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While I hate after-the-fact second-guessing, I'm curious what MIN fans think:

Knowing what we now know (assume perfect foresight), would you still pick Rubio at #5 and Flynn at #6?

Top Picks available at #5-6:

Ricky Rubio
Jonny Flynn
Stephen Curry
DeMar DeRozan
Jordan Hill
Brandon Jennings

If you'd prefer a different selection, please post to the discussion. If you're a fan of a different team, please post, but do not vote.

I would have picked the same as both picks were hands down BPA

but here's the kicker: I would have looked for trade down options but instead of trading down to teams being closely behind us in the lottery, I would have tried to call some non lottery teams to see what they would have offered because teams like GSW, NYC and TOR didn't really have anything to offer which would've impressed me (unless GSW would have somehow offered Magic v2.0 or Biedrins but that was really unlikely).

Rubio and Flynn were BPA. Nothing has changed.

Of the prospects listed, DeRozan is the only one I'd have liked besides who we took. My preferred players were chosen before us and weren't options(Harden and Evans).

If possible, I'd have traded the #5 pick to New Jersey for a package that possibly got us Lopez(doubtful), and #11? Not sure what it would take, but there are Nets fans saying it would have been possible to move #5 and other assets for Lopez and #11.

Maybe productive expirings for their unproductive expirings? Or #18 or other future picks? Probably have to take back Najera or Hassell... Probably don't sign Hollins, then, or trade Richardson.

C - Lopez/Opec
PF - Jefferson/Love/Songalia
SF - Gomes/Richardson
SG - Williams/Ellington
PG - Flynn/Atkins/Brown

That would have been my ideal scenario using 20/20 hindsight.

^ yeah that would have been sweet if we could have gotten Lopez but wouldn't it be weird for the Nets to explain their fan base that they traded a great looking rookie from on of the deepest drafts in a long time (if not history) for an unproven rookie who, if we still picked Rubio or Flynn at #5 happens to play the same position as Devin Harris?

I would have love to see that happen but it was very very unlikely to happen

As much as I like Love, I wouldn't have minded #2/Gay for #5/Love and I think it actually would have made both teams better. MEM could have easily gotten Thabeet at 5 and saved money while upgrading their PF position with Love (and not having to add Randolph)

Rubio would be able to afford his buyout and we'd be looking at:

Rubio/Flynn
Brewer/Ellington/Wilkins
Gay/Gomes
Songalia/Pecherov
Jefferson/Hollins

But, whatever, I'm OK with this, too.

MEM could have easily gotten Thabeet at 5

I don't know if that's true, didn't OKC supposedly like him?

I'd draft the same, but look to move Rubio right off the bat

I'd still draft Rubio & Flynn (and keep Ty Lawson as the backup pg for Flynn )

I'd draft Flynn 5th. Rubio is going to be a nice piece to flip on draft night next year. Evan Turner perhaps?

Lawson trade was great for us.

Knowing the battle plan, my hope pre-draft was Harden/Flynn but mostly because I did not think Rubio would fall and Evans did nothing for me. When Rubio fell I was very excited and I still buy into the idea that Flynn can be effective next to Rubio.

I probably would have went Rubio + curry.

Curry to nyk for 7 + mobley take hill
Rubio + love to NJ for lopez + 11 take williams
Hill to PHX for clark + change
lawson @ 18

lopez
jefferson
clark
williams
lawson

BOOM

but I can also dig putting off the rebuild a bit and seeing what we got with flynn...

jefferson
love
??
??
Flynn

Rubio + bobs pick

bruceallen61 wrote:I probably would have went Rubio + curry.

Curry to nyk for 7 + mobley take hill
Rubio + love to NJ for lopez + 11 take williams
Hill to PHX for clark + change
lawson @ 18

lopez
jefferson
clark
williams
lawson

BOOM

but I can also dig putting off the rebuild a bit and seeing what we got with flynn...

jefferson
love
??
??
Flynn

Rubio + bobs pick

We lose bad in that Rubio/Love for Lopez/Williams trade.

Love was the #5 for Lopez who was the #10
Rubio was the #5 for Williams who was the #11

Ouch.

It's kind of weird to trade Hill for Clark and change without defining what change means. I don't really get the Curry trade either.

On draft day, I would have taken Derozan over Flynn but now I've grown to like Flynn alot. As far as Rubio goes, I was fine with coming over in 2 years on rookie scale but with this new info out that it might be 3 years and even then we have to negotiate, I'm to the point where I have to think twice. I still love having a guy with Rubio's upside, though.

I was very much a fan of picking BPA (sans a PF)..... I just didn't have Flynn as BPA at that spot. If the FO did, I am cool with that, I had Derozan there for MN. A trade back of 6 for 8 or 9 would have been just fine too. (Derozan or Clark as we moved further back). Rubio was most assuredly the correct pick, then, now, and whenever we talk about it in the future.

I will admit, though, Flynn is really winning me over and will make me wonder if we need Rubio...

Worm Guts wrote:On draft day, I would have taken Derozan over Flynn but now I've grown to like Flynn alot. As far as Rubio goes, I was fine with coming over in 2 years on rookie scale but with this new info out that it might be 3 years and even then we have to negotiate, I'm to the point where I have to think twice. I still love having a guy with Rubio's upside, though.

Agreed on all points.

Worm Guts wrote:

MEM could have easily gotten Thabeet at 5

I don't know if that's true, didn't OKC supposedly like him?

I heard those rumors, too but I don't buy it. I can't imagine them taking Thabeet over Harden.

Worm Guts wrote:On draft day, I would have taken Derozan over Flynn but now I've grown to like Flynn alot.

Same here. At the time I was a little pissed that we took Flynn and was fully expecting a Flynn for Fernandez trade to be announced that night. In hindsight with the way that the Rubio situation turned at the end, however, the Flynn pick looks absolutely genius, and I expect him to be seriously pushing for ROY this year.

I, like Henry Lake, was disappointed when Sacramento took Evans instead of Rubio. I then was thinking there must be something about Rubio or his contract that was causing him to slide and thought he might continue to do so. So I was suprised when the Wolves picked him. Not that I was enamored with anyone else left at 5. Just disappointed that Rubio did not go top 4. Then when the Wolves picked Flynn, I thought for sure there had to be a trade in play. (It didn't happen draft night but it probalby will before the Wolves win a playoff game). Then, of course, the drafting of Lawson. (Wasn't that a circus.) Fortunately, a trade was finally announced. At 28, the Wolves finally did what I was hoping they would do. Pick Ellington.

Overall, I was and am a little disappointed. Going in to the draft with 4 first rounders + 2 mid second round pick and netting just two rookies this year.

Looking at it another way, Kahn essentially pushed two of the firsts to the future. Probably not a bad thing given he had only been on the job for a few weeks. Hopefully Rubio will continue to develop in Barcelona and will be equivalent to or better than a top five pick. We have 2-3 more years to watch the Rubio drama unfold. Grab the popcorn.