Ricky Rubio Agrees To Play For the Wolves

Finally!

The Wolves finally get to see the guy they drafted with the 5th overall pick 2 years ago. Rubio is a hell of a talent and being called the Pistol Pete of Europe. When he got drafted he didn't feel like playing for the Wolves so he decided to stay in Europe and play professionally there.

However, now he's coming off two seasons with FC Barcelona, where he only averaged 6.5 points and 3.5 assists in 22.4 minutes per game last season. So that's kind of eye popping.

I don't know if he'll be the next big thing, but his highlights are certainly fun to watch.

Where The Hell Is Ricky Rubio?

"I do have interest in the NBA, but not as in right away," he's quoted as saying. "I signed a six-year contract with a buyout option after the second season. If I leave this year I would have to pay an amount of money and that's it. It's a unilateral decision that I have to make, although if I had to leave at any time, I would talk to the club and the NBA franchise, which is currently Minnesota."

The article also notes that Rubio has indicated the lockout will be "an important issue" when making a decision on whether or not to come over for next season (ESPN)."

People (myself included) kind of forget that the Timberwolves drafted Ricky Rubio. The Wolves still say they expect him to be in their uniform at the start of next season, but with all this uncertainty with a lockout that might not be the case. Judging my his comments there it doesn't sound like he is in a huge rush.

One guy who is trying to get him over is Kevin Love...

"I still text him every now and then," Love said. "Not too often, once or twice a month. I've always said I hope he comes over sooner rather than later so we can get this thing started (ESPN)."

Damn right he wants to "get it started", because whenever his contract is up you better believe he is going to run for the hills. So, if Rubio wants to play with a player like Kevin Love he better hurry up.

Ricky Rubio To Barcelona

Ricky Rubio won't be coming to the NBA until 2011 at the earliest, sources told ESPN.com Monday.

Rubio and the Minnesota Timberwolves were informed late Monday night in Spain that Rubio's former club, DKV Joventut, had agreed to trade his rights to FC Barcelona.

Rubio will be able to get out of his Barcelona contract in the summer of 2011, when the fifth pick of last June's draft will be free to join Minnesota. ESPN

This sucks for the Timberwolves who really thought they were getting their whole back court when they took Johnny Flynn and Ricky Rubio back to back, but it now looks as if Rubio will not be eligable to play for Minnesota until 2011. Rubio didn't want to go to Sota, and they knew it, so I'm not gonna make Rubio the bad guy here, when this can all be credited to Minnesota's stupidity.

Timberwolves Still Can't Get Rubio

"Minnesota Timberwolves president David Kahn said point guard Ricky Rubio's buyout situation is "still very problematic" and he remains unsure of when the fifth overall pick will come to the United States. Rubio has two years remaining on his contract with DKV Joventut Badalona, his professional team in Spain, and has yet to be able to negotiate down a buyout number that is at least $6.6 million.

"I believe his representatives are working diligently to get a solution. I have no idea at this point whether a solution can be reached. But I believe we kind of know what the parameters are and I think that we have a chance," Kahn said Monday after announcing that Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis will be the team's next head coach. "But I wouldn't even begin to state the percentage toward that chance of this being accomplished this season versus next season or even two seasons. It's still very problematic (Sportsline)."

The Timberwolves have to get this done, but I really don't see how they can. The NBA only allows them to use 500,000 to buy out his contract and obviously DKV Joventut Badalona knows that he is worth way more then that. The Timberwolves saw this coming, so they drafted another PG, but they had to know the rules, and they had to know it would be real tough, so why do it? I don't get it, but they HAVE to find a way to get this deal done...

Celtics Trading For 2nd Pick In The Draft?

"The Grizzlies still are entertaining offers for the No. 2 pick as well as their 27th and 36th selections. As the rumor mill churns, the Griz have been approached by several teams about acquiring the second overall pick. Boston, Houston and New York are said to be among the most recent suitors. Boston and Houston would likely have to offer an established NBA player or two, given that neither team owns a first-round pick. New York owns the eighth pick and likely would want to move up for the opportunity to take Rubio (Celticsblog.com)."

The only way I see the Celtics getting the 2nd overall pick is if Rondo was involved in this deal. I just can't see the Celtics dealing Rondo, so I am going to call bullshit on this one, but just for fun lets try to think of why the Celtics would want to do this....

If they did agree to a deal that sent Rondo to Memphis for the 2nd overall pick is if Ainge convinced Rubio is a future all-star, and is convinced that Rondo is going to sign a huge deal in restricted free agency next summer.

I don't think any of that is true, but the rumor is being floated around a lot, and a lot of times when there is smoke there is fire, so maybe the Celtics do have concerns about Rondo's contract...

My Thoughts On Ricky Rubio

I normally hate foreign players. But Ricky Rubio is the exception. Rubio is going to be one of my favorite players in the NBA next year for one simple fact. He is compared to Pistol Pete.

Look at Rubio's highlights:


Look at Pistols:


I think we got something here America.