It’s time for the Minnesota Timberwolves to trade Ricky RubioAugust 26 09  Breaking news mixed with analysis …Their News: “Although there remains a strong possibility that Ricky Rubio will play in Spain rather than Minneapolis next season, a Spanish media report Wednesday of his agreement to a six-year deal with Regal FC Barcelona was overstated, a knowledgeable source told ESPN.com” (Chris Sheridan, ESPN)My Gut Reaction: Perhaps, Minnesota Timberwolves executive David Kahn should consider moving on. Ricky Rubio has potential. Landing him would be a positive step for a franchise that has taken more public hits than that John guy for cheating on his wife and eight kids. And sure, Kahn personally extended himself by drafting the Spaniard fifth overall, even after reports indicated he had little interest in heading to the frozen Tundra of ‘Sota. Too bad. Currently, Minnesota has momentum. Kahn, the new suit in charge, has injected life into this listless franchise. He hit a homerun hiring Los Angeles assistant coach Kurt Rambis as his bench boss. Things are looking better on-court, too. Al Jefferson and Kevin Love, while both undersized, have shown promise, while Jonny Flynn, the sixth overall pick and a blue-chip table-setter, had a strong summer league. The Rubio situation could halt the momentum. To be fair, much of this isn’t his fault: the NBA has complicated rules that limit the amount teams can pay towards buying European pros out their contracts. The Timberwolves can chip-in just $0.5 million of the $8.0 million buyout DKV Joventut holds on the final two years of Rubio’s deal, leaving the teenager to pick up the remaining tab. There is, however, no limit on the amount European clubs can pay. But the buyout figure appears fluid. According to today’s report (which turned out to be false), Regal FC Barcelona ‘landed’ Rubio by handing DKV Joventut $5.0 million. Still, even this amount is far greater than $0.5 million Minnesota can pay according to the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. Such financial dealings are exhausting, especially when considering the mixed projections on Rubio’s game. Some scouts see him developing into an intelligent and flashy playmaker. Others believe his frame and shaky range could get exposed in the pros. Waiting two years for Rubio’s European buyout to simply expire isn’t an option for the lowly Timberwolves. Flynn, Jefferson, and Love are talented, but have a ways to go. They, along with Kahn and Rambis, need more immediate help. Potential be damned. Kahn and Minnesota should move on and, at a minimum, test the trade waters for Rubio.
Is it time for the Timberwolves to trade Rubio? Get at us in the comment box below with thoughts and follow Oly’s work on HoopsVibe and Twitter. Photo courtesy of rich115.
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KNICKS ARE A JOKE
on 09.5.2009 | he was saying that they would play them together just to up is trade value. DUHHHH hes a buisness man and a proven one. trade foye and miller for curry or deronzan? now i like both those proscpects but when you give up to vets like that you have to snag a rubio like phenom. the knicks have nothing they want. lee is good but love is already better. and the t wolves are the worst team. at least were a small market. your a huge market and cant get players to play there. im pretty sure ISIAH THOMAS is just as bad as mcahle. marbury for the 2010 first rounder. HAHAHA they passed on john wall for marbury . | Posted by
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J. Nguyen
on 09.1.2009 | What a waste, Minny. . | Posted by
Andrew D
on 08.28.2009 | The most ridiculous idea is a trade with the Knicks. The Knicks don’t have a player as good as Rubio probably is right now, let alone when he develops. I find it amusing seeing Knicks fans go into rhapsodies about all their talented players. Seriously, have you WATCHED those guys?They make the Wolves look good. . | Posted by
Snika
on 08.27.2009 | I disagree... first of all, you just compared Rubio to Lebron - dumb. Secondly, you are making the assumption that Rubio is a shoe-in all-star in the near future. Who is to say Nate won’t be, or Aaron Brooks from Houston. Also, some role players are WAY more important than the second or third best players of teams. James Posey, Robert Horry, Shane Battier: all extremely important players to their teams, without ever posting All-Star appearances. Though I think Rubio will a phenomenal pro, it might be 7-8-9 years. Don’t make Rubio a b-ball god before he plays a game in the best league in the world. . | Posted by
LoneWolfCub
on 08.27.2009 | Why would you a potential all-star for a bunch of roleplayers? That’s like the Cavaliers trading Lebron soley to the Knicks for their mediocre players who won’t even stick around the franchise nor help it grow.That doesn’t make any sense at all. . | Posted by
isrw
on 08.27.2009 | Why is it time for that again? Because your attention span is all used up? Because apparently it was already past due even before the canard about Rubio objecting to Minnesota had been dismissed?That’s what you mean by saying the money stuff is "exhausting," basically. Everyone involved knew this was a protracted European buyout situation before the draft. Anyone to whom the Wolves would trade Rubio’s rights would face the same exact problems. Exhausted? What I’m tired of is regurgitated opinions like this one. . | Posted by
brett
on 08.27.2009 | the wolves probably cant win with the critics on this one. the consensus wise move from outside perspectives may be to trade rubio at this point, but i guarentee these same pundits will balk at that trade if rubio does end up as a solid NBA player elsewhere. then he is just another causualty in the long line of twolves draft flubs. the wolves shold hold on to him. the days of McHale hastiness are gone. patience is the name of the game. immediate help? for what? they wont make it to the playiffs this year, even with rubio. being a contender is not on the radar for a couple years. MN will have major cap space to sign a great free agent or two next summer, and, most likely, another lottery pick. do you think the wolves seriously think they stand a chance at winning a title anytime soon. no. and theyre smart to take to understand it. it will make them great in the future. . | Posted by
on 08.27.2009 | Kahn couldn’t pa-------on Rubio and it seems to distress all the national media that NYC didn’t have the chance to take him. There was always a 50% or less chance Rubio would come this year after falling to #5 and having less $ for the buyout. With Flynn, the Wolves have their young PG and they can wait for Rubio. If he comes, Flynn and Rubio will not be spending that much time on the court together, anyway. A trade at this time is what’s nonsense. . | Posted by
Snika
on 08.27.2009 | I agree, trade him. Houston has rumored interest and pieces that Minnesota could like... Battier, Brooks, Scola, Lowry - plenty of possibilities. Also, the Knicks can afford to give more than Rubio’s probable worth, because he would be relatively cheap for the lure he brings for big-time Free Agents. Nate, Chandler, Hughes, JJeffries - there are plenty of combos of players they could offer. . | Posted by
on 08.27.2009 | minny drafted 2 point guards with bassy that time. that was foolish. and minny is not rubio’s ideal place. if he went to NY, maybe there would be no probs, nut he went to Minny, a tainted franchise known for its ridiculous decisions. so ricky rubio bolted. so just trade him. imagine that they even traded two gppd players for him and came back with nothing. . | Posted by
PC
on 08.27.2009 | Kahn should have taken Derozan or Steph Curry along with ONE point guard. . | Posted by
on 08.27.2009 | Drafting 2 point guards has absolutely nothing to do with why Rubio isn’t in MN yet. When you are a young team building for the future you need assets and you draft the best possible player at the draft position you have. The fact is Rubio fell to #5 and Kahn would have been an idiot not to take him at #5. The next best player available was Flynn so the Wolves took him at #6. If Flynn and Rubio can’t play together fine trade one, but you don’t pa-------them up. You’re telling me Sam Young and Terrance Williams is worth more than Rubio? Now who sounds incredibly foolish? The Wolves are on a long term plan, not even 1 or 2 years away from a contender. So if the absolutely WORSE case scenario happens and Rubio wait 2 years to come over, it doesn’t affect the Wolves at all and if a worthwhile trade comes up or he comes over early than even better, but you don’t pa-------him up and miss out on add him as a asset to the franchise. Did you really think the Wolves were one player away from the title and they blew it with Rubio. Idiots. . | Posted by
LoneWolfCub
on 08.27.2009 | First, what a shame Oly. Ricky Rubio has NEVER SAID anything negative about joining the T-Wolves nor playing in Minneapolis. Does the phrase, "too cold" ring a bell? The only place he was ever hesitant about going to was Memphis and that was due to the Pau Gasol relations of the past. Second, if anyone had the fifth pick, of course, they would have taken Rubio. The media’s all worked up because New York wants him. Heck, who doesn’t New York want? They want Wade, Bosh, James. . .the names are endless. I guess now I know how fans of teams like Toronto and Cleveland feel since it appears the whole NBA revolves around the Knicks.And finally, trades aren’t even possible. The Knicks have nobody the Wolves would want anyway. David Lee and Wilson Chandler? Meet Kevin Love, Al Jefferson, and Ryan Gomes. Oh, what about Nate Robinson? Meet Jonny Flynn. As for a first rounder, the Knicks traded it a long time ago. They don’t have any assets at all to work with. . | Posted by
pd
on 08.26.2009 | nate robinson for ricky rubio anyone.... . | Posted by
anen
on 08.26.2009 | Yes they could trade But for who . | Posted by
on 08.26.2009 | Time for rubio to disappear!!!!!! . | Posted by
Jake
on 08.26.2009 | Well I completely agree that a core of FLynn, Love and Jefferson is a terrific starting point. Undersized or not all 3 have shown great potential. From the way I see it, this should have never happened. Kahn was a complete fool for drafting 2 point guards. Now Im certainly not an NBA exec but come on. In todays game its pretty blantly obvious who plays where. A 2 point guard rotation poses massive problems in terms of minutes, ball distribution and shot distribution. Kahn is incredibly foolish for believing this could ever work. Rubio is a once in a lifetime point guard, and Flynn will more than likely have a very solid career. I applaud Kahn for trading Miller and Foye for the 6th pick, if for instance he would have drafted Rubio and possibly a Sam Young or Terrance Williams. Now I know thats pretty high for either of those players but this wasnt a particularly strong draft cla-------and they were both very talented and could fill glaring needs in Minnesota’s rotation. This would never have been a problem if he wouldnt have drafted 2 PG’s. Most people including me think that his thought process is complete nonsense. Flynn and Rubio are both great players, they just dont fit on the same team. . |
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Oly Sandor | Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More |
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