Pick Your Player to Start an NBA Franchise

[Lipoli390]

Imagine you have a brand new NBA franchise and a new rule allows you to trade your initial first-round pick for any existing NBA roster player drafted in 2018, 2019 or 2020. Who among the following would you choose? Vote for your first choice, then rank the rest 2 through 7.

[Coolbreeze44]

Voted for Luka.

2) Ant
3) Morant
4) Ball
5) Zion
6) Young
7) Barrett

Would have Zion higher but I don't think his body will hold up. Close call between Morant and Ball for 3rd. Hopefully after next season I would change my vote to Ant. If his shot comes along he is going to be nearly impossible to guard. Must finish better at the rim and learn from his wingmate on defensive intensity.

Fun thread Lip!

[Monster]

Voted for Luka.

2) Ant
3) Morant
4) Ball
5) Zion
6) Young
7) Barrett

Would have Zion higher but I don't think his body will hold up. Close call between Morant and Ball for 3rd. Hopefully after next season I would change my vote to Ant. If his shot comes along he is going to be nearly impossible to guard. Must finish better at the rim and learn from his wingmate on defensive intensity.

Fun thread Lip!

Luka is a tier above everyone else imo.

Cool this is really close to how I feel about this group in general and I share your worry about Zion. The PGs...honestly in terms of ranking Them it's a matter of what you like in a player they are all pretty different but I believe they are all true PGs though. The NBA has some nice young players.

[kekgeek]

I went zion. I think he is around a roster that does not fit him and a really bad NBA HC. I think he is almost unstoppable. I'll do it in tiers though

Tier 1:
1) Zion
2) Luka

Tier 2:
3) Ant
4) Ja
5) Ball

Tier 3
6)Trae
7) Barrett

[Porckchop]

It's Luka and it's not close for me. His skill level doesn't require athletism and his size is just a bonus. His skill lends itself to being successful well past when his youthful athleticism leaves him. He knows how to create enough space to not only get his shot off but to distribute effectively as well. On top of that he's a plus rebounder as well. And how old is he?
Zions already showing injury risks with a body that I don't think his knees will stand up too. Look at Blake Griffin who's never held as much weight. He's fallen off a cliff.

[kekgeek]

It's Luka and it's not close for me. His skill level doesn't require athletism and his size is just a bonus. His skill lends itself to being successful well past when his youthful athleticism leaves him. He knows how to create enough space to not only get his shot off but to distribute effectively as well. On top of that he's a plus rebounder as well. And how old is he?
Zions already showing injury risks with a body that I don't think his knees will stand up too. Look at Blake Griffin who's never held as much weight. He's fallen off a cliff.

You might end up being right but he did play 61 of 72 games this year and missed the last 7 because of a fractured finger. He was pretty dang healthy this year

[Porckchop]

It's Luka and it's not close for me. His skill level doesn't require athletism and his size is just a bonus. His skill lends itself to being successful well past when his youthful athleticism leaves him. He knows how to create enough space to not only get his shot off but to distribute effectively as well. On top of that he's a plus rebounder as well. And how old is he?
Zions already showing injury risks with a body that I don't think his knees will stand up too. Look at Blake Griffin who's never held as much weight. He's fallen off a cliff.

You might end up being right but he did play 61 of 72 games this year and missed the last 7 because of a fractured finger. He was pretty dang healthy this year

Played in 24 of 73 games last year?

[Lipoli390]

Voted for Luka.

2) Ant
3) Morant
4) Ball
5) Zion
6) Young
7) Barrett

Would have Zion higher but I don't think his body will hold up. Close call between Morant and Ball for 3rd. Hopefully after next season I would change my vote to Ant. If his shot comes along he is going to be nearly impossible to guard. Must finish better at the rim and learn from his wingmate on defensive intensity.

Fun thread Lip!

Luka is a tier above everyone else imo.

Cool this is really close to how I feel about this group in general and I share your worry about Zion. The PGs...honestly in terms of ranking Them it's a matter of what you like in a player they are all pretty different but I believe they are all true PGs though. The NBA has some nice young players.

Same thought as Cool on Zion. I just doesn't seem durable. I love his talent through and also love the way he plays. I'm also a big fan of Ja Morant. I loved him coming out of college and he's been what I expected as an NBA player. And what can I say about Edwards. As you noted, Monster, the NBA has some really good young players right now. How great it is that one of them is a Timberwolf.

Agree with Cool that Luka is definitely a cut above the rest - at least right now and perhaps always. But I can't stand the guy. He's a whiner and a jerk. Perhaps Ant will develop into a player we consider on par with Luka.

[kekgeek]

It's Luka and it's not close for me. His skill level doesn't require athletism and his size is just a bonus. His skill lends itself to being successful well past when his youthful athleticism leaves him. He knows how to create enough space to not only get his shot off but to distribute effectively as well. On top of that he's a plus rebounder as well. And how old is he?
Zions already showing injury risks with a body that I don't think his knees will stand up too. Look at Blake Griffin who's never held as much weight. He's fallen off a cliff.

You might end up being right but he did play 61 of 72 games this year and missed the last 7 because of a fractured finger. He was pretty dang healthy this year

Played in 24 of 73 games last year?

Luka missed 14 games the last 2 years. Zion Williamson has missed 15 games since returning from an injury he had before his NBA career started.

Guys like Lebron, Kat and Lamelo missed more games this year then Zion. So are those guys also not durable. Zion might carry too much weight but he was really healthy this year and missed time at the end of the year because he fractured a finger.

He might not hold up not I think it's unfair to say Zion won't hold up because since returning from injury to start his career he has played in 85 of 100 games

[kekgeek]

Voted for Luka.

2) Ant
3) Morant
4) Ball
5) Zion
6) Young
7) Barrett

Would have Zion higher but I don't think his body will hold up. Close call between Morant and Ball for 3rd. Hopefully after next season I would change my vote to Ant. If his shot comes along he is going to be nearly impossible to guard. Must finish better at the rim and learn from his wingmate on defensive intensity.

Fun thread Lip!

Luka is a tier above everyone else imo.

Cool this is really close to how I feel about this group in general and I share your worry about Zion. The PGs...honestly in terms of ranking Them it's a matter of what you like in a player they are all pretty different but I believe they are all true PGs though. The NBA has some nice young players.

Same thought as Cool on Zion. I just doesn't seem durable. I love his talent through and also love the way he plays. I'm also a big fan of Ja Morant. I loved him coming out of college and he's been what I expected as an NBA player. And what can I say about Edwards. As you noted, Monster, the NBA has some really good young players right now. How great it is that one of them is a Timberwolf.

Agree with Cool that Luka is definitely a cut above the rest - at least right now and perhaps always. But I can't stand the guy. He's a whiner and a jerk. Perhaps Ant will develop into a player we consider on par with Luka.

I probably agree Luka is the best right now but I honestly believe Zion will be a top 2 player in the NBA. He is unstoppable. What he did with one of the worst roster constructions around a star player maybe ever and he was still able to dominate. I legit believe the future of the NBA will go through Giannis, Zion, Luka and let's hope a guy like Ant