From Chad Ford/ESPN:
Sources close to the situation say that despite the public posturing on both sides, Rubio really wanted to play in the NBA — just not for the Wolves. His agent, Dan Fegan, had been working behind the scenes since the draft to broker a trade, but Kahn believed he could talk Rubio into playing in Minnesota.
At the center of the storm was Kahn’s decision to draft Flynn one spot behind Rubio in the draft. Rubio’s circle took the move as a lack of confidence in his abilities and was determined from draft night to either force a trade or stay in Spain. The drawn-out discussions were more of a negotiation tactic until he could either work out a trade with an NBA team or a deal with another team in Spain. When forced to choose between the Wolves and Spain after Kahn worked out a buyout, Rubio chose Spain.
With Rubio out of the picture and Flynn left as the only point guard on the team, the Wolves had to do something. Sessions was the best free-agent point guard on the board. The Wolves knew that at this point in the free-agent process, he would come cheap.
At the center of the storm was Kahn’s decision to draft Flynn one spot behind Rubio in the draft. Rubio’s circle took the move as a lack of confidence in his abilities and was determined from draft night to either force a trade or stay in Spain. The drawn-out discussions were more of a negotiation tactic until he could either work out a trade with an NBA team or a deal with another team in Spain. When forced to choose between the Wolves and Spain after Kahn worked out a buyout, Rubio chose Spain.
With Rubio out of the picture and Flynn left as the only point guard on the team, the Wolves had to do something. Sessions was the best free-agent point guard on the board. The Wolves knew that at this point in the free-agent process, he would come cheap.
The team signed Sessions to a four-year deal, with a player option after the third year. That’s a pretty clear sign that they believe it will be closer to three years before Rubio comes to the league, if he comes to the Wolves at all.
The Knicks lost out on Bucks point guard Ramon Sessions yesterday, re-igniting Donnie Walsh’s interest in the Timberwolves’ Ricky Rubio and increasing Walsh’s urgency to sign restricted free agents David Lee and Nate Robinson.
Walsh said he will put the heat on next week in trying to sign Lee and Robinson to one-year deals. And he also will inquire again about Rubio, who agreed to play in Spain another two years, prompting Minnesota to ink Sessions to an offer sheet.
Also from Berman:
The last time Walsh inquired about Rubio was right after the draft, but Wolves president David Kahn, once a close associate in Indiana, told Walsh they were keeping him.
“Obviously it went through my mind,” Walsh said. “Rubio committed to Spain. Right away David signs Sessions. That might mean Rubio is in play. I’ll find that out.”
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