HoopsHype.com Rumors

It appears, as Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said Wednesday night, that the goal remains to have Ricky Rubio make his debut Saturday against Dallas at Target Center. Not that anybody is anywhere near to confirming that. After Thursday’s very light, no-contact practice, Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn, coach Rick Adelman and head athletic trainer Gregg Farnam met with Rubio courtside. But Adelman wasn’t revealing anything about that meeting. “It’s like I told you last night,” he said. “Just evaluating it every day, and we’ll see what comes, you know?” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

Saturday night's alright for fighting -- and for Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio's season debut. A league source told 1500ESPN.com that Rubio will play on Saturday at Target Center against Dallas. 1500ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

The source said the Wolves, while busy receiving trade calls, are reluctant to make any move before they see Rubio with the rest of the team. 1500ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio 

Ricky Rubio will not make his long-awaited season debut tonight against Denver, the team says. The next most likely return date is Saturday at home against Dallas, not Friday at New Orleans. That's so he can make his return at home and so he doesn't have to face back to back games. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

"I never have a problem with anybody getting paid. If there's one guy to get on the team it's Ricky Rubio. I've kind of been enamored with him since he got here. He's a pass-first point guard, a guy I haven't really played with before. I'm not going to pick favorites but he's one of my favorites teammates and one of the best guys to be around. And I've mentioned since Day 1that it's refreshing to be around him because he loves the game so much "If he were to get paid that, then I'm happy for him. Ricky is a tremendous player. I just hope he comes back and helps us very soon." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Kevin Love 

Jerry Zgoda: Ricky Rubio will not make his season debut tonight vs Denver. Next likely date is Saturday vs Dallas, not Friday at New Orleans Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

In the end, Love never wants to feel like he's pitted against young point guard Ricky Rubio, because he adores him as a teammate and a talent. Yet, the reality is unmistakable: For all of Kahn's missed picks, failed signings and flawed trades, Rubio is the player whom the GM can take full credit. Someday, Kahn wants Rubio to be his five-year, max-out star, but will Rubio want to stay in Minnesota should Love walk out the door? "It was a projection over a sure thing," Love says. "There's no question there was an agenda here. A different agenda." "I have a very, very good memory, and I always remember the people who have done right by me, and the people who have done wrong by me," he says. "It will be embedded in my brain, and something I won't forget about. There's no telling what will happen. I would love to compete for a championship in Minnesota, but …" Yahoo! Sports

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Trade, Ricky Rubio, Kevin Love 

Jerry Zgoda: Adelman said team's staff is testing Rubio's legs "almost every other day" for strength and endurance Twitter @JerryZgoda

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

What do Timberwolves lack right now? Or maybe someone? Ricky Rubio? - Of course things will get easier when he returns. Ricky can keep the high tempo of the game. Right now Minnesota is playing well, but we miss the quick passes which shred the defense. Sometimes we have this problem: we get into set offense, make the first pass – to that same Kevin, for example, and then just start waiting. But when you have the ball, you need to pass it to each other quickly, make the opponents move, creating more opportunities for the shots. Rubio will help us greatly in this area. His playing style is similar to Shved‘s, but he’s more pass-oriented. Though Alexey can make a timely pass too. - Rubio is already practicing with the team. When do you expect his comeback? - As I heard, it should happen no earlier than mid-December. I think in about seven or ten days. Ricky is already in good playing shape. But then it takes some extra time for him to get comfortable playing with new teammates. Rush'n Hoops

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Andrei Kirilenko, Injuries 

Jon Krawczynski: Had a chance to chat with @rickyrubio9 today. "If I had to put a number how happy I am (in MN) 1 to 10, it would be a 10." Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio 

Kahn denied another report that claimed point guard Ricky Rubio, working his way back from major knee surgery, was planning to play in the Wolves' game Friday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Target Center. Rubio started practicing with the team on Dec. 2 but no timetable has been set for his return. "There's absolutely no truth at all to that report," Kahn said. "It's false, erroneous and irresponsible." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

"I want to play like a month ago, but they don't let me," Rubio said with a smile, probably only half-joking. "Now it's kind of a thing when my knee feels ready, it's going to be the time. But I don't know. I need a couple more practices to see how I am. Actually, I don't know if I'm going to be ready next week or three weeks. It depends how I feel and how my knee responds." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

"If I come back earlier than I'm supposed to, it's bad for my knee and bad for the team too because I'm not going to give my 100 percent," he said. "And if I get hurt again, it's not going to help the team. And if I play and I'm not playing good, it's not going to help the team. I want to play so bad, but I want to be focused and I want to be ready to play when I'm ready." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

Injury update: Ricky Rubio will not play tonight. Kirilenko is a gametime decision. #Twolves Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

Darren Wolfson: #Twolves source: Rubio angling to play tomorrow. Still a better chance because his conditioning isn't 100% that we're a week away from that. Twitter @DarrenWolfson

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Injuries 

Ricky Rubio, Andrei Kirilenko, Alexey Shved, Nikola Pekovic, JJ Barea. Minnesota has five international players on the roster, tied with Cleveland for second-most in the NBA. San Antonio has eight international players, a league record. "I think it's pretty evident to me that there's a lot of not just good players, but some of the very best players in our game who have come from overseas," Kahn said. "To me, it's just a natural extension of scouting. Just as you can't afford to be negligent about the domestic side, you can't afford to not be on top of matters internationally." NBA.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, Andrei Kirilenko, David Kahn, Alexey Shved 

Stretch power forward Andrea Bargnani, veteran point guard Jose Calderon and fellow vet Linas Kleiza are among the players, sources say, that the Raptors have discussed making available to the Lakers in a deal for Gasol. It's an open secret around the league, meanwhile, that Timberwolves general manager David Kahn has been trying since last season to acquire Gasol to join fellow Spaniard Ricky Rubio in a three-man core with All-Star forward Kevin Love, but sources say that the Lakers continue to resist Minnesota's attempts to build a trade offer around 2011's No. 2 overall pick Derrick Williams and center Nikola Pekovic. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, Trade, Linas Kleiza, Pau Gasol, Jose Manuel Calderon, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, Andrea Bargnani 

Minnesota? Rival executives have long bought the notion that the Wolves want to accommodate Ricky Rubio's desire to play with Gasol. They, too, have a point guard D'Antoni covets in Ridnour, and could offer Nikola Pekovic, 2011 No. 2 pick Derrick Williams (whom coach Rick Adelman is down on), a first-round pick and filler. But unless the Lakers got Kevin Love in the deal -- which they wouldn't -- it's difficult to see how such an exchange would fit into their tiny window of opportunity to send Kobe off into the sunset with his sixth championship before he retires. CBSSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Trade, Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio 

Shved's future there is being overlooked by some Wolves followers who have clamored in recent years for the team to obtain a bona fide shooting guard. That guy is Shved, whom the team signed to a three-year, $10 million contract last summer. "I think he will be," Adelman said when asked if Shved is the long-term answer at the shooting-guard spot. "I think he's a much better shooter than he has shown to this point. If he plays with Ricky, he'll get open shots and he'll knock those down. We've seen it time after time in practice: He makes shots. I think he'll become more of a solid shooter. "What's good about him is you've seen his playmaking ability, too. He gives you both things." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Alexey Shved 

"We will see in the future," Shved said with a smile when asked how his game will fit with Rubio's. "He's very smart player. He know when he shoot, when he can give pass. He can give me pass for three-point shot. We will see how we play the next games. Right now, we play great. With Ricky, we play much, much better." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Alexey Shved