There were high expectations for Ricky Rubio this season for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but it seems T-Wolves fans will have to wait before they see the Spanish guard back into full active duty.

Rubio was conspicuously absent from the open free scrimmage held by the T-Wolves last Monday. The public scrimmage held at the Target Center in Minneapolis gave local folks a glimpse of rookies Karl-Anthony Towns and Tyus Jones, along with the other players except for Rubio.

What gives?

Apparently, Rubio was purposely held out as what interim coach Sam Mitchell calls a precautionary measure. Rubio has missed a couple of practices as the team try to ensure that Rubio's minor injury doesn't grow worse.

According to Mitchell, Rubio has a minor quadriceps strain.

"Our goal is to start the season healthy. We'd at least like to start the season healthy. That was always my goal as a player. You want to start the season healthy. You don't want to start that uphill climb hurting. It's just too early to run him out there," says Mitchell who is holding the fort in lieu of head coach Flip Saunders who is on leave, according to Star Tribune.

Rubio was the center of trade talks recently, but as everyone knows, all those talks have been quashed. Rubio is unfazed by those talks, saying that he is confident he will remain with the Timberwolves

"I have confidence that the team wants me but you know in this league anybody can get traded," said the Rubio via Gulf News. "You don't listen to the rumours. You just live day-by-day and that's it," he added.

Rubio will continue to sit out the preseason as a precautionary measure, and it seems Mitchell's plan to play him will depend on when he is able to join team practice.

"If you're not practicing him, it doesn't make sense to play him in a preseason game," Mitchell said. "Everybody else is ready to go."