Beat the Boredom 2020 Draft Strategy Game!

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I don't know about you, but I'm going somewhat bonkers with boredom.

As well, even though it has been proven that you cannot get Covid-19 by posting to this Board, traffic has gone way down. Which doesn't help with the boredom! So, I propose a game -- or maybe it would be better to call it a challenge, or an experiment to stretch (what's left of) all our minds.

Here's what I have in mind: come up with a strategy (a series of moves) to extract the maximum amount of talent from the 2020 draft. Let's assume we have the #9 pick & (from Chicago) the #38 pick.

Either make picks at those spots or make trades out of those spots. But, let's not be arbitrary:

1. use http://www.nbadraftroom.com/p/2020-nba-mock-draft.html & http://www.nbadraftroom.com/p/2020-2nd-round.html as a guide to who will be available at what spots in the draft.

2. use http://nbasense.com/draft-pick-trade-value/2/kevin-pelton-2 as a guide to possible trades -- they have to be fair exchanges according to Pelton's chart. Don't be off by more than 1 (i.e. according to the chart, a team could trade the #1 pick for the #s11, 12 & 20 picks & be within that parameter).

3. You can also sign guys undrafted -- as long as they are projected to go undrafted by nbadraftroom.

Finally, keep in mind that we can only have 17 guys under contract: 15 on the regular roster & 2 "2-way" players. Whatever guys you come up with, fit them into that framework!

There are a lot of good players in every draft -- every single year. How can we really score this year? I look for some really imaginative ideas.

Plus, it has been proven that it's not possible to contract Covid-19 from posting on this Board!

[Ruzious]

Sounds fun. I'm still remotely working - though my work isn't remotely good these days. I'll try to put something together later today. Looking at that mock, I'll definitely want to trade down.

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Sounds fun. I'm still remotely working - though my work isn't remotely good these days. I'll try to put something together later today. Looking at that mock, I'll definitely want to trade down.

Great!

I suppose if there's a "draftexpress" (i.e. ESPN) mock draft, & someone posted it here, people could choose which one to rely on. In the meantime, nbadraftroom it is....

Look forward to seeing what you come with -- you & everyone!

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I see this is exciting a huge amount of interest!!

Doc? Ruz? Dat? YoungWizzy? ...anyone???

[Ruzious]

I wasn't really sure about the rules, so I followed what was there and ended up doing whatever I wanted and cheated whenever in doubt. If you're not cheating, you're not tru… er trying. Whew, that was close. So, here's what I did (probably not what Pif was looking for, but I enjoyed it) - basically identified the players I wanted, and got them:

Trade the 9th pick and Jerome Robinson to New Orleans for the 13th pick and a protected 2022 1st rounder. My target here is Saddiq Bey. I figured he'd go more like 20th, but the mock said 13th. He's a deadeye 3 point shooter who's stock was steadily going up, and he's got that perfect 6'8 220 size for a 3 - also known for his defense. And yes, I like him better than Tyler Bey - because of the 3 point shooting.

So, I take that NO 2022 1st rounder and package it with Rui and Wagner to Minnesota for the 3rd pick and filler and pick Okongwu. Figuring Minny isn't real bright and considers Rui a great young fit with Townes. Plus they get the Japan market. We get the defensive-minded big we needed.

Then I trade TBJ to Denver for the 21st pick and Bol Bol. Denver's a team that doesn't really have a point guard, so there's a real opportunity for Brown to be a playmaker. With that pick, I take Aaron Nesmith (projected at 22 - so I didn't cheat). 6'6 215 swingman and arguably the best 3 point shooter in the draft and very highly regarded defender. I think I got the 2 best pure 3 and D combos in the draft. I'll let Bol play the year in the G League - just hoping he'll stay healthy and get stronger.

I'll keep our second rounder and pick Xavier Tillman.

I'll sign Justin Patton - the 16th pick in the 2017 draft. He's a big-time shot-blocker who just needs more maturity to develop.

Other signings: Re-sign Matthews and Jonathan Williams, release AP, re-sign Bertans, re-sign Napier - which may lead to a trade of Ish.

PG: Wall, Ish, Napier
SG: Beal, Nesmith, Matthews
SF: Bey, Bonga, Schofield
PF: Okongwu, Bertans, Jonathan Williams
C: Bryant, Tillman, Patton, Bol (G League)

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Hi Ruz -- very interesting, but you are right that it's not exactly within the rules of the "game."

For one thing, using Pelton's chart, the #9 pick would not get us the #13 & another R1 pick -- or, perhaps it would get us the #13 this year & the #30 next year (applying a little discount for that pick coming a year later). What would Jerome Robinson add in value? Well, we got him for IT, who was waived immediately: i.e. it looks like he would add nothing in value.

Which is not to say that I wouldn't like the proposed trade -- I'd love it, of course. But... even if it were a possible value proposition, it's still speculative.

In any case, my idea was different: just use Pelton for pick value & nbadraftroom for who's available at what pck. Then you can trade the #9 for an equivalent value using Pelton's chart.

Of course, you need to trade it to someone who actually has that Pelton-value to offer. Thus, it would be possible to trade our #9 to Boston for their #17 & #26. Or for their #17, #30 & #46.

Of course, you can then make subsequent trades -- for the #26 & #38, for example, Pelton's chart says we could get the #20 or #21. With those 2 trades, we'd have the #17 & #20 instead #9 & #38.

Or, if we traded our #9 to the Celts for their #s 17, 30 & 46 we might trade the #30 to the Sixers for the #s 35 & 50. The Pelton values are all close enough to be worth discussing.

Just to look at r2 on that basis, we could wind up with Tyler Bey, Reggie Perry (or Kira Lewis), Leandro Bolmaro (or Killian Tilley) & Xavier Tillman -- all out of R2. After picking, say, Vernon Carey or Theo Maledon @ #17.

IOW, there's plenty of flexibility just using Pelton & NBAdraftroom -- without speculative trades. Of course, this is all speculation. Fantasy. Beats looking at http://www.worldometers.info, that's for sure.

[DCZards]

Hey Ruz, I'm also a big fan of Villanova's Saddiq Bey. I had him pegged as my sleeper but he finished the season strong and is apparently climbing the draft board. Picking him at 13 sounds about right.

Bey attended DC's Sidwell Friends...as did former 'Nova star Josh Hart.

[Ruzious]

Hi Ruz -- very interesting, but you are right that it's not exactly within the rules of the "game."

For one thing, using Pelton's chart, the #9 pick would not get us the #13 & another R1 pick -- or, perhaps it would get us the #13 this year & the #30 next year (applying a little discount for that pick coming a year later). What would Jerome Robinson add in value? Well, we got him for IT, who was waived immediately: i.e. it looks like he would add nothing in value.

Which is not to say that I wouldn't like the proposed trade -- I'd love it, of course. But... even if it were a possible value proposition, it's still speculative.

In any case, my idea was different: just use Pelton for pick value & nbadraftroom for who's available at what pck. Then you can trade the #9 for an equivalent value using Pelton's chart.

Of course, you need to trade it to someone who actually has that Pelton-value to offer. Thus, it would be possible to trade our #9 to Boston for their #17 & #26. Or for their #17, #30 & #46.

Of course, you can then make subsequent trades -- for the #26 & #38, for example, Pelton's chart says we could get the #20 or #21. With those 2 trades, we'd have the #17 & #20 instead #9 & #38.

Or, if we traded our #9 to the Celts for their #s 17, 30 & 46 we might trade the #30 to the Sixers for the #s 35 & 50. The Pelton values are all close enough to be worth discussing.

Just to look at r2 on that basis, we could wind up with Tyler Bey, Reggie Perry (or Kira Lewis), Leandro Bolmaro (or Killian Tilley) & Xavier Tillman -- all out of R2. After picking, say, Vernon Carey or Theo Maledon @ #17.

IOW, there's plenty of flexibility just using Pelton & NBAdraftroom -- without speculative trades. Of course, this is all speculation. Fantasy. Beats looking at http://www.worldometers.info, that's for sure.

Yeah, I was pushing it a bit - basically trading the 9th pick for the 13 and a protected 2022 1st rounder, but does Pelton's chart say anything about the value of 2022 1st round picks - with protections? Obviously a 2022 protected pick has much less value than a 2020 pick. With a few notable exceptions, I'm not very high on players listed after the 8th pick in the mock, so I thought it was important to target the few players I wanted. Other than the ones I traded for, I thought Jalen Smith was a good value for where he was mocked, and I'd consider TBey and Tillie - but I wouldn't be excited about either one. I figured - go for the players I really wanted - not the ones that I kinda wanted.

[Ruzious]

Hey Ruz, I'm also a big fan of Villanova's Saddiq Bey. I had him pegged as my sleeper but he finished the season strong and is apparently climbing the draft board. Picking him at 13 sounds about right.

Bey attended DC's Sidwell Friends...as did former 'Nova star Josh Hart.

Yeah, as the season wore on, he became the better Bey, imo. He fits the mold of the modern 3. Notice on some mocks that probably haven't been updated in a long time, he's listed as a 2nd rounder, but the smarter looking mocks have him 13 to 15.

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Ruz -- even within the rules of the "game," there's still an easy way to get the 13th pick & use it on Saddiq Bey: trade #9 to Boston for #17 & #26. Then trade #17 & our #38 to NO for their #13. Grab Saddiq Bey @#13 &, say, Josh Green at #26.

Or, how about this? -- instead of Green at #26, trade that pick to Philly for their #s 33 & 35 (passes the Pelton test). Pick Makur Makur & Tyler Bey. Better yet, throw in $1m for them to include their #50 pick, & take Xavier Tillman with it.

So, now, for our #9, #38, & $1m (okay, that's outside the rules of my own game!), we get Saddiq Bey, Makur Makur, Tyler Bey & Xavier Tillman. Sign Neemas Queta undrafted.

Now... can we still get Okongwu? Well, we don't have that Denver pick. But... we do have TBJr. &, in fact, I'd say he has a fair amount more value than Denver's '22 protected R1 pick. Brown & Rui get us the #3 pick we use on Okongwu.

Upside compared to your original proposal is we still have Wagner. Downside is that we still have Jerome Robinson (& his salary). I bet we could trade the 2 of them for a low R1 pick next year. If so, that's a net gain. Ditto even if it's a high R2 pick....

We both get Saddiq Bey & Tillman. My version gets us Tyler Bey & Makur Makur instead of Aaron Nesmith.

(Note: these are just some riffs based on your goals. I haven't yet finalized my own plan for this game. In particular, I don't think I'm as high on Saddiq Bey as you and Zards are -- now... I haven't yet taken a really close look at him).

[Ruzious]

Ruz -- even within the rules of the "game," there's still an easy way to get the 13th pick & use it on Saddiq Bey: trade #9 to Boston for #17 & #26. Then trade #17 & our #38 to NO for their #13. Grab Saddiq Bey @#13 &, say, Josh Green at #26.

Or, how about this? -- instead of Green at #26, trade that pick to Philly for their #s 33 & 35 (passes the Pelton test). Pick Makur Makur & Tyler Bey. Better yet, throw in $1m for them to include their #50 pick, & take Xavier Tillman with it.

So, now, for our #9, #38, & $1m (okay, that's outside the rules of my own game!), we get Saddiq Bey, Makur Makur, Tyler Bey & Xavier Tillman. Sign Neemas Queta undrafted.

Now... can we still get Okongwu? Well, we don't have that Denver pick. But... we do have TBJr. &, in fact, I'd say he has a fair amount more value than Denver's '22 protected R1 pick. Brown & Rui get us the #3 pick we use on Okongwu.

Upside compared to your original proposal is we still have Wagner. Downside is that we still have Jerome Robinson (& his salary). I bet we could trade the 2 of them for a low R1 pick next year. If so, that's a net gain. Ditto even if it's a high R2 pick....

We both get Saddiq Bey & Tillman. My version gets us Tyler Bey & Makur Makur instead of Aaron Nesmith.

(Note: these are just some riffs based on your goals. I haven't yet finalized my own plan for this game. In particular, I don't think I'm as high on Saddiq Bey as you and Zards are -- now... I haven't yet taken a really close look at him).

I certainly see your points, and I'd be fine with what you came up with, but I gotta get 3 point shooters in this day and age. That's why I targeted Nesmith rather than T Bay. And my team already has 5 guys who play center, so I was looking for a way to dump Wagner. He became superflu us. And Makur would have appealed to me, but I already have 2 center projects that I like better.

It would be interesting to have both Bey's and argue over which one should be getting more PT.

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...It would be interesting to have both Bey's and argue over which one should be getting more PT.

They need a Youtube channel!

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...I gotta get 3 point shooters in this day and age. That's why I targeted Nesmith rather than T Bey....

This is for a different thread, but in this day and age, or any, you have to rebound the ball -- otherwise you don't win games.

We gave up almost 5 more rebounds a game last year than we got. OTOH, our team 3-point % was above average. We went 24-40.

Saddiq Bey & Aaron Nesmith combined to get fewer rebounds than Tyler Bey did on his own this season.

I'd rather not have this turn into a dispute about any numbers. But, I do not believe you can break out & prioritize any single number or the skill behind it. Doesn't mean I don't want 3-point shooters, btw!

[Ruzious]

...I gotta get 3 point shooters in this day and age. That's why I targeted Nesmith rather than T Bey....

This is for a different thread, but in this day and age, or any, you have to rebound the ball -- otherwise you don't win games.

We gave up almost 5 more rebounds a game last year than we got. OTOH, our team 3-point % was above average. We went 24-40.

Saddiq Bey & Aaron Nesmith combined to get fewer rebounds than Tyler Bey did on his own this season.

I'd rather not have this turn into a dispute about any numbers. But, I do not believe you can break out & prioritize any single number or the skill behind it. Doesn't mean I don't want 3-point shooters, btw!

3 point shooting is more important from wing players than their college rebounding numbers. Most teams only send 1 guy to the offensive boards nowadaze - sometimes none. They think it's more important to prevent transition points.

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...I gotta get 3 point shooters in this day and age. That's why I targeted Nesmith rather than T Bey....

This is for a different thread, but in this day and age, or any, you have to rebound the ball -- otherwise you don't win games.

We gave up almost 5 more rebounds a game last year than we got. OTOH, our team 3-point % was above average. We went 24-40.

Saddiq Bey & Aaron Nesmith combined to get fewer rebounds than Tyler Bey did on his own this season.

I'd rather not have this turn into a dispute about any numbers. But, I do not believe you can break out & prioritize any single number or the skill behind it. Doesn't mean I don't want 3-point shooters, btw!

3 point shooting is more important from wing players than their college rebounding numbers. Most teams only send 1 guy to the offensive boards nowadaze - sometimes none. They think it's more important to prevent transition points.

Forget offensive boards in that case: SB & AN combined to get fewer defensive rebounds per 40 minutes than TB. Tyler also outscored Saddiq per 40 minutes (just!... by .1 points ) & at a slightly higher TS%. OTOH, Nesmith is an exceptionally efficient & high volume shooter. As well, you point out that Saddiq Bey has improved as a shooter as the season went along, so that's important too.

I would certainly pick either of these guys over Tyler Bey at any given spot in the draft, Ruz. But, recall please, I'm talking about Tyler Bey at #35! Plus, in my scenario it was Tyler Bey, Makur & Tillman in return for $1m plus the #26 pick (Nesmith will be gone by then). This is after picking someone at #17 -- I had Maledon, to facilitate my point let it be Nesmith instead.

I like all 3 of these players. I'd take any two of them over the third, & in effect that's what I'm trying to do here -- aiming, that is, to get more chances at productivity. If you don't like Makur @#34, let's have it be Isaiah Stewart: Nesmith, Stewart, Tyler Bey, & Xavier Tillman -- all out of the #9 pick @$1m.

[Ruzious]

Fwiw, I'd target TBey on his second contract - figuring he'll improve his 3 point shooting by then. He's a good prospect - I've pumped him up on the draft threads several times.

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Ruz -- leaving out your trade of Robinson, let's say that for the #9 you could get the #13 & the #30 (somehow -- actually those picks are owned by different teams). That's close to even on the Pelton chart.

You take Saddiq Bey #13. NBAdraftroom has #30-36 as:

Nico Mannion
Paul Reed
Jordan Nwora
Desmond Bane
Makur Makur
Isaiah Stewart
Tyler Bey

Who do you take at #30?

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Ok, new plan! I figured out a way to do even better -- & still follow the rules of this game: 1. valid Pelton pick trades, & 2. the current NBAdraftroom mock is my guide to who's available.

I trade #9 to Boston for #17 & #26 -- works on Pelton chart.
I trade #17 to Philly for #22 & #35 -- works on Pelton chart (w/in .75).
I trade #26 & #38 to Denver for their #21 -- works on Pelton chart (w/ .75 to spare).
I buy the #50 pick from Philly.

At #21 I take Jalen Smith.
At #22 I take Aaron Nesmith.
At #35 I take Tyler Bey.
At #50 I take Xavier Tillman.

Now I have to fit 4 guys on our 17-man roster. Won't be easy!

Wall, Beal, Bryant, Hachimura, Ish, Robinson, Brown, Wagner & Schofield are all signed to guaranteed contracts. I want to extend Bonga, sign Napier, & keep Mathews. & I want flexibility to retain Bertans (I don't care nearly as much about this as most of you, but this is not the place to discuss).

Mathews gets another 2-way contract. Tillman is also signed 2-way (not what I really want, but no alternative).

PG: Wall, Ish Smith, Napier
SG: Beal, Bey, Robinson
SF: Brown, Bonga, Nesmith, Schofield
PF: Rui, Bertans, Jalen Smith
C: Bryant, Wagner

2-way: Mathews, Tillman

Salary: Assuming Napier at $3m, I'm at @$111m plus whatever Bertans costs. So, no tax problem at all.

Gone from the team that ended this season are Mahinmi, Payton & Pasecniks. Johnathan Williams is also gone.

Personally, I would have no interest whatever in adding a veteran free agents to this roster (at the cost, obviously, of a young player). We should be a better team to be sure -- Wall being back, young players having another year under their belt, etc. -- but we won't contend for anything higher than the 7th spot in the playoffs -- if that.

Going into the season, the guys I don't value for the future are Ish, Robinson, Schofield & Wagner. I'd be looking to trade those guys for whatever I can get by way of forward-facing assets (young guys &/or draft picks).

Like Ruz, I'd be happy to trade Hachimura, but that's not going to happen, so here's hoping he has a great off-season & comes back a much better player.

[Ruzious]

Ok, new plan! I figured out a way to do even better -- & still follow the rules of this game: 1. valid Pelton pick trades, & 2. the current NBAdraftroom mock is my guide to who's available.

I trade #9 to Boston for #17 & #26 -- works on Pelton chart.
I trade #17 to Philly for #22 & #35 -- works on Pelton chart (w/in .75).
I trade #26 & #38 to Denver for their #21 -- works on Pelton chart (w/ .75 to spare).
I buy the #50 pick from Philly.

At #21 I take Jalen Smith.
At #22 I take Aaron Nesmith.
At #35 I take Tyler Bey.
At #50 I take Xavier Tillman.

Now I have to fit 4 guys on our 17-man roster. Won't be easy!

Wall, Beal, Bryant, Hachimura, Ish, Robinson, Brown, Wagner & Schofield are all signed to guaranteed contracts. I want to extend Bonga, sign Napier, & keep Mathews. & I want flexibility to retain Bertans (I don't care nearly as much about this as most of you, but this is not the place to discuss).

Mathews gets another 2-way contract. Tillman is also signed 2-way (not what I really want, but no alternative).

PG: Wall, Ish Smith, Napier
SG: Beal, Bey, Robinson
SF: Brown, Bonga, Nesmith, Schofield
PF: Rui, Bertans, Jalen Smith
C: Bryant, Wagner

2-way: Mathews, Tillman

Salary: Assuming Napier at $3m, I'm at @$111m plus whatever Bertans costs. So, no tax problem at all.

Gone from the team that ended this season are Mahinmi, Payton & Pasecniks. Johnathan Williams is also gone.

Personally, I would have no interest whatever in adding a veteran free agents to this roster (at the cost, obviously, of a young player). We should be a better team to be sure -- Wall being back, young players having another year under their belt, etc. -- but we won't contend for anything higher than the 7th spot in the playoffs -- if that.

Going into the season, the guys I don't value for the future are Ish, Robinson, Schofield & Wagner. I'd be looking to trade those guys for whatever I can get by way of forward-facing assets (young guys &/or draft picks).

Like Ruz, I'd be happy to trade Hachimura, but that's not going to happen, so here's hoping he has a great off-season & comes back a much better player.

Well done sir! And I commend you for being realistic where I wasn't - on the likelihood of trading Rui.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Ok, new plan! I figured out a way to do even better -- & still follow the rules of this game: 1. valid Pelton pick trades, & 2. the current NBAdraftroom mock is my guide to who's available.

I trade #9 to Boston for #17 & #26 -- works on Pelton chart.
I trade #17 to Philly for #22 & #35 -- works on Pelton chart (w/in .75).
I trade #26 & #38 to Denver for their #21 -- works on Pelton chart (w/ .75 to spare).
I buy the #50 pick from Philly.

At #21 I take Jalen Smith.
At #22 I take Aaron Nesmith.
At #35 I take Tyler Bey.
At #50 I take Xavier Tillman.

Now I have to fit 4 guys on our 17-man roster. Won't be easy!

Wall, Beal, Bryant, Hachimura, Ish, Robinson, Brown, Wagner & Schofield are all signed to guaranteed contracts. I want to extend Bonga, sign Napier, & keep Mathews. & I want flexibility to retain Bertans (I don't care nearly as much about this as most of you, but this is not the place to discuss).

Mathews gets another 2-way contract. Tillman is also signed 2-way (not what I really want, but no alternative).

PG: Wall, Ish Smith, Napier
SG: Beal, Bey, Robinson
SF: Brown, Bonga, Nesmith, Schofield
PF: Rui, Bertans, Jalen Smith
C: Bryant, Wagner

2-way: Mathews, Tillman

Salary: Assuming Napier at $3m, I'm at @$111m plus whatever Bertans costs. So, no tax problem at all.

Gone from the team that ended this season are Mahinmi, Payton & Pasecniks. Johnathan Williams is also gone.

Personally, I would have no interest whatever in adding a veteran free agents to this roster (at the cost, obviously, of a young player). We should be a better team to be sure -- Wall being back, young players having another year under their belt, etc. -- but we won't contend for anything higher than the 7th spot in the playoffs -- if that.

Going into the season, the guys I don't value for the future are Ish, Robinson, Schofield & Wagner. I'd be looking to trade those guys for whatever I can get by way of forward-facing assets (young guys &/or draft picks).

Like Ruz, I'd be happy to trade Hachimura, but that's not going to happen, so here's hoping he has a great off-season & comes back a much better player.

We’ll never win anything with that center rotation.

Switch out Nesmith for Diakite and I’d like it better.

A late game, small ball rotation of...

Wall
Beal
Bertans
Brown JR
Mamadi

Would be pretty dynamic.