Hooped Up

It was the lack of contractual guarantees and complex tax issues, plus having to pay a portion of his future salary for several years as part of a buyout with the DKV Joventut Spanish basketball team, that caused top draft pick Ricky Rubio to forgo an opportunity to play with the Timberwolvesthis season and instead accept a $1.45 million-per-year deal to play in Barcelona, according to El Mundo Deportivo. Rubio was paid $97,000 last season by DKV Joventut.

St. Paul Pioneer Press

News reports on both sides of the Atlantic on Monday night said Ricky Rubio will stay in Spain and play for a Barcelona team until at least 2011.But as this mysterious serial now stretches into its third full month, a question still remains: Is this really, truly it?

Timberwolves basketball boss David Kahn — in Spain since late last week working to obtain Rubio’s release from his DKV Joventut team — remained mum on the subject Monday night. Read More »

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 FC Barcelona was overstated, a knowledgeable NBA source told ESPN.com.

The Spanish newspaper Marca said Regal FC Barcelona had agreed to pay Rubio’s former team, DKV Joventut, 3.7 million Euros ($5.28 million U.S.) for the rights to the 18-year-old playmaker who was taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the fifth pick of June’s NBA draft.

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Everybody who was dreaming of seeing Ricky Rubio dropping dimes to Al Jefferson and K-Love will probably be disappointed with the following news. According to RealGM, Rubio signed a six-year deal with Regal Barcelona.

The Spanish League team will apparently pay Rubio’s $5.3 buy out from his former squad Joventut. Wolves fans will have to wait until 2011 (when he is eligible for his next buyout) to get another shot at the Spanish Pete Maravich. Congratulations Jonny Flynn, you are now officially the team’s starting point guard.

Dime Magazine + Real GM

Project Ricky Rubio to the Minnesota Timberwolves 2009 has officially died.

In the latest episode of the Ricky Rubio soap opera, the Spanish newspaper El Periodico is reporting that the frustrated point guard has informed his current Spanish team of his intention to fulfill the final two years of his contract. The report goes on to note, however, that Rubio’s future with DKV Joventut is far from assured, given that team president Jordi Villacampa issued a statement last week that the player’s career with the club obviously has ended.

In two years, will Rubio be the guy that rescues the T-Wolves? No. Will he be better? Yes. Will he still be overrated? Oh hell yeah.

Via St. Paul Pioneer Press

Gillette hooking up with baby faced Ricky Rubio for a razor commercial means Rubio madness is getting out of hand. Why? Well I’m pretty sure consumers that are buying a product endorsed by Rubio, want to know that he has actually used it before. This is on par with a lactose intolerant athlete endorsing Milk.

Marketing execs at Gillette, you’re better than that!

Via Ball Don’t Lie

There was excitement knowing that Ricky Rubio would be available to the Wolves. When they took the 18 year old point guard from Spain with that fifth pick, applause erupted. There is an excitement about Rubio who is said to be a very exciting player. He made a strong impression during the 2008 Olympics. The ceiling is very high for him, but he likely has a lot to learn before getting to that level.

Star Tribune

The Knicks have not given up hope on Ricky Rubio and are still trying to interview the 18-year-old Spanish point guard phenom this week before Thursday’s NBA Draft, according to a source. Rubio will be in New York for the draft but hasn’t worked out for teams. Rumors are circulating that Rubio could fall because of the complexity of his $6 million buyout and the Kings are no lock to take him at No. 4. Rubio has sued his Spanish club and a court hearing is scheduled for tomorrow. A Spanish source said he would not be surprised if Rubio starts the preseason in Spain. If the Kings pass, Rubio, some people in the league predict, could fall as low as eight to the Knicks, who are trying to trade up for Stephen Curry or the Spaniard.

New York Post

If Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio indeed comes to the America and visits NBA teams before the draft, the Grizzlies expect to be part of the tour.

The 18-year-old’s plans are still foreign to Griz general manager Chris Wallace, but several media outlets say Rubio and his family are scheduled to board a flight June 13 bound for the United States.There are Internet and Spanish reports that contendRubio would skip Memphis and visit only Los Angeles, Oklahoma City and Sacramento — teams that own the first, third and fourth picks.

Wallace, though, said Monday afternoon that no one from Rubio’s camp has indicated the Spaniard would bypass Memphis — owners of the No. 2 overall selection.

“I don’t have anything set up. But it’s open-ended. If he’s in the country, we definitely want him here,” said Wallace, who is seriously considering selecting Rubio with the Grizzlies’ lottery pick in the June 25 draft.

Commercial Appeal

Lakers center Andrew Bynum said Wednesday that he plans to begin basketball-related activities Friday, the next step in his recovery from a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. “I’m going to increase my lateral movement come Friday and I’m going to try to get back on the court and do a little bit of drills on Friday as well,” Bynum said during an interview with John Ireland and Steve Mason of KSPN (710-AM). Bynum said his participation in a full practice with his teammates is still a few weeks away, and he remains hopeful of playing in an undetermined number of regular-season games next month. The Lakers end their season April 14. “As far as when I’m coming back, it’ll be as soon as I’m ready, man,” Bynum said. “It will definitely be some time in the middle of April.”
Los Angeles Daily News

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