Be The GM: Team Summaries, sim time- TGO?

[tk76]

This page is for Team Summaries and Questions from the Judges. No other discussion or comments. Keep this thread simple and uncluttered so that the judges can easily view all of the teams and ask any questions to the GM's. If you want to add something, edit your initial post. I will delete or move any extraneous posts.

The final rosters spreadsheet link will go here on Monday:

-------------------------

Template:

1. Roster
2. Minute distributional by position
3. General description (offense, defense, strengths, coaching/style)
4. How you see the next 5 years playing out for your team.

Try and be concise, as the judges are volunteering their time.

[Koponen]

"Be the GM" Minnesota Timberwolves

STARTING FIVE

PG, Jameer Nelson, 6-0, 190, 29-years-old




SG, Nicolas Batum, 6-8, 200, 22-years-old




SF, Jeff Green, 6-9, 235, 24-years-old




PF, Kevin Love, 6-10, 260, 22-years-old




C, Marcin Gortat, 6-11, 240, 27-years-old



NOTABLE BENCH

SG,Lou Williams, 6-2, 175, 24-years-old




PG, Luke Ridnour 6-2, 175, 30-years-old




PF,DeJuan Blair, 6-7, 265, 22-years-old




C, Nenad Krstic, 7-0, 240, 27-years-old




SF, Matt Barnes, 6-7, 235, 31-years-old



Minutes

PG: Jameer Nelson(28), Luke Ridnour(20)... (Earl Boykins)
SG: Nicolas Batum(22), Lou Williams(26)... (Willie Green)
SF: Jeff Green(30), Matt Barnes(10), Nicolas Batum(8)... (Craig Brackins)
PF: Kevin Love(32), DeJuan Blair(16)... (Luke Harangody)
C: Marcin Gortat(28), Nenad Krstic(12), Kevin Love(6)... (Alexis Ajinca)


Offense

The Timberwolves have been constructed with offense in mind. Each of their 5 starters (and 2 of their bench players) averaged 12ppg or more in 2011. The roster is blessed with a surplus of great shooting. Nelson, Love, and Ridnour each shot over 40% from beyond the arc last season, and Batum, Williams, Green, Krstic, and Blair are accomplished mid-range shooters. The T-Wolves have a number of guys who can attack the basket, and with Love on the floor 38 minutes a game, they feature a great set of eyes from the post position. Down low, the T-Wolves will look to score off of second-chance opportunities. Kevin Love is the best rebounder in basketball, and Batum, Green, Gortat, Blair, and even Nelson are all very good rebounders for their positions. With the great offensive talent in their starting five, as well as their explosive offensive bench production, look for the T-Wolves to be nearly impossible to stop on a consistent basis.

Defense

Defensively, the Timberwolves are very solid. With their great size and athleticism, they can match up against anything that is thrown at them. Because of their great rebounding ability, the T-Wolves will not allow offensive rebounds or easy second-chance buckets. Gortat is a very strong anchor down low, Love is an underrated defender, Nelson is more than adequate, and Batum and Green both have limitless defensive potential because of their size, length, and athleticism. Off the bench, we are all familiar with Lou Williams' defensive deficiencies, but with Love and Gortat down low, letting his man get a step on him will not result in an automatic bucket as it did last year in Philly. Matt Barnes is a scrappy defensive-specialist and will be relied upon to play bigger minutes against superstar wing talent. Krstic can lend size and experience to the bunch down low, and Ridnour is a solid defender.

Strengths and Style

The biggest strength of this team is its ability to develop, despite having a strong veteran presence. Batum and Love are both 22-years-old, Blair is 22, Green is 24, Williams is 24, and Gortat is 27. That being said, Batum and Love are entering their 4th seasons, Gortat and Green their 5th, and Williams his 7th. This is already an accomplished group of guys, and they only stand to improve. Their rebounding differential should be the best in the entire NBA, allowing them to make up for a quite good, but not spectacular, defense. Offensively, they have the firepower to put up 100+ on a consistent basis, and can beat teams in the post, on the perimeter, and off the dribble. The Timberwolves will look to create space in the paint by exploiting double-teams and by drawing them out of the paint with Kevin Love. Batum and Nelson can spot up from outside, allowing them to feed Love inside and force the defense to stay home on the perimeter while he works his magic in the post. In transition, expect the Timberwolves to thrive, as they feature a great deal of athleticism, speed, playmaking ability, and court vision. For the most part, though, the T-Wolves will look to keep a slower pace, and work their offense through Kevin Love in the post.

Their offense will be run in the style of Van Gundy's Magic, exploiting help defense in the paint to set up easy buckets and spot-up 3s. Love will fit very well into Dwight Howard's role in this regard because of his plethora of offensive moves and his ability to find the open man and pass out of double teams.

The Next Five Years

I don't think this team has anywhere to go but up. Everyone getting minutes in my 10-man rotation (with the exception of Krstic, Barnes, and maybe Nelson) are on the upswing, and the three aforementioned players are all in their primes. Kevin Love is developing into one of the top 5 players in the entire NBA (and is arguably already there), Green and Batum have limitless potential, Gortat showed some great things in increased minutes last season, and Blair and Lou-Will are promising young players who can contribute right away. I believe that this roster can compete for a championship this season, and each season over the next 5 years.

[tk76]

Good job. We should probably leave out the pictures, as we want to keep this thread short for the judges. Also, as I said before, save any comments for the other threads, but judges can feel free to ask any questions here.

Also, can you put in the type of coach/system you plan for your team? Edit your initial post to include this.

[ZarcMumoff]

Photos are fine...just don't have ones that re-size the page.

[51X3RF4N]

Sofar I like what I see. This should be veerrryy interesting once everyone has posted.

[ZarcMumoff]

CinceSixersFan...

Nets
C-Ben Wallace (22), Timofey Medlov (14), Johan Petro
PF-David Lee (36), Jason Thompson (12,12/C), Samardo Samuels
SF-Trevor Ariza (18,16/SG) Marvin Williams (30), Steve Novak
SG-Kevin Martin (32), Alonzo Gee, Matt Caroll
PG-Rajon Rondo (35), Will Bynum (13), Zabian Dowdell

Mavs
C-Andrea Bargnani (20,15/PF), Brendan Haywood (20), Jason Collins
PF-Brandon Bass (25), Anthony Tolliver (8,8/C) ,Jordan Hill
SF-Wilson Chandler (33), Sonny Weems(2,5/SG), DaJuan Summers
SG-Paul George (18,13/SF), Raja Bell (25), Manny Harris
PG-Russell Westbrook (35), Steve Blake (13), Marcus Banks

[Iverson323]

Orlando Magic

C: Dalembert/Aldrich/Ratliff
PF: J. Smith/Sanders/Brackins
SF: Daye/Aminu/Der. Brown
SG: Turner/Stevenson/Warren
PG: Curry/Beaubois/T. White

C: Dalembert (30), Sanders (10), Aldrich (8)
PF: J. Smith (40), Aminu (8)
SF: Daye (36), Aminu (12)
SG: Turner (40), Beaubois(8)
PG: Curry (42), Beaubois (6)

This team is mostly built for the future, but could possible make the playoffs this year. On offense, the perimeter players all compliment each other very well. Turner could handle the point and have 2 great shooters spread the floor in Curry and Daye. Josh Smith can use his quickness against the slower power forwards of the league. Dalembert is there for mostly putbacks and alley-oops.
On defense, there are 2 great shotblockers in Dalembert and Josh Smith. That should help out the weak perimeter defenders in Daye and Curry. Turner is an above average defender at his position.
This team will go with a 9 man rotation that includes Beaubois, Aminu, Sanders, and Aldrich. Beaubois is a combo guard that can shoot and defend and play along side Turner and Curry. Aminu is a 3/4 hybrid forward that can use his length on defense to defend the 3s and 4s and can use his quickness on offense against the slower power forwards. Sanders is similar to Dalembert where he will come in and use his athleticism to block shots and get putbacks. Aldrich is the a little more offensively polished than Sanders and he will be used for a different look.
In the next 5 years, I can see this team being one of best up-and-coming teams in the league. I can see Turner and Curry becoming all-stars. I can see a future starting 5 of Aldrich/Smith/Aminu/Turner/Curry with Daye, Beaubois, Sanders, and Brackins coming of the bench. Hopefully Aminu will turn into a lock-down defender that can consistently hit the 3. Brackins could be our stretch four who could be instant offense off the bench.

[eyeatoma]

Be the GM 2010-2011 - GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

THE TEAM

Starters

PG - JOHN WALL - 6'4" - 195 lbs - 20 Years Old



SG - MARCO BELINELLI - 6'5" - 200 lbs - 25 Years Old



SF - CARLOS DELFINO - 6'6" - 230 lbs - 28 Years Old



PF - LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE - 6'11" - 240 lbs - 25 Years Old



C - CHRIS KAMAN - 7'0" - 265 lbs - 29 Years Old



THE BENCH

PG - JOSE JUAN BAREA - 6'0" - 175 lbs - 26 Years Old

SG - DAEQUAN COOK - 6'5" - 210 lbs - 24 Years Old

SF - COREY BREWER - 6'9" - 188 lbs - 25 Years Old

PF - JOSH McROBERTS - 6'10" - 240 lbs - 24 Years Old

C - Combo SEMIH ERDEN - 6'11" - 240 lbs - 24 Years Old and JUWAN HOWARD - 6'9" - 250 lbs - 38 years old

Minutes Distribution

PG: John Wall Wall-39 mpg/ J. J. Barea -10 mpg Anthony Carter
SG: Marco Belinelli-30 mpg/ Daequan Cook - 15 mpg J. J. Barea 3 mpg
SF: Carlos Delfino-28 mpg/Corey Brewer-15 mpg Daequan Cook-5 mpg Jeffers
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge-38 mpg/McRoberts - 10 mpg Brian Cardinal
C: Kaman-35 mpg/Semih Erden 7 Juwan Howard 6mpg

Offense

The Warriors offense will thrive through the breathtaking court-vision and blazing speed of John wall. Wall's penetration will allow him to kick to the open shooters on either side of the wings in Marco Belinelli and Carlos Delfino. He will be able to employ the pick and roll with LaMarcus Aldridge, and also has the ability to deliver the high entry pass. Aldridge will be able to post up, and shoot over most players due to his incredible length, and will also be able to find open players in Wall, Delfino, and Belinelli. Double teaming Aldridge, will result in a pick your poison scenario with the shooting capabilities of all the other players on the team. Although Belinelli and Delfino are not stars they are starter quality players. Belinelli is a lights out 3pt shooter (40.1% career and 41.4% last season on 4.1 APG). He moves without the ball extremely well and has benefited greatly when playing with an elite PG (see: Chris Paul). Delfino is a savvy SF. He has decent scoring ability, albeit streaky at times. He can keep the defense honest with his ability to knock down the 3 point shot (36.1% career, 37% last season on 5.1 APG). Delfino is also one of the better Euros at putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim. He is tough, and has an edge about him that your own team's coaches and players will love, but oppositions will hate. Chris Kaman has developed a very reliable 17 foot jumper, something he hadn't had for the majority of his career. This will help keep the defense honest. Apart from that he also has a developed post offense.

From the bench, the defense will never get to rest as J.J. Barea is a relentless pick and roll player, who can also knive through the defense and find his way to the rim despite his miniscule size. This was seen in abundance when Barea had his way with the imposing Lakers front court during the 2010-2011 playoffs. Barea will be able to sustain the momentum that John Wall has created allowing the Warriors offense to easily eclipse 100 ppg on a nightly basis. As Wall is only 20 years old, he has limitless potential. He can easily become the best PG in the NBA if he puts in the work as many of his other elite peers have shown to be capable of. In transition the Warriors will be deadly. Although Kaman can lumber, the rest of the starting 5 are athletic and fast on the floor, not to mention Wall's incredible speed will result in one man fast breaks on many occasions. The Warriors are an above average athletic team, and will look to run in transition when given the opportunity. The Warriors will employ a half court offense similar to the New Orleans Hornets. Wall has the ability to lead the offense similar to Chris Paul, and has a great PF in LaMarcus Aldridge and an even better offensive Center in Chris Kaman.

Defense

On defense the Warriors have a player in Wall with the capacity to be an All-NBA defender due to his terrific size. At 6'4" Wall has the speed, strength and length to keep up with the quickest and strongest point guards in the league. At times he can even be asked to defend smaller shooting guards. Wall only needs to develop this potential, and he has shown some signs during his rookie season. Although Marco Belinelli will not be able to defend his position well, the Warriors have a scrappy defender in Carlos Delfino. He is one of the best Euro defenders to come into the NBA, and has good size and foot speed. At times, if Belinelli is having trouble, Delfino can be moved to the SG position to make room for defensive ace, Corey Brewer at the SF position. Brewer is extremely long at 6'9". He is very strong, athletic, and gets his hands on everything when playing defense. His style is very pesky, and he has often been placed on the opposing teams best perimeter player, and with good success. LaMarcus Aldridge is an average defender who will block his fair share of shots due to his wonderful length. He is still young enough to improve his overall defense, as he has all the physical gifts to flourish on this end. Kaman is also average on defense, but has the uncanny ability to get blocked shots from the weakside. He is also a terrific rebounder. This will lead to many outlet passes that will help ignite the Warriors fast-break. Due to this teams average overall defensive capability, they will be taking a page out of Rick Carlisle's vaunted zone defense. This will ask players to rely on each other more, and can be extremely effective when played correctly.

Strength and Style

The Golden State Warriors main strength is the fact that on every night they will have PG who can go toe to toe with the best in the business and a PF who is blossoming into one of the best young Power Forwards in the league. John Wall and LaMarcus Aldridge are the center pieces of this team, and get excellent support from Chris Kaman in the front court. On offense the Warriors front court will dominate most in the NBA. John Wall is the heart of this team. It goes where he goes. If Wall can realize his All-Star and some say MVP potential, this team could be contenders in the next two years, especially if he makes a Derrick Rose like leap. Wall is known to be extremely hardworking, so there is every chance that this could happen. Aldridge and to a lesser extent Wall already have the ability to take over games during the 4th quarter, and this will only get better as the two get more comfortable with each other. As mentioned before, due to Wall's blazing speed, and the above average athleticism of the rest of the team, the Warriors will push the ball and look to run whenever the opportunity presents itself. However, due to it's luxury of having an extremely talented PG and PF they will have no problem running a half court offense which would be called upon more often during the playoffs.

What the Future Holds

Due to the skill set of the Warriors core, this team is built to win now and also be a legitimate title contender in the next 5 years. In the next 5 years John wall will be 25, LaMarcus Aldridge 30 and Chris Kaman 34 years old. The Warriors only have one player who is above the age of 30 years old in Juwan Howard. This should provide the team with a solid 5 year window to compete for a championship. At 25 years old it is impossible to imagine how good John Wall could be. He has the ability to be a transcendent point guard. Wall has the capacity to be the best player in the league and one of the greatest players at his position, if not at all time. There might not be more than 2-3 current players in the league who have that same potential. There has never been a player with his speed, strength, athleticism, and most importantly court vision at his position. People might say that Russel Westbrook and Derrick Rose have these same traits, but unlike Wall they do not posses truly elite passing ability. The ability to see the floor and make plays, 2 or 3 plays before most players can even react to it. By 30 years old Aldridge should be at his absolute prime. Hopefully Aldridge, will develop more as a defender by that time, and have a more refined post game. Wily veterans are sometimes considered more valuable than young bucks... Kaman will be on the decline, but if he can rebound and provide his average defense as well as hit open jump shots, he will still be a very valuable veteran.The Warriors would be able to extend their 5 year window to about 8 years, if they can obtain another center once Kaman has gone past 35 years. This can be further extended with more moves as Wall would only be 30 years old in 10 years. The future is extremely bright for the Golden State Warriors. They have an excellent mix of youth and veteran leadership.

[Mik317]

Welcome gentlemen, I would like to be the first to unveil a new championship caliber team to you today...

Unfortunately, I said I would LIKE to unviel this team. Sadly, I cannot. However, I can show you a team bleeding from the sides with potential ( sounds painful).

I introduce to you

The Washington BulletWizards

The Starters:
PG: Jrue Holiday 6'3 195lb 20 years old
SG: Jordan Crawford 6'5 195 22 years old
SF: Carmelo Anthony 6'9 230 27 years old
PF: Ed Davis 6'10 215 22 years old
C : DeAndre Jordan 7'0 265 22 years old

The bench
G: Rodney Stuckey 6'5 205lb 25 years old
F: Terrence Williams 6'6 220 23 years old
F: Hakim Warrick 6'9 218 28 years old
C: Zaza Pachulia 6'11 275 27 years old

The others
C : Wayne Elington 6'5 200 24 years old
C : Maurice Evans 6'6 210 32 years old
C : Sundiata Gaines 6'1 190 23 years old
C : Earl Barron 7'0 265 29 years old

Minute breakdown:

PG: Jrue(30)/ Stuckey(15)/Gaines ( injury only)/TWill(3)
SG: Crawford(30)/Stuckey(10)/Jrue(5)/TWill(3)/Elington(Blowouts only or Injury)/Evans(Injury only)
SF: Melo(40)/Twill(8)/Evans (injury only)/Warrick(blowout/injury)
PF: Davis(30)/Warrick(10)/Zaza(5)/Melo(3)/Barron(injury only)
C: Jordan(35)/Zaza(10)/Davis(3)/Warrick(blowout/injury/small ball?)/Barron(injury only)

the offense

Make no bones about it...this is an offensive focused team that doesn't mean it will be iso ball though. Melo is obviously the main focus for the team but he isn't the only one. The starting unit the offense is ran through Melo. Get him the ball in the post areas and have the other move off of him. Crawford and Jrue are solid and occasionally dangerous shooters and will make it hard for the d to double Melo. Davis and Jordan are basically clean up guys at this point but both can be on the receiving end of a lot of oops. When Stuckey enters the game it's attack time for him. Stuckey isn't the greatest distributer at this point so I wouldn't force him to be. He gets in an the offense will move Melo to more of a spot up role or he'll be the pick man on a lot of Stuckey drives (Crawford will also be asked to run some PnR's with Melo too. TWill is a swiss army knife for the team too. He will run some point too or some point foward. He's not a great shooter so he'll be asked to get others involved or just run the break like crazy. We are a young squad and we will attempt to push it down your throat but attack the rim not jack threes. Zaza is Zaza...noit much on the offensive end.

the defense

....needless to say outside of Jordan, and Zaza ( sometimes Terrence Williams) this team isnt filled with defensive stoppers but we are an actaul big team. Outside of Gaines, no one is under 6'4 ( Jrue better frikkin grow man) but mainly they are pretty long. We need to get stops to get out break going and so there will be some gambles by Crawford or Stuckey ( who are probably the weaker defenders in our lineup...Melo is just lazy) to do so. Jordan will make his money being the shot blocker we need. Ed Davis cannot get abused in the post and needs to hit the weight room. Zaza is our enforcer and Hakim Warrick is an energy guy that will also block shots if we need too ( statwise he hasn't been as good as I had though but his athleticism will alter enough shots). I'm not going to sugarcoat it when I say that this team will not be defensive juggernaut but we will have to hope that our young legs will keep us above water most games.

in five years

Here's the thing...this team is young with only 1 guy over 30 years old and 4 of our starters under 25. That means a lot of hope so and I think is going on when the team was created. The hope is the Jrue and Crawford reach their potential and that we think Stuckey will be okay in the 6th man role. But in 5 years Melo will be on the decline at 32 hopefully before the young guns become big guns so that Prime Melo will be surrounded be guy who can get it done. Davis is actually the big piece here...If he can turn into the guy that people wanted to draft #1 overall and give us that post scorer that right now the team really doesn't have. Still this team is full of guys who haven't even begun to reach their peaks. The hope is that they do. So I ask of the judges to judge this team on it's future and not it's present because the outcome should be well worth the wait.

[83SixersRocked]

Championship Contending (Can they win a title?) 30 points
Future (positioned to attain or sustain success over the next 5 years) 15 points
Roster Management (Did they build a smart team that fits together?) 5 points

This Q is more of a 'consistency between judges' question than anything else (and may be splitting hairs) ... the first dilemma I ran into was regarding 5 years down the road. A player's development/subsequent value can be very different based on their (NBA) team going deep into the playoffs (or not).

Is it safe to assume that any value gained from playoff experience should be as a result of how you view a player's 'Be The GM' League playoff chances only? That's my take on it, though initially I found my 'NBA view' creeping into it.

[tk76]

Sorry, not sure I understand the question, but I'll take a stab at an answer.

Judging should not be about "Championship or bust." More about whether a GM has put together a compelling team, and the "Future" score is to gauge how good of a ride the next 5 years will be.

So you can get a good score for having a team that will be exciting and competitive for the next 5 years, or for having a team that is poised to rise through the ranks. While you get a bad score if the team will fall off a cliff after 1-2 years, or if their if some perceived flaw you see in their long term plan (like as the frontcourt improves the back-court falls apart, making the team never really that good.)

Not sure if this answers your question, but as a judge it is up to you how you want to view if a team has successfully positioned itself for success over the next 5 years.

[ZarcMumoff]

Championship Contending (Can they win a title?) 30 points
Future (positioned to attain or sustain success over the next 5 years) 15 points
Roster Management (Did they build a smart team that fits together?) 5 points

This Q is more of a 'consistency between judges' question than anything else (and may be splitting hairs) ... the first dilemma I ran into was regarding 5 years down the road. A player's development/subsequent value can be very different based on their (NBA) team going deep into the playoffs (or not).

Is it safe to assume that any value gained from playoff experience should be as a result of how you view a player's 'Be The GM' League playoff chances only? That's my take on it, though initially I found my 'NBA view' creeping into it.

I see what you mean.

I would say "Yes", but also don't take too much stock into it. Obviously, a guy like Westbrook has that playoff experience while Tyreke Evans doesn't. So you should give Westbrook a bit of an edge, but I wouldn't say it's anything substantial because a lot of it just has to do with the opportunity presented.

Either way, just go with how you see it.

[bryanwithawhy]

New York Knicks

Roster:

Guards:

Devin Harris- 6'3", 190 lbs, 24 years old
Wes Matthews- 6'5", 220 lbs, 24 years old
Kyle Korver- 6'7", 212 lbs, 30 years old
Daniel Gibson- 6'2", 200 lbs, 25 years old
CJ Watson- 6'2", 175 lbs, 27 years old

Forwards:

LeBron James- 6'8", 250 lbs, 26 years old
Luis Scola- 6'9", 245 lbs, 31 years old
Charlie Villanueva- 6'11", 232 lbs, 26 years old
Earl Clark- 6'10", 225 lbs, 23 yeards old

Centers:

Marcus Camby- 6'11", 235 lbs, 37 years old
Chuck Hayes- 6'6", 238 lbs, 27 years old
Dan Gadzuric- 6'11", 240 lbs, 33 years old




Minutes:


PG: Devin Harris (32 mpg), Daniel Gibson (12 mpg), CJ Watson (4 mpg)
SG: Wesley Matthews (33 mpg), Kyle Korver (15 mpg)
SF: LeBron James (36 mpg), Earl Clark (12 mpg)
PF: Luis Scola (32 mpg), Charlie Villanueva (16 mpg)
C: Marcus Camby (20 mpg), Chuck Hayes (24 mpg), Dan Gadzuric (4 mpg)

Summary:

After drafting Lebron I thought I would pair him with shooters across the board. I felt there wasn't value at certain picks, so I went a slightly different direction. The starting line-up is very good defensively. Devin Harris is a lock down defender when he puts forth the effort. Wesley Matthews is an excellent perimeter defender. Then you have LBJ who can guard any position. Luis Scola's flaws defensively are covered up by Camby's shot-blocking-ability.

The starting line-up is lightning quick 1-3, and Devin Harris paired with LBJ on the fast-break will be a nightmare for opposing teams. Scola is a legit low-post option, and his high BBIQ will work well with Lebron. Matthews is a great outside shooter, and Harris is above average (for point guards) at shooting the three. There will be plenty of room for Lebron to be able to drive and kick.

I have a unique plan for the bench. It will basically be LBJ, three shooters and Chuck Hayes/Marcus Camby. The defensive liabilities from the three shooters (gibson, korver, and villanueva) are covered up by James and Hayes/Camby.

Lebron will basically be able to isolate and either take it to the hoop or dish it out to Gibson, Villanueva, and Korver. The three of them are great catch-and-shoot players. Having Villanueva at the stretch four will take another big man out of the paint making it much easier for Lebron to drive.

There will be enough offense when Lebron needs to rest for 12 minutes. I could go with a line-up like this:

PG: Devin Harris
SG: Wes Matthews
SF: Earl Clark
PF: Luis Scola
C: Chuck Hayes

I feel like the team's nucleus is young enough to stay in contention for the next 5-8 years. Lebron, Matthews, Harris, Hayes all either haven't reached their primes or are currently in their primes. 8/12 players on the roster are 27 years old or younger.

The bench will allow Lebron to channel his Cleveland days and be able to iso and take it to the rack. This team is great defensively, and the bench is unique in that they perfectly complement the best player in basketball.


Expected Regular Season Record: 62-20

[Eellsy27]

Sacramento Kings

Starters

PG- MIKE CONLEY JR. - 6'1 '- 180 lbs - 23 Years Old
2010-2011 Stats- PPG- 13.7 / AST- 6.5 / RPG- 3.2 / SPG- 1.7 / TOPG- 2.2 / FG% .444 / 3PT% .369

SG- GERALD HENDERSON JR. - 6'5'' - 215 - 23 Years Old

2010-2011 Stats- PPG- 9.6 / RPG- 3.0 / AST- 1.5 / SPG- 0.7 / TOPG- 0.9 / FG%- .454 / 3PT%- .194


SF- DANILO GALLINARI - 6'10'' - 225 - 22 Years Old

2010-2011 Stats- PPG- 15.6 / RPG- 4.9 / AST- 1.7 / SPG- 0.8 / TOPG- 1.3 / FG%- .414 / 3PT%- .352

PF- ZACH RANDOLPH - 6'9'' - 253 - 29 Years Old

2010-2011 Stats- PPG- 20.1 / RPG- 12.2 / AST- 2.2 / SPG- 0.8 / TOPG- 2.0 / FG% .503 / FT% .758

C- ANDREW BYNUM - 7'0 - 285 - 23 Years Old

2010-2011 Stats- PPG- 11.3 / RPG- 9.4 / AST- 1.4 / BPG- 2.0 / TOPG- 1.4 / FG%- .574 / FT%- .660

Minutes

PG- Mike Conley Jr. (34 mpg) Jordan Farmar (14 mpg) Eddie House
SG- Gerald Henderson Jr. (35 mpg) Anthony Morrow (13 mpg)
SF- Danilo Gallinari (36 mpg) Anthony Morrow (9 mpg) Boris Diaw (3 mpg) Quentin Richardson
PF- Zach Randolph (36 mpg) Boris Diaw (12 mpg)
C- Andrew Bynum (30 mpg) Boris Diaw (10 mpg) Chris Wilcox (8 mpg) Shelden Williams

On Offense

The Kings will have a balance scoring attack, With Randolph being the guy...... Gallinari, Conley and when Henderson got minutes in the second half last year all put up 14-15 points a game. The hope is that either Gallinari or Henderson will take the next step and give the 18-20 points per game.... We also got Bynum who took a step back this year on Offense from 15 to 11 points a game but improved on the Glass and wit Radolpoh the kings will dominate the boards..... The Kings will be able to space the floor with Conley and Gallinari being good 3 point shooters, and having one of the best shooters in the league off the bench in Morrow..... The Bench will also feature Diaw who can play the 3-4-5.....

On Defense

The Kings will be anchored by one of the top shot blockers in Andrew Bynum..... On the outside Henderson will be ask to guard the other teams best player..... Gallinari and Conley are both below average defenders, but Bynums shotblocking presence can help with that...... The best thing about the kings defense is there Rebouding, Bynum and Randolph are two of the best rebounders in the game.......

The Future

The Kings are built to win right now, but they are still a young team..... 4 of the 5 starters are 23 or younger with Randolph being the old head at 29.....

[ZarcMumoff]

PG Baron Davis - 6'3 215 - 32 years old


SG Mike Miller - 6'8 218 - 31 years old


SF Caron Butler - 6'7 228 31 years old


PF Blake Griffin - 6'10 250 - 22 years old


C Pau Gasol - 7'0 250 - 30 years old

The Bench
Anthony Parker 6'6 210 - SG/SF
Kwame Brown 6'11 270 - C/PF
Tiago Splitter 6'11 240 - PF/C
Randy Foye 6'4 213 - PG/SG
Damion James 6'7 220 - SF/PF
Yi Jianlian 7'0 250 - SF/C
Brian Scalabrine 6'9 235 - Clapper

Offense - "Run 'N' Gun - Lite"
This is probably one of the more uniquely built teams. It's built around it's big...Blake Griffin and Pau Gasol. The Suns feel that if you aren't going to have a truly elite player like LeBron James or Kevin Duant, you have to be elite elsewhere. A Griffin/Gasol duo is as close as you are going to get to being "elite". Gasol can do a lot of things: back-to-the-bask, face up, pick-n-roll, & has a good mid-range game as well. Blake Griffin is the freak athlete who is going to get past you. Whether that is going to the side of you, through you, or OVER you. Not to mention, he can also run the pick and roll. Quite honestly, Griffin is one of the most fun athletes to watch in sports. You may stop one of Gasol and Griffin, but you certainly aren't stopping both.

My 1-2-3 is also strong, considering who I have in my front court. Caron Butler is one of the best overall players in the game...he's a good scorer who can get his shot off at anytime, has an improving 3-Point shot, plays good defense, is tough, and can be a thug when needed. Meanwhile, Baron Davis is another guy who fits this team well. He still is a good PG, and with this team, will want to win. He can score in a variety of ways, whether the isolation or playing the pick 'n roll with the two G's. Then you have Mike Miller, one of the best shooters in the league. That is what we will look for from Mike Miller tha' Killa...bombing those threes and spacing the floor.

Defense - "Get the **** Ball!"
I'll be honest, defense wasn't my main concern. Although it still isn't a terrible group. Gasol being a bad defender is hyperbole. Not saying he is a good defender, but I don't see him being a liability. Griffin has the potential to be a really good defender. Butler is a tough defender. Davis really isn't a bad defender either when he's giving the effort. MIke Miller...*crickets*.

The big plus on defense with this team is that you will see zero second chance points. Griffin is a great rebounder. Gasol is a very good rebounder. Butler averaged 5 rebounds in 09/10, Miller averaged 6 rebounds the past three seasons before he joined the Heat, and Baron Davis can average around 3-4 rebounds. Bottom line is, you aren't going to be getting 2nd chance opportunities.

The Bench
Anthony Parker can play the 1-2-3. He can handle the ball or play off the ball. He brings shooting and defense. Kwame Brown gets a bad rep because he was the #1 pick, but the guy is very strong and provides good defense. Tiago Splitter is another guy who brings very good defense and toughness from the bench. Foye is a good scorer off the bench. After those guys, not much production from the bench. James won't see a ton of time. Yi is insurance if needed. Scalabrine was picked just because I needed a cheerleader.

Minutes Distribution
PG - Baron Davis 32/Foye 16
SG - MIke Miller 30/Anthony Parker 14/Butler 4
SF - Caron Butler 33/Anthony Parker 12/Yi Jianlian 3
PF - Blake Griffin 35/Tiago Splitter 13
C - Pau Gasol 35/Kwame Brown 13

Next Five Years
An older team, but still has some time as most of the guys are 31. So we'll have a 3 year window with this team, but make no mistake about it...this team is built to win NOW.

The Phoenix Suns: Coming to a city near you!
I'm not going to say this team is the best team because honestly no team can say that. This is a very dynamic league, a very balance league. But I feel my team is definitely a Top 10 team, and a very strong candidate to be a Top 5 team in the league. Definite playoff, and quite honestly probably a higher seed. We'll see if you, the judges, agree with that; but I think my team will be in the hunt for a title. Great big men who will be hell to stop, two good scorers on the wings, a good shooter at the 2, a bench that will know its role...

The Phoenix Suns are ready...ARE YOU!?

[Mahorn at the 4]

Celtics report will be posted Monday before 9ish.

Sorry for any delays

[Numb3rs]

Houston Rockets
GM: Numb3rs

Starters:


PG - #1 Derrick Rose - 6’3”, 190lbs, 22 years old.
SG - #20 Ray Allen - 6’5”, 205lbs, 35 years old.
SF - #34 C.J. Miles - 6’6”, 232lbs, 24 years old.
PF - #30 Michael Beasley - 6’10”, 235lbs, 22 years old.
C - #17 Anderson Varejao - 6’11”, 260lbs, 28 years old.

Role Players:


G - #13 Delonte West – 6’3”, 180lbs, 27 years old.
F - #4 Ryan Gomes – 6’7”, 245lbs, 28 years old.
F/C - #15 Matt Bonner – 6’10”, 235lbs, 31 years old.
F/C - #19 Louis Amundson – 6’9”, 225lbs, 28 years old.

Bench Warmers:


G - #23 Armon Johnson – 6’3”, 195lbs, 22 years old.
F - #44 Dante Cunningham – 6’8”, 230lbs, 24 years old.
C - #50 Solomon Alabi – 7’1”, 251lbs, 23 years old.
G - #11 Andy Rautins – 6’4”, 190lbs, 24 years old.
G/F - #12 Joey Graham – 6’7”, 230lbs, 28 years old.

Rotation (minutes in brackets):

PG - D. Rose (37), D. West (11), A. Johnson
SG - R. Allen (36), D. West (7), C. Miles (5)
SF - C. Miles (20), R. Gomes (21), M. Beasley (7)
PF - M. Beasley (27), M. Bonner (21), D. Cunningham
C - A. Varejao (32), L. Amundson (16), S. Alabi

Offense:

The centrepiece of this team and its offense is the leagues reigning MVP Derrick Rose. The team will run the Dribble Drive motion offense chosen because of Rose’s tremendous ability to attack the rim and because it’s a system he is familiar with. The offense is a “four-out” set dependent on a player’s ability to hit open shots and attack off the dribble on secondary drives if necessary. Beasley was acquired via trade during the draft because he fills both these requirements as a PF. This will force opponents bigs to have to defend him on the perimeter, allowing him to play to his strengths, and opening up driving lanes for Rose. Allen and Bonner are renowned for their 3 point shooting and Gomes, Miles and West are all capable of hitting open shots which should be created from the offense. Beasley and Rose will also run various pick and rolls/pops with the aim of creating mismatches for Beasley to outplay PGs in the post and for Rose to beat bigger forwards off the dribble with his speed.

Defense:

The teams defense will be anchored by Anderson Varejao, an All-defensive 2nd team selection in 2009-10. Rather than using brute power the team will use its size and quickness to hassle opponents, close out hard, and look to force bad shots. There have been a lot of questions raised about the team’s defensive rebounding ability. The rebounding will be a team effort, with all 5 players on court looking to box out their man and crash the boards. Varejao is also one of the best pick and roll defending bigs in the league and the team will pride itself on its ability to defend the pick and roll. Miles will guard the best opposing wing player and while he may not be an outstanding defender, his opponents at the SF last season posted a 14.3 PER per 48 minute production which is respectable given the fact Miles played a similar role for the Jazz last season. West and Amundson provide defensive intensity to the second unit with their hustle and ability to disrupt opponents. The team does lack a true shot blocking presence however both Amundson and Alabi are able to provide above average shot blocking ability if required.

Coaching:

The head coach would likely be offensive minded but the importance of defense would be emphasised through a specialist defensive assistant coach. One head coach I had in mind was John Calipari. He runs the Dribble Drive offense (or his Memphis Attack), he has prior NBA experience and already has a relationship with Rose. The assistant staff would probably include a defensive minded coach who has NBA head coaching experience, and an assistant who is an ex-NBA PG who could mentor Derrick Rose. It is hoped once Ray Allen retires he will also assume some role on the coaching staff. Beasley and West both have histories of off court issues, however being surround by the right group of players and coaches should hopefully alleviate any further issues.

Future:

This team is built to be a championship contender during the next five years plus. Ray Allen is the only player older than 30 so there should be a fairly big contending window, especially considering Rose and Beasley are still only 22 years old. Ray Allen will provide veteran leadership to the team, and it is hoped that his meticulous and hardworking mentality rubs off on the younger players in the team. Being the tremendous shooter that he is, it’s hoped he can still play at least another 3 seasons, even if it’s just purely as a spot-up shooter. Johnson, Cunningham and Alabi were picked as prospect players and showed good potential during the 2010-11 season. They are however capable rotation players with Johnson and Cunningham logging significant backup minutes this past season. Alabi is apparently a great locker room glue guy as well.

Strengths and Conclusion:

Just a couple of closing points. Using my teams combined totals from the 2010-11 season, they shot 0.372% percent from distance, which would be the 7th best mark in the league last year. And on a per minute basis, this combination of players hit more 3's than every team but the Magic and the Knicks. The point is, this a potent offensive team. Last season Rose, Beasley and Allen scored a combined 60.7 points per game, and it's highly unlikely that any team has the defensive resources to shut down all three for 48 minutes. Bottom line is this team is going to score, and that alone should win them 50 games a season.

I believe that my team has the right combination of youth and leadership to be a championship contending team for years to come.

[tk76]

Seattle Supersonics ...tk76

Roster:

G: J.E.Terry/A.Brooks/Duhon
G: J.Johnson/Jarret Jack
SF: Rudy Gay/James Jones/Babbitt
PF: Ibaka/Maxiel/Dorsey
C: Greg Monroe/Joel Anthony/Mahinmi/Pittman

Minutes:

Totals: -Jason Terry is a "starter off the bench."
Key 5: Gay(36), J.Johnson(34), Monroe(34), Ibaka(34), Terry(30)
Main 4 reserves: Joel A.(22), J.Jack(18), Brooks(18), Jones(14)
Deep reserves: Duhon/Maxiel
D-League/future main reserves/Hack-a-Dwight: Joey Dorsey, Mahinimi, Pittman, Babbitt

PG: J.Jack(16)/Terry(14)/A.Brooks(18)...(Duhon)
SG: J.Johnson(30)/Terry(16)/Jack(2)
SF: Rudy Gay(30)/J.Jones(14)/J.Johnson(4)...(Babbitt)
PF: Ibaka(34)/Gay(6)/Joel A.(8)...(Maxiel)/(Dorsey)
C: Greg Monroe(34)/Joel A.(14)...(Mahinmi)/(Pittman)

Philosophy:

It is not easy to build a quality team without top ten superstars, but the Supersonics are ready to see how far they can go with a deep, talented team where every player is able to be deployed in their ideal role and plays the right minutes for their talent level/age. A flexible roster that can go big or small, and match up well defensively against elite players regardless of the position. They can score in the half court or on the break. Hard to game plan against because has multiple excellent scorers and passers who can find the best mismatch and have good end of game scorers/shooters.

There will be teams that have certain dominant facets that shine brighter than the Sonics. But most of those teams have major flaws. The Sonics goal is to have a quality deep/smart/versatile team whose versatility allows for clear mismatches against nearly every opponent... without being over-reliant on a single go to feature that other teams can take away. In a seven game series we will discover the opponents flaws and exploit them.

Offense:

Not a PG centric system. Will run a variation of the Triangle and Read&React system utilizing Joe Johnson as the focal point, and the excellent passing of Terry and Monroe. While Jack and Brooks can cover PG's and use their scoring and all around games without being asked to be floor generals. Terry once averaged 7.4 assists, Johnson once averaged 6.5 assists. Both are career better than 2:1 A:TO, and I expect both to be over 5 A/gm on this team. If trapped, Brooks, Terry, Jack, Johnson and Duhon all handle the ball well.

A 9 man rotation keeps everyone fresh, but all players play enough minutes to get in a rhythm. And the players complement each other. Monroe/Ibaka, Terry/Jonson/Gay. Their strengths and weaknesses balance out. Imagine an offense similar to the Lakers with Joe Johnson in the Kobe role and Monroe will be the high post passing big, but with better complimentary players. Terry at the top of the key to hit the three ball or drive . Gay and Ibaka on the weak side to run a pick and roll when the ball swings (or wide open 3's for Gay.) Also plan on having Joe Johnson or Gay post up to balance out the offense. Gay and Johnson can also flip flop roles in the offense. Have several good/great shooters in Johnson, Gay, Terry, Brooks, James Jones. Also both Monroe and Ibaka can also hit midrange jumpers. So this team is rare (like Dallas) in that they can score efficiently without relying on getting in the lane. Also energy rebounders in Ibaka, Joel A. and Maxiel to generate extra possessions. Can go small with Gay at PF and Ibaka or Monroe at C for a change of pace. Also have good depth at every position to deal with injuries or foul trouble.

Honestly don't see how any team can take away all of the Sonics scoring options. Most teams do not have good defenders at all 5 positions, and the Sonics can throw out multiple line-ups with 5 players who can score as well as kill you on the O-Boards and break.

Defense

Lots of balance and good size and depth at all five positions. No clear area to exploit. At PG can go with Jack, Brooks, Terry or Duhon depending on whether they are playing an elite PG who is big or small PG or just an average one. Since our PG does not run things, it's easy to mix and match based on match-up without throwing off our offensive flow. Good size on the wings with Johnson/Gay, and even the bench players like Jones don't kill you on defense. If a team throws a quicker SG at us (Lou Williams type) we can counter with Terry or Jack at SG for spot defensive purposes. Similarly, up front Ibaka and Monroe complement each other. Both are quick and athletic enough to play either position. And Ibaka and Joel A.are great shot blockers who are really coming into their own own. And we all know how Joel Anthony can shut down a hybrid scoring forward. While the bench has an endless supply of big, athletic bodies to throw some defense (and 6 fouls) at the elite bigs with Joel A, Maxiel, Mahimini, Dorsey and Pittman all available as reserves.

Transition game: The team's combination of rebounders, shot blockers, multiple ball handlers, length and athletes should create easy transition opportunities. That could mean an Ibaka or Gay dunk, or a spot up open three by Terry, Brooks, Jones or Johnson. Monroe will always be looking to make the quick outlet and get the transition game clicking.

Coaching: Probably go with someone like Adelman who knows how to maximize a non-PG centric offense. he got a lot out of Brooks, and I believe he could get Monroe to become a Webber/Divac type passer out of the post. Would also consider Doug Collins. He could use Joe Johnson like he used Iguodala, MJ and Grant Hill as a point forward. Seems to know how to deploy players to maximize their skill sets.


Future:

The Sonics have been constructed to grow into a progressively better team over the coming years. Current vet focal points like Johnson(nearly 30) and Terry(33) can slide into more complementary roles as shooters/passers as they age. While Gay(24) and and Brooks(26) should be able to assume more of the offensive load as Terry/Johnson recede. Likewise, Ibaka and Monroe at ages 20/21 will eventually assume a much bigger roles in the offense and should become even better defenders with some seasoning. So the team can keep its fundamental system, and shift the players as they age into the roles for which they are best suited. Even the role players have their replacements on the roster. Role players Jack, James Jones, Joel Anthony, Duhon and Maxiel are all 27-9. They all have several prime years ahead- but Mahinimi, Dorsey, Pittman and Babbitt will get developed (in the D-League) and should be ready to step in as quality specialists in a few years.

So the Sonics are a good team now, and every year they should just keep getting better. Now if we can only move them back to Seattle.

[The Sixer Fixer]

Detroit Pistons


GM Objective: Build a young team that will be ready for a championship in 3-5 years. I know this team won't be in position to win a title next year, but I do think I can challenge for a playoff spot right away.

Starters


PG: Ty Lawson - 5'11 - 195 lbs - 23 yrs old
SG: OJ Mayo - 6'4 - 210 lbs - 23 yrs old
SF: Andrei Kirilenko - 6'9 - 235 lbs - 30 yrs old
PF: Chris Bosh - 6'10 - 235 lbs - 27 yrs old
C: JaVale McGee - 7'0 - 250 lbs - 23 yrs old

Standard Bench


PG: Shuan Livingston - 6'7 - 190 lbs - 25 yrs old
SG/SF: Reggie Williams - 6'6 - 210 lbs - 24 yrs old
SG/SF: Christian Eyenga - 6'5 - 210 lbs - 21 yrs old
PF/C: Al Harrington - 6'9 - 250 lbs - 31 yrs old
PF/C: Leon Powe - 6'8 - 240 lbs - 27 yrs old

Remaining Bench


C: Solomon Jones - 6'10 - 240 lbs - 26 yrs old
SG/SF: Antoine Wright - 6'7 - 215 lbs - 27 yrs old

Standard Inactives


C: Hassan Whiteside - 7'0 - 235 lbs - 22 yrs old
PG: Carlos Arroyo - 6'2 - 200 lbs - 31 yrs old
PF: Brandan Wright - 6'10 - 220 lbs - 23 yrs old

Minute Breakdown
PG: Lawson (34), Livingston (14)
SG: Mayo (36), Williams (12)
SF: Kirilenko (26), Williams (12), Eyenga (10)
PF: Bosh (26), Kirilenko (4), Powe (10), Harrington (8)
C: McGee (30), Bosh (10), Harrington (8)*

* Solomon Jones will play about 10 MPG at C when going against bigger lineups

Offense
With a team full of young and athletic guys (12 of 15 guys 27 years old or younger), I will be playing an up-tempo offense. Everyone can run the floor so the key will be pushing the ball and putting a lot of pressure on the opposing D. When in the half-court, the offense will mainly flow through Bosh. I have spread the floor shooters in Lawson and Mayo to keep the defense from sagging down on Bosh. Lawson, Mayo, Kirilenko and Bosh are all plus ball handlers for their position so that will allow for flexibility on offense. I expect Bosh and Mayo to both average over 20 PPG with Lawson being in the 16-17 pt range. Coming off the bench, I have numerous very good offensive players in Reggie Williams and Al Harrington. Livingston will lead the 2nd unit with his excellent passing/court-vision. I do plan to go small for 12-16 minutes per game with guys like Bosh and Harrington playing the C spot.

Defense
I love the defensive potential of this team (especially the starters). Lawson is probably the weakest link, but Mayo, Kirilenko, Bosh and McGee are all better than average as man to man defenders. The defensive intensity should lead to a lot of steals/blocks and that will allow guy to get out on the break on offense. Off the bench, Eyenga has the potential to be a lock down perimeter defender. Long term I hope that Whiteside can be the backup C and provide shot-blocking.

Summary/Expectations
Make the playoffs in year 1. In years 2-3, win a playoff series or two. In years 4-5, become a team that can win it all. By year 4, the majority of my guys will still be around 27-29 and should be entering their prime. I really think I have a great balance of offense and defense with my starting unit. I will be playing the young guys as much as possible in the next couple years so that they have the in-game experience that will help down the road.

[Sixerlover]

UTAH JAZZ


Starters


Roster (minutes played)
C: Tyson Chandler (30) / Nick Collison (18)
PF: Udonis Haslem (30) / Amir Johnson (18)
SF: Paul Pierce (32) / Julian Wright (10) / Gary Forbes (6)
SG: Manu Ginobili (26) / Thabo Sefolosha (22)
PG : Kirk Hinrich (28) / TJ Ford (17) / Sean Singletary (3)

Offense

This team is built with veterans striving to win a ring either this season or next season. Our two main options on offense are both highly decorated in the NBA playoffs, with 5 NBA championship appearances between the two of them. Pierce + Ginobili might be the most talented, experienced, and offensively polished wing duo in this game. They will handle the load of scoring inside the final 10 minutes of the 4th quarter, which is when buckets become most important, especially in the playoffs, and having two proven "clutch" scorers cannot be stressed enough. Kirk Hinrich is the definition of a solid point guard. Is a good shooter, as well as a very solid defender. He distributes the ball effectively, and does not having any glaring hole in his game. He's good for 12-14 ppg while also getting 5-7 apg with starter minutes. In the starting lineup the interior scoring will come from Haslem. Pre injury, Haslem was an effective mid range shooter, and has a satisfactory back to the basket game, he and Chandler paired will both be primarily used for offensive rebounds (which they are both very good at) and Haslem specifically will be the pick and pop player that Hinrich or Pierce or Manu can kick out to off of the play. Off of the bench, TJ Ford is an electric energy guy who can help put the ball in the cup, and players like Thabo + Julian Wright are solid slashers, and finishers at the rim. With Hinrich + Manu + Pierce running the show, I predict we will be in the 95-100 ppg during the season.

Defense

The pride of this team is defense. In the starting lineup, not one player is a below average either team or individual defender, and many of the starters are actually above average. Both Pierce and Ginobili are in the top 45 all time in defensive win shares, Kirk Hinrich and Tyson Chandler have both made all defensive teams in their careers, and Udonis Haslem is an extremely talented PF defender. If Udonis Haslem is the WEAK POINT in a teams starting 5 defensively, you must have a top 3 defensive unit. When the starters go out, nothing changes. Players like Thabo Sefolosha and Amir Johnson are very athletic, and pesky defenders, with Thabo also being on an all defensive team, and being regarded as a top 5 perimeter defender in the league. The swingman star on the other team would have FITS dealing with Hinrich + Ginobili + Pierce + Thabo nightly. No easy feat. Nick Collison is also an extremely talented interior defender. THIS TEAM IS THE MOST PHYSICAL AND TOUGH SQUAD IN THE GAME. Think Boston of '08, '09, and 2010

Leading Into the Future

At first glance, this looks like a team destined for a 1-2 year run and then a complete lack of talent in years 3-4 and 5. What is not seen is the age of the players not named Pierce + Ginobili. They will surely be done in the years after the first two, but the beauty of the team is that the values are not lost with them. The tough, hard nosed squad will still remain. Chandler, Thabo, Kirk, and Haslem will all be hitting their early 30's where players are still playing at a top level. Those 4 will continue the aggressive theme. Gary Forbes and Amir Johnson will both have more NBA experience, and on this team, MUCH more playoff experience meaning their games will improve. Players like Collison + Julian Wright will also be the veterans on the team if they still remain. Obviously we will need scoring threats, and I am prepared to deal with that once the situation arises, but I'd rather take the risk of building a team with tough values, and experience, then dealing with the future as we near the future. Obviously if we look back at the current NBA from 2006 until now (5 years) is there ANY team in the league with more than 3 players that were on the team 5 years ago? Teams change yearly, talent changes yearly, teams go from 66 win teams to 20 win teams, while others go from 18 win teams to 50 win teams in the span of a year. To give up the chance to win a title ASAP to look 5 years from now would have been a terrible GM move in my opinion.

Final Thoughts

What I wanted to do in Utah was accomplish exactly what I did. I gave this team an identity. The toughest team in the league with a lineup full of veteran players, with youth in the right spots. Majority of these players have had deep playoff runs, which is something no other team can say. We will out work, and out hustle every team in the league, and inside the last 5 minutes of a game we have two of the best closers in the NBA. This team is the type of team to win a title, and soon, and I believe we will. By year 3 Pierce + Ginobili might be gone or on their very last legs, but players like Chandler (will be 31), Hinrich (will be 33), Haslem (will be 34) and Thabo (will be 30) will be the vets of the team, and leading a new youth movement to be created throughout various drafts and free agent signings. This team will win at least 1 title, but will be a threat for a while.