AP Source: Rubio Agree To Terms With Timberwolves
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Ricky Rubio is coming to Minnesota, after all.
The Spanish playmaker has agreed to join the Timberwolves next season, ending a long, delicate, two years of negotiations with the team of observers believe that many league had not wanted to play in Minnesota.
A person with knowledge of the agreement confirmed to The Associated Press Wednesday night that Rubio will be here next season as the Timberwolves Woebegone a needed dose of good news. The person requested anonymity because neither Rubio Timberwolves or planned to make an official announcement, but continues to play in the playoffs Regal Barcelona Spanish League.
The Timberwolves drafted fifth overall Rubio two years ago, even if its buyout agreement with Spanish, which supplements the $ 6,000,000. Rubio has caused a huge buyout to remain abroad and not immediately enter the NBA, and said that the teenager does not want to play early in Minnesota.
The uncertainty of the current work to complicate the negotiations. However, Rubio has finally decided he was ready to come now.
Timberwolves spokesman Mike Cristaldi said the team was declining comment.
"What we have nothing to report," Cristaldi said.
News is a successful landing of a long and often daliance between the Timberwolves and Rubio. When your owner Glen Taylor, coach Kurt Rambis, assistant GM Tony Ronzone, Wolves chairman David Kahn spent almost two years to convince Rubio realize his dream of playing in the NBA, Minnesota.
The Wolves were careful not to put too much pressure on young people still point out how the team is eager to put the chip suitable for the United States.
Kahn called Rubio "a virtuoso, and someone special" After drafting him in 2009. He and agent Dan Fegan became a contract to bring the NBA during the summer Rubio, but Rubio has withdrawn at the last moment decided that he did not want to pay the buyout that exceeded the $ 6,000,000 out of pocket.
This led to speculation that Rubin did not play in cold markets, the children in Minnesota and was in the hope of forcing a trade to a larger market and more desirable. But never Rubio said he and the team remains confident that the odds Rubio one day join them.
"Ricky Rubio, eh?" Timberwolves All-Star Kevin Love tweeted late on Wednesday. "I think when I see it ..."
Your tweets continued: "Just thinking about taking rolls and ... good night.
Choose .... N. ... Rolls. "
The current rules the NBA, the Timberwolves can only contribute $ 500,000, and Rubio was acquired by Regal Barcelona. But to remain in Spain for another two years, buyout Rubio has now fallen more manageable $ 1,400,000.
Personal knowledge of the negotiations said that the Timberwolves are woking with several local companies some opportunities for entry, which would help pay that bill.
The negotiations were suspended on Tuesday types, when Rubio is expected to sign the agreement in order to put the current rookie pay scale salary.
He faces a difficult decision - signs with Wolves and lock in guaranteed money rookie contract that, although the risk of losing games in his first NBA season to a lockout potential, or wait to see what place in the state of the league uncertain labor.
While waiting, however, could not pay the money in the long term, if the owners have failed in their bid for a big wage concessions for the players, or if the field production of Rubio has continued to slide as this season, which would undermine its bargaining power.
Rubio averaged 6.5 ppg modest 39-percent shooting, while dealing with a foot injury. With Rubio comes off the bench, Regal Barcelona reached the final of the Spanish league, which means it will probably mid to late June before it can be introduced by the Timberwolves, who thinks he 's going flourish in the most general open the NBA, where the guards are allowed much more freedom on the board.
"It became bigger and played excellent defense, and because it is a guard at first step - to be loved by everybody who plays with him," said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski last year. Krzyzewski also coached the U.S. team against Rubio and Spain in Beijing.
Rubio has dominated the junior circuit in Europe and turned professional at age 14 His impressive style and the baby's face, made him a sensation in Europe, and even though its stock has plunged this year, the wolves I'm excited as ever.
"It's an extraordinary player and a very good point guard," Lakers forward and colleagues Spainiard Pau Gasol said earlier this season. "Very unselfish. He had great size, great length. He knows how to play the game very well. He has a great feel for the game is just a guy that will enable the team going and do what he must do. "
The news was a shock is needed for a franchise of fighting. The Timberwolves finished with the worst record in the league last season, and the story of the fate of the lottery goes wrong when the Cavaliers beat jump the first choice in the draft.
The team won only 32 games in the last two years and desperately needs a leader capable of powering the ball to Kevin Love and Michael Beasley.
With Rubio now in the mix, the first of many needs can be delisted.
There was also some justification for Kahn, who has suffered a barrage of criticism for drafting Rubio at number 5 and another point guard, Jonny Flynn, sixth overall. Skeptics, Rubio said he does not play in Minnesota, but Kahn remained calm and patient and got his man at the end.
