FTW: Should teams pick based on talent or need in drafts?

In FTW's discussion of the 2012 PBA Draft, the panel of Mico Halili, Jason Webb, Charles Tiu, and Doug Kramer tackled one of the oldest dilemmas in sports: should teams pick based on talent or need in a draft?

 

"I think need is more important. If they have the same position, kelangan you get someone you actually need. If I were Alaska, I'd pick [Cliff] Hodge. They need a four. He can even be a starter there," said Kramer.

 

But the Barako Bull big man also stated that the choice depends on the team's current situation:

 

"Teams like Petron, they have all the talent they need already. So its just a matter of molding them together into a system. But wala na silang choice. One and three [pick] sila. I think they'll get the best talent available."

 

PBA assistant coach Tiu emphasized that the choice depends on the coach's situation:

 

"I think it's different for everybody. If you're a coach, you're thinking, 'How long is my contract with this team?' If I'm there for only one year, why would I get the best project or talent when I need to win right now to save my job?" "Whatever you need, if you're missing one big man, you'd take that over a guard na sobrang galeng. Me personally, I'll lean on talent. If there's a guy who's so good, I'm not gonna pass up on him," said Tiu.

 

Webb stressed that teams should always go for talent.

 

"I don't think anyone has ever made a mistake by picking talent over need, but so many mistakes have been made because of picking need over talent. Usually, if you're lucky, it falls on you, the person that you need happens to be the most talented player," said Webb.

 

The former Sta. Lucia point guard did not find any problem in teams being stacked in certain positions:

 

"In the end, even if magsisisksikan sila diyan, you can always trade them and then you get the best possible talent for need that you have via trade."

Is talent a better choice than need? Take a crack at the 2012 PBA mock draft machine and see what you would do in the same situation. - Renee Fopalan / AMD, GMA News