Betting Your Career on the Decisons of 18 Year-Olds

The first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, has decided to remain in Spain for two more seasons.

You have to believe the Minnesota's front office erred when they thought that they could get Rubio to come to the U.S. right away to join the team. Now, they won't get him until the fall of 2011. Somehow, at #5, there were many other players who could have helped the T-Wolves immediately.

Oops.

Memo to the file: Draft kids with no options other than the NBA, with relatives who are willing to move across the ocean to join a European teenager, or kids who have solidly committed (whatever the heck that means) to leaving their European teams and joining your NBA team. Failing that advice, take note of where your local burn unit is. You'll need it.