Minneapolis, MN (My Sportsbook) - The Minnesota Timberwolves said Tuesday that draft pick Ricky Rubio will not join the team this year and will remain in Spain for the next two seasons.

Rubio was selected by the Wolves with the fifth overall pick in June, but the 18-year-old had wavered all summer as to whether to continue playing in Spain or make the leap to the NBA for the 2009-10 season.

Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn said Tuesday that the club had an agreement in place with Rubio, his agent and his current team, DKV Joventut of Spain, on a buyout package that would have enabled the teenager to play for the Wolves.

However, Rubio decided this past weekend to stay home and play for FC Barcelona, which also made an offer to buy out the Joventut contract.

"The reason leading me to take this next step is to have a period of preparation to better take the challenge of the NBA in better conditions as a player," Rubio said in a statement released by the Wolves. "The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to be my first option and I wish to play for them in the near future."

Kahn said he understood the decision.

"This morning I met with Ricky and his parents and told them that I understood Ricky's decision," Kahn stated. "It was clear to me yesterday and in this morning's meeting that the pressure surrounding Ricky and his family to remain in Spain for at least two more years had only intensified as the summer wore on and was weighing heavily on them.

"The NBA is the best basketball league in the world, by far. As an 18-year-old man, Ricky would have been challenged on a nightly basis to a degree he has never experienced. In order for Ricky to meet this challenge fully, I believe it is important that his family and other people important to him were comfortable with the move to the NBA and fully supportive.

"I also agreed with Ricky's position that two more years of competition in Spain and the Euroleague will only aid his development and that he will be much more ready for the NBA when he joins us."

The Wolves, in a rebuilding mode after a disastrous 24-58 season that saw the end of Kevin McHale's tenure as vice president of basketball operations and then coach, also selected another guard directly after Rubio, taking Syracuse's Jonny Flynn with the sixth pick.