Where will Ricky Rubio be playing basketball next year? Will he be playing basketball next year? What are all his Timberwolves teammates thinking right about now? And with all this controversy, who has more marketing power: Brandon Jennings or Mr. Rubio? Those answers and more, as Slam and Freaknick look at the different sides of the Rubio tug-of-war.
World class talent, incredible court vision, Maravich like passing ability, the next great European basketball player; these are all phrases that have been connected with Ricky Rubio over the past month. There is still one phrase missing, where is he going to play next season? There have been reports all across the news that Rubio will be either finish out his contract in Badalona with DKV Joventut for the next two seasons, or that he is willing to accept Joventut’s buyout terms and come play for the Timberwolves, or that he is looking to play for another team in Spain or Europe. Let’s look at each of these possibilities and see how likely they are to happen next season:
What team will Ricky Rubio be directing next year?
1. Rubio Plays for DKV Joventut-If Rubio were to go back to his old team and play in Badalona again next season he would be playing for a mediocre salary in the 100,000 to 200,000 dollars range. The kicker is that he wouldn’t have to pay the $5.7 million dollar buyout he owes the team, so really he’s saving money there. If Rubio were to stay with Joventut he would probably be there for the next two years to avoid paying his buyout. Joventut is not in the Euroleague though next season and will only be competing in the still very competitive Spanish ACB League. The only reason Rubio would stay with Joventut is because he is trying to save money, otherwise I see him playing elsewhere next season. Chances he stays with DKV: 20 %.
2. Rubio Plays for Another European Team- There has been talk that teams in the Euroleague including Spanish teams Unicaja Malaga and Real Madrid are interested in Rubio’s services. Other teams in Turkey and Russia have shown interest but if Rubio were to stay in Europe for another year or two he would probably stay in his home country of Spain. These teams are offering 1 to 2 million dollar deals that have player termination options after the first year, so Rubio could go to the NBA. Rubio would still be playing against some of the best players in the world and getting paid a fairly large chunk to do so. Rubio will go to another European team if his lawsuit with Joventut gets settled and if he still does not like his situation with Minnesota. Chances he goes to another European Team: 30%.
3. Rubio Plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves-This is Ricky Rubio’s dream of playing in the NBA sitting right in front of him and he just has to figure out a way to make it happen. Two things are holding Rubio back from playing for Minnesota next season; his buyout and the fact that it seems like he doesn’t want to play for the Timberwolves. Rubio was turned off by Minnesota because they drafted another point guard in the next pick after Rubio in Jonny Flynn, they play in the snowy city of Minneapolis, and they aren’t a big American market. Rubio is getting way too picky about what American city he wants to play basketball in and he just needs to come over to America and show that he can play in the NBA. It doesn’t look like Minnesota is interested in trading him either, so he will have to stick it out in Minneapolis. I think his desire in to play in the NBA is too high for him to not come over as soon as he can, even if he might not want to play in Minnesota. Chances Rubio play in for Minnesota next season: 50 %.
Ricky Rubio. On my television. In what appears to be his first American television spot since being drafted, Ricky flashed on the screen for about a second in a 30-second Gillette commercial (and boy-oh-boy was it an inspiring second).
At 18, Rubio is anxiously awaiting that first sign of peach fuzz, and until that happens Gillette can plaster close-ups of his silky mug on billboards from Minneapolis to Madrid.
So as Gillette reaps the benefits of puberty’s tardiness, Rubio faces a pricy buyout (6.6 million, soon to be 7.9) from his Spanish team, DKV Joventut, and it’s creativity that will pull him out of this financial rut and get him into a T’Wolves jersey next season. I put on my thinking cap and came up with a few ideas:
Nutrisystem for Men’s Euro Platinum Edition. The pre-packaged meals designed specifically for European basketball prospects. We’ll fill out your frame by the All-Star break or your money back!
Survivor Man: Ricky vs. Minny. Rubio (and his mom) are convinced that the Twin Cities boast an arctic climate, and Discovery Channel or National Geographic needs to put together a miniseries documenting his struggles with the chilly walks to and from his BMW.
Brett and Ricky’s Minnesota Magic 8-Ball. Will Ricky play in Minnesota this year? Will Brett Favre be a Viking? Just shake the 8-ball to find out where your favorite waffling Minnesota athlete will be this season. And remember to check back every day, as the answer is never the same! GUARANTEED! This year’s hot holiday seller.
10:38 – Dante Cunningham is going to be a solid NBA Player. He plays well above his talent level and never quits. He has a nice runner in the lane and will play the 3 or 4 in the pro’s.
Jonas where are you hiding?
10:41 –Jonas Jerebko where are you? This draft has been so crazy weird but we can’t have you drop too much farther Jonas. Sweden needs you to get drafted.
We start off with pick 22, as our 2nd Euro gets drafted:
9:35 – Come on Omri Casspi. Supposedly the Trail Blazers traded up a couple picks to get Casspi. Let’s make it happen Kevin Pritchard.
9:39 – Yea sir Victor is going to dominate the league. Did I say that out loud, but yes he’s going to stay in Europe for a year and come back over. He is 6’10” and is a PF who can step out to the 3 and dunk over anyone around. Claver will fit nicely into the Blazers as he, Rudy, and Sergio can go clubbing Spanish style all the time in Portland. The Three Amigos take over Portland.
The
Amigos
Three
9:44 – YEA BABY YEA!!! As a Jewish American Omri Casspi getting drafted is a dream for all of us Jews. Omri gets drafted by the Kings and is looking to play right away. Casspi can run the fast break very well and can finish above the rim. His calling card is hustle and energy as he will run through a wall for your team. Let’s hope that translates to a lot of defense. What Euro’s are next?
The sad truth is, once David Stern butchered the name of the Cavs first rounder, I grabbed my cell phone and my computer. Neither device could immediately satisfy my Christian Eyenga curiosity.
So I made some calls, checked all the prospect sites (because ours admittedly didn’t foresee Danny Ferry’s genius), and here are Freaknick’s Five Fun Facts, Christian Eyenga style:
1. I spoke to a Euroleague source who says he recognized some of the clips that ESPN showed after Cleveland took him with the 30th pick. ”I was at some of those games,” he told me. ”And I don’t remember Christian Eyenga.” Hmmm.
2. Christian hails from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Did you know that the DRC is the largest French-speaking nation in the world, with 66 million folks? Take THATCeline Dion.
3. There are only two other Congolese players in the NBA: 1) 4-time Defensive POY Dikembe Mutombo and 2) NBA Champion and Laker legend, DJ Mbenga. While these two are known mostly for their defense, however, Eyenga is an offensive dynamo, averaging an astonishing 0.8 PPG in 4 games for DKV Joventut of the ACB League.
4. After extensive Googling and YouTubing, I couldn’t find that LeBron post-game interview I was looking for. Remember? After they lost to the Magic? When he said, “The only way we’re going to take our team to the next level is if we draft a virtual unknown Congolese player who averages under one point per game and probably won’t suit up in an NBA uniform until I’m a Knick.”
5. If you YouTube Christian Eyenga, the first video that comes up is the inspiring tale of two hippies who raise a lion cub named Christian. Frankly, it was the more entertaining of the two videos below.
