The 2009 NBA draft just became infinitely more interesting. Specifically for the Kings, a team desperately seeking a point guard and, almost as desperately, craving a star, the lottery just became more promising.

Does the name Ricky Rubio ring any cowbells?

Rubio's agent, Dan Fegan, confirmed to ESPN that the mop-haired teen from Barcelona, Spain – the one whose offensive skills have been compared with those of Jason Williams, Pete Maravich and Steve Nash – is pursuing a buyout from his Spanish club and planning to be in New York on June 25.

In a year when the draft isn't overloaded with name-droppers, Rubio's availability is enlivening chatter and heightening the importance of Geoff Petrie's trip to Europe later this week. Petrie, who also plans to scout former high school star Brandon Jennings – the point guard who signed with an Italian club to elude the NBA's mandatory age requirement – has long been intrigued by Rubio for many of the same reasons as everyone else.

At 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds, with long arms and a slender, boyish frame, the 18-year-old Rubio is a clever ballhander, excellent with either hand, and a crafty, often flamboyant passer. Hence, the comparisons to Williams and Nash, as well as a physical resemblance to a young Maravich. But what makes Rubio particularly intriguing to the Kings is that he's a crossover; unlike the aforementioned NBA stars, none of whom were known for defense, the Barcelona native recently was named the Spanish League's Defensive Player of the Year.

This complicates Petrie's life, though in a good way. The Kings, who have a 46.5 percent chance of securing one of the top two picks, openly acknowledge their two most glaring weaknesses: Production at point guard and defense.

The absence of a dynamic, compelling star isn't lost on anyone over in Arco either, and in fact, strongly influenced the selection of Williams in 1998. Toward that end, at least in Europe, Rubio is nothing short of a sensation. Long regarded as Europe's best guard prospect since the late Drazen Petrovic (class of 1989), Rubio further enhanced his reputation by performing capably in the Beijing Olympics.

One member of the Kings organization went so far as to say because of roster weaknesses and Rubio's unique profile – charismatic floor leader who defends – Petrie hasn't precluded the possibility of maneuvering to acquire the Spanish star even if the organization owns the first pick.

There is one potential complication, however, regardless of whether the Kings come up losers or winners on May 19: Rubio's buyout situation is thorny enough to become a deal breaker. Though he has been the consensus No. 2 pick (among league execs) for the past several months, Rubio is under contract with DKV Joventut for seven million Euros next season, which converts into about $9 million. He has until June 15 to reach an accommodation or withdraw from the draft.

Fegan's hope is that by announcing his client's intentions early, Joventut officials will compromise to avoid having an unhappy star on their roster.

Well, who knows? Suffice to say, an exhausted Petrie, who returned Tuesday from greeting his newborn grandson in Portland, Ore., suddenly has a skip in his step.

Maravich. Nash. Williams.

The no-pass, defenseless, charismatically challenged Kings certainly could do worse.

Call The Bee's Ailene Voisin, (916) 321-1208