Post by JR on Jul 3, 2020 15:25:22 GMT -8
Welcome to the 5th Annual JR’s Roundtable. Today we have some of my closest GM friends in the league and I am very excited for this one! Lets jump right into it!
1. Alright this draft was either loved or hated by the league. Which were you before TC and where do you stand now after TC?
Royal- Loved the top of the draft, hence the big Melo move. I think it was very deep with role players, few starters. After the 1st TC its arguably the worse close we've had so far. Not really feeling the class as an entirety.
teepee - Did not love the this draft before and after I feel the same way. There were a lot of solid role players but no stars. After seeing Josh Smith's handling was likely fine I am a bit annoyed since that is why I passed on him. Would I have traded him anyway? Probably so whatever. Iguodala had a really bad pre and I'm not sure now that he can be an option caliber player in the future.
Vinsanity : I loved it man. A lot of talent throughout and seeing some guys have great TCs makes it interesting. Everybody likes to talk about how it is Warriors who blew up but let's look at the Warrior rivals too. Trevor Ariza blew up, J.R. Smith blew up, makes you feel like next season he's gonna be P.J. Brown his Baby Draymond. It's good that some former Warriors do well but he mixes it up with guys you wouldn't really expect.
Game - Before TC I really liked 3 players and thought it was an OK class but Tc for me personally was great with Iggy ..+5 ill take it.He might not be a star but I’ll take a Scottie Pippen like player.
2. Going with the Draft who disappointed you the most from this class and who surprised you the most this draft? Why?
Royal- Biggest surprise and disappointment for me would have to be the same, Andre Igoudala and Deng, both looked to be promising and are both pretty meh.
teepee - Biggest disappointment is obviously Dwight. League is lacking with two-way bigs and it is clear that he will never be much of a scorer. He will still be very good and likely the best player from this class, just a shame he won't be able to carry a team like he did for a few seasons with his cheating teammates in Orlando. Big surprise is Josh Smith showing good handles at SG in pre. WTF is up with that?
Vinsanity : Biggest disappointment had to be Al Jefferson right? He dealt MELO for him and Melo looks like a future superstar while Al didn't really move at all. And his numbers in preseason very very pedestrian. I get that Al was his guy so he made the move but right now, Al is letting him down. Biggest surprise was J.R. Smith. I really thought he would be near the top in terms of players that a Warrior fan hates but he looks damn nice after his first TC.
Game - Dissapointed definitely deng,I expected B B Atleast.Suprise was def Livingston.He looks like he’ll be a super solid starter for a long time.
3. Moving on, after preseason, who are the favorites in each conference in your eyes and why?
Royal- East, the CY teams had a great preseason, but I'm not buying it. I like the Cavs out East and the Kings obviously in the West. Should be a easy repeat for them.
teepee - Hornets added a 30 ppg low turnover PG for basically free and now have a great duo with aging Houston so they are probably the favorites at least in the East. Kings should win the West again thanks to Kobe being the best player in the league. Thanks break!
Vinsanity : In the West, I would say Kings. Don't need to say why. In the East, I would have to say the Hornets. That Splash Bros backcourt of Houston and Billups lit it up in preseason and their frontcourt is filled with defense/rebounding. It is the absolute perfect formula and all the pieces are in place. However, you cannot count out the Cavaliers, Pacers, Heat or especially Knicks. Those teams are all constantly making deals, constantly improving their teams, constantly experimenting different rotations.
Game - East ill of course say the Cavs.He has Tony Parker now and he’s AWESOME!!!!West it’s easy the Kings,3 top 10 players.
4. Interesting takes there! Ok we are in the 5th season of BBS, tell me who you would want CY’d and why?
Royal- I'm not going to stir any pots at the moment with this one. I have deals to make.
teepee - I don't want anybody fired but if I had to pick one it would be footy. He just refuses to trade with me and has been trolling me with trades since the beginning. Not sure why he is this way but I hope he finds peace after his four season stay here.
Vinsanity : Gotta be covid . I mean, his team looks hopeless. No talent, no 2007 1st. Only got into the postseason last year because the West was trash and now tanking in weak 2005/2006 drafts? Big yikes.
Game - CYd...hhmm don’t want anyone gone but I’d be funny if I got CYd ..wouldn’t be the first time.
5. On the topic of CY we have the Bucks and TWolves in their CY this season. Do they make it? If they don’t give me a move that would give them that boost to
make it.
Royal- They should be fine, after the newest batch of GMs we just got and seeing the deals made just to get picks back, I rather not have them get CYd. Best of luck to both.
teepee - The TWolves will make it. No suspense there, Zo is pretty good and Bosh had a solid TC. Have good enough wings as well. I don't like the Bucks odds but they did have a solid pre so maybe they do have a solid chance. I hope he makes it, not a good GM but fine otherwise.
Vinsanity : Prior to TC, I didn't think the Timberwolves would but Bosh blowing is up is exactly what they needed and now I think they do with ease. As far as the Bucks go, they have a shot but I do not think they make it. The East is just too tough. The Hornets/Cavaliers/Knicks/Pacers/Heat/76ers/Celtics are all considerably better right now which is a whopping 7 teams and then you have tough teams like the Wizards and Raptors as well. The Magic had talent but couldn't make it and it's tougher this season than it was last (Duncan is there now).
Game - I think the wolves will cruise in CY..the bucks I don’t know their in a difficult East so they just need big men like everyone(Camby would be nice)
6. Trades were plentiful in the offseason, weve seen the good the bad and the ugly. Give me the trade you thought was most lopsided this off season and why.
Royal- Most lopsided trade would have to be the one vetoed. Other than that I think Ray went for dirt cheap, you could always make the argument that Hawks got their 1st back, but idc Rays elite.
teepee - Billups trade easily. No idea why anybody thinks Paccelis Morlende is good. The guy sucks. Trading Billups to switch it up is fine but why deal him for a leftover FA caliber player as the main piece? Whatever. He wanted KVH, Iguodala and likely the pick that was turned into Ray Allen from me.
Vinsanity : Probably have to say the Duncan deal because it's Duncan. I don't understand why he is adding legit assets (LJ/first) to Duncan for Arenas and JJ. Arenas has elite value but Duncan among the top three most valuable players in this league. I am glad he made the move because now he can make the team his own. Just feel like he shouldn't be adding to Duncan for any package without LeBron in it.
Game - Lopsided well prob the Raps/Hawks.One guy got Ray for like scrubs and shitty picks.
7. Now for a little insider information, what are your plans this season. Any big moves planned? Going for it all or tanking hard?
Royal- Plans this season are simple, post a DC, and let the tank commence. Probably try to add a couple future assets in the process, but I'm all in for CP3 and Dwill this season. We'll see how it plays out.
teepee - I'd like to move some pieces for an upgrade at C but I have doubts I can pull that off. Feel ok about the rest of the team. If the Hornets really are this good I'm a bit sad I didn't just tank but there was just no market for Garnett or KVH. Hopefully we can win in the 50s again and finally have some playoff luck.
Vinsanity : I'm obviously very happy with my wings, also very happy with Bobby Jackson at PG. It's the frontcourt I need to focus on. I have been camping decent depth guys so that's helping. Also landed Todd MacCulloch who had an incredible TC. Always looking to get better but not all that actively trying to trade right now as I want to see what I've got and try out some different rotations to figure them out and then assess what they are worth.
Game - I’m really not sure what imma do I need a real sim befor I blow it up or try and get a real big.
8. Im pretty sure weve all talked to almost every GM about a trade by now, who is your favorite to trade with and why, and who is your least favorite to trade with and why?
Royal- harold is my favorite, easily. We go back and forth at it damn near every other day and seem to hit 10-12 replies each negotiation. My least favorite to deal with is the drafter of this RT. You my friend are a troll.
teepee - Nobody is worse than footy. Jah is afraid to lose a trade. Have had no real problems outside of that. Chipper having a committee make his trades for him is weird though and makes it hard to deal with him which is why I have only tried once or twice.
Vinsanity : Favorite to trade with is play / insane . It's fairly easy to negotiate. Just shot them both a PM saying "what is the price on Moiso," play responded "2 firsts," I responded with an offer that showed the fillers and the firsts and we had a deal. Easy. Least favorite to trade with, not sure. Feel like usually when I am able to start talking to a GM that has mutual interest in a trade, we usually get it done.
Game - Hhmmm my fav is def Habes he’s always to the point it’s either a deal or gtfo..no games.Least favorite is ahsan man ..I haven’t made a trade with that guy like In a year real life time,thinks he likes ignoring me.
9. All of you are in the “HUE CREW” how do you feel the league views all of you and is this warranted?
Royal- I don't really care what they think to be honest, but I feel they think we plot and make these "friend deals" when really its just basic negotiations. We are all active and good peeps though so its all good vibes all around. We're 5 seasons deep, were all boys, but we all got the common goal of building a solid franchise. Hue Crew was a thing early on but I feel we're all blended now as a league.
teepee - After what took place yesterday I view the hue crew in a different light now and will be looking to distance myself from them. They are all vultures so this idea that we make 'friend trades' is just crazy to me. Don't blame John at all for distancing himself from the crew even if he is delusional when it comes to a TMac trade.
Vinsanity : I think at first, they thought we would just make friend trades and bullshit around (nitpicking stupid little deals like any trade with Scott Pollard or the Kwame Brown trade). But 5 seasons in, they have worked with every GM within the crew and realize that every one is focused on making their team and their team alone better no matter who is offering the best deal. I'm pretty sure nobody still has negative views towards us, we're just a bunch of GMs who have been in leagues together for a long time like all of them.
Game - the league thinks we have like a secret mission to always commingle on trades and give gifts,nah man we fight more than anything on the GroupMe and rarely come to quick agreements.
10. 5 Seasons in who would you rate in the top 3 as GMs? Why these 3?
Royal- Top GMs are top con artist. I'm not answering.
teepee - Skillz does a good job with trades obviously but I'm not sure why anybody would look to deal with him. He is very sneaky with how he is already offering players he has possible deals for to others for more. Just too much for me but I do thank him for the Grant Hill and Keith Van Horn offers!
Vinsanity : We are 4 seasons in and only have three champions so they are the three best. 1) The New York STOCKS Exchange - Only 2 time champ, constantly looking to trade and overall easy to deal with because he understands what you're trying to do and work with you. 2) Ol’ Dirty Bastard - won a title and a lotto, that's doing it right. Drafted/traded insanely well to capture that first title and after two straight finals appearances and one title, he tore it down completely and was able to get LeBron. Gotta love taking risks and seeing them work out for such a great guy. 3) greeme - always been a great GM and doing a good job here. Even when everybody counted him out after dealing MJ for
Game - Skills/Ashes/Greeme
skills,cuz he makes miracles every thanksgiving.
Ashes he was able to rape break and build a super team.
Greeme,just cuz I’ll look at his roster and be like it’s meh but yet he’s always at 50 wins no matter with what.
11. OK so since sports aint never coming back except UFC, what yall gonna do with your lives now?
Royal- Fast Break Basketball til the wheels fall off!! I got a Navy career coming to a end and a new career starting all in the next few months so Im a be focused on getting my life right and setting myself up financially my man.
teepee - I was already watching sports less than past years so I do not care at all if they come back or not, at least for American sports. They all suck in different ways. My bandwagon England team Arsenal currently sucks so I barely even watch real football now. Very sad! I do miss the Champions League a bit. Watching Liverpool lose was fun.
Vinsanity : Just existing.
Game - I’ll prob keep trying to day trade stocks and lose all my monies..
12. Ask me anything yall sweet ladies would like!
Royal- Do you ever wonder if your tooth infection originated from eating ass?
JR – Never thought about that, but I will ask the Dentist on Monday when I get this pulled if that is a reason for getting this infection.
teepee - Have you flossed today?
JR – Actually YES! I cant go near the infected tooth obviously, but I don’t ever want this feeling again so I will be going the extra mile to keep my teeth in tip top shape.
Vinsanity : Who do you feel had the best offseason?
JR – HMMM. Good question. If I had to chose a team, and I wont chose mine, I think it has to be the Pistons. Yes they are tanking but look at the guys they took a chance on last season. Artest and Kmart are very good players now. Not stars but role players, and I think Josh Smith at 4 was a steal. Great Off-Season for Galo and the Detroit Pistons!
Game - You think we’ll ever meet Ahsan in real life ?Or will he keep dodging us.
JR – I do think we will meet him in person one day. We have to we talk daily, even when there were no leagues going on.
A special thanks to the guests, Royal, Go Niners, GAME, 2 years left
A special thanks to the guests, Royal, Go Niners, GAME, 2 years left
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