In case you missed it, here’s a link to the ESPN.com reportage on the latest chapter in the Minnesota Timberwolves off-season soap opera starring Ricky Rubio.
The latest chapter is all about — believe it or not — economics. In order to sign their first-round draft pick and create that excellently thought-out Rubio/Jonny Flynn redundancy at point guard, the Minnesota Timberwolves must first buy out Rubio’s contract with DKV Joventut; this represents a hefty $6.6 million.
Thus the executive decision was made at Minnesota Timberwolves Basketball, Inc.: Team president David Kahn would fly across the ocean — on costly private charter jet, no doubt — hat in hand to beg Joventut ownership to lower the price for the poor NBA team.
“The one thing holding him back [from playing in the NBA] appears to be money.”
Tell you what: I bet the T-wolves have more money than Joventut. If i were on the Badalona team with Jordi Villacampa et al, i wouldn’t budge one sou off that $6.6 million. Truth is Rubio could be a dominant force on the court and in endorsements; Joventut won’t see a commodity like Rubio again for some time.
Surely the Minnesotans will understand. This is all about economics, after all.
