#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

Angry Banana, at the ripe young age of 73 walks up to the podium with a smile… but the aura around him appears sad in nature. His chakras maybe are off…

Good morning all. I’d like to take a moment. Not a somber moment, but a moment of thanks and acknowledgement to two players I consider pillars of this organization and how far the Thunder have come since the days past of GMs like Make It Rain and Darth Vegito.

Obviously last year was an all in attempt. We were cruising through the regular season after making moves to acquire Tex and Delmar. We had one of the beat starting fives seen in a while. We then had the opportunity to get an upgrade with Blakemore, which in hindsight was a good and bad thing. First it was good because of Tex’s injury. My starter pre trade I think would have been Odell and that would not work. However, taking on Blakemore’s salary, combined with injuries, caused me to go even deeper into the tax then originally projected. So I was VERY close to loosing Wade for nothing this offseason with a tax looming. So I churned out articles this season and last once I realized my dilemma. I did enough to be able to retain my sweet Wade.

I realized that this build was no longer sustainable for me given my tax and point situation. So I started working the wires for places for Wade and Maker. I wanted to find a place for them to compete, but the Thunder organization comes first as well. The first domino to fall was Tex. He was moved quickly and I got what I needed in that deal. Surprisingly, the Maker shiniest object. I had several suitors and when I was approached for a three team deal that got me prospects and cap relief, it was perfect. Next after longggg and intense talks, the bucks and I finally saw appropriate compensation for both sides to get the purple player they needed. I hope that Wade and Maker both go on to be outstanding things moving forward.

Now what’s gone is gone.

We are excited about moving forward. Our core now consists of Blakeney, Nix, Lizarraga, Cuevas, and Cagel. I’m really excited to see what Nix does this season in a more premier role. Blakeney I’m hoping will win ROY. Cuevas looks to be on track for a stellar scorer, and Lizarraga will continue to develop. The future is so bright I need some shades.

Delmar and Tubbs are also still around. Delmar will hopefully still be the that he is. Hopefully he will get us some all league love, or we are able to move him to a winning team to get them over the hump. Either way I’m ecstatic to have a legend like him around for these young guys. Tubbs is also still a very solid center that will either play well for us all year, or we can flip to a team where he will contribute to a winner.

All in all I really don’t know what the year will bring forward. I think we will win games as much as we loose, so I’m just along for the ride. Concerning starters I’m not sure. I’ll either tweak it to see who does well where, or go rec/same through the season some.

Questions?


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It's preseason, but Nix appeared far more confident and comfortable with you than he has at any other point in his career. What do you attribute this early success to?

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MexicanMamba wrote:It's preseason, but Nix appeared far more confident and comfortable with you than he has at any other point in his career. What do you attribute this early success to?

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Growth and opportunity. He continues to develop his game and become a better prospect, especially where his strengths are. Combine that with the chance to play on this team where he is probably the second or third best player on the squad.

If I had to guess the computer highlighted him as a key player, which will help too.


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Congratulations getting out of the tax and below the cap. You were a .500 team in preseason, but do you think you’ll be a winning team this season? Is Delmar the key to your success this year, or are you ready to move him at a moment’s notice?


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greepleairport wrote:Congratulations getting out of the tax and below the cap. You were a .500 team in preseason, but do you think you’ll be a winning team this season? Is Delmar the key to your success this year, or are you ready to move him at a moment’s notice?


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Yes to all of these things in varying degrees.

1. I think it’s potentially a thing, but more than likely not. It depends on if Delmar sticks around (which I think he is

2. He is the key probably. He is still a very good player. I would be happy to move him to someone else, but also not going to give him away now that I’m under the tax. The problem with moving him is that he effectively has two years at least left on his max deal. So yea I would move him, but oh doubt there will be a deal that is beneficial to both sides that could be made.


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Sham Smith, Bulls.com: If you had the choice to go back in time and win a ring last year, but to do so, you would have had to give up Wade for nothing, what would you do?

garbageman wrote:Sham Smith, Bulls.com: If you had the choice to go back in time and win a ring last year, but to do so, you would have had to give up Wade for nothing, what would you do?

That is a tough one, I had one whole answer written out but then deleted it. I think if you mean in the sense that I would have gone more all in somehow last season and dug a deeper tax hole, than no. I would not pull a move that would put me firmly in tax jail. I’ve seen that cause GMs to quit WAY too many times to commit to it.

If it was a deal I made where I was forced to trade Wade for nothing on paper, I would consider that way more, and probably lean towards yes.


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A while back on Skype you had rattled off a list of GMs and their real-life coaching personality, but I dont recall seeing who you would consider yourself to be, so who is it?

Antonio Blakeney is now the third purple potential player in your GM career that you get to work with and build a team around before he hits full purple status. At this point in his development, what does Blakeney do better than Pistol Pete & Wade and where could he improve?

K-100 wrote:A while back on Skype you had rattled off a list of GMs and their real-life coaching personality, but I dont recall seeing who you would consider yourself to be, so who is it?

Antonio Blakeney is now the third purple potential player in your GM career that you get to work with and build a team around before he hits full purple status. At this point in his development, what does Blakeney do better than Pistol Pete & Wade and where could he improve?

I’d like to think the best comparison would maybe be Tom Thibodeau. I have had great wing players consistently in my career in Pete/Wade (D. Rose/ Zach Lavine/Jimmy Butler). The best player I coached destroyed his leg in the middle of his prime and never was the same. My teams usually have good defensive presence as well and I play my players to the ground. Oh… neither one of us have won a championship either.

When it comes to Blakeney, it’s crazy to think how all of my core players have been guards. Maybe I should get a premier wing or center (maker was technically not the alpha on the team) and try that approach. I think Blakeney if he develops well will be the best scorer of the bunch. He has the highest potentials there and probably higher than Wade or Pete across the board. He will also be a great player all around because he has the defensive skills to compete. I hope he can improve mainly in stamina, handling, and personal fouls. And I can only try to fix one of those things, and can’t even do that currently with my point situation.


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Justin Bieber, Teremana: Congrats on your last season. It was a disappointed finish and so close winning the big game. You have few stud players but no depth. If things don't go as planned, are you open trading any of your blue players? Lastly, who will have a better record 76ers or Cavs?

jlmarines wrote:Justin Bieber, Teremana: Congrats on your last season. It was a disappointed finish and so close winning the big game. You have few stud players but no depth. If things don't go as planned, are you open trading any of your blue players? Lastly, who will have a better record 76ers or Cavs?

I think the division will go as follows in order

Magic
Wizards
Thunder
Jazz

Then there will be a three way tie for last place between the 76ers, Kings, and Cavs.

So the Cavs and 76ers will equally be terrible in my opinion.


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Will you be patient with this build, or will this be a quick pivot back to title contender after a season of replenishing the asset cupboard?

false9 wrote:Will you be patient with this build, or will this be a quick pivot back to title contender after a season of replenishing the asset cupboard?

I will be patient as long as AB is still developing. I think I would lean towards getting younger right now, moving someone like Nix and Lazarrrga for a younger player that could be the be a good compliment to maybe a AB, Cuevas core.


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Which team in your division do you want to defeat the most?

drkavarga wrote:Which team in your division do you want to defeat the most?

drkavarga wrote:Which team in your division do you want to defeat the most?

Digiskunk because he is appears to be active and id love for him to be competitive.


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AngryBanana wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 3:19 pm

drkavarga wrote:Which team in your division do you want to defeat the most?

drkavarga wrote:Which team in your division do you want to defeat the most?

Digiskunk because he is appears to be active and id love for him to be competitive.


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Awww thank you <3

Did you enjoy our trade talks?

Riley Ratripper, Food Network: Dominique Tubbs has spent a lot of the offseason trying to unload the weight he gained from his recent vacation in Detroit. What do you think his role will be heading into this season? Can you give us some insight into his dietary and bathroom routines?

IamQuailman wrote:Did you enjoy our trade talks?

IamQuailman wrote:Did you enjoy our trade talks?

As much as you did.

Honestly I’m glad we’re the deal done, so yea I did.


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digiskunk wrote:Riley Ratripper, Food Network: Dominique Tubbs has spent a lot of the offseason trying to unload the weight he gained from his recent vacation in Detroit. What do you think his role will be heading into this season? Can you give us some insight into his dietary and bathroom routines?

The key has been he is always in the bathroom. Seriously though, we told him to gain weight. We sent him to Detroit in order to get so depressed that he would eat his feelings.

His role this season will be to mentor these young kids and continue to provide that defensive presence he always brings.


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AngryBanana wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 4:12 pm

IamQuailman wrote:Did you enjoy our trade talks?

IamQuailman wrote:Did you enjoy our trade talks?

As much as you did.

Honestly I’m glad we’re the deal done, so yea I did.


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LOL

How did it feel to get swept?

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SuperDog wrote:How did it feel to get swept?

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I’m sorry, I can’t hear you from so high up in the division.


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