Ricky Rubio Announces He Will Join Minnesota Timberwolves

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Under the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement, the Wolves had until May 31 to sign Rubio, the team’s 2009 first-round draft pick, to a contract under that old CBA. Had they failed to reach an agreement, they could not have signed Rubio until a new CBA is adopted. That could be quite a while, if the worst fears about a labor stoppage are realized.

Rubio was the No. 5 pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Instead of joining the Wolves straightaway, he signed a contract to play with Barcelona, with a buy-out option after two seasons. Friday’s announcement would indicate that a buy-out has been reached or is not seen as a problem. Rubio struggled in Spain the last two seasons, but is still considered by many to be a top point guard prospect.

Finally, after years of indecision and weeks of bouncing back-and-forth, it appears the saga will be over. We’ll have more on Rubio and his press conference as it become available in this StoryStream.

For more on the Wolves and Rubio, visit Canis Hoopus and SB Nation Minnesota.

Multiple outlets reported that Rubio and the Timberwolves had reached an agreement a couple weeks ago. The Timberwolves were unwilling to confirm the news until they could introduce Rubio later in June.

The Timberwolves needed to reach an agreement prior to May 31 if they wanted to keep Rubio on his rookie-scale contract. If they were not able to do that, Rubio can sign for more money, though he is handcuffed by the current Collective Bargaining Agreement uncertainty.

Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune thinks Flynn will be gone soon with Rubio’s pending arrival.

But he’s still just 22, and played for the most dysfunctional franchise in the NBA, under possibly one of its worst coaches with an awful supporting cast. Can Minnesota land a late first-round pick for Flynn? A player of any repute? We’ll see. The best plan to save face might be to work out a deal with one of the teams mentioned by Zgoda for a conditional first-round pick protected for the lottery for 2-3 years, which then reverts to a second-round pick if not consummated. A Juan Carlos Navarro.

The first decision that must be made will happen at the 2011 NBA Draft. The Timberwolves hold the No. 2 pick, but they have been rumored to be open to trading it to find more help or to acquire more picks. The logic was that they needed another veteran with so many young players already on the roster. But according to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, their tune has shifted.

No matter what happens, simply getting Rubio to the U.S. is just one step in the Timberwolves’ rebuilding effort. With so many moving parts and pieces that may or may not fit, David Kahn certainly has his work cut out for him, and it begins at the 2011 NBA Draft.

Zgoda reports that the Wolves continue to refuse comment and will wait to introduce Rubio to Minnesota fans and media until the end of June. Rubio’s Barcelona is still in playoff contention in the ACB, the top Spanish league.

For more on the Wolves and Rubio, visit Canis Hoopus and SB Nation Minnesota.

Rubio was drafted by the T’Wolves in 2009 with the fifth pick in the NBA draft but Rubio has spent the past two seasons playing professionally in Spain.

According to Wojnarowski,some details still need to be explained.