JohnnyHector Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-41-152/Minnesota-s-Unrequited-Love-for-Ricky-Rubio.html The day before the NBA draft, Ricky Rubio played word association. I said "Sacramento," and he said "Nice weather." I said "Oklahoma City," and he said "My best friend lives near there." I said "Minnesota," and he said "Too cold." It was fairly meaningless. Watch it on video, and you'll see it was a throwaway line. Now that sentiment is emerging as something of a major theme of draft night. Does Ricky Rubio hate Minnesota? When the fifth pick of the NBA draft was announced, Minnesota fans went crazy. They had the their dream player. But the relationship quickly began to feel like unrequited love. Shortly after the pick, Rubio met the media. At a moment like that, tradition, public relations sense, and just about everything else dictate smiling and saying how much you love your new city -- even if you can't wait to demand a trade. But the 18-year-old Spaniard was not playing that game. "Are you excited to go to Minnesota?" he was asked. It was a fair question. It's a team with quality big men, and a mandate for change. What more could a young point guard want? "I'm excited," he responded, "to come to the NBA." He said his mother hated cold weather. He was asked about whether being picked by the T-Wolves might inspire him to stay in Europe. He said: "I don't know yet. I have to think about that ... I'm going to talk to my agent about that and we're going to see." He also said he was very surprised that the team had drafted another point guard in Jonny Flynn. He evaded a question about whether or not he'd even come to the NBA -- until the very end of the meeting with reporters when he threw in a line saying "I want to play basketball, and if they give me minutes, I'm going to come." Just minutes later, his father was quoted in the Spanish newspaper Marca saying it was probable Rubio would not come to the NBA this year. Translated, he said: "He might go now or he might remain [in Europe] one more year ... or even two. It's all open, although the most likely scenario is that he stays in Europe more time. We have to talk with the folks in Minnesota... and see what happens, because, at this point, we can go to Minnesota or otherwise." The assumption among those present at Madison Square Garden was that the Timberwolves -- a team long on power forwards and rookie point guards, but short on everything else -- would be trading one of their elite rookie point guards away. Minnesota general manager David Kahn said that was wholly not the case. On ESPN's TV broadcast, he was adamant that he envisioned Rubio and Flynn playing together. "Absolutely!" he said. "Otherwise we wouldn't have done it." He called Rubio potentially a "transformational" player, and was clear that "it was not an attempt to take Ricky to trade him." (There was a report from a TrueHoop reader in Minnesota that Kahn was effusive about Jonny Flynn, and mentioned to the assembled crowd that it was possible Rubio would not come over this season, which was odd as Rubio had said time and again he would come.) Whether Kahn intends to keep Rubio or trade him, it's a good strategy to say he's in Minnesota to stay. Were Kahn to say that he drafted Rubio to trade him, he'd lose leverage in trade negotiations. (He needs his suitors to think that he'd hate to part with Rubio, but for the right price ... we could talk.) Remember when the Bucks drafted Yi Jianlian, and there was much bellyaching about whether not the Chinese player would report to Milwaukee? A year later, Yi was later traded to a team more to his liking, in New Jersey. His hard-bargaining agent was Dan Fegan -- who also represents Rubio. That's no sign the relationship between the Timberwolves and Rubio will end the same way -- culminating in an eventual departure. But it's starting out in similar vein. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 Minnesota has to trade one other point guard eventually you would assume. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 Minnesota has to trade one other point guard eventually you would assume. They traded Ty Lawson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 Rubio needs to keep him mouth shot and prove himself first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyHector Posted June 26, 2009 Author Share Posted June 26, 2009 Minnesota has to trade one other point guard eventually you would assume. Apparently, Kahn loves Rubio and is willing to wait on him for 2 years playing in Europe, with Flynn manning the point until then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InstantClassic Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 What a punk. I hope he stays in Europe. He had already talked the Grizzlies out of taking him. Who is he to decide what team he plays for? He can't shoot worth a lick anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyHector Posted June 26, 2009 Author Share Posted June 26, 2009 Per Rotoworld.com/NY Post: Donnie Walsh said Friday that he will be calling his friend David Kahn to inquire about the availability of Ricky Rubio after reports surfaced that Rubio may return to Europe, unhappy that he was selected by Minnesota. "I haven't spoken to Minnesota; I will," Walsh said. "He took a lot of point guards. I want to ask him why he did that." Rubio would love to play for the Knicks and we published a rumor Thursday that the Knicks might trade Jordan Hill and Nate Robinson for Rubio. David Lee and Al Harrington are other trade candidates for Walsh, so don't be surprised if Rubio ends up in New York this summer. Jun. 26 - 2:24 pm et Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vicious89x Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 Per Rotoworld.com/NY Post: Uh-oh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Bit Special Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 asshat. if he doesnt go to Minny, the NBA should ban him for life. just one more reason to hate the nba. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Jet Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Apparently, Kahn loves Rubio and is willing to wait on him for 2 years playing in Europe, with Flynn manning the point until then. Thanks , I was shocked when they took Flynn ( Niagara Falls native) right after Rubio. This makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
124 Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Hopefully the Knicks can work out some sort of deal with Minnesota for Rubio. Send them the worthless F we picked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Jet Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 asshat. if he doesnt go to Minny, the NBA should ban him for life. just one more reason to hate the nba. Yeah who TF is he to dictate what team he goes to ? Hopefully Minn. just keeps him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
124 Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Yeah who TF is he to dictate what team he goes to ? Hopefully Minn. just keeps him. If a player isn't happy there, the organization should release his rights/deal him. Should John Elway been banned from the NFL for life when he refused to play for Baltimore? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Jet Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 If a player isn't happy there, the organization should release his rights/deal him. Should John Elway been banned from the NFL for life when he refused to play for Baltimore? Point taken Joe but this Rubio's like a nobody in my eyes. Elway and Eli ( I blame Archie for the Eli thing) were top quality QB talents though it still was wrong. Rubios a lousy point guard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arsis Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 If a player isn't happy there, the organization should release his rights/deal him. Should John Elway been banned from the NFL for life when he refused to play for Baltimore? Would have been nice to see the jet win it all in 98 so yeah he should have been banned for life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InstantClassic Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Hopefully the Knicks can work out some sort of deal with Minnesota for Rubio. Send them the worthless F we picked. The kid from Arizona can play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
124 Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 The kid from Arizona can play. Hope so, for now I will continue to believe it was a moronic selection. Bye bye David Lee, unfortunately, and we will, again unfortunately, keep the midget Robinson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Hope so, for now I will continue to believe it was a moronic selection. Bye bye David Lee, unfortunately, and we will, again unfortunately, keep the midget Robinson. Robinson is nasty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyHector Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 Hope so, for now I will continue to believe it was a moronic selection. Bye bye David Lee, unfortunately, and we will, again unfortunately, keep the midget Robinson. I think Hill has the ability to be Amare-like (or light), but hopefully healthy. I liked the pick. And I think you'll be saying goodbye to both Lee and Robinson this off-season, hopefully via sign-and-trades that net some talent and/or expiring contracts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rillo Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I think Hill has the ability to be Amare-like (or light), but hopefully healthy. I liked the pick. And I think you'll be saying goodbye to both Lee and Robinson this off-season, hopefully via sign-and-trades that net some talent and/or expiring contracts. +1 I really hope the Knicks can get something for those guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I hate these type of selfish players. This is a blessed 18 year old kid playing in the NBA, yet he has to choose the team he plays for? They should try living the life we live once in awhile and see what we have to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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