An internet report says that Ricky Rubio does not want to end up in either Memphis or Oklahoma City.

A source recently told DraftExpress, “Rubio doesn’t want to go to Memphis, and he especially does not want to pay money out of his own pocket with that huge buyout for the honor of doing so. (Dan) Fegan [Rubio’s agent] wants him in L.A., and if he can’t have him there, he wants him in Sacramento. Definitely not Oklahoma City.“

It’s an interesting development. All players have preferences to where they want to play and whether this was just an aside or a true ultimatum from Rubio and/or his agent is yet to be seen.

Think about it, Memphis and OKC aren’t exactly the cities on the top of the list for domestic players much less international players, so if this is true, I don’t blame him for mentioning that to his agent.

Rubio has power in this draft; he’s not a late-first rounder happy to be drafted, and he can always return to the Spanish league if things aren’t too his liking.  And let’s also keep in mind that Rubio has to pay $2.5 million, the majority of a multimillion dollar buyout, to leave his Spanish club DKV Joventut.

“He’ll pull out if he doesn’t like what he’s hearing,” the NBA source teld DraftExpress. “Or he can stay in and force the Grizzlies to call his bluff—would they really take him knowing that he may never come over? That’s one way to get him to fall to three.”

It could be more than wanting to play in a large market or living in a metropolitan area. Another way to look at this situation is the fact that three Spanish players have played or currently play for Memphis. Certainly those players are in Rubio’s ears.

Memphis’ history with Spaniards doesn’t give a definitive leaning as to why Rubio may not want to play there, but could give a little insight. Marc Gasol currently plays there and seems happy, his brother Pau Gasol was traded to the Lakers (after doing some complaining towards the end of his tenure), and Juan Carlos Navarro left after his rookie year with the Grizz; flew back home to the Spanish league and was named 2009 Euroleague MVP.

Memphis general manager Chris Wallace and head coach Lionel Hollins are headed to Spain this afternoon so they can watch Rubio play Saturday in an ACB League playoff game.

“We’re going to scout him. Lionel hasn’t seen him, and I haven’t seen him this year,” said Wallace. “As for the rumors, we’ve not talked to the player or his family or his agent.”

Links and Resources: NBA Draft Roundup, May 20 (DraftExpress), Grizzlies plan visit, talk with Spaniard Ricky Rubio (Memphis Commercial Appeal), Ricky Rubio is the next Pistol Pete (Interbasket Forum), Navarro leaves NBA after just one season (Interbasket),  Juan Carlos Navarro named Euroleague’s MVP (Interbasket), Ricky Rubio declares for NBA draft (Interbasket), Ricky Rubio Olympics 2008 stats (Interbasket), Ricky Rubio, Brandon Jennings on SLAM Magazine (SLAM)