Ricky Rubio Says Playing For Timberwolves in '09 Too "Risky"

Sports Betting News - September 2nd, 2009 - Written by John

Words can be an enigma.

The right ones can beautifully orate a moment. Communicate with clarity. Navigate through a controversy.

The wrong ones, well, insult, imply a wound and drive at a deeper issue.

Like when the Minnesota Timberwolves claimed that their top pick, Ricky Rubio, "backed out" of a deal that would have brought the 18-year old to the NBA, and instead agreed to play in Barcelona.

Or when Rubio countered Wednesday, saying playing for the Timberwolves in 2009 was "risky". Ever since being selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the fifth choice in the NBA Draft, both parties have delivered words with enough ambiguity to turn the saga with the Euro Star into a slow-cooking standoff.

No, the two sides are not at war and won't be. But it does drive the initial perception that Rubio was displeased with his drop on the draft board and that Minnesota knows it.

"When the season ended, I entered the draft with the intention of going to the NBA," Rubio told ESPN Wednesday. "But some things happened that kept me from being ahead of the rest and I ended up No. 5, which I was happy with, but it didn't allow me the chance to go to the NBA. I tried, but in the end it wasn't to be."

Rubio was projected to be drafted as high as no. 2, but fell behind the likes of Tyreke Evans and James Harden. He flew back to Spain immediately following the draft and hasn't returned since, not even to negotiate a buyout from his former club. In order to play in the NBA, Rubio and his new club would have to find a way to rip him away from Spain. The contract he signed with his former club, DKV Joventut called for a high buyout, asking for any suitor who wanted to take Rubio to fork over somewhere between $5-8 million in compensation. NBA rules only allow a team to pitch in $500,000, meaning the young point guard would have to get really creative to make up the remaining figure. Minnesota president, David Kahn, however, told ESPN he believed a deal was reached two days before Rubio changed his mind and spurned the NBA, claiming the Timberwolves offered endorsements and sponsorships that would have enabled the deal to go through. Rubio instead balked and signed with Regal FC Barcelona and told reporters going to the Timberwolves would "complicate" his life.

Complicate could mean a lot of things.

Complicate because of the finances? Because of a desire to become better before getting wet? Or because of profile? Leaving his family, friends, comfort zone and overall way of life would only warrant a high one-playing in the NBA for the kind of salary worthy of a top-3 pick or, at the very least, not being stashed away in the dark corner of the NBA that is Minnesota. Certainly playing in the spotlight of New York City would have been more attractive.

Regardless, Rubio is gone for at least two more years and won't make a splash in the NBA until he is at least 21. As part of the deal with Barcalona, Rubio will be eligible to opt out of his contract and play in the NBA in 2011.

"I won't lie," Rubio told ESPN. "My objective has always been the NBA."

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