SB Nation User Blog: DaniBCN

Ricky signs with Barça: How and why

DaniBCN — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:47:14 -0000

It's already been reported on spanish TV and it makes a lot of sense. According to reports, Joan Laporta (FCBarcelona's President) finished the negotiations himself.

Details and breakdown after the jump.

It's not official, but it looks like the deal is for 5 years with a decreasing buyout clause which would be expensive after the first season, quite affordable after the second (around 1M$) and decreasing after then. Ricky's salary will be 600k€ after taxes for each of his first two seasons. That's almost a 2M$ NBA salary because of the €>$ exchange rates and taxes. After the 2nd season his buyout becomes even cheaper and his salary increases drastically.

The deal makes a lot of sense because it gives Ricky financial stability (pay to play in Minny for 2 years vs making some money before leaving), a health insurance (very well paid player options for years 3,4 and 5), the chance to stay in his hometown and a very good level of competition (FCBarcelona is now the favorite to win both ACB and Euroleague). Also, he had 2 years left on his contract and the Wolves can't pay for his buyout, so if he has to stay for 2 more years, this option makes the most sense.

The tricky thing is that he now has all the leverage to come or not to the Wolves, as he will have a great offer if he decides to stay in Barcelona after his second year while his buyout amount would remain at a very affordable price. It's also interesting to consider that some of his new teammates include J.C. Navarro who bought out his previous contract with Barça to play for the minimum for the Grizzlies but also the infamous lottery pick Fran Vazquez who chose to stay in Barcelona rather than signing with the Magic who drafted him with the 11th pick of the 2005 draft.

How did Barça manage to get him?
A 3.7M€ offer with a clause that would make Barça pay another 2M€ to Joventut in case they win the Euroleague, which would turn out to be the whole buyout amount: 5.7M€. The best offer after that was 3.5M€ from Real Madrid, which Joventut was willing to accept but Ricky declined, as he doesn't want to leave Barcelona unless it's for the NBA. Looks like Minnesota's offers consisted on friendly offseason games and local business deals with Ricky which still wouldn't be enough to allow Ricky any financial stability and would leave too many variables open for Joventut.

Did you think Ricky's soap opera was about to end? It just begun, and unlike Lost, the new season will take a whole year to begin.

Ricky gets closer

DaniBCN — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:02:22 -0000

http://www.as.com/baloncesto/articulo/baloncesto-wolves-suben-oferta-ricky/dasbal/20090817dasdaibal_2/Tes

According to As, a spanish sports newspaper more trustworthy than Marca, the Wolves are still trying to find a way to bring Ricky this year.

According to the paper, there's a 4.6M$ (3.2M€) offer, just 300K short of Real Madrid's, which Joventut was willing to accept.

There are more Minnesota business involved in the offer, and a direct intervention by Glen Taylor himself.

Los Wolves suben la oferta por Ricky: 3,2 millones

J. M. | 17/08/2009

El bloqueo de las negociaciones entre DKV Joventut y Regal Barcelona, la negativa de Ricky de ir al Real Madrid y el hecho de que la cifra que el club verdinegro estaría dispuesto a aceptar por la cláusula de rescisión sea de 3,5 millones de euros, ha reavivado el interés de Minnesota Timberwolves por el jugador, al que eligieron en el número cinco del Draft.

El director general de los Wolves, David Kahn, ya ofreció en julio cuatro millones de dólares (2,8 millones de euros) por la cláusula del jugador, cifrada en 5,7 millones de euros, además de los derechos de Ricky para la Penya si deseara volver a Europa. Ayer, los Wolves presentaron una nueva oferta de 4,6 millones de dólares (3,2 millones de euros), acompañada de otros pequeños incentivos. El interés ha llevado a la intervención directa del propietario, el multimillonario Glen Taylor, y a nuevas aportaciones al holding de empresas de Minnesota.

Ricky Interviewed

DaniBCN — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:37:10 -0000

From marca.com

"I'll go to the NBA in 2011"

http://www.marca.com/2009/08/16/baloncesto/acb/1250424634.html

Long interview with good words about the Wolves and Rambis. He talks about staying in Barcelona for two more years, as Joventut is asking for more than he can afford, but if someone pays the buyout, he won't sign for more than two years. Some interesting stuff about all that's been going on.

Unicaja still wants Rubio

DaniBCN — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:46:14 -0000

Unicaja still wants Rubio

Unicaja Malaga president says they're still interested in Rubio, but the wait is too long and if they can't get him they're ok with the guards they already have.

There are also some unconfimed rumors about Barça matching Real Madrid's offer (3.5M€) and Unicaja offering 3.8M€ to Joventut.

There's nothing for sure yet, and it seems that the wait is going to be longer.

What's going on with Kahn in Spain?

DaniBCN — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:37:11 -0000

According to Marca Kahn and Fegan have an offer for Joventut consisting on 4M€ (over 6M$) for Ricky's buyout (which is 5.7M€.

That's the biggest offer Joventut has received, as there are others from European teams, most prominently Real Madrid (always according to Marca, which is always biased for Real Madrid).

The report says those 4M€ come from sponsor deals from businesses around Minnesota.

On the lawsuit: Ricky is in a small town running his camp and improving his shot with Jarinn Akana, a shooting coach who works for Fegan's agency, so he hasn't had the chance to sign the papers to retire the lawsuit against Joventut, what he's going to do according to sources.

Jordi Cairó, from Joventut's staff said that the Wolves arrived adding some positive things.

There are still two days of meetings left, and Ricky's will is to fix all this within a week, but Joventut is expected to make it as long as possible to get the most out of it.

Rex for sale?

DaniBCN — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:17:29 -0000

Rex for sale?

Sergio Rodriguez interview

DaniBCN — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:33:57 -0000

Sergio Rodriguez interview

Good interview about his basketball career since he was 7 with interesting words about the NBA.

Video & Transcription in spanish

Blazer's Edge Unofficial Mock Draft Contest!

DaniBCN — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:07:11 -0000

Rules:

Lottery selections + Blazer selections (24, 33, 38, 55, 56)

Both images and text accepted.

Scoring:

Lottery:
Exact match: 5 points
1 position away: 3 points
2 positions away: 2 points
3 positions away: 1 point

Blazer Picks:
Exact match: 10 points
Player selected by the Blazers with another pick: 7 points
1 position away: 3 points
2 positions away: 2 points
3 positions away: 1 point

Traded picks:

If the Blazers trade a pick, that pick would score like a Blazer pick regardless of who's picking.

Deadline:

June 24th 6:00 PM PDT

Big Prize:

The Winner gets a Barcelona tour with local guide, some beers or similar, and maybe even a ticket to a Joventut / Barcelona home game. Travel expenses not included (I can't offer much more than that).

Messina leaves CSKA

DaniBCN — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:18:33 -0000

Messina leaves CSKA

Link in spanish.

Messina won't be coaching CSKA next season.

CSKA offered him another job, but Ettore said he has to think about it (like in "no, thanks").

There's a lot of speculation about Real Madrid signig him. Meanwhile, CSKA has already signed Evgeny Pashutin.

Sergio working harder than anyone

DaniBCN — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:03:47 -0000

Sergio working harder than anyone

The way he's gotten us used to, Sergio is probably the NBA player who works out the hardest during the summer.

The article talks about his twice-a-day practices with coach Jota Cuspinera (ex-assistant coach with Estudiantes and the Spanish National Team that won the World Championship in '06).

Sergio is having video sessions at 10am to analyze his flaws, then working alone for 1 1/4 hours focusing on shooting and pick'n'roll defense, and then some other players join to put it all on practice on 2v2 situations, Then he's having gym sessions in the afternoon.