#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

On the morning of Training Camp the league is full of anticipation. Young teams wait on edge, hoping their prospects continue to grow. Older teams cringe, waiting to see the damage. With an eye on the future (and far too much free time on my hands), I present the PBSL Futures Report, which will become completely obsolete by the end of training camp.

Celtics
Players - Under 25: 5; Current < Future: 3
1st Round Picks: All of their own
Last Forecast: ☁ ☂ ☂ ☁ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☁ ☁ ☀ ☀ ☀
With a little help from the lotto (Hello, Wall!) The C's will probably never have a terrible year and won't have to totally tank to rebuild. Dudley, Asik, and Wall should get some help soon and be good enough to turn this team into a contender.

Nets
Players - Under 25: 1; Current < Future: 0
1st Round Picks: Their own 2011 and 2013
Last Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☁ ☂ ☂ ☁ ☁
I'm not sure when the wheels came off for this team but things just don't seem to be shaking out this year. Expect the fire sale to start as soon as they have reacquired their 2012 pick.

Heat
Players - Under 25: 4; Current < Future: 4
1st Round Picks: All of their own
Last Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁
The training God giveth and the training God taketh away. The Heat have seen some great progress in TC while it simultaneously killed Iggy early. If the Heat can find a landing place for Jefferson or Iggy (preferably a deal that sends a PG in return) the Heat should be able to get under the cap and ride their talented young core for years. If they can't deal Iggy or Jeff then the tax man could rain on this parade.

Knicks
Players - Under 25: 2; Current < Future: 1
1st Round Picks: All their own, 2011 Magic, 2012 Cavs, and 2012 Pistons
Last Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☂ ☂ ☁ ☁ ☁
The Knicks bus blew up earlier than expected and the rebuild will be slow as they mostly landed picks.

Magic
Players - Under 25: 3; Current < Future: 1
1st Round Picks: Their own 2012
5 Year Forecast: ☁ ☁ ☀ ☁ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁ ☁
With a young core outside of Rashard, the Magic should be contenders for the next couple years, after which the tax man will probably put a damper on this party.

76ers
Players - Under 25: 5; Current < Future: 6
1st Round Picks: Their own 2013 and Lakers 2011
Last Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁
Apparently the TC God only giveth in Phili. They have a wealth of young talent. The only concern here are Amare and Chandler's massive deals that eat up most of the cap for the next 4 years.

Wizards
Players - Under 25: 5; Current < Future: 0
1st Round Picks: Their own 2011 and 2013
Last Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁
5 Year Forecast:
The Wizards has a mediocre core but they are young and under the cap so this could go either way. I expect a blow up eventually but I'm not sure when.

Hawks
Players - Under 25: 3; Current < Future: 2
1st Round Picks: All their own
Last Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀
Considering the young tandem of Noah and Gay, I don't really see a full tank from the Hawks. They wont be great next year as they do some tax maneuvering but something tells me Wig will rebound quickly.

Bulls
Players - Under 25: 4; Current < Future: 5
1st Round Picks: All their own
Last Forecast: ☁ ☁ ☀ ☀
5 Year Forecast: ☂ ☁ ☁ ☀
Poor Bulls. They have enough pieces to get themselves set up for a nice future but without a dedicated GM it might not happen.

Cavs
Players - Under 25: 2; Current < Future: 2
1st Round Picks: Their own 2011 and 2013 and Sixers 2012
Last Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁ ☁
That Paul-Gasol combo is frightening and GM Hamilton can do no wrong it seems. However, the Butler, Salmons, and Pierce deals are going to cause cap problems if they can't be moved when the Cavs have to pay Gasol next year.

Pistons
Players - Under 25: 4; Current < Future: 2
1st Round Picks: Their own 2013 and Nets 2012
Last Forecast:
5 Year Forecast:
The Pistons continue to be a puzzle. They have to compete because they don't have their picks but thing don't seem to be working for their talented core. Hopefully they'll find a way out of the fog.

Pacers
Players - Under 25: 2; Current < Future: 4
1st Round Picks: All their own
Last Forecast: ☁ ☁ ☁ ☁ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☁ ☁ ☀ ☁.
Another talented team stuck in the fog. It is really hard to figure out why this team can't make the leap. The Moz D-Will combo is nice but it seems Moz is still a couple years out from turning this team into a contender.

Bucks
Players - Under 25: 13; Current < Future: 8
1st Round Picks: All their own, 2011 Hornets, 2012 Pacers, 2012 Blazers
last Forecast: ☂ ☂ ☁ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☂ ☂ ☁ ☁
I'm just going to leave last year's forecast because it was PERFECT!!! "Does this forecast make any sense? No, but here’s what I’m thinking anyway. I think that Quail’s mini reboot ends up looking a little too cute and the Bucks flame out this year so Quail opts to sign and trade Amare and sell high on Parker and Artest and add a ton of pieces to his already decent fold of young talent. It has been a while since Quail has blown things up. I think he finally succumbs to the itch. Oh, and he’ll trade for 2011 pick back in a classic Quail move."

Hornets
Players - Under 25: 1; Current < Future: 0
1st Round Picks: Their own 2010 and 2012
Last Forecast: ☁ ☁ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☂ ☂ ☁ ☁
Teams like the Hornets make me realize I know nothing about this game. How are they winning this year? In any case they don't have their pick so it's a good thing. Expect a full tank next year.

Raptors
Players - Under 25: 3; Current < Future: 2
1st Round Picks: Their own 2012 and 2013
5 Year Forecast: ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☁
The Raptors are still in a weird place. They are going to run into cap trouble before guys like DeRozan and Aminu are ready. I'm still not sure how this shakes out.

Mavericks
Players - Under 25: 9; Current < Future: 3
1st Round Picks: Their own 2011 and 2013
Last Forecast: ☁ ☁ ☀ ☀
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀
One of the many teams that sped up their rebuild. A core of Lopez, Whiteside, and Holiday feels a little awkward but it seems to be working okay at a young age with some help. The contracts seem stacked nicely as well so they should be able to keep things up for a while.

Nuggets
Players - Under 25: 6; Current < Future: 3
1st Round Picks: All of their own
Last Forecast: ☂ ☂ ☁ ☁ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☁ ☁ ☁ ☁ ☁
The Nuggets are going through something the Warriors went through a while back. They are trying to tank but their good team culture prevents them from being too bad. It makes you wonder if we're on the verge of reversal of course after they clear a bunch of cap space after this year.

Rockets
Players - Under 25: 5; Current < Future: 5
1st Round Picks: All of their own
Last Forecast: ☁ ☀ ☀
5 Year Forecast: ☁ ☀ ☀
There is still a ton to like about this team but will they wait for young guys to develop or build a contender by trading prospects and spending in free agency. I'm guessing they won't wait.

Grizzlies
Players - Under 25: 5; Current < Future: 3
1st Round Picks: All of their own, 2011 Pistons, 2012 Wizards, and 2012 T-Wolves
Last Forecast: ☂ ☂ ☁ ☁ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☂ ☂ ☁ ☁ ☁
The Grizz are bad and about to get worse. The slow rebuild still seems the trick with that Simmons contract but I don't understand that Reddick deal. Loco gonna Loco. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Timberwolves
Players - Under 25: 2; Current < Future: 1
1st Round Picks: Their own 2011 and 2013
Last Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁
This team will be good and getting better until the tax ax hits them.

Spurs
Players - Under 25: 7; Current < Future: 7
1st Round Picks: All of their own and 2013 Magic
Last Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁ ☁
Eazy did an UnEazy thing by taking a big swing for the fences with the Hinrich acquisition. It was a tremendous deal until TC brought Kirk back to Earth. There is still so much to like about this team. I have a feeling that Scola deal is going to burn them because he is 30 and they now have $50 million tied up in 2012 and they have to pay Westbrook that year so I'm guessing the wheels come off after a couple years.

Jazz
Players - Under 25: 8; Current < Future: 4
1st Round Picks: All of their own and Sonics’ 2011
Last Forecast: ☁ ☂ ☂ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☂ ☁ ☀ ☀ ☀
The Jazz have a tremendous core and no bad money. Give these guys a couple years and they are going to be able to put together a stellar squad.

Warriors
Players - Under 25: 3; Current < Future: 1
1st Round Picks: All of their own
Last Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀
5 Year Forecast: ☁ ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀
What happened in Oakland! I don't think anyone saw this kind of drop off coming. Everything will be okay though. Curry will still be a superstar. Jordan is on pace to be a monster. Z-Bo is only 29 and they have a ton of cap space next year.

Clippers
Players - Under 25: 1; Current < Future: 3
1st Round Picks: All their own
Last Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀
As long as Durant is on your team your future looks bright but I'm not sure what happens next year. If they keep Dirk they'll be in cap trouble and maybe age trouble. If they let him go they'll have tons of space but have to find 3 starters on the free agency market, which means that space will have to get stretched thin.

Lakers
Players - Under 25: 3; Current < Future: 2
1st Round Picks: Their own 2013 and 2012 and 76ers 2011
Last Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁ ☁
Whatever problems there were in LA last year are gone but the tax looms large over the team as they are already over for next year without a starting PF under contract. We'll see if they can bring home a 'ship before the ship sinks.

Sonics
Players - Under 25: 4; Current < Future: 5
1st Round Picks: Their own 2012 and 2013
Last Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁
5 Year Forecast: ☁ ☀ ☀ ☀
Obviously there is a lot of young talent on this team. Assuming that talent continues to develop as projected and they get their tax problems squared away, Darth should be back contending soon.

Suns
Players - Under 25: 3; Current < Future: 2
1st Round Picks: All of their own
Last Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☀
5 Year Forecast: ☁ ☀ ☀ ☀
The reigning champs have an uncertain offseason coming up with a player option for Biedrins. If he leaves they'll have a ton of space but also an entire roster to fill. The good news is Love is going to be really good so the Suns should be too.

Blazers
Players - Under 25: 3; Current < Future: 4
1st Round Picks: Their own 2011 and 2013
Last Forecast: ☂ ☁ ☀ ☀
5 Year Forecast: ☀ ☀ ☀ ☁ ☁
The Blazers look good now and can still have a future with Rose and Lee but the biggest question is whether they will try to get under the cap next season or set themselves up for a huge bill in two years when they have to pay Rose.

Kings
Players - Under 25: 7; Current < Future: 6
1st Round Picks: All of their own and Raptors 2011
Last Forecast: ☂ ☁ ☀ ☀
5 Year Forecast: ☂ ☁ ☀ ☀
The Kings had high hopes for this year but no matter. They still have so many assets they'll be able to make a big deal any time they feel the time is right.

Entertaining as always KU!

Loved it

I don't like my team as much as you do KU, but nice job.

Your thing influenced me like Raby's Cohesion piece influenced you to trade Dirk LOL

IamQuailman wrote:Your thing influenced me like Raby's Cohesion piece influenced you to trade Dirk LOL

Sad but true

You're awarded 5 points for your article. Thanks for your media contribution, Todd!