Fleming

    Nick Jonas is not going to be a great NBA player.

  • Jeff H

    Rubio is a nice player who has talent no doubt about it. I just wish he would put his head down and come to the NBA and prove himself. Then if you want to talk and say where you want to go that’s your call. Just have the play to back it up. Plus there could be a lot worse things for a pg then most likely starting and playing with Beasley an K-love.

  • http://hoopedia.nba.com/index.php?title=Russell_vs._Wilt nbk

    I’ve watched Rubio play atleast 10 games this year. I DVR his games on NBATV which are more frequent then you would expect

  • Mike From Spain

    @nbk that’s plenty more games than I have seen of him lately, I heard that he’s playing horrible lately…

  • tavoris

    Jukai-not “potential” Shaun Livingston (thanks for givin him his props)…with every poor-shooting, high turnover game Rubio posts, he looks more and more like the substance won’t exceed the flash.

  • Pingback: SLAM ONLINE | » David Kahn ‘Absolutely Certain’ Ricky Rubio is Minnesota-Bound

  • Charles

    Rubio can’t pick and choose where he wants to go! Are you kidding! This guy is a joke….

  • john

    This guy isn’t all that great of a player,he is only looking out for himself.He Wants to be with a winning team without the sacrifice.He needs to earn his pay and respect.To be the best you have to play against the best and thats in the NBA.He has no class.

  • Naderneculo

    Rubio should go to the NBA. And not worry about anything but trying to play ball in the best league in the world; because after all the NBA i without a doubt the best league. Writers will write, haters will hate. So be it, hes got to give it a shot though, and he has proven he has the skill… only then will he prove his worth.
    If it doesn’t work out, Barcelona will take him back with arms wide open. Even Madrid for that matter

  • manu

    rubio is good, he has proven he can play with the best. If he wants to develop into the player the hype indicates he will be, then he has some work to do.
    He is a fool though if he wants to go anywhere else but minnisota especially for a pass first point guard to pass up the opportunity to play with 2 all star caliber good big men (hell even darko finally showed some upside at least defensively).

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