<u>Team A</u>This team got #1 pick, drafted a power forward/center and still have him to this day and this is their next 10 seasons:56-2637-13 (strike) -- NBA Champions53-2958-2458-2460-22 -- NBA Champions57-2559-23 -- NBA Champions63-1958-2410 out of 10 winning seasons and three NBA championships and contenders every season.<u>Team B</u>This team got the #3 pick, drafted a PG and traded him and this is their next 10 seasons:36-4619-3135-4736-4649-3344-3836-4645-3733-4924-583 out of 10 winning seasons, 0 NBA championships and they get mediocre draft picks every year.Notice the difference?My point is that people are really underrating how big the dropoff from the top 2 picks in this year's draft are. If you get that #1 pick you have a chance to be contenders every year especially when that #1 pick is a big man, like Greg Oden. The difference between this draft and the draft above is that the #2 pick wasn't at the talent level of Kevin Durant. So that kind of changes things but think about the situation you want to be in. The team that drafts the #1, the big man and contends every year or the team that drafts #3 and gets a player they aren't really sure about. People say "It isn't a big deal if you don't get #1 or #2. It's not the end of the world." YES IT IS! IMO.This draft I pointed out if you couldn't tell was the 1996/97 draft. Team A is the San Antonio Spurs and Team B is the Boston Celtics.
Makes sense, but there's a difference. In 1997, there was one clear-cut star (Duncan) and the 2nd pick with friggen Van Horn. This year, there are two franchise talents to go along with a lot of other big men with All-Star potential. Now, I see your point, but that one draft didn't determine how poor Celtics management was for the next 10 years.
My point really doesn't have anything to do with how deep this draft is in franchise players compared to that draft. I'm just saying the dropoff in talent is huge every single year and in every single draft. I think that is also true in this draft, as deep as it is. You have Oden and Durant then..there's different options at #3. Not clear cut stars that will make an impact on your franchise and have multiple big question marks, whereas Oden and Durant have minimal question marks.I just was inspired by Ainge's comments about "the draft not being a complete dropoff" after Oden and Durant to make this thread.My point is it IS a big deal if you don't get a franchise player and are in the position to get one. People are underrating the dropoff from #1/2 to #3. Let's be honest..Brandan Wright isn't gonna make the kind of impact that Oden/Durant will. There are a lot of question marks about Wright and other players below the top 2 like: Was Wright limited by the UNC offense or is he not actually a great offensively player or what? Things like that. You know?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ May 14 2007, 04:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I just was inspired by Ainge's comments about "the draft not being a complete dropoff" after Oden and Durant to make this thread.</div> You still haven't learned to NEVER take ANYTHING Ainge says about the draft/offseason seriously? He's obviously saying things like that to try and send a message to the fans like "There is still All-Star talent at 3-5, and it isn't the end of the world if we don't get a top 2 pick." That's exactly what he should be doing. In his heart, in Wyc's heart, in Doc's heart, they ALL know that Oden and Durant are the clear 1-2 big time players, they just don't say it publicly because if they do, they are sending a message to the fans to believe exactly what some do believe: "It's the end of the world and this organization goes to hell if we don't get #1 or #2."
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ May 14 2007, 04:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You still haven't learned to NEVER take ANYTHING Ainge says about the draft/offseason seriously? He's obviously saying things like that to try and send a message to the fans like "There is still All-Star talent at 3-5, and it isn't the end of the world if we don't get a top 2 pick." That's exactly what he should be doing. In his heart, in Wyc's heart, in Doc's heart, they ALL know that Oden and Durant are the clear 1-2 big time players, they just don't say it publicly because if they do, they are sending a message to the fans to believe exactly what some do believe: "It's the end of the world and this organization goes to hell if we don't get #1 or #2."</div>that and every GM worth a dime should be lying their ass off to media and public about their draft intentions right now.No GM in their right mind will tell you exactly what they think, they have to keep the other teams off gaurd.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticFan @ May 17 2007, 11:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>that and every GM worth a dime should be lying their ass off to media and public about their draft intentions right now. No GM in their right mind will tell you exactly what they think, they have to keep the other teams off gaurd.</div> Yeah definitely, Ainge and other GM's should be doing this. I just don't know why so many people still put stock into things they say in the offseason though.
