JDeuce's Blog
  • 01:05 PM ET  07.02
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I think this "situation" Ricky Rubio is in revolves more around how his agent Dan Fegan handled the draft than playing in Minnesota or with Jonny Flynn.

Rubio's camp (at Fegan's choice) refused to talk to numerous teams at the top of the draft. The problem is no one got a real look at Rubio. Who's fault is that?

Rubio is young and has some great skills but still has plenty of work to do on his game. I think he fell to the fifth pick because of how his agent handled the draft and specifically the lack of communication with the teams at the top. Yet those teams are supose to pick his client (and more importantly PAY HIM) because he is billed as one of the top talents.The Wolves had to take him there at 5 despite not getting the opportunity to work him out, interview him or examine his euro contract. Again who's fault is that? I know the wolves tried repeatedly to communicate with Rubio's camp but to no avail. But somehow the wolves are supose to trust that Rubio wants to play for Minnesota. Riiiight.
 
He didn't like Memphis, so no communication there, the Thunder weren't a great fit for him but that was probably his best bet for getting picked high (to pay off the buy out). Rubio and his agent did enough wrong to convince the Kings they didn't want to take him (the one team he worked out for and word is his performance was weak-sick or not). Again if Kahn had not taken him at 5 the mob outside target center would've burned the place down. Only when we landed the 5th pick did Rubio's agent bother to return the wolves repeated calls yet from what I can gather Rubio's camp did very little to help the wolves assess Ricky or his unique situation.

If Rubio's agent is angling for a trade his main threat is his client to go play overseas...which he might have to do anyways.

Kahn put the wolves in the best position to deal with that scenario.  The wolves retain Rubio's NBA rights. If its not a bluff and he needs to go play over seas to work off his debt on the buy out, so be it.  The wolves welcome him when he is ready to play in the NBA and we've got Flynn to run the team and get acclimated in the time in between.

Kahn came out right after the draft and said as soon as Ricky walks in the door he will be the wolves starting point guard. There really should be no issue about playing time or who he plays with.

Rubio might have to play a year or two in Europe. He also might have requested a trade regardless of who we drafted at #6 as well. No one but Kahn and Rubio's agent know what was said before, during or after the draft. The fact that we picked Flynn right after Rubio tells me Fegan was already playing hard ball or continuing his 15 year old girl tactic of not talking to anyone. Given how Rubio's camp has conducted themselves so far the Wolves were absolutely right to go with the next best point guard on our board.

So now Rubio's camp is upset there is another guard here. Too bad. Maybe if Rubio's camp bothered to communicate with the wolves (or the other teams) before the draft they could've talked about the direction of the franchise, what they expect of him, what Rubio expects from his new team etc etc.

Instead of talking with Rubio about giving it his best in MN its sounding more and more like Fegan is scared of Flynn out playing/producing Rubio. If that is the case, its a great thing we picked Flynn as it sounds like Fegan thinks he is the better player.

I hope Kahn and Rubio are able to work something out where he gives the wolves organization a chance and he plays here. Maybe it is just issues with the buy out complicating this situation? But from how Fegan has conducted himself on behalf of Rubio, I'm led to believe we (meaning the wolves and their fan base) were suppose to be a speed bump to Rubio's big market team/success. If thats the case I applaud Kahn and how he has handled the situation so far, and if that really is the scenario Rubio can go play in Europe til the wolves get an offer they deem worthy of moving him (and that doesn't guarantee its to a team Ricky would like).

Kahn is smart enough not to say those things and point fingers. I like his approach so far to try and work this situation out to the best case scneario for the wolves. I would hope that means Ricky ends up playing for the wolves. If not then Fegan has done a great job of over playing his client's cards and they can sit and wait in Europe or come play here. Pick one.

 

July 3, 2009  03:20 PM ET

Agree with your blog, dude. You're a good writer, and you've got potential to be a big time blogger. Keep it up!

July 6, 2009  10:50 AM ET

two points

-- Marc stein had a COPY of Rubio's contract- so Kahn saying HE could not is either laziness or an outright lie.

-- Its the Wolves JOB to know everything about a player- Andre Smith fell in the NFL draft and NBA picks are MUCH more valuable than NFL picks- especially for rebuilding teams. If the player has bad surroundings making what 89K? How will they improve making 10 TIMES that?

July 6, 2009  03:13 PM ET

Kahn and the wolves have different regulations to abide by than a reporter. If Stein got a copy it was more than likely from Rubio's camp directly or by some very resourceful sluthing. The wolves can't go digging to find that, they would have to be supplied that info by the agent to my understanding.

July 6, 2009  08:37 PM ET
QUOTE(#3):

Kahn and the wolves have different regulations to abide by than a reporter. If Stein got a copy it was more than likely from Rubio's camp directly or by some very resourceful sluthing. The wolves can't go digging to find that, they would have to be supplied that info by the agent to my understanding.

Lets see,
I'm about to drop a MINIMUM of 10 Million and a significant draft pick on a player- and I can;t find out how big a check I have to write just to get him OVER here?

Somehow I doubt that.

 
July 7, 2009  10:53 AM ET

You're mistaken, NBA teams can only pay $500,000 towards a players buyout not one penny more. Thats part of the issue here, Rubio has to produce that money for the buyout on his own.

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