now that oden is declaring...

[Falkinator]

Now that we know for sure that Oden is going pro, who would you take number 1? Also, I'm a big bucks fan, and if they win the lottery, what would be the better pick for the bucks, Oden or Durant?

[TJ]

I would take Durant if I were an NBA GM.  He's just far more talented in my opinion.  He can do pretty much everything on a basketball court.  It also just seemed like there wasn't too much of a dropoff for Ohio State when Oden went to the bench.

[muarmy81]

There's no denying that Durant will be a special player but I don't think you can ever pass on a 7' center.  Think of how many great teams have been built around those great centers:  Hakeem, Duncan/Robinson, Shaq.  I know there's alot of teams that have been great without a center (like Jordan and the bulls)  But without that defensive precense in the middle I think you suffer in the playoffs. (Detroit had Wallace)
I think the best team to pick in the draft next year will be the team with the 2nd pick because nobody will question your decision, you picked "the other guy" because he was left.

[Mayor McCheese]

There's no denying that Durant will be a special player but I don't think you can ever pass on a 7' center.  Think of how many great teams have been built around those great centers:  Hakeem, Duncan/Robinson, Shaq.  I know there's alot of teams that have been great without a center (like Jordan and the bulls)  But without that defensive precense in the middle I think you suffer in the playoffs. (Detroit had Wallace)
I think the best team to pick in the draft next year will be the team with the 2nd pick because nobody will question your decision, you picked "the other guy" because he was left.

yeah that 7' center that the Bucks got in Andrew Bogut sure is panning out.... take Durant in a heartbeat, Oden will be chewed alive by some of the bigs... Duncan, Yao Ming, Dwight Howard, Ben Wallace, hell even Shaq in his age will just simply show the kid how to play NBA ball... I thought Oden needed one more healthy year in college... Durant will come into the league scoring 20ppg, something the Bucks need... they have Bogut and Villanueva for the 4 and 5....  get Durant as the 3, Redd as the 2 and Mo Williams as the 1 (or trade and get Diener for the 1) and you have a competitive team, with Simmons off the bench.

[IAmMarquette]

There's no denying that Durant will be a special player but I don't think you can ever pass on a 7' center.  Think of how many great teams have been built around those great centers:  Hakeem, Duncan/Robinson, Shaq.  I know there's alot of teams that have been great without a center (like Jordan and the bulls)  But without that defensive precense in the middle I think you suffer in the playoffs. (Detroit had Wallace)
I think the best team to pick in the draft next year will be the team with the 2nd pick because nobody will question your decision, you picked "the other guy" because he was left.

yeah that 7' center that the Bucks got in Andrew Bogut sure is panning out.... take Durant in a heartbeat, Oden will be chewed alive by some of the bigs... Duncan, Yao Ming, Dwight Howard, Ben Wallace, hell even Shaq in his age will just simply show the kid how to play NBA ball... I thought Oden needed one more healthy year in college... Durant will come into the league scoring 20ppg, something the Bucks need... they have Bogut and Villanueva for the 4 and 5....  get Durant as the 3, Redd as the 2 and Mo Williams as the 1 (or trade and get Diener for the 1) and you have a competitive team, with Simmons off the bench.

Bogut has been more than solid for the Bucks. When your pre-season starting 5 missed roughly 175games altogether you can't expect much.

[drewm88]

I think who you take #1 comes down to your needs. The Bucks could obviously use Durant at the 3 much more than they could use Oden at center. If you're talking about an Eastern team without one need greater than the other, I'd take Oden. That kind of defensive presence near the hoop in the East is gold.

Oden will be chewed alive by some of the bigs... Duncan, Yao Ming, Dwight Howard, Ben Wallace, hell even Shaq in his age will just simply show the kid how to play NBA ball...

Dwight Howard, while a freak athlete, hasn't dominated offensively much. I don't think Oden would have a ton of trouble with him.
And since when can Ben Wallace score on anybody?

[Mayor McCheese]

I think who you take #1 comes down to your needs. The Bucks could obviously use Durant at the 3 much more than they could use Oden at center. If you're talking about an Eastern team without one need greater than the other, I'd take Oden. That kind of defensive presence near the hoop in the East is gold.

Oden will be chewed alive by some of the bigs... Duncan, Yao Ming, Dwight Howard, Ben Wallace, hell even Shaq in his age will just simply show the kid how to play NBA ball...

Dwight Howard, while a freak athlete, hasn't dominated offensively much. I don't think Oden would have a ton of trouble with him.
And since when can Ben Wallace score on anybody?

more to basketball than just scoring... Dwight Howard is actually a pretty good offensive player... and Ben Wallace wouldn't let Oden get a shot off... not saying Oden isn't any good, just think he needs one more year at OSU

[muarmy81]

There's no denying that Durant will be a special player but I don't think you can ever pass on a 7' center.  Think of how many great teams have been built around those great centers:  Hakeem, Duncan/Robinson, Shaq.  I know there's alot of teams that have been great without a center (like Jordan and the bulls)  But without that defensive precense in the middle I think you suffer in the playoffs. (Detroit had Wallace)
I think the best team to pick in the draft next year will be the team with the 2nd pick because nobody will question your decision, you picked "the other guy" because he was left.

yeah that 7' center that the Bucks got in Andrew Bogut sure is panning out.... take Durant in a heartbeat, Oden will be chewed alive by some of the bigs... Duncan, Yao Ming, Dwight Howard, Ben Wallace, hell even Shaq in his age will just simply show the kid how to play NBA ball... I thought Oden needed one more healthy year in college... Durant will come into the league scoring 20ppg, something the Bucks need... they have Bogut and Villanueva for the 4 and 5....  get Durant as the 3, Redd as the 2 and Mo Williams as the 1 (or trade and get Diener for the 1) and you have a competitive team, with Simmons off the bench.

You must have missed my other post that specifically talked about these foreign players that everyone drafts.  Bogut isn't a true center in my opinion, rather a "shifty" 4.  Like Most foreign players, they tend to be more finesse-like on the offensive end with many displaying the ability to shoot from deep. (Okur, that italian guy the raptors drafted last year, Nowitzki) Oden has the build (He's 18 or 19 and already 7' 240) and has the potential to develop into one of those powerful type centers.  I don't think Bogut averaged 16 pts & 10 reb his freshman year in college and Bogut was never even close to the physical presence that Oden already is on the defensive end and that's my point.  Although Durant is probably a better offensive player, I think Oden is the better pick because he can influence the game at both the offensive and defensive ends.

As for Bogut, Is he really that bad?  3rd place in Rookie of the year voting last year.  Improved to 12 pts nearly 9 rebounds this year and was named to the all rookie team last season.

[RawdogDX]

I think who you take #1 comes down to your needs. The Bucks could obviously use Durant at the 3 much more than they could use Oden at center. If you're talking about an Eastern team without one need greater than the other, I'd take Oden. That kind of defensive presence near the hoop in the East is gold.

Oden will be chewed alive by some of the bigs... Duncan, Yao Ming, Dwight Howard, Ben Wallace, hell even Shaq in his age will just simply show the kid how to play NBA ball...

Dwight Howard, while a freak athlete, hasn't dominated offensively much. I don't think Oden would have a ton of trouble with him.
And since when can Ben Wallace score on anybody?

more to basketball than just scoring... Dwight Howard is actually a pretty good offensive player... and Ben Wallace wouldn't let Oden get a shot off... not saying Oden isn't any good, just think he needs one more year at OSU

This seems to be a pattern in your posts when it comes to kids leaving.  I see no reason to think that his first 40 games next year in the NBA will improve his game less then a season of going up against guys who are smaller than him in college would.  Good let him get "eaten alive" by the top 3 or 4 big men in the league, that's part of the learning process for rookies.

[muarmy81]

I don't know, Brian Butch could be a great guy to improve your game against...