#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

They say there are only two certainties in life, death and taxes, and while nobody on the S50 Bulls has died, a third year of repeater tax has forced us to make some very difficult decisions...decisions that were easy on the mind, but heavy on the heart.

While we're excited about the next build, we do wish Chris Ridley, Cristiano Felicio, and Miguel Thomas all the best on their new respective teams, and we believe they'll bring the Pelicans, Magic, and Spurs plenty of success this season.

However, it's not all trying to make ends meet and being a slave to money til you die, and if Bittersweet Symphony had any positive lyrics, I could use those in this presser, but alas, they don't. More like Bitter Symphony, am I right?

*crickets*

Alright, anyway, we won our 5th ring, and became only the 6th franchise to win back to back championships. In the last 10 seasons, we've been to the Finals 5 times, and we've won 4 of those. Last season, we made it a point to build a team consisting of as many players we'd won a previous championship with across 3 different builds, and we're extremely happy to have had the opportunity to put that group together and go all the way with them for PBSL's 50th season.

But what does the future hold?

First, on the flipside of those trades, we are happy to introduce Alex Caruso, Gerry Folse, and Jessie Kavanaugh: three promising third year rookie contract players with very high potential, who we got back in trades for our expiring stars.

Since we kept Burt Gibson and brought back Richard Hunt, we're still looking to win some games. To do that, we also brought back Silky Johnson and Kirby Webb and rounded out our roster with plenty of signings. Glen Sabo will be a huge contributor to this team, and he still has plenty of offensive punch as we saw in preseason. Jaren Jackson Jr. is back for another stint with the Bulls. Bronny James, who was on the Magic team that handed us our only finals loss in the last decade, signed on with us, and we brought in Ali Assad, who looks like he can be a solid playmaker for our second unit.

In our Felicio trade, we also brought in Jules Harms, who we expect will handle our starting C role to kick things off. We expect to balance offense and defense with bigs who know how to block shots and handle things in the post and a backcourt experienced in befuddling offenses on the perimeter. On offense, we expect big things from Richard Hunt, Burt Gibson, and Glen Sabo.

I don't expect to win 70 games again, but I do expect success in a challenging season with a team made up of veterans who can overcome these challenges, and I do expect a season where we can simultaneously develop our young players as they work to become the impactful stars we think they'll be in future seasons.

I'll open the floor to questions, but if you want to know how to win a championship, don't bother asking. You just gotta beat the other team in the Finals.

*more crickets*

You cited the tax as a reason for your moves this offseason, but you're currently $49 million over the apron. Is it safe to say you've already got some moves lined up for day 60?

false9 wrote: Wed Mar 31, 2021 9:17 pm You cited the tax as a reason for your moves this offseason, but you're currently $49 million over the apron. Is it safe to say you've already got some moves lined up for day 60?

No, but I am going to try real hard to drop a Deuce on some team with cap space.

Did you intentionally sign Richard hunt on a hilarious deal where the 2nd year brings in $1 under $50mil? Might be the finest move ever made by any GM in any sport ever

After you drop a deuce, then what? Do you build up again with or without Gibson and Hunt at the core? Does seem like you’re setting up for a winning gap year


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greepleairport wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 9:39 am Did you intentionally sign Richard hunt on a hilarious deal where the 2nd year brings in $1 under $50mil? Might be the finest move ever made by any GM in any sport ever

After you drop a deuce, then what? Do you build up again with or without Gibson and Hunt at the core? Does seem like you’re setting up for a winning gap year


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Yes, but I don't see what's funny about that.

As for the rebuilding question, we'll always listen to offers this season, but our goal next off-season will be to make deals in order to get more promising young players while opening up as much cap space as possible. Whether or not we get under the apron this year, we're likely going to want to stay under next year so we can strike again once Caruso, Folse, and Kavanaugh hit RFA. It's a vicious cycle.

garbageman wrote:
Yes, but I don't see what's funny about that.

*even more crickets*


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Chet Youbetcha, Dimmadome News: What would need to happen for you to consider this year a failure from your team?

How do you win a championship?

Darth Vegito wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:50 pm How do you win a championship?

Im interested in this answer as well

AngryBanana wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:42 pm Chet Youbetcha, Dimmadome News: What would need to happen for you to consider this year a failure from your team?

If we don't make the playoffs but remain over the apron, I wouldn't be too pleased.

Darth Vegito wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:50 pm How do you win a championship?

Without going to tax prison is usually how I do it.

AngryBanana wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:50 pm

Darth Vegito wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:50 pm How do you win a championship?

Im interested in this answer as well

By paying attention to all the small details, like reading through every team's presser just like the Thunder's presser advised.

But like, you're still winning this division, no?

TheSyndicate wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 8:56 pm But like, you're still winning this division, no?

Eh, maybe. I dunno.

Random Reporter: Of your three big young acquisitions, which one do you consider most likely to stay a Bull for years to come, and which one do you think will be shipped out in the next blockbuster deal?

Xist2Inspire wrote: Fri Apr 02, 2021 12:33 am Random Reporter: Of your three big young acquisitions, which one do you consider most likely to stay a Bull for years to come, and which one do you think will be shipped out in the next blockbuster deal?

That's a good question, and it's one that depends on a lot of factors. Of the players new to the Bulls, Alex Caruso looks is the obvious choice. He was the 1st pick in the draft a couple seasons back and has the potential to be an incredible and versatile offensive player. However, he has been red-shirted for a couple seasons, and we're yet to see what he's capable of in the league.

I also don't want folks to forget that Gerry Folse was picked right after him, and he looks like the perfect complementary player. What Alex can do on offense, Gerry can do on defense in either of the forward spots. He reminds me of RJ Barrett in that respect, and if we can work on his conditioning and shooting, he'll be right there.

Jessie Kavanaugh is the player we feel is most ready to go now, and we're excited to see how his size and athleticism translate, but he's the player we think is closest to his peak.

As for who to keep and who to trade, that all depends on our financial situation, our team needs when we're ready to strike again, how quickly these players develop over the next couple seasons, and what offers are on the table once we reset the tax.

How do you feel about getting Alex Caruso? He looks like he's gonna be a future Stud. Are you excited to se what he can become? Also do you have the itch for a 3 peat?

Eazy P wrote: Mon Apr 05, 2021 10:49 am How do you feel about getting Alex Caruso? He looks like he's gonna be a future Stud. Are you excited to se what he can become? Also do you have the itch for a 3 peat?

To answer your questions in order, yes and no. And now to expound on them out of order, while it would be great to just keep going all out, the current tax structure of the league makes that difficult to do. We got two rings in a row, and we're very proud of that, but to go for a third ring would jeopardize our future as a franchise, and we had to consider the future. Thus, we made some moves that make the future as bright as it can be, especially with a guy like Alex Caruso, who definitely looks like the kind of guy you can build a winning team around. It's a different ballgame than competing for a championship, but the journey can be just as fun as the destination.

Do you ever get tired of being so successful?

IamQuailman wrote: Mon Apr 05, 2021 2:21 pm Do you ever get tired of being so successful?

Only when I have to exit back to the main screen because my squadmates didn't make it past round 1.

Which teams in your conference and division do you feel are the biggest threats to you repeating?

drkavarga wrote: Mon Apr 05, 2021 3:34 pm Which teams in your conference and division do you feel are the biggest threats to you repeating?

I'd have to say myself since I traded 3/5ths of my starting lineup for developing players.

garbageman wrote: Mon Apr 05, 2021 3:36 pm

drkavarga wrote: Mon Apr 05, 2021 3:34 pm Which teams in your conference and division do you feel are the biggest threats to you repeating?

I'd have to say myself since I traded 3/5ths of my starting lineup for developing players.

Good point. Are there any teams in the league that you think will surprise people this season?

drkavarga wrote: Mon Apr 05, 2021 3:38 pm

garbageman wrote: Mon Apr 05, 2021 3:36 pm

drkavarga wrote: Mon Apr 05, 2021 3:34 pm Which teams in your conference and division do you feel are the biggest threats to you repeating?

I'd have to say myself since I traded 3/5ths of my starting lineup for developing players.

Good point. Are there any teams in the league that you think will surprise people this season?

I think Artest is going to be about the Kings and the Spurs. I trust in Eazy a little more to steer the ship, and I think the Kings might have to shuffle some things around to avoid tax jail, but their team will still be very good. In Wiggins, there's not really a team that's heir apparent to the division throne, so it depends on who's willing to cash in their chips by trade deadline to really put their team over the top.