The NBA ought to change its free agency date so that it could have a major extravaganza on draft night. It would be cool to have open season on free agents the same day as the draft — it would lead to a real three-ring circus of activity and a lot more publicity for the league.
Plus, teams could wheel and deal draft picks more using cap space, if it is available. A lot of times, the free agent stuff doesn’t get the publicity in July it should get — but having it part of a big night like this would help a lot. Plus, it would help the thing from becoming a four-hour snoozefest, which it was last night.
Everyone is confounded by Minnesota taking the two point guards. But I’m sure Jonny Flynn was the guy the Wolves wanted and Rubio falling in their laps was too much to resist.
I would assume that they’d like to hold Rubio up for auction to the highest bidder. He’s certainly the most marketable player in the entire draft and maybe the only legitimate ticket seller of the bunch. The guy’s magnetic, on and off the court.
But I’d be concerned that Rubio is magnetic enough that the Twin Cities are already geeked up about seeing him and it’s already resulting in the phones ringing to buy tickets. You better trade him quickly before everyone is too in love with him.
This draft was a real sleeper. For all the blockbuster trades made prior to it, the draft itself provided very little drama. I did like David Kahn’s interview with Stu Scott, though. Funny stuff — and yes, he used to play all the time in those noon games at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. I know because they used to happen right after the Trail Blazers’ morning practices there. He wasn’t much of a point guard, though — at least according to the guys who played with and against him.
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Tags: David Kahn, Dwight Jaynes, Jonny Flynn, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA Draft, Ricky Rubio