While I wasn't entirely shocked about Kevin Durant's atrocious performance on the bench press earlier today, it does remind me of the last amazingly talented 18-19 year old who had a very suspect bench press but still went really high in the NBA draft, Shaun Livingston. And while not necessarily related to his bench press, we all know how that turned out. But, the problem is that there are NBA-ready bodies, there are non-NBA-ready bodies, and then there's Kevin Durant. Granted, the 82 game regular season has devolved into a mere formality with minimal physical play for the most part in the NBA over the past decade and I don't see Durant making the playoffs in the next couple years, but you tell me he runs across a pick from Shaq and it isn't going to look like a trailer for Saw IV? I don't know. As immensely talented as he is and I'm still saying he goes #2 in the draft no question, I almost feel like the Sonics would be best served to put him on the bench for a year, put some meat on his bones and make sure he can hang in the NBA before he does anything to damage his future.One thing that has made Lebron so successful so early in his career is that he's so big and strong. For example, when Detroit tried going Jordan Rules on him, they didn't realize he's got about 2 inches in height and 20-25 pounds on Jordan and, with his speed and agility, Lebron's the one out there inflicting the pain on the guys trying to knock him down. Anyone fast enough to catch up to him (Prince, Hamilton, Hunter) is about half his size and anyone big enough to muscle him (Wallace, Maxiell, Webber) isn't quick enough to get out of a Marv Albert "serves up a facial" shot. On the flipside, Durant has neither the size nor the speed of Lebron and in any big game is just going to get hammered and this strategy will most likely work on him. 25 years ago, a guy like Durant with his frame could still make it, but Durant is going to have players like Ron Artest and Bruce Bowen guarding him next year in this modern NBA. If you want a visual, just replay the start of the Palace Brawl where Artest pulls down that kid in the crowd he thought threw the cup. If I'm the Sonics and I have a game coming up where Artest is guarding the future of my franchise, I would have serious reservations about sending KD out there. In the meantime, can someone please introduce Durant to American cuisine (ie, McDonalds, Burger King, Carl's Junior (my favorite), KFC) and a weight room? The fate of the NBA may just depend on it...
--dwyermaker
