In 2009, the National Basketball Association’s Minnesota Timberwolves were roundly criticized for picking two point guards back to back in the form of Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn. Minnesota GM David Kahn backed up this pick, saying that Minnesota wasn’t sure when (or if) Rubio would join the team. Well, as is turns out, the wait was two years. Ricky Rubio will be leaving Regal Barcelona of the Spanish ACB League and heading to the NBA.
So what pushed Rubio out the door? Well, for one, the NBA may have a completely different salary structure next year, and Rubio wants to lock in the $3.5 million dollars he’s due as a top five draft pick. In addition to that, it’s looking more and more likely that Jonny Flynn isn’t the future of Minnesota’s top point guard position, which means the job is up for grabs. Spain’s bullfight ban and the hangover from the World Cup are probably not a consideration, but you can never tell why someone is making a decision. In this case, the money is a safe bet.
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