THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GERONA, Spain — Ricky Rubio expects to leave his Spanish basketball club DKV Joventut even if the Minnesota Timberwolves cannot reach a deal to bring their first-round draft pick to the NBA.
Timberwolves president David Kahn was in Spain this week to try and help Rubio negotiate a way out of his contract with Joventut.
Rubio is at odds with his boyhood club over a multi-million dollar buyout clause, which the NBA team can only contribute US$500,000 toward. However, another European club could pay the entire fee to get Rubio, and the 18-year-old point guard said he doesn’t expect to return to Joventut.
"I want to continue with the club but, after everything that’s happened, I don’t think they’re too comfortable having me in their squad. So I need to look out for myself," Rubio told Spanish state television on Wednesday. "I want to play in a winning team, on a team that can achieve many things."
Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona are both interested in signing Rubio if he cannot make it to the NBA this season.
