On draft night, analysts couldn't believe Ricky Rubio -- the next Pistol Pete, the Spanish Steve Nash, the next big thing in the NBA -- slipped all the way to number five, to the Minnesota Timberwolves. But before everyone could begin to discuss how Rubio's passing skills would compliment a young Wolves team, Minnesota made their next selection: Jonny Flynn. And all of that praise for the Timberwolves went right out the window.

Drafting point guards back-to-back? Were they nuts? Usually when you have a lottery pick you draft the best player on the board, but when you have two consecutive picks, you probably shouldn't pick two playing the same position. Especially when sharp-shooter Stephen Curry was still sitting there. Did you expect anything less from Minnesota? This is a franchise that has won a little more than a third of their games over the last four seasons.

But it quickly got even worse for the Timberwolves. Shortly after the draft, rumors emerged that Rubio didn't want to play in Minnesota. Analyzing Rubio's contract with his Spanish team DKV Joventut showed that his leap to the NBA would cost him. Per league rules, the Wolves could only contribute $500,000 of the $8 million it would have cost Rubio to buy out his contract. Rubio would have been footing that bill with pretty much his entire salary for his first two years in the NBA. Of course, Rubio was aware of the situation and assured the Wolves that he would do whatever it takes to play in the NBA...until he decided that's not what he wanted.

General Manager David Kahn spent weeks in Spain trying to negotiate the buyout and even thought he had accomplished that on Saturday night. But then on Monday, Rubio backed out and decided to stay in Spain and play for FC Barcelona who purchased his contract from DKV Joventut. Again, did you expect anything less from Minnesota?

On the surface, Kahn looks foolish. And he definitely deserves criticism for drafting TWO point guards with successive picks in the lottery. But Ricky Rubio's decision to stay in Spain might make David Kahn look like a genius...two years from now.

No one is denying that Rubio has a ton of skill and an enormous amount of potential. He is also young and immature, and this situation hammers that home. Rubio said all the right things leading up to the draft about wanting to play in the NBA but changed his mind pretty quickly after being drafted and has wavered back and forth ever since. What do you really expect from an 18 year old? It's a difficult decision for anyone, and with that ridiculous buyout, staying in Spain makes a lot of sense. Rubio was being pressured by all Spanish basketball fans to stay and FC Barcelona was willing to pay. Now, in two years, to be bought out of his new contract will only cost about $1.5 million and the Wolves will still be able to pay a third of that. So, staying makes sense for Rubio but it also makes sense for the Wolves.

The Timberwolves retain the rights for Rubio and when he's ready to come to the NBA (presumably in two years) they will be getting a player two years more mature. Rubio has shown flashes of brilliance but his outside shot could use a lot of work. He would have his fair share of plays in the Top 10, but would probably have more than his fair share of turnovers. If he can improve his three-point accuracy, and mature physically, he will come into the NBA with even more hype than he would have this season. The Wolves also don't have to be the ones to foster that development. Rubio will undoubtedly improve his game over the next two years and the Wolves will be the beneficiaries.

This also relieves any team chemistry issues that could have arisen between Rubio and Flynn. After the two were drafted there was a lot of chatter about how they would play together and if they could mesh on the court. It seems difficult to imagine that two highly competitive players both fighting for the starting point guard position wouldn't cause problems. Now, Flynn is the clear-cut starter and can assert himself as a leader on the team without having to worry about jockeying for playing time.

The Wolves are not contenders right now but who knows where they will be in two years. Flynn showed flashes of greatness during summer league and if he can click with Corey Brewer, Kevin Love, and Al Jefferson, the Wolves could make great strides in the next two years. In that case, the Wolves would be in a position to trade Rubio for draft picks and/or a player that might get them over the hump in the Western Conference. And if Flynn doesn't work out -- well then Rubio can fit right in.

Oh, and one more thing that makes this not such a bad deal for the Wolves is that when Rubio does enter the NBA he will be paid based on this year's rookie scale, so he might come at a bit of a discount as compared to the 2011 standards.

Kahn went against conventional thinking in drafting two point guards and was hammered for it. He was hammered again when Rubio wavered on coming to the NBA. And I'm sure many Wolves' fans aren't happy with him now that they won't get to see their top pick Rubio's tremendous court vision and overall charisma this season. But in a couple years, Kahn's madness might be seen as brilliance. Whether he is around to accept that praise is the question.