Post by IanBoyd on Sept 25, 2018 19:57:30 GMT
Centers:
1. Jake Tsakalidis C 7'2'' 285 24 A- C C- B+ B+ B Spurs
A much rosier outlook for the center position, which a year ago featured a 37 year old corpse as the #1 ranked FA, Jake Tstkalnotgonnaworkhereanymore tops the list among the bigs. As an expiring rook created by druce in his first crack at rookie building, there's not any glaring issues, outside of maybe the "just okay" jump shot. At 24 years old going on 25 and very much just entering his prime, expect many max contract suitors for Mr.NotGonnaWorkHereAnyMore.
Projected FA value: 6-7 year max
2. Stromile Swift C 6'9'' 230 23 A- C C- B+ B B SuperSonics
With a promising CPU PS showing some much needed signs of improvement in offensive efficiency and still a +11 left available, Stromile appears to be finally playing his best ball during the final year of his rookie contract. Already one of the best defensive bigs in the league, should Stromile's upgrades turn him into a plus offensive big or gets his TO issues in check, he'd be considered a no brainer max, something as recently as a week ago, plenty of GMs didn't think.
Projected FA value: 6-7 year max
3. Donta Hall C 6'9'' 245 28 B+ C C A- C+ C Pacers
A key piece to the Pacers' surprising championship run, Donta Hall has snatched the d/r creation from from the likes of DJ Rony and Catfish at some point during the 3rd/4th year of his career and hasn't relinquished it ever since. Putting up nearly 4 blocks a game as a creation big man and with no apparently TO issues or FT woes, Donta deserves if not the max money, very close to it. For one thing, he'd be much much more worthy of one than his former overpaid teammate, Karim Shabazz.
Projected FA value: 5 years 10 mil per year
4. Etan Thomas C 6'9'' 260 25 B C- D- C+ B- C Trailblazers
The first expiring d/r rookie big from druce, perhaps somewhat ruined by his +25 in strength as opposed to jump shot or rebound upgrades, Etan remains a very attractive option despite hot having any points left. Would be ranked higher than Donta had he kept all his upgrades (or with those +25 in Jump Shot instead), still wouldn't surprise me if his contract starts at 8 figures instead of 7.
Projected FA value: 6 years 9 mil per year
5. Neon Boudeaux C 6'11'' 270 36 A+ C D- B+ B- C Bulls
Your resident decrepit old man, only this year ranked 5th as opposed to 1st. Neon is still elite by basically any standard and will probably still average 30/10+ next year as a 37 year old. Literally the only concern with Neon in opposition of him receiving a long term deal is his age and how crippling a multi year salary could be due to the starting amount.
Projected FA value: 1 year max
Power Forwards:
1. Yante Maten* PF 6'8'' 240 30 B B C- A A- B Jazz
1. Yante Maten* PF 6'8'' 240 30 B B C- A A- B Jazz
One of the best players in the league and THE absolute best player in the league with all 25 upgrade points still available. Basically responsible for carrying the Jazz franchise to two absentee titles, should receive max offers from any team that can scrounge up 15 mil in cap space.
Projected FA value: 6 year max
2. Dolph Schayes PF 6'9'' 220 32 A- B+ B A- A- B Globetrotters
Still imo the best offensive big in the league, the former inexplicable 5th overall creation pick still has plenty of elite years left in the tank (along with a trip to Germany available to perhaps extend a few years of said prime) and should receive plenty of max offers and would be the #1 scoring option on basically any team that lands him.
Projected FA value: 3-4 year max
3. Tony Mitchell PF 6'9'' 240 23 B- C D+ C+ A- A Grizzlies
A player that almost saw the unfortunate end of a software Charlie Warding had then commissioner druce not stepped in and auto/commish signed him to a mindblowingly cheap deal to the tune of 1.5 mil per year to the Spurs. As one of druce's sleepers and from deductions by software sleuthing, Tony likely has close to 100 inside scoring and jump shot with very good handles, aka a failproof recipe for success of any big man.
Projected FA value: 6-7 year max
4. Kenyon Martin PF 6'9'' 235 25 A C- C- A- B B Spurs
Kmart has been the beneficiary of some decent TCs that raised his scoring grades from a somewhat questionable B+ D+ to a very respectable A C-. As is the case with a good number of the rookies from druce's first class, Kmart doesn't have any glaring weaknesses in his build and can put up 20/10 on a pretty consistent basis. Expect Kenyon to be full maxed.
Projected FA value: 6-7 year max
5. Alex Reese PF 6'10'' 250 27 A- B D- C B+ D Raptors
A player that has been somewhat overlooked due to the depth around him in the front court, Alex will have his chance to shine this year as a scoring option in a front court shared by no other notable offensive bigs. Though Reese will possibly put up good offensive production, he's likely not worth a max due to the mediocre d/r and being already maxed out in upgrades.
Projected FA value: 4 years 8 mil per year
Small Forwards:
1. Isaac Bonga SF 6'9'' 210 27 B+ A- A A- C+ D Trailblazers
Once famously signed to a min then promptly maxed a year later, Bonga undoubtedly will not see the reverse happen this time where he signs a min offer. At only 27 years old (to be 28), Bonga is still considered in his prime and though will likely not see any full 7 bird maxes, will still command long term max contract attention.
Projected FA value: 5-6 year max
2. Morris Peterson SF 6'7'' 220 26 B+ B- C B B- B Pacers
The more proven of the two expiring rookie SFs, Mo Pete has had the benefit of playing starting minutes alongside a championship winning back court in Indiana to develop his game. As someone much older than the typical expiring rookie, a 7 year max is less likely considering the fact that MoPete is by no means a super star, but like a smart man once said, "it don't get no better than solid".
Projected FA value: 6 year max
3. Desmond Mason SF 6'7'' 230 26 A- B C B+ B- C Knicks
The "redshirted" version of Mo Pete, Desmond Mason had to sit behind the now persona non grata Antwan Jamison in the windy city and as a result, saw action mostly against backup defensive resistance and is therefore more of an unproven product despite having +1 in both scoring grades and +1 in defense compared to MoPete. Like Peterson, his advanced age for an expiring rookie (and eric's disdain for paying free agents money) likely keeps him out of the 7 year max category.
Projected FA value: 4-5 year max
4. Trendon Watford SF 6'10'' 220 24 B B C- C+ B C Grizzlies
"Trendon Watford is still only 24 years old?" will likely be the first though entering many GMs minds as they prepare their FA offer sheets. Revealed by Odin to be built as a low volume high efficiency wing ala a poor man's Giannis, Watford likely won't command max contract money. However, as a premium 3rd or even non scoring option SF, Watford is by no means a bad player. For teams with plenty of scoring that wants efficiency and low TOs from their small forward, Watford is your man.
Projected FA value: 6 years 9 mil per year
5. Kostas Antetokounmpo SF 6'10'' 195 27 B- C C- A- C+ C SuperSonics
With the emergence of Alexis (finally), Kostas has been relegated to the bastard status of the Antetokounmpo family, a fact that hasn't been helped by playing for one of the least efficient offenses in the league in Seattle. With basically all his upgrades still available and the size to backup the d/r, Kostas could be an intriguing player as a d/r big starting PF, or maintain his role as the best defensive SF in the league for teams that aren't lacking in scoring.
Projected FA value: 3 years 8 mil per year
Shooting Guards:
1. DerMarr Johnson SG 6'9'' 200 23 B- A+ C B+ C A Heat
Another expiring rookie and perhaps the one that most warrants a full max. The grades are pure sex for a shooting guard and his towering height has GMs salivating. Though the production hasn't quite matched what his grades would indicate, it does little to deter from teams with max cap space, expect him to see max offers from any team with cap space.
Projected FA value: 6-7 year max
2. Troy Brown SG 6'7'' 220 27 B+ B A A- C- D Bucks
2. Troy Brown SG 6'7'' 220 27 B+ B A A- C- D Bucks
Hasn't followed through his meteoric breakthrough year in 2004 with any further 30+ ppg seasons, Troy has settled into perhaps his realistic peak, a solid 25+ ppg second option that can fit into any style of offense without concerns for holes in his game. By the time FA arrives, Troy's age will likely deter teams from through the full 6-7 year max at him but I fully expect him to get paid the big bucks from the Bucks or any other team.
Projected FA value: 5-6 year max
3. Mustapha Heron SG 6'5'' 225 27 B- B+ C- C+ B- C Jazz
3. Mustapha Heron SG 6'5'' 225 27 B- B+ C- C+ B- C Jazz
Value drops off a cliff at the bronze medal podium for the 2 guard. Mustapha, like all Jazz players not named Bossert or Maten, has mostly been seen as a coat tail rider of the Jazz juggernaut that has skated by off the superior talents of his teammates, the volume probably isn't there for Heron to ever be considered a first banana, but if he can maintain close to his efficiency without a Bossert/Maten as primary options, Mustapha will still be a valuable starting shooting guard.
Projected FA value: 4 years 8 mil per year
4. Jesus Shuttlesworth SG 6'5'' 200 33 C+ A- B B- C D Rockets
4. Jesus Shuttlesworth SG 6'5'' 200 33 C+ A- B B- C D Rockets
Signed to a 1 year deal with his hometown Rockets team via bird rights, Jesus should see increased workload this year after the downgrade of Guy Beahm to Antwan Jamison shifting more of the volume his way. At 33 years old as a creation player, I don't think there's much left in the tank for Jesus to be a primary or even secondary scoring option anymore for aspiring playoff teams.
Projected FA value: MLE
5. Butch McRae SG 6'5'' 230 35 B- B- C+ A+ C D Suns
5. Butch McRae SG 6'5'' 230 35 B- B- C+ A+ C D Suns
Elite bleals, old as fuck, maybe can still chip in some points on the offensive end. At the bottom of the SG barrell, should Butch decide to postpone retirement 1 more season, I don't expect much activity involving his agent outside of being signed by the Suns as an expiring matching salary, likely a day 3 or later signing.
Projected FA value: MLE
Point Guards:
1. Courtney Alexander PG 6'5'' 205 26 B B A+ A- C- B Spurs
By default the highest ranked prospect in what appears to be the weakest position in FA. With Odin hinting that future point guard prospects will be nerfed a bit, Courtney's value is inflated a bit beyond what a player of his caliber would normally command. Expect someone to max CA, and likely not feel great about it 4 ish years into his contract.
Projected FA value: 6-7 year max
2. Jalen Brunson PG 6'3'' 205 30 B A- A- B- C- D Hornets
Dubbed "the quickest player in the league", Jalen's career hasn't exactly panned out like his former GM billyking perhaps imagined in his headcanon, but such lofty top 5 standards are hard for any player to meet. Though not a star by any means, Jalen has carved out a nice career himself, proving his worth as a quality backup guard/wing that can be used in emergency starting minutes should injuries occur.
Projected FA value: 4 years 9 mil per year
3. Chris Chiozza PG 6'0'' 165 30 A- B+ A- B C D Trailblazers
Deja vu as Chris Chiozza finds himself at the exact same spot he was in the previous year, this time coming off of an expiring 1 year 13 mil contract that was mostly signed by the Hawks as a salary filler, now a year older a year further away from his prime (if he had one at all), Chiozza likely won't be garnering any additional interest from his brief stint as a FA last year.
Projected FA value: 3 years 8 mil per year
4. Hassani Gravett PG 6'1'' 185 28 C- B A- B- C B Jazz
4. Hassani Gravett PG 6'1'' 185 28 C- B A- B- C B Jazz
Perhaps inflated stats by the embarrassment of offensive weapons surrounding him, Gravett will finally have a chance to prove himself capable as a leading man rather than just a role player. Though with C- B scoring, the consensus among league GMs likely lean more towards the "carried by Yante/Bossert" camp than any credit likely given to Hassani.
Projected FA value: 4 years 7 mil per year
5. Quincy McCall PG 6'4'' 205 36 B- C A+ C C C Wizards
5. Quincy McCall PG 6'4'' 205 36 B- C A+ C C C Wizards
Give credit where its due, the old man is still kicking it at age 36. Despite having the championship experience, Quincy likely won't be commanding big money in free agency if he doesn't retire. Fine as a stop gap for teams that need a solid non scoring option floor general for the short term, not ideal for anyone looking for a long term solution.
Projected FA value: MLE
Projected FA value: MLE
