#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

Selection:Stewart Durant, PF/ SF - 6'10" 230 Lbs

Analysis:Typically, when you have the #1 overall selection, your team is bad.The Thunder are not an exception after going 21-61. They took a leap to get here but they were no closer to the playoffs last off-season to this off-season. The Thunder need talent and most importantly, flexible talent. That's why Durant is the pick here. Is he a home-run? No not really.

Weaknesses:
He's not an extremely great athlete, but he's also not a lost cause. Durant's 63 in quickness allows him to be slotted to the 3 or 4 position. He's kind of a 'tweener because of this. He's not really fast enough as a 3, not really strong enough or the rebounder to be a 4 . A lot of points will be need to be put into quickness strength and jump to make him elite. He also isn't really much of a turnover creation machine.

Strengths:
Obviously, not his strength. But like his cousin, Kevin, he can score from pretty much anywhere on the floor, and at 6'10" he can be a nightmare match-up for anyone. He has the build to create his own shot, and has the potential for a great jump shot. Another great thing is, he's not a lost cause on defense, and currently it's the most developed piece of his game. To make this guy elite, you're going to have to either throw points into his PRD or his rebounding to keep him on the floor. I would personally go PRD and boost him up to be a SF.

Selection:Robert Macy, C - 7'1 256 LBS

Analysis:The Clippers are really in the very beginning stages of a rebuild and by that, I mean the cupboard is nearly bare. Last year’s first round pick, Phil Brooks looks like he can be a great big combo guard and has already got the scoring down. This gives the Clippers some flexibility. They can go for a solid guard here or a big. I think the play is for a big. With Emmitt McNiel a RFA, they can add talent that can play now. Robert Macy is a 7’1 prospect who looks strikingly similar to Erik Haynes who just made all league 1st team.

Weakness:
Not a lot of them for a true 5. Her wont’ stretch the floor with his shooting and he is a bad defensive rebounder for the position. He will need extensive time and about 45 points paid into his Defensive rebounding to get him to not be a huge liability there.
Strengths:
He stands at 7’1”, is 18 and is incredibly strong. The guy has the bones to be an elite defensive talent, but not only that, a 2 way player. Think 20-11-3 blocks. We’re talking about All-League if played right, ie Erik Haynes. I also think paying to get his quickness to about 45 and his JMP to 80 and we’re talking about a DPOY guy for 5 years.

Selection:William Deforest, SF/ SF - 6'6" 208 LBS

Analysis: By falling to #3 the Warriors have 2 choices. Take a heavy swing for a guy who could be a franchise changer, which I don’t think is there- or they can take a sure shot at a perfect #2, a beta, a complimentary player. Now I’m not saying beta like it’s a bad thing. We all need them on our teams and they need to be the utility guys that show up no matter what. Deforest is that exact guy. He can score a bit, rebound a bit, get you turnovers, has some versatility. Deforest is probably a second or third best guy on a championship level team.

Weakness: Deforest isn’t really great at anything, and he’s a downright bad mid-range shooter. If he turns into one of these guys who falls in love with the J, he will be a poor player and will bust. Not a strong 3 point shooter, but not bad, and he won’t be a defensive stopper without help.

Strengths:Versatility- While he won’t tear the world up, he will do a little of everything, and with a little TLC he can end up being a very solid guy in your line-up. I would recommend throwing points into his PRD and 3 point shooting as well as getting him near 70 Str and he will be a very good player for 10 years. The other thing is, hes not as raw as some of the other guys. He can play a backup role at about 15-25 mpg and not absolutely kill your squad.

Selection: Kevin Barrick , PF- 6’9” 224 LBS

Analysis: Well honestly, the Blazers are in kind of a predicament here. They could really use a big or a 1 and all that’s there are wings. Because this is a mock draft and im forced to take someone I’m going to take Barrick who I don’t love here. The optimal situation is to trade down and take him at 7 or to just trade the pick for someone who can jump in and win now. The West is a joke sans 3 teams and it’s a good time to strike.

Weakness: Elite talent, size, athleticism, shooting and most importantly, color rating. Not that those things are important.

Strengths: The guy will be able to defend with some work and should eb able to score a bit as well. He can also jump in and play right away unlike a lot of these other guys. 2 trainings in Post D and this guy is starting to look like one of the quailman scouting reports that said he wanted him first. Imagine a player with B Pst D, A PRD, B Stl and B blocks at the 4 or off the bench to wreck team’s second units. That can be this man.

Selection: Carol Stanberry, SG- 6’5” 212 LBS

Analysis: Sure the Bobcats already have Josh Hart, but we need to be pragmatic if we’re sitting in the seat of the Bobcats GM. They could take a page out of fellow All-Debt team member Loco and try and get 50 points trading down, but the bad luck from the lotto balls coupled with the very thin draft makes that hard. I think they take Stansberry because he’s got a chance to be on this team in 5 years, and it allows them to move Hart for points and picks. Because the draft is so weak, after pick 6, I could see a scenario where the Bobcats move Hart for 7 or lower and 10 points, and trade down a few times and end up netting 30 points, which is close to their whole point total last year.

Weakness:Not an elite Athlete. Can’t create his own shot well. Raw, not elite size. Pretty good to go potentials wise though.

Strengths: Looking at the bobcats and the lost ability to train players, having a ready-made guy is the most important. He has the potential to shoot from anywhere on the floor, not turn it over and be an above average defender. I think this is the type of guy you can pair with Kuzma and start molding a team.

Selection: Lawrence Michaud SG/SF 6’6” 203 LBS

Analysis:The Cavs are a long way away, but they’ve got some pretty nice pieces out there. Fults may be the cheaper knock off brand of Fultz, but he’s a legit 1. Petit with 64 quickness has all the makings of a 3 with his diverse talent set and size. That’s where Michaud come into play. He and Stansberry really have very complimentary skillsets, except Michaud is a lacking athlete. He’s got elite quickness for his size like LeCroix of the Lakers but lacks athleticism elsewhere. His frail frame and white genetics limit his jumping ability.

Weakness:Athleticism- He’s weak and doesn’t not get lift on his jump. He can be an elite defender on the outside, but if someone gets inside they’ll wreck him. Tunnel vision and will not pass to open players. Extremely raw: won’t be a factor for 4-5 seasons. Does not show a knack for getting turnovers. Does not show vision for creating a shot on his own. Will need an elite PG by his side. Rebounding is something he does after a break-up, but not on the court.

Strengths: Has the skillset to be a solid guard in the league. Shooting ability is strong with elite range from 3. Also is not turn-over prone. Michaud can be an elite defender on the outside. Good size. Blue player color- which is ovi important.

Selection: J.C. Dement SF 6’7” 222 LBS

Analysis: The Suns are in total rebuild mode and frankly there’s not much left at around the 7 pick. We’re going to go with Dement here to give them an asset, but he won’t be on this team in about 5 years.

Weakness: Well he Can’t handle, pass, rebound, defend, or create turnovers. He’s not an elite athlete and his size is ok at best. He’s raw. He’s a fake blue.

Strengths: Average athlete, average size. Great jumper and can create his own shot. Probably more of a 7th man when he fully matures, and on the right salary he could be a net neutral player on the bench, which is good.

Selection: Derick Hunter
Analysis: This is the part of the draft where everything turns into a crapshoot and I start phoning it in wondering why I picked top 10 and not top 8. Hell, you know what I’m changing the title to top 8 to abuse my power. There’s about a billion Greens left with about .1 degrees of separation from any of them. I do think Hunter is a guy you can start to build around. The Nets shipped Pedroza out last year, and with him they sent elite scoring, defensive ability , passing , and the heart of the nets franchise. Hunter is a small bandage in a gaping wound but I think he’s got some staying power. If you throw in about 50 points into his rebounding he’s looking like a 3rd or 4th starter that can play the 5. He will never be elite, but he reminds me a Gortat type of center, that does some important things great and is solid elsewhere.

Weakness: Athleticism, shooting, rawness and rebounding. Being a Center who can’t rebound is a gapping hole in a guys game. He’s the type you have to surround with elite rebounding skills. He’s also lacking in athleticism. He’s slow and he won’t draw many fouls. Below average strength.

Strengths: Size, and Defense. When you get here in a weaker draft, we’re looking at specialist, and Hunter is a defensive specialist. He has the ability to be a defensive anchor for whoever selects him as a shot blocker and down low. He’s got below average strength for his position, but with some points that could grow as well. He also knows how to take care of the ball when he gets his chance, unlike a lot of other bigs.

Points Czar awards you 6 points! 1835 words

Enjoyed this Scott!