1. Chad Ford made a great point on Bill Simmons’ NBA draft podcast: not only did Chris Wallace of the Grizzlies destroy his reputation with the Pau Gasol trade to the Lakers but he also cost himself Ricky Rubio. When Pau and Juan Carlos Navarre got a taste of Memphis under Wallace and decided they’d rather play (a) in Spain [Navarre] or (b) anywhere else [Gasol] Wallace also lost Rubio, hence his reported refusal to play for Memphis.

This caused them to reach badly on Hasheem Thabeet w/ the 2nd pick. I think Thabeet ends up being a serviceable NBA big (like a more defensive minded Keon Clark). Could Wallace not find a trade that got him more value at #2? Wait. It’s Chris Wallace.

2. Minnesota’s GM was just on ESPN declaring his intention to keep both Ricky Rubio and Johnny Flynn. I love Flynn and think he has the makings of another (better) Mike Bibby. Conventional wisdom says you can’t have both. You certainly can’t start both but if Rubio (who is only 18) develops physically you might be able to play them together in a couple of years. Rubio can run point and hen guard the other team’s 2 while Flynn can play a Ben Gordon or Russell Westbrook role and guard the point. I’m talking my self in to this. Guess I’ll be buying League Pass again next year to watch Flynn.

One more thing w/ Minny – how about, considering that Phoenix is having a fire sale, calling about Amare Stoudamire? He and Jefferson could cut it in the front court if you play small ball and I bet Kevin Love might be interesting to Phoenix (plus…something…to get Amare obviously). Rubio, Flynn, Jefferson, and Amare would be a very intriguing core.

3. Congrats to the Tar Heels, particularly Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson. Both end up in good position to maximize their potential. Spending some years as Chauncey’s understudy is ideal for Lawson, as is playing in Denver – a team that can utilize his speed in their make-it-hard-to-breath system. Psycho T should be a 12 year rotation player and I predict he ends up as a poor-man’s David Lee.