2006 NBA Draft

There were a lot of interesting prospects taken in the draft this year. Here are the cards that I would target.

1. Andrea Bargnani – Being the first Italian player of note in the NBA, Bargnani is going to open up the league to a whole new market. Card collectors can cash in on that if they can pull the most lucrative of his rookie cards. He’s going to Toronto and should see playing time right away.

2. Adam Morrison – Hand-picked by Michael Jordan, Morrison is perhaps the biggest name in the draft. He can score and will have plenty of opportunities to do so in Charlotte. His current level of fame combined with his scoring ability and the presence of MJ will drive the market up on his cards.

3. Brandon Roy – Roy is a do it all guard going to basketball starved Portland. If he can stay healthy and get the playing time, he’s one of the front runners as far as the Rookie of the Year award goes. He’s one of the few players in this draft with superstar potential.

4. Rudy Gay – Along with Roy, Gay has the highest ceiling of anyone in the draft. He’s shown flashes of brilliance and could easily end up as the greatest player in the draft. In Memphis, Gay should get plenty of chances to show what he’s got.

5. Tyrus Thomas – Thomas is a guy who will find himself on SportsCenter on almost a nightly basis once he gets the playing time. He’s very athletic and is playing in a big market (Chicago). He’s sure to have a huge fan base in a few years.