Posted by BRIGGS:
i would take Okafor. he's the most under-rated under-hyped player in terms of the draft that I can remember with his combination of size speed strength agility IQ etc... the guy is 6-9 1/4 260 pounds in bare feet bench presses over 400 pounds has a vertical leap of 36 inches --incredible agility with a velvet like touch around the basket and Karl Malone like finishing power
if you look at the knicks we have no one even close to what he has in combination of power size speed + athletiscm. the closest would be sweetney who is atleast 2 inches shorter without the athletiscm and defensive agility.
this guy is the second coming of alonzo mourning i wouldnt be so fast to poo-poo the pick if Im Orlando.
Howard has a TON of skill but he needs a lot of polish because he doesnt have any moves on the block. Maybe he will be better than Ok4 in 3 years, I dont know but I dont see enough in him to warrant the pick over him.
So his back problems doesn't bother you one bit? I agree with you that talent and skill level alone he is the consensus number 1 pick. He performed well in big games and he has a little bit of Bill Russell in him, but he still has a back problem. Remember LJ. He was a monster in college. A monster in Charlotte. Then his back went. He was still a great Knick but Grand Momma went away with his back.
By the way, going on a tangent here...My favorite commercial was when Larry Bird and Magic Johnson was trying to create the perfect player and Bird said we should name him Larry and Magic said his last name will be Johnson.