How valuable is our 1st round draft pick?

[slc]

I agree
Hakeem over Shaq
Hakeem had a terrific arsenal of shots, could actually hit free throws, could shut down anyone including K Malone.

 

[Getting Traded]

I agree
Hakeem over Shaq
Hakeem had a terrific arsenal of shots, could actually hit free throws, could shut down anyone including K Malone.

And Hakeem was far and away a better defender than Shaq, and it's not even close. One of the greatest defensive players of all time, plus perhaps the greatest low post player, aside from Chamberlain.

 

[8]

Duncan in his prime was pretty nuts. Unable to guard one-on-one and unable to double because of his passing ability. Also a good defender.

 

[Harcher]

Duncan in his prime was pretty nuts. Unable to guard one-on-one and unable to double because of his passing ability. Also a good defender.

duncan is not a center... so they say

 

[8]

duncan is not a center... so they say

Oh, I thought we were talking big guy vs. wing player

And Duncan, in his prime, possessed all the qualities of an elite center, and then some.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Shaq>>>Haq, and it's not close.

Shaq might disagree. Hakeem is the only player I've seen him have REVERENCE for when speaking. Particularly when he said that Hakeem is the only player to have broken him.

For the record, I seem to remember a quote from MJ where he said that if he could choose one player to play with, it would be Hakeem.

 

[NUMBERICA]

While this is true, I think you can build an entire offense around Parker, and finding a player you can build an offense around is rarer than a player you can build a defense around.

I didn't say otherwise, I'm just saying that you CAN build both an offense AND defense around a big (where you can't build a defense around a perimeter player [except maybe Lebron; the only player in history that that MIGHT be said about and he plays as a PF sometimes].