Build Your Realistic Team - Draft COMPLETED

[Baski]

We pick Brandon Ingram

.

You're up.

[eminence]

Ingram was a guy I strongly considered at my slots, one of the bigger droppers so far imo.

[Doctor MJ]

Ingram was a guy I strongly considered at my slots, one of the bigger droppers so far imo.

Also re-frames the Caruso pick earlier. Wouldn't seem as weird to add Ingram-then-Caruso to a team, but the flipped order makes it feel like a reach-steal combo.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

With the 54th pick, the Rethymno Cretan Kings select Gordon Hayward.



He may not be an All-Star anymore, but he's still a very useful Point Forward. He doesn't need the ball in his hands to maximize his effectiveness. He can create his own shot. Most importantly, he can create shots for his teammates as well. He keeps everyone involved, hence he keeps everyone happy. I already got plenty of physicality at the (s)wing positions with Jaylen Brown and OG. I reckon I could have a use for Hayward's court vision and BBIQ.

PG: Luka
SG: Brown
SF: Hayward
PF: Anunoby
C:

This is a very modern team, extremely interesting, everyone forward sized between 6-6 and 6-8.
Looking forward to see the rest, you're taking a path similar to the one I was thinking when I was expecting to draft Luka.

[flaco]

Ingram was a guy I strongly considered at my slots, one of the bigger droppers so far imo.

I like the pick a lot. Both Gobert and Caruso are low-usage, defensive-minded players. I think Ingram would be a great fit next to them. Him and Booker would be sharing the offensive load. Definitely a value pick at the 4th round!

I was strongly considering Ingram as well. In fact, I was between Hayward, Ingram and 3 other guys. Problem with Ingram is he demands the basketball in the halfcourt (29.2 USG%). I mean, he wanted to be the go-to guy even when he was sharing the court with Zion. I already got Doncic who leads the league in USG% with 36.2. Granted, his usage would go down in our fantasy league, but he'd still dominate the ball in the half court. Can't have too many alphas in the starting lineup. Basketball is played with only one ball. Opted for Hayward cause I figured he'd be better suited in a supporting role. In a vacuum, Ingram > Hayward.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

Hehe, sorry about that Ryoga. Part of what I love about these projects is the way it distorts the shape/curvature of the league we're used to. There's room for 32 alphas in the NBA, in this league, just 16. That means below a certain level of quality, the alphas lose their role while the role players don't.

We're talking about 16 teams, though, a decent amount of the real teams are not really competitive for anything. From the there my question, are those alphas (including two all stars in 2021) really "alpha"? Or their just "fool's gold"?
Soon we'll start calling names, why some of these guys are generating so little interest.

[Colbinii]

Hehe, sorry about that Ryoga. Part of what I love about these projects is the way it distorts the shape/curvature of the league we're used to. There's room for 32 alphas in the NBA, in this league, just 16. That means below a certain level of quality, the alphas lose their role while the role players don't.

We're talking about 16 teams, though, a decent amount of the real teams are not really competitive for anything. From the there my question, are those alphas (including two all stars in 2021) really "alpha"? Or their just "fool's gold"?
Soon we'll start calling names, why some of these guys are generating so little interest.

Well I think the point Doctor MJ was making is there is more room for guys in the NBA to be high usage and the 'star' of the team.

There is a reason nobody here has picked lower-tier alphas, and that's because they aren't actually alphas, they are just players who are on teams where they are forced to be alphas.

It goes both ways though. All of a sudden DeMar DeRozan is given elite spacing [The Bulls], gets hot for 25-30 games and he is picked in the 2nd round in this game. These players being in the correct setting amplifies or--in the wrong team setting--hurts their perception.

DeMar isn't any different than he has been the past 8 years outside of outlier shooting from 10-16 feet. His team is simply built to capitalize on that and he is sharing the court with the best scorer he ever has [Zach LaVine].

[eminence]

Hehe, sorry about that Ryoga. Part of what I love about these projects is the way it distorts the shape/curvature of the league we're used to. There's room for 32 alphas in the NBA, in this league, just 16. That means below a certain level of quality, the alphas lose their role while the role players don't.

We're talking about 16 teams, though, a decent amount of the real teams are not really competitive for anything. From the there my question, are those alphas (including two all stars in 2021) really "alpha"? Or their just "fool's gold"?
Soon we'll start calling names, why some of these guys are generating so little interest.

Well I think the point Doctor MJ was making is there is more room for guys in the NBA to be high usage and the 'star' of the team.

There is a reason nobody here has picked lower-tier alphas, and that's because they aren't actually alphas, they are just players who are on teams where they are forced to be alphas.

It goes both ways though. All of a sudden DeMar DeRozan is given elite spacing [The Bulls], gets hot for 25-30 games and he is picked in the 2nd round in this game. These players being in the correct setting amplifies or--in the wrong team setting--hurts their perception.

DeMar isn't any different than he has been the past 8 years outside of outlier shooting from 10-16 feet. His team is simply built to capitalize on that and he is sharing the court with the best scorer he ever has [Zach LaVine].

I must defend my mans honor!

The bolded really feels like a stretch to me. DeMar/Zach take (and make to date) a lot of tough midrange shots in that offense. The spacing strikes me as fairly mediocre for the modern NBA, maybe slightly above average, but elite? They just don't have enough good shooting or elite finishing role players to meet that bar for me.

I'd also note that DeMar has improved his shooting touch over the last few seasons, jumping to 88%+ from the line, which is well into elite shooter territory.

[LA Bird]

Al Horford

Up

[Fadeaway_J]

Like the athleticism and defensive versatility this guy gives me at the 4.


Aaron Gordon

.

Up

[trex_8063]

Kinda surprised it took until the 4th round for Mike Conley to go. Check that: really surprised. Is it a fear that he won't be available come playoff time? That is the one explanation that might make sense to me.

Brandon Ingram seems a steal in the mid-50s, too.

Kinda depends on fit within the roster, I suppose [though Mike Conley can fit a lot of places]. For us spectators, I'll put in the request that people show what their roster looks like with each pick.

[Colbinii]

Kinda surprised it took until the 4th round for Mike Conley to go. Check that: really surprised. Is it a fear that he won't be available come playoff time? That is the one explanation that might make sense to me.

Brandon Ingram seems a steal in the mid-50s, too.

Kinda depends on fit within the roster, I suppose [though Mike Conley can fit a lot of places]. For us spectators, I'll put in the request that people show what their roster looks like with each pick.

C: Joel Embiid
PF:
SF: Mikal Bridges
SG: Zach LaVine
PG: Mike Conley

[Baski]

Kinda surprised it took until the 4th round for Mike Conley to go. Check that: really surprised. Is it a fear that he won't be available come playoff time? That is the one explanation that might make sense to me.

Brandon Ingram seems a steal in the mid-50s, too.

Kinda depends on fit within the roster, I suppose [though Mike Conley can fit a lot of places]. For us spectators, I'll put in the request that people show what their roster looks like with each pick.

Could be because Conley isn't really "Conley" anymore. Injuries aside he does seem to have dropped a tier or two since he left Memphis. A couple of guys are still available for a similar reason I think.

Defensive Positions

C: Gobert
PF: Ingram/
SF: Ingram/
SG: Booker
PG: Caruso

[eminence]

Kinda surprised it took until the 4th round for Mike Conley to go. Check that: really surprised. Is it a fear that he won't be available come playoff time? That is the one explanation that might make sense to me.

Brandon Ingram seems a steal in the mid-50s, too.

Kinda depends on fit within the roster, I suppose [though Mike Conley can fit a lot of places]. For us spectators, I'll put in the request that people show what their roster looks like with each pick.

I had him pegged as a round 3 talent, but not a good fit with the guys I'd taken in the first two rounds, needed a bit more size than Mike can bring.

[Doctor MJ]

Kinda surprised it took until the 4th round for Mike Conley to go. Check that: really surprised. Is it a fear that he won't be available come playoff time? That is the one explanation that might make sense to me.

Brandon Ingram seems a steal in the mid-50s, too.

Kinda depends on fit within the roster, I suppose [though Mike Conley can fit a lot of places]. For us spectators, I'll put in the request that people show what their roster looks like with each pick.

I had him pegged as a round 3 talent, but not a good fit with the guys I'd taken in the first two rounds, needed a bit more size than Mike can bring.

I was seriously considering Conley & Lowry before choosing Garland, so you could say Conley almost was taken in the 3rd round.

[Doctor MJ]

Sorry, just realized I had durantbird's pick:

Jaren Jackson Jr

on the clock

[Ryoga Hibiki]

Al Horford

Up

I was hoping to be able to take him on my next pick...

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[confucius]

Normally I would go for the regular style of standard drafting (picking all the starters first, then getting into the bench), but I cannot let this guy fall anymore. As probably the only Kings fan in this draft, it would feel bad NOT to take him. So yes, he will be my bench PG here. Without further ado, the team I represent selects...



De'Aaron Fox! (Bench PG)

[Ryoga Hibiki]

Sorry, just realized I had durantbird's pick:

Jaren Jackson Jr

on the clock

up

Sent from my Nokia 3210 using RealGM mobile app

[confucius]

I could've gone with legit a half dozen players here, but I think he's probably the best choice of that group



PQN

Up!