Best bet

[Andy]

If you were a GM with average job security (which is to say, in general peril) and you had to get a guy in this draft who would be the surest bet to make an impact within two years, who would you go for? You have the first pick. You're drafting for impact, not position.

Wouldn't it be Rudy Gay?

We always talk about upside, but don't Morrison, Aldridge and Bargnani all have deeper downsides?


Andy

[Jonathan]

Impact I go for Morrison or Redick. Gay is more of a guy to draft for the superstar he might become down the road. His skills have not caught up with his athleticism this point. There is a comparison to be made between him and Marvin Williams in terms of their NBA draft upside. But that could all change in March if Gay leads them to the championship and is the best player on the team.

[doubledown11]

I'd agree with Rudy Gay. Probably not in his rookie year but after the All star break in his sophomore season he should be hitting his stride. Not that highlight reel dunks help win games but they do help sell tickets which is important to NBA owners. He'll be an above average shotblocker, will have decent steals per game and will be able to get his J off over 95% of opponents in the NBA (ridculous vert and high extension on his shot).

He'd probably benefit from staying ay UConn one more year under Jim Calhoun and would be a better player in the long run but I doubt he'd be able to avoid the temptation of going top 1-3.

Another player who could flourish in the NBA is Brandon Rush. He could develop into an elite swingman in the association. I think he needs one more year at Kansas and he'll be a top 5 pick next year even with the franchise type 4's and 5's who'll be available in 2007.

I can see Morrison being the most successful from a ppg standpoint straight off his rookie season. Don't know to what degree his defensive deficiencies will hurt his NBA team, costing wins despite putting up eg 17-19 ppg.

I think Aldridge will have a Channing Frye like impact in his first 2 years.

So my final answer is Rudy Gay making his GM happy near the latter part of 2 years.

[Nikeforged_69]

I think morrison will have the best impact of all the rookies. I think he'll be the ROY next year for sure. I don't like the drafting for potential thing. I do somewhat. But look at atlanta. They coulda drafted Chris Paul. They needed a point guard badly. Then they signed Johnson to a Max deal LMAO. they would have been a much more solid team. Not only that but they would have had an extra 12mill or so of cap room to play with also.

[Jonathan]

annoying problem of empty threads has been officialy fixed for now. bumping all old threads to the top now.

[escorpiao]

This would depend on what a team is looking for. If a team is looking for a scorer then A.Morrison is the safest pick because R.Gay is not as consistent, there are questions about Brewer's NBA range and Carney does not have the same level of bball IQ.

If a team is looking for a defensive presence inside then S.Williams would be the safest pick because T.Splitter's contract situation with Tau could be a problem or not be a real problem, there is no guarantee either way.

If a team is looking for perimeter defence then R.Gay would be the safest pick because of his physical tools, work ethic and he is coachable.