The alleged deal: Adaptive Path would agree to let Google hire two members of the team. But AP wouldn't know which ones until after the agreement. Then Google, like an America's Top Model panel, interviewed everyone at AP and scooped up its two favorites.

So Adaptive Path had to sign a contract not knowing which team members would say goodbye. It's almost like seeing a family break up — except the orphans get a six-figure salary.

(By the way, prodigal son #1 was Jeff Veen, who first made Measure Map. AP can't disclose the second new Googler.)

Earlier: Google buys Measure Map [Valleywag]
And: Google eyes Measure Map [Valleywag]

Update: It's true.

Since Google acquired Urchin — the service that became Google Analytics — people assumed that MeasureMap would go to Yahoo. MeasureMap displays data such as number of visits, source of traffic, geographicaly distribution of visitors, and does so in a graphically appealing fashion. The service was built by Adaptive Path, the user experience gurus; many of their friends now work at Yahoo, which seemed like a natural acquiror.

However, we hear that it's Google, not Yahoo, that's close to clinching a deal for MeasureMap. The official logic will be this: with Urchin's raw power and MeasureMap's friendly design, Google Analytics will be unbeatable. Translation: it's so pretty, I've got to have it, so what if I already have one.