Oops Rubio to play for Barcelona till 2011?

[Chaoot]

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/61305/20090826/rubio_signs_with_regal_barcelona_affordable_buyout_in_2011/

[kibaxx7]

Yes, it's official, but the contract has a clause if Minnesota goes to sign him... that's what Spanish newspapers say

[nextnba]

Is he worth all this fuss....all this work for a 10pg and 5 asst. player..

[Lamrock]

How do you know that he would be a 10/5 player?

[Patr1ck]

Tony Parker put up around 15/7 before being drafted by the Spurs and look at him now.

[bowdown]

Man sucks so hard. i wanted to see him play. This euro BS

[shadowgrin]

Rubio's superdickery.

[Andrew]

For what it's worth, Kahn is denying that such a deal has been done. Still, for the moment it doesn't look altogether promising for the situation to be resolved and Rubio make his NBA debut this season.

[Alpha_]

so more playing time for Flynn.. Rubio

[Andrew]

Rubio

That was my initial reaction when the situation first arose, but it's not completely fair. The Timberwolves were aware of the difficult situation with Rubio's contract yet they still picked him anyway. Getting drafted isn't a binding contract to join the NBA right then and there or ever for that matter. However, it's still kind of odd to declare for the Draft - suggesting that you want to come to the NBA - when you know the problematic situation it's going to cause as far as a buyout is concerned. I suppose it gives you options a couple of years down the road but by then you might not want to go to the team that holds your rights anyway. With the difficulty of the buyout in mind, it would've been better if Rubio waited another year or two before declaring as I'm sure the interest would still be there.

[T-Time3]

did he actually interested to play in NBA ??

[Andrew]

Presumably he does, else he wouldn't have entered the Draft. It's possible that he's in no rush to make his NBA debut though, having declared despite his current contract situation which obviously makes it more difficult to come to the NBA without paying a lot of money out of his own pocket.

[Alpha_]

hmmm... tsk.. tsk.. he chooses Regal Barcelona over NBA

[Andrew]

I don't think it's been confirmed yet. But even if that deal has been done, there's a clear financial reason as to why.

[Andrew]

Well, it appears to have been confirmed now: Rubio to stay in Spain for two more seasons

For the moment, it's going to look like a wasted pick by the Timberwolves and will continue to do so until (unless?) Rubio joins them in 2011 and proves that he was worth the wait. In the best case scenario, that's what will happen; they'll get Rubio without a complicated buyout situation and he'll be a little more seasoned and ready to contribute. Of course, by then Flynn might have established himself as their point guard of the future. I guess with two picks in the top ten, they felt they could gamble like that.

[The X]

I think he's still worth the pick at 5. It wasn't that strong a draft at all. Frankly I'd prefer Randy Foye right now than Stephen Curry, so no biggie. Curry is a very good 6th man. Who else do T'wolves take with one of their picks? That clown Jordan Hill? Not too much else is going. Good pick.

[Andrew]

They traded Foye to get that pick though...unless you're talking about the Wizards having kept the pick and taken Rubio instead?

I agree that it's a fair enough gamble since the Timberwolves got Flynn anyway. If Rubio had been their only lottery pick then it might not have been such a great move as they would be banking much more heavily on him coming to the team in 2011, remaining healthy and living up to his potential on top of that. A little disappointing though, after all the hype I was looking forward to seeing how he'd perform in the NBA sooner rather than later.

[The X]

After reading a little more, I'm a bit disappointed he didn't go over to NBA. When I wrote that I didn't realise that his agent & Kahn had arranged for a reduced buyout with endorsements & stuff like that. Apparently the pressure of playing for Spanish national team (don't see how it's pressure, he would've played regardless of whether in NBA or Europe) & other stuff. I too would've liked to see have seen him over straight away. Ahh well, at least he'll hopefully be a little more NBA ready when he does arrive in 2 years.

[benji]

Apparently the pressure of playing for Spanish national team (don't see how it's pressure, he would've played regardless of whether in NBA or Europe) & other stuff.

Ask the players who keep running into problems doing this as their NBA teams stand in the way first...

I admit, I don't get the Rubio hype. (And I don't get the Brandon Jennings stuff either.) I refuse to blame the guy though, he was projected as a top three pick, so he entered as that was the only chance he had to get out of Europe. I don't think he was worth that in the draft, but if the draft picked the players in the order of their quality it'd be boring. It appears he may have suggested to the Wolves more than he's now willing to do. So the Wolves are left saying "probably should have taken Curry." (Which would've worked better for both teams imo.)

In the end though, Rubio won't save the Wolves no matter what. Probably better for them they develop multiple talents and then bring in Rubio as the "piece that puts them over" if he actually deserves the hype instead of burning him out on a shit team just so he can go back to Europe for a billion dollars when his rookie contract ends.

Wolves will get a bargain when he comes over if he deserves it.

[Fresh8]

As many articles have stated, the Wolves get Rubio when between the ages of 21-24 instead of 19-22... So he will be cheap when and if he comes over to the NBA when he is 21 or 22. He will be a better player by then (Well, I am assuming he will be) and he should be more of an impact than he would have been if he came over this season.

Puts to rest all the Flynn drama for at least 2 seasons now as well.

Will be interesting to see if the Wolves wait for him or trade him elsewhere.

[Martti.]

I think he should have waited before declaring for the draft, like after his contract-negotiations were over.

[Lamrock]

From a business stand point, he shouldn't have. Someone made a good point in the last Rubio thread about Nemanja Aleksandrov, who kept forgoing the draft and after missing out on a top 5 guaranteed rookie contract, turned out to be garbage, and probably would go undrafted today. If Rubio fails to improve or gets injured in these next two years, it doesn't matter.

[Fresh8]

I think he should have waited before declaring for the draft, like after his contract-negotiations were over.

Well, I think he thought he would have been let out of his contract and too bad the team he played for since his childhood screwed him over by not getting rid of or at least not making the buyout clause any cheaper. As well as handing him over to the Spanish Tax Office as collateral

Lots of players out there who declare and take a while to get to the NBA... I guess with Rubio, it's a plus that he's so young so when he does come over, he will still be young.