Grizzlies GM and coach in Spain to watch Rubio
According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace and coach Lionel Hollins were in Spain this weekend to watch Spanish phenom Ricky Rubio.
The Grizzlies hold the second overall pick in this year's draft and rumors have circulated that Rubio, who wants to play for the Clippers, does not want to play in Memphis.
Rubio is the basketball equivalent of Jennifer Capriati. Despite being only 18 years old, Rubio turned pro as a 14-year-old and he has often been compared to "Pistol" Pete Maravich.
"I think he'll be OK because he's been competing against veteran players and professional players in Spain for the last four years," said [Lakers forward Pau] Gasol. "That obviously means something by the way he's capable of adjusting at such an early age at the professional level. So I think he'll do fine when he decides to come over. But I don't know if he's going to come over this year because of his buyout."
Whatever team drafts Rubio will have to pay a $6 million buyout to DKV Joventut, his Spanish professional team.
"He is by far the smartest player in the draft," [Draft Express's Jonathan] Givony said. "His knowledge of the game, his overall feel -- it's amazing. Wherever he goes, those fans are going to fall in love with him. He's such a fun player to watch, so unpredictable, so creative. To me, it's a no-brainer for a franchise like Memphis."
The one knock on Rubio is his lateral quickness and how it'll translate to defending quicker point guards like Chris Paul and Derrick Rose.
In our NBA mock draft, we have the Grizzlies selecting UConn center Hasheem Thabeet with Rubio going to Sacramento with the fourth overall pick. (See full 2009 NBA Mock Draft here.)
The Grizzlies hold the second overall pick in this year's draft and rumors have circulated that Rubio, who wants to play for the Clippers, does not want to play in Memphis.
Rubio is the basketball equivalent of Jennifer Capriati. Despite being only 18 years old, Rubio turned pro as a 14-year-old and he has often been compared to "Pistol" Pete Maravich.
"I think he'll be OK because he's been competing against veteran players and professional players in Spain for the last four years," said [Lakers forward Pau] Gasol. "That obviously means something by the way he's capable of adjusting at such an early age at the professional level. So I think he'll do fine when he decides to come over. But I don't know if he's going to come over this year because of his buyout."
Whatever team drafts Rubio will have to pay a $6 million buyout to DKV Joventut, his Spanish professional team.
"He is by far the smartest player in the draft," [Draft Express's Jonathan] Givony said. "His knowledge of the game, his overall feel -- it's amazing. Wherever he goes, those fans are going to fall in love with him. He's such a fun player to watch, so unpredictable, so creative. To me, it's a no-brainer for a franchise like Memphis."
The one knock on Rubio is his lateral quickness and how it'll translate to defending quicker point guards like Chris Paul and Derrick Rose.
In our NBA mock draft, we have the Grizzlies selecting UConn center Hasheem Thabeet with Rubio going to Sacramento with the fourth overall pick. (See full 2009 NBA Mock Draft here.)
