RealGM

I'm thinking of simulating the season just for fun because well, we may not have a season.

Most of these games are about making trades. This is not one of those games. This will be about trying to predict the course of an imaginary season. We'll try to guess where free agents will land and try to guess the win total for each team over 82 games.

The idea being to try and be as realistic as possible. Those who want to participate will be working WITH each other to try and create a realistic whole instead of AGAINST each other to try and build a championship team.

So, if you have a team you are working on you might try something like this:

Utah Jazz

PG - Devin Harris - Harris had a hard time adjusting to the Jazz in 17 games last season, but, with a full offseason to adjust I expect his stats to approximate his career averages.

Backup PG - Earl Watson - Jazz will likely resign Watson to a 2 year deal at or around one mil per. Competition for WAtson's services is slight around the league as witnessed by his contract last year, however he was an effective backup PG for the Jazz and will likely be retained with a small and short deal.

SG - CJ Miles - Jazz picked up the option on CJ so he's under contract for this coming year. It's a contract year for Miles so he's expected to come into camp in terrific shape and really look to make an impact in order to try and improve his value. However this may cause a conflict if he becomes too selfish for the team concept.

Backup SG - Alec Burks. Burks was drafted #12 by the Jazz last year and has had an impressive summer. It looks like he's the real deal and will likely take over the starting job next year. Unless he really shines it's unlikely, but possible, that he'll move Miles out of the starting spot.

SF - Gordon Hayward. Hayward played a lot of SG for the Jazz last year, but, Miles has been slimming down this summer in what appears to be a bid to be the starting SG. Hayward is suited just fine for the SF spot at 6'8" and good footspeed. He really excelled down the stretch last year showing a lot of ability the last month or two of the season. He looks to be a better defensive Mike Dunleavy Jr. type ot me.

Backup SF - I'm betting the Jazz make a run at Shane Battier this offseason. He'd be an excellent force in the locker room giving the Jazz some much needed leadership along with good defense and outside shooting when on the floor. I expect the Jazz will offer him a 2 year full MLE type of deal Maybe a team option or buyout on year #3. If they can't work that out they might be tempted to Bring AK47 back for the same offer, however, I feel they would prefer Battier's leadership and health to AK's better shot blocking.

PF - Derrick Favors. Favors is the best bet to start at PF for the Jazz providing a nice defensive compliment to Jefferson at center and moving Paul Millsap back to a more comfortable 6th man role.

Backup PF - Paul MIllsap looks to be returning to a backup role this coming season with the emergence of Derrick Favors. Millsap has excelled in a backup role before and will still see around 30 minutes so I don't anticipate a big issue with the change.

Center - Al Jefferson. Jefferson had a better last two months of the season after recovering from a wrist injury. However, I expect his production to remain about the same as it was for the Jazz last season on the whole.

Backup center - Mehmet Okur. Who? Memo missed all of last year while recovering from a bad achilies injury. He looks like he's going to be back in game shape and will help the Jazz off the bench spacing the floor in limited minutes.

Big man depth - Enes Kanter and Jeremy Evans will provide some depth at the 4 and 5 position where both will be fighting for limited minutes.

Guard depth - Raja Bell was horrific for the Jazz last season. I don't know if he was just having trouble coming back off injury or if age has just crushed him. But, he's going to have to prove a lot to get minutes for this young squad.


Likely signings
---------------
Earl Watson
Shane Battier (25%)
Andrei Kirilenko (50%)
Other free agent swing player (25%)

Likely departures
----------------
Andrei Kirilenko (50%)
Francisco Elson
Kyrylo Fesenko
Ronnie Price

Trade chips
----------------
Paul Millsap
Al Jefferson
Devin Harris
Raja Bell (negative value)

Trade targets
----------------
Draft picks
Expiring contracts
Contracts with 2 years left
1st option scoring SF
Young pass first PG

Unlikely to be moved
----------------
Derrick Favors
Gordon Hayward
Enes Kanter
Alec Burks
Jazz 1sts
GS 1st

Estimated record
---------------
37-45

First, I want to say that I could stare at your avatar for hours haha

Second, I'm kinda wondering what we are doing. Are we going to vote on the top teams, go head to head, or just post what we think each team will do? I'm a bit confused, but I felt like doing this so I did.

Milwaukee Bucks

PG - Brandon Jennings. Jennings has been working hard this offseason to get better and maybe as good as an all-star. He has worked on his jumpshot, not taking as many 3's, and making better decisions with the ball. His main concern last year was efficiency, which is what he has been working on.

Backup PG - Beno Udrih. Actually a decent backup because he is one of the more effiecent PG's at the lower level. Shot 50% FG, 36% 3PT, 59% TS which is very good for a guard. He can be a steady vet to run the 2nd level offense and maybe teach Jennings a bit along the way.

PG depth - Keyon Dooling and Shawn Livingston. Most likely, neither of them will play unless someone gets injured. Dooling is an EXP, and Livingston is UNG next year for 1M, so we will most likely just cut them after this year.

SG - Stephen Jackson. Getting up there in age, he is still very affective. He was brought in to score the ball. MIL was near last (maybe last I can't remember) in PPG, and this is one of the players brought in to help that. He also plays great D, can play the 3, and shoots well.

Backup SG - A few options here. We could use the BAE to sign someone like Anthony Parker to add an all-around vet to the roster, but I think we should resign CDR. Still young, with very good athleticism, could add a lot to the 2nd line. Needs to work on his shot a bit, but I think we could get him at a 3 year, 9M total type contract, because he's a bit under the radar.

Forwards - It gets a bit messy here, because the Bucks play more with 5 guys on the floor rather than individual positions. We have Ilyasova under contract, but he will most likely play over sees, so he most likely won't be around. Delfino was a solid option last year and will most likely be the starting SF if we don't sign anyone else. We also have a few young guys, Larry Sanders and Tobias Harris. Harris can play the 3 and the 4 and give us some nice hustle. Sanders has also been working a lot this offseason, and I'd love to see him play 24-26 MPG (about 10 more MPG than last year). We also have Gooden, who gave decent production, but isn't the highest character guy. I'd much rather give the minutes to the young guys. We also have LRMAM as an RFA, who I fully believe we will resign. He gives us some great D and athleticism at the 3 and 4. There have also been a lot of talks about using our MLE on a PF. Landry would be a great option, maybe 3 years at full MLE? Again, he'd bring some scoring, which we were lacking last year.

Forward lineup with Landry/other MLE:
LRMAM/Delfino
Landry/Sanders

Depth: Gooden, Harris, Brockman

Forward lineup without Landry/other MLE:
Delfino/Harris
LRMAM/Sanders

Depth: Gooden, Brockman

Cc - Andrew Bogut. He is clearly our best player, defensive anchor and post-up option. He has been limited by injuries in recent years, but after an offseason, he should be ready. He came off his best defensive season, where he lead the league in BPG, was 4th in DRTG, and 5th in DWS.

Backup C - We don't have a true backup C, but we do have a few PF/C types. Gooden and Sanders will each get 6-8 MPG at the backup C spot at the beginning of the season, and whichever one does better at C, will be the primary backup there, while the other one will be the PF backup.

Likely signings
---------------
LRMAM
CDR
Landry (50%)
Other MLE (25%)
No MLE (25%)
Anthony Parker (25%)

Likely departures
----------------
Ersan Ilyasova (Overseas)
Michael Redd

Trade chips
----------------
2012 top 14 PRT 1st
Tobias Harris
Larry Sanders (even though I'd want to keep him)
Drew Gooden (Negative)
Ersan Ilyasova's contract

Trade targets
----------------
A wing next to Jackson/Jennings (Ray Allen, Jared Dudley type)
PF that can score (Landry with MLE, or Bargnani/Boozer type)

Unlikely to be moved
----------------
Stephen Jackson
Brandon Jennings
Andrew Bogut

Estimated record
---------------
46-36 (6th in East)

I'm interested in contributing and will do one for...

Miami Heat

PG - Mike Bibby - Ugh. Bibby seems to have faded completely and really didn't offer what I expected in Miami, he may not be re-signed.

Backup PG - Mario Chalmers - has still not lived up to his first season hype but played ok in the playoffs, wouldn't be surprised to see him start next season.

SG - Dwyane Wade - after a slow start, Wade was Wade in the Finals, he just needs more help.

Backup SG - Mike Miler - Miller played a combination of backup forward and guard last year, totally underperformed, but with a year in the new system hopefully he can hit some threes.

SF - LeBron James - looked slower and less effective than before, got rightly criticised for his Finals appearance, hopefully will take that as motivation to bounce back leaner and fitter.

Backup SF - James Jones - played well early in the season, until Spo inexplicably cut his minutes. Should feature from time to time next year.

PF - Chris Bosh - needs to get into a rhythm next year and work on his rebounding, but otherwise fulfilled his role well

Backup PF - Udonis Haslem - took a hometown discount, then missed most of the season. Will be a really valuable asset from the bench, a legit double double threat.

Center - Joel Anthony
Backup Center - Dexter Pittman - big Dex didn't play last year but Riley likes him and he lost 30+ lbs last year. Hopefully we give him some minutes.

Big man depth - It remains to be seen whether any of Dampier, Ilgauskus & Howard return next season. Hopefully not.

Guard depth - Norris Cole comes into the fold and I hope will feature at Point Guard instead of Mike Bibby


Likely signings
---------------
Sam Dalembert (50%)
Ring chasers TBC

Likely departures
----------------
Juwan Howard (75%)
Big Z (75%)
Erick Dampier (50%)
Mike Bibby (50%)

Trade chips
----------------
Oh dear

Trade targets
----------------
A point guard upgrade, a Center upgrade

Unlikely to be moved
----------------
Dwyane Wade
LeBron James
Chris Bosh
Udonis Haslem

Estimated record
---------------
64-18