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I thought I'd try to put together a realistic $13 game that doesn't involve max FA (otherwise we'd all choose it).

The goal is to build a playoff team. Playoff teams last season had 4 core players and 3 substitute players that switch up lineup style.

Lakers have 3 players (AD, LeBron, Kuzma), you can choose which are part of the core and which are substitutes.
You need to add 4 more players with $13 to spend in total.

Two rules
1) You must choose at least one $2 player.
2) You can add a $1 players beyond the $13 if you need.
Example: You must select $2 player (Theis), you now have $10 to spend, you select an $8 player (Brogdon) and a $3 player (Rozier), now you have maxed out your budget to $13 but you can still add a $1 players for free (Caruso).

$8 - Russell, Brogdon
$7 - Horford
$6 -
$5 - Rudy Gay, Barnes, Mirotic, Randle
$4 - Danny Green, Beverley, Bojan, Lopez, Cousins, Lamb
$3 - Dedmon, Collison, Redick, Noel, Kleber, Rose, Hood, Ross, Rozier, Satoransky
$2 - Theis, Seth Curry, JaMychal, Cook, Ed Davis, Jordan, Zubac, Rivers, Ariza, McGee, Payton, Rondo, Matthew, Bullock
$1 - Caruso, Sefolosha, Lance, Korver, M Scott, T Chandler, Noah, Baynes

Bojan, Lopez, Rozier, Caruso.

Core: Satoransky ($3), Brogdon ($8), LeBron, AD
Subs: Lance ($1), Kuzma, Jordan ($2)

TyCobb wrote:Bojan, Lopez, Rozier, Caruso.

I had to up it to $13, I realized Lakers had more to spend. So you can add another $1 to Caruso because you must have a $2 player

Ariza ($2), Beverly ($4), Lopez ($4), Curry ($2)

No brainer imo. 3 and D.

Beverly(4) Green(4) Zubac(2) Ariza(2) Caruso(1)

Option 1A: Horford, Collison, Curry, Caruso
Option 1B: D’Lo, Reddick, McGee, Caruso

If I were building a team with these rosters, I think I'd do:

Lopez ($4)
Green ($4)
Collison ($3)
Curry ($2)

That said I think the estimated numbers are pretty low. I think it's closer to something like this:

$10 - Russell, Horford (may approach $25M -- eating majority of our $32M)
$9 - Brogdon (will approach $20M; allegedly has a 4-year, $80M offer already)
$6 - Rudy Gay, Mirotic, Barnes, Randle, Beverley, Bojan, Cousins (will approach $12-14M)
$5 - Lopez, Lamb, Dedmon, Collison, Danny Green, Redick (~$11-12M)
$4 - Kleber, Rose, Hood, Ross, Rozier, Satoransky
$3 - Seth Curry, Ariza, McGee, Bullock, Noel ($5-7M)
$2 - Theis, JaMychal, Cook, Ed Davis, Jordan, Zubac, Rivers, Payton, Rondo, Matthew
$1 - Caruso, Sefolosha, Lance, Korver, M Scott, T Chandler, Noah, Baynes

I feel pretty certain that the market is only going to allow the Lakers to sign two of the Green/Redick/Collison/Beverley tier players. Getting 3 of those would shock me. Getting three of those and being able to add someone like Curry (which I did in my "picks") would absolutely stun me.

king_james_vers wrote:That said I think the estimated numbers are pretty low. I think it's closer to something like this:

$10 - Russell, Horford (may approach $25M -- eating majority of our $32M)
$9 - Brogdon (will approach $20M; allegedly has a 4-year, $80M offer already)
$6 - Rudy Gay, Mirotic, Barnes, Randle, Beverley, Bojan, Cousins (will approach $12-14M)
$5 - Lopez, Lamb, Dedmon, Collison, Danny Green, Redick (~$11-12M)
$4 - Kleber, Rose, Hood, Ross, Rozier, Satoransky
$3 - Seth Curry, Ariza, McGee, Bullock, Noel ($5-7M)
$2 - Theis, JaMychal, Cook, Ed Davis, Jordan, Zubac, Rivers, Payton, Rondo, Matthew
$1 - Caruso, Sefolosha, Lance, Korver, M Scott, T Chandler, Noah, Baynes

I feel pretty certain that the market is only going to allow the Lakers to sign two of the Green/Redick/Collison/Beverley tier players. Getting 3 of those would shock me. Getting three of those and being able to add someone like Curry (which I did in my "picks") would absolutely stun me.

Definitely could refine the game a little. JUst a first step to get people thinking about the ballpark of realistic lineups.

king_james_vers wrote:If I were building a team with these rosters, I think I'd do:

Lopez ($4)
Green ($4)
Collison ($3)
Curry ($2)

I like this the most so far. Lineup variance is solid.

Collison, Green, LeBron, Kuzma, AD
Collison, Curry, Green, LeBron, AD
Collison, Green, LeBron, AD, Lopez

zimpy27 wrote:

king_james_vers wrote:That said I think the estimated numbers are pretty low. I think it's closer to something like this:

$10 - Russell, Horford (may approach $25M -- eating majority of our $32M)
$9 - Brogdon (will approach $20M; allegedly has a 4-year, $80M offer already)
$6 - Rudy Gay, Mirotic, Barnes, Randle, Beverley, Bojan, Cousins (will approach $12-14M)
$5 - Lopez, Lamb, Dedmon, Collison, Danny Green, Redick (~$11-12M)
$4 - Kleber, Rose, Hood, Ross, Rozier, Satoransky
$3 - Seth Curry, Ariza, McGee, Bullock, Noel ($5-7M)
$2 - Theis, JaMychal, Cook, Ed Davis, Jordan, Zubac, Rivers, Payton, Rondo, Matthew
$1 - Caruso, Sefolosha, Lance, Korver, M Scott, T Chandler, Noah, Baynes

I feel pretty certain that the market is only going to allow the Lakers to sign two of the Green/Redick/Collison/Beverley tier players. Getting 3 of those would shock me. Getting three of those and being able to add someone like Curry (which I did in my "picks") would absolutely stun me.

Definitely could refine the game a little. JUst a first step to get people thinking about the ballpark of realistic lineups.

Yep, and hope I didn't come off as too critical. I thought this was a really fun exercise.

zimpy27 wrote:I
Two rules
1) You must choose at least one $2 player.
2) You can add a $1 players beyond the $13 if you need.
Example: You must select $2 player (Theis), you now have $10 to spend, you select an $8 player (Brogdon) and a $3 player (Rozier), now you have maxed out your budget to $13 but you can still add a $1 players for free (Caruso).

$8 - Russell, Brogdon
$7 - Horford
$6 -
$5 - Rudy Gay, Barnes, Mirotic, Randle
$4 - Danny Green, Beverley, Bojan, Lopez, Cousins, Lamb
$3 - Dedmon, Collison, Redick, Noel, Kleber, Rose, Hood, Ross, Rozier, Satoransky
$2 - Theis, Seth Curry, JaMychal, Cook, Ed Davis, Jordan, Zubac, Rivers, Ariza, McGee, Payton, Rondo, Matthew, Bullock
$1 - Caruso, Sefolosha, Lance, Korver, M Scott, T Chandler, Noah, Baynes

$5 Gay
$3 Dedmon
$2 Ariza
$2 Zubac
$1 Caruso

C. Lopez (4) , Baynes (1), Noah (1)
PF. Davis, M.Scott (1)
SF. Lebron, Kuzma, Sefolosha (1)
SG. Bojan (4), Seth Curry (2), Lance (1)
PG. Rozier (3), Caruso (1)

Caruso, Curry and Lopez seem really popular.

zimpy27 wrote:Caruso, Curry and Lopez seem really popular.

Lopez is big that hits from distance. With Lebron and Davis Lakers need that specially when Lebron/Davis push to play closer to the basket.

Curry was always decent role player, always overshodowed by his brother but he knos his role and helps with it.

Caruso seems like one of the better cheap options left tbh.

Patrick Beverly ($4M)
Danny Green ($4M)
Dwayne Dedmond ($3M)
Rajon Rondo ($2M)
Alex Caruso ($1M)
Tyson Chandler ($1M)

PG: Patrick Beverley / Rajon Rondo / Alex Caruso
SG: Danny Green
SF: LeBron James / THT
PF: Anthony Davis / Kyle Kuzma
C: Dwayne Demond / Tyson Chandler / Mo Wagner

A little bit of depth missing at the SG/SF position, but other than that I'm really intrigued by that roster.

Beverly (4)
Bullock (2) Redick (3)
Lebron Kuzma
AD Kuzma
Lopez (4) AD

zimpy27 wrote:I thought I'd try to put together a realistic $13 game that doesn't involve max FA (otherwise we'd all choose it).

The goal is to build a playoff team. Playoff teams last season had 4 core players and 3 substitute players that switch up lineup style.

Lakers have 3 players (AD, LeBron, Kuzma), you can choose which are part of the core and which are substitutes.
You need to add 4 more players with $13 to spend in total.

Two rules
1) You must choose at least one $2 player.
2) You can add a $1 players beyond the $13 if you need.
Example: You must select $2 player (Theis), you now have $10 to spend, you select an $8 player (Brogdon) and a $3 player (Rozier), now you have maxed out your budget to $13 but you can still add a $1 players for free (Caruso).

$8 - Russell, Brogdon
$7 - Horford
$6 -
$5 - Rudy Gay, Barnes, Mirotic, Randle
$4 - Danny Green, Beverley, Bojan, Lopez, Cousins, Lamb
$3 - Dedmon, Collison, Redick, Noel, Kleber, Rose, Hood, Ross, Rozier, Satoransky
$2 - Theis, Seth Curry, JaMychal, Cook, Ed Davis, Jordan, Zubac, Rivers, Ariza, McGee, Payton, Rondo, Matthew, Bullock
$1 - Caruso, Sefolosha, Lance, Korver, M Scott, T Chandler, Noah, Baynes

Beverley and Green= very good defenders with career 39% from 3's = $8
Reddick= Best shooter, decent defender =$ 3( but I think he's more of a $4 tho)
Caruso= very good defense, can switch and guard SGs at 6-5, career 3pt% of 39.8%=$1
Baynes= solid banger and screener= $1.

Darknemo2000 wrote:

zimpy27 wrote:Caruso, Curry and Lopez seem really popular.

Lopez is big that hits from distance. With Lebron and Davis Lakers need that specially when Lebron/Davis push to play closer to the basket.

This.

However. It’s not our biggest need given the roster. Hear me out.

Kuzma is a stretch four, will knock down his open threes.

AD is an unguardable stretch four, will knock down his open threes.

LBJ is an unguardable stretch four when his threes go down. Streaky.

All three are starters. All three are bigs. Neither can he left open for the three.

Add to that Caruso and, let’s say, Klay. See where I’m going with this? Add to that the fact that Pelinka will sure as hell go after 3 and D veterans.

It’s not last season. We don’t need a stretch C. We need a badass banger down low. Lopez can do that, too, but there are better alternatives.

AD should be allowed to play free like a guard, from perimeter to down low, whatever. But he shouldn’t be the body to get banged up by opposing bigs every night. He’s not that guy.

I propose the following, and I think this is what Phil Jackson would do; create a team of giant mismatches, literally.

Davis is a SF/wing in a 6’10” Center’s body. Let him play the Small Forward wing guard role. Who’s gonna stop him? Whom can’t he stop at the three?

Mismatch 1:
PG:
SG:
SF: Anthony Davis
PF:
C:

Kuzma has young knees, anticipates well and runs like a deer. Defense is a mindset. Start him at the two spot. Who’s gonna guard him at 6’10? There will be many SGs whom he can’t guard. The offensive spot up shooting over opposing two-guards is insane.

Mismatch 2:
PG:
SG: Kyle Kuzma
SF: Anthony Davis
PF:
C:

LeBron is a living mismatch 1-5, take your pick. I prefer him at the four, for longevity reasons (both ends) and more.

Mismatch 3:
PG:
SG: Kyle Kuzma
SF: Anthony Davis
PF: LeBron James
C:

That, to me, should be our new big three. Mismatch hell for opponents, given that we add the right type of player at the remaining two spots.


PG mismatch. To keep going with Phil’s type of aggressor lineup, one that forces opposing coach to react:

To cover for Kuzma’s defensive issues at the two, we need a work horse defense centric combo size guard with yet another height advantage offensively, who can score off the ball or distribute. Needs to knock down open threes, cut to the rim and finish, but most importantly switch intelligently on defense. Call me crazy, but I’d be shocked if he doesn’t break out given the starting PG job on this team.

Mismatch 4:
PG: Alex Caruso 6’5”
SG: Kyle Kuzma 6’10”
SF: Anthony Davis 6’11”
PF: LeBron James 6’beast8”
C:


The center this team needs (even if you replace Kuz w Klay and use him as 6th man), is not a stretch 5.

LBJ, AD, KK, AC all feed off of movement.

We need a low post anchor big man who pushes people out of the way, bangs, sets hard screens, boxes out, rebounds, does some serious heavy physical lifting down low. And, takes and makes the occasional three. It needs to be one that can pass and make his free throws.

Lopez can do some of that. But I’d put him in fifth on my wishlist of attainable Centers for this roster:

1) Vucevic
2) M Gasol
3) Nurkic
4) Dedmon
5) Lopez

Being that I’m going for height advantage on every position, plus in-court fit related mentioned above, Vucevic is our guy. Jokic would of course be perfect. Marc would be great.


I know, space for LBJ and AD to cut? Yes, this accommodates that exactly.

Mismatch 5:
PG: Alex Caruso 6’5”
SG: Kyle Kuzma 6’10”
SF: Anthony Davis 6’11”
PF: LeBron James 6’beast8”
C: Nikola Vucevic 7’1”



If you were the opposing team’s coach, let’s say Steve Kerr, what would your defensive strategy be? Who do you start? Seriously.

Phil would do it.


Do it, Frank!