Team of the Future

[CaminoChaos]

Sorry, I just wanted to see what this team looks like on this board.

PG - Ronnie Price
SG - Kevin Martin
SF - Ron Artest
PF - Greg Oden
C - Justin Williams

Bench - Salmons, Douby, Garcia, (unfortunately)Thomas

 

[Smills91]

If I had the 1st pick in the draft this year, everyone declared that was eligible to I think I'd quite possibly pick both Kevin Durant and Brandan Wright before Greg Oden.

 

[CalBears1]

No way. How many times does a legitimate 7ft center with the body and the skills of a legitimate center come along? Not very often. Oden goes #1 no matter what.

Durant and Wright are Garnett type players, and Oden is Shaq like. If Shaq and Garnett were in the same draft, who would you choose? Shaq would be the consensus.

 

[Smills91]

No way. How many times does a legitimate 7ft center with the body and the skills of a legitimate center come along? Not very often. Oden goes #1 no matter what.

Durant and Wright are Garnett type players, and Oden is Shaq like. If Shaq and Garnett were in the same draft, who would you choose? Shaq would be the consensus.

Would you take Jordan or Olajuwon? Similar argument for today. While I agree with your argument, I think, especially Durant has the ability to be the most dominating player in the league at some point in his basketball career. Moreso than that post player.

 

[supamari0]

No way. How many times does a legitimate 7ft center with the body and the skills of a legitimate center come along? Not very often. Oden goes #1 no matter what.

Durant and Wright are Garnett type players, and Oden is Shaq like. If Shaq and Garnett were in the same draft, who would you choose? Shaq would be the consensus.

Durant isn't Garnett. Garnett is limited to a post game and jump shots. Durant is probably the only guy I've ever seen at 6-10 that can actually drive and penetrate to the basket. He's shooting 3s at around 40% and is starting to get a post game.

Oh and he averages a double-double already. (leading the Big 12 in scoring and rebounding) and to top it off, he's 18 years old.

 

[BMiller52]

Would you take Jordan or Olajuwon? Similar argument for today. While I agree with your argument, I think, especially Durant has the ability to be the most dominating player in the league at some point in his basketball career. Moreso than that post player.

I think Jordan is definitely better than Hakeem but people could definitely make the argument that if you surrounded Hakeem with Pippen and Grant that he might have won 5 or 6 rings too. I LIKE Durant a lot, but he is a lot closer to KG or even Rashard Lewis(actually I guess a hybrid actually) than MJ. Oden can possibly have the defensive impact of Mutumbo while ending up averaging 25 and 13+

 

[BMiller52]

Durant isn't Garnett. Garnett is limited to a post game and jump shots. Durant is probably the only guy I've ever seen at 6-10 that can actually drive and penetrate to the basket. He's shooting 3s at around 40% and is starting to get a post game.

Oh and he averages a double-double already. (leading the Big 12 in scoring and rebounding) and to top it off, he's 18 years old.

Would you say he's a lot like what Rasheed Wallace should've been if he had actually cared?

 

[supamari0]

Would you say he's a lot like what Rasheed Wallace should've been if he had actually cared?

No he's quicker than Rasheed. That's what's incredible about this kid. A guy close to 7 feet tall who can slash like a guard. He's got a little T-Mac in him with his slashing but he can nail the jumper as well and does a good job on the boards. Think T-Mac (who's already tall for a guy who can penetrate the way he does) and Garnett Combo. I think the guy who mentioned Rashard Lewis was the closest. Rashard unfortunately shoots way too many threes and doesn't drive enough but his game is very similar. Also, Rashard can't rebound or play much defense. Durant is already leading the Big 12 in rebounds and has a 7-5 wingspan, which should make him a nightmare for the other team. Of course it's really early so it's silly to go overboard with the speculation but so far he has not disappointed. He just needs to gain some weight and put on some muscle. But his development has been outstanding and he plays for a disciplinarian coach in Rick Barnes so he's not getting spoiled by the staff.

But yes he does care unlike Rasheed. He's actually a really humble guy (like Oden).

 

[supamari0]

I think Jordan is definitely better than Hakeem but people could definitely make the argument that if you surrounded Hakeem with Pippen and Grant that he might have won 5 or 6 rings too. I LIKE Durant a lot, but he is a lot closer to KG or even Rashard Lewis(actually I guess a hybrid actually) than MJ. Oden can possibly have the defensive impact of Mutumbo while ending up averaging 25 and 13+

If Ralph Sampson plays the way he did the first few years he was in Houston (i.e. his knees don't break) then the Jordan dynasty may not have happened. Everyone in the NBA thought that the Rockets were the next team to overtake the Celtics and Lakers as the premiere NBA franchise. They made one NBA final together but Hakeem was nowhere near the Hakeem in the 90s.

That Rockets team was running a Phoenix style offense with two amazingly athletic 7 footers (one of which was 7-4). No way in hell Jordan's teams (or anyone for that matter) could defend two 7 footers that both average 20+ points and 10+ rebounds.

Oh and to continue with counter-factual claims, check this out. The Blazers offered the Rockets the #2 pick in the 84 draft AND Clyde Drexler for Ralph Sampson. We turned them down. Imagine a team of Jordan, Olajuwon AND Drexler. And sadly, we turned them down because everyone thought Sampson would be what Jordan is.

 

[BMiller52]

Yeah I've heard that before. They would have 3 guys who were top 10 players in the 90s on that team, and that's not even mentioning the fact that Jordan is basically the GOAT and Drexler was insanely skilled/athletic too.

Couple questions about Durant because he is the player I think the Kings may target if they end up sucking enough(hoping they do):

What will his NBA position be in your opinion? IMO he could be a major match up problem and shotblocker at the 4 but I don't know if he is going to get strong enough...

How much do you think he'd impact the game and would he be a good fit on the Kings considering their main need is a PF?

 

[Smills91]

Kevin Durant is like a RICH MAN'S Jonathan Bender(before all the injuries). J-Bend was WAY hyped coming in, and never materialized...I see Durant as even better and a more sure thing.

 

[HighFlyingMonkey]

If you have the #1 pick, you can't refuse Oden. You just can't.

BUT, Kevin Durant is going to be a contender for the scoring title for years to come. He shoots threes like a guard, passes like a guard, slashes like a guard. But, he posts up like a 4, rebounds like a 4, and defends like a 4. Durant will be a PF in the NBA and be a matchup nightmare for 29 teams in the league. He's a Bill Gates-Rich man's Rashard Lewis. I would be DELIGHTED to have him on the Kings.

To the OP, I would love to have that lineup, just we need a jumpshooting PF roleplayer a la Channing Frye starting at the 4 with Justin Williams coming off the bench. Then it'd be set...

Price/Douby
Martin/Garcia
Artest/Williamson
Frye/Williams/Williamson
Oden/Williams

 

[Vlade4GM]

durant is shard lewis offensively and garnett defensively. oden is like patrick ewing.

 

[Smills91]

If you have the #1 pick, you can't refuse Oden. You just can't.

BUT, Kevin Durant is going to be a contender for the scoring title for years to come. He shoots threes like a guard, passes like a guard, slashes like a guard. But, he posts up like a 4, rebounds like a 4, and defends like a 4. Durant will be a PF in the NBA and be a matchup nightmare for 29 teams in the league. He's a Bill Gates-Rich man's Rashard Lewis. I would be DELIGHTED to have him on the Kings.

To the OP, I would love to have that lineup, just we need a jumpshooting PF roleplayer a la Channing Frye starting at the 4 with Justin Williams coming off the bench. Then it'd be set...

Price/Douby
Martin/Garcia
Artest/Williamson
Frye/Williams/Williamson
Oden/Williams

I'm sure the Blazers felt the same way about good ole Benoit when they passed on Jorday...I'm not saying Oden will be anywhere near Benoit's level. But seriously, I think Durant may actually become the better NBA player than Oden will. But it could go either way.

 

[Vlade4GM]

I'm sure the Blazers felt the same way about good ole Benoit when they passed on Jorday...I'm not saying Oden will be anywhere near Benoit's level. But seriously, I think Durant may actually become the better NBA player than Oden will. But it could go either way.

well durant's combo of size, skills, and athleticism is hard to pass up, no doubt he'll be an elite player, but oden will be one of the best big men in the game ever. if you don't believe big men are more valuable well i guess it's just a matter of preference, but they'll both be great.