Build a team around Duncan and Garnett

[Ol Roy]

Prompt:

You have Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett at 22 years old. You want to be a title contender for the next decade or more.

Pick 3 additional players to round out your starting five. Dispense with the bench; assume they are average, nameless role players.

Here is the catch: You want them to be on the same real-life age timeline as TD and KG. So, absolutely no players drafted after 1998, as the team has to be ready to go. Realistically, you don't want players too much older than them either, because it limits your title window, but there is some discretion with that.

You have complete hindsight, so you may want to avoid injury prone players, and you may want to choose players who would do better with modern schemes. Your team can compete in the actual timeline they played, or you can start them off today (or somewhere in between), just be sure to mention which.

There are no strict rules for positions, but you'll surely want a floor general and a couple of wings who can score.

Some names to get started: Kidd, Nash, Billups, Bryant, Allen, Pierce. If you want to go big and add Dirk, I won't stop you!

Looking forward to seeing who everyone selects.

[One_and_Done]

TD and KG. That is the team, if your goal is to just make them a contender for a decade. It doesn't matter if you surround them with minimum guys.

Handpicking the best guys with hindsight would just be unfair. They'd win 10+ titles.

[scrabbarista]

I'd do Kobe and Kidd first. Then the last spot would probably be between Carter, T-Mac, Pierce, and Allen. Marion's a year too late.

I'd take Allen.

A pretty limited range of options, but still a lot of possible combinations, I guess. (Dirk, Shaq, Nash, and Billups were reasonable options. Iverson if you want to go crazy.)

[scrabbarista]

Or T-Mac at point... assuming this role changes his health, etc.. Then I add Kobe... Nah... Kidd is too good. I'll stick to my previous answer.

[scrabbarista]

Then again, Kobe might bristle if his role was bridled and want out... I hate these questions, they'll eat up an afternoon. I'm just going to quit where I am.

My final answer is who cares.

[Masigond]

Adding other superstars is too easy and not very realistic given that teams other than the Knicks of that era aren't likely to overpay. Even Shaq didn't get the contract he wanted from the Lakers, right?

With Duncan and Garnett you don't need superstars anyway. So with the two players the center and power forward positions are done, give me Bruce Bowen for defense and the corner 3P. You don't need an elite PG either, so guys like Mike Bibby will suffice (good shooter, playmaking is good enough, defense somewhat suspect but good enough not to be a liability in that team). As a shooting guard you want a guy to be able to create for himself (for the times that this ability is needed) and still able to play within a team concept with good shooting. Paul Pierce would be quite a good fit, but expensive (same with Vince Carter and Ray Allen). As Joe Johnson was drafted after 1998, he's no option for the given prompt unfortunately, as he would have been a great fit. I don't go for the best team possible, but - as said - for a somewhat realistic one. So the shooting guard might be Larry Hughes, Stephen Jackson or Kerry Kittles. All of them provide enough shooting for that team (although a bit erratic) and some ability to take over the offense for some stretches.

C Tim Duncan
PF Kevin Garnett
SF Bruce Bowen
SG Stephen Jackson
PG Mike Bibby
Bench: Generic back-up players like bigs to rack up fouls against Shaq, some shooting from the bench plus an experienced guy as a sixth man like Nick Van Exel to operate when nothing else seems to work.

[PistolPeteJR]

Okay, so, if they're 22, it's the 1998-99 season. I'd look into something like this, realistically:

C: Tim Duncan / Ben Wallace / Vladimir Stepania
PF: Kevin Garnett / Antonio Davis / Malik Rose
SF: Jamal Mashburn / Bryon Russell / Blue Edwards
SG: Wesley Person / Isaiah Rider / Tim Legler
PG: Darrell Armstrong / Vinny Del Negro / Tyronn Lue

Solid shooting around the two stars, Mashburn is a realistic SF I think as a third-wheel. Love having Rider there as a microwave scorer at the guard position. Solid defense across the board as well.

[uncleoswald]

Am I being uncreative if I stick with Wolves and Spurs? I'd like Bruce Bowen, Latrell Sprewell and Tony Parker, with Manu as the sixth man.

Duncan and KG are great, but we need guys who can create their own offense off the bounce.

If we add some quality depth to the frontcourt and some deadeye shooters to the back, we should win a win few rings together.

[giordunk]

Just for fun, not trying super hard to build the best team or anything.

Putting them in the modern NBA.

The thing with having KG and Duncan might be their contrasting styles that butt heads, but they both have a mutual respect for each other and this is a team of absolute dominance. They both defer to each other when needed, and lead when needed.

Point Guard - Jason Williams
Becomes the best version of himself, KG enables his flare, but Duncan keeps him grounded. Just a cool flashy floor general.

Shooting Guard - Ray Allen
Don't need an explanation

Small Forward - Bruce Bowen
Based on what we've seen in the past playoffs, it's important to have full-time perimeter defenders, so in that timeline Bruce Bowen is the only guy that fits the timeline.

[SlimShady83]

Using today's players for Duncan
Wemby, Duncan, Tatum J.Hart, Luka

Using anyone

Dirk, Duncan, Pippen, M.Richmond, G.Payton

Using today's players for Garnett

Lauri, Garnett, F.Wagner, Dyson Daniels, Trea Young

Using anyone

Kareem, Garnett, Reggie, Drexler, Stockton

hopefully some different names here lols.

[canada_dry]

I'd still want manu Ginobili playing with them. There's proof of concept there. Probably would want more shooting from the pg position than what tony can provide... preferably a guy that can play on and off ball with manu. Doesn't have to be a good defender with Duncan and kg covering for him... steph?

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