Let's take a look back at the S57 draft and predict which lottery teams got it right, who got it wrong, and what I would do in Year 1 if I drafted your new prized possession, the coveted lottery pick. This draft compared to recent classes has generated some buzz, particularly at the top-end for the raw offensive firepower of several of the wing players as well as the potential for a few future point guards to emerge in the coming seasons. Time will tell if these forecasts hold.
So without further ado, the Utah Jazz kicked off Friday morning's draft at #1
#1 Utah Jazz: DeJuan Baker (formerly Aubrey Phelps)
Instant Reaction: #wildcard. Surprise, surprise. Digiskunk drafts DeJuan Baker #1. Didn't expect Baker to go #1, to be honest, but he has several offensive A potentials, with only JPS (C) and (B) passing as his only blemishes at the offensive end. Baker is currently listed as an SG, but I figure the Jazz will quickly slide him over to PG, and given his 91 QKN will be able to push the floor with ease. Baker is slated to be a so-so perimeter defender so digiskunk will need to surround him with help to make sure he is not exposed on defense. Baker is also not the most athletic guard prospect to sit atop the draft board in recent years with only a 49 JMP and 24 STR. That is my big knock against him and why I did not think he justified the #1 spot.
Year 1: SIT
The Jazz are not in a rush to compete so redshirt Baker and bump his JPS from C -> B and/or increase those athleticism traits in STR/JMP. The Jazz have a lot of young talent and Angelo Romero still looks to be the foundational piece to build around so if you do not train Baker, make sure you pay extra and ensure the whole crew is around if you think this is your build moving forward. Baker is the future PG so he must be protected at all costs.
#2 Indiana Pacers: Herbert Jones (formerly Bradley Venegas)
Instant Reaction: Frye yeah! PaulyP was the big winner of the draft lottery jumping from #6 to #2 and now gets Skype chat's favorite son, Herbert Jones to land in his lap on draft day. I thought the Jazz should have selected Jones #1 (big surprise) but PaulyP has a future face of the franchise here. Unlike his real-life counterpart, sim Herb Jones is a terrible defender but like his real-life doppelganger, quite the effective slasher at the wing spot. However, with an A passing potential, I figure PaulyP will also slide Jones over to PG once the regular season rolls around. It has been a tough decade for Pacers fans as the team languished in so-so land for a while but now Indianapolis can finally get excited about the new season. The real-life Pacers got Tyrese Haliburton while sim Pacers get Herb Jones. Both are going to be outstanding players for years to come:
Year 1: PLAY
Start him. Jones is my pick for Rookie of the Year and a possible slam dunk contestant. If I were PaulyP, start training that INS potential immediately. Herb Jones will likely turn purple potential very soon if that INS gets bumped so enjoy the chance to make him a stud while you can.
TRADE!
Atlanta sends #3 to Minnesota for #6, Doug Whittier, and the Thunder 2047 1st
Atlanta sends #3 to Minnesota for #6, Doug Whittier, and the Thunder 2047 1st
Instant Reaction: Not a big fan of the trade for Atlanta, but it is a good return so whatever. Minnesota is on the clock now.
#3: Minnesota Timberwolves: Lenz Durrenberger
Instant Reaction: Nice move for Minnesota. Yet another athletic freak of nature wing with good, not great offensive potential but unlike Baker and Jones, Durrenberger will not be a complete liability on defense. The Timberwolves will need to make an RFA decision soon on Matisse Thybulle so assuming he gets retained Minnesota will have a crowded backcourt but no true point guard yet on the roster. Durrenberger does not solve all of Minnesota's problems instantly, but I like his potential pairing with Thybulle if the Frenchman stays in the Twin Cities this offseason.
Year 1: PLAY
But play him off the bench. The Timberwolves can stay flexible here and let Durrenberger develop naturally because it will be expensive to make him a true point guard but as an SG is a natural fit in the Wolves' rotation.
TRADE!
Philadelphia sends #4 to Cleveland for #7, Cassius Winston, and 8 points
Philadelphia sends #4 to Cleveland for #7, Cassius Winston, and 8 points
Instant Reaction: The draft lottery loser Sixers who fell from #3 to #4 because of Indiana's lucky ping pong ball bounce continue to collect points for their HUGE TAX BILL. It's a homecoming for Sir Winston at least. Cleveland is on the clock now.
#4 Cleveland Cavaliers: Jalen Warley (formerly Joshua Hernandez)
Instant Reaction: Interesting. The Cleveland Cavaliers are a ship with a captain but are still lost at sea. However, I think the Warley pick is a good one if jlmarines finally decides to blow this team up and start over. Warley is the opposite of the draft class so far as his strengths are his defensive potentials. Emphasis on potential, however, as Warley should be named RAWley. Low currents across the board. This dude could develop into a force but jlmarines will need to be patient. Real patient.
Year 1: SIT
No question. If the Cavs carry 15 players this season Jalen Warley better damn sure be #15. Warley is nowhere near ready for PBSL and that is okay. Let TC work its magic and bump those currents while you hope for at least a y/b boost soon. If jlmarines does indeed intend to rebuild, let Warley be your new training project. Listen up @jlmarines every point you get from posting a lame meme (or three) about the Sixers should go towards GoFundWarley. Warley reminds me of a former Cav, Jules Harms but with some more offensive training could become quite the effective 2-way player. Cleveland is a hot mess right now, with players at various stages in their career all mixed together, but I like their aggressiveness in moving up in the draft and grabbing a player they can build around. Plus, he pulled a fast one on K-100 dumping Cassius Winston's bloated, albatross contract and not even paying 10 points to do so. I knew jlmarines was hanging around too close with AngryBanana. He learned all of AB's slimy tricks to rip a friend off during trade negotiations.
Regardless, the Cavs have not had many fortuitous bounces go their way so far in sim league so count me in as a card-carrying member of Believeland.#5 Portland Trailblazers: Chris Bow
Instant Reaction: Look at another athletic freak at the wing spot. Bow was my #7 prospect on the draft board but he will be a fun player to watch because of that 100 JMP. The Blazers were on auto-pilot last season and are another perennial lottery team that will need to make some serious decisions during TC about how to protect this core. And do not forget they still need to retain Kyle Kuric this offseason. I am not a fan of this pick to be honest because Bow is going to quickly get lost in the shuffle here in the City of Roses. I think the Blazers should have traded out but it is what it is.
Year 1: PLAY
Give him some meaningful minutes off the bench. I think Bow's a lock for Slam Dunk contests if he gets the minutes to be considered eligible, but I just do not see where he fits long-term here in Portland. This is not a terrible pick given the sheer athleticism, but I just do not like Bow's fit here on the Blazers. Portland should shop Bow around immediately on the trade block and see what bites.
#6 Atlanta Hawks: Larry Williams
Instant Reaction: Oh look, another good athletic wing. Oh look, he got auto-drafted by Atlanta. Oh look Atlanta already has 5 wings on the team. I thought Atlanta should have stayed at #3 and drafted Joshua Hernandez (Jalen Warley) to fill their Atlanta-sized hole at PF. This is a classic example of how wasted potential meets terrible fit to make for a horrible team.
Year 1: SIT
Fun fact: Atlanta has enough points to pay off their tax bill. I looked at their past trades to see how long it would take me to pay off the Sixers' 475 point tax bill and noticed Atlanta has made a lot of 10 point trades. A whole lot of 10 point trades actually. What does this have to do with Larry Williams? Nothing. Well not quite, nothing. You see, if you add up all the trades Atlanta has made in the last 10 years, plus Loco's original bank with the Grizzlies and sprinkle in the bare minimum points you get for winning 10 games a season you have enough points to pay off Loco's tax bill. It is amazing, right? I say this because Atlanta needs to insure Larry Williams, protect Gerald Dixson at all costs, and start coughing up points to ensure the rest of their wings are protected. After all, TC is looking to smite someone and these Hawks look mighty tasty as potential sacrifices.
#7 Philadelphia 76ers: Jordan Poole (formerly Micah Crawford)
Instant Reaction: Why? De La Rosa was an insane stat-stuffer at point guard for the terrible Sixers. De La Rosa shattered the Sixers' regular-season assists record book breaking every one of Cassius Winston's records (humblebrag). So why the frye would you draft Poole? Surely something is afoot here, but what? Stay tuned...
Year 1: SIT
Continue writing K-100, you have 225 points to go until this tax bill is paid off. Better yet trade Jordan Poole for points.
#8 Toronto Raptors: Kalin Lucas (formerly Forrest Straley)
Instant Reaction: Surprise! I like the player, not quite sure of the fit here in Toronto. Look, Lucas is raw. Like really Fryeing raw. But he looks to have the potential of what any good PF is supposed to be in this league. If he lives up to the billing he can score inside, grab boards, hit his FTs, and block shots. It is going to be a long time until he is doing that on a PBSL court, however so I highly doubt he is going to fit in the Mobley, Johnston, Ridenhour (and Honeycutt?) timeline. I could see Toronto trying to flip this asset in a couple of seasons if TC is kind to Lucas. We shall see.
Year 1: SIT
Raptors should float Lucas on the trade block if he survives TC.
#9 Phoenix Suns: Peyton Siva (formerly Theodore Brush)
Instant Reaction: Reach. But understandable. You need a point guard. You draft a point guard. I think if this was the plan all along you should trade up and select Micah Crawford (Jordan Poole) who is a little more far along than Siva, but let's take a look at Phoenix's future floor general. I view Peyton Siva as a poor man's Dejuan Baker. Mostly Cs across the board but that A in steals is clutch. Great quickness but so-so STR and below-avg JMP mean Siva should be a facilitator first instead of a scorer.
Year 1: SIT
Grab a more ready-to-play now PG in the 2nd round and/or in free agency and let Siva redshirt at least one season while he develops. I'd train that passing potential from C -> B or boost that JMP/INS if you want to develop a better scorer down the road. Mahmoud at the center spot is also really raw so points are at a premium here. I think the Suns need to decide what timeline they want to pursue. You either cash in Siva/Mahmoud now and build around the Asher, Quickley, (and Canfield?) nucleus or cash in the Big 3 and build around Siva/Mahmoud. It is an interesting problem to have, but it is still a problem until you figure it out.
#10 Houston Rockets: Vaughn Millsap
Instant Reaction: Another high-flying wing. Not much else to say here. Millsap reminds me of a poor man's Rich Paul so I figure 78# will be able to reminisce about good ole days. Expect to see Millsap in a dunk contest soon. But not much else.
Year 1: PLAY
Millsap will be bench fodder for the Rockets and hopefully net a point or two during the rookie contract with a dunk contest nod. If there is a TC boost, it would get interesting, but I doubt Millsap will survive multiple TCs uninsured.
TRADE!
Pelicans send #11, Ken Dirks, and 5 points to Orlando for Mike Henry
Pelicans send #11, Ken Dirks, and 5 points to Orlando for Mike Henry
Instant Reaction: Good trade for both sides. Orlando sheds a huge, expiring contract and the Pelicans cash in a couple of assets to surround their young talent with a proven vet at minimal risk to the long-term picture. Good job all around.
#11 Orlando Magic: Brian Lough
Instant Reaction: Tall. Brian Lough is tall. If any SLOE historian reads this and made it this far down the page, feel free to correct me, but I think Lough is the tallest player drafted in the lottery since Yao Ming. At 7'6 this is a sight to behold. Wow, and Lough can play a little defense too. And he is not a sloth. I am a little disappointed false9 did not rename Lough, but I cannot think of any suggestions so it is probably moot.
Year 1: PLAY
false9 does not need my advice. Frankly, no GM here needs my advice. Except for jlmarines. So here is a request for F9 if he feels a little charitable this season and can spend a little to get Lough's INS boosted if TC does not help him naturally. I want to see how much damage a 7'6 freak can do on offense.
#12 Los Angeles Clippers: Bennedict Mathurin (formerly Vernon Power)
Instant Reaction: An unathletic 3&D. Interesting. He can certainly play immediately though since he is a good outside shooter, so let's see if Mamba keeps another sniper here in LA or if he gets shipped elsewhere.
Year 1: PLAY
I do not think Mathurin is worth investing heavy points to develop but hopefully, he survives TCs to keep this skillset intact. If the Clippers were so inclined to boost the INS/JMP that would be dope to make him more efficient but I doubt it ever happens.
TRADE!
Clippers send Bennedict Mathurin to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Danny Campbell 4-way deal.
Clippers send Bennedict Mathurin to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Danny Campbell 4-way deal.
Instant Reaction: Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa is mad grinning. The Sixers still really suck but look at all these scoring options now that Geronimo can pass the ball to in garbage time. Lopez, Winston, Mathurin, and maybe just maybe Chief K?
Overall, it was an interesting lottery class this season. I think several teams found future franchise cornerstones while a couple of GMs probably stumbled. Who will prove me wrong? Who will make me look like a fool for thinking he would be a future star? We shall see on a future iteration of Let's Keep It 100.
