The concept of recruiting sportsmen to the AFL from other leagues is not a new one; Karmichael Hunt is carving out a career with Gold Coast after leaving the NRL while Israel Folau had a short stint with GWS.  At North Melbourne, former college basketballer Eric Wallace is on the list and is developing at a rate of knots and Mike Pyke played rugby union before claiming a premiership with the Swans in 2012.

But what if you could give the football skills and game knowledge of a current AFL superstar to an elite athlete from an overseas league or sport?  Who would be the best candidate and have the most potential?

Let’s consider the players in the NBA.

Here’s the question: If you could transfer Daniel Wells’ football skills and game knowledge into an NBA player past or present, who would you choose?

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While all the skills (kicking, handballing, marking, etc) will be passed on from Wells, every other aspect (fitness, endurance, durability, attitude, etc) remains the individual athletes'. For example, Andrew Bynum, at 7 feet tall, would make an amazing ruckman with the skills of Wells but his knee issues may not be able to withstand the strain and his fitness might render him useless.

The obvious choice is LeBron James.  Listed at 6’8 and roughly 115 kilograms, he would be a formidable forward charging out of the goal square on a lead.  Would you want to step into the hole in front of him?  Is there any defender who could match his size and pace?

Why not take Michael Jordan in his prime?  Known for his determination to succeed, incredible leap and speed, he could be the perfect outside midfielder and play a similar role to Wells but with some added height at 6’6.

Chris Paul is another that comes to mind.  Adding Wells’ abilities to a player who is a step ahead of everyone else on the basketball court could create a tantalising playmaker.  Imagine the man known as ‘CP3’ at the bottom of a pack dishing out no-look handballs to an open Brent Harvey.

Dwight Howard possesses a physique unlike any other and rare athletic ability, however a team like North may not take a risk on recruiting him. Long-term commitment has been a problem for Howard, unlike the majority of Kangaroos’ players.

Perhaps Metta World Peace, or former Knick Charles Oakley would be a handy pick-up for an upcoming grudge match.  They certainly know how to pack a punch and would be Glenn Archer like in any back-line.

With some intense training and enough time, could these basketballers transform themselves from being explosive, anaerobic-based machines into endurance, aerobic athletes?

Could Kevin Durant adjust to the rigours of AFL football with his slender frame?  Would Blake Griffin thrive being one-out in the goal-square?  How would a vintage Charles Barkley go as a full-back or full-forward?  Could Hakeem Olajuwon or Tim Duncan have been the perfect ruckman?  If Shaquille O’Neal played forward, would he get outside the 50 metre arc?

Who do you think would be the best AFL player from the NBA if they had the skills of Daniel Wells? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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