starting from scratch draft (17th pick)

[Dat2U]

I'd take the risk and go for Bynum. I like Noah & Horford. Both are certainly nice players to have but neither are guys you can potentially build a franchise around. Bynum is the only guy left with that type of potential.

[daSwami]

how'd we end up with the 17th pick. We got screwed! eff this game, i quit.

that said, i'd take derrick williams.

[fishercob]

I'd take the risk and go for Bynum. I like Noah & Horford. Both are certainly nice players to have but neither are guys you can potentially build a franchise around. Bynum is the only guy left with that type of potential.

I get the sentiment, but Bynum has averaged 51 games a season over the last four years. I don't think one could reasonably expect him to stay healthy enough to be a franchise center. Horford is less than a year older and has averaged 77 games a season over that same four year span. Even if he doesn't have KG upside, I still think he's a championship level power forward (not center). You just need the right piece around him.

[Ruzious]

Honestly, I wouldn't even consider Bynum. There's the health, the poor intangibles, and I think his offense is strictly a product of playing with guys like Gasol, Kobe, and Odom. He's stiff offensively as opposed to a center like Nene who can make fluid moves in the low post. The Lakers have been more successful in the post season when Gasol's played center.

[tsvqt]

I'd select Rondo, but Jan Vesley is a close second

[arterimal]

Rondo

[Dat2U]

I'd take the risk and go for Bynum. I like Noah & Horford. Both are certainly nice players to have but neither are guys you can potentially build a franchise around. Bynum is the only guy left with that type of potential.

I get the sentiment, but Bynum has averaged 51 games a season over the last four years. I don't think one could reasonably expect him to stay healthy enough to be a franchise center. Horford is less than a year older and has averaged 77 games a season over that same four year span. Even if he doesn't have KG upside, I still think he's a championship level power forward (not center). You just need the right piece around him.

Of course it's a risk and Bynum has his warts. But he's a top 10 talent and he wouldn't be available at 17 if not for his shortcomings. He's legitimately the 2nd best defensive center in the league (only behind Dwight). Heck, he's the guy being mentioned as potential trade bait for Howard. I'd roll the dice and cross my fingers. Horford may be a championship level PF but he's not sniffing anything close to a championship as the best player on your team.

[montestewart]

Horford may be a championship level PF but he's not sniffing anything close to a championship as the best player on your team.

You might reasonably say that about anyone available at #17. Bynum's good, but so far he's not ready to stand with Howard or O'Neal, and I wonder if he'd look as good as a team leader without the rest of the Lakers. Still, I guess Bynum's as reasonable a pick as Horford, Noah, and Rondo at #17.