Commentary

Better building block: James or Rose?

Our Insiders debate which MVP candidate they'd rather have to start a team

Updated: April 7, 2011, 2:00 PM ET

By Chris Broussard and Ric Bucher | ESPN The Magazine

The only thing Ric Bucher and Chris Broussard like to do more than report on the NBA is argue about the NBA. So we decided to combine those two skills for Insider's weekly One-on-One series, in which they'll debate the hottest topics in the association.

Question: Who would you rather build a team around, Derrick Rose or LeBron James?

BROUSSARD: Derrick Rose appears to be headed to his first MVP award -- and deservedly so. Many, particularly those influenced solely by statistics, believe LeBron James should win his third straight award. I do believe LeBron is the league's best player, but this year I'd choose Rose over him for MVP. That said, if I had to pick between the two of them when starting a team, I'd take LeBron -- hands-down.

Bucher: I agree with you that James, when it comes to pure talent, has more than anybody else in the league right now. But I would take Rose ahead of LeBron if I'm starting a team because the talent difference is not all that great, and Rose fills two of the most difficult roles that a team must have: floor leader and closer.