Post by quicky on Dec 7, 2023 11:19:53 GMT -8
The forgotten ones! Some GMs decided to bottom out completely while others chose to invest in some youths to pass the time. Who did the best job you ask?
1. Charlotte Hornets
Notable Players: Jermaine O'Neal, Antonio McDyess
Number of Picks: Two in 1997 Including Own
It was a tough decision but I think going with the team with an elite looking 18 year old big man in JO and another solid big man once camped in McDyess is the move. I am not sure if they are a good pairing long-term, but the value they should carry if eventually moved plus a likely top five pick makes this a very attractive situation. Sargo decided to go all-in on a one year tank and it should payoff as a just slotting in some solid guards can make this a playoff team next season. In a league where some questionable big men are forced to be starters I just feel having two stars long-term sets them apart.
2. Los Angeles Lakers
Notable Players: Kobe Bryant
Number of Picks: Their Own in 1997
There will be many that would pick Kobe over any other situation and it can be hard to blame them. His outside shot was juiced to an unreal level considering his career numbers so he is set up to be a future MJ tier player. Reading that again has me questioning my decision to put them second! The issue is that sadly Zydrunas is terrible here and nothing else on this roster is worth anything. Just feels like without Timmy coming to town it could be a more difficult path to being a playoff team next season without their pick.
3. Chicago Bulls
Notable Players: Kerry Kittles, Shawn Bradley
Number of Picks: Own Firsts
I thought Kittles would slip under the radar due to being Kerry Kittles but he did not! Play invested heavily in the young man with a first round pick and early returns look good. Are we looking at a B A scoring guard with 3 stocks in his prime? Perhaps. Add to that a good young big in Shawn Bradley dropping 4 stocks of his own and you're cooking. They might be the best under 25 duo in the league which is kind of crazy but the name value holds them back a bit. Also not sure they can tank as effectively over a full season due to how developed they already are.
4. Washington Wizards
Notable Players: Penny Hardaway, Glenn Robinson, Voshon Lenard
Number of Picks: Own Firsts
Big fan of this wing trio. Came close to drafting Voshon a few times but got scared off by volume. Drafted a 3 topg guard instead so not great by me! Anyway, Penny is only 25 and should be a top 5 PG for close to the next decade. Big Dog has ugly defensive ratings but gets some stocks to offset it. Everything else with him is good. Voshon is nothing special but he can be efficient in his role. Dale Davis is alright. Team clearly needs some beef and is already pretty good so this is kind of cheating putting them on future rankings due to that but oh well!
5. Los Angeles Clippers
Notable Players: Steve Nash, Wesley Person, Jerry Stackhouse
Number of Picks: Own Firsts
Got greedy and kept passing on Wesley who became the likely steal of the draft in the middle of round three. Good scoring base, I think he had pretty high B- inside, and great handles which can be hard to find for a guy putting up 20s per game. Stackhouse is probably a SF long-term so he fits here pretty well, just always worry when your wings are C B- C+ defense with limited stocks. Feel one has to go long-term and it is probably him. Nash is Nash. Should be a 25/10 guy with great % in his prime. Hard to complain! If they steal Duncan look out.
6. Milwaukee Bucks
Notable Players: Jason Kidd, Allan Houston
Number of Picks: Own Firsts
The guru went with players he liked and still built a solid little team, though they look more lotto than not. Kidd is one the best young PGs and with some TC love should hit A- outside with his elite defense and boards. Houston can shoot which is good enough for the first decade or so in this league as evidenced by his success in the last BBS. Horry and Thomas are decent role players. Need to find a good big somehow and then they could be cooking.
7. Denver Nuggets
Notable Players: Marcus Camby, Joe Smith
Number of Picks: 5 Additional Firsts
I think there's a pretty steep drop off once we get to this point, no offense braz! Camby looks pretty good with the blocks but C+ rebounds could end up being brutal. Does Joe Smith have any potential? The ratings and early production make me lean towards no. Looks more like a super sixth man than a starter. Nobody else here is worth talking about. Extra picks are good but this team needs a top 3 pick badly.
8. Philadelphia 76ers
Notable Players: Uh
Number of Picks: 12 Additional Firsts
The most effective at bottoming out, the 76ers have a crazy 12 extra firsts these first 3 drafts. Will any of them be good? Maybe! I think not drafting any youth was a mistake just because of the wasted free camps. Could have turned somebody into a solid 4/5 starter at least long-term compared to picking up an extra late first or two. Obviously some of these firsts will be dealt but still going to require a lot of future camps that just won't be feasible really. End up with Duncan or TMac and none of this matters!
9. Toronto Raptors
Notable Players: Uh
Number of Picks: 8 Additional Firsts, 13 Additional Seconds
The heart wants what it wants and big mac's heart wanted some second round picks. Another disturbing roster to look out just like Philly but they have 4 fewer firsts for their troubles. Betting on drafting a star can pay off and doing all you can to get one can be wise compared to the next team, but you better hope you don't fall to 4/5 after the lotto or it could be an ugly few seasons. At least Toronto will have an endless supply of questionable young players to eat minutes while they lose 200 games the next 3 seasons.
10. New York Knicks
Notable Players: David Wesley
Number of Picks: 8 Additional Firsts
Wesley looks decent I guess? Could be a B- A- or better scorer with good defense. That's something. Is that worth a four first difference and a potential struggle to tank for a true star? No! So not sure why they bothered with him or really anybody on this roster if bottoming out was the goal. Strange decisions which I can relate to! Maybe it'll work out. They do have lumley picks!
1. Charlotte Hornets
Notable Players: Jermaine O'Neal, Antonio McDyess
Number of Picks: Two in 1997 Including Own
It was a tough decision but I think going with the team with an elite looking 18 year old big man in JO and another solid big man once camped in McDyess is the move. I am not sure if they are a good pairing long-term, but the value they should carry if eventually moved plus a likely top five pick makes this a very attractive situation. Sargo decided to go all-in on a one year tank and it should payoff as a just slotting in some solid guards can make this a playoff team next season. In a league where some questionable big men are forced to be starters I just feel having two stars long-term sets them apart.
2. Los Angeles Lakers
Notable Players: Kobe Bryant
Number of Picks: Their Own in 1997
There will be many that would pick Kobe over any other situation and it can be hard to blame them. His outside shot was juiced to an unreal level considering his career numbers so he is set up to be a future MJ tier player. Reading that again has me questioning my decision to put them second! The issue is that sadly Zydrunas is terrible here and nothing else on this roster is worth anything. Just feels like without Timmy coming to town it could be a more difficult path to being a playoff team next season without their pick.
3. Chicago Bulls
Notable Players: Kerry Kittles, Shawn Bradley
Number of Picks: Own Firsts
I thought Kittles would slip under the radar due to being Kerry Kittles but he did not! Play invested heavily in the young man with a first round pick and early returns look good. Are we looking at a B A scoring guard with 3 stocks in his prime? Perhaps. Add to that a good young big in Shawn Bradley dropping 4 stocks of his own and you're cooking. They might be the best under 25 duo in the league which is kind of crazy but the name value holds them back a bit. Also not sure they can tank as effectively over a full season due to how developed they already are.
4. Washington Wizards
Notable Players: Penny Hardaway, Glenn Robinson, Voshon Lenard
Number of Picks: Own Firsts
Big fan of this wing trio. Came close to drafting Voshon a few times but got scared off by volume. Drafted a 3 topg guard instead so not great by me! Anyway, Penny is only 25 and should be a top 5 PG for close to the next decade. Big Dog has ugly defensive ratings but gets some stocks to offset it. Everything else with him is good. Voshon is nothing special but he can be efficient in his role. Dale Davis is alright. Team clearly needs some beef and is already pretty good so this is kind of cheating putting them on future rankings due to that but oh well!
5. Los Angeles Clippers
Notable Players: Steve Nash, Wesley Person, Jerry Stackhouse
Number of Picks: Own Firsts
Got greedy and kept passing on Wesley who became the likely steal of the draft in the middle of round three. Good scoring base, I think he had pretty high B- inside, and great handles which can be hard to find for a guy putting up 20s per game. Stackhouse is probably a SF long-term so he fits here pretty well, just always worry when your wings are C B- C+ defense with limited stocks. Feel one has to go long-term and it is probably him. Nash is Nash. Should be a 25/10 guy with great % in his prime. Hard to complain! If they steal Duncan look out.
6. Milwaukee Bucks
Notable Players: Jason Kidd, Allan Houston
Number of Picks: Own Firsts
The guru went with players he liked and still built a solid little team, though they look more lotto than not. Kidd is one the best young PGs and with some TC love should hit A- outside with his elite defense and boards. Houston can shoot which is good enough for the first decade or so in this league as evidenced by his success in the last BBS. Horry and Thomas are decent role players. Need to find a good big somehow and then they could be cooking.
7. Denver Nuggets
Notable Players: Marcus Camby, Joe Smith
Number of Picks: 5 Additional Firsts
I think there's a pretty steep drop off once we get to this point, no offense braz! Camby looks pretty good with the blocks but C+ rebounds could end up being brutal. Does Joe Smith have any potential? The ratings and early production make me lean towards no. Looks more like a super sixth man than a starter. Nobody else here is worth talking about. Extra picks are good but this team needs a top 3 pick badly.
8. Philadelphia 76ers
Notable Players: Uh
Number of Picks: 12 Additional Firsts
The most effective at bottoming out, the 76ers have a crazy 12 extra firsts these first 3 drafts. Will any of them be good? Maybe! I think not drafting any youth was a mistake just because of the wasted free camps. Could have turned somebody into a solid 4/5 starter at least long-term compared to picking up an extra late first or two. Obviously some of these firsts will be dealt but still going to require a lot of future camps that just won't be feasible really. End up with Duncan or TMac and none of this matters!
9. Toronto Raptors
Notable Players: Uh
Number of Picks: 8 Additional Firsts, 13 Additional Seconds
The heart wants what it wants and big mac's heart wanted some second round picks. Another disturbing roster to look out just like Philly but they have 4 fewer firsts for their troubles. Betting on drafting a star can pay off and doing all you can to get one can be wise compared to the next team, but you better hope you don't fall to 4/5 after the lotto or it could be an ugly few seasons. At least Toronto will have an endless supply of questionable young players to eat minutes while they lose 200 games the next 3 seasons.
10. New York Knicks
Notable Players: David Wesley
Number of Picks: 8 Additional Firsts
Wesley looks decent I guess? Could be a B- A- or better scorer with good defense. That's something. Is that worth a four first difference and a potential struggle to tank for a true star? No! So not sure why they bothered with him or really anybody on this roster if bottoming out was the goal. Strange decisions which I can relate to! Maybe it'll work out. They do have lumley picks!
