Ricky Rubio Agrees to Join the Timberwolves, But What’s Next For Jonny Flynn?
By Editorial Staff
With the 5th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft the Minnesota Timberwolves selected point guard Ricky Rubio, from Spain. It was the perfect fit for the Timberwolves rotation as they traded away guards Randy Foye and Mike Miller, to draft the 18 year old Ricky Rubio. With the next pick in the Draft the Timberwolves would select point guard Jonny Flynn from the University of Syracuse. Taking back to back to point guards was very shocking as it almost seemed pointless to select two point guards in a row. However it wasn’t.
Ricky Rubio despite being drafted by the Timberwolves wasn’t theirs just yet, as he was still under contract with his team in Spain. The Timberwolves however agreed to buy out Rubio’s contract which would cost them $6.6 million to $8.2 million for Rubio’s rights.
Even though the Timberwolves agreed on the price of $6.6 million to $8.2 million it wouldn’t be allowed by the NBA as it went against the leagues collective bargaining agreement that prohibits a team from paying more than $500,000 toward a player’s contract buyout. As a result to the $500,000 limit there were also reports that came out saying that Rubio didn’t even want to play in the NBA and that if he did decide to play in the NBA that he didn’t want to play in Minnesota.
Though, after weeks and weeks of rumors on August 31, 2009 despite reaching a deal with Rubio’s team, Rubio decided that he no longer wanted to go pro. “The reason leading me to take this next step is to have a period of preparation to better take the challenge of the NBA in better conditions as a player,” said Rubio in a statement that he released. “The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to be my first option and I wish to play with them in the near future.”
Nonetheless after wasting a draft pick on Rubio their draft pick at number six with Jonny Flynn would be the right choice as right out of the gate he was a success. In Flynn’s first game he would help lead the Timberwolves back from a 19 point deficit to a 95-93 victory. Flynn would score 13 points of his 18 points in the fourth quarter. Flynn would go onto to play in 81 out of the 82 games and finish the season averaging 13.5 points per game to go along with 4.4 assists.
The following season Flynn would miss the first 24 games from recovering from hip surgery in the off-season. However Flynn wouldn’t be able to recover as he would go onto only average 5.3 points per game and 3.4 assists per game, in only 18 and a half minuets.
After having his worst season ever news for Flynn would get worse as guard Ricky Rubio agreed to join the Timberwolves next season. The agreement will be a buy out of $1.4 million (Minnesota paying $500,000 of it) that will free Rubio to come sign with the Timberwolves.
As for Flynn the status of him being the starting point guard next year is very doubtful as not only the Minnesota front office is ecstatic about Rubio’s decision to go to Minnesota, but the players are as well. “He’s somebody special,” said Kahn after Rubio was drafted. Then Olympic Gold Medalist, Kevin Love tweeted several times today about Rubio saying, “Ricky Rubio huh? I’ll believe it when I see it…” and “Just thinking about pick and rolls…goodnight” and “Pick….N….Rolls.”
Judging by the talk and mood that the Timberwolves players and managers are in, it seems that Jonny Flynn’s days are just about over in Minnesota. So what’s next for Flynn? Will he stay in Minnesota and defend his starting spot or will he get traded to another team who could use a young talented point guard?