Post by 2 years left on Apr 30, 2020 10:14:34 GMT -8
It has been an exciting few days so far in this new era of BBS! We are ahead of schedule with over 100 picks already made in the creation draft as of this post. Lots of crazy moves have been made both before and after the order was announced. There is a lot to talk about so today the Pacers GM (the original michael ), Spurs GM (@ukfanjohn ) and Jazz GM (JR ) joined me to have a chat about the first few days of the league.
1. To start off with this league had trades take place before the draft order was even announced. I have never seen that before! Did you try to join in on the fun or did you prefer to just play it SAFE?
Pacers: I did not indulge in this trade action, and I'm glad I didn't Royal (Nuggets GM) was trying to get me to trade my first rounder for his futures. Had I done that, I would have gave up Nash for 2 futures. YIKES. It was a huge risk that some GMs took and I respect it, ya know why? Cuz scared money ain't make none! High risk deals have high rewards!
Spurs: I briefly discussed trading my pick with the Nuggets but he had already pretty much secured/finalized the trade with the Heat so he didnt have the assets I needed to trade it pre order. Had someone came at me with 3 picks for it I probably would have done it as I like to feel alive in this desolate world.
Jazz: I played it safe. Didnt wanna give up a top pick for peanuts. Either way I think most are at least ok with the trades they made.
Cavaliers: After seeing the Mavericks and Knicks make the first splash I liked the idea. Obviously there was risk involved but the second chance at a top 10 pick without having to deal any future picks was hard to pass up. Worse case scenario it goes horribly and you just take your L and draft young. Unfortunately, my risk did not pay off but thanks to picking #3 my 2nd was pretty low so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.
2. So far we have finished two rounds of the draft in just over a day. The activity has been crazy! Are you happy with how the draft has gone so far for you or do you already have regrets?
Pacers: I always have regrets. The only regret I have is including my 2nd rounder in the Brand deal. I'm sure Portland would have accepted a 4th, even a 3rd, but I was impatient. Now, I'll lack in the depth department, but I'm stoked to have an elite 21 year old big man in Elton Brand and a 26 year old MVP candidate in Steve Nash.
Spurs: Eh I came very close to taking Zo at 15 then trading for other late firsts/early 2nds for talent but didnt feel that roster would have been enough to compete for a title so I decided to just draft young players to try and develop. Activity has been rocking but that should be expected for a new BBS league. The draft is going quicker than I would have expected and we'll probably have it wrapped up by the end of the week.
Jazz: The draft has gone decent passed up on a couple trades I shouldve made to ensure I got who I wanted but I am happy with my team and a couple assests I brought in.
Cavaliers: My biggest regret is not drafting Mutombo at #27 or #30. I traded down from the latter because I was worried about my depth but if I had Shaq and Mutombo with someone like MJ or another top wing who needs depth? After realizing I made a mistake I dealt Shaq since KVH and someone like Payton just wasn't going to work. I am pretty happy with how my team looks now but I should have just taken TMac or VC instead of Shaq and went young from the start!
3. In other leagues we know the Rockets GM here has tried to take advantage of flaws in this 20 year old game. For this league, there are no position rules besides only PGs can play PG. Are you a fan of the freedom provided or do you think it just helps out poor GMs such as the Rockets GM?
Pacers: It helps out lesser skilled GMs, but to call Rockets GM a poor GM is disrespectful. Ahsan is one of the greatest to ever FBB. He just has gotten lazy lately and uses his system as a work around. With that being said, I'm not crazy about allowing bigs to play SF as it creates a major rebounding advantage. Rebounding is HUGE in FBB and if you can have a juicy B+ or A- wing at SF, you're in good shape. Having a big play SG might turn turnover wise, but I'm sure Ahsan will do it. I could see him starting Marion at SG.
Spurs: I'm for more restricted DC rules. I'm fine with SFs playing SG but dont think PFs should be allowed to start at SF due to the limitations of the game. The most important position to restrict is PG and we have done that so I'm not as erect about other positional freedom however I do foresee it being significantly discussed in the future. The Rockets GM is known to tout the #system and he does pretty poorly when he can't exploit the game so I expect him to be solid here if he can build a roster to take advantage of the positional freedom.
Jazz: I think Ahsan needs all the help he can get. So this rule is there for him and hopefully he thrives. With that being said the rule doesnt affect me or how i plan to build this team. Either way Ahsan will be a bottom tier team for the foreseeable future.
Cavaliers: This question hits different now after I have decided to try out the 4 PF starting line-up myself. I am not a fan of it but since this is a creation draft and everybody knows it is allowed it is less of an advantage than usual, at least to start. Everybody had the chance to do it so no complaining later on! I will admit that it is a nice change of pace after years of leagues not allowing it. Different can be a good thing.
4. Once the order was announced, it seemed like everybody was trying to trade! Are there any trades that stick out to you as the best or worst so far?
Pacers: A few bad ones and I think those GMs know who they are, but those were more blind deals and not a testament to the GMs skill set. Obviously getting KG for scraps was huge for Royal, but he ruined it in my opinion trading Garnett, Webber, and a 1st for Shaq and McDyess. MCDyess is asscheeks and that pick culd have been used to pick up a 2nd or 3rd rounder to add skill layers around Webber and Garnett. With that being said, Shaq is still a cheat code for the first few seasons and should single handily make the Nuggets one of the great teams.
Spurs: I think the Pacers/Blazers trade ended up being pretty great value for both teams. Obviously getting a top 7 player for 3 firsts is amazing and great value for the Pacers however the Blazers were able to package the 2nd they got in the trade and turn it into two more first round picks which was nice. They should have several assets to build a team over the next couple seasons. The blind trade the Heat did that ended up in KG looks poor in hindsight but they still have young talent and draft capital so I cant say it is the worst. Grizzlies trading multiple firsts for 2nd round selections when a top 10 pick went for 3 1sts and 2nd doesnt look too ideal value wise either.
Jazz: Not one sticks out to me. I think all trades have been based on value of the person trading for that pick. We seen pick 30 go for 3 futures but 7 went for the same amount. Its crazy out here!!
Cavaliers: I do like what the Nets have done so far considering their first pick was not until #23. Not a fan of what they're doing at SG but I get the idea of putting a low volume guy who does not turn the ball over. The Knicks rebounded pretty nice from the disaster trade of TMac for a 2nd round pick but I'm not sure going all-in for one, maybe two seasons without a good big man was the right move. When it comes to bad trades, well obviously the Grizzlies trades besides their one with me were not good value. Luckily for them our trade wasn't too bad so they should have a solid playoff team for the first two seasons until the 2003 tank with their protected pick.
Rumor is that Arenas will be the first to enter with D+ defense! He is not pleased!
Pacers: I'm all for it. D+ may be a reach and too much, but A and A+ defenders become more valuable here, just like in real life. Defensive monsters who lack scoring ability all of the sudden have more value, which is good for the league. I think Spencer should keep those poor defenders in future draft classes around a C and C- to prevent them from becoming good defensive players after a few training camps.
Spurs: No anything novel to help curb inflation is welcomed. I always hated leagues where everyone had multiple starters that would be superstars if transplanted to league-opening rosters. Theres already a clear separation from say the top 5-6ish players compared to the rest of the league so that's a good start. As long as potential for draftees and starting shotblocking and rebounding for rookies are kept in check we shouldn't see much issues. There will always be a glut of PGs a few seasons in just because of random TC gains but what can ya do.
Jazz: I think D+ defense for draftees outside of Harden would be going too far. C- should be the lowest I see defense!!! But i dont really care either way tbh. Ratings mean jack shit its how they sim to me.
Cavaliers: The file to start off with is pretty deflated regardless of what some have said about the top guys. Even A+ Shaq has flaws and may not even score 30 ppg on a team built around him doing so. Still not a fan of giving anybody D+ defense. I know the letter grade doesn't really matter but it will kill player value and nobody likes to see ugly ratings on the players they tanked for. I think C- is fine for some wing players since it will still develop a bit in TC and can reach C/C+ at least. I don't want to see anybody stuck at D+ for their career. When it comes to the overall topic of inflation, if somehow long-term we can make starting guys like Bowen possible on good teams I would like that.
6. If you had the #1 overall pick, who would you have picked and why? We all still feeling that Kobe nostalgia?
Pacers: Hands down Kobe. It was the logical pick. I would have toyed with the idea of Duncan or TMac, but Kobe is only 22 and elite as fuck. Plus, ya know, it's Kobe Bean! RIP, smh. I'd risk it all to hold Kobe in this league. Get at me Kings GM!
Spurs: I love Duncan and Shaq. They are so elite in the paint that it would be super easy to build a title contender around them early. I understand drafting 22 year old Kobe at 1 as he will likely be the best perimeter player for several seasons but those bigs would have been calling my name at 1st overall.
Jazz: Kobe would be the first pick for me. Its not because of nostalgia or any of that just because he is a young superstar. 10+ years of 25+ pppg sounds lovely to me.
Cavaliers: I probably would have went with Kobe, but Duncan would have been tough to pass on. Really could have gone either way depending on my mood at the moment. I was hoping Shaq would go before me and I'd have the decision made for me but it was not meant to be.
7. Here's a real curveball for you! Which player is the biggest STEAL so far?
Pacers: The biggest steal for me is either Michael Finley or Alonzo Mourning. Mourning is a top 5 player, but his age probably made him slip a bit. If you're trying to win now, he's your guy, he'll give you a good 2-3 seasons before he starts to decay. Finley is a great scorer, but I think we'll continue to see more and more steals as guys start to reach or just have a different valuation of player going forward.
Spurs: WOW! Hard hitting question here. I'm literally sweating in my seat at work...giving me the swamp ass! I won't call anyone drafted in round 1 a steal so mainly looking at round 2 on. MJ stands out as he will be an elite offensive player for a season or 2 or maybe longer, he can definitely help bolster the Knicks lineup. I also really like the Kukoc pick in round 3. He's a great scorer and provides excellent value in the third frame. One more selection I'll highlight is Raef LaFrentz. A 15/10/1.5 big that's 24 in the third frame is very nice. Viva la Frentz!!
Jazz: Biggest steal was Zo. I know hes 30 but he is the second best big in the file and dont @ ME!
Cavaliers: Like the others said I was a big fan of the Zo pick at #21. He is 30 years old but he will provide a few seasons of elite play. I think the Hornets could have done better with their other picks but thanks to him alone they should be a tough team to beat. The most surprising falls with later rounds would be Finley and Payton. I am not surprised that an older PG fell but after Spencer hyped him as top 5 I thought he'd go in the 40s at worst. I was tempted to pick Finley at #30 so trading back to #50 for him was a great move for the Bulls.
8. The waiting list has a lot of solid names on it including poor chipper who was wrongly fired yesterday. Besides chipper, who would be your pick as the next to get a team?
Pacers: My guy GAME. He's a quality person, decent GM, and active. He likes TRADES. Not really familiar with a lot of the other guys. One guy who should never get in....is that honeybooboo weirdo, aka JIMMY. Keep him out. I feel so liberated to be in a league with him!!!
Spurs: Anyone but lb (honeybooboo) please. Let game in as he has been around BBS and leagues in general for a while and it is always nice to get some familiar faces in here to snort some more of that sweet sweet nostalgia.
Jazz: Game has to be close to the top. He is always active and a FUN guy, no Kawhi doe. I dont know anybody else but Lakerboy on the list tbh though and I am high as a giraffes pussy so these answers may or may not be totally off. Who knows and who really cares tbh?
Cavaliers: I'd be lying if I said this question was not added just to hype up our dude GAME. He has been a big help as my assistant and has been in BBS leagues longer than any of us. He needs to get in as soon as possible! Not sure when that will happen with how active the league is so until then he will be my Robin!
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