Post by TimPig on Aug 8, 2018 18:52:49 GMT
In a Shout vote that came down to the wire, the Midwest (one vote) just beat out this year’s other candidate, the Atlantic (zero votes). Nice job, Midwest!
Also I got dinner with Pete and Delap has strep so I feel like I owe them something.
Dallas Mavericks
2004 Record: 53-29; 4th in the Midwest
Key Additions: Cecil Exum, Kevin Duckworth
Key Losses: None
Analysis: The Mavericks dove into the cesspool that is Charlotte in their next attempt to find a serviceable point guard after neither Jordan McLaughlin nor Jon Elmore proved to be the answer last year. I was worried that Delap was waiting too long to figure something out as Neon is now 34 this year, but sending him to Germany paid huge dividends as he went +24 after the overseas visit. On the bright side, it means he should be just as good this year as he was last year. Unfortunately, it also likely means that he’s going to start declining seriously and Germany will no longer be an option.
To me, Exum still isn’t the answer. An upgrade over his situation last year, but Delap now only has his 08 first as a real tradeable asset. He could trade someone else on his roster, but his bench doesn’t have great depth, so trading a starter would just create a hole somewhere else. Through one sim Exum has been serviceable -- basically you just want someone who won’t turn it over and will let Neon and Cam take the shots -- but if his first three years are any indication, the efficiency will nosedive here pretty soon. Options at point guard around the league are limited, so finding a point guard is admittedly easier said than done.
Denver Nuggets
2004 Record: 27-55; 6th in the Midwest
Key Additions: Rudy Gobert, Trey Burke
Key Losses: Grayson Allen
Analysis: Mike might have some kind of stew going in Denver. MJ is a high volume scorer who showed last year that he can put the ball in the basket with above average efficiency. Hopefully that wasn’t an anomaly and he continues getting better. Until now, it felt like MJ was the only bright spot.
I’m unsure what to think of Rudy Gobert at this point. He was supposed to be an old school D/R big but so far he hasn’t shown signs of being a capable starter in this league. With Mike’s amnesty of Grayson Allen, Livio Jean-Charles gets a shot to prove himself at small forward. Considering the lack of defense he’s provided so far, the three may end up being his best position, which would work well for Mike assuming he likes Kenyon Martin at the four. Martin’s a more traditional big who, if nothing else, should be a good enough power forward who can average 18/10/3 bleals.
Trey Burke looks nice at the point and with just a bit of training camp help should become an above-average point guard.
Houston Rockets
2004 Record: 60-22; 1st in the Midwest
Key Additions: Mike Muscala, Jalek Felton
Key Losses: None
Analysis: Pete runs back the same core with Brain Winter, Harry Gallatin, Guy Beahm, and Jesus Shuttlesworth that’s gotten him deep in the playoffs but never won him the grand prize. He added a little bit more depth this offseason through free agency with Jalek Felton and the draft with Mike Muscala. Felton could make a big difference if he were point guard eligible, but his handles are too low. Muscala won’t make a huge impact but will grab a ton of boards.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pete package up the three firsts he still has to seek a major upgrade at shooting guard, where Shuttlesworth has lost the starting job to Edgar Jones, or to add another big. Gallatin is injured for a while and showing some signs of aging, and Tyler Davis and Daniel Giddens get blocks but really struggle to score.
Brain and Beahm are young enough still that they’ll be able to carry this team for a little while longer, but the pieces around them aren’t intriguing.
Minnesota Timberwolves
2004 Record: 45-37; 5th in the Midwest
Key Additions: Chuck Person, Faye Vincent Reagan
Key Losses: DJ Rony, Leonard Leslie, Chalky Studebaker
Analysis: The T-Wolves got much stronger on the wing during the offseason, signing former 1.4 pick Chuck Person to a max contract. It was a risky move as he hadn’t really had a chance to show himself with the Jazz or Rockets, but early indications are it’ll pay off for Ian. Sexton, whether he retains point guard eligibility or not, and Person look like a solid young group of wings to build around.
Outside of those two, things are a bit thin. DJ Rony and Leonard Leslie are gone, which really created some holes up front. Ian attempts to fill some of the void with Faye Vincent Reagan, an MLE-caliber player who should give you about 10/10 on below average efficiency and no real contributions elsewhere. Mountain Dew returns up front but I have mixed feelings about him. The 24 and 13 he put up last year are nice, but they don’t look quite as great when you look at the 2.5 turnovers per game and 44% efficiency.
Alex Schmidt performed well last season when Sexton couldn’t play point guard, but I’m pretty sure he’s a CPU generated guy, and counting on those players to come in and save you is a recipe for disaster.
Phoenix Suns
2004 Record: 55-27; 3rd in the Midwest
Key Additions: Jon Pierce, Jim Pollard, Cassius Winston
Key Losses: Marvin Bagley
Analysis: The Suns acquired Pierce at the deadline last year and he’s a real nice third big after Hakeem and Templeton, who might give the Knicks a run for their money as the best duo of bigs in the league. Cassius Winston and Jim Pollard were added in the offseason and while neither will light it up, they’ll provide some nice depth for a team that, like the Rockets, has felt like they’re on the brink for a few years running now.
I feel like this core, with Hakeem and Steph up front, Max at the point, and Butch McRae still contributing something are a roll of the dice away from being champions. Templeton isn’t showing any signs of aging and Hakeem and Max continue getting better. The small forward position is a major hole where the Suns haven’t been able to find any production for years. With only their 2010 first round pick still in their hands, finding an upgrade may not be easy, though Andy should probably be in contact with the Grizzlies and Bulls, who have an excess of wings they’ve shown a willingness to trade.
Don’t miss out on this window, Andy!
San Antonio Spurs
2004 Record: 15-67; 7th in the Midwest
Key Additions: Luke Maye, CJ McCollum, Tim Hardaway Jr., Seth Curry
Key Losses: None
Analysis: This team really hit on the Jake Tsakalidis pick. As one of the team’s few (only) scoring options last season, he provided some offensive punch, but even after adding some pieces around him, he’s still scoring some points. The efficiency needs lots of help but he also provides ~2.5 bleals per game and is only 22 years old.
Courtney Alexander has started the 2005 season about as poorly as he started 2004, but his outstanding TC still provides some hope. I like Jason Williams as this team’s point guard in the long term as he doesn’t turn it over at all and gets some rebounds. If either player ends up struggling, rookie draftees CJ McCollum and Seth Curry ought to be able to step in and help. If both turn out OK, the Spurs have some nice backcourt depth.
They’ve got Luke Maye locked up to a full max and will have room for another this offseason. This may go down as one of the better compu-run teams of 5.0, assuming they can nab someone this offseason and at least part of their plethora of youngsters develop.
Utah Jazz
2004 Record: 57-25; 2nd in the Midwest
Key Additions: Athansios Cathasach, Clarence Withers
Key Losses: Bol Bol
Analysis: Is there any GM we’d rather see win less than Ank? After his desperate pleas to add Jock Landale or Mohamed Bamba were heartily rebuked this offseason, he decided to go out and use those assets to add another all-league wing in Clarence Withers.
In all seriousness, this team is obviously really good. Mustapha Heron goes from being a very good starting wing to being a very very good backup. Athansios Cathasach was picked up during the offseason to start at center, which I didn’t really understand since he’s a small forward, but it’s working? I guess? The numbers he’s putting up starting this year are worse than Catfish’s stats almost across the board, but the Jazz are 16-1 so I don’t really have room to talk.
Hope for the rest of the league seems to depend on Bossert and Withers, both 31, trending downward sooner than later. Bossert is on a max that will pay him until he’s 37 and Withers will be a free agent at 33, at which point it’ll probably be a tough call to determine what he’s worth.
Also I got dinner with Pete and Delap has strep so I feel like I owe them something.
Dallas Mavericks2004 Record: 53-29; 4th in the Midwest
Key Additions: Cecil Exum, Kevin Duckworth
Key Losses: None
Analysis: The Mavericks dove into the cesspool that is Charlotte in their next attempt to find a serviceable point guard after neither Jordan McLaughlin nor Jon Elmore proved to be the answer last year. I was worried that Delap was waiting too long to figure something out as Neon is now 34 this year, but sending him to Germany paid huge dividends as he went +24 after the overseas visit. On the bright side, it means he should be just as good this year as he was last year. Unfortunately, it also likely means that he’s going to start declining seriously and Germany will no longer be an option.
To me, Exum still isn’t the answer. An upgrade over his situation last year, but Delap now only has his 08 first as a real tradeable asset. He could trade someone else on his roster, but his bench doesn’t have great depth, so trading a starter would just create a hole somewhere else. Through one sim Exum has been serviceable -- basically you just want someone who won’t turn it over and will let Neon and Cam take the shots -- but if his first three years are any indication, the efficiency will nosedive here pretty soon. Options at point guard around the league are limited, so finding a point guard is admittedly easier said than done.
Denver Nuggets2004 Record: 27-55; 6th in the Midwest
Key Additions: Rudy Gobert, Trey Burke
Key Losses: Grayson Allen
Analysis: Mike might have some kind of stew going in Denver. MJ is a high volume scorer who showed last year that he can put the ball in the basket with above average efficiency. Hopefully that wasn’t an anomaly and he continues getting better. Until now, it felt like MJ was the only bright spot.
I’m unsure what to think of Rudy Gobert at this point. He was supposed to be an old school D/R big but so far he hasn’t shown signs of being a capable starter in this league. With Mike’s amnesty of Grayson Allen, Livio Jean-Charles gets a shot to prove himself at small forward. Considering the lack of defense he’s provided so far, the three may end up being his best position, which would work well for Mike assuming he likes Kenyon Martin at the four. Martin’s a more traditional big who, if nothing else, should be a good enough power forward who can average 18/10/3 bleals.
Trey Burke looks nice at the point and with just a bit of training camp help should become an above-average point guard.
Houston Rockets2004 Record: 60-22; 1st in the Midwest
Key Additions: Mike Muscala, Jalek Felton
Key Losses: None
Analysis: Pete runs back the same core with Brain Winter, Harry Gallatin, Guy Beahm, and Jesus Shuttlesworth that’s gotten him deep in the playoffs but never won him the grand prize. He added a little bit more depth this offseason through free agency with Jalek Felton and the draft with Mike Muscala. Felton could make a big difference if he were point guard eligible, but his handles are too low. Muscala won’t make a huge impact but will grab a ton of boards.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pete package up the three firsts he still has to seek a major upgrade at shooting guard, where Shuttlesworth has lost the starting job to Edgar Jones, or to add another big. Gallatin is injured for a while and showing some signs of aging, and Tyler Davis and Daniel Giddens get blocks but really struggle to score.
Brain and Beahm are young enough still that they’ll be able to carry this team for a little while longer, but the pieces around them aren’t intriguing.
Minnesota Timberwolves2004 Record: 45-37; 5th in the Midwest
Key Additions: Chuck Person, Faye Vincent Reagan
Key Losses: DJ Rony, Leonard Leslie, Chalky Studebaker
Analysis: The T-Wolves got much stronger on the wing during the offseason, signing former 1.4 pick Chuck Person to a max contract. It was a risky move as he hadn’t really had a chance to show himself with the Jazz or Rockets, but early indications are it’ll pay off for Ian. Sexton, whether he retains point guard eligibility or not, and Person look like a solid young group of wings to build around.
Outside of those two, things are a bit thin. DJ Rony and Leonard Leslie are gone, which really created some holes up front. Ian attempts to fill some of the void with Faye Vincent Reagan, an MLE-caliber player who should give you about 10/10 on below average efficiency and no real contributions elsewhere. Mountain Dew returns up front but I have mixed feelings about him. The 24 and 13 he put up last year are nice, but they don’t look quite as great when you look at the 2.5 turnovers per game and 44% efficiency.
Alex Schmidt performed well last season when Sexton couldn’t play point guard, but I’m pretty sure he’s a CPU generated guy, and counting on those players to come in and save you is a recipe for disaster.
Phoenix Suns2004 Record: 55-27; 3rd in the Midwest
Key Additions: Jon Pierce, Jim Pollard, Cassius Winston
Key Losses: Marvin Bagley
Analysis: The Suns acquired Pierce at the deadline last year and he’s a real nice third big after Hakeem and Templeton, who might give the Knicks a run for their money as the best duo of bigs in the league. Cassius Winston and Jim Pollard were added in the offseason and while neither will light it up, they’ll provide some nice depth for a team that, like the Rockets, has felt like they’re on the brink for a few years running now.
I feel like this core, with Hakeem and Steph up front, Max at the point, and Butch McRae still contributing something are a roll of the dice away from being champions. Templeton isn’t showing any signs of aging and Hakeem and Max continue getting better. The small forward position is a major hole where the Suns haven’t been able to find any production for years. With only their 2010 first round pick still in their hands, finding an upgrade may not be easy, though Andy should probably be in contact with the Grizzlies and Bulls, who have an excess of wings they’ve shown a willingness to trade.
Don’t miss out on this window, Andy!
San Antonio Spurs2004 Record: 15-67; 7th in the Midwest
Key Additions: Luke Maye, CJ McCollum, Tim Hardaway Jr., Seth Curry
Key Losses: None
Analysis: This team really hit on the Jake Tsakalidis pick. As one of the team’s few (only) scoring options last season, he provided some offensive punch, but even after adding some pieces around him, he’s still scoring some points. The efficiency needs lots of help but he also provides ~2.5 bleals per game and is only 22 years old.
Courtney Alexander has started the 2005 season about as poorly as he started 2004, but his outstanding TC still provides some hope. I like Jason Williams as this team’s point guard in the long term as he doesn’t turn it over at all and gets some rebounds. If either player ends up struggling, rookie draftees CJ McCollum and Seth Curry ought to be able to step in and help. If both turn out OK, the Spurs have some nice backcourt depth.
They’ve got Luke Maye locked up to a full max and will have room for another this offseason. This may go down as one of the better compu-run teams of 5.0, assuming they can nab someone this offseason and at least part of their plethora of youngsters develop.
Utah Jazz2004 Record: 57-25; 2nd in the Midwest
Key Additions: Athansios Cathasach, Clarence Withers
Key Losses: Bol Bol
Analysis: Is there any GM we’d rather see win less than Ank? After his desperate pleas to add Jock Landale or Mohamed Bamba were heartily rebuked this offseason, he decided to go out and use those assets to add another all-league wing in Clarence Withers.
In all seriousness, this team is obviously really good. Mustapha Heron goes from being a very good starting wing to being a very very good backup. Athansios Cathasach was picked up during the offseason to start at center, which I didn’t really understand since he’s a small forward, but it’s working? I guess? The numbers he’s putting up starting this year are worse than Catfish’s stats almost across the board, but the Jazz are 16-1 so I don’t really have room to talk.
Hope for the rest of the league seems to depend on Bossert and Withers, both 31, trending downward sooner than later. Bossert is on a max that will pay him until he’s 37 and Withers will be a free agent at 33, at which point it’ll probably be a tough call to determine what he’s worth.
