Ricky Rubio Ready for NBA? Source Says He is Ready to Join Minnesota Timberwolves

In the latest chapter of the Ricky Rubio saga, the Minnesota Timberwolves might finally get their point guard. Rubio was the fifth overall selection of the 2009 NBA Draft, but he decided to return to Spain and play rather than join the Timberwolves. That caused him to miss the 2009-10 season and then the 2010-11 season as well. Now there is reason to believe that he might finally be willing to sign with Minnesota in order to get into the NBA for next season.

The Pioneer Press in Minnesota is claiming it is in contact with Rubio's family; apparently family members are stating he could join the Timberwolves. The report says Ricky is now open to signing with Minnesota after what seemed like a lot of positioning by the point guard and his representatives to try to get Minnesota to trade his draft rights. The Wolves could have traded his rights to another franchise he would have wanted to play for, then he might have come to the NBA much sooner. Now Rubio seems to be coming to the realization that if he wants to see an NBA court he needs to pay his dues first.

Rubio has been playing for FC Barcelona in Spain, and that team would love to keep him for as long as Rubio wants to stay. He isn't showing superstar tendencies at this point, and maybe the lack of significant playing time has him deciding that it is time to try out the NBA. That might not be a bad decision, and it could certainly give the Wolves a much needed spark in the 2011-12 season. The biggest obstacle to getting Rubio to the NBA might not be the Minnesota franchise anymore, but rather the fact that there might be another NBA lockout when the current collective bargaining agreement runs out.

Rubio was taken by Minnesota in the 2009 Draft, and he became one of three point guards the team selected in the first round. They also drafted Jonny Flynn at No. 6 and then Ty Lawson at No. 18, but ended up trading Lawson when the realization came that they had too many assets at the same position. This was the same draft where the Wolves also got Wayne Ellington with the No. 28 selection in the first round; it looked like the Wolves might have enough young talent to finally start winning some basketball games.

The 2010-11 season has given way to the reality that the Wolves are still in trouble as a franchise. They can focus on the fact that they passed up Stephen Curry in 2009 and then DeMarcus Cousins in 2010 and instead focus on how to get better right away. Getting Rubio would mean they wouldn't have to draft another point guard, and that would allow them to get another young college star. A roster of Rubio, Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, and a top shooting guard from the Draft doesn't sound all that bad.

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