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David Kahn: Foolish or Incompetent?

My esteemed colleague the Professor and I have very different takes on David Kahn, the T-Wolves and Ricky Rubio.

My Side: The T-Wolves either didn't do their homework on Rubio... or didn't do a very good job on it. They thought they'd bring him over from Spain right away, and the news that he'll play two -- possibly three -- more years in Europe has them in full-on damage-control mode. Rubio might still become a valuable asset for the team, but it's clear that this did not go the way they hoped.

The Professor: (At the risk of putting words in Dre's mouth, I'll summarize the points he's made elsewhere and trust him to correct me if I misspeak.) The T-Wolves knew there was a very good chance Rubio would fall to them at the five spot, and they drafted him knowing there was a very good chance he wouldn't play in the NBA until 2011. Letting him "season" in Europe for the next two years was all part of the plan...

So question one is... did they mis-handle this, or was it all part of Kahn's plan? And if you believe Kahn intended for Rubio to stay in Europe for another couple of seasons -- the question becomes, "was that the right way to go?"

Let's consider: in trading up for that fifth pick, Kahn took on about $18 million. He dealt his best outside shooter, and left his team painfully thin at shooting guard and small forward.

For the right to negotiate with Rubio two years from now?

That sound like a good trade to anyone?

Comments

By: Justin Phan
On: 9/7/2009 5:52:00 PM		 I really don't see what the big fuss is about when it comes to people knocking Kahn. I don't buy Dre's theory that 'it was all part of his plan', but I will acknowledge that he knew it was a distinct possibility that Rubio would stay in Spain. Kahn made a low-risk, high-reward pick there by taking Rubio at 5. Why low risk? Because:

A) He's really got nothing to lose by not having Rubio there for the next two seasons. That team is going to be one of the three worst teams in the West, with or without Rubio.

B) Even if Rubio returned to Spain, it's unlikely he'll take a step back or stop developing. His value should actually rise from now until 2011 as Rubio will only get better (in all likelihood). Think of it like the Wolves focusing their efforts on developing Flynn while sending Rubio off to a 'developmental camp' in Spain. Pretty much the same concept.

Instead of wasting the pick on a likely failed prospect such as DeMar DeRozan, Kahn made a wise long-term investment that could prove to be a valuable trade chip in 2011. Plus it's insurance if Jonny Flynn was to become a big-time bust in his first two seasons.
 
By: Charlie Zegers
On: 9/7/2009 7:41:00 PM		 I can see making a low-risk, high-reward pick. What I can't see is trading up to do it.
 
By: Justin Phan
On: 9/8/2009 1:57:00 AM		 The Wolves are still well below the salary cap even with all the salary they added this summer. They're in rebuilding mode so the extra salary they took on was, in their mind, worth adding a valuable piece or two alongside Al Jefferson and Kevin Love for the future. Randy Foye has proven that he can't handle the burden of carrying the backcourt. He's become more of a solid complementary player than anything -- a good guy to have as your #4 scoring option, not your #2. Mike Miller simply isn't the type of guy you want to be rebuilding around. Jonny Flynn? Quite possibly. Ricky Rubio? Definitely.
 
By: The Professor
On: 9/10/2009 3:06:00 PM		 The only thing I might quibble with is the use of the two 'very's in your summary of my position, but other than that right on. Like Justin said, I think the Wolves went low-risk/high reward. This draft was universally thought of as having two potential home runs (Griffin and Rubio) and a whole bunch of potential singles. If Rubio isn't there I think Kahn takes the two potential singles and keeps it moving. But with Rubio there, he decides to take a big cut and hope to make contact.

Even if Curry (the guy it seems most Minny fans would have taken) turns out to be a solid line-drive single, or even a double, he's not going to be a long-term home run for the team. Kahn is on record that he doesn't really see either Jefferson or Love as centerpieces on championship teams...so he takes a flier that maybe Rubio is one, and lets him season overseas if need be until he can either get him or trade him for that big piece down the road. In the meantime, he drafts his short-term replacement in a very likable and heady PG and hopes that Flynn makes Rubio more tradeable.

Was it the right decision...time will tell, but as someone that still has a soft spot for the Wolves I'm not mad at the decision. The Wolves aren't going to be fixed anytime soon, and there wasn't anyone available at 5 that I think changes their fortunes. They also have the draft rights to a supposed first round talent from 2 drafts ago that is playing in Europe, so now there's double the chance that they get a Spurs/Ginobili type gift in a couple of years. I really like Steph Curry this year, but even knowing Rubio went to Spain I think I'd rather wait on his upside/trade value than settle for less since the Wolves are planning long-term anyway.
 

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