Pre-Season 5-on-5 (2033-34 Season)
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2020 9:29 am
Why HELLO CHIL'REN! Welcome to another regular season. As we have in past seasons, I have volunteered as tribute assemble a crew of point-hungry GMs and pick their brains on their teams and the league as a whole. Without further ado let me introduce our beautiful contestants...
FROM THE CITY OF ANGELS... THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS GM... MEXICANMAMBA!
FROM THE CITY OF CHURROS... THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS GM... EAZY P!
FROM THE CITY OF CHAIN RESTAURANTS... THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER GM... ANGRYBANANA!
FROM THE CITY OF TWINS... THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES GM... JNR!
FROM THE CITY OF JAZZ, MARDI GRAS, AND TITTIES ON BOURBON STREET... THE NEW ORLEANS PELICANS GM... NICK MALONE!
The rules are simple: I provide 5 questions; they provide the answers (I may as well). Let's get down to business!
1. Who doesn't like talking about themselves? What was your favorite "happening" of the off-season for you (trade, signing, draft pick, TC bump)? SURE GO AHEAD AND NAME A COUPLE IF YOU CAN'T DECIDE. If you could do it all over again, what is one approach you would change (if any)?
MexicanMamba:
My off-season was relatively quiet considering how many big swings I took last season. I didn't have a 1st round pick, only picked up depth pieces in the 2nd round of Unrestricted Free Agency, and once again had one of the worst training camps. Granted, that is expected with an older team. So, that leaves two moves to really choose from. The retaining of RFA Glen Sabo is probably the big one. He's my youngest star potential type player and he actually did have a very nice TC. Having him to play next to Boban makes for a crazy talented front court with two 100 inside scoring machines down there. I considered the option of S&Ting him if the right deal come along in the RFA period but Josh and I never got close in that regard.
Speaking of the S&T, that does bring up the other move I made that I would still mention as being a positive. I chose to S&T Colby Lopez to the Pelicans. Now, this trade had a major hiccup early-on since I intended it to consist of Lopez going straight into cap space since the tax man is coming fast and I just wanted to get some value for a guy I very much will miss instead of just letting him go for free. Unfortunately the Pels brought in a bunch more salary in round 1 of UFA than they anticipated and we had to re-work that deal. After upping the draft capital return and taking on Randy Abney, who also had a nice TC (and has 100 INS), I can say I'm pretty happy with how it ultimately turned out.
The one thing I would choose to alter is my approach to round 1 of UFA. Besides using an offer on Lopez, I used up 8 of the other 9 on B/B guys to convince them to take my full MLE on a short deal. While I dont fully regret that, I think I would only do that with half of the offers we are allotted and would have used the others to offer some lower level players, especially youthful ones, to have my pick of the depth pieces I really liked instead of scrambling to fill things out later once I whiffed in round 1. We saw a few teams benefit from this approach when those young players they took a chance on in round 1 proceeded to have good TCs and bump their play and potential.
Eazy P:
My Favs are the Draft lotto, draft and TC bump. I love TC bumps. It gives you something to look forward to at the beginning of the season. seeing one of your players having a great TC is exciting.
AngryBanana:
The best happening for my team would have to be getting Joshua Mitchell. Like I mentioned in my presser, I threw a two year MLE at him not expecting him to take it. I thought someone with max cap room was going to throw $20 mill plus at him and then put points galore into him. That did not happen and I got him at a cool $11 mill for two years. He then had a really good TC, so I was even more excited for him because of that. He went from being a project player, to probably a big bench piece for the Thunder this year as a combo guard. In an ideal world, if I had points to spare, I would try to make him a Pete 2.0 with his height and defensive ability. The best part about his deal too is that it is a two year deal with a team option on it. So if I am not happy with how he is playing or don't think he fits this team long term, I can always move him. It's like a really long 10 day contract in my eyes.
JNR:
My favorite happening was a single day, the first day of free agency. RFA hadn’t gone well for me, so I was feeling a little stuck on my team. Then came Day 1. I traded Ja Morant, signed Odell Raspberry, and then traded Luka Doncic all within a few hours. It completely changed the scope of my team. If I have any regrets, it was my approach to RFA, but even then it cleared the path for how the rest of the offseason went.
Nick Malone:
Favorite thing of the offseason? I would say that the activity of the league was probably my favorite. It felt like everybody had a vested interest again whether it came to rebuilding their teams with youth movements or stocking up on a certain strength. I know I feel more invested in my own team for my own personal gain. Last years TC took a lot of steam out of my sails as a whole and really depressed me in a way that it almost made me consider quitting. Now that I have a completely new team of sorts with two new guys who I know will, and can produce with the likes of Phil Brooks and Colby Lopez (both of whom didn’t die in TC), this season is shaping up to be the most fun I’ve had in quite a while. If I could change any approach, it probably wouldn’t have been to be so ambitious to sign multiple guys using up a good 95% of your cap space on Day 1 of UFA IF you have a S&T worked out with another team. It makes you feel slimy if things can’t work out.
Quailman:
Sounds like everyone had a successful off-season in their own regard, myself included. My favorite move was obviously getting Ja Morant in our house, followed by a surprise... Bertram Pugh. Derrick Hunter was a big time signing for us, but getting Bertram Pugh (a starting caliber PF) on a 4 year reasonable deal just gives me so much flexibility with what I can do with the roster in the future. Everyone gets an imaginary point!
2. Odell Rasberry was the obvious big name Free Agent heading into the off-season, but there were plenty of other top level talent ripe for the pickings in UFA. Which free agent will have the biggest impact on their respective team? Which signing do you think will be seen as a regret before the season's over?
MexicanMamba:
Maybe I'm bending the rules here a little bit, but I'm going to say the biggest get of free agency was Luka Doncic. Sure he was traded to the Nets but, he hit UFA and was signed to a super max. The Nets were in need of some star power and they were aggressive and went out to get it, which I always respect. They also play in a division that, if last season is any indication, can be had with the right pieces. The Knicks won it last year but it was neck and neck with a "tanking" Magic team. Knicks obviously lost Raspberry and the Magic are still in some flux and we'll see how they attack this season and trade deadline, though they did re-sign JJJ and added Pallies to make a strong front court (and have Bronny). Bucks are also interesting now but Brooklyn is right there. So, the Nets' addition of Luka should pay big dividends this season and even more down the line as their young pieces grow around him, or they trade for some veteran help.
The first deal that I think of in regards to possibly being regretful is the Pelicans inking Trae Young for $63mil over 3 years. They had plenty of cap space, so the deal isnt going to ruin their tax bill or anything like that. However, he also added World B. Free at the same position (for less money) and after an unfortunate tumble in TC for Young, those two players aren't very far off from one another. Where that deal hurts right now is in the fact that he could have used that money to fill his massive holes in the front court. Irony is that if he doesnt sign Young and only focuses on B. Free, he would not have needed to trade Abney to salary match for Lopez and the team would be more complete. We'll see how the Pels attack the trade block coming up to cover those deficiencies though.
Eazy P:
The signing and trade for luka will have the biggest impact. Luka will prolly be the leagues MVP and lead the Nets to having one top W/L records in the league this season. The biggest regret will prolly be the rockets signing all of those bigs.
AngryBanana:
A deal that I thought was a truly outstanding move involves the other big player to be involved in the exodus of the Knicks, Richard Kowalczyk. How the Kings managed to get a 29 yr old Center averaging 17pts, 8rebs, 2.9 blocks while shooting a .545 field goal percentage and .446 three point percentage last year blows my mind. It makes me reconsider the $22 million I gave Nathanial Anderson who is roughly the same player as Kowalczyk, but a year older. Then when you take into account the roster that the Kings have besides Kowalczyk and this pact becomes even more scary. He will be a scary paint combo with Udoka all this year that will probably be the best big man combo in the league. Then you take into account Bryce Dejean-Jones, who is arguably the best PG in the league with the stats he puts up every year. He is like a doppler of the real world Russell Westbrook. If anyone has the ability to pull of the Triple Double average, its Bryce Dejan-Jones. So yeah, adding Kowalczyk to this core is just plain scary for the rest of us if it works.
JNR:
I like the Derick Hunter signing for Milwaukee. The Bucks have backcourt talent, so getting a guy like Hunter shores up their frontcourt and could be the missing piece that pushes the team forward. As far as regret, I think the combination of re-signing Allen and Cage for the Mavericks after matching Rickly in RFA is going to cause a lot of cap headaches down the road. Those contracts will be hard to move in the future.
Nick Malone:
Biggest signing I think came from the Sacramento Hawks.... I mean Kings. Getting Richard Kowalski (sp?), the former Knicks center to sign for only a vet min would’ve made Wig grin from ear to ear. It’s the Bob Barker “Price is Right” equivalent to betting 1 dollar on a fancy car package. You know that car was going to be expensive and more valued by others but the enticing one dollar big to play for a team with Udoka, BDJ, and Paugh is enticing enough to possibly go to the finals. It definitely makes that for an interesting front court. Im also very interested to see how Mo Bamba plays out in Philly. Given the shape of that team, they really are t built to contend for a title and they have a bunch of young assets they can continue to develop this year. Bamba could be a Day 60 guy. He’s got a decent year to year contract if a team wants to take him on and he’s be an immediate upgrade for any contending team that needs him in the front court. As for the worst? There was a lot of head scratching decisions coming from RFA. I think a lot of teams overbid on guys that are minor improvements to their teams that may help them win from 16 to now 20 games next year but the bids on them ranged far exceeding whatever minutes they’re be getting per game next year.
Quailman:
As much as I love the Bucks love Raby sent my way, I gotta go with Kings getting Kowalcyzk on a min. I personally offered him the same deal as Hunter, and maybe Hunter accepted before Kowalcyzk but I really liked him. Maybe Kowalcyzk's agent sold him on a higher self worth, in the end leaving the money to dry up and sign a minimum deal. Who knows... but Kings got a home run with that signing. He's such a versatile offensive big... AND plays defense... AND rebounds some. Way to go, Tani! Alright... onto our next question!
3. We currently have two stewarded teams: the Hawks and Trailblazers. Let's pretend there's 2 conditions in play: a) no threat of league contraction and b) promise that someone will take over in the following off-season. Every thing is on the table: movement of players, points, picks. If you were the sole steward of each of these teams, what would be your approach to team building based on their current build? Would you prefer the rebuild/asset collection route or are you looking to set the next GM up with a contender?
MexicanMamba:
Hawks: I think this roster has a good group of interesting players that only needs some TLC and effort into being a bit of a problem for teams to go up against. They have good talent, most of which they have bird rights to and are under the age of 30. So, if I were running them I'd land on the ground ready to go. I'll give one move I'd attempt to make for them too. Currently they have Kyle Kuzma running the point but when you look at his skillset, he's easily more suited for SG play, in my opinion. My goal would be to find a legit PG to add to the squad to get him at his natural position. What I would do is package Erik Haynes, Glasser, a 1st round pick and see if I couldnt settle on a deal with the Bulls for Silky Johnson. In that situation your perimeter is mostly set. As a bonus, I'd go to the Clippers (Good guy running that organization from what I hear) and offer cap relief and some minor assets to grab Kirkendall or Abney to restock the frontcourt as well. That team would still need some depth, but that would fall on the new GM the following off-season to figure out the best plan of attack from there. Great thing is, if it doesnt work? None of their key players are on long deals currently so they could easily adjust course.
Blazers: This one is an easy blow it the hell up situation for me. You already have Lutes and Leonard in place as quality young players needing to grow but most everyone else is either old or inconsequential. First order of business would be selling Grayson Allen to the highest bidder. Picks, points AND a young player if you can get all three. He just doesnt fit that team's trajectory. Ayton, Vines, Booker are all quality players on expiring deals but on the aged side and I'd get on to moving them for all the assets you can find as well once Allen was gone. If you do those things you leave a new GM with some young players, draft picks and hopefully a decent point bank and they will be free to build that roster in any way that they see fit.
Eazy P:
I would try and do both if possible. stewarding the Knicks before the current owner came in and took over was fun. I wanted that team to compete for a title and was hoping to win a title as a steward. If I remember right I think the following season that Knicks team me and Josh stewarded won the league title. Knowing that we played a huge roll in setting that team up for success was cool.
AngryBanana:
I was the steward for the Hawks last year, and man were did wig build a pretty good team. He was inactive for over a sim year, and they still had quality team last year. If I was able to actually put in a DC for them, I think they could have made it in the mix for the playoffs for the Alpha Conference. So the first thing I would have done would be to bring Wig back as the General Manager immediately. If anyone can get that team right quickly and in the right way, its him. Since that is off the table, I would want to bring Mo Bamba back. I really like his game as a big, and he was a great compliment to Kuzma. Then depending how the team starts out the gate, I would then keep everyone together/ trade for complimentary pieces, or blow it all up for younger talent.
The Trailblazers I would just do a total rebuild. I know that they have Grayson Allen and the guy is great and all, but he is 29. He will start to slow down pretty soon and is on the last year of his deal. This is not a situation that the Trailblazers want to be in and are much more suited to be in the rebuild mode. So you trade Allen for either a good player with a longer contract that you can use/ trade again or trade him for draft capital. Then I could go down a rabbit hole of what to do next, but I am sure other people in this post will do that better than me.
JNR:
For the Blazers, there is a lot of talent but their age is a little worrisome for me, so I would like to try and find value for the assets and leave the next GM with options on how to play his rebuild. For the Hawks, though, his talent is young enough and good enough with a mix of age that I would focus on trying to get talent in the 24-27 age range and be set up for a championship window.
Nick Malone:
If I know I have somebody coming in to take both teams next year, I think the approach I’d take would be to maintain the teams as is or make a few moves around the edges. Of course, if there’s an enticing enough rebuild offer for the likes of a Grayson Allen, Kyle Kuzma, or DeAndre Ayton, Id take a look at that also. Guys like John Vines who I know wouldn’t stay or Erik Haynes, wouldn’t be much help to me outside of this year. If there’s an offer that can help me down the road, where the other team is looking to offer an enticing player that is of a position of weakness, like at the 1, I’d look to entertain it because finding point guards in this game are so hard to come by.
Quailman:
Looks like many are split, depending on the teams. Hawks have a good mix of players in their prime and talent (although losing Mo Bamba hurts), and you could definitely continue to make them a playoff team if that's the route you think is best. I'm in agreeance with everyone else in that the Blazers definitely should go the bottom out and capitalize on talent's immediate value to bring in youth and picks.
4. Louie/Loco is flirting with a Sim League return, but he has that pesky 400-pt tax debt following him around like a hungry puppy. Garbageman/Josh has talked about tax forgiveness. Historically, this has been a hot topic in the league. Some for it; some vehemently against it. What's your stance on the issue? Give him a chance, or send him on the Cersei Lannister Walk of Shame?
MexicanMamba:
I'm all for some type of tax relief options. I'd never want to just eliminate it as it is part of the fun of the game. All of those types of intricacies give the game a cerebral aspect that I think really has attracted me to it more as I've continued to learn and adapt. However, the game should still be fun first and the rules shouldnt be so strict that they push people away. I dont know what easing up the rules would look like, but I'm sure there's a way to make it work. Even if it's only giving them the right to sign their own RFA/UFA players but not outside ones? Unless they're minimum contracts of course. Not sure, but I'd be happy to see something passed if it meant getting more teams active and aggressive.
Eazy P:
Sorry but I am on the side of No forgiveness. We all know the rules coming in when the tax is involved. It's there for a reason. it's our responsibility as GMs to avoid the Taxman by any means. If you know ahead of time that your team is about to be in a bad situation you have to make moves to avoid it become a huge issue. I had to pay off my tax without forgiveness and it took a few seasons of doing volunteer stuff and other means of getting points. It's the responsibility of the GM to not put himself in that position and if the gm knows there's a strong possibility of not avoiding it have some type of plan in motion. Don't put yourself in a potion to where you owe 300-400 points.
AngryBanana:
So I am split. I think there needs to be some sort of tax bankruptcy plan, but having people go +200 in the hole is just crazy. Is the answer having them go into SLOE exile for a year (4+PBSL years)? Maybe. The way I see it, I know that we need more General Mangers now than we ever have. If they are interested in coming back, then I am all about having more people involved. I think there needs to be some sort of conversation though with what we want to do with people who plan on just saying screw it, and ignoring the bank system **cough cough Knicks cough cough** I think there is something to be done to improve what we have, but I do not want to have the system we put in place destroy the balance that we have. I do not want the Magic who were great for 3-4 PBSL years be great for 2 real years. So we need to figure out the balance between having people having fun and people abusing the system. At the end of the day, if Loco and Louie want to come back, and we have a need, why not.
JNR:
This is a game. This is fun. You know what isn’t fun? Worrying about a tax and point restriction that limits anything you can do in this game. Yes, violating the cap repeatedly should be punished. And in the case of Todd, Louie, and Chad, they have been – they left. They’ve been out of the league for a few years. I think some sort of agreement to wipe a tax bill after a GM comes back (with perhaps a season of probation) should be considered. Louie would make the league more fun.
Nick Malone:
I’ve always been of the mindset that if you build up a large enough tax burden that it cripples you’re team, you should try your best to pay it off first and foremost. As a responsible owner, it’s best to play within the rules and structure of the game. If you need to step away from the game for X amount of time, some of that tax could be forgiven but not the entirety of the bill. If you also manage to keep your team competitive and in the black, financially, you deserve somewhat of a reward as the taxes that teams in the red have to pay should be redistributed to the teams that managed to avoid it. Based on tiers so that teams that will be able to take in points for trainings and other such amenities like trades.
Quailman:
Very interesting spectrum of takes. I used to be much more firm in my stance of tax delinquent GM getting a pass. But, I think for someone who left a massive tax bill behind that has been out of the league for over a handful of seasons, there should be some leniency towards their return. Having guys like Louie, Chad, and Todd back would be great. Perhaps a balance could be allowing them to perform normal UFA jobs, but points can only be used to pay off a tax "settlement" (reduced tax bill). This way they can continue to play the game as normal, but MUST NOT go into the tax for the first couple seasons of their return. It's definitely possible to do that and compete and pay off tax bills. Maybe this 5-on-5 can help guide towards a league decision on this matter.
5. Here's some rapid fire questions. Feel free to keep it short and sweet or elaborate on it. Who's your favorite player on your team that doesn't have purple or blue potential? Who's your opinion on most improved team? What's your favorite off-season move in the league? Who's your clear-cut favorite to win the league this season?
MexicanMamba:
My favorite non-blue (I have no purples) player on my roster is probably Joe Futrell. I only signed him this off-season to a vet min deal but I had him for a time a couple seasons ago. He was a G/G then and I paid him a big salary and he immediately went into the Y/G tank so I salary dumped him. Since then he's gotten his green back and I'm paying him $18mil less per year than I originally had. While he cannot play a lick of defense, he's a good scorer inside, has really good rebounding ability and plays solid defense while also being strong as an Ox. I feel like he's going to play a bigger role for me as the season wears on. Especially if Sabo continues having injury issues.
I have two ways to look at most improved. If we are going strictly based on record from last year, I'm thinking the Sacramento Kings. They made their huge moves last season but then got completely decimated by the injury bug. Their record was also skewed due to an awful start which led them to making their big trades. So, with everyone coming in healthy and very nice off-season additions I think they go from competing for a playoff spot to competing for the top seed. The other way to look at it is just in terms of talent addition this off-season. In that regard I like three non-playoff teams in the Bucks, Bulls and Nets. All three will/should compete hard for playoff spots. If I have to choose just one, I guess ill lean Nets since they added the single best player of the three.
I honestly do not have a clear-cut favorite, as I do believe there a few truly great teams. However, the Raptors are the champs and still have everything that made them so dangerous. I also dont think any of the other teams in that division got significantly better to put a daily scare in them.
Eazy P:
Favorite player on my team with a green potential is Richard Erickson. Most Improved Team will the Nets. Favorite move was the Nets getting Luka. Don't know if there's a clear cut favorite to win it all but two front runners I like are the Kings and Nets
AngryBanana:
Favorite Player: While Clay Waters is a great player, and probably better long term, Basil Gardens is probably my favorite non blue player. First off, the name. He was my last lottery player rename, and his last name was already gardens so I was like ok, let's go full in! Its is such a great name. It is so good that raby has even chastised me for it. He was also a pretty clutch player last year when Pete went down with is injury. I was not expecting him to play as well as he did last year, so I am pretty grateful for that.
Most Improved: I am going to go with the Heat. I know that I will probably be the only one to say that but hear me out. They are going from auto-pilot to being legit being run for the first time in about three sim years. That is a big deal. I know some teams probably made huge strides from lower pack to middle or middle towards the top, but to me any team going from not being run to having someone actually paying attention to them is huge, its bigger than any jump from a team being run. It is healthy not just that team, but for the whole league. So welcome back Logan.
Favorite Off-Season Move: 76ers trading for Mo Bamba. I really like Bamba. So when he was moved from a team that is stewarded to an active General Mangers roster that is awesome. He is a top 5 Power Forward and should not be wasting away on a stewarded team.
My favorite team to win this year is the Thunder. If I don't think I am the clear cut with a team salary of +200 Million, then who is the favorite? I know the Raptors are defending Champions and returning a huge part of their core... but I think that if I was at full strength last year I would have wiped the floor with them and anyone else in my way. So, while my team is maybe weaker than last year, it is still roughly the same roster, so why can't I run rampant on the league again?
JNR:
I love the potential of Greg Jones as a quick 6’10 SF. He may not ever be a contributor, but the combination of height and speed is alluring. For most improved, give me Nets, Bucks or Suns – the Nets and Bucks through moves, Suns through training camp. I also don’t think you can deny how scary the Kings look now. They should be a contender for sure. My favorite offseason move was the Magic pulling an Aldridge and bringing in Pallies before re-upping JJJ. It makes the Magic look completely different. I don’t’ think there is a clear cut favorite. I think there are plenty of great teams who could win if luck goes their way – the Clippers, the Thunder, the Raptors, the Nets, the Kings – I could go on and on.
Nick Malone:
Favorite player that isn’t Purple or Blue? Wilburn Clark. Just because of the name. Most improved team is probably the Bulls because of how stacked the roster is and how financially stable the rest of the roster is. Even with Silky Johnson’s bad TC, that team should still be a finals contender. Favorite offseason move(s) in the league was probably Raby trading Ja Morant for two excellent prospects and then signing Odell Raspberry in the offseason. A dummy's guide to rebuilding a team from scratch in the offseason. Amazing how bright of a future the Wolves have now for timing the right time to strike with a rebuild and getting young assets in return. I can see how easily reinvigorated Raby is for the season ahead. Idk if there’s a clear cut favorite this year like there seemed to be last year at least in my mind but I’ll say a finals prediction of Kings vs. Bulls this year.
Quailman:
Aw, Nick must've really wanted Wilburn Clark during Waivers since that's the green potential guy on "his" team he picked. LOL Some great answers here from everyone. My personal favorite green potential guy on my team is unfortunately NOT Wilburn Clark; it's Bertram Pugh. He was my diamond in the rough last year and was able to secure him for a long contract at a VERY discounted rate. I couldn't be more thrilled to have him back. Most improved team... gotta be the Nets or my Bucks. I don't want to toot my own horn, but I'm definitely proud of the moves I made this season and have very high hopes. The Nets are a whole new looking squad with Luka, and I'm excited (and nervous) to see how they play out the season (in the same division as me). Favorite off-season move was the slimy Philadelphia trade for #2 overall. 100% Slime Certified & Approved! Prediction to win it all... the Kings!
Lagniappe Round - What's your favorite quarantine snack right now? What activity do you miss the most during this crazy ass time?
MexicanMamba:
Might seem strange but I bought two bags of frozen french toast sticks, which I hadn't eaten since I was a kid. Throw them bitches in the oven for 5-7 minutes and pour a little syrup. It's been my Call of Duty brain food. And hands down I miss being able to go down to the beach. I live a mile from Indian Rocks Beach here in Florida and it's the saddest thing to take a walk or jog down that way and see the beach accesses all boarded up.
Eazy P:
My favorite snack atm is Zebra Cakes. even tho I am not quarantined and have still drive to and from work lol. The activity I miss the most right now is playing flag football. I love playing football and not being able to play for the foreseeable future sucks. I can't wait to get back out there on the field and try and win another ship. Also I miss going to the Pelicans games and seeing the team make a playoff push. The team was starting to click and then Covid 19 put a stop to everything. I wanna say to everyone be safe out there and hopefully things will be back to normal once Covid 19 runs it's course.
AngryBanana:
My favorite quarantine snack has been my vitamin C in the morning. I am being optimistic that it is helping me stay healthy... Aside from that, I probably have been having a bunch of protein shakes that have cinnamon flavored protein in it. I bought it after the world shut down, but it taste delicious. I have been making it with mixed fruit, and almond milk in my vitamix and it has made some great shakes. I highly recommend.
JNR:
We have these fig bars from Costco that are really good in a pinch. And I miss genuine in-person contact. Chat rooms and facetime isn’t enough. I need to be in the same room with my friends.
Nick Malone:
Favorite quarantine snack would probably be cookies. Notably chocolate chip cookies. Whether it be homemade or Pepperidge Farms. It’s kinda impossible to make a bad chocolate chip cookie. I’ve been having that a good amount while we’ve been in quarantine. Out of our normal routine, probably the one thing I miss most is just getting to see the rest of my family. I love my immediate family but I do miss getting to see my parents or brothers and sister and their respective family especially during this difficult time. Of course, you can Zoom or video teleconference to see everyone but you miss family dinners or joint activities together for the most part. It’s more important to stay safe and these tough times will pass eventually and we’ll get back to a “normal” life soon enough.
Quailman:
I'm with Nick; Chocolate Chip Cookies For the winnnnnnnnnnn. Specifically Chips Ahoy Reese's Pieces Chocolate Chip Cookies. My wife has also been on a baking kick lately and made some really good Spanish Almond Cake and Banana Bread. I would say Bubble Tea from ShareTea is a quarantine snack, but we've been pounding those since well before any of this quarantine crap started happening. Activity-wise, I miss being able to just freely go wherever without care or concern for wiping down or disinfecting hands or breathing in airborne Covid-19 particles. Towards the end of January, I had started going back to the gym for the first time in like 6 months to life weights, and just when I was starting to feel stronger and get some results, the gyms all got shut down. I'm looking forward to the days when I can crush them free weights again soon.
Times are really tough right now, and I'm very fortunate to have you guys here in Sim League as an extended friend/family network. We can help lift each other up and keep each other pre-occupied while all this chaos is going on. So, thank you to everyone here for being a part of this awesome community we have going here, and a special shout out to Josh for keeping the train running full steam ahead.
I hope you all enjoyed this article! Let's all have a great season!
FROM THE CITY OF ANGELS... THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS GM... MEXICANMAMBA!
FROM THE CITY OF CHURROS... THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS GM... EAZY P!
FROM THE CITY OF CHAIN RESTAURANTS... THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER GM... ANGRYBANANA!
FROM THE CITY OF TWINS... THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES GM... JNR!
FROM THE CITY OF JAZZ, MARDI GRAS, AND TITTIES ON BOURBON STREET... THE NEW ORLEANS PELICANS GM... NICK MALONE!
The rules are simple: I provide 5 questions; they provide the answers (I may as well). Let's get down to business!
1. Who doesn't like talking about themselves? What was your favorite "happening" of the off-season for you (trade, signing, draft pick, TC bump)? SURE GO AHEAD AND NAME A COUPLE IF YOU CAN'T DECIDE. If you could do it all over again, what is one approach you would change (if any)?
MexicanMamba:
My off-season was relatively quiet considering how many big swings I took last season. I didn't have a 1st round pick, only picked up depth pieces in the 2nd round of Unrestricted Free Agency, and once again had one of the worst training camps. Granted, that is expected with an older team. So, that leaves two moves to really choose from. The retaining of RFA Glen Sabo is probably the big one. He's my youngest star potential type player and he actually did have a very nice TC. Having him to play next to Boban makes for a crazy talented front court with two 100 inside scoring machines down there. I considered the option of S&Ting him if the right deal come along in the RFA period but Josh and I never got close in that regard.
Speaking of the S&T, that does bring up the other move I made that I would still mention as being a positive. I chose to S&T Colby Lopez to the Pelicans. Now, this trade had a major hiccup early-on since I intended it to consist of Lopez going straight into cap space since the tax man is coming fast and I just wanted to get some value for a guy I very much will miss instead of just letting him go for free. Unfortunately the Pels brought in a bunch more salary in round 1 of UFA than they anticipated and we had to re-work that deal. After upping the draft capital return and taking on Randy Abney, who also had a nice TC (and has 100 INS), I can say I'm pretty happy with how it ultimately turned out.
The one thing I would choose to alter is my approach to round 1 of UFA. Besides using an offer on Lopez, I used up 8 of the other 9 on B/B guys to convince them to take my full MLE on a short deal. While I dont fully regret that, I think I would only do that with half of the offers we are allotted and would have used the others to offer some lower level players, especially youthful ones, to have my pick of the depth pieces I really liked instead of scrambling to fill things out later once I whiffed in round 1. We saw a few teams benefit from this approach when those young players they took a chance on in round 1 proceeded to have good TCs and bump their play and potential.
Eazy P:
My Favs are the Draft lotto, draft and TC bump. I love TC bumps. It gives you something to look forward to at the beginning of the season. seeing one of your players having a great TC is exciting.
AngryBanana:
The best happening for my team would have to be getting Joshua Mitchell. Like I mentioned in my presser, I threw a two year MLE at him not expecting him to take it. I thought someone with max cap room was going to throw $20 mill plus at him and then put points galore into him. That did not happen and I got him at a cool $11 mill for two years. He then had a really good TC, so I was even more excited for him because of that. He went from being a project player, to probably a big bench piece for the Thunder this year as a combo guard. In an ideal world, if I had points to spare, I would try to make him a Pete 2.0 with his height and defensive ability. The best part about his deal too is that it is a two year deal with a team option on it. So if I am not happy with how he is playing or don't think he fits this team long term, I can always move him. It's like a really long 10 day contract in my eyes.
JNR:
My favorite happening was a single day, the first day of free agency. RFA hadn’t gone well for me, so I was feeling a little stuck on my team. Then came Day 1. I traded Ja Morant, signed Odell Raspberry, and then traded Luka Doncic all within a few hours. It completely changed the scope of my team. If I have any regrets, it was my approach to RFA, but even then it cleared the path for how the rest of the offseason went.
Nick Malone:
Favorite thing of the offseason? I would say that the activity of the league was probably my favorite. It felt like everybody had a vested interest again whether it came to rebuilding their teams with youth movements or stocking up on a certain strength. I know I feel more invested in my own team for my own personal gain. Last years TC took a lot of steam out of my sails as a whole and really depressed me in a way that it almost made me consider quitting. Now that I have a completely new team of sorts with two new guys who I know will, and can produce with the likes of Phil Brooks and Colby Lopez (both of whom didn’t die in TC), this season is shaping up to be the most fun I’ve had in quite a while. If I could change any approach, it probably wouldn’t have been to be so ambitious to sign multiple guys using up a good 95% of your cap space on Day 1 of UFA IF you have a S&T worked out with another team. It makes you feel slimy if things can’t work out.
Quailman:
Sounds like everyone had a successful off-season in their own regard, myself included. My favorite move was obviously getting Ja Morant in our house, followed by a surprise... Bertram Pugh. Derrick Hunter was a big time signing for us, but getting Bertram Pugh (a starting caliber PF) on a 4 year reasonable deal just gives me so much flexibility with what I can do with the roster in the future. Everyone gets an imaginary point!
2. Odell Rasberry was the obvious big name Free Agent heading into the off-season, but there were plenty of other top level talent ripe for the pickings in UFA. Which free agent will have the biggest impact on their respective team? Which signing do you think will be seen as a regret before the season's over?
MexicanMamba:
Maybe I'm bending the rules here a little bit, but I'm going to say the biggest get of free agency was Luka Doncic. Sure he was traded to the Nets but, he hit UFA and was signed to a super max. The Nets were in need of some star power and they were aggressive and went out to get it, which I always respect. They also play in a division that, if last season is any indication, can be had with the right pieces. The Knicks won it last year but it was neck and neck with a "tanking" Magic team. Knicks obviously lost Raspberry and the Magic are still in some flux and we'll see how they attack this season and trade deadline, though they did re-sign JJJ and added Pallies to make a strong front court (and have Bronny). Bucks are also interesting now but Brooklyn is right there. So, the Nets' addition of Luka should pay big dividends this season and even more down the line as their young pieces grow around him, or they trade for some veteran help.
The first deal that I think of in regards to possibly being regretful is the Pelicans inking Trae Young for $63mil over 3 years. They had plenty of cap space, so the deal isnt going to ruin their tax bill or anything like that. However, he also added World B. Free at the same position (for less money) and after an unfortunate tumble in TC for Young, those two players aren't very far off from one another. Where that deal hurts right now is in the fact that he could have used that money to fill his massive holes in the front court. Irony is that if he doesnt sign Young and only focuses on B. Free, he would not have needed to trade Abney to salary match for Lopez and the team would be more complete. We'll see how the Pels attack the trade block coming up to cover those deficiencies though.
Eazy P:
The signing and trade for luka will have the biggest impact. Luka will prolly be the leagues MVP and lead the Nets to having one top W/L records in the league this season. The biggest regret will prolly be the rockets signing all of those bigs.
AngryBanana:
A deal that I thought was a truly outstanding move involves the other big player to be involved in the exodus of the Knicks, Richard Kowalczyk. How the Kings managed to get a 29 yr old Center averaging 17pts, 8rebs, 2.9 blocks while shooting a .545 field goal percentage and .446 three point percentage last year blows my mind. It makes me reconsider the $22 million I gave Nathanial Anderson who is roughly the same player as Kowalczyk, but a year older. Then when you take into account the roster that the Kings have besides Kowalczyk and this pact becomes even more scary. He will be a scary paint combo with Udoka all this year that will probably be the best big man combo in the league. Then you take into account Bryce Dejean-Jones, who is arguably the best PG in the league with the stats he puts up every year. He is like a doppler of the real world Russell Westbrook. If anyone has the ability to pull of the Triple Double average, its Bryce Dejan-Jones. So yeah, adding Kowalczyk to this core is just plain scary for the rest of us if it works.
JNR:
I like the Derick Hunter signing for Milwaukee. The Bucks have backcourt talent, so getting a guy like Hunter shores up their frontcourt and could be the missing piece that pushes the team forward. As far as regret, I think the combination of re-signing Allen and Cage for the Mavericks after matching Rickly in RFA is going to cause a lot of cap headaches down the road. Those contracts will be hard to move in the future.
Nick Malone:
Biggest signing I think came from the Sacramento Hawks.... I mean Kings. Getting Richard Kowalski (sp?), the former Knicks center to sign for only a vet min would’ve made Wig grin from ear to ear. It’s the Bob Barker “Price is Right” equivalent to betting 1 dollar on a fancy car package. You know that car was going to be expensive and more valued by others but the enticing one dollar big to play for a team with Udoka, BDJ, and Paugh is enticing enough to possibly go to the finals. It definitely makes that for an interesting front court. Im also very interested to see how Mo Bamba plays out in Philly. Given the shape of that team, they really are t built to contend for a title and they have a bunch of young assets they can continue to develop this year. Bamba could be a Day 60 guy. He’s got a decent year to year contract if a team wants to take him on and he’s be an immediate upgrade for any contending team that needs him in the front court. As for the worst? There was a lot of head scratching decisions coming from RFA. I think a lot of teams overbid on guys that are minor improvements to their teams that may help them win from 16 to now 20 games next year but the bids on them ranged far exceeding whatever minutes they’re be getting per game next year.
Quailman:
As much as I love the Bucks love Raby sent my way, I gotta go with Kings getting Kowalcyzk on a min. I personally offered him the same deal as Hunter, and maybe Hunter accepted before Kowalcyzk but I really liked him. Maybe Kowalcyzk's agent sold him on a higher self worth, in the end leaving the money to dry up and sign a minimum deal. Who knows... but Kings got a home run with that signing. He's such a versatile offensive big... AND plays defense... AND rebounds some. Way to go, Tani! Alright... onto our next question!
3. We currently have two stewarded teams: the Hawks and Trailblazers. Let's pretend there's 2 conditions in play: a) no threat of league contraction and b) promise that someone will take over in the following off-season. Every thing is on the table: movement of players, points, picks. If you were the sole steward of each of these teams, what would be your approach to team building based on their current build? Would you prefer the rebuild/asset collection route or are you looking to set the next GM up with a contender?
MexicanMamba:
Hawks: I think this roster has a good group of interesting players that only needs some TLC and effort into being a bit of a problem for teams to go up against. They have good talent, most of which they have bird rights to and are under the age of 30. So, if I were running them I'd land on the ground ready to go. I'll give one move I'd attempt to make for them too. Currently they have Kyle Kuzma running the point but when you look at his skillset, he's easily more suited for SG play, in my opinion. My goal would be to find a legit PG to add to the squad to get him at his natural position. What I would do is package Erik Haynes, Glasser, a 1st round pick and see if I couldnt settle on a deal with the Bulls for Silky Johnson. In that situation your perimeter is mostly set. As a bonus, I'd go to the Clippers (Good guy running that organization from what I hear) and offer cap relief and some minor assets to grab Kirkendall or Abney to restock the frontcourt as well. That team would still need some depth, but that would fall on the new GM the following off-season to figure out the best plan of attack from there. Great thing is, if it doesnt work? None of their key players are on long deals currently so they could easily adjust course.
Blazers: This one is an easy blow it the hell up situation for me. You already have Lutes and Leonard in place as quality young players needing to grow but most everyone else is either old or inconsequential. First order of business would be selling Grayson Allen to the highest bidder. Picks, points AND a young player if you can get all three. He just doesnt fit that team's trajectory. Ayton, Vines, Booker are all quality players on expiring deals but on the aged side and I'd get on to moving them for all the assets you can find as well once Allen was gone. If you do those things you leave a new GM with some young players, draft picks and hopefully a decent point bank and they will be free to build that roster in any way that they see fit.
Eazy P:
I would try and do both if possible. stewarding the Knicks before the current owner came in and took over was fun. I wanted that team to compete for a title and was hoping to win a title as a steward. If I remember right I think the following season that Knicks team me and Josh stewarded won the league title. Knowing that we played a huge roll in setting that team up for success was cool.
AngryBanana:
I was the steward for the Hawks last year, and man were did wig build a pretty good team. He was inactive for over a sim year, and they still had quality team last year. If I was able to actually put in a DC for them, I think they could have made it in the mix for the playoffs for the Alpha Conference. So the first thing I would have done would be to bring Wig back as the General Manager immediately. If anyone can get that team right quickly and in the right way, its him. Since that is off the table, I would want to bring Mo Bamba back. I really like his game as a big, and he was a great compliment to Kuzma. Then depending how the team starts out the gate, I would then keep everyone together/ trade for complimentary pieces, or blow it all up for younger talent.
The Trailblazers I would just do a total rebuild. I know that they have Grayson Allen and the guy is great and all, but he is 29. He will start to slow down pretty soon and is on the last year of his deal. This is not a situation that the Trailblazers want to be in and are much more suited to be in the rebuild mode. So you trade Allen for either a good player with a longer contract that you can use/ trade again or trade him for draft capital. Then I could go down a rabbit hole of what to do next, but I am sure other people in this post will do that better than me.
JNR:
For the Blazers, there is a lot of talent but their age is a little worrisome for me, so I would like to try and find value for the assets and leave the next GM with options on how to play his rebuild. For the Hawks, though, his talent is young enough and good enough with a mix of age that I would focus on trying to get talent in the 24-27 age range and be set up for a championship window.
Nick Malone:
If I know I have somebody coming in to take both teams next year, I think the approach I’d take would be to maintain the teams as is or make a few moves around the edges. Of course, if there’s an enticing enough rebuild offer for the likes of a Grayson Allen, Kyle Kuzma, or DeAndre Ayton, Id take a look at that also. Guys like John Vines who I know wouldn’t stay or Erik Haynes, wouldn’t be much help to me outside of this year. If there’s an offer that can help me down the road, where the other team is looking to offer an enticing player that is of a position of weakness, like at the 1, I’d look to entertain it because finding point guards in this game are so hard to come by.
Quailman:
Looks like many are split, depending on the teams. Hawks have a good mix of players in their prime and talent (although losing Mo Bamba hurts), and you could definitely continue to make them a playoff team if that's the route you think is best. I'm in agreeance with everyone else in that the Blazers definitely should go the bottom out and capitalize on talent's immediate value to bring in youth and picks.
4. Louie/Loco is flirting with a Sim League return, but he has that pesky 400-pt tax debt following him around like a hungry puppy. Garbageman/Josh has talked about tax forgiveness. Historically, this has been a hot topic in the league. Some for it; some vehemently against it. What's your stance on the issue? Give him a chance, or send him on the Cersei Lannister Walk of Shame?
MexicanMamba:
I'm all for some type of tax relief options. I'd never want to just eliminate it as it is part of the fun of the game. All of those types of intricacies give the game a cerebral aspect that I think really has attracted me to it more as I've continued to learn and adapt. However, the game should still be fun first and the rules shouldnt be so strict that they push people away. I dont know what easing up the rules would look like, but I'm sure there's a way to make it work. Even if it's only giving them the right to sign their own RFA/UFA players but not outside ones? Unless they're minimum contracts of course. Not sure, but I'd be happy to see something passed if it meant getting more teams active and aggressive.
Eazy P:
Sorry but I am on the side of No forgiveness. We all know the rules coming in when the tax is involved. It's there for a reason. it's our responsibility as GMs to avoid the Taxman by any means. If you know ahead of time that your team is about to be in a bad situation you have to make moves to avoid it become a huge issue. I had to pay off my tax without forgiveness and it took a few seasons of doing volunteer stuff and other means of getting points. It's the responsibility of the GM to not put himself in that position and if the gm knows there's a strong possibility of not avoiding it have some type of plan in motion. Don't put yourself in a potion to where you owe 300-400 points.
AngryBanana:
So I am split. I think there needs to be some sort of tax bankruptcy plan, but having people go +200 in the hole is just crazy. Is the answer having them go into SLOE exile for a year (4+PBSL years)? Maybe. The way I see it, I know that we need more General Mangers now than we ever have. If they are interested in coming back, then I am all about having more people involved. I think there needs to be some sort of conversation though with what we want to do with people who plan on just saying screw it, and ignoring the bank system **cough cough Knicks cough cough** I think there is something to be done to improve what we have, but I do not want to have the system we put in place destroy the balance that we have. I do not want the Magic who were great for 3-4 PBSL years be great for 2 real years. So we need to figure out the balance between having people having fun and people abusing the system. At the end of the day, if Loco and Louie want to come back, and we have a need, why not.
JNR:
This is a game. This is fun. You know what isn’t fun? Worrying about a tax and point restriction that limits anything you can do in this game. Yes, violating the cap repeatedly should be punished. And in the case of Todd, Louie, and Chad, they have been – they left. They’ve been out of the league for a few years. I think some sort of agreement to wipe a tax bill after a GM comes back (with perhaps a season of probation) should be considered. Louie would make the league more fun.
Nick Malone:
I’ve always been of the mindset that if you build up a large enough tax burden that it cripples you’re team, you should try your best to pay it off first and foremost. As a responsible owner, it’s best to play within the rules and structure of the game. If you need to step away from the game for X amount of time, some of that tax could be forgiven but not the entirety of the bill. If you also manage to keep your team competitive and in the black, financially, you deserve somewhat of a reward as the taxes that teams in the red have to pay should be redistributed to the teams that managed to avoid it. Based on tiers so that teams that will be able to take in points for trainings and other such amenities like trades.
Quailman:
Very interesting spectrum of takes. I used to be much more firm in my stance of tax delinquent GM getting a pass. But, I think for someone who left a massive tax bill behind that has been out of the league for over a handful of seasons, there should be some leniency towards their return. Having guys like Louie, Chad, and Todd back would be great. Perhaps a balance could be allowing them to perform normal UFA jobs, but points can only be used to pay off a tax "settlement" (reduced tax bill). This way they can continue to play the game as normal, but MUST NOT go into the tax for the first couple seasons of their return. It's definitely possible to do that and compete and pay off tax bills. Maybe this 5-on-5 can help guide towards a league decision on this matter.
5. Here's some rapid fire questions. Feel free to keep it short and sweet or elaborate on it. Who's your favorite player on your team that doesn't have purple or blue potential? Who's your opinion on most improved team? What's your favorite off-season move in the league? Who's your clear-cut favorite to win the league this season?
MexicanMamba:
My favorite non-blue (I have no purples) player on my roster is probably Joe Futrell. I only signed him this off-season to a vet min deal but I had him for a time a couple seasons ago. He was a G/G then and I paid him a big salary and he immediately went into the Y/G tank so I salary dumped him. Since then he's gotten his green back and I'm paying him $18mil less per year than I originally had. While he cannot play a lick of defense, he's a good scorer inside, has really good rebounding ability and plays solid defense while also being strong as an Ox. I feel like he's going to play a bigger role for me as the season wears on. Especially if Sabo continues having injury issues.
I have two ways to look at most improved. If we are going strictly based on record from last year, I'm thinking the Sacramento Kings. They made their huge moves last season but then got completely decimated by the injury bug. Their record was also skewed due to an awful start which led them to making their big trades. So, with everyone coming in healthy and very nice off-season additions I think they go from competing for a playoff spot to competing for the top seed. The other way to look at it is just in terms of talent addition this off-season. In that regard I like three non-playoff teams in the Bucks, Bulls and Nets. All three will/should compete hard for playoff spots. If I have to choose just one, I guess ill lean Nets since they added the single best player of the three.
I honestly do not have a clear-cut favorite, as I do believe there a few truly great teams. However, the Raptors are the champs and still have everything that made them so dangerous. I also dont think any of the other teams in that division got significantly better to put a daily scare in them.
Eazy P:
Favorite player on my team with a green potential is Richard Erickson. Most Improved Team will the Nets. Favorite move was the Nets getting Luka. Don't know if there's a clear cut favorite to win it all but two front runners I like are the Kings and Nets
AngryBanana:
Favorite Player: While Clay Waters is a great player, and probably better long term, Basil Gardens is probably my favorite non blue player. First off, the name. He was my last lottery player rename, and his last name was already gardens so I was like ok, let's go full in! Its is such a great name. It is so good that raby has even chastised me for it. He was also a pretty clutch player last year when Pete went down with is injury. I was not expecting him to play as well as he did last year, so I am pretty grateful for that.
Most Improved: I am going to go with the Heat. I know that I will probably be the only one to say that but hear me out. They are going from auto-pilot to being legit being run for the first time in about three sim years. That is a big deal. I know some teams probably made huge strides from lower pack to middle or middle towards the top, but to me any team going from not being run to having someone actually paying attention to them is huge, its bigger than any jump from a team being run. It is healthy not just that team, but for the whole league. So welcome back Logan.
Favorite Off-Season Move: 76ers trading for Mo Bamba. I really like Bamba. So when he was moved from a team that is stewarded to an active General Mangers roster that is awesome. He is a top 5 Power Forward and should not be wasting away on a stewarded team.
My favorite team to win this year is the Thunder. If I don't think I am the clear cut with a team salary of +200 Million, then who is the favorite? I know the Raptors are defending Champions and returning a huge part of their core... but I think that if I was at full strength last year I would have wiped the floor with them and anyone else in my way. So, while my team is maybe weaker than last year, it is still roughly the same roster, so why can't I run rampant on the league again?
JNR:
I love the potential of Greg Jones as a quick 6’10 SF. He may not ever be a contributor, but the combination of height and speed is alluring. For most improved, give me Nets, Bucks or Suns – the Nets and Bucks through moves, Suns through training camp. I also don’t think you can deny how scary the Kings look now. They should be a contender for sure. My favorite offseason move was the Magic pulling an Aldridge and bringing in Pallies before re-upping JJJ. It makes the Magic look completely different. I don’t’ think there is a clear cut favorite. I think there are plenty of great teams who could win if luck goes their way – the Clippers, the Thunder, the Raptors, the Nets, the Kings – I could go on and on.
Nick Malone:
Favorite player that isn’t Purple or Blue? Wilburn Clark. Just because of the name. Most improved team is probably the Bulls because of how stacked the roster is and how financially stable the rest of the roster is. Even with Silky Johnson’s bad TC, that team should still be a finals contender. Favorite offseason move(s) in the league was probably Raby trading Ja Morant for two excellent prospects and then signing Odell Raspberry in the offseason. A dummy's guide to rebuilding a team from scratch in the offseason. Amazing how bright of a future the Wolves have now for timing the right time to strike with a rebuild and getting young assets in return. I can see how easily reinvigorated Raby is for the season ahead. Idk if there’s a clear cut favorite this year like there seemed to be last year at least in my mind but I’ll say a finals prediction of Kings vs. Bulls this year.
Quailman:
Aw, Nick must've really wanted Wilburn Clark during Waivers since that's the green potential guy on "his" team he picked. LOL Some great answers here from everyone. My personal favorite green potential guy on my team is unfortunately NOT Wilburn Clark; it's Bertram Pugh. He was my diamond in the rough last year and was able to secure him for a long contract at a VERY discounted rate. I couldn't be more thrilled to have him back. Most improved team... gotta be the Nets or my Bucks. I don't want to toot my own horn, but I'm definitely proud of the moves I made this season and have very high hopes. The Nets are a whole new looking squad with Luka, and I'm excited (and nervous) to see how they play out the season (in the same division as me). Favorite off-season move was the slimy Philadelphia trade for #2 overall. 100% Slime Certified & Approved! Prediction to win it all... the Kings!
Lagniappe Round - What's your favorite quarantine snack right now? What activity do you miss the most during this crazy ass time?
MexicanMamba:
Might seem strange but I bought two bags of frozen french toast sticks, which I hadn't eaten since I was a kid. Throw them bitches in the oven for 5-7 minutes and pour a little syrup. It's been my Call of Duty brain food. And hands down I miss being able to go down to the beach. I live a mile from Indian Rocks Beach here in Florida and it's the saddest thing to take a walk or jog down that way and see the beach accesses all boarded up.
Eazy P:
My favorite snack atm is Zebra Cakes. even tho I am not quarantined and have still drive to and from work lol. The activity I miss the most right now is playing flag football. I love playing football and not being able to play for the foreseeable future sucks. I can't wait to get back out there on the field and try and win another ship. Also I miss going to the Pelicans games and seeing the team make a playoff push. The team was starting to click and then Covid 19 put a stop to everything. I wanna say to everyone be safe out there and hopefully things will be back to normal once Covid 19 runs it's course.
AngryBanana:
My favorite quarantine snack has been my vitamin C in the morning. I am being optimistic that it is helping me stay healthy... Aside from that, I probably have been having a bunch of protein shakes that have cinnamon flavored protein in it. I bought it after the world shut down, but it taste delicious. I have been making it with mixed fruit, and almond milk in my vitamix and it has made some great shakes. I highly recommend.
JNR:
We have these fig bars from Costco that are really good in a pinch. And I miss genuine in-person contact. Chat rooms and facetime isn’t enough. I need to be in the same room with my friends.
Nick Malone:
Favorite quarantine snack would probably be cookies. Notably chocolate chip cookies. Whether it be homemade or Pepperidge Farms. It’s kinda impossible to make a bad chocolate chip cookie. I’ve been having that a good amount while we’ve been in quarantine. Out of our normal routine, probably the one thing I miss most is just getting to see the rest of my family. I love my immediate family but I do miss getting to see my parents or brothers and sister and their respective family especially during this difficult time. Of course, you can Zoom or video teleconference to see everyone but you miss family dinners or joint activities together for the most part. It’s more important to stay safe and these tough times will pass eventually and we’ll get back to a “normal” life soon enough.
Quailman:
I'm with Nick; Chocolate Chip Cookies For the winnnnnnnnnnn. Specifically Chips Ahoy Reese's Pieces Chocolate Chip Cookies. My wife has also been on a baking kick lately and made some really good Spanish Almond Cake and Banana Bread. I would say Bubble Tea from ShareTea is a quarantine snack, but we've been pounding those since well before any of this quarantine crap started happening. Activity-wise, I miss being able to just freely go wherever without care or concern for wiping down or disinfecting hands or breathing in airborne Covid-19 particles. Towards the end of January, I had started going back to the gym for the first time in like 6 months to life weights, and just when I was starting to feel stronger and get some results, the gyms all got shut down. I'm looking forward to the days when I can crush them free weights again soon.
Times are really tough right now, and I'm very fortunate to have you guys here in Sim League as an extended friend/family network. We can help lift each other up and keep each other pre-occupied while all this chaos is going on. So, thank you to everyone here for being a part of this awesome community we have going here, and a special shout out to Josh for keeping the train running full steam ahead.
I hope you all enjoyed this article! Let's all have a great season!