Ricky Rubio Rumors: Timberwolves won’t budge on max contract
By Josh Hill
The Minnesota Timberwolves have finally traded Kevin Love but that doesn’t mean the team is looking at next season without any hope.
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Ricky Rubio is one of the reasons that Kevin Love left, as the previous regime in Minnesota failed to offer Kevin Love a max contract when they could as the team was holding out for Rubio. Now that the time has come to give that earmarked extension to Rubio, the team is hesitant to do so.
Wolves beat writer Darren Wolfson talked about the trade of Kevin Love and noted that it now puts Ricky Rubio on notice.
"Rubio is on notice. The Wolves are trying to sign him to an extension, and so far his agent, Dan Fegan, is balking at the idea of a 4-year, $43 million deal. That’s plenty for a player of Rubio’s caliber. It’s a lot more than Atlanta point guard Jeff Teague makes — maybe a better player — and is what Golden State All-Star guard Stephen Curry makes. But Fegan is seeking the 5-year max. That’s not happening."
Rubio getting a max deal likely won’t be happening unless he goes nuts this year and finally grows into the player everyone thought he’d be after his rookie season. There’s still a lot of hope and potential with Rubio, but giving him a max deal isn’t the most sound business investment a team can make.
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