X2
Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2022 1:15 pm
Word count: 3,483
When my Clippers were taken out in the Finals in 6 games, it marked the end of twenty seasons for me as a member of this league. For some of you out there, that number probably feels like a very distant memory. However, for me, it feels like a long damn time and worthy of tailoring an article around. 20 seasons turns into about 3 years of real-time, and I cannot decide which of those numbers feels more ridiculous. From my opening post on June 25th, 2019, until now, many sim-careers have come and gone. GMs have done the same. So have commissioners. I still cannot figure out exactly how I became one of those either, and I am convinced that Josh has held one long Jedi mind-trick on me. My opening post was a sign of that as well:
“I was brought on-board by Josh the Trashman (close enough) to get ABUSED (!) and taken advantage of (!!!) until I (maybe?) get the hang of this whole thing. Can I run the Clippers?”
IF ONLY I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW!
Now is a good time to go over the things that I’ve done and seen in this league over the past 20 seasons. The good, bad, and the Dougie. To be quite honest, I have forgotten chunks of time and transactions, but I’ll do my best to recall things that were game changers, or at the very least, events that I found interesting.
Let’s do some rankings! A top 5 of various league things as I see it!
FAVORITE TRADES INVOLVING THE CLIPPERS
5.
Clippers send:
Chris Pallies
Norrin Radd
King Kaldur’ahm
5 points
Bucks send:
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Joffery Baratheon
William Caine
2030 2nd round pick
Posted: August 23rd, 2019.
This deal must find a place on any list like this because it was the first trade that I was a part of after joining the league. If I remember correctly, I joined the league right as the off-season began and saw the Clippers won 10 games the season before and the lotto dropped them all the down to 5th in the draft. Then I won 9 games my first full season and the lotto dropped me from 1st to 5th again, and it was at that moment that I realized that I didn’t feel like banking on a randomize button to get good players on my roster. Josh had warned me about getting into trading too quickly, since there were folks out there who could attempt to take advantage of my inexperience, but I threw that caution to the wind. First though, I took my first dive into the RFA pool and maxed Jaren Jackson Jr., which is what lead Doug to approaching me about a trade in the first place. In hindsight, JJJ likely is not a player I would max in that manner again, but I didn’t know any better and wanted to get talent somehow.
Unfortunately, this trade did not help me build a playoff team and I would end up in the lotto again the following season. I also know now that I would not trade 3 blue potential rookie contracts for non-stars, even if I was getting two strong Blues back in return. I save that kind of package deal for true, blue-blood superstars now. Still, it was a valuable lesson in the workings of trade discussions and learning how to evaluate and value players. It also was not a completely terrible deal by any means. Baratheon was a strong starting PG and Jackson Jr. was a steady starter for a long time after this deal. More importantly, I would end up using Jackson Jr. in another trade a couple of seasons later which will also be on this ranking.
4.
Clippers send:
Boban Marjanovic
Magic send:
Chris Pallies
Terry Sterner
Zeke Nnaji
Douglas Harris
Chad Wallace
Posted: July 8, 2020
The big fella, Boban, helped bring me in my one and only championship and immediately I went into “taking offers” mode with all of my top players to get started on some kind of a rebuild. Andy is the mad genius that created Boban in the first place and had a ton of success in the process. So, it felt right that we send him home to try to win another championship. This is a deal that really leans in my favor more than Andy’s. Boban remained a very good player, however he was no longer the MVP caliber guy that he once was, so Andy’s team success with that iteration of the Magic was minimal. On my end, besides salary filler in Pallies and Wallace, I received three blue potential players on rookie contracts. Douglas Harris would end up playing his best ball with the Spurs. Zeke Nnaji spent time in Denver after this deal before getting back to me and eventually being traded for one of my current young stars. Scary Terry Sterner is a guy I took on as a major project and he ended up being one of my best and favorite Clippers, at least individually. He is high on several team records, and it was a ton of fun to build someone from the ground up, even if we never were able to pull a title out.
3.
Clippers send:
James Kirkendall
Joffery Baratheon
Clippers 36 1st
Clippers 37 1st
Kings send:
Bryce Dejean-Jones
Spurs 36 1st
Posted: May 15, 2020
The season prior to this trade, I went to the Finals for the first time. Going into that series (against the Kings), I thought I had a great chance at winning it all, backed by MVP Boban Marjanovic and a powerful starting 5 overall. Little did I know that I was walking into a buzzsaw, lead by Point Gawd, Bryce Dejean-Jones. As soon as I lost 4-1 to that team, Tani and I had quick conversations about getting BDJ into a Clippers jersey and the move was finalized quickly afterwards. From a pure value standpoint, this might be the biggest steal of a trade that I’ve ever been able to pull because of just how much BDJ brought to my team, including a championship the following season.
2.
Clippers send:
Marcel McAllister
Aaron Nesmith
David McCafferty
2040 Clippers 1st
2042 Clippers 1st
Raptors send:
Gary Loredo
Posted: February 3, 2021
After one failed attempt to go all-in, and some very middling seasons after winning my championship, I was ready to get it right and try hard at a championship once more. It just so happened that Geoff was ready to purge his roster of a young, purple, Gary Loredo and boy was I ready to pounce. Ultimately, I was his 2nd choice when things did not pan out in a deal between the Raptors and (I believe) the Spurs, but I was not going to be upset about being the runner-up in this case. Marcel McAllister was a youngster that was ready to contribute quickly and had great potential and Nesmith and McCafferty were projects that could become something with some TLC and obviously draft picks are a crapshoot, but there were there. Loredo (and another deal for Jordan Johnson) really elevated my team and he finished his time with me with 3 straight seasons of 60+ wins and a trip to the Finals and would have had my 2nd championship if not for the Bulls getting prime Delmar Lopez at the same damn time.
1.
Clippers send:
Jaren Jackson Jr.
10 points
2035 Clippers 1st
Magic Send:
Boban Marjanovic
2034 Magic 1st
Yes, Boban finds his way into two spots in my top 5. This trade will almost certainly always be my #1. It was the trade that really made me a contender and gave me a lot of excitement for the game. Boban would win multiple MVPs on the Clippers, take me to 2 Finals, win 1 championship and as mentioned previously, trading him away really got my rebuild going with a bang. The lesser-known part of this deal is our pick swap, which we did because we just assumed that Magic pick would be shit and since I was still a new GM, there was a chance that I could screw things up and Andy would benefit. Instead, Andy was really bad leading into that pick which wound up being the draft of Lu Dort. Unfortunately for me, I also traded the pick prior to that draft, but it brought me Glen Sabo, who paired with Boban to make a dominate front court.
TOP 5 DRAFT PICKS
5.
2027-2028 Draft (#5 overall)
The Los Angeles Clippers select: Norrin Radd, Guard, Kansas State University
Radd did not play any significant basketball for me, but he was my first draft pick that I ever made and for that reason alone, he belongs on this list. I also loved being able to rename players after superheroes my first two seasons before that was taken away, so I found having Norrin Radd in the league to be a bit of good fun, regardless if he were on my roster or not. Radd never became a star, but was a very good offensive contributor, who I attempted to trade back for a few times.
4.
2028-2029 Draft (#5 overall)
The Los Angeles Clippers select: King Kaldurahm, Power Forward, Washington.
Kaldur played no minutes for me, at least when he was in his prime, because I dealt him to the Bucks after drafting him, but I loved his name and followed his career very closely afterwards. Kaldur was a participant in the All-Star game and All-League teams multiple times, earning his draft position and future big money contracts.
3.
2030-2031 Draft (#9 overall)
The Los Angeles Clippers select: Kaleb Wesson, Power Forward, Ohio State.
I’ll be honest, Wesson is only here because he is named after an Ohio State player, and I remember enjoying watching this Orange/Green rookie eventually blossom into a Blue/Blue shot blocking force … for a bunch of other teams. I believe I dealt him to Chicago initially, but he certainly did bounce around a bit, though I recall him being a really good player for the Nets at one point.
2.
Season 56 Draft (#14 overall)
The Los Angeles Clippers select: Tony Parris, Center, Marquette
A running theme here is that most of my picks get traded away, either before they are ever made or shortly after. Parris is no different as he is currently the starting Center for the Orlando Magic and leading the league in blocked shots (4.7 per game). I was really happy to get him when I did in that draft, but I was even happier to deal him to get Lu Dort on my team and lead me to another Finals appearance. Training Camp really hurt him a couple seasons ago, but he’s still a steady front court player and great defensive presence.
1.
Season 56 Draft (#8 overall)
The Los Angeles Clippers select: Safi Fino-A-Laself, Small Forward, Stanford
It was a two-fer in this draft, I’d say. I remember in the lead-up to this draft, I was leaning towards drafting the player that would become Anas Mahmoud. I think I initially wrote Safi off because he had such poor athleticism (41 QKN for a wing? Woof). It wasn’t until right before I made the pick that I looked closely at Safi and noticed A’s in INS, FT and 3PS as well as Bs in JPS, DRB, PRD, and BLK. I realized … this dude would be a blue or maybe even a purple potential player right out of the gate if he had any athleticism at all. And hell, I could train that! So, I swerved at the last minute and chose Safi and boy am I glad that I did. He has been bumped twice now in TC and even with his QKN only being up to 55 now, he is a purple potential player. I redshirted him his first 3 seasons since I had championship caliber rosters and didn’t need him. He is now seeing the court for the first time as a G/P and before a long injury, was averaging 19.2 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists on shooting splits of 45-89-40. He’s a guy (my first) that I have every intention of letting him fully blossom which I drafted myself and it’s an exciting thought.
TOP 5 CLIPPERS SEASONS
5.
2028
9-73 (Missed playoffs)
It was a terrible season, but it was also my first and they say that you never forget your first. Probably a lie though because I remember almost nothing about that season besides the win total and who I drafted before and after it. Doing research helps though. You know a season is bad when your leading scorer only averages 11.5 points, and he (Colby Lopez) missed 25 games due to injury. It was my first exposure to Michael Garvin though, who became one of my personal favorite players that I’ve had.
4.
2033
68-14 (Lost in the Finals)
The season before THE season. I mentioned this season earlier when discussing the BDJ trade, so I’ll keep this part brief. I thought I was a shoo-in for a ring, but the Kings and BDJ had other plans. Still, it was my first taste of major success (and disappointment) and was a ton of fun to run until the bitter end. Unlike #5, this season gave me 3 players scoring 20 or more points (Garvin, Boban, Sabo) and the MVP (Boban). I had the best record in the league by 7 games (10 over the Kings, who I lost to in the finals). Sad end, fun ride, and it gave me more confidence in my ability to make things happen in this game.
3.
2047
63-19 (Lost in the Finals)
Our most recent season gets a spot on the list. I knew going in that I didn’t really have a shot at winning the championship, because we’re in the middle of the most impressive run that I’ve personally seen in my time here, and probably ever, period. Losing to the Pistons wasn’t a big deal. In fact, I loved putting this team together and letting it get to work. Lead by league MVP Lu Dort (who averaged a triple double in the playoffs as well), it was a team with a good mix of youth and experience and offense and defense. I tailored the entire team to Dort just to see how ridiculous his numbers could get, and I would say that he did not let me down, individually or as the leader of the team. Hell, taking 2 games off those Pistons was a hell of a feat as well.
2.
2041
69-13 (Lost in the Finals)
While this season was one of my most fun that I’ve had, the ending was also one of the most demoralizing, and really kept me in a sim-funk for a couple of seasons afterwards. I built a powerhouse team that had the most wins in the league, lead by Gary Loredo and Jordan Johnson, however it was such a complete team that no one averaged over 17.7 points. It was one of the few teams that I built around the outside offensive focus, and it gave me great joy to see it work. It was also when Sterner, a guy I pumped points into and developed, really stepped into his own. Then the playoffs worked out where it was a finals series against my mentor, Josh and his Bulls. I definitely wanted to take that one home, and though we had a back-and-forth series, once we got ourselves to game 7, in Los Angeles, I felt confident that I would pull out the win and my second championship. Unfortunately, Gary Loredo had his worst game of the playoffs (5-22 shooting, 0-6 from 3) and Delmar Lopez destroyed me (45 points) and shut the door on me. Took a little time for me to get my motivation back up after that one, but I’m mostly having fun again. Thanks a lot Josh!
1.
2034
65-17 (Championship)
I also spoke about this season earlier, so I won’t dive too deep now. BDJ, Boban, Sabo = championship. Probably didn’t hurt that the Bulls got bounces by the Mavs in round 2 as well. Or else it might have been my 2nd crushing playoff defeat by Josh. I don’t know if I’ll grab a second title or not, so, let me cherish the one that I have!
TOP 5 FAVORITE PLAYERS
5.
Safi Fino-A-Laself
Yeah, he is playing his first basketball of his career now, and injuries have cut him short, but he has helped keep me engaged and excited since I drafted him. I use my draft picks so infrequently that he is a rarity for me, and with all the still untapped potential in him, he could become the best player in the league if he doesn’t stumble.
4.
Michael Garvin
He was already on my roster when I took the Clippers over, and quickly made a mark on me. He ended up spending 8 seasons with me, and in his final one, we won the championship. He got to hit UFA right afterwards and I did not bother sending him an offer because I knew that was the perfect storybook ending for his time in Los Angeles.
3.
Bryce Dejean-Jones
The catalyst for my championship season and still a fixture on the Clippers team records lists even though he did not spend a ton of time with me. What an exciting player, champion and certainly a hall of famer.
2.
Boban Marjanovic
Probably don’t have to go over all of this again, do I? Champion, MVP, All-League, All-Defense, and he helped me coming to the team and again leaving it. He’s a star and really should be #1, but I have a very special, soft spot in my heart for …
1.
Terry Sterner
After trading for Sterner from Orlando, I wanted to transform him into a 2-way point guard. So, point after point was pumped into that young man until he was able to be a leader on championship caliber rosters. Here are his rankings in certain individual Clippers stats:
#3 in points (12,065)
#3 in rebounds (3,653)
#1 in assists (4,966)
#8 in steals (514)
#2 in double-doubles (180)
#4 in triple-doubles (12)
#3 in made field goals (4,669)
#7 in 3-pointers made (949)
Sterner had a hell of a Clippers career!
Though I could go on with more rankings in-depth, I’ve just passed my 3,000 word count so, let me just leave with these final, random thoughts:
1.
Being commissioner ages you in this sim life like dog years. I’ve not had to feel real burnout because I’ve had a group of folks willing to help out when I need to take time away (especially Josh, who did almost everything when I was on vacation for 2 weeks recently), but it does take a toll. Still, it has not been a terrible gig to have and the league in general has been very understanding and accommodating to any changes that I’ve needed to put in place for my own sanity. I’ll continue to run things as long as you’ll have me, and I am not tired of it.
2.
Trade discussions are my favorite in-game things to do, and I look forward to digging in with some of ya’ll this coming off-season. I know the Pistons have most teams spooked to make deals, but I’ll be open for business and I hope that some of you all will be too!
3.
I really miss folks doing podcasts. I suppose I could do it but …
4.
I wonder if more action in our hall of fame, somehow, can’t be a possibility in the near future!
5.
A note to new GMs that I feel is the best advice that I could give:
Listen to your mentor … but do not be a slave to their teachings.
If you are fortunate enough to be brought in by someone who is active and knowledgeable and willing to teach, take as much from them as you can and run with it. I do not think most mentors are out to hurt you or take advantage of you (except Charlie!), so you’d be wise to listen and learn. HOWEVER, your enjoyment of this game is ultimately exclusively up to you. So, learn but build your own methods and game planning techniques and roster building in a way that bring YOU the most enjoyment, not what looks closest to how your mentor does things.
And that’s all I have. For a full 20 season retrospective I’d probably need 10,000 words but Frye all that. So, hey, I’m still having some fun and enjoying all of your company. Let’s keep it going for another …. 1000 years, yeah?
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