RealGM has the report
According to a report from El Periodico, Ricky Rubio has decided not to come over to the United States to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves and will remain with DKV Joventut for the next two seasons.
Wolves Mistake?
Did the Wolves make a mistake in picking in Rubio since he’s not coming over here for two more years?
Not at all, In the grand scheme of things, these two years are of little importance.
Okay, what is important then?
Getting the superior player and superior prospect, a player who can be with the club for 10-15 years.
This is exactly what Minnesota did and they should be commended for making the smart pick.
Would Minnesota regret their decision if they passed on Rubio?
Five years from now after Rubio has established himself in the NBA, absolutely, and the Wolves would have regretted it for the rest of Rubio’s career.
They would have missed a massive opportunity.
What if Rubio wasn’t the best player + prospect available?
Well, then they made the wrong pick but for different reasons. Not because he’ll be in Europe for two years.
Dave,
I love the Rubio pick for the Timberwolves … and it doesn’t matter one iota how it takes for Ricky to be able to play in the NBA.
I hate the Jonny Flynn pick for the Timberwolves, almost as much as a love the Rubio pick.
Jonny Flynn is NOT … I repeat, NOT … going to be an elite level PG in this league, 5 years from now.
Sebastian Telfair is completely redundant on their roster.
Rodrigue Beaubois is going to be a better PG than Jonny Flynn. So is Nando De Colo. So is Eric Maynor. So is … etc., etc., etc.
Small PG’s like Jonny Flynn need to play as back-ups in the NBA … and should never ever be selected in the #6 position in the NBA Draft.
Jonny Flynn is NOT a bad player by any stretch of the imagination … He just isn’t going to be a “superstar”.
I like a lot of things about the T-wolves roster … except that pick they made on Thursday night.
Khandor,
I feel the same way about those two picks. I greatly dislike their Wayne Ellington pick too.
I think Ellington ipick is great because they traded 2 shooters for the 5 pick and Ellington is a knock down shooter and will play well in the NBA system. Flynn my not be but could be a J. Nelson type if he becomes more of a pass first guy, still a really bad pick. Rubio is great pick!
Dave,
I think Ellington is going to be a better pro player than many people realize … if he lands with the right team and PG. He has decent size and is a much better athlete than most realize.
Ellington + Brewer + Jefferson + Pecherov
is four fifths of a decent starting unit.
Love is a very, very good back-up.
Gomes, Smith and Songaila are all good niche-filling back-ups.
Carney is a decent role player.
Flynn and Telfair are decent change of pace back-up PG’s.
The Timberwolves need:
* An upgrade at the Starting Center position
* A PG with good size and quickness, leadership and passing ability [i.e. Mr. Rubio]
* Another OG with solid quickness who can score/shoot the ball
* A head coach who knows what he’s doing
Are they close to being good in Minnesota?
Not really.
But … they do, at least, have some solid pieces with which to work while trying to move forward.
Hey yogagolfblog + Khandor,
By the way, welcome to the site yogagolfblog!
The reason I don’t like the Ellington pick is because I didn’t see much an all-round game from him when I watched UNC games. In the NBA, I think Ellington is going to be a liability defensively, a liability on the backboards, and a below average passer. That leaves a lot of pressure on his scoring + scoring efficiency in order to get minutes.
I think Ellington is a worse version of Morris Almond … and as such will have a tough time getting minutes. I would have liked him as a pick 20 spots lower, but I think there were a lot of better players left on the draft board at the time of his pick.
I hope I’m wrong, but those are my expectations at this point.
Khandor,
You don’t like Al Jefferson as a starting center? You would prefer to see him at power forward?
Dave,
re: Al Jefferson’s position
IMO, for a team with a power-based line-up … AJ, at the #4/PF spot, could well be the modern-day equivalent of Kevin McHale.
He would need the right Center to play beside … but, yes, I see Al in that light.
e.g. Al Jefferson might be a very good fit for a team that looks like this:
PG – Jarret Jack [or DJ Augustin]
OG – Anthony Parker [or Wayne Ellington]
SF – Lamar Odom [or Derrick Brown]
PF – Al Jefferson
C – Amare Stoudemire [or Pau Gasol, or Al Horford, or Marreese Speights]