NBA Draft 2011: Developments in Minnesota Discouraging, Follow Small-Town Trend
I’m a Minnesota Timberwolves fan and I’m discouraged.
After their first two picks it looked like the 'Wolves had four solid players: Kevin Love, Jonny Flynn, Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams.
Unfortunately, Love and Williams play essentially the same position.
And, well, so do Flynn and Rubio.
The 'Wolves made a mistake in 2009 when they selected two point guards, Flynn and Rubio, with the fifth and sixth overall picks.
They should have chosen Flynn fifth and DeMar DeRozan sixth.
DeRozan fills a need for Minnesota, the shooting guard, and he averaged 17.2 points with the Toronto Raptors—a team that has become a cellar-dweller after Chris Bosh departed for Miami.
Instead, Rubio comes to town so Flynn must be moved. He is dealt to the Houston Rockets with Donatas Motiejunas for the No. 23 pick (Nikola Mirotic), the No. 38 pick (which the Rockets bought back), Brad Miller and a 2013 first-round pick.
Brad Miller, for those of you who haven’t heard of him, is a 7'0", 35-year-old white man.
He’s basically an older, American-born version of Darko Milicic without a championship ring (Milicic is the youngest player in the NBA to win a ring, but don’t be fooled, he’s garbage).
Nikola Mirotic was dealt to the Chicago Bulls for more picks.
This means Rubio must perform next year, which is a stiff order for a player who has yet to play in America and has one star, Kevin Love, to turn to.
Rubio’s not a scorer and Love will be double-teamed.
Wesley Johnson is a good player, but was essentially the consolation prize when the 'Wolves could not land the No. 2 pick, Evan Turner.
Michael Beasley never lived up to his hype as the No. 2 pick behind Derrick Rose in 2008.
The rest of the team is young and has potential, but there is no veteran presence and their development will be hampered by what I foresee as a revolving door of coaches and a myriad of losing seasons.
All of that doesn’t really matter, though.
Look at the best-case scenario: They will get a No. 1 pick and select the next LeBron James.
History indicates that’s only a short-term solution.
Minnesota is a small, but proud city, like Cleveland.
Nobody outside of Minnesota will blame them. In fact, many fans would reason that they would make the same decision.
It’s instant gratification.
Boston and L.A. always win, and they spend the most. Dallas, the other big spender, won this year. New York can spend. Miami is sunny all the time.
Rubio could become a superstar, but he indicated he didn’t like the cold weather when he was drafted. There’s no telling if he’ll be good and if he is, he’ll probably do what LeBron did to the Cavaliers.
The only way to keep superstars in Minnesota is to win.
Solid scouting and drafting put a great roster together in professional baseball, football and hockey. Good coaching brings out the best in the players and passion drives them to win.
The Twins, Vikings and Wild can win. People in Minnesota understand that and support the teams, even in losing seasons.
In basketball it’s a simple formula: big city plus big money equals wins.
Chicago is a big city with a history of winning and a grounded superstar.
Oklahoma City is a novelty.
San Antonio is an anomaly.
Twenty-two out of the 30 teams in the NBA are losing money.
Seattle doesn’t even have a team.
The primary reason the NBA is headed for a lockout is basketball fans in small cities are discouraged.
I see the 'Wolves toiling with 20-win seasons until Kevin Love’s contract is up and he leaves for a big city.
I’m going to watch college ball.
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