The Ricky Rubio Hype Machine

In the continual quest to find the 'next big thing' in sports, front office personnel will scour the globe, trying to find someone that might become an integral part of their organization. Occasionally, one of these players becomes hyped to the point where they are considered an absolute lock, despite any limitations that casual fan would notice. The latest member of the hype machine - Ricky Rubio.

Rubio was the fifth pick overall two years ago by the Minnesota Timberwolves. This selection was part of the absolutely confusing draft conducted by David Kahn, where his first three selections were point guards (Rubio, Johnny Flynn, and Ty Lawson). Lawson was traded to Denver, and Flynn ended up being a 2009-10 All-Rookie Second Team player, who then missed all of last season with an injury. Rubio, however, was lauded as being able to process the game faster than anyone else, and was a truly elite talent.

Instead of proving this in over the past couple of years in the Spanish League, he essentially became a bench player. Over the past two years, he averaged 5.9 points and 4.4 assists. Yup, that's the production that you want out of the number 5 overall pick. While the Spanish league has produced a few legit NBA players, the brothers Gasol specifically, there were flashes that they would turn into something. Also, they were not languishing on the bench during the regular season and the postseason, as Rubio did.

The idea is that Rubio's game is tailored more for the American brand of basketball. This does not make any sense. In theory, the NBA is the upper echelon of basketball talent, where the best of the best in the entire world play. So, how is it possible that some 20 year old that was a bench player in Spain would be able to step in and dominate, as Rubio is expected to do? Pure madness.

Then there was Rubio's arrival in the United States, where 200 people - mainly Timberwolves employees - waited around to greet him. Why? Was this just a smokescreen to make Rubio think that the Minnesota area was excited to see him come? Does Rubio have an ego that requires this sort of messaging already? What was the point?

In all likelihood, this will not end well for the Minnesota Timberwolves or for Ricky Rubio. He would have been better served working on his game overseas, and having the Timberwolves trade his rights for a useful piece, like maybe a center. Rubio would be more valuable as an unknown entity than he will be on the court.

David Kahn Is Right

There are times when everyone has said something in the heat of frustation and anger. Typically, when given the opportunity to cool down and realize what was said, people try to pass off such statements as a joke, or to say that they didn't mean what was said. However, at these points in time, there is usually more truth spoken than anyone involved with the comments would want to realize. It's simply human nature. At such times, the walls are down, and the filter is off. After all, where wlse would the phrase 'the truth hurts' come from?

So, it is with this in mind that we look at the comments made by David Kahn in the aftermath of the NBA Draft Lottery. Kahn, after watching his league worst team miss out on getting the top pick to a Cleveland Cavaliers team that had just lost LeBron James, and was represented by owner Dan Gilbert's 14 year old son who suffers from Neurofibromatosis, said that the NBA 'has a habit, and I'm just going to say habit, of producing some pretty incredible story lines'.

Even before Kahn's statement, there have been rumors that the lottery is rigged. Just look to the very first NBA Draft Lottery, where the infamous 'Frozen Envelope' theory came about when the Knicks drafted Patrick Ewing in 1985. Last year, in another episode referenced by Kahn, the Washington Wizards sent Abe Polian's widow to represent them at the draft. Naturally, the Wizards got the first pick.

The NBA has a serious image problem that David Stern refuses to acknowledge. There is statistical evidence that shows that certain referees favor specific teams. There is evidence, albeit circumstantial, that shows that specific teams will advance in the playoffs or win games, as long as those teams just do not implode on themselves. There has already been one referee arrested and banned for fixing games. Despite claims that this was the work of one 'rogue official', who can say? How many others are there?

What kahn said in the moment has more truth to it than even he would care to recognize. If the general manager of one of the league's franchises is even suggesting that a fix may be in, how much does that damage the integrety of the NBA? At this point, the league cannot be considered anything more than the WWE with a ball.