Post by NOLa. on Nov 1, 2013 16:13:38 GMT -6
Edit: Added links to Draft Preview and players names for quick pullups.
The playoffs are in full force as we are almost midway through the 2nd round and, for the eight teams still fighting, there is plenty of excitement and intrigue to follow.
But for the non-playoff teams?
Not a lot of care has been given besides a few owners who are interested in scouting for future matchups. I am all to familiar with this feeling and I know what every lottery team is waiting for: The 1991 Sim League Draft. Free agency will not be as interesting as we are use to due to this being the first season of the league, which I think will mostly consist of teams targeting role players that fit their game plans. But for now the draft is the most exciting offseason task we all have to look forward to as we scourge through the Draft Preview section of the index hoping to spot a golden nugget in the late 1st round that will make other GM's want to jump off a cliff for passing up.
Unfortunately, at the time of this writeup, the updates to the draft file have not been made yet. They will be up soon I think, but not for another couple of days or so. Anyways, some of my original statements made might change after the updates go through, but nothing to drastic. Right now with the list that is up with the index I firmly believe that Dikembe Mutombo will be the #1 pick regardless of which team wins the lotto. Even if the team is in no need of another C, such as the Raptors or 76ers, Mutombo should be the pick to either trade away or make rearrangements with their current roster by trade or position changes.
The playoffs are in full force as we are almost midway through the 2nd round and, for the eight teams still fighting, there is plenty of excitement and intrigue to follow.
But for the non-playoff teams?
Not a lot of care has been given besides a few owners who are interested in scouting for future matchups. I am all to familiar with this feeling and I know what every lottery team is waiting for: The 1991 Sim League Draft. Free agency will not be as interesting as we are use to due to this being the first season of the league, which I think will mostly consist of teams targeting role players that fit their game plans. But for now the draft is the most exciting offseason task we all have to look forward to as we scourge through the Draft Preview section of the index hoping to spot a golden nugget in the late 1st round that will make other GM's want to jump off a cliff for passing up.
Unfortunately, at the time of this writeup, the updates to the draft file have not been made yet. They will be up soon I think, but not for another couple of days or so. Anyways, some of my original statements made might change after the updates go through, but nothing to drastic. Right now with the list that is up with the index I firmly believe that Dikembe Mutombo will be the #1 pick regardless of which team wins the lotto. Even if the team is in no need of another C, such as the Raptors or 76ers, Mutombo should be the pick to either trade away or make rearrangements with their current roster by trade or position changes.
Rockets have the best chance of landing potential multiple DPOY Award winner.
Mutombo has all the tools and potential to be the leagues premier defensive big man of the league. Here is my overall assessment on Mutombo by just glancing at his page.
Pros:
Weighing these up, the cons list is still not that bad. Sure, he won't be a scoring option to utilize at the center position and he might foul and turn the ball over to the opposing teams, but almost all centers in the league have these problems and a lot more issues to tag along. His strengths in the game is what defines Dikembe Mutombo: defense and rebounding. If you have the chance to put your teams uniform on this guy and send him onto the court you've just catapulted yourself to the top echelons of two very important statistical categories. The student section at Georgetown University setup a "Rejection Row" underneath the basket, adding a big silhouette of an outstretched hand to a banner for each shot blocked during the game. They kept a tally and you should too.
Maybe there is a GM who thinks differently and sees another prospect worth the #1 pick, but for me he would be my top guy in a draft that is weak at the front court positions. Which brings me to my question.
This draft is heavily loaded with guards of all types. Which player is the best of this pack?
After the first draft pick which I assume is Dikembe, there is an intriguing pick the next few teams must make at the 2-5 draft spots. There is the Sim-League-ready scoring SG Steve Smith from Michigan State who will come in as the favorite for preseason Rookie of the Year favorite due to his ability to create for himself and others at the offensive end. However, his defense and rebounding is atrocious and will be an instant liability if leaned on to provide any of this.
(This just in, Bucks willing to oversell and trade licensed rights to The Coliseum of Gay for acquirement of Smith upon reading prior two sentence)
Another player that is ready to start from Day 1 is floor general PG Kenny Anderson from Georgia Tech. Kenny is a somewhat small but super quick PG that will grow into the best overall skill set in this year's draft. Will be able to score well anywhere in the court and will have elite handles and passing throughout his years at the PG spot. Hopefully the owner that drafts him invests in his defense to complete his overall balance, because his combination of athleticism and knack to pickpocket and covert at the other end can be very beneficial for teams looking to create turnovers and possessions.
The other three guards can make a case for the #2 selection in the draft depending on which team gets the consolation prize. This is not a weak group of guards, but the league is already filled with guards that their value might decrease a little more after the draft because of the influx of talent in the backcourt. Mutumbo is the rare commodity that can enter into the frountcourt and dominate from the get-go. PGs Terrell Brandon and Greg Anthony are two different types of players at the same position. Terrell needs a couple of years to develop into the pesky perimeter defender we all know he will become and is a solid outside shooter. Like I said though, a lot of the important skills you need in a PG still need to be developed such as his inside scoring, passing, and perimeter defense. A patient owner will reap the rewards of this young 20 year old guard.
Greg Anthony, on the other hand, is almost a duplicate of Kenny Anderson. Greg is actually better in some phases of the game like outside shooting, handles, and defense. The reason why Kenny is projected to be higher is because of the difference in potential. Kenny is potentially the most balanced player in the class as I've said before, but Greg is kind of limited to his strengths. Will still be a good defender and excellent ball handler, but even in college he is only averaging 9 points per game. Should this worry you as an owner? Bobby Phils is also another prospect that will take time to develop into a contributor but has good size, will be a good defender at the 2 which is a big plus, and can work on his jumpshot to improve his three point shot. If you're looking for a 3&D guy you should give him a glance.
There's more players that will fall somewhere within the 5-15 range that will be solid pickups for teams, but the key is to pick a player that will fit either your teams identity or will provide support in an area of need that you are weak in. This draft is most likely the biggest improvement you'll make for your team unless you trade so start planning ahead.
Pros:
- Measures in at 7'2" and 250 lbs.; physically gifted and an intimidating force in the interior.
- Elite defensive rebounding (A); potential to be top rebounder in league when offensive rebounding (A) improves.
- Great shot blocker and capable of being elite in this category as well (A)
- Will get you 2nd possessions with his offensive rebounding and putbacks.
- On paper, this cat screams All Defense and Defensive Player of the Year
Cons:
- Will not be a reliable scorer through his career, may still be able to easily average 10 a game.
- Aggressive centers can often get in foul trouble early and cause the system to sit to avoid more fouls.
- Do not want the ball in his hands to make plays; turnover prone.
- Can get to the stripe but won't be useful unless developed by an owner.
- Thought he would be stronger, especially for his size.
Weighing these up, the cons list is still not that bad. Sure, he won't be a scoring option to utilize at the center position and he might foul and turn the ball over to the opposing teams, but almost all centers in the league have these problems and a lot more issues to tag along. His strengths in the game is what defines Dikembe Mutombo: defense and rebounding. If you have the chance to put your teams uniform on this guy and send him onto the court you've just catapulted yourself to the top echelons of two very important statistical categories. The student section at Georgetown University setup a "Rejection Row" underneath the basket, adding a big silhouette of an outstretched hand to a banner for each shot blocked during the game. They kept a tally and you should too.
Maybe there is a GM who thinks differently and sees another prospect worth the #1 pick, but for me he would be my top guy in a draft that is weak at the front court positions. Which brings me to my question.
This draft is heavily loaded with guards of all types. Which player is the best of this pack?
After the first draft pick which I assume is Dikembe, there is an intriguing pick the next few teams must make at the 2-5 draft spots. There is the Sim-League-ready scoring SG Steve Smith from Michigan State who will come in as the favorite for preseason Rookie of the Year favorite due to his ability to create for himself and others at the offensive end. However, his defense and rebounding is atrocious and will be an instant liability if leaned on to provide any of this.
(This just in, Bucks willing to oversell and trade licensed rights to The Coliseum of Gay for acquirement of Smith upon reading prior two sentence)
Another player that is ready to start from Day 1 is floor general PG Kenny Anderson from Georgia Tech. Kenny is a somewhat small but super quick PG that will grow into the best overall skill set in this year's draft. Will be able to score well anywhere in the court and will have elite handles and passing throughout his years at the PG spot. Hopefully the owner that drafts him invests in his defense to complete his overall balance, because his combination of athleticism and knack to pickpocket and covert at the other end can be very beneficial for teams looking to create turnovers and possessions.
The other three guards can make a case for the #2 selection in the draft depending on which team gets the consolation prize. This is not a weak group of guards, but the league is already filled with guards that their value might decrease a little more after the draft because of the influx of talent in the backcourt. Mutumbo is the rare commodity that can enter into the frountcourt and dominate from the get-go. PGs Terrell Brandon and Greg Anthony are two different types of players at the same position. Terrell needs a couple of years to develop into the pesky perimeter defender we all know he will become and is a solid outside shooter. Like I said though, a lot of the important skills you need in a PG still need to be developed such as his inside scoring, passing, and perimeter defense. A patient owner will reap the rewards of this young 20 year old guard.
Greg Anthony, on the other hand, is almost a duplicate of Kenny Anderson. Greg is actually better in some phases of the game like outside shooting, handles, and defense. The reason why Kenny is projected to be higher is because of the difference in potential. Kenny is potentially the most balanced player in the class as I've said before, but Greg is kind of limited to his strengths. Will still be a good defender and excellent ball handler, but even in college he is only averaging 9 points per game. Should this worry you as an owner? Bobby Phils is also another prospect that will take time to develop into a contributor but has good size, will be a good defender at the 2 which is a big plus, and can work on his jumpshot to improve his three point shot. If you're looking for a 3&D guy you should give him a glance.
There's more players that will fall somewhere within the 5-15 range that will be solid pickups for teams, but the key is to pick a player that will fit either your teams identity or will provide support in an area of need that you are weak in. This draft is most likely the biggest improvement you'll make for your team unless you trade so start planning ahead.
