RealGM

http://www.thehoopsreport.com/article.aspx?id=282

"According to sources, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who currently own the No. 3 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft, met with Ricky Rubio on Saturday in Los Angeles to discuss Rubio's buyout situation and their interest in the Spanish point guard, among other things.

The Thunder reportedly had a positive meeting with him and it seems at this point that they are leaning towards drafting Rubio. Whether or not they will keep Rubio is still up in the air, but at this point there is a very strong chance that Rubio will go No. 3 on Thursday."

8% of Oklahoma's population is of Hispanic decent so Rubio won't feel all alone.

Yeah because spanish speaking mexicans sure will make Rubio feel better about settling in the middle of nowhere

dre_1614 wrote:8% of Oklahoma's population is of Hispanic decent so Rubio won't feel all alone.

Was this a serious statement?

rubio has a ton of value to a team like the knicks, i think they'd give up a lot to get him.

slick_watts wrote:rubio has a ton of value to a team like the knicks, i think they'd give up a lot to get him.

the knicks dont have "a lot" to give..

sad, but true.

Lee and Nate can just be out right signed and they dont even own their 2010 pick and Wilson Chandler plays SF

lee and nate can't be used on draft night. they only work in sign and trades after july 1st.

the only, to other teams valuable asset is mobleys insurance covered contract. thats not just cap relief next year but 10millions less this year.

obviously the thunder wouln'd need that one... after that there's only chandler, whos a great talent that most knicksfans would hate to give up

harry lockheart wrote:

dre_1614 wrote:8% of Oklahoma's population is of Hispanic decent so Rubio won't feel all alone.

Was this a serious statement?

yeah why wouldn't it be? I looked up the % of Hispanic people in Oklahoma. If you were going to a foreign country I know you'd feel more comfortable if people could speak your native language.

He seems to speak english well enough to me.

Imo they met with him to know what how they could handle the situation well if memphis picks thabeet. Would he be willing to wait for a trade ? Would he be willing to play for the thunders (probably not) ? Would he refuse to show up and pout on draft night ?

Update from Sacramento Bee:

According to a source close to Rubio, the $6.6 million buyout of the Spanish point guard's contract with his current team, DKV Joventut, will likely be reduced today or tomorrow to an amount where "he knows he'll be able to make the payments," the source said. The resolution of that element of the Rubio equation will, in effect, clear a major obstacle for teams that are considering drafting him Thursday but have concerns about when he would join their team. And that, of course, includes the Kings.

Assuming the details of the arrangement are finalized soon as expected, Rubio would plan on joining his team at NBA Summer League in July just like the rest of the draft field. Yet while Rubio's Kings visit in Sacramento last week was the first with any NBA team in America as they continue to look at options for the fourth pick, they are no longer alone in that regard.

Rubio visited with Oklahoma City representatives on Saturday in Los Angeles, where the Thunder (who pick third) was allowed to examine his DKV Joventut contract just as the Kings had before them to gain a better understanding of those particulars. While Memphis (which holds the second pick) had visited with Rubio in Spain before the Kings or Thunder, the Grizzlies - nor any other team - did not see the contract. There could be more visits to come, however, as Rubio's camp will surely explore all options in the days to come.

Rubio's eventual NBA team is only permitted to pay $500,000 of a buyout, meaning the rest of the undetermined amount will be paid by Rubio. Because he made approximately $97,000 last season with DKV Joventut, his representatives had asked an arbitrator to settle the matter while claiming the buyout is disproportionate to his salary. They also claimed Rubio never signed his contract when it was drafted when he was 16, although he reportedly did sign an addendum last season.

- Sam Amick, SacBee