From: Charlie Zegers
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 9:27 AM
To: Carson Cistulli
Subject: Give and Go: Wall or Turner?
It’s going to be necessary to take this column in a collegiate direction this week, as nothing happening in the NBA right now is half as compelling as the tournament. The Association should just shut down for the first week of March Madness – sort of like the NHL’s Olympic break.
Anyway …
I’m glad Kentucky and Ohio State made the Sweet Sixteen – unlike some other bracket-destroying one and two seeds that shall remain nameless – because it will give NBA fans a little more time to get acquainted with John Wall and Evan Turner. That should make for the liveliest “who’s No. 1” draft debate since Greg Oden(notes) vs. Kevin Durant(notes). Wall is an outstanding freshman lead guard for Kentucky, with a well-rounded offensive game, outstanding size, Rajon Rondo(notes) length and the fearlessness that enables him to take over close games. In draft shorthand, he’s a better version of Derrick Rose(notes). Turner, on the other hand, is a 6-foot-7 scoring wing with point guard skills. He’s also resilient – he played his way back into the Player of the Year discussion despite missing time this season with a broken back.
Yes, a broken back.
He’s more a player in the Dwyane Wade(notes)/Brandon Roy mold.
Wall has been the leading contender for the first overall pick for months now, but Turner is starting to creep into the conversation. This got me thinking – assuming both Wall and Turner are the players we’re led to believe they are – which one would you draft first overall. Conventional wisdom seems to be “go with the point guard.” But most of the current NBA title contenders, and most of the championship winners from the last decade or so, haven’t been built around elite point guards – with the Pistons (Chauncey Billups(notes)) and Spurs the most notable exceptions – though you could make the case that Manu Ginobili(notes) is the true “point” player for San Antonio. Steve Nash(notes) hasn’t won a title. Neither have Chris Paul(notes), Jason Kidd(notes) or Deron Williams(notes). But Jason “White Chocolate” Williams has. And Rajon Rondo – before he emerged as an all star. Derek Fisher(notes) has several. And this year, we could add Mo Williams(notes) or Jameer Nelson(notes) to the list.
If you were starting a team in today’s NBA, would you rather have the elite point or the elite scoring do-everything wing?
OK, now answer the same question, but in reference to a fantasy team.
I’m beginning to think our draft priorities should be changing, that the explosion of small lineups and multi-position players has made finding a fantasy center pretty easy – and put more of a premium on finding a great two. (Of course, my thinking could be influenced by the fact that my inability to fill the shooting guard spot has essentially cost me a title in a league this year.)
Give and Go: Position priority – Fantasy – Yahoo! Sports.
