So here’s some semi-disturbing news – (allegedly) Ricky Rubio wants nothing to do with a small market: ”Rubio doesn’t 
want to go to Memphis, and he especially does not want to pay money out of his own pocket with that huge buyout for the honor of doing so. Fegan [Rubio's agent] wants him in L.A., and if he can’t have him there, he wants him in Sacramento. Definitely not Oklahoma City. ” Unlike Griffin or Hasheem Thabeet, who don’t really have any choice where they will play next season if a team decides to play hardball, Rubio has a reasonably attractive alternative option at his disposal-returning to Spain. “He’ll pull out if he doesn’t like what he’s hearing,” the NBA source tells us. “Or he can stay in and force the Grizzlies to call his bluff-would they really take him knowing that he may never come over? That’s one way to get him to fall to three.” All that is is an “NBA source.” So who knows. Believe me, sources have been incorrect about those type of things a lot. But a couple scenarios could come out of this: 1) Rubio is serious and the Clips take Blake and Rubio pulls out of the draft. 2) Clips posture with Blake, take Rubio and leave Blake somewhere to be had at No. 2. 3) Rubio is serious but Memphis/OKC go ahead and take him anyway and we’re stuck with another Yi Jianlan situation (also Fegan’s client) or 4) It’s all just talk.
Also, within that article is some interesting stuff about Blake Griffin and the Clippers: “While it may seem strange for the Clippers to so quickly anoint Griffin as their choice before really possessing a full picture of what’s on the table, many in the league think Dunleavy (also the Clippers GM in addition to their head coach) wants to leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that Griffin is going first, in an effort to get teams to make their best offers. “The Clippers need a point guard more than anything. They can easily trade Baron Davis back to the Warriors if they want to. I think they are going to move down to 3 or 4 and try to get Rubio there.” There’s no attribution to that quote, so I’m going to just assume it’s from the “source.” I guess we’ll hold off on calling this over. I think more than anything it is over and this is just sort of an effort to keep us interested.
Another random mock draft: “OKC Thunder- Tyreke Evans, SG Memphis. If Thabeet is still here, then I’ll go with Thabeet. But if Memphis takes him, then I am not sure if OKC would take Rubio and keep him (*see LA trade scenario above). There is talk that OKC would move Westbrook off the ball, but why? We all saw first hand what Westbrook can do when he has the ball in his hands. Why fix what is not broken? OKC covets length and defense. Evans would provide that at the 2, along with elite scoring capabilities. His athleticism and potential on both sides of the ball seem like a good fit.”
Newsday on OKC’s situation: “The Worldwide Leader’s draft dude, Chad Ford, is reporting that the Grizzlies, at No. 2, might resist drafting yet another guard and pass on Ricky Rubio to go for 7-3 center Hasheem Thabeet. If that’s the case, Rubio falls to Oklahoma City at No. 3 and the Knicks can kiss adios to any hopes of getting La Pistola. Rubio would fit well with Russell Westbrook in the backcourt and would be a dynamic offensive tandem with Kevin Durant. People would quickly get over missing out on the Sooner Son. And all the Thunder would need now is a quality big who can defend the rim and rebound.”
Chris Bosh via Twitter: ”Everyone, please stop asking me to come and play for the team in your city. I get that question everyday now. I just want to enjoy my summer.”
Darnell Mayberry on the questions regarding Thabeet: ”What we know about Thabeet is he’s a game-changing interior defender. We know his 4.2 blocked shots per game and 10.8 rebounds at UConn last season only begin to tell the full story of how much of an impact he has at the defensive end. But we don’t know whether those skills alone are enough to win over the Thunder. Don’t know whether Thabeet will ever develop into anything more than a defensive presence. And don’t know whether he has the heart and hunger to be all he can be or is simply an example of a big man who had the game forced upon him.”
You know why everybody does mock drafts? Because people like me have to see what they say. And here’s another random one: “Oklahoma City Thunder – Hasheem Thabeet, C, UConn. This is the first really interesting spot in the draft. Oklahoma will be faced with a choice between Arizona State SG James Harden and Thabeet. A good case could be made for choosing either. Without having any information yet about their thinking, we’re putting Thabeet in this spot based on GM Sam Presti’s San Antonio pedigree. The Thunder already have some talented, young players who can score it (and Kevin Durant looks like he could average 30 someday). A defensive anchor would really help balance this roster. Arizona PF Jordan Hill could also be a possibility.”
Dave Sittler of the Tulsa World writes that if Clay Bennett can pull off the impossible and bring a team to Oklahoma City, why can’t he turn water into wine again and land Blake Griffin?: ”And it’s not like Bennett doesn’t have some leverage. The Thunder has multiple first-round picks in the next two drafts. It also has some excellent young talent in Westbrook and forwards Kevin Durant and Jeff Green. Again, those hoops deep thinkers in OKC look down their noses (or is that up?) at us ignorant Tulsans who dare suggest Bennett put together whatever package of picks and players the Clippers demand for Griffin. Riddle me this you roundball Einsteins: Who would the Thunder have the best chance of holding onto when Durant, Westbrook, Green and Griffin become unrestricted free agents? Perhaps the smart money will be right. But as for now, us Bennett believers are betting our man doesn’t consider this Griffin mission an impossible one.” Kind of have to wonder, what’s the deal with that tone there? Roundball Einsteins? Is Sittler starting a Tulsa-Oklahoma City war of words? I THINK HE IS!
Empty the Bench likes Hasheem Thabeet with OKC or possibly trading the pick: “Here’s a thought: how about calling Detroit Pistons GM Joe Dumars, who’s open to trading just about anybody on his roster not named Rodney Stuckey, and talking about Richard Hamilton? Hamilton is exactly the kind of All-Star caliber talent with a proven track record of winning that could have a positive influence on the young Thunder team, not to mention help them win some games. At 31 years old, the well-conditioned Hamilton still has a good 4 years left in him; if Ray Allen can still do it at 34, Hamilton can at 35. A package of Hamilton, Jason Maxiell, and the Pistons’ first second-round pick (35th overall) for a player (Robert Swift?) and the third-overall pick–a pick which the Pistons would use on Rubio, shifting Stuckey over to Hamilton’s vacated spot at SG–might make sense for both teams. Of course, that’s just one possible trade scenario. But when it comes down to the words that come out of David Stern’s smug little mouth on June 25, here’s what Oklahoma City Thunder fans should be hoping for: “With the third pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder select Hasheem Thabeet from the University of Connecticut.” Hmm, that trade scenario sounds strangely familiar…
Ian Thompson’s mock draft and me likey: “Thunder - James Harden: Not so much a go-to scorer as he is a blend-in player, Harden will fit well with this developing team. Even if the Thunder eventually use cap space to acquire a star free agent at shooting guard, they’ll still be glad to have Harden as an all-around sixth man.”
The Hoop Doctors have the top 10 undrafted NBA players: “Ben Wallace, who is nicknamed Big Ben, is a 6′9″ center/power forward for the NBA’s best team currently, the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has received countless awards recognizing his defensive ability. He was an NBA champion in 2004, is a 4 time All-Star, 4 time Defensive Player of the Year (a record which he shares with Dikembe Mutombo), a 6 time All-Defensive Team member, and a 5 time All-NBA Team member.”
This video (via The Lost Ogle) is pure gold. It features Al Eschbach and current Fox Sports columnist Charley Rosen. And as Patrick says, the Thunder need to replicate this. Now.
SLAM’s second pick of their mock draft – Hasheem Thabeet: “Every time I see this Ricky Rubio mix or this one or that one, I fleetingly convince myself into selecting the 18-year-old savant. He’s got more flair than Brian from Office Space. You gotta use words like “uncanny” and “special” and “brilliant” to describe some of the moves he pulls out of the crack of his narrow @$. Rubio, like his fellow SLAM coverboy Brandon Jennings, captures the imagination-he’s arresting. Meanwhile, my current point guard, Mike Conley, doesn’t exactly have me caught up in rapture. So why then, am I passing on Rubio-who could be one of the defining players of his generation-for a dude who has been described as Dikembe Mutombo, at best, and Brad Sellers, at worst? Because, I’m all about composition, balance and identity; and Mutombo is exactly what I need.”
@Kev
Just because he skips this draft doesn't mean another small market team won't be in position to draft him next year, or even the year after that. Better and better he may be, but that just makes it more difficult to force teams to pass on him.
maybe Keith, maybe - but the guy is only 18 - he's only going to get better - who knows what happens here . . .
Great info Joe & Keith. Good work.
@Kev
A big market team at the top AND his stock still be that high? You have to bet it will affect his stock if he's willing to go through with a stunt like this. Besides, there's a big market team at the top right now in LA, they just don't want him more than Blake.
that's the problem, he's not going to last until #4 - so he might opt to withdraw from the draft, and hope that next year will have a "big market" team at the top . . .
@Kev
Yes, but if Fegan is ok with Sacramento, how can he know to pull out of the draft before the 4th pick? Once his name is called by someone else, he's considered drafted, even if he claims to "pull out" after the pick. His rights would still belong to that team for the net 3 years at the least.
yes, but he can still withdraw BEFORE the draft - correct???
@Joe
If a team doesn't tender an offer, there are no negotiations. That's the thing about rookie contracts, it's either you take it or you don't. If a player is drafted but the team does not tender an offer, that player becomes a rookie free agent. Of course, why would any team draft a player if they had no intention of signing them...? (not counting second round picks, whose salaries are not guaranteed)
But on to the good part, I recently found this FAQ from a CBA and Salary Cap site.
What if the team and player can't agree to a contract? What options does the player have? How long does the team keep his draft rights?
The player's options are limited. What happens depends on a number of factors:
* If the player is already under contract to, or signs a contract with a non-NBA team exactly like Rubio here, the team retains the player's draft rights for one year after the player's obligation to the non-NBA team ends. Essentially, the clock stops as long as the player plays pro ball outside the NBA. Players are not included in the team's team salary during the regular season while the player is under contract with a non-NBA team.
* If the player was still eligible to play in college before he was drafted, the team retains the player's draft rights until the draft the player would have entered had he not left college early. For example, if a team drafts a college sophomore in 2005, they retain his draft rights until the date of the 2007 draft. Note that the current NCAA rules state that players lose their NCAA eligibility if they are drafted, so the player could not return or go on to play college ball.
* For all other players, the team retains the player's draft rights until the date of the next draft.
This means that if Rubio is drafted, his rights are bound to that team for the next 3 years even if he refuses to sign with them. To escape such a situation, he would have to refrain from playing professional basketball for 2 years after his current Spanish contract ends. Yeah, I'm pretty the idea that he'd pull out if a small market drafts him is busted. He's not going to sit around for the next 4 years in Spain, doing nothing for 2, just to play in LA or Sacramento.
@Ty
If Rubio is on the board, we can always draft him, and then trade his rights for any number of things...cash and players, other draftees, draftpicks etc.
@Keith
What happens if there is a negotiation but the team doesn't tender the offer? I suppose rights are lost then eh?
@Joe
We are both in error to some degree. I think I missed the second point there initially, and that a rookie can indeed become a free agent (rookie, which limits contract negotiations) if he enters, is drafted, and refuses to sign a contract for two straight years. It puts some pressure on teams, but it is also rather unprecedented. If it were so easy, you'd think we'd have seen at least one player do it by now.
If thabeet goes number 2 then we should trade our pick to New York, Sacramento, or the Twolves. New York would definatley offer us a good trade because D'Antoni loves rubio(we would swap picks and another player or get a pick for next year). Sacramento and us could switch picks and them maybe giving us their 23rd pick and we could package those two for an earlier pick in the draft and maybe grab Blair. Twolves could swap picks and also give us their 18th pick. With our 25th 2nd rounders and the 18th we could maybe maybe!!!! get a top 11 pick and make a steal with the 6th pick and 11th pick?!?!?
6-J.Hill or D.DeRazon
11-Curry? Holiday? Blair? Clark? so many options if Memphis picks Thabeet.
Sorry Keith, you seem to be correct, and I seem to be wrong. Sorry. The way I read it is just about how you explained it: if a guy gets drafted and he doesn't sign a contract, and an offer was tendered, he can be redrafted. If that happens again, he can be a free agent is that correct? I am no lawyer but here are some paragraphs from the collective bargaining agreement:
Section 4. Negotiating Rights to Draft Rookies.
(a) A Team that drafts a player shall, during the period from the date of such NBA Draft (hereinafter, the “Initial Draft”) to the date of the next Draft (hereinafter, the “Subsequent Draft”), be the only Team with which such player may negotiate or sign a Player Contract, provided that, on or before the July 15 immediately following the Initial Draft (for a First Round Pick), or in the two (2) weeks before the September 5 immediately following the Initial Draft (for a Second Round Pick), such Team has made a Required Tender to such player. If a Team has made a Required Tender to such a player and the player has not signed a Player Contract within the period between the Initial Draft and the Subsequent Draft, the Team that drafted the player shall lose its exclusive right to negotiate with the player and the player will then be eligible for selection in the Subsequent Draft.
(b) A Team that, in the Subsequent Draft, drafts a player who (i) was drafted in the Initial Draft, (ii) received a Required Tender from the Team that drafted him in the Initial Draft, and (iii) did not sign a Player Contract with such first Team prior to the Subsequent Draft, shall, during the period from the date of the Subsequent Draft to the date of the next NBA Draft, be the only Team with which such player may negotiate or sign a Player Contract, provided such Team has made a Required Tender to such player by the dates specified in Section 4(a) above. If such player has not signed a Player Contract within the period between the Subsequent Draft and the next NBA Draft with the Team that drafted him in the Subsequent Draft, that Team shall lose its exclusive right, which it obtained in the Subsequent Draft, to negotiate with the player, and the player will become a Rookie Free Agent as of the date of the next NBA Draft.
That right there might scare me off of Rubio. Can you imagine using the third pick in the draft and getting absolutely zero in return if the kid wants to play hardball? I'm all for playing hardball, and I am sure the kid doesn't know OKC from Cincinnati, but still, man, go for the sure thing with Harden and let somebody else worry about the buyout and the threats of holding out and staying over in Europe.
Keith, I think you may be in error. The way I understand it, if a player is drafted, that team owns his rights; period. He doesn't have to sign a contract, and he doesn't go back into the draft if he doesn't. So, a guy like Fran Vasques was drafted by Orlando. He never signed a contract, but his rights are still held by Orlando to my understanding.
If I am wrong here, I would love to see your source. Is there a document you can link to?
@Nix
I think the closest case would be Larry Bird. He was drafted in 78 but decided afterwards to return for his senior year in college without signing a contract. The Celtics were given exclusive rights to him due to an old rule about college juniors. This has since been changed. I don't recall anyone refusing to sign and thus being re-drafted in a later year.
It should be noted that the NBA, unlike the NFL, is a veteran's league. Maximum salary is dependent on years in the league, vets control the players union, and rookies are forced to accept a set contract upon entering the league. Back when Yi was making a huff, there was a lot of talk about what the league would do about it. It was obvious that the league was very opposed to the situation and that Yi was going against everyone all on his own (which eventually led to his caving). There is likely to be a severe punishment or rule change if Rubio pulls out because of the team that drafts him.
@Keith
Has that ever happened?
@AD
Not exactly. A team only holds the rights to a player if that player signs a contract with the team. In the case of many foreign players, their NBA contract is predicated on playing in the NBA. They are under contract but not actually paid (this is similar to the qualifying offer of Josh Childress). So long as the drafting team honors its contract and offers qualifying offers at the end, they retain the rights to a player, even if that player never comes over. In the case of Rubio, if he signs a contract with Memphis or OKC, those teams retain his right until they are traded. He can refuse to sign, however, and lose the year altogether, and have to enter the draft again before he can play in the NBA.
The team that drafts a player... continues to hold his draft rights forever. For example, San Antonio and Splitter.
Thanks Keith... That answers my question.
@Keith
Good work Keith, some might call you a wishful thinker, but what you said is the way it's worked with foreign players for quite awhile now.
If a player, foreign or otherwise, is drafted by a team, his only recourse is to refuse signing the rookie contract. At such time, he will be re-entered in the draft the next year. After no number of years does a player simply get to sign with whomever he chooses. If Rubio is truly set on pulling out of the draft, it will hurt him more than it will hurt a team. American companies will pull any endorsements he gets and be less likely to offer him anything lucrative in the future until he signs with an NBA team. He is still at the mercy of the draft until he signs with someone, and there is no realistic way he can guarantee a team of his choosing ends up at the top.
This is posturing by Fegan, nothing more. Small market, big market, it's all pretty much the same nowadays. Everyone can see you wherever you are.
Jax said it best. The players play, and the best want to win no matter what. If this was legitimate, how come Fegan didn't even mention NY? The Clippers have the first pick, and Sacramento is the only team in top 5 who is in desperate need of a PG. This sounds less like Fegan is demanding a big market, more like he wants more money (top pick), or to make sure his guy gets a ton of exposure (max mpg).
No one has said anything that isn't realistic. Only one person has ran with unfounded claims and treated it as truth.
The objective in draft discussions is to promote actual possibilities and keep in mind that only one thing will happen to us in relationship with the #3 pick. With #3 we'll either draft someone, or we'll trade the pick. Anything is possible.
@Bernard
I agree about Harden not making it past the Wizzers for sure, yes, Wizzers. (I had to have been around 10 when the Wiz were named. I thought it was a childish name then and still agree.)
Speaking of names, I originally didn't like the name 'Thunder.' I must say I actually prefer it now, and I'm extremely happy we didn't name our team 'Al Eschbach's Least Known Subject.'
lots of wishfull thinking here...
Does anyone know if there is a deadline for draft entrants from overseas. Basically im asking if there is any way somebody could put their name into the draft and then back out because they dont like the team that drafted them. Also, if we did draft rubio how long do we have the rights to him before it expires.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
Yes Mr. Bile Duct you are dead on! I don't see Rubio or Griffin pulling an Eli Manning.
if we draft rubio and he doesn't want to come, he can only stay in Europe and can never play NBA ball unless we trade his draft right to another team.
btw harden will not pass Wiz. look at their rotation, they have a BIG hole in SG.
The NBA can look like a weakstick organization sometimes. David Stern comes across as a pushover, and the PR department makes the NBA look gentle and caring. Such as: "The NBA, where caring happens" vs "Watch Brock Lesnar crush some dude's skull on TV!". However, the NBA is not going to be pushed around by agents and young talent. The day they start catering to the wants of future players is the day the League dies. And don't think the players union, full of talented NBA players, are going to suddenly take to giving a Rubio or Yi their every wish. There have been tons of guys before them that would have preferred to land a big market for a shoe deal but instead had to earn their lumps on a rebuilding squad.
You put a competitive player on a team with potential and you'll see that guy play his heart out because he's a competitor and wants to win. You don't see him yawn around because he's not in a city her preferred. Competitive players have more respect for the game than that. Instead, a competitive player wants to land with an organization that is committed to winning, no matter the market size. KG would have never left small market Minnesota for big market Boston if they had the Spurs success. To a competitor, winning is always the ultimate goal. Ask Tim Duncan if playing his whole career in a small market is worth it.
That being said, you always have a starberry now and then, but even he played his butt off in Minnesota for years.
Every NBA player has the Rubio reaction. Sometimes it's public, most of the time it isn't. If I were Blake, I'd be tempted to find every way I could to skip out of being a Clipper. 9 out of 10 guys are like that. But they do the same as the players before them, and they pay their dues to the league, and they spend 3 years with a team. If, in that 3 years they determine that they believe in the organization and their teammates and such, they stay. Just like KG did for years. If they don't, they can move on.
Rubio may not want to play in OKC. But if we draft him, and he plays here for his 3 years, and in his 3rd year Durant leads the league in scoring and they make it to the Western Conference Finals, my bet is that he stays for that chance at the title. If he plays his 3 years and we can't seem to make it past the first round, he leaves.
CP3 hasn't been hurt in endorsements by playing in small market OKC and NO. If anything, he could leave NO and test the free agent market now, and be a much better commodity now than he was his rookie year. He's had the chance to prove that he can make a bad team good. That 3 years is there to protect the team, and it also works as an advantage to the player as well. 3 years is a perfect amount of time to enter your prime at the top of your NBA game.
Alex :
I found it mildly interesting that at clippers.nba.com they have a picture of both Griffin and Rubio on their advertisement about next year….
Wow. Yesterday only Griffin was on that advert. Interesting.
Was really good to see the Durant ESPN chat. I've been so inundated with draft scenarios and trade ideas the last few days that a little bit of light fluff was a welcome relief.
Also from the KD ESPN chat: confirmation of his twitter account.
@colewagoner (Portland): What do you think of Twitter and who got you on board? Is your Twitter name kevindurant35?
Kevin Durant: That is my Twitter name. One of my friends for me involved and I've been hooked ever since.
@Pennington
I'm still down with Rubio as well. Yi (as mentioned, same agent) tried to force who drafted him, and it didn't work. Now, I never thought Yi was as good as Rubio, so I don't see how the same tactic would work on Memphis or OKC, who would both love to have him.
I found it mildly interesting that at clippers.nba.com they have a picture of both Griffin and Rubio on their advertisement about next year....
Besides, what would you want to see more, James Harden make open jumpers, or Ricky Rubio make everyone else on the team (including Durant) better?
I want Ricky Rubio, ego or not. I think the team could do with a little swagger. I'd like to see it come from KD or RW but I don't think it will. I think we have the meat and potatoes of the team, now we just need some spanish spice from Rubio.
@Royce
"Very cool for Russ."
Definitely. It has been noted several times that Russ is still fairly shy in talking to the press. Gigs like this may increase his ease with dealing with public speaking.
Also, lots of Chinese may come away from the tour thinking "hmmm... Thunder... which team is that?" and do a little research and start following the team. A little more international exposure for the Thunder couldn't hurt.
daniel :Or this chat with KD:proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=26551
Kevin’s answers are a bit guarded - I guess he’s just a natural diplomat (or has been hanging around Presti too much). Despite the fact that he worships Lebron and Kobe and looks forward to a Lakers/Cavs finals, I get the feeling that he’s REALLY impressed with Melo and secretly would like Denver to knock off the Lakers.
Ahh! I suck at my job. Amazing how obvious stuff like that goes right by me. Thanks for the link.
@KingGondo
I'm giving you a big thumbsup.
From what we've seen from Presti so far, he has just a few requirements for players he drafts:
- They must be versatile and athletic.
- They must be team players.
- They have to be hard-working gym rats.
- They have to be willing to play in, and stay in, OKC.
Sounds like Harden to me.
If Rubio/Rubio's agent is more concerned about marketing him than about winning basketball games, then we don't need him.
Or this chat with KD:
proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=26551
Kevin's answers are a bit guarded - I guess he's just a natural diplomat (or has been hanging around Presti too much). Despite the fact that he worships Lebron and Kobe and looks forward to a Lakers/Cavs finals, I get the feeling that he's REALLY impressed with Melo and secretly would like Denver to knock off the Lakers.
@daniel
This is true. Good call.
(The story for those interested: http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/russellinchina_090518.html)
"Westbrook is the lone player representative for the NBA Jam Van, the league’s premiere interactive, traveling fan experience that’s been visiting China for the last five years. He’s there to interact with fans, sign autographs and play some hoops."
Very cool for Russ.
Hey Royce, you've been so caught in the draft talk, that you haven't even mentioned other Thunder related news. Like Russ being the NBA representative in the China tour thingamajiggy.
BTW Rubio has a huge buyout to pay before playing in the NBA, I'm not even sure his rookie contract would be enough to cover the costs.
I don't blame him if he really wants to "choose" the team he will play for.
You know, I would consider staying put and simply drafting Harden with the third pick. If you trade down too far, you run the risk of someone else, maybe a Washington, snagging him ahead of us.
@daniel
This very well may be true. But really, it's all just speculation anyway right now.
I'm a Harden fan all the way through anyway. So I wouldn't be hurt if we missed out on Rubio.
Royce, it has been plain as day that Rubio is not interested in a small market for a long time. I said as much several days ago. The latest articles floating around only confirm the obvious.
Rubio is a big fish in a little pond. He wants to be a big fish in a big pond. He has no patience or he wouldn't be using bucketfuls of his own money to get out of his current contract to come to the NBA at the age of eighteen. He wants to be a big NBA star. He wants the spotlight and the accolades. He is a very young, extremely talented, egotistical brat. He may or may not have a great NBA career in front of him. It won't be with any small market team, if he can help it. If he feels forced to land in a small market, he'll bolt at the first chance. People, really... human nature is not that difficult to understand.
@Royce
exactly
Bob is right. Presti will make the right decision. My point with Daniel is that you can't just throw Rubio off your draft board because of one article.
Al Eschback would though.
@Bob
These are smart words. Well put.
And Nix, I've heard the same thing from a few of "my people" as well. But it's not like I'm reporting it.
When you're a young european, with the option to stay in your country and still earn a lot of money, you're probably not dreaming about playing for OK City or Memphis...
Rubio has leverage : he can choose to retire his name from the draft or choose to stay in Spain if he gets drafted by a team he doesn't want to play for.
OKC has three options :
- Make a huge offer for Griffin (Jeff Green+Rubio ?)
- Try to trade down with Sacramento or maybe Golden State, draft Harden and grab a little something more
- Just draft someone else with the third pick. Probably Harden or Thabeet, they are also better fit IMO.
I'd be happy with anyone except Thabeet.
@daniel
Sorry but that whole comment is really uninformed. You're just assuming that an anonymous source is correct. That just makes you look like a fool.
People say stuff all the time. I went to high school with Sam Bradford and one of our mutual friends told me he wanted to go back to OU for his Senior year too. Doesn't me saying that just sound retarded? An anonymous source is far worse.