Who would you pick for a franchise player?

[Supergirl]

If you could build around one of these superstars RIGHT NOW, who would you pick? Factor in ability, age, versatility, upside and downside.

[Halberto]

Dwight Howard.

[hater]

KD is where is at right now

[hater]

Assuming that you are talking about active players, I'd go with Kobe. I know this may come as a surprise to you all but Kobe has proven to be the easiest to build around. Just get him a decent big and a few solid role players, , he don't even need a bench... I think you get the point.

you mean you get him a top 5, HOF big

yeah very easy

[Supergirl]

Dwight Howard.

D'oh. Can't believe I left him off the list. I still wouldn't pick him, but he certainly belongs on the list.

[Flo-Rida]

Lebron James

[Supergirl]

Assuming that you are talking about active players, I'd go with Kobe. I know this may come as a surprise to you all but Kobe has proven to be the easiest to build around. Just get him a decent big and a few solid role players, , he don't even need a bench... I think you get the point.

The only reason I wouldn't pick Kobe is because he's got a lot less years on him than people realize. He's been playing since he was 18, and long seasons almost every year in the league. His body is about 2 years away from completely breaking down, I think.

BUT he is the best player in the league right now. I just wouldn't build around him for the future.

[in2deep]

It' been proven these guys are no franchise players:
Lebron James
Dwayne Wade
Brandon Roy
Deron Williams
Amar'e Stoudemire
Dirk Nowitzki

Jury still out on KD and DR

[kamikazi_player]

Lebron or Dwight right now.

[Flo-Rida]

It' been proven these guys are no franchise players:
Lebron James
Dwayne Wade
Brandon Roy
Deron Williams
Amar'e Stoudemire
Dirk Nowitzki

Jury still out on KD and DR

elaborate ?

[Halberto]

Assuming that you are talking about active players, I'd go with Kobe. I know this may come as a surprise to you all but Kobe has proven to be the easiest to build around. Just get him a decent big and a few solid role players, , he don't even need a bench... I think you get the point.

Come on now. You cant really be underrating the talent around him right now. Lamar Odom, Ron Artest, Andrew Bynum are much more than role players. You might be able to make the case that Bynum is since his glass knees make him a wild card. Pau Gasol was never just a decent big, and now he is the best PF in the game.

Stretching much? Put Wade, Lebron, Ginobili, or Durant in his place and they would still own the West. I can only imagine what the Lakers would be like if Durant was in Kobe's place... scary

[BRHornet45]

Lmao son ... even more proof of how much hatred this board has for Paul. You put Williams on the list, but leave out Paul.

[himat]

Some of you guys are drinking to much of that LeBron haterade.

I know a GM would look stupid as if they didn't pick him. The only reason I wouldn't pick him is if I was a GM of a smaller franchise.

Picking Kobe would be dumb at this point, unless your team is already good...but even then. Dude's 32 now.

I barely choose Durant over LeBron. Its only because I would hate LeBron's antics on and off the court though. Talent wise LBJ should be chosen.

[JamStone]

I'd probably go with Dwight Howard too.

LeBron has been the best player in the league for a couple seasons, but even then up until now, it's been hard to put the right players around him to make the team a true championship contender.

Dwight hasn't won it all either, but I think the league is so lacking of good big men that it's easier to build around a quality big, even when that big has serious holes in his games like Dwight does. You can put around good players around Dwight and contend in this league, and quality perimeter players are easier to acquire than quality bigs. You put merely "good players" around the superstar wing players like LeBron, Kobe, and Wade, I don't think it's enough. You still need an elite big man to legitimately contend.

That's why I'd go with Dwight over LeBron.

[Halberto]

It's hard to remember how good Paul is when there is a surplus of amazing PG's in the league and adding that he's been gone for a year essentially. Not to mention he hasn't gone past the 2nd round.

[Kevin Durant 35]

1. KD
2. Bron
3. CP3 or D12

[in2deep]

you mean you get him a top 5, HOF big

yeah very easy

[Kevin Durant 35]

Paul is the best PG in the league, and it's not even close. I will say that he is losing props for running around sucking Lebron's .

No he is losing props for being an injury prone

[himat]

I'd probably go with Dwight Howard too.

LeBron has been the best player in the league for a couple seasons, but even then up until now, it's been hard to put the right players around him to make the team a true championship contender.

Dwight hasn't won it all either, but I think the league is so lacking of good big men that it's easier to build around a quality big, even when that big has serious holes in his games like Dwight does. You can put around good players around Dwight and contend in this league, and quality perimeter players are easier to acquire than quality bigs. You put merely "good players" around the superstar wing players like LeBron, Kobe, and Wade, I don't think it's enough. You still need an elite big man to legitimately contend.

That's why I'd go with Dwight over LeBron.

Good point I never really thought of that.

I remember Phil Jackson saying this a few years back too.

[Supergirl]

Oh, left Chris Paul off too. Didn't mean to. Wouldn't pick him, but he should have been an option.

[Basketballgirl25]

I choose Kevin Durant, because of his age. Lebron and Wade aren't old, but they are older then Kevin Durant, so not as much upside anymore like they once had. I have to say now I'd prob want Dwight Howard, centers are hard to find

[Supergirl]

I choose Kevin Durant, because of his age. Lebron and Wade aren't old, but they are older then Kevin Durant, so not as much upside anymore like they once had. I have to say now I'd prob want Dwight Howard, centers are hard to find

I wouldn't pick Howard because even though he's the best C in the league in terms of offense and rebounding, he's pretty weak defensively and hasn't demonstrated himself to have much heart and some of the intangibles. He could easily go the way of Nowitzki- puts up good numbers and gets into the playoffs but never winning a championship.

On the other hand, in a league with such a dearth of quality centers, building around a franchise C is a solid way to go.

[TIMMYD!]

I wouldn't pick Howard because even though he's the best C in the league in terms of offense and rebounding, he's pretty weak defensively and hasn't demonstrated himself to have much heart and some of the intangibles. He could easily go the way of Nowitzki- puts up good numbers and gets into the playoffs but never winning a championship.

On the other hand, in a league with such a dearth of quality centers, building around a franchise C is a solid way to go.

I think you have the bold words switched around.

[elemento]

Lebron James

[DJB]

LOL at Stoudemire being on that list.