Rubio will play!
Perhaps ending a turbulent two-year courtship since they drafted him fifth overall in the NBA Draft, it appears Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio will indeed become a Minnesota Timberwolf next season. Assuming, of course, that the NBA season actually takes place.
Online reports claim Rubio decided to sign with the Wolves while he was still able to under the current NBA collective bargaining agreement (CBA). That’s probably wise, as owners are believed to be interested in lowering rookie wages in the next CBA.
Of course, if the owners follow the example of the NFL and impose a lockout of players, the negotiations over the new CBA could stretch throughout 2011 and into 2012, putting any semblance of an NBA season in jeopardy. That might free Rubio up to play one more season in Europe, rather than sitting idle on strike lines.
A lockout-cancelled season and a set of black diamond earrings wouldn’t be enough to help Rubio grow into his role with the Wolves, so hopefully the NBA will find a way to continue labor peace without resorting to a lockout.
Yet the wide belief in the Timberwolves organization at this time is that Rubio will play so long as there’s a season. That takes the sting out of losing the number one overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, which will deny Minnesota the option of drafting top prospect, point guard Kyrie Irving.
