| The Bargnani Conundrum Authored by Aaron Bronsteter - June 21, 2006 - 6:14 pm
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When was the last time that a top pick in the NBA Draft had such little fanfare and familiarity? The answer is never and that’s what will make this pick all the more startling for not only the Toronto Raptors and their fans, but the NBA as a whole.
The information on Bargnani is worthy of praise, over seven feet in height, continues to put on weight, has a fluid Nowitzki-esque shooting stroke and is an impact player in the Euroleague where almost every player of his calibre drafted into the NBA has made a difference. Players like Toni Kukoc and Dirk Nowitzki who earned starter’s minutes at a young age in the Euroleague have flourished at the next level. But to select a player with such little hype that so few people have heard of is not even a rarity in the NBA, it is simply unheard of.
The last and only time that a foreign player with no American college experience was drafted with the top pick, he was 22 years old, 7-feet-5-inches in height and weight roughly 300 pounds. This time around, it’s a skinny, sharpshooting kid with little talent to speak of defensively who plays the same position as the two players who are expected to lead the franchise that plans to select him into the future.
So why is Bargnani the top pick in this year’s draft? The answer is because this year’s draft is about as thin as an aging man’s hairline. Bryan Colangelo is not the type of general manager to pick players based on team needs. He will select the player who he feels has the highest ceiling in this year’s draft and from all indications from Colangelo himself, the coach and manager of Benetton Treviso and several members of the media, that player is Bargnani.
The risk factor is a clear and present danger when it comes to Bargnani, but the same risks apply to every other player in this year’s draft. Tyrus Thomas, undersized, lacks strength and very little jump shot to speak of. Adam Morrison, too skinny, lacks a defensive game and has diabetes. Rudy Gay, wildly inconsistent, needs to work on his three-point shot and simply disappears during games. LaMarcus Aldridge, not strong enough to play center, somewhat timid and wants to play the four spot. There is no single player that stands way above the rest in this year’s group and the risk in taking Bargnani is as high as taking anyone else.
The biggest risk for Colangelo is with the fans. Television allows fans to see Thomas flourish in the tournament, shows off Gay’s athleticism, details Aldridge’s patience and magnifies Morrison’s scoring abilities, but the name Bargnani is unfamiliar to the casual basketball observers. European players continue to raise red flags with Tskitishvili (also once with Benetton) failing on the pro level, Fran Vasquez spurning the NBA for more time in Europe and the amount of Gasols, Nowitzkis and Mings being few and far between when it comes to International draftees. Fans will be wary when it comes to the idea of not only drafting an International player, but drafting an Italian player (when few have ever played in the NBA), with the top pick (which only Ming has adorned as an International star) and when the team’s two most promising players play the same natural position as Bargnani.
The writing is on the wall and the decision is to be made in one week’s time. Select a player who fans are more comfortable and familiar with or who fits with what the team lacks or take the player who a skilled general manager has a good feeling about, one who can either take the team to new heights or drop them to new lows. The decision comes down to one man at one time who will select one player and when that time comes, fans need to sit back and enjoy the ride.
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