Mark Cuban would trade for Timberwolves' Ricky Rubio 'in a heartbeat'

Roxs-Redemption · Mar 9, 2011

Link for story: http://www.twincities.com/ci_17565037?source=most_viewed&nclick_check=1

Among spectators at Target Center on Monday evening watching his Dallas Mavericks win their 46th game by bouncing the Minnesota Timberwolves, who lost their 50th, was Mavs owner Mark Cuban.

Cuban sees better days for the Wolves.

"I think (Minnesota) has a star in the making in Ricky Rubio," Cuban said.

Cuban, who has a passion for basketball, said he has seen the young Spaniard point guard play several times. The Wolves chose Rubio with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft when he was just 18 years old.

The Wolves are confident Rubio will play for them next season. But if they want to trade him, Cuban said, they'll have a buyer.

"We're very high on him," Cuban said. "If they want to give him up, we're very interested. We would do that in a heartbeat."

The year the Wolves drafted Rubio, the Mavs had the 22nd overall pick before trading down with Oklahoma City to No. 24 and taking center Byron Mullens from Ohio State.

"We tried to trade up to get Rubio," Cuban said. "But we weren't close. We would have loved to draft him."

The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Rubio is averaging just 5.9 points, 4.3 assists and 23 minutes in 38 games for the DKV Joventut team in Europe this season. The Wolves are hoping to buy out his remaining contract for $1 million this summer.

"The thing about Europe," Cuban said, "is it doesn't necessarily translate in terms of points and assists. You've got to look at talent, you've got to look at game IQ and you've got to look at age. "I don't think if he came in now he would dominate the league or anything like that. But I think he would have a big impact here."
Click to expand...

arjun · Mar 9, 2011

blah blah blah

k-money · Mar 9, 2011

why wouldnt he? after all, the rockets showed intrest.

OHMSS · Mar 9, 2011

Rubio has not played for Joventut for 2 years.

Forums

Mark Cuban would trade for Timberwolves' Ricky Rubio 'in a heartbeat'

Roxs-Redemption Member

arjun Member

k-money Member

OHMSS Rookie

Share This Page

About ClutchFans

Rockets Content

Support ClutchFans!