Rubio is an idiot. He flies all the way over here to attend the draft, then decides he's not coming because he doesn't like the team that drafted him? And if this is the case, why didn't he say so when he was interviewed after his selection? If I were Minnesota, I would keep his rights and let him rot in Europe.
Even more than KP not making monster moves to go up and grab Rubio, I look at the fact that Geoff Petrie passed on him as one of the largest indictments against Rubio's NBA potential ... there's no guarantees of course, but it makes me think Hollinger's draft rater tool might really be on to something with this kid. All I can say is that I think I'm going to end up happy we didn't get this guy.
I seriously doubt the team has much to do with it. According to the calculations I read, over the 4 years of his rookie deal, falling from 2nd to 5th cost Rubio $5million. That doesn't include the fact that Minnesota is probably one of the worst markets for endorsement money. As a practical matter, he was probably depending on Nike or Reebock to pay a big chunk of his buy-out - a deal that may have been taken off the table when he went to the T'Wolves. Rubio's initial reaction may have been completely sincere.....it was only later that his "people" pointed out the financial implications to him. To be blunt, Rubio and the T'Wolves are both victims of the idiotic rule that prohibits NBA teams from paying more than a small fraction of his buy-out. In effect, the team and player are both at the mercy of the shoe companies and their endorsement deals! I would make you a friendly wager that there are factors at work here that neither Rubio nor the team can/will discuss in public.
Ha. You act like going back and signing a 8+ million deal in a gorgeous city like Madrid would be some sort of punishment for him.
Uh, if the kid wanted to stay in "gorgeous" Madrid, he wouldn't have flown to New York to attend the draft. He would have stayed in Madrid. By the way, nothing against Madrid. I've been there and it's very nice. But it's not exactly the center of the basketball world.
like Minnesota??? Play for great pay in Madrid or for free with the Wolves is some decent leverage that I don't blame him for utilizing. I hope he lands in a more favorable situation in the league as I'm hoping to see him playing next season. STOMP
No, like the NBA. Like Oklahoma City? Salt Lake City? Sacramento? Indianapolis? Memphis? Or would all of those NBA destinations be too "small time" for him?
too small time. His buyout will amount to just about the same as his entire rookie deal... the only money he's going to make is endorsement $. Normally I look down on players trying to force themselves into larger markets because of my Blazer fandom, but with Rubio's case I understand. The kid is going to generate millions and should at least get some scratch. STOMP
I don't buy the premise of your argument. For one thing, LeBron James plays in Cleveland, which is not exactly a glamorous NBA destination, and yet he makes millions in endorsements. Also, the kid will be able to buy out his old contract before his first one in the NBA is over. He'll get his chance to make millions if he stays in the league, and if he turns out to be any good.
I think it is ridiculous for him to be dictating where he gets to play when he hasn't shown anything in the league yet. He seems like an arrogant jerk, would not want him to play in Portland and I will always root against him because of this. He needs to grow a pair.
Thats fine, though my premise is really more of a set of facts then an opinion. You can find it rubs you the wrong way and really really want things to be different but they are still facts. 4.5M of his own money is required for the buyout... I'd guess that he'll have to borrow that $$$. As the #6 pick he'll make a little over 3M a year before taxes. His agent will take 10% or so of that. Many rookie deals contain team option outs (like the 2008 #6 pick KLove's) after the first and second years. Many talented young players have had their promising careers derailed by injury... Jayson Williams and Shaun Livingston come to mind. If he were to sustain a devastating injury he could conceivably be in the hole to the tune of millions. Of course he could do a Lloyds of London insurance deal to assure that this doesn't happen, but of course they'd take a healthy cut to do so. Going to a major market boosts any star players endorsements considerably, that would be very true of LeBron as well. I understand that it's common for guy's shoe deals to double and even triple if they're dealt to a top 3 market. Again, I don't begrudge RR going for those dollars because of his unique situation and selfishly I just want to see him playing in the league. heres another article STOMP
He sputtered in the Olympics, can't shoot, yet wants to call his shots in the NBA. What a diva. I wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole.
Funny on a couple of levels. One, in his interview they hadn't yet drafted another PG. Two, he's "rotted" himself into the Spanish Olympic team, starting for his club in Spain, and having the ability to go wherever in the world he wants to in 2011 for at least a guaranteed 4M/yr for 3 years. He's the one with the leverage here. And he has every right to use it.
I can't think of a current European athlete playing in the USA who is a major endorser in the USA. Rubio's marketing opportunities lie in Spain, so it really doesn't matter where he plays. It's not like he's going to get his own shoe line; the US market in general couldn't care less about what products a Spaniard is pushing, and Rubio will struggle his first 2 or 3 years in the NBA anyhow. I just don't see many US companies in this economy lining up to pay Rubio a lot of endorsement money.
He did think he was going to go in the top three, so he did loose some money in that way. One of the Euroleague team that is in talks with is Real Madrid. They can actually pay his entire buyout if they feel like it. Were I Rubio, I would stay in Europe until I become a free agent. If he is as good as they say he is, he would sign in the NBA for huge money at that point.
How does that work under the CBA? Has it changed since Sabas was drafted? I ask because Portland retained Sabas' rights for years until he finally joined the team. It's my understanding that as long as Rubio is paid to play in a year, in any league in the world, the T-Wolves hold his NBA rights.
