You get to pick one of these duos for the next 10 years

[Hawk Eye]

Which of these four duos would you draft for your franchise and why? Let’s assume you get each duo for the first 10 years of their career before they both hit the market as unrestricted free agents.

peak, prime, longevity, durability, marketable, etc. — these are all factors to consider here.

1. Russell Westbrook and David Robinson

2. Gary Payton and Kevin Garnett

3. Kevin Durant and Ray Allen

4. Dwyane Wade and Kevin McHale

[Texas Chuck]

1. GP/KG
2. KD/Allen
3. Russ/Admiral
4. Wade/McHale

Wade/McHale last was by far the easiest portion of this. I could talk myself into any of the other 3 combos as my choice. KD/Allen would be so absurd offensively. Admiral's defense with Russ putting up huge numbers might well work. An improved version of the AI Sixers essentially. But ultimately I think Glove/Ticket give me enough offense while having a great defensive foundation and starting today I would be able to just play KG as a full-time center which would create all kinds of other advantages.

As for Wade/McHale obviously both are tremendous players but not sure how McHale translates exactly and they would get in each other's way offensively.

[Jack Dempsey]

1. GP/KG
2. KD/Allen
3. Russ/Admiral
4. Wade/McHale

Wade/McHale last was by far the easiest portion of this. I could talk myself into any of the other 3 combos as my choice. KD/Allen would be so absurd offensively. Admiral's defense with Russ putting up huge numbers might well work. An improved version of the AI Sixers essentially. But ultimately I think Glove/Ticket give me enough offense while having a great defensive foundation and starting today I would be able to just play KG as a full-time center which would create all kinds of other advantages.

As for Wade/McHale obviously both are tremendous players but not sure how McHale translates exactly and they would get in each other's way offensively.

I agree with 1&2 but I'd swap 3&4.

McHale is in the contest for the best post moves in the history of the game. I think he could have developed a 3p shot if needed to add to his game. Other than that I also remember him being a very good defender as well. He was "only" 6'10 or 6'11 but his wingspan made him play like a 7 footer. Today he'd play Center. The thing that worries me the most about this duo is Wade's health but I gave them the edge over Russ/Robinson because of Russ being the by far least valuable player out of those 8.

[Stan]

I'd be hesitant to pick any duo with Wade due to his fragile nature. Of those options, I'd go with Durant/Allen, some GOAT level shooting with that duo

[MO12msu]

1. GP/KG
2. KD/Allen
3. Russ/Admiral
4. Wade/McHale

Wade/McHale last was by far the easiest portion of this. I could talk myself into any of the other 3 combos as my choice. KD/Allen would be so absurd offensively. Admiral's defense with Russ putting up huge numbers might well work. An improved version of the AI Sixers essentially. But ultimately I think Glove/Ticket give me enough offense while having a great defensive foundation and starting today I would be able to just play KG as a full-time center which would create all kinds of other advantages.

As for Wade/McHale obviously both are tremendous players but not sure how McHale translates exactly and they would get in each other's way offensively.

I agree with 1&2 but I'd swap 3&4.

McHale is in the contest for the best post moves in the history of the game. I think he could have developed a 3p shot if needed to add to his game. Other than that I also remember him being a very good defender as well. He was "only" 6'10 or 6'11 but his wingspan made him play like a 7 footer. Today he'd play Center. The thing that worries me the most about this duo is Wade's health but I gave them the edge over Russ/Robinson because of Russ being the by far least valuable player out of those 8.

I'm not buying that Russ is "by far" less valuable than Allen, Mchale, or Payton. Unless you're arguing for overall career value (which I still don't agree with).

[KobesScarf]

I normally don't like PG & C duos but given the choices Westbrook and Robinson is an easy choice for me

[Hawk Eye]

So I’ve thought about this some more and I’m basically down to just two choices now:

1A. Kevin Durant/Ray Allen

1B. Gary Payton/Kevin Garnett

Durant/Allen: This duo sets up your team to have preposterous levels of shooting/spacing. Ray Allen had six different seasons of shooting .400+% from three on over 6.0+ 3PA per game all coming within an era where high volume three point shooting was unheard of. Plug him into the league today from his rookie season going forward and his volume would be even greater while maintaining his filthy efficiency. Coupled with his off-ball game; Ray’s ability to create things on-ball would be a nice release valve for KD in high pressure playoff games. I see these two working very well together.

Payton/Garnett: this duo comes across as the inverse of the Durant/Allen pairing for me. Payton and Garnett is the foundation for an absolutely electric defensive team. These two wouldn’t let anybody else on the team slack off on defense either. I think they bring enough offense to the table while being able to smother guys on the other end. I’m sacrificing some better scoring/ offensive options with the other duos but no other duo gives me the level of defense these two could bring.

Really tough decision here but I’m going with KD and Ray. I think I’ll have an easier time filling in the gaps with finding some defensive players and these two alone are enough to carry my team offensively.

[Statlanta]

Robinson and Westbrook.

[GeorgeMarcus]

1. Russ/Admiral
2a. Allen/KD
2b. Payton/KG
4. Wade/McHale

[limbo]

KG/GP
D-Rob/Westbrook
KD/Ray Allen
Wade/McHale

In that (top to bottom) order.

[No-more-rings]

To me it's probably Westbrook/Drob, but i would listen to the Payton/KG case.

KD/Allen having this many votes is a joke, and giving Wade McHale isn't really fair to him if you upgrade that to say Ewing they probably win the poll easily.

[No-more-rings]

I'd be hesitant to pick any duo with Wade due to his fragile nature. Of those options, I'd go with Durant/Allen, some GOAT level shooting with that duo

Assuming the first 10 years of Wade's career(04-13), 07 and 08 were really the only 2 seasons where he had major injuries, and i guess the playoffs in 2013 too but that seemed more due to a variety of factors rather than some serious injury.

Wade was healthy or at least fairly healthy in the playoffs in 04, 05, 06, 09, 10, 11 and 12. Mchale might not be that guy for him, but with a good 2nd option you have a good 5-6 year window of winning titles.

[Hawk Eye]

Wow, a three way tie at the moment for the first three options. Can someone make a good case for Westbrook/Robinson? They’ve garnered a lot of votes but I haven’t seen a real case made for this duo in this thread yet.

[No-more-rings]

Wow, a three way tie at the moment for the first three options. Can someone make a good case for Westbrook/Robinson? They’ve garnered a lot of votes but I haven’t seen a real case made for this duo in this thread yet.

I think the case is simple enough, 11-20 Westbrook(presumably) is better than any 10 year stretch from say Payton or Ray Allen, and Drob's 10 year stretch is comparable to Kg's and better than Kd's. Westbrook started falling off in 2018, but his 12-17 stretch is quite impressive.

I think the KD/Allen voters got some explaining to do, i mean yeah the rest of the roster will get filled out but 2 out of the other 3 already have their defensive anchor and historic ones at that who are no slouches offensively.

[Hawk Eye]

my main problem with the Westbrook/Robinson duo was not being able trust Westbrook to be my primary source of offense/scoring for when it comes time for playoffs; Perhaps his recent playoff struggles clouded my judgment here (e.g. three straight 1st round losses with two of them being rather unexpected, dips in efficiency, etc.).

Still, I haven’t seen Westbrook have a playoff run as good as Allen’s in 01’. I think Westbrook/Robinson have a higher ceiling in the RS but I trust my offense to hold up better in the PS between KD/Allen.

[RCM88x]

my main problem with the Westbrook/Robinson duo was not being able trust Westbrook to be my primary source of offense/scoring for when it comes time for playoffs; Perhaps his recent playoff struggles clouded my judgment here (e.g. three straight 1st round losses with two of them being rather unexpected, dips in efficiency, etc.).

Still, I haven’t seen Westbrook have a playoff run as good as Allen’s in 01’. I think Westbrook/Robinson have a higher ceiling in the RS but I trust my offense to hold up better in the PS between KD/Allen.

Robinson gives you pretty good to great defense though, in the playoffs as well. Where KD/Allen are probably an overall average or even negative on that end.


I think Westbrook sort of covers up Robinson's main issues, he's one of the best outside -> in passers in the last couple decades and would definitely help Robinson be more consistent offensively in the post season as a result.

While Allen/KD is pretty dangerous offensive duo, I don't think the fit is as good a Westbrook/KD was and Allen probably isn't as good as Westbrook, or atleast wasn't as good overall during his prime. Perhaps in the current game he would be though when he would be able to take more 3s and handle the ball more.

I also feel it would be easier to put pieces around WB/DRob than KD/Allen, you kind of already have the most difficult/valuable positions taken care of and can just fill the roster with athletic wings and shooting where with the other duo you really need a distributor and a defensive anchor still.

[mademan]

Durant/Allen is the easiest to build around, i think. All the other duos need another star or near star level player whereas i think you can surround Durant/Allen with 1 dimensional defensive specialists and contend.

[Stan]

I'd be hesitant to pick any duo with Wade due to his fragile nature. Of those options, I'd go with Durant/Allen, some GOAT level shooting with that duo

Assuming the first 10 years of Wade's career(04-13), 07 and 08 were really the only 2 seasons where he had major injuries, and i guess the playoffs in 2013 too but that seemed more due to a variety of factors rather than some serious injury.

Wade was healthy or at least fairly healthy in the playoffs in 04, 05, 06, 09, 10, 11 and 12. Mchale might not be that guy for him, but with a good 2nd option you have a good 5-6 year window of winning titles.

He got hurt at the end of the '05 ECF, in '07, hell, even towards the end of the '11 Finals

[Whopper_Sr]

I'd strongly consider Westbrook/Admiral if I have a coach that can convince Westbrook to play like he has been in January to March of this year (limit 3s, more drives to the rim). If not, I'd take Payton/KG as Garnett is the best player and they would cover so much ground on defense.

With the Durant/Ray pairing, KD is still the first option and he's not good enough in that role to justify taking them despite how great they would be on offense.

[Joao Saraiva]

For the next 10 years I'll go with the duo with elite shooting, ready to give me success in today's game. Give me Ray Allen and KD. They're good, even if not elite shot creators. But they're superb scorers, KD brings good defense, can play both SF and PF.

Finding a rim protector and a guard with playmaking skills is the key to success but it can definitely happen. Finding Rubio, Chandler and a guy who shoots the 3 at the SF while moving KD to the PF spot should be enough to win it all. It's definitely a combo I'm betting on to make me a champion in the next 10 years.