Ricky Rubio: Spanish Star Using Lockout as Excuse to Stay Away from Minnesota?

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Ricky Rubio Hesitant to Commit to T-Wolves with Lockout Looming

It's been nearly two years since the Minnesota Timberwolves used the No. 5 pick in the draft on Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio. And as we all know, Rubio has yet to play a single game for them.

Instead, Rubio has remained overseas, and the Timberwolves have remained terrible. In a perfect world, Rubio would join their ranks for the 2011-2012 season, allowing both parties to put the last two years in the rear-view mirror.

There's just one problem: the lockout.

Yes, the NBA's collective bargaining agreement is due to expire at the end of the season. Because of that, the word from the Pioneer Press is that Rubio is unsure about committing to joining the Timberwolves for next season.

Apparently, Rubio wants to wait until the CBA situation is resolved before he makes up his mind, but Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said his team needs to know before the draft (June 23).

Said Taylor of Rubio:

He's asking how that [lockout] might affect him, if we don't play or if we will play. And our answer is, 'We won't know the answer to that question. You're going to have to make your decision before that.'
We [NBA owners] are negotiating with the players right now. We're hopeful we'll play. But I don't want to guarantee him that because there's no way that I know that.

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At this point, it would cost over $1 million for Rubio to buy out his contract, and NBA rules won't allow any team to spend more than $500,000 on a contract buyout. Whether Rubio wants to pay the other half of the $1 million is up to him.

"He has given us indications that he's very interested. But until he signs, I'm really hesitant to say anything," said Taylor.

As well he should be. It's not exactly guaranteed that Rubio is going to find fortune and glory if he comes to the NBA, so it's not at all surprising that he is still on the fence about giving up the sweet life he has in Spain.

In fact, if Rubio is still that hesitant to come over, the lockout situation is pretty darned convenient. For the first time, the problem is not with the Timberwolves, but with the NBA as a whole. As such, it will be hard to argue with him if he chooses to stay in Spain next season.

Of course, this situation is probably going to get even more interesting after a new CBA is reached. Salaries are due for a decrease, which means that Rubio would be asked to take less money to come to a still-crappy situation.

In other words, Rubio is probably not walking through that door any time soon.

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