Risky move as Wolves forced to wait for Rubio

Ricky Rubio will remain in Spain by choice. Despite an apparent deal clearing the path to join the Timberwolves this season, the 18-year-old phenom is staying put for at least two more years.

Minnesota general manager David Kahn added the latest twist in the Rubio saga with Tuesday's statement and subsequent conference call detailing the negotiations that had Rubio on the cusp of the NBA before a last-second u-turn. According to Kahn, a deal was being finalized after a weekend agreement was reached between the Wolves and Joventut Badalona, Rubio's former team, to buyout the last two years of his contract.

"While the term sheet was being finalized Monday night, Ricky informed me that, despite considering us his first option the previous weekend -- and, admittedly, after some back and forth throughout the summer -- he preferred to stay at home to play for FC Barcelona, which earlier this summer had made a buyout offer to Joventut," Kahn said via a statement. "He also reaffirmed that it was his intention to join us in Minnesota two years from now when he will be 20.

"This morning I met with Ricky and his parents and told them that I understood Ricky's decision. It was clear to me yesterday and in this morning's meeting that the pressure surrounding Ricky and his family to remain in Spain for at least two more years had only intensified as the summer wore on and was weighing heavily on them."

But no matter how it's spun, Rubio's two-year European vacation isn't a good thing for the Timberwolves and its rookie general manager. Minnesota needed the No. 5 pick to take his first NBA dribbles this season. Not in 2011.

That's now the best-case scenario. News had filtered across the Atlantic of Rubio's trade from one Spanish club (Joventut) to another (Barcelona) and, as was the case under his original contract, Rubio won't be able to leave Europe until the summer of 2011 at the earliest.

The prohibitive buyout that handicapped the Wolves from the beginning was seen as the major hurdle in landing Rubio. Minnesota was only allowed to contribute $500,000 towards the $8.1 million buyout, per NBA rules. The rest would have conceivably come out of Rubio's pockets. Barcelona, according to reports out of Spain, offered nearly $5.3 million to secure his rights.

The Barcelona contract comes with a reduced buyout in 2011 of $1.4 million (1 million Euros). Rubio is under no obligation to play for Minnesota in two years.

"I have nothing but his word that he wants to come," Kahn told reporters on a conference call from Spain. He also admitted being disappointed by the turn in events.

Kahn acknowledged that the financial offer put together by Minnesota, along with Rubio's agent Dan Fegan and potential sponsors, actually exceeded Barcelona's package. Rubio, though, had to approve of transfer and choose to stay home.

So it turned out Rubio was the snag that Kahn couldn't overcome.

"It was a very hard choice all summer long and it needs to be viewed in the prism of an 18-year-old young man who has a family in Barcelona and who went into the Draft thinking that if he were drafted one or two he would definitely come over," Kahn said.

Rubio, instead, accepted the transfer to his hometown Barcelona club, and the comfort of playing in Spain and the Euroleague for the next two years. Kahn reiterated several times the stress the potential move to the NBA had placed on Rubio's family.

Kahn knew he was rolling the dice when the Spanish point guard was selected to lead off the team's Draft haul back in June. Many pegged the playmaker as the second-best player behind Blake Griffin and the second coming of Pistol Pete Maravich.

Getting the second-best talent with the fifth selection sounds like a coup for a first-time GM trying to kick start a stagnant franchise and energize a disenchanted fan base. And though the costly buyout with Joventut was always an issue, Kahn and Rubio's representatives vigorously began to work out a deal in a challenging negotiating environment termed as "fluid."

As word began to filter out that Rubio wasn't interest in playing in Minnesota -- rumors that eventually subsided -- Kahn arranged a trip to Spain shortly after the Draft. Though little progress was made on buyout negotiations, Kahn termed the overseas meetings as positive. It also because evident that Rubio had warmed, at least publicly, to the idea of suiting up in the land of 10,000 (frozen) lakes.

Kahn wasn't done with transcontinental paella. Two more flights to Spain followed, including one last weekend that sparked hope in the Twin Cities that the reported deal with Barcelona wasn't done just yet. Kahn was perhaps on the verge of an 11th hour switcheroo to export arguably Europe's best-ever guard prospect.

That's not gonna happen, at least for this season, and Kahn has to deal with the fallout. He's said from the beginning that Minnesota was prepared to wait those two years after drafting Rubio, but Kahn clearly wanted to broker a deal before the start of training camp later this month.

"When we received signals from Ricky this summer that he was considering accelerating his path to the NBA and joining us sooner, we threw ourselves into this process willingly and energetically, including meeting with Joventut on four separate occasions," Kahn said.

The two-year wait isn't without its inherent problems for both the Wolves, Kahn and new coach Kurt Rambis. The franchise is building around its young players, namely Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, Rubio and fellow lottery choice/point guard Jonny Flynn. These next two seasons are crucial to their development together.

Not having Rubio playing and practicing with his future teammates not only potentially stunts his growth, but slows down the rebuilding job. It may also put undo pressure on Flynn, who was expected to share the quarterbacking duties with Rubio. If Flynn prospers, does Rubio become expandable?

Kahn said that Rubio likely would have gone into camp as the starting point guard. That job may not be there in two years. Maybe the 6-foot-4 Rubio develops into a combo guard capable of playing with Flynn. Maybe a trade is on the horizon. Kahn isn't making any promises.

"We have a season t play and we have a roster of players," Kahn said, "and I told Ricky today that he has to understand I can't be thinking about him."

Barcelona has already shown its willingness to step up to the plate financially for Rubio. Though he's maintained his desire to play in the NBA, two years with his new club could lead to another change of heart. Rubio and Fegan would also have increased bargaining power to broker a deal out of Minnesota if the Wolves aren't any further down the road to respectability.

Kahn, assuming he's still the GM, may have no choice but to trade Rubio's rights if Rubio's camp plays the we're-happy-in-Europe card. Rubio won't turn 21 until just before the 2011-12 season, so he can afford to wait on the NBA if he so chooses. Rubio could be in position to pick his NBA landing spot -- Lakers, Knicks, etc. -- while making a comfortable living as his legend grows in Europe.

Kahn doesn't regret drafting Rubio and going through the ever-changing soap opera that engulfed the franchise throughout the summer.

"No question we would have done this again," he said.

Rubio maintained his commitment to Minnesota in a statement also released by the team.

"The reason leading me to take this next step is to have a period of preparation to better take the challenge of the NBA in better conditions as a player," he said. "The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to be my first option and I wish to play with them in the near future."

At lot can happen in the next two years for the most famous Spanish basketball player to never put on an NBA uniform. The Wolves and Kahn can only hope one day it's theirs.

If you have a question or comment for Art Garcia, send him an email.