When have they ever successfully "converted" a pla

Teams say they'll do this with a new guy all the time, but I can't think of any examples where it's actually worked?

The Rockets said they'd convert Francis to a point guard. That went well.

The Sixers tried to make Iverson a playmaker. That sure paid off.

Bulls wanted to make a Center out of Tyson Chandler. He's been real effective.

Every team in the NBA tried to make Marbury a non-dickhead. Unsuccessful.

The Pistons trying to make Darko a center? Well...I rest my case.

If a player comes into the league with a certain game, and can't already play a certain position, it almost always seems to be better to just leave them as undersized (or severely oversized) guys at their natural spot, instead of trying to move them where they belong.

Wolves converted Garnett to play PF.

LeBron did pretty well at PG when he first came in the league.

Two words for you: Chauncey Billups (SG -> PG) Oh, or Josh Howard (PF -> SF), Gilbert Arenas (SG -> PG), Dirk Nowitzki (SF -> PF)...

Gilbert Arenas SG to PG

Rashard Lewis PF to SF

Charlie Villanueva PF to SF. Well, maybe not for sure yet, but it looks like it.

Iverson isn't a playmaker?

What about Chris Bosh from PF to a C ?

Diaw SF/PF to C

Closest one to an actual conversion is Billups.

The other ones were positions the players already had played and could play. Arenas is still a two-guard, no one converted him really, if there was conversion he did it himself.

A lot of the undersized SGs trying to play the PG usually doesn't turn out as planned.

boris diaw and shawn marion come to mind.

Diaw SF/PF to C

Actually, from SG/PG to PF/C.

i think we can all admit the sixers were better when they had snow at the point and iverson at the 2.

Shaun Livingston has always played PG but this season he's played SG/SF mostly.

I've read that China's National Team Coach played Yao at the Point in one game... i don't know how that went...

Iverson isn't a playmaker?

We all know Ollie runs the team

Not many come to mind. Even in cases where players have shifted over to a different position or taken on a different role, as you said EG they've utilised or honed skills they already possess. But if accepting different roles counts, then you could name quite a few All-Star players - Reggie Miller being a recent example - who have taken a backseat in their later years. And of course, players who have been thrust into the leadership/go-to guy role and succeeded.

Jason Williams hasn't been converted per se, but some of his bad habits have been curbed...to a certain extent. In that sense, he's been made into a more solid point guard rather than the NBA's answer to AND1.

Gilbert Arenas SG to PG

Arenas still plays like a two guard.

Wasn't Darius Miles experimented as a point guard by Cleveland at one point?

It was a short-lived and ill-advised experiment if they did.

Larry Hughes played the point in Washington when MJ was around. Obviously that didn't work out too well.

Boston Celtics tried to make Ben Wallace a SG...that didn't work.

Whoah, Ben Wallace as a SG.... would never imagine.

diaw marion and billups are the main ones i'd say.

I've read that China's National Team Coach played Yao at the Point in one game... i don't know how that went...

You didn't read anything.

The Celtics couldn't convert Ryan Gomes to a SF.

ok, but we're trying to point out successful conversions... and who is 'they'?

Teams say they'll do this with a new guy all the time, but I can't think of any examples where it's actually worked?

The Rockets said they'd convert Francis to a point guard. That went well.

The Sixers tried to make Iverson a playmaker. That sure paid off.

Bulls wanted to make a Center out of Tyson Chandler. He's been real effective.

Every team in the NBA tried to make Marbury a non-dickhead. Unsuccessful.

The Pistons trying to make Darko a center? Well...I rest my case.

If a player comes into the league with a certain game, and can't already play a certain position, it almost always seems to be better to just leave them as undersized (or severely oversized) guys at their natural spot, instead of trying to move them where they belong.

Or Andrew trying to convert you into a moderator.