Draft Night Trades Draft - R1 - MadNess* vs Larry_Russell

[durantbird]

Here is a quick list of what you need in your writeup.

1. Specific years for each player on your team
2. Rotations and minutes for each player
3. Reasoning as to why your team will win and/or why people should vote for you.

Do not vote in this thread until both managers have submitted their writeups. Once the writeups are posted, I will add a poll, and the team with the most votes after 24 hours will advance. EACH MANAGER SHOULD ALSO VOTE FOR THEIR OWN TEAM IN THE POLL - IF YOU FAIL TO DO THIS, YOU ARE SIMPLY GIVING AWAY A VOTE. If the votes are tied, we will decide the matchup via AI vote.

You are not required to state or explain your vote, but you are free to comment in the thread if you want to.

If writeups aren't posted within 24 hours, we will vote solely based on the players they have drafted (and any rotations they have posted on their roster page).

[Larry_Russell]

PG: Jason Kidd (2009-10) 8.4
10.3ppg, 5.6rpg, 9.1apg, 1.8spg, 05bpg, 42.5% on 5.2-3pta
AS
sharp defensively and a leader; helped lead Dallas to the Finals the next year.

SG: Michael Jordan (1990-91) 22.4
31.5ppg, 6rpg, 5.5apg, 2.7spg, 1bpg
MVP, FMVP, DPOY-7, NBA-1, DEF-1, AS, Scoring leader
Peak MJ: MVP, Finals MVP, 31.5 PPG, elite on both ends. No holes.

SF: Jalen Williams (2024-25) 16.9
21.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 5.1apg, 1.6spg, 0.7bpg, 36.5% on 5-3pta
NBA-3, DEF-2
Smooth scorer, playmaker, defender.

PF: Paul Millsap (2013-14) 14.1
18ppg, 8.5rpg, 3.1apg, 1.7spg, 1.1bpg, 36% on 3-3pta
AS
First All-Star selection. Versatile, efficient, strong defender.

C: Brook Lopez (2022-23) 11.5
16ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.3apg, 0.5spg, 2.5bpg, 37.5% on 4.7-3pta
DPOY-2, DEF-1
DPOY candidate, elite rim protection + 3PT shooting. Modern big.

PG/SG: Delon Wright (2019-20) 5.6
7ppg, 3rpg, 3.8apg, 1.2spg, 37% on 1.7-3pta
Steady, defensive combo guard. Role player.

SF/PF: Boris Diaw (2012-13) 4.4
5.8ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.4apg, 0.7spg, 0.5bpg, 38.5% on 1-3pta
Brilliant passer, glue guy, helped Spurs reach Finals.

C: Sam Perkins (1999-00) 5.4
6.6ppg, 3.6rpg, 0.8apg, 0.5spg, 0.5bpg, 40.8% on 2.7-3pta
Veteran stretch big. Smart, savvy, stretched floor with 3s.


PG: Kidd (38) / Wright (10)
SG: Jordan (38) / Wright (10)
SF: Williams (32) / Diaw (16)
PF: Millsap (28) / Diaw (10)
C: Lopez (38) / Perkins (10)

86.3/88



Team Identity:
Smart, versatile, high-IQ players.

Elite halfcourt execution.

Stifling team defense with rim protection (Lopez, Millsap, Kidd, Jordan).

Excellent spacing and ball movement.


Starting Lineup:
PG: Jason Kidd

SG: Michael Jordan

SF: Jalen Williams

PF: Paul Millsap

C: Brook Lopez

Bench unit core: Delon Wright, Boris Diaw, Sam Perkins (great for spacing and IQ-based sets).

Defensive Strategy:
Switch selectively on Luka and LeBron:

Jordan on Shai. He has the length, strength, and will frustrate him.

Jalen Williams on Luka. Young legs, size, and defensive versatility.

Millsap on LeBron. Tough, smart, won't get bullied—make LeBron work.

Kidd as a helper. Let him roam and disrupt passing lanes.

Brook Lopez sits back in drop coverage on PnR with elite rim protection vs drives from Shai/Luka/LeBron.

High tag responsibility and nail help – Jordan and Kidd can rotate like crazy. Emphasize scram switches and aggressive stunting.

Offensive Strategy:
Play through Jordan and Jalen Williams as slashers and creators.

Kidd as a spot-up option and secondary playmaker.

Use Jalen in ball screens with Brook or Diaw for pop or short-roll passes.

Spread the floor with 4 shooters and cut off-ball.

Exploit LeBron and Luka's defensive resting tendencies.

Attack Mutombo in space (he's slower laterally). Use Diaw or Millsap as the 5 in small-ball lineups to drag him out.

Mismatch hunting:

MJ iso or post vs Luka or Shai = good matchup.

Jalen can drive on Bruce Bowen if spaced out well.

Off-ball movement:

Use Jordan off pin-downs and curls.

Kidd orchestrates from top, set double drag actions and Spain pick-and-rolls with Millsap and Lopez/Perkins.

Rotational Philosophy:
Start big and smart.

Use Lopez/Diaw/Perkins for spacing if Mutombo is anchoring.

Delon Wright = defensive injection if Luka or Shai get hot.

MJ staggered minutes to punish second units (LeBron or Luka will rest).

[MadNESS]

PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (38) | Alex Caruso (10) | LeBron James
SG: Bruce Bowen (32) | Alex Caruso (16) | Luka Dončić
SF: Luka Dončić (36) | Anthony Mason (12) | LeBron James
PF: LeBron James (36) | Anthony Mason (12) | Bruce Bowen
Cc: Dikembe Mutombo (36) | Anthony Mason (4) | Kyle O’Quinn (8)



Total: 87.9 | 88.0 FGA

19’-20’ LeBron James 19.4 FGA
99’-00’ Anthony Mason 8.1 FGA
23’-24’ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 19.8 FGA
22’-23’ Alex Caruso 4.3 FGA
21’-20’ Luka Dončić 20.5 FGA
99’-00’ Dikembe Mutombo 7.0 FGA
02’-03’ Bruce Bowen 5.8 FGA
18’-19’ Kyle O’Quinn 3.0 FGA

GL LR

Bowen on MJ
SGA, Luka and LeBron all fresh for offense.
Not enough talent on LR’s team
Can’t stop my big 3

At the beer garden

Vote NeSS

[durantbird]

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Matchup is open. MadNess and LR please vote for yourselves

[Larry_Russell]

****
Crushed again

[Snakebites]

I voted LR. It’s like the toon squad vs the Monstars.

Cohesive group around Jordan vs a group of stars that aren’t all that cohesive and not enough shooting/off ball ability around them.

[Dr Positivity]

MadNESS talent advantage is too big for me.

[Laimbeer]

Agree with Dr P. LeBron, SGA, and Luka are not a good fit. But great players figure it out and Larry has nothing close to those three.

[durantbird]

MadNess advances