CB Survey: Who would you start a franchise around

[hpantazo]

He has that special something that will make him a top competitor on top of his natural talent.

Is that special something not playing a real NBA game yet?

Let's see what you say about that a year from now. He's already shown in a few preseason games that he has grit and the high level of competitiveness and fearlessness to go along with his immense talent.

I said on an earlier thread that Embiid was the best player drafted since Anthony Davis was taken.  TP to you for one upping me on the Embiid fandom. 

It comes down to Davis or Embiid for me.  If Embiid makes it through this season healthy, I'd choose Embiid.  Today, I'd choose Davis.

I don't think there's any justification whatsoever for saying Embiid is the better player than Towns. He possibly could be, but it's very premature to say anything of the sort before he actually plays starter minutes in a real NBA game.

I didn't say Embiid is a better player than Towns now.  It is a projection based on what I saw of them in their single college seasons and their limited NBA experience.  I think Embiid can be dominant both offensively and defensively.  I think Towns can be dominant offensively but not defensively.  Maybe Thibs' coaching will make a big difference and I'll have to reassess but for now I'll stick by my projection (with the usual Embiid health caveat).  Hopefully both of them will be battling it out for MVP for the next decade.

Only if one or both of them are on the C's. 

That would definitely be preferred.  However I can't stand this small ball, 3pt chucking era so I'll be happy if they dominate the league whichever team they are on except Lakers of course.   

TP , thats basically how I feel about 3pt chucking small ball too. I really hope with all of the young, high quality big men in the league now finally. that we have a resurgence/renaissance era of big man basketball in the NBA.

[tazzmaniac]

He has that special something that will make him a top competitor on top of his natural talent.

Is that special something not playing a real NBA game yet?

Let's see what you say about that a year from now. He's already shown in a few preseason games that he has grit and the high level of competitiveness and fearlessness to go along with his immense talent.

I said on an earlier thread that Embiid was the best player drafted since Anthony Davis was taken.  TP to you for one upping me on the Embiid fandom. 

It comes down to Davis or Embiid for me.  If Embiid makes it through this season healthy, I'd choose Embiid.  Today, I'd choose Davis.

I don't think there's any justification whatsoever for saying Embiid is the better player than Towns. He possibly could be, but it's very premature to say anything of the sort before he actually plays starter minutes in a real NBA game.

I didn't say Embiid is a better player than Towns now.  It is a projection based on what I saw of them in their single college seasons and their limited NBA experience.  I think Embiid can be dominant both offensively and defensively.  I think Towns can be dominant offensively but not defensively.  Maybe Thibs' coaching will make a big difference and I'll have to reassess but for now I'll stick by my projection (with the usual Embiid health caveat).  Hopefully both of them will be battling it out for MVP for the next decade.

Only if one or both of them are on the C's. 

That would definitely be preferred.  However I can't stand this small ball, 3pt chucking era so I'll be happy if they dominate the league whichever team they are on except Lakers of course.   

TP , thats basically how I feel about 3pt chucking small ball too. I really hope with all of the young, high quality big men in the league now finally. that we have a resurgence/renaissance era of big man basketball in the NBA.

Also need some more PGs (or point forwards) that can feed the post.  Embiid will look even better when Simmons gets back. 

[green_bballers13]

I'll go on record saying that I think Davis, Towns and Embiid combine for zero NBA titles.

Lebron James is the one transcendent all-time great in the league today. I'm more into the instant rebuild approach.

100%. I voted for Lebron. He is so talented that he should be able to lead a team through the playoffs even after he has lost his elite athleticism. I would even think that he will become a better shooter, because he will have to. Lebron will go down as a top 5 player in NBA history. I can't say that about anyone else on the list.

There are actually a decent amount of teams in the NBA with a talented big (or two) that have zero % chance of winning the championship this year. The 76ers, Knicks, Nets, Pistons, Heat, Hawks, Magic, Kings, Pelicans, Grizzlies, Jazz, and T-Wolves all have talented bigs (albeit a range of talent) at different stages of their career. I don't want to be a fan of any of those teams in the short term. I would only take the T-Wolves on that list long-term.

Lebron is a solid citizen and a great player that has proven he can lift a team on his shoulders. The anti Lebron bias is nuts, and I think that America will start rooting for him vs the Warriors in the finals.

[moiso]

Any GM would trade any player for Lebron right now.  From Embiid to Towns to Anthony Davis.

[saltlover]

I guess Lebron? It's tricky, because it depends on the rest of the hypothetical universe.  If all the other players are free agents, then of course LeBron, because I'm going to get two other max free agents of my choice, and I can fill out the roster with ring-chasing vets costing on the cheap.

If it's this past summer, do I get KD and Horford to join LeBron?  I probably could, so yes.

If it's next summer, however, I probably can't afford LeBron and KD and a third star, because KD is now on the 10-year salary level.  Chris Paul gets in the way for the same reason.  If I can't construct my win now team around LeBron, I'd go Towns.
 

[KG Living Legend]

Any GM would trade any player for Lebron right now.  From Embiid to Towns to Anthony Davis.

 I would not trade Towns for Lebron.

[Big333223]

Any GM would trade any player for Lebron right now.  From Embiid to Towns to Anthony Davis.

 I would not trade Towns for Lebron.

Neither would I. I wouldn't trade Anthony Davis for him, either. He's a better player than either today, and I expect him to have a better season this year too, but there's no way I'd trade either, straight up, for Lebron.

[Moranis]

I suppose it would depend on what I thought I could do with the rest of the team, my franchise's history, my financial situation, etc.  I mean if I thought I could build a team that could compete right now or I needed the money or my franchise hadn't won or had excitement in years, then James would make more sense.  But if we are doing a snake draft and I pick first and then don't get another pick until 60 and 61, I'm not sure there is a real means to build a team good enough around James to win during James' shrinking window and thus would take Towns.

For the record, I chose Towns.