Dumb D'Angelo Russell NBA Draft Rumor Makes No Sense

Love D'Angelo Russell. Think he’s going to make a terrific NBA point guard, spend well over a decade in the League, and possibly one day become a 1st team All-NBA player. Great vision, smooth game, would not at all be shocked if he’s a 18-point, 10-assist point guard within four years.

But under no circumstances are the Minnesota Timberwolves going to trade Ricky Rubio so that they can draft D’Angelo Russell 1st overall. Sorry, not happening. No shot. Why someone would even float this is beyond me. Via ESPN Insider:

"And do not totally discount D’Angelo Russell here either. I am told Saunders is also a big fan and might be willing to move Ricky Rubio for the right deal."

I realize the NBA has changed, it’s a wing league, and post players at times feel like relics from another era … but Russell 1st overall would be a much larger shock than Anthony Bennett being the #1 pick in 2013. And besides, who is taking on Ricky Rubio’s contract? It has 4-years left and $55.1 million. He’ll make more money over the next two years than NBA MVP Stephen Curry.

(I enjoy watching Rubio play, but I’m a realist: He’s had injuries, and in four seasons, he’s made 116 3-point shots; Curry made 166 as a rookie. They’re different players, obviously, but in a league where 3-point shooting is paramount … you catch my drift.)

It’ll be Karl-Anthony Towns of Kentucky 1st or second, and Jahlil Okafor of Duke 1st or 2nd. The real discussion shouldn’t be Russell possibly going 1st; it should be whether or not Towns or Okafor try to force their way out of going to Minnesota so they can wear purple and gold and play for the Lakers.