“Obviously, the hardest choices are when there’s someone very talented who has issues,” said the GM, whose team has been a playoff fixture in recent years. “Where we’re picking, you’re always picking a problem … it’s either going to be background or too short or can’t shoot.”

Better to err on the side of solid citizens. A good test case will be Jonny Flynn. Execs raved about his character before the draft, but that didn’t change the fact he was 6-0 at best. Still, the Minnesota Timberwolves took him with the sixth pick, higher than the initial projections had him going. He picked up rave reviews in Las Vegas in summer league and at Tim Grgurich’s private camp. I’d love to see the Timberwolves rewarded for putting smarts above the tape measure.