Outside of old pal Zeke, has an NBA GM make such an egregious mistake as Kahn just did with Rubio? The final chapter of the Ricky Rubio saga has come into public view, and wow. Just wow.
"On Saturday night, an agreement was reached between Dan Fegan, the agent for Ricky Rubio, Jordi Villacampa, the president of Joventut Badalona, and myself on behalf of the Minnesota Timberwolves to buy out the last two years of Ricky´s contract with Joventut so that he could play in the NBA next season.
While the term sheet was being finalized Monday night, Ricky informed me that, despite considering us his first option the previous weekend - and, admittedly, after some back and forth throughout the summer -- he preferred to stay at home to play for FC Barcelona, which earlier this summer had made a buyout offer to Joventut. He also reaffirmed that it was his intention to join us in Minnesota two years from now when he will be 20.
This morning I met with Ricky and his parents and told them that I understood Ricky´s decision. It was clear to me yesterday and in this morning´s meeting that the pressure surrounding Ricky and his family to remain in Spain for at least two more years had only intensified as the summer wore on and was weighing heavily on them.
The NBA is the best basketball league in the world, by far. As an 18-year-old man, Ricky would have been challenged on a nightly basis to a degree he has never experienced. In order for Ricky to meet this challenge fully, I believe it is important that his family and other people important to him were comfortable with the move to the NBA and fully supportive.
I also agreed with Ricky´s position that two more years of competition in Spain and the Euroleague will only aid his development and that he will be much more ready for the NBA when he joins us.
Kahn traded Mike Miller and Randy Foye to the Wizards for Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila and Oleksiy Pecherov (who?) plus a player option for Rubio in two years. By saying: "Ricky would have been challenged on a nightly basis to a degree he has never experienced," Kahn just admitted that Rubio, the all-world point guard isn't ready for the big time anyway, even if he was in uniform. Epic Fail D.Kahn.
Doesn't this quote from Ricky also make you warm and fuzzy about his desire to join the T-Wolves in two years?
The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to be my first option and I wish to play with them in the near future."
Faaan-tastic. The Wolves are your first option! Hooray! Or Ricky can force a trade, which will be for pennies on the dollar as the Wolves now have ZERO leverage. Or maybe Ricky will just wait it out and go back in the draft once the Wolves' claim lapses (I think this is the case, I'm sure some rule guru will tell me I'm wrong though).
David Kahn just destroyed a huge opportunity to bring the Wolves back into anything resembling a relevant basketball team.
I feel terrible for Wolves fans and for Big Al and Ryan. You all deserve better than this pure incompetence from your organization.