Basketball Rubio is a No Show for Minnesota's Press Conference.

[Ground Support]

It's about time we got ourselves a new NBA soap opera. I've been going through withdrawals ever since "The Steph and the Restless" went off the Internet airwaves. (What? Don't judge me. I love my stories!)

The Minnesota Timberwolves held a news conference Friday afternoon to introduce first-round draft choices Jonny Flynn(notes) of Syracuse and Wayne Ellington(notes) of North Carolina.

Just one tiny problem — No. 1 pick Ricky Rubio(notes) wasn't in attendance.

But not to worry, not to fret — Friday morning, according to Don Seeholzer of the Pioneer Press, Wolves President of Basketball Operations David Kahn cautioned not to read anything into the strange situation.

Well, I tried my best, I really did. But before I knew it my eyes had slipped and I was re-reading Spanish news that Rubio's father said it was possible his son may stay in Spain for a few more years rather than come play in Minny. But, again, I wasn't really reading into anything. It was probably just a coincidence Rubio wasn't at the press conference, right? Maybe the Wolves' staff had the air conditioning cranked too high. Kid hates the cold.

Jokes aside, Kahn made it abundantly clear that the team is prepared to play the waiting game for a player who just turned 18:

"Nobody here ... will be banging his fist on the table, saying, 'He must be here!' It's a very complicated matter," Kahn said Thursday night. "We need to understand that we're not in control of the situation vis a vis the buyout. ... I think it's too early to worry about that. But I said this to the agent tonight: If any team in this league can afford to wait a year, dare I say two, it's us. Y'know? It's us."

Cue the Johnny Mathis!

 

[Ground Support]

Rubio is a punk. I don't care if he is not playing for minnesota for 1-2 years.

What else does he have going on?

 

[OldAdmin]

Could you really blame him for not wanting to get involved in one of the worst ran franchises in the league. One located in a terrible market as well. They haven't done anything since KG left and wouldn't have done anything without him being their as well. Other then the Clippers and Knicks there isn't much worse in the league. And with the Knicks new management they are at or near the bottom of the league for sure.

 

[Ground Support]

well then he shouldn't have declared for the draft this year. Thats his own damn fault. He knew he was going to the Kings, Timberwolves, Memphis or OKC..

 

[OldAdmin]

He could just be testing the market. If he declares for the draft, gets drafted and never signs. Then he can wait (2 years I think) and then re-enter the draft. So he really has them under his thumb more then they will admit. Because if they don't sign him and he gets drafted again, they will have wasted a very good pick. He is going to have to pay $1-2 million a season to buy out his current contract for a few years. Of that, the team can only pay $500,000. So he could be dragging his feet to prevent that.

 

[Ground Support]

Can you get drafted twice? I think he becomes a free agent ?

 

[GotGibson?]

Wish he would just stay in Spain.

 

[OldAdmin]

I think you can be drafted two times, has to be two years between them though.