Post by TimPig on Jul 19, 2020 21:23:05 GMT
Hello and welcome to the inaugural Sophomore Ladder! It's something I've been asking about since 4.0, so I decided that I'd just do it myself on this lazy Sunday. With two TCs under their belt, upgrades usually given (if they're going to be), and larger sample sizes, I feel like we can get a pretty good feel for someone by year two.
If it goes well, I'll keep it up, though probably on sims 4/8/12 so as not to interfere with Delap's Rookie Ladder too much. If it becomes too much, maybe just sims 6/12.
As Delap said, this class looks...not great. Of everyone on my Sophomore Ladder, I think CP3 is the only one I'd put money on being an all-star at some point. Maybe Bynum. Many others have a chance, but I'm not feeling great about it.
1. Chris Paul - Chicago Bulls (Rookie Ladder: 3)
Really coming on strong after a lackluster rookie season. Paul has gotten better across the board, but seen the most improvements in efficiency and rebounding. There was a lot to worry about after his rookie season, but he seems to be settling in nicely in year two. He ranks near the top of the sophomore crew in most scoring categories.
2. Andrew Bynum - Portland Trail Blazers (Rookie Ladder: 5)
Bynum, like Paul, has also gotten better in just about every category in his second season. He only went +1 in his first TC, which may have been semi-disappointing considering his 100 potential. He lived up to expectations in his second TC, going +4, and now looks like he’ll be a good big man for a long time. The TOs are a bit scary as they’ve gone up with increased usage, and the broken jumper is going to put a ceiling on his career scoring efficiency. He reminds me a bit of a better James Donaldson, which isn't a bad thing.
3. Marvin Williams - Chicago Bulls (Rookie Ladder: 1)
Last year’s Rookie Ladder #1, Williams is seeing a bit of a drop off across the board. His per-game totals are down as he’s now splitting backup minutes with Chris Bosh, but he’s also dropped a tad in efficiency, rebounding, and defense while TOs have crept up a bit. Probably too early still to make conclusions, but there’s reason to be concerned. In a stronger class, he's probably in the bottom half of the group.
4. Ronny Turiaf - Chicago Stags (Rookie Ladder: UR)
Turiaf made the 2040 preseason ladder, but was absent the rest of the season. He looks like the Stags’ best find on the free agent market in their inaugural season. The defense is outstanding as he ranks first in blocks per 36 (2.5) and fourth in steals per 36 (1.5), but the scoring and rebounding both need some love. He hasn’t received any upgrades so far and his jumper is adequate, so he’s an easy +25 inside candidate.
5. C.J Miles - Pittsburgh Condors (Rookie Ladder: UR)
A big second-year TC saw Miles go +4, and it’s showing in his performance. Unranked last year despite blatant Maverick/Condor ladder bias, he’s pretty close to the top of the crew in scoring efficiency, albeit with semi-limited opportunity. Rebounds are decent enough for a shooting guard, but the most appealing thing about Miles is the absolute lack of turnovers. Some inside/strength upgrades and Delap may have found a serviceable shooting guard, of which there are few.
6. Julius Hodge - Tri-Cities Blackhawks (Rookie Ladder: UR)
Unranked last season, I think Hodge may end up being the better of the Blackhawks’ sophomores. He’s scoring at a 1.16 pts/tsa clip this season and, like the other shooting guards on this list, his boards are high enough and TOs low enough that he has the potential to be a starter in the league. I think wings that don’t hurt you anywhere will always have a place in the league, and Hodge looks like he could be just that.
7. Lou Williams - Charlotte Hornets (Rookie Ladder: 6)
I saw Williams’ build and thought Fecta had gotten a steal picking him in the mid-first. His development made Jaylen Brown expendable, and while he still has some work to do, I think Williams could be a very good shooting guard in the league. He’s now received his upgrades, but he came in with 90 potential so the possibility of further growth is there. His rebounding has been surprisingly strong and turnovers surprisingly low. If the inside doesn’t grow, he’s likely resigned to playing in an outside offense.
8. Marcin Gortat - Washington Bullets (Rookie Ladder: 4)
Gortat seems similar to Bogut across the board, except he still has +25 and a camp left that can make him the superior scorer. He averages about 1.5 bleals per 36 so he’s never going to be a great big barring unforeseen defensive growth, but he could fit comfortably as a third big in a lot of places averaging 20/10 per-36 off the bench.
9. Andrew Bogut - Tri-Cities Blackhawks (Rookie Ladder: 2)
Last year’s Rookie of the Year as voted on by GMs, Bogut appears to have regressed this season, though there’s still enough there to leave him on this ladder. His defense is good enough if he was scoring efficiently, but he’s not with sub-1 pts/tsa this season. Rebounding is nothing special at just over 10 per-36. Overall, there’s nothing particularly special that I see here, and his awful scoring (without low volume) may make it tough for him to ever be a starter. If he can go back to and improve on the efficiency he had his rookie year, he could definitely move up, but without further upgrades and low potential according to Bill, I'm not confident.
10. Danny Granger - Phoenix Suns (Rookie Ladder: UR)
Granger’s numbers aren’t super pretty, but there’s been improvement between year one and year two. He looks playable in most categories, but the turnovers are tough to take for someone who doesn’t have any major strengths. Maybe the most disappointing thing about Granger is that he’s 6’9, so he can’t play shooting guard, where he might be able to be a solid D/R wing.
If it goes well, I'll keep it up, though probably on sims 4/8/12 so as not to interfere with Delap's Rookie Ladder too much. If it becomes too much, maybe just sims 6/12.
As Delap said, this class looks...not great. Of everyone on my Sophomore Ladder, I think CP3 is the only one I'd put money on being an all-star at some point. Maybe Bynum. Many others have a chance, but I'm not feeling great about it.
1. Chris Paul - Chicago Bulls (Rookie Ladder: 3)
Really coming on strong after a lackluster rookie season. Paul has gotten better across the board, but seen the most improvements in efficiency and rebounding. There was a lot to worry about after his rookie season, but he seems to be settling in nicely in year two. He ranks near the top of the sophomore crew in most scoring categories.
2. Andrew Bynum - Portland Trail Blazers (Rookie Ladder: 5)
Bynum, like Paul, has also gotten better in just about every category in his second season. He only went +1 in his first TC, which may have been semi-disappointing considering his 100 potential. He lived up to expectations in his second TC, going +4, and now looks like he’ll be a good big man for a long time. The TOs are a bit scary as they’ve gone up with increased usage, and the broken jumper is going to put a ceiling on his career scoring efficiency. He reminds me a bit of a better James Donaldson, which isn't a bad thing.
3. Marvin Williams - Chicago Bulls (Rookie Ladder: 1)
Last year’s Rookie Ladder #1, Williams is seeing a bit of a drop off across the board. His per-game totals are down as he’s now splitting backup minutes with Chris Bosh, but he’s also dropped a tad in efficiency, rebounding, and defense while TOs have crept up a bit. Probably too early still to make conclusions, but there’s reason to be concerned. In a stronger class, he's probably in the bottom half of the group.
4. Ronny Turiaf - Chicago Stags (Rookie Ladder: UR)
Turiaf made the 2040 preseason ladder, but was absent the rest of the season. He looks like the Stags’ best find on the free agent market in their inaugural season. The defense is outstanding as he ranks first in blocks per 36 (2.5) and fourth in steals per 36 (1.5), but the scoring and rebounding both need some love. He hasn’t received any upgrades so far and his jumper is adequate, so he’s an easy +25 inside candidate.
5. C.J Miles - Pittsburgh Condors (Rookie Ladder: UR)
A big second-year TC saw Miles go +4, and it’s showing in his performance. Unranked last year despite blatant Maverick/Condor ladder bias, he’s pretty close to the top of the crew in scoring efficiency, albeit with semi-limited opportunity. Rebounds are decent enough for a shooting guard, but the most appealing thing about Miles is the absolute lack of turnovers. Some inside/strength upgrades and Delap may have found a serviceable shooting guard, of which there are few.
6. Julius Hodge - Tri-Cities Blackhawks (Rookie Ladder: UR)
Unranked last season, I think Hodge may end up being the better of the Blackhawks’ sophomores. He’s scoring at a 1.16 pts/tsa clip this season and, like the other shooting guards on this list, his boards are high enough and TOs low enough that he has the potential to be a starter in the league. I think wings that don’t hurt you anywhere will always have a place in the league, and Hodge looks like he could be just that.
7. Lou Williams - Charlotte Hornets (Rookie Ladder: 6)
I saw Williams’ build and thought Fecta had gotten a steal picking him in the mid-first. His development made Jaylen Brown expendable, and while he still has some work to do, I think Williams could be a very good shooting guard in the league. He’s now received his upgrades, but he came in with 90 potential so the possibility of further growth is there. His rebounding has been surprisingly strong and turnovers surprisingly low. If the inside doesn’t grow, he’s likely resigned to playing in an outside offense.
8. Marcin Gortat - Washington Bullets (Rookie Ladder: 4)
Gortat seems similar to Bogut across the board, except he still has +25 and a camp left that can make him the superior scorer. He averages about 1.5 bleals per 36 so he’s never going to be a great big barring unforeseen defensive growth, but he could fit comfortably as a third big in a lot of places averaging 20/10 per-36 off the bench.
9. Andrew Bogut - Tri-Cities Blackhawks (Rookie Ladder: 2)
Last year’s Rookie of the Year as voted on by GMs, Bogut appears to have regressed this season, though there’s still enough there to leave him on this ladder. His defense is good enough if he was scoring efficiently, but he’s not with sub-1 pts/tsa this season. Rebounding is nothing special at just over 10 per-36. Overall, there’s nothing particularly special that I see here, and his awful scoring (without low volume) may make it tough for him to ever be a starter. If he can go back to and improve on the efficiency he had his rookie year, he could definitely move up, but without further upgrades and low potential according to Bill, I'm not confident.
10. Danny Granger - Phoenix Suns (Rookie Ladder: UR)
Granger’s numbers aren’t super pretty, but there’s been improvement between year one and year two. He looks playable in most categories, but the turnovers are tough to take for someone who doesn’t have any major strengths. Maybe the most disappointing thing about Granger is that he’s 6’9, so he can’t play shooting guard, where he might be able to be a solid D/R wing.
