Post by troybarnes on Oct 3, 2020 9:25:53 GMT
Michael C. Jordan
TMBSL.com Draft Analyst
We're almost to the final draft before TMBSL enters the much ballyhooed rookie free agency period. Picks have never been more valuable, so it is likely that the final draft order will end up looking much different than the one below, but here's how I see things playing out based on the current order of things
1) Phoenix Suns- Jayson Tatum, SF (Duke)
I've heard through back channels that Suns GM Andrew Luck has fallen in love with the rangy utility player due to his versatility, high ceiling, and polish. Tatum is a mortal lock at #1, unless there's something in his scouting profile that's not apparent at the moment.
2) Seattle SuperSonics- Donovan Mitchell, SG (Louisville)
Who do you draft if you're the team that needs everything? I expect that after having lost Mario Hezonja and Larry Bird to free agency in the 2045 offseason, the Sonics to look to the dynamic Louisville wing to be their next lead guard and scorer.
3) Harlem Globetrotters- Josh Jackson, SF (Kansas)
The question here is the inverse of the #2 pick: who do you draft if you're the team that has everything? I think you add a high ceiling player that can develop while current starter Brandon Ingram starts the decline all players begin to see at some point in their 30s. Josh Jackson fits this bill to a tee
4) San Antonio Spurs- Bam Adebayo, C (Kentucky)
TMBSL is a league driven by big men and Bam is the premier post prospect in the 2046 class. The Spurs will try to right the ship by taking him here and starting to build around him in the coming years.
5) Chicago Stags- Jonathan Isaac, SF (FSU)
The Stags took a major step forward this year after locking up talented scorer Mario Hezonja in free agency, but they need to elevate their defense if they really want to run with the bluebloods in this league. Enter Jonathan Isaac, a player with the size and defensive chops to play SF or PF. He will likely be an upgrade in the rebounding department as well, compared to the Stags current options (aside from Cartwright, obviously).
6) Sacramento Kings- Markell Fultz, PG (Washington)
The Kings have quite a few holes to fill, but the biggest is at PG. This is a PG heavy class, but Fultz looks to have the most TMBSL ready body of the group and his ability to finish through contact will be invaluable as he transitions to the next level.
7) Seattle SuperSonics- Lonzo Ball, PG (UCLA)
The Sonics are going to have to be willing to take some risks if they're going to get themselves out of the cellar and Lonzo is the definition of boom or bust. If he hits his ceiling, they could have a deadly 1-2 punch with Ball and Mitchell
8) Orlando Magic- Lauri Markkanen, PF (Arizona)
I think the 7' sharpshooter would make a great third musketeer to pair with VanVleet and Jordan. If the Magic can put him with a S&C coach who can help him add the muscle he'll need to be competitive at this level, he could be special.
9) Anaheim Amigos- Dennis Smith, Jr., PG (NC State)
The Amigos need an explosive backcourt player to complement the plethora of promising frontcourt options they have. Smith is known to be loose with the ball, but GM Killiam Bing devotes more resources to develop his players' handling than any team in the league, somewhat negating this concern.
10) Portland Trailblazers- Frank Ntilikina, PG (France)
The Trailblazers have a promising, young big 3 in Mullin, Ewing, and Booker (if they can hold onto them all), now they just need somebody to get them the ball consistently. Perhaps the best distributor in the class, the young Frenchman would be a great fit in Portland.
11) Detroit Pistons- De'Aaron Fox, PG (Kentucky)
Fox is lightning quick and would make a great running partner for emerging star James Harden.If he can develop his jumper a bit and the Pistons can upgrade their options in the post this offseason, they just might have a stew goin'.
12) Charlotte Hornets- Justin Jackson, SF (UNC)
The Hornets have undergone a philosophical change this year, shifting their focus towards their core of young post players, but it's always good to have knockdown shooters on the wing. Jackson can flat out fill it up from range, even if it is just so Lou Williams can catch his breath for a minute.
13) Miami Heat- Malik Monk, SG (Kentucky)
Monk is the best talent still on the board at this point and he's a good value pick here. He could also likely step in and be a day 1 upgrade over Ainge with his ability to hit shots from deep. If he can develop his defense a bit and provide some better floor spacing for Malone to do the heavy lifting, the Heat are suddenly
a lot more competitive.
14) Washington Bullets- Dwayne Bacon, SG (FSU)
Much like the Sonics, the Bullets have holes all over the place, but a wing player who can get to the rack consistently is a great place to start. Plus, Dwayne Bacon is just a fantastic name. If Odin was still running the show, I feel confident he would be a surefire star in the making.
15) Chicago Stags- Zach Collins, C (Gonzaga)
Shot blockers are always a valuable asset in this league and Collins is the best left in that category. A young player with good size and room to grow, Collins will have time plenty of time to develop behind Okafor and Turiaf, who are both locked up on long term deals and relatively young.
16) San Antonio Spurs- Kyle Kuzma, PF (Utah)
Kuzma is a great companion piece to put with Bam, giving the Spurs 4 years of fast, athletic, and versatile bigs to build around. If they can hold onto Thomas this offseason and World B. Free can show improvement over the next few years, the Spurs will start climbing back up those Western conference standings.
17) Vancouver Grizzlies- Frank Jackson, PG (Duke)
The first round is almost over at this point and the elite talent is mostly gone. The Grizzlies go with the Duke product at PG because when in doubt, trust Krzyzewski's coaching. Jackson has good size for the position and should be a low TO guy who can get the ball to Love and Walton, if nothing else.
18) Dallas Mavericks- Anzejs Pasecniks, C (Latvia)
The Mavericks have good talent returning at all positions next year, but the area where they could use the most depth is likely to be the post. The Latvian giant is brimming with potential and could be the enforcer that the Mavs really lack at the moment.
I'm not going to bore you with a mock for the second round of this one, as this is not the deepest class. It's certainly no 2045, a class which already seems to be proving out as the juggernaut it was expected to be. Nonetheless, it is the last draft we'll see in this iteration of TMBSL and that is sure to produce some exciting drama. I, for one, can't wait. Insert Bart Scott .gif here.
TMBSL.com Draft Analyst
We're almost to the final draft before TMBSL enters the much ballyhooed rookie free agency period. Picks have never been more valuable, so it is likely that the final draft order will end up looking much different than the one below, but here's how I see things playing out based on the current order of things
1) Phoenix Suns- Jayson Tatum, SF (Duke)
I've heard through back channels that Suns GM Andrew Luck has fallen in love with the rangy utility player due to his versatility, high ceiling, and polish. Tatum is a mortal lock at #1, unless there's something in his scouting profile that's not apparent at the moment.
2) Seattle SuperSonics- Donovan Mitchell, SG (Louisville)
Who do you draft if you're the team that needs everything? I expect that after having lost Mario Hezonja and Larry Bird to free agency in the 2045 offseason, the Sonics to look to the dynamic Louisville wing to be their next lead guard and scorer.
3) Harlem Globetrotters- Josh Jackson, SF (Kansas)
The question here is the inverse of the #2 pick: who do you draft if you're the team that has everything? I think you add a high ceiling player that can develop while current starter Brandon Ingram starts the decline all players begin to see at some point in their 30s. Josh Jackson fits this bill to a tee
4) San Antonio Spurs- Bam Adebayo, C (Kentucky)
TMBSL is a league driven by big men and Bam is the premier post prospect in the 2046 class. The Spurs will try to right the ship by taking him here and starting to build around him in the coming years.
5) Chicago Stags- Jonathan Isaac, SF (FSU)
The Stags took a major step forward this year after locking up talented scorer Mario Hezonja in free agency, but they need to elevate their defense if they really want to run with the bluebloods in this league. Enter Jonathan Isaac, a player with the size and defensive chops to play SF or PF. He will likely be an upgrade in the rebounding department as well, compared to the Stags current options (aside from Cartwright, obviously).
6) Sacramento Kings- Markell Fultz, PG (Washington)
The Kings have quite a few holes to fill, but the biggest is at PG. This is a PG heavy class, but Fultz looks to have the most TMBSL ready body of the group and his ability to finish through contact will be invaluable as he transitions to the next level.
7) Seattle SuperSonics- Lonzo Ball, PG (UCLA)
The Sonics are going to have to be willing to take some risks if they're going to get themselves out of the cellar and Lonzo is the definition of boom or bust. If he hits his ceiling, they could have a deadly 1-2 punch with Ball and Mitchell
8) Orlando Magic- Lauri Markkanen, PF (Arizona)
I think the 7' sharpshooter would make a great third musketeer to pair with VanVleet and Jordan. If the Magic can put him with a S&C coach who can help him add the muscle he'll need to be competitive at this level, he could be special.
9) Anaheim Amigos- Dennis Smith, Jr., PG (NC State)
The Amigos need an explosive backcourt player to complement the plethora of promising frontcourt options they have. Smith is known to be loose with the ball, but GM Killiam Bing devotes more resources to develop his players' handling than any team in the league, somewhat negating this concern.
10) Portland Trailblazers- Frank Ntilikina, PG (France)
The Trailblazers have a promising, young big 3 in Mullin, Ewing, and Booker (if they can hold onto them all), now they just need somebody to get them the ball consistently. Perhaps the best distributor in the class, the young Frenchman would be a great fit in Portland.
11) Detroit Pistons- De'Aaron Fox, PG (Kentucky)
Fox is lightning quick and would make a great running partner for emerging star James Harden.If he can develop his jumper a bit and the Pistons can upgrade their options in the post this offseason, they just might have a stew goin'.
12) Charlotte Hornets- Justin Jackson, SF (UNC)
The Hornets have undergone a philosophical change this year, shifting their focus towards their core of young post players, but it's always good to have knockdown shooters on the wing. Jackson can flat out fill it up from range, even if it is just so Lou Williams can catch his breath for a minute.
13) Miami Heat- Malik Monk, SG (Kentucky)
Monk is the best talent still on the board at this point and he's a good value pick here. He could also likely step in and be a day 1 upgrade over Ainge with his ability to hit shots from deep. If he can develop his defense a bit and provide some better floor spacing for Malone to do the heavy lifting, the Heat are suddenly
a lot more competitive.
14) Washington Bullets- Dwayne Bacon, SG (FSU)
Much like the Sonics, the Bullets have holes all over the place, but a wing player who can get to the rack consistently is a great place to start. Plus, Dwayne Bacon is just a fantastic name. If Odin was still running the show, I feel confident he would be a surefire star in the making.
15) Chicago Stags- Zach Collins, C (Gonzaga)
Shot blockers are always a valuable asset in this league and Collins is the best left in that category. A young player with good size and room to grow, Collins will have time plenty of time to develop behind Okafor and Turiaf, who are both locked up on long term deals and relatively young.
16) San Antonio Spurs- Kyle Kuzma, PF (Utah)
Kuzma is a great companion piece to put with Bam, giving the Spurs 4 years of fast, athletic, and versatile bigs to build around. If they can hold onto Thomas this offseason and World B. Free can show improvement over the next few years, the Spurs will start climbing back up those Western conference standings.
17) Vancouver Grizzlies- Frank Jackson, PG (Duke)
The first round is almost over at this point and the elite talent is mostly gone. The Grizzlies go with the Duke product at PG because when in doubt, trust Krzyzewski's coaching. Jackson has good size for the position and should be a low TO guy who can get the ball to Love and Walton, if nothing else.
18) Dallas Mavericks- Anzejs Pasecniks, C (Latvia)
The Mavericks have good talent returning at all positions next year, but the area where they could use the most depth is likely to be the post. The Latvian giant is brimming with potential and could be the enforcer that the Mavs really lack at the moment.
I'm not going to bore you with a mock for the second round of this one, as this is not the deepest class. It's certainly no 2045, a class which already seems to be proving out as the juggernaut it was expected to be. Nonetheless, it is the last draft we'll see in this iteration of TMBSL and that is sure to produce some exciting drama. I, for one, can't wait. Insert Bart Scott .gif here.
