[Lefty Noob]

Okay, I'm late to the draft so I'm getting caught up, but the Toronto Raptors have drafted Andrea Bargnani from Italy. He's the first European player ever to go #1 overall. Compared to Dirk Nowitzki. Good pick?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Okay, I'm late to the draft so I'm getting caught up, but the Toronto Raptors have drafted Andrea Bargnani from Italy. He's the first European player ever to go #1 overall. Compared to Dirk Nowitzki. Good pick?

Strengths: Standing 7 feet tall, Bargnani already has a huge advantage over 99 percent of the players in this draft. He complements his height with good length and very solid athletic ability relative to his size as well, and he has nice quickness and an excellent first step. Offensively, Bargnani’s game is eerily similar to that of Dirk Nowitzki. His 3-point shot is a thing of beauty, featuring excellent mechanics, and he looks quick and fluid pulling up off the dribble and getting his feet set. His ball-handling skills are good, and he has the coordination, footwork and body control to weave his way in and out of traffic. He’s a creative but not an explosive finisher. Playing for one of the best teams outside the NBA, Benetton Treviso, he could not have been better coached over the past few years. Even though he is already a productive player in an extremely competitive league, his upside is huge.
Weaknesses: He certainly doesn’t always play like a 7-footer. Rebounding and defense appear to be the two biggest concerns, as he will undoubtedly have to play power forward in the NBA. His positioning for rebounds is poor; Bargnani gets pushed around because of his lack of strength. Defensively, he is much improved, but still does not help out enough on rotations in team defense. He has some potential as a shot-changer because of his height and length, but does not make the proper effort to take advantage of this. Adding bulk will be a priority. Offensively, he has no consistent back-to-the-basket game to take advantage of his physical attributes. Bargnani plays almost strictly on the perimeter, and in the rare occasion that he does step into the paint, he shows very poor footwork and few post moves. As is always the case, making the transition from Europe to the States will not be easy. This especially seems to be the case with Italian players, which is part of the reason no Italian player has ever been drafted in the 1st round.

I don't know Lefty...a soft Euro 7 footer at the number 1 spot?...I would have traded down...I don't see another Nowitzki