2 DAYS TO GO, DRAFTING 2ND
2nd Overall: Seattle Sonics
Kevin Durant.
I don't even have that much to write about this. It is hard to argue that there will be any other selection made #2. I just don't see the NBA Draft coming out like the 2006 NFL draft when everyone thought that Reggie Bush would be the first pick, but the Texans shocked the world and took Mario Williams.
The Blazers will draft Greg Oden, meaning that GM of the Sonics, Sam Presti, will have little to no choice but to take the long and lanky Texas Longhorn freshman sensation and National Player of the Year. Kevin Durant has an exceptional upside - but he's not worthy of being picked over Greg Oden.
As was evidence in the NCAA tournament, the Longhorns were not as good of a team as the Buckeyes. Texas was bounced much earlier than expected by potential lottery pick Nick Young. Despite individual success during the season, Durant's team lost in the 2nd round.
Keep in mind, it was Durant that made Texas a playoff team. He led them not only in statistical categories, but on the floor as well. When his team needed a hoop, or was in need of a spark, they could count on KD to come through (many performances were displayed on ESPN for all to see).
The Longhorns lost LaMarcus Aldridge (2nd overall), P.J. Tucker (35th overall) and Daniel Gibson (42nd overall) to last years draft and needed the point production from Durant to even contend in a deep Big 12 conference. Durant made the most of his role as leader scoring over 25 points per game and averaging over 11 rebounds. He not only won the AP Player of the year, but he took home the Naismith and Wooden Awards as well.
Durant's most obvious and hyped NBA comparison is to All-Stars Tracy McGrady and Kevin Garnett. The fact that Durant took care of competition in college and he doesn't turn 19 until September makes the Sonics salivate and instills fear in current NBA players. A lot of people think that if McGrady or Garnett had gone to college they would have had similar seasons as Durant. I knew the decision of Durant and Oden was coming for a long long time.
They basically declared themselves the two best draft prospects back in December, January and into February. I wrote a lengthy post comparing the two at the time, here is the link: http://www.protrade.com/content/DisplayArticle.html?sp=Sf1664cac-bba6-11db-adc0-f5747a60336d
I declared the 2007 NBA draft one of the most anticipated in decades. I said that the mid-May NBA draft lottery show would be the most watched since the first ever in 1985. At the time I wrote that having the top the pick would be more of a burden than a blessing and I still feel that way. To quote myself "Having the #2 overall pick will allow a team to receive one of these great talents without having to decide the NBA future. Determining whether Oden or Durant should be taken first is a debate for the ages".
As the draft approaches, the debated doesn't seem as heated. It doesn't seem like much of a debate at all. At the time I said that whichever player's team went furthest in the NCAA tournament would be drafted first.
I wrote on February 13th: "Oden will need to prove he is a winner and a leader in March to get the edge over Durant on draft day." Ohio State went to the title game while Texas couldn't get past round 2, Durant will be selected 2nd.
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