Who are the top players in the NBA to build your franchise around?

[Celtics18]

I ask this question, because a lot of folks are making the claim that you can't possibly be a contender if you make Rajon Rondo the centerpiece of your franchise.

My take is that in today's NBA landscape there are really only two players under the age of 32 who can be considered in that rarified air of "transcendent franchise player."  One plays for Miami, the other in Oklahoma City. 

I'd like to know if anyone has a top ten or top fifteen list of players to build your franchise around starting today.  I've been trying to come up with such a list myself, but after the top two there are a lot of players that I simply can't choose from.

I'd put Rondo somewhere on that list.  For those who think that's utterly insane, I'd like to see what guys out there other than Durant and James that folks feel would by themselves put us on that automatic path to contender status. 

[AB_Celtic]

PGs: Derrick Rose*, Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry
SGs: James Harden
SFs: Your two guys.
PFs: Kevin Love* (?)
Cs: Marc Gasol, Dwight Howard*

*When healthy

Obviously, you have to build around them right. Chicago has done that; Minnesota may have if they can have a healthy season; Memphis has; The Lakers would be better off building around Dwight than Kobe IMO; Golden State is close with Curry; Cleveland is just getting started; Houston needs a 2nd go-to option.

I'd happily take any of those guys to start a team with.

[MVPPierceNoJoke]

Tony Parker
Chris Paul
Derrick Rose
Kobe Bryant
Carmelo Anthony
Dwayne Wade
Russell Westbrook
Joakim Noah
DeMarcus Cousins
Anthony Davis
 

[nickagneta]

First off, I think it is a massive mistake to ever build any franchise around a PG unless he is 6'9", can play four other positions and has a first name of Magic. And yes, that includes every PG in the NBA today.

To build a franchise, my base franchise player has to have transcendent talent, size, and be able to dominate either offensively or defensively or both.

LeBron James
Kevin Durant
Dwight Howard
Anthony Davis
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Garnett
Tim Duncan
Carmelo Anthony
Dirk Nowitzki

That's it in all of today's NBA, IMHO, and I think it can be said that KG, Dirk and TD probably are not on this list next year and Davis still has to grow before he is truly that guy. Unless you have a team with one of these guys on it, I don't see your team having a chance to win it all.

[Yogi]

Have to be under 30.  I am assuming goal is championship not selling tickets.

Lebron James
Kevin Durant
Rajon Rondo
Chris Paul
Derek Rose
Steph Curry
James Harden
Marc Gasol
Dwight Howard
Russell Westbrook

Kyrie, Love, Griffin need to prove themselves in the playoffs.

I wonder how many want trade Rose if Bulls go further against the Heat without him.

[clover]

Irving and Drummond is where I'd start if I were really looking long-term.

[CelticConcourse]

John Henson

[moiso]

Kevin Love would be on my short list.  Drummond too.

[KCattheStripe]

First off, I think it is a massive mistake to ever build any franchise around a PG unless he is 6'9", can play four other positions and has a first name of Magic. And yes, that includes every PG in the NBA today.

To build a franchise, my base franchise player has to have transcendent talent, size, and be able to dominate either offensively or defensively or both.

LeBron James
Kevin Durant
Dwight Howard
Anthony Davis
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Garnett
Tim Duncan
Carmelo Anthony
Dirk Nowitzki

That's it in all of today's NBA, IMHO, and I think it can be said that KG, Dirk and TD probably are not on this list next year and Davis still has to grow before he is truly that guy. Unless you have a team with one of these guys on it, I don't see your team having a chance to win it all.

Isaiah thinks you're being dismissive.

[Roy H.]

Lebron
Durant
Howard
Rose
Irving

[kozlodoev]

Lebron
Durant
Howard
Rose
Irving

At this point, I'd have Curry instead of Rose.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Outside of the names that was already mentioned I just want to add a few.

Russel Westbrook
Joakim Noah (yes, I would build around him)
Tony Parker

[KCattheStripe]

Lebron
Durant
Howard
Rose
Irving

Is this the Kyrie Irving who couldn't guard a la-z-boy if it was bolted to the deck of a sinking ship or the Kyrie Irving who has missed 31 and 23 games his first two seasons?

[bfrombleacher]

CP3 and D-Will have fallen out of favor a little it appears.

Is letting players have too much say and compromising with something stupid what we have here?

As much as I loath the cHeat, LeBron at least forced his way into something successful. Or perhaps it's just stupid luck coupled with [dang] talent.

[Roy H.]

Lebron
Durant
Howard
Rose
Irving

Is this the Kyrie Irving who couldn't guard a la-z-boy if it was bolted to the deck of a sinking ship or the Kyrie Irving who has missed 31 and 23 games his first two seasons?

1.  You must not have watched a lot of Kyrie this season if you're still down on his defense.  Even with no interior defense whatsoever after Varejao's injury, Kyrie still ranked in the top third of all defenders in points allowed per possession. 

2.  The injuries are a more legitimate concern, but Kyrie himself implied that a lot of the injuries were the result of the organization tanking.