Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Where will Anthony Davis make his living?

Team - Chances of #1 pick - Chances at top-3 pick

Bobcats - 25% - 64.19%
Wizards - 19.9% - 55.74%
Cavaliers - 13.8% - 42.57%
Hornets - 13.7& - 42.33%
Kings - 7.6% - 25.5%
Nets - 7.5% - 25.19%
Warriors - 3.6% - 12.66%
Raptors - 3.5% - 12.32%
Pistons - 1.7% - 6.1%
Timberwolves - 1.1% - 3.97%
Trail Blazers - 0.8% - 2.9%
Bucks - 0.7% - 2.54%
Suns - 0.6% - 2.18%
Rockets - 0.5% - 1.81%

I have ties to Charlotte, having lived there for years, but I have very little faith in that team right now.  Wow, they are bad from top to bottom and I don't see how they get better.  Davis would be stifled there, anchoring a terrible team with no plan for the future.  I sure hope they don't get him.  Over the years the team that was the odds-on favorite has very rarely won the top pick--let's hope that trend continues.  Similarly, the Wizards, while better than Charlotte, are not a team with much identity or vision.  Wall and Davis would make a great combo but I don't see them winning many games together. 

Personally, I think the best spot for him on this list would be the Timberwolves.  Great passing PG (Rubio), great rebounding forward (Love), good frontline talent already there, I think that is the place where he gets to come in and contribute to something that's already building instead of having to play the 'savior'.  As great as Davis is--and I think his offensive potential was barely touched at Kentucky--I don't think he's a savior.  He's a complimentary player who needs some service in order to really shine.  In Minnesota, he would have room to play his game without having unrealistic expectations heaped on him right away. 

Another fine landing spot for Davis would be the Cavaliers.  Again, great young PG, good talent upfront and a culture that has had some recent success, a team with some sense of how to get back to where they need to be.  Davis would fit nicely there, hopefully finding his spots to mature into his NBA body.   I think the Bucks, Pistons and Warriors would give him room to grow without expecting too much of him while the Rockets need only a big man to send them deep into the playoffs.

Any chance for a trade?  It'd have to be a blockbuster.  Pau Gasol, anyone?

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