Lets say "IF" LeBron James was a HS Senior this year (instead of being a Junior) and was eligible to enter the Nba '02 draft. Would the Rockets have picked him instead of Yao? And with the 15 pick up a Center: Curtis Borchardt. Both Yao and James are unproven and will take awhile to develop, but I hear James is the next coming of Kobe Bryant. At 6'7 (He still may grow a couple more inches) he can play Small Forward, he is versatile, and very athletic. Team of the Future PG- Steve Francis SG- Cuttino Mobley SF- LeBron James PF- Eddie Griffin C- Curtis Borchardt What do you guys think would you rather have James or Yao?
James over Ming would have been a no brainer. He's 6-7 can handle the ball, slash and shoot. SF was our weakest position last yr. no matter how much anyone wants to hate on Cato. Half the starting C's avg. under 10ppg but there is a very limited number (1,2) of starting SF's in the L that avg. under 10ppg. James would sure that up for the next decade or so. Not to mention that he's already NBA ready and we woulnd't have any govt. interference or international ball obligations to worry about, it would just be easier. We don't even need Curtis B w/ the 15th pick as long as we have Cato & EG back there. We could have even looked at Keon Clark to fill the C spot during the off season w/ the MCE. PG Francis/ Moochie SG Mobley/ Torres SF James/ Rice PF EG/ Mo T C Clark/ Cato Very nice IMO.
Usually, when you have these hot shot high school prospects, they have some glaring weaknesses that scouts are quick to point out. I'm not saying LeBron is the second coming of Jordan, but I have not read a SINGLE negative thing about him anywhere concerning his basketball skills. Almost every scouting report on him mentions a combination of Jordan AND Magic Johnson. This kid might be the real deal... I've read one article that says he might have an ego problem, but that should go away with experience To answer the original question, James over Ming 10 times out of 10.
I really like getting Ming this year, but I'd have to go with James if he was a senior. Unless they had more on him, like A-Train said, where Ming would be better, James would pretty much be a no-brainer,imo. Can't he also play SG? I guess LeBron it is.
I'd go with lebron. Although, he wouldn't make an immediate impact, he'd win the rockets a couple of rings or any team for that matter.
I'll go against the norm and stay with Ming. He might not be much now but with a few lbs and experience he has the ability to be unstoppable as is Shaq. Personally I think there should be a rule about coming out of high school......Have you listened to some of those post game interviews last year? These kids are so damn stupid nowadays. Anyhoe that's my 2 cents!
What if we knew for sure that Yao and James were going to be the best in the league at their positions in a few seasons. Then who would you want? I think I would take Yao because it's been proven that a dominant center will take a team farther than a dominant small forward.
I think Houston should stage all their games this year so that they lose them all...then pick up James in next years draft and have the championship team for years to come.
I don't think we have a 1st round pick this year. We have to trade it to complete the SF trade. I think the only way for it to work is to get an additional pick, and send that. Also remember the worst team doesn't always get the pick. Especially after this past dradt.
I think some team did. I want to say th Knicks or Lakers. I can't remember. But this was before the lottery style. I think they used letters in a hat then. Someone want to help me here? I'm not very sure of this. We could also trade for the No. 1, but we'd have to trade a lot for LeBron. edit: Dang! 6 teams have had back-to-back number 1's. Orlando was the most recent, with Shaq and Webber. Houston also did it, which I don't know how I forgot. I think NY had it too.
A sure thing coming out of high school is a *lot* different than a sure thing coming out of college. How do you know he isn't just an early bloomer? How do you know he will continue to improve? What do you know about his character? Kobe claimed that he *made* 500 shots per day last summer...and exaggeration or not, it showed in clutch time this year. Will James have that kind of drive and dedication? I'll take Ming...but ask me again at the end of this year =)
The question I ask is how many HS. Greats amounted to only a supporting role in the NBA. They never just are quite able to lift themselves onto the star level. Then there is the likes of KB. and KG. that made it but neither had the hype or statements of the second comming like LeBJ.You never know, alot depends how they are nurtured in the early years because becoming mature is a most important adjustment in reaching manhood and stardom.Some Coaches do not have a nurturing mentality and could spell disaster for LeBJ.( Eg:- Brown in Washington) I go with Ming! Rockets traditionaly have been better teams with a dominent big man ( heres hoping for our future with Yao).
Anyone remember Felipe Lopez? He was as hyped as Lebron James when he was in high school. SG or SF who can potentially be great can be found in draft every year. May not be true for the center position.
Your senario is about the same as asking whether the Rockets should have taken MJ over Hakeem in the draft. Looking back, many people probably would pick MJ. But who knows? If they'd swapped place, Hakeem might have won 6 rings in Chicago while MJ in Houston had to wait for Hakeem's retirement. I agree with you, a great center is better than a great guard or SF.
The chance that ming is a bust is 10 times more likely than the chance lebron becomes one. People are saying that kobe wasn't even half as good as lebron is. Nobody in the history of this sport has been more hyped coming out of high school than james, si and slam both did a cover story on this high school junior.
How do you figure??? Ming has played in the Olympics as well as other European PRO tournaments against some of the best in the world. On the other hand, Lebron is busy dunking on 6"0 centers in high school...
