With the tank or not debate on the Grizz, interesting to look back a decade and pick the best player in each draft. And where he was drafted. Of course it's subjective, but still shows the draft is a crapshoot. Here are my choices:

'08 Westbrook (4)
'09 Hasheem Thabeet (2) - Kidding, choice is Curry (7)
'10 Paul George (10)
'11 Kawhi (15)
'12 A.D. (1)
'13 Giannis (15)
'14 Embiid (3)
'15 Porzingis (4)
'16 Simmons (1)
'17 Donovan Mitchell (13)

Of course it's subjective on some years. I like Porzingis better than Karl Towns. Some might like Boogie (#5 in '10) better than Paul George. But all would be in the top 2 or 3 each year, I think, and some, like Curry, Kawhi and Giannis are pretty clear.

interesting that Tyreke sat out last night with an "illness"

won't be long now

(01-27-2018 10:40 AM)k2tigers Wrote:  interesting that Tyreke sat out last night with an "illness" won't be long now

Grizz only have 6 games left before the trade deadline.

(01-27-2018 10:31 AM)Tigx Wrote:  With the tank or not debate on the Grizz, interesting to look back a decade and pick the best player in each draft. And where he was drafted. Of course it's subjective, but still shows the draft is a crapshoot. Here are my choices:

'08 Westbrook (4)
'09 Hasheem Thabeet (2) - Kidding, choice is Curry (7)
'10 Paul George (10)
'11 Kawhi (15)
'12 A.D. (1)
'13 Giannis (15)
'14 Embiid (3)
'15 Porzingis (4)
'16 Simmons (1)
'17 Donovan Mitchell (13)

Of course it's subjective on some years. I like Porzingis better than Karl Towns. Some might like Boogie (#5 in '10) better than Paul George. But all would be in the top 2 or 3 each year, I think, and some, like Curry, Kawhi and Giannis are pretty clear.

Way too soon to tell on '17 of course. Markkanen has probably been the most consistent (only 5 games all year in single digits). Jayson Tatum was leading the NBA in 3 pt FG% (maybe still is, didn't check), and Kyle Kuzma has been spectacular occasionally and might be the best player on the Lakers (and certainly the best Rookie). Fultz is still an unknown since he's been hurt all year (evidently it's some kind of Sixers requirement to sit out a year after you're drafted). Tatum is hurt because the Celtics have a lot of weapons and he doesn't have to be the first option, or even the second or third necessarily, unlike Mitchell on the Jazz.

I said before the draft that I thought Markkanen would be the best player in the long run, and I'm sticking with it; but Tatum and especially Mitchell have been surprisingly good.

I'd also take Towns for '15, much rather build a team around KAT than Porzingis, but I can see how someone might like Porzingis better.

The other thing to take into consideration though is that the #1 guy is rarely a bust (Anthony Bennett aside).

08 - DRose - not a bust, just fell victim to injuries
09 - Blake Griffin
10 - John Wall
11 - Kyrie Irving - arguable that he is the best player in that draft
12 - Anthony Davis
13 - Anthony Bennett (okay, it happens)
14 - Andrew Wiggins
15 - Towns
16 - Simmons
17 - Fultz (unknown quantity)

So, one bust in 10 years, there were a few prior to that, like Greg Oden, but that dude turned out to have the knees of an octagenarian. Anyway, it's always best to have the most options, and the higher your pick, the more options you have.

(01-27-2018 10:31 AM)Tigx Wrote:  With the tank or not debate on the Grizz, interesting to look back a decade and pick the best player in each draft. And where he was drafted. Of course it's subjective, but still shows the draft is a crapshoot. Here are my choices:

'08 Westbrook (4)
'09 Hasheem Thabeet (2) - Kidding, choice is Curry (7)
'10 Paul George (10)
'11 Kawhi (15)
'12 A.D. (1)
'13 Giannis (15)
'14 Embiid (3)
'15 Porzingis (4)
'16 Simmons (1)
'17 Donovan Mitchell (13)

Of course it's subjective on some years. I like Porzingis better than Karl Towns. Some might like Boogie (#5 in '10) better than Paul George. But all would be in the top 2 or 3 each year, I think, and some, like Curry, Kawhi and Giannis are pretty clear.

I'd take Boogie of Paul George and KAT over Porzingis. But, they're close.

(01-27-2018 12:49 PM)ksigtigerdood Wrote:  

(01-27-2018 10:31 AM)Tigx Wrote:  With the tank or not debate on the Grizz, interesting to look back a decade and pick the best player in each draft. And where he was drafted. Of course it's subjective, but still shows the draft is a crapshoot. Here are my choices:

'08 Westbrook (4)
'09 Hasheem Thabeet (2) - Kidding, choice is Curry (7)
'10 Paul George (10)
'11 Kawhi (15)
'12 A.D. (1)
'13 Giannis (15)
'14 Embiid (3)
'15 Porzingis (4)
'16 Simmons (1)
'17 Donovan Mitchell (13)

Of course it's subjective on some years. I like Porzingis better than Karl Towns. Some might like Boogie (#5 in '10) better than Paul George. But all would be in the top 2 or 3 each year, I think, and some, like Curry, Kawhi and Giannis are pretty clear.

I'd take Boogie of Paul George and KAT over Porzingis. But, they're close.

Understandable. My take of Boogie is he has never played a playoff game, and up to this year has been a huge pain in the ass. While George has led Indiana to the playoffs many times. And Boogie is a horrible defender, one of the worst defensive centers in the game, and George is a top defender.

And Zinger has skills more applicable to today's game, especially the 3 point shooting. Averaging 23 ppg this year, 39% from three. But I agree it's close.

(01-27-2018 01:53 PM)Tigx Wrote:  

(01-27-2018 12:49 PM)ksigtigerdood Wrote:  

(01-27-2018 10:31 AM)Tigx Wrote:  With the tank or not debate on the Grizz, interesting to look back a decade and pick the best player in each draft. And where he was drafted. Of course it's subjective, but still shows the draft is a crapshoot. Here are my choices:

'08 Westbrook (4)
'09 Hasheem Thabeet (2) - Kidding, choice is Curry (7)
'10 Paul George (10)
'11 Kawhi (15)
'12 A.D. (1)
'13 Giannis (15)
'14 Embiid (3)
'15 Porzingis (4)
'16 Simmons (1)
'17 Donovan Mitchell (13)

Of course it's subjective on some years. I like Porzingis better than Karl Towns. Some might like Boogie (#5 in '10) better than Paul George. But all would be in the top 2 or 3 each year, I think, and some, like Curry, Kawhi and Giannis are pretty clear.

I'd take Boogie of Paul George and KAT over Porzingis. But, they're close.

Understandable. My take of Boogie is he has never played a playoff game, and up to this year has been a huge pain in the ass. While George has led Indiana to the playoffs many times. And Boogie is a horrible defender, one of the worst defensive centers in the game, and George is a top defender.

And Zinger has skills more applicable to today's game, especially the 3 point shooting. Averaging 23 ppg this year, 39% from three. But I agree it's close.

True on Boogie. His teams have been pretty awful. But, a lot of the past was out of his control (in Sacramento). The Pelicans are 6th in the West this year, which is pretty impressive. Boogie just went down for the year, though, so they may fall.

KAT is shooting 41% from three this year. I'll take his 20.1 ppg and 12 rpg over KP's 23.1 ppg and 6.7 rpg.

(01-27-2018 10:31 AM)Tigx Wrote:  With the tank or not debate on the Grizz, interesting to look back a decade and pick the best player in each draft. And where he was drafted. Of course it's subjective, but still shows the draft is a crapshoot. Here are my choices:

'08 Westbrook (4)
'09 Hasheem Thabeet (2) - Kidding, choice is Curry (7)
'10 Paul George (10)
'11 Kawhi (15)
'12 A.D. (1)
'13 Giannis (15)
'14 Embiid (3)
'15 Porzingis (4)
'16 Simmons (1)
'17 Donovan Mitchell (13)

Of course it's subjective on some years. I like Porzingis better than Karl Towns. Some might like Boogie (#5 in '10) better than Paul George. But all would be in the top 2 or 3 each year, I think, and some, like Curry, Kawhi and Giannis are pretty clear.

'09- Argument could be made for Harden
'10- Cousins has already been discussed
'11- Kyrie says hello
'17- way too early to say anything about the best player in that draft

(01-29-2018 10:40 AM)tigers0830 Wrote:  

(01-27-2018 10:31 AM)Tigx Wrote:  With the tank or not debate on the Grizz, interesting to look back a decade and pick the best player in each draft. And where he was drafted. Of course it's subjective, but still shows the draft is a crapshoot. Here are my choices:

'08 Westbrook (4)
'09 Hasheem Thabeet (2) - Kidding, choice is Curry (7)
'10 Paul George (10)
'11 Kawhi (15)
'12 A.D. (1)
'13 Giannis (15)
'14 Embiid (3)
'15 Porzingis (4)
'16 Simmons (1)
'17 Donovan Mitchell (13)

Of course it's subjective on some years. I like Porzingis better than Karl Towns. Some might like Boogie (#5 in '10) better than Paul George. But all would be in the top 2 or 3 each year, I think, and some, like Curry, Kawhi and Giannis are pretty clear.

'09- Argument could be made for Harden
'10- Cousins has already been discussed
'11- Kyrie says hello
'17- way too early to say anything about the best player in that draft

Disagree, but like the debate.

'09 - Curry two MVP's and two titles. Have to go with Curry.
'11 - Recency bias. Kawhi 2 Defensive POY's, and other top 5 finishes. Top 3 in MVP race the last 2 years. Finals MVP in '14. This one is not even close.

Agree '17 takes more projection. But so far, Donovan looks like the best. And maybe 2nd best is Kyle Kuzma, the 27th pick.

(01-29-2018 11:03 AM)Tigx Wrote:  

(01-29-2018 10:40 AM)tigers0830 Wrote:  

(01-27-2018 10:31 AM)Tigx Wrote:  With the tank or not debate on the Grizz, interesting to look back a decade and pick the best player in each draft. And where he was drafted. Of course it's subjective, but still shows the draft is a crapshoot. Here are my choices:

'08 Westbrook (4)
'09 Hasheem Thabeet (2) - Kidding, choice is Curry (7)
'10 Paul George (10)
'11 Kawhi (15)
'12 A.D. (1)
'13 Giannis (15)
'14 Embiid (3)
'15 Porzingis (4)
'16 Simmons (1)
'17 Donovan Mitchell (13)

Of course it's subjective on some years. I like Porzingis better than Karl Towns. Some might like Boogie (#5 in '10) better than Paul George. But all would be in the top 2 or 3 each year, I think, and some, like Curry, Kawhi and Giannis are pretty clear.

'09- Argument could be made for Harden
'10- Cousins has already been discussed
'11- Kyrie says hello
'17- way too early to say anything about the best player in that draft

Disagree, but like the debate.

'09 - Curry two MVP's and two titles. Have to go with Curry.
'11 - Recency bias. Kawhi 2 Defensive POY's, and other top 5 finishes. Top 3 in MVP race the last 2 years. Finals MVP in '14. This one is not even close.

Agree '17 takes more projection. But so far, Donovan looks like the best. And maybe 2nd best is Kyle Kuzma, the 27th pick.

'09-I don't disagree with Curry just saying you can make an argument for Harden
'11-Kawhi is the better defender hands down. Kyrie is the better offensive player hands down. Both have won 1 ring. Kyrie was never winning Finals MVP with Lebron on his team just wasn't happening. Kyrie was just as good in that '16 Finals. It's closer than you think.

Honestly if I needed a defensive stop to win a championship give me Kawhi, but if I needed a bucket to win a championship give me Kyrie.

If you redrafted that year. Depending on what a team needed either would go 1 and the other 2.