Which Core Three Would you Choose?

[Lipoli390]

Which of the following set of core three players would you choose if you were given the choice as owner of a new team in the League? (Note I've selected what I consider to be the three best or most talented players on each of 10 teams, including the Wolves.)

[Shumway]

A year ago, I would have voted the Wolves (either with Lavine or Butler), but the lack of progression does concern me. I went with the Bucks. Giannis clearly the jewel in the crown.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I went with George, Westbrook, Adams. That assumes I have them all on 3-5 year deals vs. the uncertainty that currently clouds George's future.

Tough for me to pick the Wolves trio until the prove they can become an upper half defense. Youth is no longer an excuse, although their coach might be.

[60WinTim]

I had to pause several times on that list of trios! OKC and Boston game me the most pause.

But in the end, I had to go with the Wolves. There is no magic bullet that suddenly makes a player better. Players can get better over time practicing the right way and gaining experience. After several years of Wiggins development being somewhat stagnant, he has really made some progress in areas other than just trying to score. And I like it. Kat is so damn skilled. His defensive deficiencies are so mental, that I have to believe he will improve. And Butler is a top player. I am willing to accept that a lot of the team problems are related to lack of chemistry, and that too, will come around sooner or later.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Wiggins is the primary reason that I hesitate to pick the Wolves.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Curry, Durant, Green lol

[Lipoli390]

Curry, Durant, Green lol

:) I wasn't going to make this an easy choice.

[Lipoli390]

Interesting results so far. I looked at it from several angles in my assessment.'

1. Team Success -- If you evaluate the choices based on team success, then the Celtics threesome seems like the obvious choice. But I felt I needed to give the head coach a lot of credit for the Celtics' team success around their core threesome.

2. Best player -- If you evaluate each threesome based on which choice has the single best player, then the Bucks strike me as the right pick. Being a championship contender in today's NBA seems to require at least 3 elite/all-star caliber players. But the best teams in the NBA tend to have one of their core three who stands out as the best player on the floor most games, period. The Bulls had Pippen and Horace Grant (later Rodman), but MJ was always the key for them. Same with LeBron for Cleveland and Miami.

3. Best cumulative talent -- This is the approach I took. I looked at the total cumulative long-term talent of each core three. This approach led me to a choice between the Thunder and Wolves. I almost went with the Thunder for two reasons. First, I think Westbrook is the second most talented player among the 30 after Giannis. Second, I share some of Abe's skepticism about Wiggins. But I ended up going with the Wolves threesome because I see that group as having the most long-term cumulative talent. I've seen enough improvement from Wiggins so far to temper my skepticism over him. And in spite of KAT's mental lapses on the defensive side, I still see him as at least the 3rd most talented player among the 30 and possibly the 2nd most talented after Giannis. As you know, a majority of NBA GMs polled at the beginning of this season picked KAT as their first choice among all NBA players to build around. I've always seen Butler as a borderline all-star, not an elite player in the same class as Harden or Westbrook, but he combines with KAT and Wiggins to form what I consider to be the most talented core three in the League over the long term. I just wish they were coached by Brad Stevens. :)

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Honestly though it's the 76ers for me. Their 3 in this situation have the most balance outside of the Thunder only they are much younger than the Thunder. Simmons can do all the offensive playmaking. Embiid is just a monster. Covington is a great 3 and D guy who is probably one of the best role players in the league this year. Just put shooting and defense around them and you already have a really good team. Giannis is great at 31/10/5. Simmons is quietly at 18/8/7 with Embiid at 20/11/3. And they are both in year 1 and 2 of playing in the league. 2 young studs outweigh 1 MVP caliber stud IMO.

[AbeVigodaLive]

At least 2 of those options may not even have their 3 most promising players listed.

- If Hayward recovers fully from injury.
- As recently as 4 weeks ago... Fultz was the 3rd big guy in Philly
- And Milwaukee also has Jabari waiting in the wings...