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Report: Rubio, Timberwolves far apart in extension talks

Howard Smith / USA Today Sports

Timberwolves General Manager Milt Newton admitted earlier this week that the team and Ricky Rubio, who can be signed to an extension before October 31 or become a restricted free agent next summer, haven't yet seen eye-to-eye on an extension. However; the GM also said that he was optimistic an extension deal would finish before the Halloween deadline.

It may have been just that, though - optimism - because according to Jerry Zgoda of the St. Paul Star Tribune, the T-Wolves and Rubio, "are a good distance apart on negotiations toward an extension."

Rubio is among the game's best point guards on the defensive side of the ball and as a play maker for his teammates, but the 23-year-old has been an atrocious shooter early in his NBA career. Rubio has shot under a career 37 percent, including 32 percent from three-point territory, which doesn't bode well for his camp's reported preference for a max contract.

In a league stacked with star point guards, a rebuilding team like the Timberwolves, or any team for that matter, can't afford to pay max money for one who can't shoot.

Unless Rubio & Co. drop their reported asking price or Flip Saunders suddenly begins to view Rubio as a max level player over the next month or so, restricted free agency for Rubio seems extremely likely.

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