Ricky Rubio is fully confident that he is an elite point guard in the NBA and he intends on getting paid as such. With Kevin Love out of the picture in Minnesota, the point guard now becomes the face of the Timberwolves franchise, or so he thinks. Entering a contract season, Rubio would ideally like to get a new deal in place before the October 31 deadline, something easier said than done apparently.
Another report has surfaced saying that Rubio's contract talks with the Timberwolves are going nowhere. According to Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press, the two sides are at a total standstill when it comes to agreeing on a number in a contract. Rubio is set to be a restricted free agent come next summer and both parties would prefer to get a deal done now instead of later, something that might be impossible. Rubio and Minnesota have been going back and forth on his pending expiring contract for the better part of the summer and things have not progressed at all.
Rubio wants a max contract and does appear to be willing to lower that number in the slightest. The point guard wants five years and the Timberwolves are offering four years and $48 million instead. Questions have risen about just how committed the Timberwolves are to Rubio. The team made a trade of Love and acquired Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett who could be poised to take over the franchise. The Timberwolves have already attempted to acquire another point guard during these negotiations, taking interest in getting Eric Bledsoe a deal that went nowhere. Does that indicate the team is preparing to move on from Rubio?
Rubio could find himself in a situation similar to what Greg Monroe endured this summer. He was a restricted free agent, but no team would make an offer on him with fear that the Detroit Pistons would simply match it. Rubio could be in the same situation if he and the Timberwolves cannot agree on a contract before the deadline. The point guard's best bet is to sign a qualifying offer and then wait for a max deal in free agency.
According to the New York Post, Rubio has his eyes on New York and the Los Angeles Lakers as landing spots. The Lakers could be realistic next summer considering both Jeremy Lin and Steve Nash will be gone. The Knicks might be a tougher spot to get depending on what the team opts to do with Jose Calderon for the future.
