RealGM

Just as the notion of Ricky Rubio in a Kings uniform is seeming less likely by the day, there is this unsurprising news: he is moving on.

A source with knowledge of the situation said Rubio was visited in Los Angeles today by the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have the No. 3 pick in the June 25 draft. This matters mostly because Rubio's visit in Sacramento this week came with unspoken terms, an understanding of sorts that a Rubio promise on the Kings' part could have stopped his American tour with just one concert. But that clearly never happened, and certainly not only because Rubio was unable to get on the floor Thursday when he fell ill.

So he continues to interview away, certainly hoping to not fall below the fourth spot if only because that $6.6 million buyout has to be paid for somehow. There has been talk of a second Sacramento visit, but I'm not sure that's plausible now since he is believed to be headed back to Spain on Sunday. - Sam Amick, SacBee

Smoke24 wrote:Its $6.6 million? I thought it was 6?

Aww well, we may be witnessing the most unexpected drop of this draft. That #5 spot seems like prime real estate right now. The Wizards can come off if he gets passed by the Grizz & OKC.

rpa wrote:I don't really agree with the conclusion. I assume his implication is that if the Kings promised Rubio they'd take him then he'd stop meeting with other teams? That doesn't make much sense seeing as how OKC is picking BEFORE the Kings. His theory may have legs if Rubio met with the Wizards brass but meeting with OKC really doesn't tell us squat.

livintoolive wrote:Rubio didn't want just as high of a pick, he wanted a favorable scenario and most people felt that the one spot drop off from OKC to SAC was worth it for playing in SAC.

rpa wrote:

livintoolive wrote:Rubio didn't want just as high of a pick, he wanted a favorable scenario and most people felt that the one spot drop off from OKC to SAC was worth it for playing in SAC.

It may be but that's not really my point. My point is that OKC has 1st dips on Rubio so him meeting with them (just like he met with the Grizz) really tells us nothing. Besides, had the Kings given him a vote of confidence ("we want you, you're our future" or whatever) then doesn't it make sense to meet with the other team standing between you and the Kings and tell them "we feel that we'd be better suited playing in Sacramento, we aren't saying we'll hold out/go back to Europe but ....".

Smoke24 wrote:How is he going to pay this Buyout? Teams can only pay a half-a-million and I doubt Rubio has $6 million just laying around. Which means he is going to have to have a third party here (Nike Maybe), and we all know about Nike and big markets.

No one is going to spend a lotto pick on him just so he can stay in Europe for another year or years. He needs to get that fixed before long.

rpa wrote:

Smoke24 wrote:How is he going to pay this Buyout? Teams can only pay a half-a-million and I doubt Rubio has $6 million just laying around. Which means he is going to have to have a third party here (Nike Maybe), and we all know about Nike and big markets.

No one is going to spend a lotto pick on him just so he can stay in Europe for another year or years. He needs to get that fixed before long.

There are these things called loans.

Smoke24 wrote:

rpa wrote:

Smoke24 wrote:How is he going to pay this Buyout? Teams can only pay a half-a-million and I doubt Rubio has $6 million just laying around. Which means he is going to have to have a third party here (Nike Maybe), and we all know about Nike and big markets.

No one is going to spend a lotto pick on him just so he can stay in Europe for another year or years. He needs to get that fixed before long.

There are these things called loans.

I like the endorsement idea better, he doesn't have to pay that money back.

667Club wrote:You guys are delusionnal
First the Knicks have no use for Rubio,

667Club wrote:You guys are delusionnal

First the Knicks have no use for Rubio, you need a shooter or a slasher at point guard to go with a ball dominant superstar like Dwade or James.

Second there is no way Rubio goes past 4 and he will probably be picked by Memphis at the 2 anyway.

New York Knicks

Pick: 8
Team Needs: Everything

The Skinny: The Knicks are one of those teams that really need help at every position. David Lee is a free agent this summer. So is Nate Robinson. Everyone else on their team, with the exception of last year's lottery pick, Danilo Gallinari, is a short-term -- not long-term -- solution. So the Knicks do have the luxury of drafting on talent, not need. Whether it's a point guard, swingman or big man, they can justify it.