Tossing around opinion regarding the relative NBA prospects of young Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio has been in long supply ever since the Spanish point man impressed on a national stage in the 2010 FIBA World Championships. It took Rubio two years to actually sign with the Wolves following his selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, and that time away from Minnesota immediately dovetailed in the NBA locking out its players. As a result, team employees from the owner on down to ball boys are forbidden from having any contact with any of the players, rookies or otherwise, under threat of fine.
Which leaves Rubio, among others, out in the cold. From the Yahoo! Sports Minute:
Of course, there's nothing NBA-illegal about Rubio having any contact with his teammates. He doesn't need the Timberwolves' front office to forward him a list of phone numbers, all it takes is one shout-out from a teammate to be let into the group. The Timberwolves franchise? They needn't matter, in a situation like this.
All it takes from a teammate is a phone call. A text. An email. A Facebook message. A Twitter follow. Anything. Curious, to say the least.
Hook your boy up, Timberwolves.