Ricky Rubio negotiating with Knicks
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:36 am
Hey guys, I translated the article myself for you guys. I did the best I could, but some things could have been lost in translation.
MANY FACTORS INTERVENED IN THE SELECTION OF RICKY AT NUMBER FIVE. MEANWHILE, HE NOW NEGOTIATES WITH NEW YORK
Why Ricky Rubio fell to number five and how he negotiates with New York
Ricky negotiates to leave Minnesota in a 'sign an trade'. The Wolves picked him knowing that he did not want to play there. His ideal destination would be New York, with who he now negotiates. The negotiations with "la Penya" to reduce his contract keep advancing.
BY QUINQUE PEINADO
In these moments, Ricky Rubio is still in New York negotiating an exit to his future. He has it clear: he will not play in Minnesota (he left undeniable signals the night of the draft, like when they asked him for his preferences and while he praised Oklahoma or Sacramento, of Minnesota he only said that it was "very cold") and is working to leave. Where? That is the question.
According to sources lose to the player and the NBA, Minnesota already knew that Ricky would not play there when they picked him. The act of him falling to number five authorized the Wolves to pick a player with great value in the market, with to make a "sign and trade" with another team to obtain a veteran player. With this option, the Spanish player will have a lot to say about his future.
The ideal scenario, and MARCA.com can confirm that it is being negotiated, is making a transfer to New York. David Lee and Nate Robinson (both finish contract, but we would also be talking about a situation of 'sign and trade') seem to be the trade pieces most probable. The Wolves have covered their backs in their space of security with the selection of Johnny Flynn at six, so a point guard is not their priority. The declarations by their general manager David Kahn, in which he says that his interest is to play Flynn and Ricky together, are nothing more than market strategies. They have no basketball sense.
Another example of the divorce of Ricky with Minnesota is that the Spanish player will not be in the traditional cycle of press that the other Draft selections give in the city of origin of the franchise. Johnny Flynn and Wayne Ellington will be there, but no Ricky. Symptomatic.
¿Why at five?
Ricky, like he himself declared, was very excited with going to Sacramento. It was the only franchise that he visited and that he made a soft workout. Why did he not go there? In first place, some sources point that his premier (individual, without companions) was not all that satisfactory, and they considered a risky option his selection.
First, for his financial instability: no one knows what will happen with his clause, and during the afternoon prior to the draft, many American lawyers, in representation with different franchises, consulted expert Spanish lawyers in sports rights/laws over a possible civil subsidiary responsibility of the NBA clubs in the hypothetical litigation between the player and "la Penya"
And second, because the Kings' general manager, the veteran Geoff Petrie (14 seasons in charge) finishes his contract this season. A guy who just made a risky move with coach Paul Westphal could not allow for the number four pick not to come to the NBA or give economic troubles. There were too many risks involved with Petrie's job at stake.
Objective NBA
Right now, though Ricky and his group had talked about coming back to Europe (an evident opinion, and there he will enter his situation with "La Penya", the efforts that they wanted to make for him the big European Clubs) the reality is that his first objective still is playing in the NBA next year. And all those efforts from his agent Dan Fegan center in New York.
His salary, approximately 2.2 million euros for 2 years guaranteed is not not enough to pay the buyout of 4.7 million euros that, don't we foget, in the 1st of July comes up to be 6 million euros. As confirmed by his own father to MARCA.com, the agreement with DKV Joventut is a more than feasible possiility, and the agreements are close. Up to what will la Penya lower the buyout? That is the question, but it seems very unlikely that it will go under the four million euros. A very informed source estimades his debt with Hacienda at six million euros.
Many things to close: acquire the pass to New York, reduce the buyout, make for everything to square away, and the limit is the 30th of June, when his buyout amount becomes more prohibitive.
David Lee and Wilson Chandler is basically two top 10 lottery picks, its good value. Love and Jefferson can't play 48 minutes a game each. Even if Minny doesn't want Lee then using Lee in a 3-way trade could net the Wolves something good too, the guy averaged 16/12 on 56% shooting last year and led the league in double-doubles.