[rtbtParticipant]

For as long as I can remember, there’s always been a draft related debate on whether you take the best player available or go with a big center. NBA GMs are in love with height, so even if there’s a more talented player available, they usually elect to go with a big man. I haven’t studied the history of all drafts, but I suspect that on average, taking a center over a better guard or forward usually turns out to be a mistake.

There are many examples in past drafts but three that immediately come to mind are:

1. Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan

2. Greg Oden over Kevin Durrant

3. Hasheem Thabeet over Tyreke Evans

Obviously everyone has their own opinion, but I think in general, you should select the best player available.

In addition to the three above, please remind us of other similar draft day decisions and tell us what you think?

[ricks17Participant]

I would have to agree….I think that GM’s and scouts put to much emphasis on physical attributes. Of course it matters, but too often they make mistakes in selecting a guy just because he can jump higher or, hes a couple inches taller…..
Now this site is awesome, and i’m not taking anything away from it. But I believe aran overrates how important athleticism matters..I never done research for this. but I can recall many times where his mock draft has been out of wack because of a players vertical, or his 40 yard dash.

[quinceyhodges]

i also agree. the only way i select a big man over a great guard would be if they were killing it in college like a shaq or a duncan. they cant just have a good season and have good potential, they have to have a great season. dont forget it wasnt just bowie ahead of jordan. the dream was also picked over him

[rtbtParticipant]

ricks17, you raised another interesting issue that comes up with every draft and that’s the importance of athleticism. I don’t think any smart individual can say athleticism isn’t important, but there’s a lot more to being an NBA caliber player than just athleticism.

About two years ago someone, maybe it was NBADraft.net, did a study of the guys after the NBA Draft Combine. Do you know what they learned? That most of the guys who scored the highest on the running, jumping, and agility tests did NOT make it in the league or they became marginal players. What does that tell you?

[quinceyhodges]

I remember reading a article on that. i was tryna tell okee that skill is the most important thing and not athleticsim

[MuggsyParticipant]

It’s harder to find a good big than a good wing player, GM’s tend to roll the dice and hope for that franchise big, but sadly enough it generally doesn’t work out.

[quinceyhodges]

both are important but skills is alot more important. you can be a very good player-great if you have alot of skills but not alot of athletic ability. you cant if its vice versa

[rtbtParticipant]

I think both are important. The combination of athleticism with a high skill set is phenomenal as in a Kobe Bryant. Having one or the other can be enough to make you successful. Although I think Steve Nash is a far better athlete than people give him credit for, his incredible skills are what make him a star.

All of us have seen incredible athletes come into the league with high expectations and then fail. That should tell you that athleticism isn’t enough.

[rtbtParticipant]

Quincey, if you force me to choose one over the other, I must agree with you, skills are more important than athleticism.

But it also goes the other way. Look at Kyle Singler, whom a lot of draft analysts love because of his terrific skill set. Despite his all around skills, I don’t think he will make it in the NBA because he lacks athleticism.

[MuggsyParticipant]

Yeah, personally I’d take the BPA. But I deffinitely understand the desire of GM’s to have that franchise big. I mean look at the centers in the league right now, not many of them are very standout. They’re a big body to bounce off of at most.

[quinceyhodges]

i can see him making it if luke walton made it because he has the same skill set as luke. he will make it over the kid out in gerogia that jumps wayyyyy out of the gym. the nba has alot of guys who arent the best of athletes. as long as you have skills or a certain skill then you can survive. either shooting defense smarts like a eric snow, bruce bowen, or jason kapono

[rtbtParticipant]

BStar405, you are absolutely correct, it is much harder to find a skilled big man. However, taking a big man instead of a guy you know is a much better player [forward or guard] has turned out to be a mistake so often that you’d think GMs would learn their lesson. But the prevalent believe that you must have a good big man to win is always lurking.

Along these lines, I think the game’s changing with less emphasis upon size.

[quinceyhodges]

i must be getting sick because ive been defending duke players lately..lol

[rtbtParticipant]

BStar405, I think the first three choices in the 2009 NBA draft were fascinating.

1. The Clippers finally made the right move by taking the best player available, Blake Griffin.

2. Memphis: Instead of taking the BPA, who was Tyreke Evans, they selected Hasheem Thabeet. They knew he was a project but he was 7 feet 3 and they couldn’t resist. Many people thought that was a huge mistake and I’m one of them.

3. OKC: Instead of taking the best player available, Tyreke Evans, they selected a guy whom they thought would fit in better with their team [Harden]. Since NBA rosters change so quickly, I thought that was also a mistake.

[Author]

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