Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Ricky Rubio could end up playing in a number of locations next year.
Where is anybody’s guess.
Rubio, the 6-foot-5 Spanish point guard, was chosen No. 5 in the NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
But at this point he could end up A) In Minnesota; B) On another NBA team; C) With his current Spanish outfit, DKV Joventut; D) With another European club.
The New York Post reported Sunday that the 18-year Rubio has received offers to play for both a club in Turkey and Real Madrid.
The Turkish club would pay him $1 million and would put another $2 million toward buying out Rubio’s $6.6 million contract from his current club, according to Tim Shea, the Knicks’ former European scout and now one of Rubio’s consultants. Real Madrid is also involved.
NBA teams are allowed to pay just $500,000 toward a buyout.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press also reported that Rubio and his father, Esteve, flew to Minneapolis to meet with Wolves GM David Kahn. The father is on record saying his son could spend another year or two in Europe.
Knicks GM Donnie Walsh, a former mentor to Kahn, spoke to Kahn on Saturday about Rubio, the Post reported.
Walsh would be interested in a trade, but Kahn says he’s not planning on trading Rubio anytime soon. The Wolves also have former Syracuse point guard Jonny Flynn, the No. 6 pick.
“I think (Kahn) understands he has a gold nugget,” Shea told the Post. “The price of gold is always going up. He’s only 18, so Rubio’s stock will go up next year. He drafted so many point guards because of this. He’s in the driver’s seat. He doesn’t have to trade him to the first suitors.”
The Post also quotes Shea as saying Rubio’s parents have a preference for playing in New York because of its international flavor and access to Barcelona by plane.
“In a meeting back in February, I suggested to the parents New York would be the best place because they have a European style coach in Mike D’Antoni and they agree,” Shea said. The mother loves the idea. She said there’s a direct flight to Barcelona and talked about the shopping and living there.”
Complicating the matter still further is a Pioneer Press report that DKV Joventut may no longer even own the rights to Rubio because of a complicated tax deal.
The Spanish News Agency, EFE, reported June 10 that Rubio’s contract was “sold” to Hacienda and that Rubio had filed a lawsuit because he hadn’t been notified of any of this. Rubio, EFE reported, now had to deal with the Spanish government if he wanted to get out of his contract and come to the NBA.
Joventut denies the story.
Stay tuned as this story is bound to get more interesting.
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
Ricky Rubio could end up playing in a number of locations next year.
Where is anybody’s guess.
Rubio, the 6-foot-5 Spanish point guard, was chosen No. 5 in the NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
But at this point he could end up A) In Minnesota; B) On another NBA team; C) With his current Spanish outfit, DKV Joventut; D) With another European club.
The New York Post reported Sunday that the 18-year Rubio has received offers to play for both a club in Turkey and Real Madrid.
The Turkish club would pay him $1 million and would put another $2 million toward buying out Rubio’s $6.6 million contract from his current club, according to Tim Shea, the Knicks’ former European scout and now one of Rubio’s consultants. Real Madrid is also involved.
NBA teams are allowed to pay just $500,000 toward a buyout.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press also reported that Rubio and his father, Esteve, flew to Minneapolis to meet with Wolves GM David Kahn. The father is on record saying his son could spend another year or two in Europe.
Knicks GM Donnie Walsh, a former mentor to Kahn, spoke to Kahn on Saturday about Rubio, the Post reported.
Walsh would be interested in a trade, but Kahn says he’s not planning on trading Rubio anytime soon. The Wolves also have former Syracuse point guard Jonny Flynn, the No. 6 pick.
“I think (Kahn) understands he has a gold nugget,” Shea told the Post. “The price of gold is always going up. He’s only 18, so Rubio’s stock will go up next year. He drafted so many point guards because of this. He’s in the driver’s seat. He doesn’t have to trade him to the first suitors.”
The Post also quotes Shea as saying Rubio’s parents have a preference for playing in New York because of its international flavor and access to Barcelona by plane.
“In a meeting back in February, I suggested to the parents New York would be the best place because they have a European style coach in Mike D’Antoni and they agree,” Shea said. The mother loves the idea. She said there’s a direct flight to Barcelona and talked about the shopping and living there.”
Complicating the matter still further is a Pioneer Press report that DKV Joventut may no longer even own the rights to Rubio because of a complicated tax deal.
