Pretend that David Stern wanted to shake things up a little. Say he decided to cancel every player's contract and put every current player in a pool for the 30 teams to draft. GMs would have to think about who to select, given the player's age, health, potential, etc. Who would you want to build your franchise around? It's kinda of hard when you think about it. If you think you should build around a low post player, you might choose Tim Duncan, but building a franchise around a 31 year old whose physical condition is declining isn't a smart idea. With that said, here are our picks...1st Pick
BM: LeBron James (22) He will be 23 in December and he is the most dominant player in the league.JA: After this year's playoffs, LeBron's the mandatory No. 1 pick. I'm just waiting to see if he'll ever average a triple-double. He's that good.
2nd PickBM: Kobe Bryant (29) He will be 30 in 2008 though. But even if he has only 5-6 more years of MVPish years in him, he'll still be the best offensive player in the game for 5-6 more years. Given D-Wade's health, they probably have the same amount of years left in them, so just ask youself, who is better?JA: Dwayne Wade (25) Unlike Kobe he doesn't need to change his number to sell jerseys. And with one ring already on his South Beach mantle, and no previous rape charges to hamper his marketability, it's only right that he's my No. 2.
3rd PickBM: Chris Bosh (23) He will retire as one of the best power forwards to ever play the game.JA: Kobe Bryant (29) He will retire as the second best two guard to every play the game.
4th PickBM: Carmelo Anthony (23) Top 5 scorer in the league and he is learning how to do other things on the court. I rather bet on Anthony here because it's easier to teach/make someone how to pass, and rebound that it is to teach someone how to do more than just dunk.JA: Dwight Howard (21) Already one of the best defenders and rebounders in the game and he's getting better with his back to the basket every year.
5th PickBM: Dwyane Wade (25) His health concerns me but he is in a league of his own when it comes to guards who can attack the basket.JA: Amare Stoudemire (24) Could make an argument for No. 3, but it's so hard to know how good he would be without Nash and the Sun's uptempo style inflating his stats.
6th Pick
BM: Greg Oden (19) He, along with Dwight Howard will be the best centers in the game for years.JA: Greg Oden (19) He's Hakeem Olajuwon without the low-post footwork on offense, but that will get better in time. 17 years from now, yes 17 years when he'll looks about 60, I see him breaking Olajuwon's record of 3652 blocks in a career.
7th PickBM: Dwight Howard (21) He is a man child now. I can't wait until he actually becomes a man. I bashed him a little earlier, but you can build a franchise on his growing shoulders.JA: Chris Bosh (23) He can do it all on offense, but his bulk leaves something to be desired. Just like Chamberlain couldn't beat Russell, he'll never beat Howard or Oden.
8th PickBM: Gilbert Arenas (25) Best scoring guard in the league is learning how to create for others too. I'm taking Arenas here just in case Durant ends up more like McGrady than what everyone thinks he will become.JA: Kevin Durant (18) Despite the
NBA Live commercial, I'll take Durant at No. 9. He'll duke it out with Kobe for the scoring title every year.
9th PickBM: Kevin Durant (18) Whoever has more points at the end of the game wins. Why not have the best scorer on your team for a decade (when he is 22 - 32 years old).JA: Carmelo Anthony (23) Not enough intangibles to merit being any higher.
10th PickBM: Yao Ming (26) Close your eyes, think of a center who averages 25-10 while shooting 86% from the line, now you see what I'm saying.JA: Gilbert Arena (25) He's Agent Zero equipped with his own
blog, what more could you ask for?
11th PickBM: Deron Williams (23) Averaged 19 ppg and 9 ass per game in the playoffs last year and he showed he can't play defense by stoping Baron Davis while he was on a mission. This is a Jason Kidd who can score.JA: Yao Ming (26) There are 1,321,851,888 people in China. Marketabilty. Marketability. Market-abilty!
12th PickBM: Joe Johnson (26) He developed late but he is one of the top 5 offensive players in the league. he can do it all. Because of few minutes early in his career he will be able to play for a long time.JA: Deron Williams (23) The debate whether he or Paul is the better pg will carry on. For now, Deron's on top.
13th PickBM: Amare Stoudemire (24) He is just a beast. Plain and simple. BUT, Amoah is right... what would he do on a team where they double teamed him everytime he touches the ball, what would he do if he didn't get 8 points handed to him by Steve Nash a game? Only reason why he slides to 13.JA: Chris Paul (22) If this guy were 6'3 he'd be the best pure point guard to enter the league since Magic. At 6-foot he's the best since J-Kidd.
14th PickBM: Andre Iguodala (23) You might not have noticed but he put up 18-6-6 in his first year as being a primary option. He is a shut down defender and he actually shoots 33% from deep despite his reputation.JA: Charlos Boozer (25) He's one of the few Duke players to become a star in the league. And if you saw this guy in the playoffs you know why he warrants a lottery selection.
Rest of the First Round15:
BM: Eddy Curry; JA: Tim Duncan
16:
BM: Dirk Nowitzki; JA: Dirk Nowitzki
17:
BM: Kevin Garnett; JA: Joe Johnson
18:
BM: Tony Parker; JA: Elton Brand
19:
BM: Carlos Boozer; JA: Zach Randolph
20:
BM: Luol Deng; JA: Kevin Garnett
21:
BM: Brandon Roy; JA: Steve Nash
22:
BM: Ben Gordon; JA: Ben Gordon
23:
BM: Mike Conley; JA: Kevin Martin
24:
BM: Randy Foye; JA: Luol Deng
25:
BM: Rudy Gay; JA: Al Jefferson
26:
BM: Tim Duncan; JA: Andre Iguodala
27:
BM: Chris Paul; JA: Vince Carter
28:
BM: Al Jefferson; JA: Josh Howard
29:
BM: Josh Howard; JA: Mike Conley
30:
BM: Steve Nash; JA: Eddy Curry
AlmostBM: Rashard Lewis, Leandro Barbosa, Andrew Bynum, Michael Redd and Gerald Wallace, Elton Brand, Travy McGrady, Vince Carter, Tyson Chandler, Al Horford.JA: Rashard Lewis, Tony Parker, Al Horford, Andew Bynum, T.J. Ford, Shawn Marion, Gerald Wallace, Jermaine O'Neal.