NBA Draft : Draft by Need or Best Player Available?

Every NBA team has different needs and are moving in different directions, and the NBA draft presents teams with many different options. 

This is what makes the NBA draft so unpredictable and captivating if you are a fan.

Good teams evolve into good teams, it doesn't just happen. 

Just like successful movies need a director with direction and vision, successful basketball teams need a general manager/staff with direction and vision.

If I was a general manager in this year's draft I would not be focused on putting together a collection of the most talented players you can find, but rather putting together a group of players with different abilities that fit a certain style of play. 

All-star teams don't win championships—unless there is a great discrepancy in talent level—as USA basketball has proven over recent Olympics and World Championships.

Draft analysts often see the draft as a dilemma for teams to decide if they want to draft by need or by the best player available.  

As a general manager I wouldn't draft a player with the "best player available" method unless I felt they have the ability to be the centerpiece of a team like Duncan, Isiah, Jordan, Bird, Iverson, etc. 

The question I would want to find out in this draft if I was Chicago (first overall pick) or Miami (second overall pick) would be if Rose and Beasley can fit into their style of play or if they are good enough to build a team around. 

Chicago already has a point guard in Kirk Hinrich who is a key component to the core they currently have.  If you feel Rose has the ability to take the Bulls to a championship then you take him.  If not then you go with Beasley as they could use help in the front-court. 

Miami is trying to implement an uptempo system having traded for Shawn Marion from Phoenix last season.  Rose would probably be a perfect fit for that situation, but Chicago will probably draft him. 

Now you have to look at whether Beasley is best suited for that style of play and whether he can mesh with their current franchise player, Dwayne Wade. If not you can trade down in the draft, receive compensation for the pick and still get a quality player who fits the uptempo style.

The majority of remaining players will be role players.  These draft picks can help teams that are in the championship hunt or in the rebuilding process. 

If you are in the top echelon of teams you would usually select a player to fill a need, who can contribute to the current core of players as you don't want to mess with good chemistry. 

Another option is to draft a young player that is still developing raw talent.  This gives the player time to develop and gives you some pieces to work with when your core becomes older. 

If you are on the other side of the fence in the rebuilding stage it is important to make a decision on what direction your team is headed. 

Do you want to base your team's style of play on an uptempo/offensive style or do you want to base it on a half-court/defensive style? 

Then you can base your decision on how well different players will fit into that system.