Post by TimPig on Sept 15, 2020 19:37:04 GMT
10. Wayman Tisdale - Charlotte Hornets (RL: HM) Not a huge fan of Tisdale because of the lackluster defense and rebounding. You might be able to get away with missing one of those as a big, but you can’t start a guy who can do neither, even if he is efficient and doesn’t turn it over. Still has +15 left, which may help him get to double digit rebounds per 36. I don’t think those upgrades would be even close to enough to salvage his defense, and he’s capped inside, so rebounding seems like the logical upgrade.
9. A.C. Green - Washington Bullets (RL: HM) There’s a lot of projection in this pick, as A.C. still has +30 in upgrades left with B+/B- scoring grades. Jumper isn’t a major weakness and he was much more efficient last season, so I can’t imagine the awful scoring seen this year continues. He’s a solid rebounder at small forward, but defense and turnovers will never be good. Probably a guy who can put up 25/8 with some upgrades.
8. Joe Dumars - Harlem Globetrotters (RL: 8) A defensive wing and probably not much more for his career. Ward seems to be a big fan of the quickness upgrades for the defense wings based on some of Eric’s analysis from 4.0, but I’m not sure I am buying it at this point. Right around average efficiency, solid rebounding at shooting guard, no turnover problems to speak of, and two steals per 36 will always have a place in the league. He has an A- outside rating and likes to shoot some threes, so it’ll be interesting to see how his career plays out as he’s likely to ask for a significant raise when his contract ends.
7. Chris Mullin - Portland Trail Blazers (RL: 3) Mullin is still very efficient and doesn’t turn the ball over, but that’s about all he offers. Rolando Blackman, anyone? Mullin is a bad rebounder, even for the shooting guard position and his defense is nothing exceptional either. The rebounding limitations negate the positional flexibility that may have been appealing when selecting a 6’7 small forward, as I don’t think a winning team has him playing small forward.
6. Minute Bol - Chicago Stags (RL: HM) Best rebounding in the class and very good defense, but the offensive capabilities are severely limited. Jumper is probably sufficient to not be a major detriment, but I’m not confident that an additional +20 inside gets him anywhere offensively as he’s currently at just 1.003 pts/tsa. He’s received +10 strength so far, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him turn into a purely D/R big with his remaining upgrades, especially with Odin’s influence.
5. Charles Oakley - Chicago Bulls (RL: 4) Rebounding and efficiency should be Oakley’s calling cards for his entire career. Rebounding is right up there with Bol for the best in the class and his awesome jumper helps him keep the efficiency high (currently second in the class). Turnovers aren’t a problem, but defense is a concern at only 1.6 bleals per 36. If he can get that number up to around 2.5 through TCs (since his upgrades have all been used), he could be mentioned alongside the top three in the class. Without it, he’ll need to be accompanied by a good defensive big for his entire career if he is to start.
4. Xavier McDaniel - Dallas Mavericks (RL: 6) Scoring has come around big time this year to go alongside his elite rebounding. Based on what Delap’s said about his build, I expect that this year’s efficiency is more in line with what we’ll see for his career. Defense is surprisingly good for a wing at 2.2 bleals per 36 as well. Turnovers are a bit higher than you’d like for a guy who hasn’t been a scoring option this season. Like the player one spot ahead of him, free throw shooting is a concern and he has no more upgrades to fix it.
3. Karl Malone - Miami Heat (RL: 2) Also solid across the board and has more opportunities to score on a Miami team that really only has Danny Ainge as an alternative. Good rebounding and surprisingly solid defense. When all is said and done, he could end up the best of the bunch as he entered the league with A potential, which neither of the two players ranking ahead of him had. Jumper is weak and he’s capped on upgrades, however, so his ceiling when it comes to efficiency may be a bit lower.
2. Benoit Benjamin - Charlotte Hornets (RL: 5) If we went just based on today’s stats, Benjamin might be #1 on the ladder. Best efficiency in the class today, third best rebounder, second best defender, and no turnover problems. However, I don’t foresee his B+/C scoring grades continuing to translate to 1.178 pts/tsa over the course of his career. Should offer elite defense and rebounding for his entire career and above average scoring. Big fan.
1. Patrick Ewing - Portland Trail Blazers (RL: 1) Rounding out the class at number 1 we have Ewing, but the gap between 1 and 3 isn’t large. As of today, he and Benjamin are pretty even across the board, with Benjamin having a very slight edge in rebounding and, as of today, efficiency. I don’t expect the latter to hold up, so I’m projecting Ewing ends up the better player overall. Surprisingly, Ewing only ranks 5th in the class in pts/tsa as of sim 8, but I expect he’ll more consistently perform over his career than anyone above him. Elite defense, no turnover problems, and improved rebounding make him an essentially flawless player.
9. A.C. Green - Washington Bullets (RL: HM) There’s a lot of projection in this pick, as A.C. still has +30 in upgrades left with B+/B- scoring grades. Jumper isn’t a major weakness and he was much more efficient last season, so I can’t imagine the awful scoring seen this year continues. He’s a solid rebounder at small forward, but defense and turnovers will never be good. Probably a guy who can put up 25/8 with some upgrades.
8. Joe Dumars - Harlem Globetrotters (RL: 8) A defensive wing and probably not much more for his career. Ward seems to be a big fan of the quickness upgrades for the defense wings based on some of Eric’s analysis from 4.0, but I’m not sure I am buying it at this point. Right around average efficiency, solid rebounding at shooting guard, no turnover problems to speak of, and two steals per 36 will always have a place in the league. He has an A- outside rating and likes to shoot some threes, so it’ll be interesting to see how his career plays out as he’s likely to ask for a significant raise when his contract ends.
7. Chris Mullin - Portland Trail Blazers (RL: 3) Mullin is still very efficient and doesn’t turn the ball over, but that’s about all he offers. Rolando Blackman, anyone? Mullin is a bad rebounder, even for the shooting guard position and his defense is nothing exceptional either. The rebounding limitations negate the positional flexibility that may have been appealing when selecting a 6’7 small forward, as I don’t think a winning team has him playing small forward.
6. Minute Bol - Chicago Stags (RL: HM) Best rebounding in the class and very good defense, but the offensive capabilities are severely limited. Jumper is probably sufficient to not be a major detriment, but I’m not confident that an additional +20 inside gets him anywhere offensively as he’s currently at just 1.003 pts/tsa. He’s received +10 strength so far, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him turn into a purely D/R big with his remaining upgrades, especially with Odin’s influence.
5. Charles Oakley - Chicago Bulls (RL: 4) Rebounding and efficiency should be Oakley’s calling cards for his entire career. Rebounding is right up there with Bol for the best in the class and his awesome jumper helps him keep the efficiency high (currently second in the class). Turnovers aren’t a problem, but defense is a concern at only 1.6 bleals per 36. If he can get that number up to around 2.5 through TCs (since his upgrades have all been used), he could be mentioned alongside the top three in the class. Without it, he’ll need to be accompanied by a good defensive big for his entire career if he is to start.
4. Xavier McDaniel - Dallas Mavericks (RL: 6) Scoring has come around big time this year to go alongside his elite rebounding. Based on what Delap’s said about his build, I expect that this year’s efficiency is more in line with what we’ll see for his career. Defense is surprisingly good for a wing at 2.2 bleals per 36 as well. Turnovers are a bit higher than you’d like for a guy who hasn’t been a scoring option this season. Like the player one spot ahead of him, free throw shooting is a concern and he has no more upgrades to fix it.
3. Karl Malone - Miami Heat (RL: 2) Also solid across the board and has more opportunities to score on a Miami team that really only has Danny Ainge as an alternative. Good rebounding and surprisingly solid defense. When all is said and done, he could end up the best of the bunch as he entered the league with A potential, which neither of the two players ranking ahead of him had. Jumper is weak and he’s capped on upgrades, however, so his ceiling when it comes to efficiency may be a bit lower.
2. Benoit Benjamin - Charlotte Hornets (RL: 5) If we went just based on today’s stats, Benjamin might be #1 on the ladder. Best efficiency in the class today, third best rebounder, second best defender, and no turnover problems. However, I don’t foresee his B+/C scoring grades continuing to translate to 1.178 pts/tsa over the course of his career. Should offer elite defense and rebounding for his entire career and above average scoring. Big fan.
1. Patrick Ewing - Portland Trail Blazers (RL: 1) Rounding out the class at number 1 we have Ewing, but the gap between 1 and 3 isn’t large. As of today, he and Benjamin are pretty even across the board, with Benjamin having a very slight edge in rebounding and, as of today, efficiency. I don’t expect the latter to hold up, so I’m projecting Ewing ends up the better player overall. Surprisingly, Ewing only ranks 5th in the class in pts/tsa as of sim 8, but I expect he’ll more consistently perform over his career than anyone above him. Elite defense, no turnover problems, and improved rebounding make him an essentially flawless player.
