Flynn, Ellington sign with Wolves
Most folks didn’t expect the Minnesota Timberwolves to keep three of their four first-round picks in this year’s draft. Yet with the Wolves rebuilding with youth under new GM David Kahn, they have kept three, though so far only two have signed contracts.
In the past week, the ephedrine-free Wolves signed sixth overall pick PG Jonny Flynn and 28th overall pick SG Wayne Ellington to their rookie contracts. Terms were not disclosed, but the paperwork is done.
More up in the air is the Wolves’ top pick, fifth overall selection PG Ricky Rubio of Spain. Rubio has a $6 million buyout on his contract to his Spanish team, which the Wolves can, by NBA league rules, only contribute $500,000 to directly. It’s unclear at this time whether Rubio has the funds to buy out his contract at that value, and is believed to be negotiating to have it reduced.
Kahn has been clear since draft night, though; the Wolves are willing to wait as long as it takes to get Rubio in a Minnesota uniform; if that’s a couple months, or a couple years, the team has no interest in trading him away, even with Flynn on the roster.
