Article: Kawhi would be the #1 pick if the 2011 draft were redone today...

[will_spurs]

If he would have been the number 1 pick he wouldn't have waited 3 years to get to the league and would have played above 30 minutes per game. And no, nobody would pick Ron Artest nor shawn ing Marion over Manu knowing what they know now.

I'd say you overestimate Manu's capacity to play > 30mpg (and I don't remember what was his contract situation in Europe), and that you underestimate Shawn Marion, who was a 20 & 10 player in his prime. Marion played 50% more minutes than Manu over the course of his career...

[Proxy]

Clicking through to the article will usually answer dumb questions like this.

[Tully365]

I wonder who the first person (a scout, I presume) in the Spurs' organization was to say to RC that Kawhi was someone to keep an eye on?

[RD2191]

Why am I not surprised that that specific got is the one who doesnt get the point...







yet again

[Tully365]

One interesting take, comparing the Suns & Spurs: http://www.azcentral.com/story/sport...-nba/26476681/

[YGWHI]

Why am I not surprised that that specific got is the one who doesnt get the point...







yet again

K... genuinely thinks that Morris, Jimmer, Vesely, Biyombo...are way better players than Kawhi.

[YGWHI]

One interesting take, comparing the Suns & Spurs: http://www.azcentral.com/story/sport...-nba/26476681/

"They had the culture ready to groom Leonard into a star with Duncan, Parker and Ginobili putting a ring, or rings, to selfless play"
This is nice coming from AZCentral.

"Not pick Leonard because of an overabundance of rotation small forwards on the roster — Grant Hill, Jared Dudley and Josh Childress"
19-years-old Kawhi was a better defender than Dudley/Childress in their whole careers...

[Obstructed_View]

Actually I don't think that it's quite as clear cut as for Kawhi: Manu would have a strong case for being picked #1, but depending on each team's situation I could see some going for Shawn Marion or Metta World Peace instead, or even AK47.

Not every team could afford waiting 3 years for their #1 pick to arrive and then play him below 30mpg.

If this is just a mental exercise, all things being equal, then the delay isn't a factor. I'd imagine that Manu's no worse than second on virtually every GM's list.

[BD24]

Although we got a huge steal on Kawhi it does make me a bit sad that we could of had Jimmy Buckets instead of Cojo. Could of had the two best players in the draft

[lilbthebasedgod]

idk tbh

[will_spurs]

If this is just a mental exercise, all things being equal, then the delay isn't a factor. I'd imagine that Manu's no worse than second on virtually every GM's list.

Well, one player's career in the NBA is potentially 3y shorter than the other, and Manu already wasn't that young when he was drafted. I'd definitely draft Manu first, don't get me wrong, but I could see some GMs pick Marion first because it would work better for them.

[Obstructed_View]

Well, one player's career in the NBA is potentially 3y shorter than the other, and Manu already wasn't that young when he was drafted. I'd definitely draft Manu first, don't get me wrong, but I could see some GMs pick Marion first because it would work better for them.

Manu didn't sign with Kinder Bologna until after the draft. His age might be a factor, but the Spurs could have had him for the 1999/2000 season.

Holy , that deserves its own thread.

[TrainOfThought5]

The league is full of ex-Spur players who couldn't crack the rotation here. We face them all the time. Anderson could easily be one of those.

Anderson wont be. I think he'll be a bonafide star and place top 10 on all time Spurs list when its all said and done. hes just taking a while to get to his max potential, naturally LOL

[DAF86]

I'd say you overestimate Manu's capacity to play > 30mpg (and I don't remember what was his contract situation in Europe), and that you underestimate Shawn Marion, who was a 20 & 10 player in his prime. Marion played 50% more minutes than Manu over the course of his career...

I've seen him play over 30 minutes per game in all kinds of formats. So no, I don't think I overestimate his capacity to play over 30 mpg. I think you underestimate it.

[100%duncan]

The point that Kawhi was a lot better than the #15 position, where he got drafted? Yes, that point totally escaped me. Glad someone wrote an article about it.


Why am I not surprised that you don't get that it's a stupid, unnecessary fluff-piece written by a guy who normally writes articles like, "What to do with an English degree" and "The 25 Best Women's Colleges"?
https://author-profiles.graphiq.com/l/8/Nick-Selbe
I knew, without looking, that the person who wrote that article is some dumb who recently graduated college, and knows jack about basketball. I wonder why you didn't?

What? I wasnt talking bout the article bruh

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Kyrie Irving

Would pick Irving over Leonard, but Leonard definitely top 5 for sure.

[will_spurs]

Manu didn't sign with Kinder Bologna until after the draft. His age might be a factor, but the Spurs could have had him for the 1999/2000 season.

Holy , that deserves its own thread.

Biggest "what if" in the history of the Spurs if PATFO had indeed full control over when he could come...

[Obstructed_View]

Biggest "what if" in the history of the Spurs if PATFO had indeed full control over when he could come...

Yeah, 2000 was a lost season, but Manu instead of Derek Anderson to take over for Mario Elie and Jaren Jackson. Holy .

[wildbill2u]

Seems like years ago folks on this site used to take a lot of shots at the FO and Pop for their draft choices. "Sure," they said, "they got lucky with Timmy, Ginobilli, and Parker, but luck isn't good drafting skills." You don't hear a lot of that these days.

Are Spurs Talk fans maturing? Nah, probably not. Just bandwagoneers.