Arena The Fifth Basketball Draft (Winner: Point Given!)

Round 1 - Golden State / Philadelphia Warriors

1. tom - Steph Curry (2015-16)
2. DLOTE - Wilt Chamberlain (1962-63)
3. Point Given - Kevin Durant (2016-17)
4. LloydShaqmas - Richard Jefferson (2011-12)
5. Wang - Rick Barry (1974-75)
6. heels - Chris Mullin (1991-92)
7. Tunes - Nate Thurmond (1967-68)
8. a star war - Tim Haradaway (1990-91)

Round 2 - Cleveland Cavaliers

1. a star war - LeBron James (2008-09)
2. Tunes - Mark Price (1988-89)
3. heels - Uncle Drew (2016-17)
4. Wang - Brad Daugherty (1991-92)
5. LloydShaqmas - Kevin Love (2016-17)
6. Point Given - Shawn Kemp (1998-99)
7. DLOTE - Anthony Bennett (2013-14)
8. tom - World B Free (1984-85)

Round 3 - Miami Heat

1. DLOTE - LeBron James (2012-13)
2. Point Given - Dwyane Wade (2008-09)
3. LloydShaqmas - Shaq (2004-05)
4. tom - Alonzo Mourning (1999-00)
5. heels - Hassan Whiteside (2016-17)
6. Tunes - Chris Bosh (2011-12)
7. a star war - Anthony Mason (2000-01)
8. Wang - Glen Rice (1994-95)

Round 4 - Chicago Bulls

1. Wang - Michael Jeffry Jordan (1988-89)
2. a star war - Scottie Pippen (1994-95)
3. Tunes
4. heels
5. tom
6. LloydShaqmas
7. Point Given
8. DLOTE

Round 5

1. Point Given
2. LloydShaqmas
3. tom
4. DLOTE
5. Tunes
6. a star war
7. Wang
8. heels

Round 6

1. heels
2. Wang
3. a star war
4. Tunes
5. DLOTE
6. tom
7. LloydShaqmas
8. Point Given

Round 7

1. LloydShaqmas
2. tom
3. DLOTE
4. Point Given
5. a star war
6. Wang
7. heels
8. Tunes

Round 8

1. Tunes
2. heels
3. Wang
4. a star war
5. Point Given
6. DLOTE
7. tom
8. LloydShaqmas

Round 9

1. Tunes
2. heels
3. Wang
4. a star war
5. Point Given
6. DLOTE
7. tom
8. LloydShaqmas

Round 10

1. LloydShaqmas
2. tom
3. DLOTE
4. Point Given
5. a star war
6. Wang
7. heels
8. Tunes

Round 11

1. heels
2. Wang
3. a star war
4. Tunes
5. DLOTE
6. tom
7. LloydShaqmas
8. Point Given

Round 12

1. Point Given
2. LloydShaqmas
3. tom
4. DLOTE
5. Tunes
6. a star war
7. Wang
8. heels

Round 13

1. Wang
2. a star war
3. Tunes
4. heels
5. tom
6. LloydShaqmas
7. Point Given
8. DLOTE

Round 14

1. DLOTE
2. Point Given
3. LloydShaqmas
4. tom
5. heels
6. Tunes
7. a star war
8. Wang

Round 15

1. a star war
2. Tunes
3. heels
4. Wang
5. LloydShaqmas
6. Point Given
7. DLOTE
8. tom


Round 16

1. tom
2. DLOTE
3. Point Given
4. LloydShaqmas
5. Wang
6. heels
7. Tunes
8. a star war

 

I already do

 

I'm planning to post breakdowns/power rankings/Draft Grades after rounds 4, 8, and 16.

 

The Courtsiders next selection shall be...






Dennis Rodman, '96-'97.




L.A. Courtsiders

Nate Thurmound, '67-'68
Mark Price, '88-'89
Chris Bosh, '11-12
Dennis Rodman, '96-'97



@heels1785

 

was anticipating that pick.

jimmy butler 16-17

@LloydChristmas

 

ugh did shaq ever play for the bulls

artis gilmore 80-81, @Point Given

 

Horace Grant '91/'92

NBA Roster:
Wilt Chamberlain '62/'63
LeBron James '12/'13
Horace Grant '91/'92

G League Scrubs:
Anthony Bennett '13/'14

@Point Given

 

you ruin everything

gimme Greek Freak from last year just so I don't have to watch @tom pair him with Steph

 

This is a really tough draft to evaluate 4 rounds in, due to the uncertainty that remains (lots of great players) and the fact that it's not a traditional "snake" draft. Players haven't had the chance to pick first yet and will get ample opportunity. That said, here's my power rankings at the quarter stage.

1) DLOTE

Wilt Chamberlain (Warriors)
Anthony Bennett (Cavs)
LeBron James (Heat)
Horace Grant (Bulls)

This is largely based on the LeBron/Wilt tandem. LeBron gives not only dominance, but positional flexibility in the sim, as evidenced in previous versions of this game. Bennett obviously won't see any minutes, and Grant shouldn't be a starter, and with ample opportunity to find three quality starters to put around James/Chamberlain, this is going to be a tough group to reckon with.

2) a star war

Tim Hardaway (Warriors)
LeBron James (Cavs)
Anthony Mason (Heat)
Scottie Pippen (Bulls)

Maybe I'm ranking this too high based on being amused, but after years of hearing how in his first time with Cleveland, LeBron James needed "a Scottie Pippen", I am highly amused by you giving that LeBron James literally Scottie Pippen to play with. Again, James gives versatility and dominance that isn't really matched by anyone else in the sim. Hardaway and Mason are serviceable role players in this game as well.

3) Pointy G

Kevin Durant (Warriors)
Shawn Kemp (Cavs)
Dwyane Wade (Heat)
Bob Love (Bulls)

Peak Wade playing off of Durant? That's a scary one-two punch. And while this isn't the best version of Kemp, he's more than capable - especially if he neds up being your 3rd (or even 4th) big man. Bob Love might be a gem of a steal. His advanced stats play well with others we've seen the simulator love, and especially if he's a bench option giving minutes.

4) heels

Chris Mullin (Warriors)
Kyrie Irving (Cavs)
Hassan Whiteside (Heat)
Derrick Rose (Bulls)

I flipped 4, 5, and 6 in my head a few times before settling on this one. I'm tantalized by MVP Rose and Kyrie Irving in the same back court. Even if you end up using one for trade bait later on to shore up your front court, it's a great starting point. I'm not certain the sim is going to love Whiteside, and think you might rue taking him over someone else. But you have time - and opportunity - to strengthen the front court.

5) Lloyd

Richard Jefferson (Warriors)
Kevin Love (Cavs)
Shaq (Heat)
Artis Gilmore (Bulls)

Gilmore was a steal, we know how the simulation loves him (though I don't think we've seen this version used). But, we've also seen how the simulation hates Kevin Love, so those might cancel out. Jefferson obviously wasn't the best Warrior - talent wise - you could have taken. But, we respect a man who stands by his principles. This isn't the best version of Shaq, but his Heat seasons are still capable of providing high quality minutes in the sim. That said, you are going to draft a guard at some point, right? Or is Shaq playing the point?

6) tom

Steph Curry (Warriors)
World B Free (Cavs)
Alonzo Mourning (Heat)
Jimmy Butler (Bulls)

I get why you went with Steph - literally, that was your only chance to guarantee you'd get him. So if you want him, you take him. But, you obviously left a better option on the board. That said, he and Jimmy Butler make for a nice back court - especially if you can get a third option to split the minutes with even further and maintain that high level. I don't think World B Free was the best option available from the Cavs, though, but I like getting Zo - great value in that pick.

7) Wang

Rick Barry (Warriors)
Brad Daugherty (Cavs)
Glen Rice (Heat)
Michael Jordan (Bulls)

Outside of Jordan, I'm not convinced anyone you picked in the first four rounds will start for you. That's not a terrible situation in the unique flavor of this draft, but it is slightly concerning. And probably artificially deflates the opinion of your team. Barry is a fantastic bench option for scoring, and Rice is as well, to a lesser degree. And Daugherty was probably the best Cav left when you picked, and can provide good minutes at Center - but only as a backup.

8) Tunes

Nate Thurmond (Warriors)
Mark Price (Cavs)
Chris Bosh (Heat)
Dennis Rodman (Bulls)

I think you'll regret taking Price over Irving. I don't know that Bosh in Miami is ideal starting Frontcourt player, and while Rodman brings great defense, I again don't know that he's the starter you want in the sims. Plenty of time and talent left, though. But it's possible none of these four start.

 

wait are we halfway done and I've literally just drafted a bunch of centers and Richard Jefferson

maybe that can be the name of his podcast for this season

 

ray allen 00-01

@Dark Lord Of The Empire

 

Steph Curry 15-16 with a .669 True Shooting Percentage and Ray Allen 00-01 with a .610. Effective Field goal percentages of .630 and .557. Insane numbers for Guards, and fun to think about those two playing together.

 

There might be some better players available, but let's get some shooting off the bench:

Michael Redd '02/'03

Team name: It's About Damn Time
Wilt Chamberlain '62/'63
LeBron James '12/'13
Horace Grant '91/'92
Michael Redd '02/'03

G League Scrubs:
Anthony Bennett '13/'14

@DarthTunick

 

Hey, my first three picks were 5, 4 and 8. WHADDYA WANT FROM ME HERE?!



I am a little surprised that you're not sold on Barry as starter material, but I don't know the simulator as well as you do, so you may definitely be right. I'm still waffling on his year, too. That 66-67 season might end up being my guy. Not as great of an all-round game, but more boards and he gets to the line more (and even at a terrible (for him) 88.4%, he's a stone cold killer there). We'll see.

Now the only question for this round is Paul Mokeski or THON?

 

Depends...does your version of Kyrie believe the world is flat?

 

Oscar Robertson, '70-'71



L.A. Courtsiders

Nate Thurmound, '67-'68
Mark Price, '88-'89
Chris Bosh, '11-12
Dennis Rodman, '96-'97
Oscar Robertson, '70-'71



@a star war

 

Vin Baker ('96-'97 Bucks)

@Wang Chi