[Tobe BryantParticipant]

Over the past few years I’ve watched teams draft players based on potential and the ceiling that they pray for them to reach. We’ve had Tyrus Thomas, Kwame Brown, Darko Milic, and others flop like a bad pop album. But the thing that I’m starting to notice is that teams are ignoring exactly what they need in their locker rooms, in their jerseys, and most importantly on the court.

This is the first year I am examining what a team needs and what the move is that they should have been looking to make. You take a look at a team like the Cleveland Cavaliers, obviously lacking the star power and spark that LeBron took to South Beach. Why not take a risk on the player with the most flare entering the draft? Why not take a proven winner?

In my opinion, Kemba Walker was by far the best player in the NCAA this year. He led his squad to the NCAA Championship and a host of other wins and got himself plenty accomplishments. What makes him less than great when comparing him to Kyrie Irving? He is a PG, maybe not as pure, but yet the same.

Historically speaking, teams like the Portland Trailblazers and Atlanta Hawks are suffering the most from passing that one thing to get their team back to glory and greatness. The Blazers passed on dead eye scorer Kevin Durant because of its infactuation with Greg Oden. The Hawks passed both Chris Paul and Deron Williams, two ALL-NBA PGs in the time when they needed them the most. “Potential” had them take Marvin Williams, a solid, but needless pick at the time.

Now I look at teams this year tussle over picks that boggle my mind. It makes me feel as if they don’t trust the very players that they pay to compete every night and also ignore the rosters that have built over the years. These lottery teams must take a stance and either embed themselves into rebuilders or teams that want to compete for the championship right now.

[NJHooper95Participant]

The 2001 draft really opened up the door for drafting potential vs NBA Ready. I dont think gms and owners are too bright when it comes to drafting or free agency for that matter. BUT if you are in the lottery,9 times out of ten you need immediate help especially top 5 picks. So why would you draft a player that will take 3 to 4 years to become the player you envision, when your teams needs help now?

Thats why players get traded, coaches get fired, because the teams normally continue to struggle until that player gets better. You can afford to Draft Potential when your team is strong, like when the Piston took Darko or if you just blew up ur core. They won the championship despite him not being ready and it didnt kill their franchise. But what if Cleveland would have drafted Darko that year? WOW!

[NJHooper95Participant]

The 2001 draft really opened up the door for drafting potential vs NBA Ready. I dont think gms and owners are too bright when it comes to drafting or free agency for that matter. BUT if you are in the lottery,9 times out of ten you need immediate help especially top 5 picks. So why would you draft a player that will take 3 to 4 years to become the player you envision, when your teams needs help now?

Thats why players get traded, coaches get fired, because the teams normally continue to struggle until that player gets better. You can afford to Draft Potential when your team is strong, like when the Piston took Darko or if you just blew up ur core. They won the championship despite him not being ready and it didnt kill their franchise. But what if Cleveland would have drafted Darko that year? WOW!

[21_21_42Participant]

Yeah Cavs blow and going to for a good A%$ min…… i’m talkin like 6 or 10 years after what happen there. Darko is better then there hole team now!

[21_21_42Participant]

Yeah Cavs blow and going to for a good A%$ min…… i’m talkin like 6 or 10 years after what happen there. Darko is better then there hole team now!

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Hindsight is 20/20… IF God promised me that Oden wouldn’t get injured, I’d take him over Durant again.

Big men who dominate the paint at both ends win titles. That’s a fact.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Hindsight is 20/20… IF God promised me that Oden wouldn’t get injured, I’d take him over Durant again.

Big men who dominate the paint at both ends win titles. That’s a fact.

[NJHooper95Participant]

Oden was a logical pick. A big man that is young, strong, athletic, big, and a defensive presence is too hard to pass on. Especially considering the dominance of Big Men. Portland had a perimeter guy in Roy at the time. Oden was a good pick. His time is not done yet, he can still impact this game. Injury is his downfall, not the fact that he cant play a lick. No one can predict injury. (Bowie, Hill, Jay Williams, Wagner, Shaun Livingston)

I think all of the guys above would have been much better than they were if they did not suffer big time injuries. All of these guy were high lottery picks.

[NJHooper95Participant]

Oden was a logical pick. A big man that is young, strong, athletic, big, and a defensive presence is too hard to pass on. Especially considering the dominance of Big Men. Portland had a perimeter guy in Roy at the time. Oden was a good pick. His time is not done yet, he can still impact this game. Injury is his downfall, not the fact that he cant play a lick. No one can predict injury. (Bowie, Hill, Jay Williams, Wagner, Shaun Livingston)

I think all of the guys above would have been much better than they were if they did not suffer big time injuries. All of these guy were high lottery picks.

[Tobe BryantParticipant]

If you know that a player being injured will completely derail their career, and stripping them of their ability and basketball strength, WHY NOT pick a Kevin Durant who can shoot and will NEVER lose that skill regardless of injury. It’s just like if LeBron gets hurt, his playmaking will still be with him, although he will not be as nearly as effective.

[Tobe BryantParticipant]

If you know that a player being injured will completely derail their career, and stripping them of their ability and basketball strength, WHY NOT pick a Kevin Durant who can shoot and will NEVER lose that skill regardless of injury. It’s just like if LeBron gets hurt, his playmaking will still be with him, although he will not be as nearly as effective.

[ghrghrParticipant]

 Oden wasn’t based on potential. He came in and contributed starting from game 1.

I also think that many "potential picks" turned out pretty good. Wasn’t Kobe Bryant a pick based on "potential"? Cole Aldrich and JJ redick were proven players in college, as was Adam Morrison and so many other busts.(not saying aldrich and redick are busts)

Either way, you have to do your scouting and choose the player you think will be the best and give him the tools to be the best.

[ghrghrParticipant]

 Oden wasn’t based on potential. He came in and contributed starting from game 1.

I also think that many "potential picks" turned out pretty good. Wasn’t Kobe Bryant a pick based on "potential"? Cole Aldrich and JJ redick were proven players in college, as was Adam Morrison and so many other busts.(not saying aldrich and redick are busts)

Either way, you have to do your scouting and choose the player you think will be the best and give him the tools to be the best.

[shannon92Participant]

As a sonics fan i was hoping portland would of taken durant and let oden slip to us, he was a beast

[shannon92Participant]

As a sonics fan i was hoping portland would of taken durant and let oden slip to us, he was a beast

[M-DYMESParticipant]

Yea you can’t blame the Blazers for their interest in Oden. There is a reason this dude very well may still be getting a huge deal without having played even 82 games in his career yet, let alone a season. You don’t pass up on a guy that size, with that much skill and talent, at such a young age. He is a game changer even if he is struggling offensively in any given game. He still has promise.

[M-DYMESParticipant]

Yea you can’t blame the Blazers for their interest in Oden. There is a reason this dude very well may still be getting a huge deal without having played even 82 games in his career yet, let alone a season. You don’t pass up on a guy that size, with that much skill and talent, at such a young age. He is a game changer even if he is struggling offensively in any given game. He still has promise.

[Author]

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