Post by Logan on Aug 2, 2020 23:09:03 GMT
yes, hello, I did this once before and would like to bring it back. the criteria for this escalator is being so old you can't use a ladder anymore aka 33+. this will be updated after the allstar game and at the end of the regular season.
1. LeBron James SF 33 6'11'' 270 A- A A A+ B+ D
It should surprise no one that Lebron tops this list. He is still the best player in the league and that likely will not change until he retires, which will hopefully be after the 2043 season. Lebron did not play in the preseason but that is most likely going to be true for most on this list. I don't have much else to say about this one.
2. Dominique Wilkins SF 33 6'7'' 210 A B D+ C C+ C
This may be a controversial pick but it's not a surprising one considering who is writing this article. He essentially did not play in preseason either, much like Lebron. After leading the league in scoring last season he has been traded twice this offseason. One of those trades was logical, the other was not. But hey, anytime you can trade a guy who 36.4 and 8.4 at the SF position for Dan Issel you have to do it.
3. Anthony Davis PF 35 6'10'' 252 A- C C+ A- A- D
Some of you may remember a my indecision over taking Davis or Beal in whatever draft that was. I took Davis but traded him for Beal not too long after the draft. Davis has certainly had the better career and is still putting up some great numbers. One could even argue that he is getting better as he gets older. Do I regret the trade? No, because I wouldn't have maxed either coming off their rookie contracts, but Davis was the right pick. The 2041 season saw him have career highs in both scoring and blocks. Now I'm curious what the 2042 season will bring.
4. Alonzo Mourning C 36 6'10'' 245 C+ C- D A- C+ D
Zo remains one of the best defensive post players in the league having been behind only Capela in bpg over the last handful of years. The rebounding and efficiency are much lower than you'd like but the turnovers are low and he basically never shoots. At the end of the day 4+ bleals are 4+ bleals. I'm considering buying retirement insurance for this guy.
5. Darko Milicic PF 33 7'1'' 253 B B+ C B B- D
After 8 seasons in Miami, going back and forth from starter to bench player, Darko finally had enough of Odin's bullshit. Was it the move to Charlotte that made him unhappy? Was it their acquisition of Joel Embiid? Who knows. What i do know is this guy gets 3+ bleals per game on fine efficiency and good volume. Rebounding may once again be a bit lower than you'd like but I'm still a huge fan of the guy. It's a shame I couldn't bring him back but he should find some decent success in Portland.
6. Rik Smits C 35 7'4'' 249 A- C- C- A- B C
The steal of the 2040 Free Agency, Smits is still a monster. Theme is still recurring as you would prefer to see better rebounding, but he is hyper efficient and averages 3+ bleals. Very good player who has also only gotten better with age. I sense another recurring theme. Do blocks ever stop growing? Honest question.
7. Chris Bosh PF 34 6'11'' 215 B+ C+ C+ B+ B- D
This guy could have easily been as high as #3 or even a couple of spots lower than #7. Bosh still has really good efficiency and volume but, much like many others on this list, he tends to struggle on the glass. Turnovers are just a tad bit higher than I like and the bleals are good but not great. Much like Anthony Davis, Bosh has gotten much better in his later years.
8. Mitch Richmond SG 35 6'5'' 230 A- B+ D D+ C- D
Still a defensive liability? Check. Still a very efficient scorer? Check. Still turning the ball over too much? No. He does however still rebound pretty well for a SG. Volume has come down a bit but the difference there could easily be depth chart. Still a fantastic player who is apparently still in the league.
9. Bill Cartwright C 33 7'1'' 245 A- C- D B A D
Cartwright is certainly the best player the Amigos received during their mass exodus. Great efficiency, really good volume, solid defense, and low turnovers. Not only that, but he is still one of the very best rebounders in the league. It might be worth it for a fringe contender to assemble enough money to go grab him before someone else does. I would be the guy is free and if he isn't he's absurdly cheap.
10. James Worthy SF 33 6'9'' 230 A- C D+ B C C
I considered many players for this slot but decided James was the most....Worthy.
Did I only pick him to make that joke? Yes, mostly, but I don't think any of the other options are massively better. Good efficiency, ok rebounding, low turnovers, decent defense, and low volume. Very much an Odin player. I will be interested to see how he does when he is forced to take more shots.
HM:
James Donaldson C 33 7'2'' 277 B+ D F+ B C+ F
Bradley Beal SG 35 6'5'' 207 C+ B+ C- B+ C- C
Shaquille O'Neal C 35 7'1'' 325 B+ D+ F+ B+ B+ C
Danny Manning PF 35 6'10'' 235 B+ C- C- B- B D
Sidney Moncrief SG 33 6'3'' 193 B A- C+ C C D
Brad Holland SG 33 6'3'' 187 B- A- C B- C- D
1. LeBron James SF 33 6'11'' 270 A- A A A+ B+ D
It should surprise no one that Lebron tops this list. He is still the best player in the league and that likely will not change until he retires, which will hopefully be after the 2043 season. Lebron did not play in the preseason but that is most likely going to be true for most on this list. I don't have much else to say about this one.
2. Dominique Wilkins SF 33 6'7'' 210 A B D+ C C+ C
This may be a controversial pick but it's not a surprising one considering who is writing this article. He essentially did not play in preseason either, much like Lebron. After leading the league in scoring last season he has been traded twice this offseason. One of those trades was logical, the other was not. But hey, anytime you can trade a guy who 36.4 and 8.4 at the SF position for Dan Issel you have to do it.
3. Anthony Davis PF 35 6'10'' 252 A- C C+ A- A- D
Some of you may remember a my indecision over taking Davis or Beal in whatever draft that was. I took Davis but traded him for Beal not too long after the draft. Davis has certainly had the better career and is still putting up some great numbers. One could even argue that he is getting better as he gets older. Do I regret the trade? No, because I wouldn't have maxed either coming off their rookie contracts, but Davis was the right pick. The 2041 season saw him have career highs in both scoring and blocks. Now I'm curious what the 2042 season will bring.
4. Alonzo Mourning C 36 6'10'' 245 C+ C- D A- C+ D
Zo remains one of the best defensive post players in the league having been behind only Capela in bpg over the last handful of years. The rebounding and efficiency are much lower than you'd like but the turnovers are low and he basically never shoots. At the end of the day 4+ bleals are 4+ bleals. I'm considering buying retirement insurance for this guy.
5. Darko Milicic PF 33 7'1'' 253 B B+ C B B- D
After 8 seasons in Miami, going back and forth from starter to bench player, Darko finally had enough of Odin's bullshit. Was it the move to Charlotte that made him unhappy? Was it their acquisition of Joel Embiid? Who knows. What i do know is this guy gets 3+ bleals per game on fine efficiency and good volume. Rebounding may once again be a bit lower than you'd like but I'm still a huge fan of the guy. It's a shame I couldn't bring him back but he should find some decent success in Portland.
6. Rik Smits C 35 7'4'' 249 A- C- C- A- B C
The steal of the 2040 Free Agency, Smits is still a monster. Theme is still recurring as you would prefer to see better rebounding, but he is hyper efficient and averages 3+ bleals. Very good player who has also only gotten better with age. I sense another recurring theme. Do blocks ever stop growing? Honest question.
7. Chris Bosh PF 34 6'11'' 215 B+ C+ C+ B+ B- D
This guy could have easily been as high as #3 or even a couple of spots lower than #7. Bosh still has really good efficiency and volume but, much like many others on this list, he tends to struggle on the glass. Turnovers are just a tad bit higher than I like and the bleals are good but not great. Much like Anthony Davis, Bosh has gotten much better in his later years.
8. Mitch Richmond SG 35 6'5'' 230 A- B+ D D+ C- D
Still a defensive liability? Check. Still a very efficient scorer? Check. Still turning the ball over too much? No. He does however still rebound pretty well for a SG. Volume has come down a bit but the difference there could easily be depth chart. Still a fantastic player who is apparently still in the league.
9. Bill Cartwright C 33 7'1'' 245 A- C- D B A D
Cartwright is certainly the best player the Amigos received during their mass exodus. Great efficiency, really good volume, solid defense, and low turnovers. Not only that, but he is still one of the very best rebounders in the league. It might be worth it for a fringe contender to assemble enough money to go grab him before someone else does. I would be the guy is free and if he isn't he's absurdly cheap.
10. James Worthy SF 33 6'9'' 230 A- C D+ B C C
I considered many players for this slot but decided James was the most....Worthy.
Did I only pick him to make that joke? Yes, mostly, but I don't think any of the other options are massively better. Good efficiency, ok rebounding, low turnovers, decent defense, and low volume. Very much an Odin player. I will be interested to see how he does when he is forced to take more shots.HM:
James Donaldson C 33 7'2'' 277 B+ D F+ B C+ F
Bradley Beal SG 35 6'5'' 207 C+ B+ C- B+ C- C
Shaquille O'Neal C 35 7'1'' 325 B+ D+ F+ B+ B+ C
Danny Manning PF 35 6'10'' 235 B+ C- C- B- B D
Sidney Moncrief SG 33 6'3'' 193 B A- C+ C C D
Brad Holland SG 33 6'3'' 187 B- A- C B- C- D
