It was statement day in the Ricky Rubio-to-FC Barcelona deal today, with Rubio, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ general manager David Kahn, DKV Joventut representatives each releasing prepared remarks on just what went down in the million-euro buyout.
On his part, Kahn essentially stated that Rubio doesn’t yet want to take on the challenge of playing in the NBA.
Kahn’s full statement may be found here, but the most compelling line from the GM is probably his assessment that “two more years of competition in Spain and the Euroleague will only aid his development and that he will be much more ready for the NBA when he joins us.”
Interesting that the Euroleague and top European leagues now seem to be an informal overseas division D-League (at least by the T-wolves braintrust); perhaps this is the kind of thing David Stern really envisions when he talks expansion into Europe…?
Here are the highlights, or rather the entire text of Rubio’s statement: “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. The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to be my first option and I wish to play with them in the near future.”
Really, that’s it.
The official statement out of Joventut (at least the English-language version) is interesting. The club wishes the clarify that “DKV Joventut, being respectful with the player´s decision, and acting always in defense of its interest as an entity, and based on what it was signed in the contract, has put all the efforts to find a satisfactory solution suitable to everybody.”
But the scintillating bit is Joventut stating that “after a [great] effort from the two parties, DKV Joventut and Minnesota Timberwolves reached an agreement which permitted [termination of] the contractual relationship between the player and the Club and his integration in the NBA team.”
Hm! Meaning that all that negotiation by Kahn with Jordi Villacampa was merely about getting Rubio to Barcelona after all, eh?
About the only party that hasn’t commented on the deal is, oddly enough, FC Barcelona. I mean, isn’t someone over there happy about scoring a “basketball idol” and “teen sensation”?
