Take Note - Utah Jazz NBA 2k17 MyLeague

[JazzMan]

2017_NBA_Draft_logo.jpg

2017 NBA Draft

#1 Overall Pick: *Boston Celtics trade to Chicago Bulls

Chicago Trades SF Jimmy Butler

Boston Trades #1 Overall Pick, 2018 1st (BOS Lottery Protected), SF Jae Crowder

#1 Overall Pick: Chicago Bulls draft PG Markelle Fultz, Washington

Wow. What a deal just prior to the start of the NBA Draft. The Boston Celtics decided to cash in on the 1st overall pick that was awarded to them from the Garnett and Pierce trade to Brooklyn a few years ago, and man, did they ever cash in. Passing up on potential superstar Markelle Fultz is a HUGE risk, as Fultz is one of the best point guard prospects we've seen in quite some time. But Isaiah Thomas proved that he can be "the guy" in crunch time in the playoffs, and Danny Ainge is rewarding Thomas by bringing in a superstar forward in Jimmy Butler.

Butler and the Bulls had their ups and downs, but with management deciding to let go of Fred Hoiberg, it seems as though they wanted to go for a full-on rebuild. They'll be doing so by bringing in Fultz, who has the ability to change the entire franchise top to bottom. Not to be overlooked in forward Jae Crowder, who had a very good year last year, as well as a 2018 1st round pick next season. This trade makes sense for both teams, but you have to feel like Boston is taking a big risk by deciding to bring in Butler. Will this be enough to topple the Cavs next season, or will they also look in free agency, perhaps in signing another star wing player in Gordon Hayward?

#2 Overall Pick: Los Angeles Lakers draft PG Lonzo Ball, UCLA

Lonzo and his father, Lavar, finally got their wish, as they're staying in Los Angeles to play with the Lakers. Lonzo is clearly a top-2 talent in this draft, so it makes sense as to why Magic Johnson and the Lakers would select him while they still have D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson, two young combo guards. It's very possible that either Russell or Clarkson could find themselves in trade rumors in the near future with Lonzo's arrival.

#3 Overall Pick: Philadelphia 76ers draft SG Malik Monk, Kentucky

The Sixers are taking a chance on Monk, who hasn't proved that he can be a point guard at the next level. At just 6'3", he may be a little too small to play the shooting guard position full-time, but that doesn't matter when he has Ben Simmons running the show. With Simmons' playmaking ability, Monk shouldn't have to bear the burden of running the offense, and he can simply do what he does best; shoot the ball.

#4 Overall Pick: Phoenix Suns draft SF Josh Jackson, Kansas

The Suns, like Philly, were looking for a new point guard to take over the show. But with Fultz, Ball, and now Monk off the board, Phoenix ended up taking the talented Josh Jackson out of Kansas. Jackson's 6'8" frame should fit in perfectly with the Suns, who lacked a true wing defender after trading away P.J. Tucker. His upside is tremendous, and he could make for a dangerous pairing with new teammate Devin Booker.

#5 Overall Pick: Sacramento Kings draft PG De'Aaron Fox, Kentucky

It was just a matter of time before Fox came off the board, and he'll be heading to Sacramento to try and revitalize a troubled franchise. Fox's playmaking and athleticism should fit right in with Sacramento's young big man core, who love to run up and down the floor and finish breaks. This could be exactly the kind of star player that the Kings have been looking for; someone who is unselfish, talented, and can lead the team on and off the court.

#6 Overall Pick: Orlando Magic draft SF Jayson Tatum, Duke

Tatum looks to be a great pickup for the Magic, as they lacked a true #1 option last season, leading them to yet another disappointing season. Tatum should be able to come in immediately and provide the Magic with a top scoring option, and while he may not be able to help shore up Orlando's poor defense, he could certainly develop into an elite offensive talent in Orlando.

#7 Overall Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves trade pick to Phoenix

Minnesota Trades #7 Overall Pick
Minnesota Receives PF Derrick Favors, #23 Overall Pick (UTA), 2019 1st Top 10 Protected (PHX)

Utah Trades PF Derrick Favors, #23 Pick, SG Alec Burks
Utah Receives PG Eric Bledsoe

Phoenix Trades PG Eric Bledsoe, 2019 1st Round Top 10 Protected
Phoenix Receives SG Alec Burks, #7 Overall Pick

#7 Overall Pick: Phoenix Suns draft PG Frank Ntilikina, France

In the second trade of the draft, the Phoenix Suns take on a gamble in the French point guard Frank Ntilikina. They traded away their best player, Eric Bledsoe, to acquire the pick, but at just 19 years old, Ntilikina should fit right in with the rest of the young Phoenix core.

Minnesota had been shopping the pick prior to draft in order to land a veteran forward to put alongside Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, as they push for a playoff berth next season. They ended up landing Jazz power forward Derrick Favors, as well as a few picks, one of which is the 23rd overall pick in this year's draft. Favors and Towns should make an excellent two-man combo down low, and it will be interesting to see who the Wolves pick up with the 23rd pick.

Utah, on the otherhand, has decided that they most likely won't be able to afford to bring back Hill, and they ended up trading two contracts to free up some cap space. They part ways with Favors and Burks, two long-time Jazz fan favorites who had been hindered by injuries the past few seasons, as well as the 23rd overall pick, but they bring in a very talented point guard in Eric Bledsoe, who the Suns had been shopping as they looked to acquire a young franchise point guard in the draft. Will the acquisition of Bledsoe be enticing enough for Hayward to stick around? Or will he feel slighted that the Jazz traded longtime teammate Derrick Favors?

#8 Overall Pick: New York Knicks draft PG Dennis Smith Jr., NC State

Yet another point guard finds his way off of the draft board and onto an NBA team in this year's lottery. Smith lacks a consistent three-point shot at this stage in his young career, but he should make for a good pick and pop duo with Kristaps Porzingis. Though it's unknown at this point if the Knicks will stubbornly keep running the triangle, it is a fact that New York has landed themselves a young franchise point guard.

#9 Overall Pick: Dallas Mavericks draft SF Jonathan Isaac, Florida State

Dallas was in a position where they could take the best player available, and that's Florida State forward Jonathan Isaac. Isaac's 6'10" frame should fit perfectly alongside Harrison Barnes, as both players versatile and essentially "positionless" players. Will Isaac play the two, or will he step in for Dirk Nowitzki when he's finished at the four?

#10 Overall Pick: Sacramento Kings draft SG Terrance Ferguson, Australia

The Kings take a chance on the Australian swingman Terrance Ferguson, who has the size and length to play the two or the three. He's a lights-out shooter with very good athleticism, but he's still got a ways to go towards becoming a legit starting-caliber NBA player. If he develops into what he could be, then he, Buddy Hield, and De'Aaron Fox could make a scary trio in Sacramento.

#11 Overall Pick: Charlotte Hornets draft PF Jonah Bolden, Australia

Back to back Aussies off the board! Bolden's size and shooting ability makes him a very valuable prospect in the NBA, and his ability to hit the glass and run the floor could make him a very solid player down the line. Though he enters a bit of a log-jam in Charlotte, I suspect that Bolden could very soon make his way into Steve Clifford's regular rotation.

#12 Overall Pick: Detroit Pistons draft PF Lauri Markkanen, Arizona

Though it was suspected that the Pistons were shopping the 12th overall pick, Stan Van Gundy eventually decided to hang onto the pick and select the 7'0" forward from Arizona. Markkanen is a legit 7 footer with three-point range on his jumpshot, and with his 7'3" wingspan, he should be a natural pairing next to Andre Drummond, as he'll be able to help protect the paint and grab boards while spacing out the floor on offense.

#13 Overall Pick: Denver Nuggets draft SF O.G. Anunoby, Indiana

Denver ended up just going best player available, instead of taking a chance on another point guard. Anunoby is a big bodied forward with elite defensive potential. A premier athlete, he should be able to develop into one of the top defensive players in the NBA, while also not being a liability on the offensive end, as well.

#14 Overall Pick: Miami Heat draft C Justin Patton, Creighton

Though they already have Hassan Whiteside, the Heat ended up taking another big man in the draft, potentially to play alongside Whiteside or to spell him at the center spot. Patton is certainly athletic enough to stretch to the power forward position, but his lack of shooting and offensive scoring prowess could mean that he's best suited as a backup center for the Heat at this time.

#15 Overall Pick: Portland Trail Blazers draft PG Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State

Evans is a bit of a strange pick here, being that the Trail Blazers already have Damian Lillard at the point, as well as C.J. McCollum, who is more than capable of running the show when Lillard is on the bench. However, Evans is definitely a talented guard and gives the Blazers a legitimate backup behind Lillard. He can shoot and create, and his athleticism and court vision could enable him to develop into a nice player moving forward.

#16 Overall Pick: Chicago Bulls draft C Ike Anigbogu, UCLA

With Markelle Fultz now running the show in Chicago, the Bulls decided to grab him a young big man who he can grow with, and that's certainly what they got in Ike Anigbogu. Anigbogu is a big body at 6'10", 250, and at just 19 years old, he could develop into a perennial All-Defensive team candidate. He runs the floor well and crashes the glass hard.

#17 Overall Pick: Milwaukee Bucks trade pick to Toronto

Milwaukee trades #17 Overall Pick
Toronto trades #24 Overall Pick, Cory Joseph

#17 Overall Pick: Toronto Raptors draft PG Edmund Sumner, Xavier

The Raptors had their sights set on Sumner, a 6'6" point guard with excellent playmaking ability, and decided to move backup point guard Cory Joseph to swap the #24 pick for the #17 pick. Sumner's size makes him a very high upside prospect, and although he may be very raw right now, he could be an absolute stud in the future. Milwaukee didn't think Sumner fit well with their core, being that they already have spacing problems, and decided to make a move for Cory Joseph. Joseph could make an immediate impact in Milwaukee and help push them to the top tier of the Eastern Conference.

#18 Overall Pick: Indiana Pacers draft SG Derrick White, Colorado

White is a prototypical two-guard, and with C.J. Miles potentially leaving the Pacers, Indiana had a hole to fill at the SG position. Though the goal is to keep Paul George happy enough to stay, they do have to prepare for the worst and develop some young talent, and White could be a member of their new young core along with Myles Turner.

#19 Overall Pick: Atlanta Hawks draft PG Nigel Williams-Goss, Gonzaga

With Dennis Schroder in town, Williams-Goss likely won't see a ton of minutes, but he should be given an opportunity to develop behind Schroder. Atlanta's backup point guard position was dreadful last season, and they aimed to fix it by taking Williams-Goss in the first round over some very talented prospects.

#20 Overall Pick: Trail Blazers trade pick to Denver

Portland Trades #20 Overall Pick, #25 Overall Pick, Evan Turner
Portland Receives Wilson Chandler, Justin Hamilton

Brooklyn Trades Justin Hamilton
Brooklyn Receives Evan Turner, #25 Overall Pick

Denver Trades Wilson Chandler
Denver Receives #20 Overall Pick

#20 Overall Pick: Denver Nuggets draft PF D.J. Wilson, Michigan

In another three-team trade, the Trail Blazers moved the 2nd and 3rd of their 3 picks this draft to acquire Wilson Chandler, and to also rid themselves of the horrible contract that they signed Evan Turner to just a year ago. For getting out of that Turner contract and clearing up a little bit of cap space, I'd say the Blazers did a fine job, especially since they acquired talented veteran Wilson Chandler. Chandler should fit in perfectly with McCollum, Lillard, and Nurkic at either the 3 or the 4 spot.

For the Nets? This deal was easy. Take on Turner's bad contract and get a free draft pick out of it. They are in desperate need of young talent, and you have to get draft picks however you can, and with them not likely doing much in the near future, Turner's contract shouldn't hurt them.

Denver parted ways with Wilson Chandler, leaving the door open for Danilo Gallinari to re-sign, or for O.G. Anunoby to take the starting spot at the 3 or the 4. Decent move here, considering Chandler will likely command a hefty contract next summer if he continues to play well. D.J. Wilson is a solid pickup, he's a high-upside pick, and if he pans out, he and Jokic could be a monster duo.

#21 Overall Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder draft SF Justin Jackson, North Carolina

This was a no-brainer. Jackson is a talented scorer at the three or the two, and that's exactly what OKC needs. Though he may struggle at times on the defensive end, playing with Steven Adams should mask that a little bit. Good pickup here for the Thunder.

#22 Overall Pick: Brooklyn Nets draft PF Isaiah Hartenstein, Germany

At 6'11", 255, Hartenstein should provide the Nets some tough rebounding, defense, and a whole lot of shooting. His shooting ability and soft touch from midrange will allow Brook Lopez to operate inside, while his rebounding should be able to make up for Lopez's lack of production on the glass.

#23 Overall Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves draft SG Josh Hart, Villanova

Hart isn't a real high-upside player at #23, but he should give the Timberwolves a nice scoring option off the bench with his three-point shooting and ability to create his own shots. He won't be able to usurp Zach LaVine at the two-guard spot, but he should be able to spell either him or Wiggins at the two or the three.

#24 Overall Pick: Milwaukee Bucks draft PF John Collins, Wake Forest

Collins fell pretty far down the board to #24, but Milwaukee is more than happy to snag him this late. At just 19 years old, he might very well be the best rebounder in this class, and could become a very valuable member of the Bucks if he develops.

#25 Overall Pick: Brooklyn Nets draft SG P.J. Dozier, South Carolina

Dozier has a 6'7" 200 pound frame, and due to his playmaking ability and athleticism, he can play either the one or the two for Brooklyn. Though he enters a bit of a logjam in Brooklyn at the shooting guard spot, his versatility and unselfish game should translate to some decent playing time in his first season in the NBA.

#26 Overall Pick: Orlando Magic draft PF Semi Ojeleye, SMU

After taking Jayson Tatum early in the first round, Orlando takes yet another forward to play alongside him. Ojeleye is a bit undersized as a power forward, but his athleticism and rebounding ability more than make up for it. He's also shown that he could potentially be a consistent three-point shooter in the NBA, and that could be huge for the Magic.

#27 Overall Pick: Brooklyn Nets draft SF Rodions Kurucs, Latvia

With their third pick in the first round, Brooklyn decided to take on a project player in Rodions Kurucs. The Latvian undoubtedly raw, but with his size, shooting ability, and athleticism, he could become a very big-time player in the NBA.

#28 Overall Pick: Los Angeles Lakers draft PG Frank Jackson, Duke

Jackson would best be described as a pure point guard, and although there may be some fit issues now with Lonzo Ball running the show, he could still be a very high-value pick due to his great upside as a point guard.

#29 Overall Pick: San Antonio Spurs draft C Jonathan Jeanne, France

This kid may be raw as hell, but don't sleep on him. With Coach Pop guiding him, I wouldn't be surprised if this kid turned into a game-changer on the defensive end. At 7'2", 207 pounds, this kid is a beanpole, but with his listed wingspan of 7'7", he might just become the next Rudy Gobert.

#30 Overall Pick: Utah Jazz draft PF Harry Giles, Dukes

Giles fell down the board a bit due to concerns on his knee, but if he stays healthy, he could become an immediate replacement for Derrick Favors, who the Jazz traded away to acquire Eric Bledsoe. Giles might be best suited as a backup center for Rudy Gobert, but I wouldn't be surprised if he develops an offensive game to pair alongside with Gobert, making a terrifying defensive tandem.

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2nd Round Picks:

#31: Atlanta Hawks draft C Jarrett Allen, Texas
#32: Phoenix Suns draft SG Donovan Mitchell, Louisville
#33: Los Angeles Lakers draft SF Jaron Blossomgame, Clemson
#34: Sacramento Kings draft PF Jordan Bell, Oregon
#35: Orlando Magic draft PG Marcus Keene, Central Michigan
#36: Boston Celtics draft PF Tyler Lydon, Syracuse
#37: Philadelphia 76ers draft PF Kyle Kuzma, Utah
#38: Sacramento Kings draft PG Kobi Simmons, Arizona
#39: Dallas Mavericks draft PG London Perrantes, Virginia
#40: Cleveland Cavaliers (via SAC) draft C Tony Bradley, North Carolina
#41: Charlotte Hornets draft PG Isaiah Briscoe, Kentucky
#42: Utah Jazz draft SF V.J. Beachem, Notre Dame
#43: Houston Rockets draft SF Wesley Iwundo, Kansas State
#44: New York Knicks draft PF Ivan Rabb, California
#45: Houston Rockets draft C Anzejs Pasecniks, Latvia
#46: Philadelphia 76ers draft SG Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina
#47: Indiana Pacers draft PF Zach Collins, Gonzaga
#48: Milwaukee Bucks draft PF Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin
#49: Denver Nuggets draft SF Dillon Brooks, Oregon
***Trade: Sixers trade #50 pick to Warriors for Bird rights to Shaun Livingston***
#50: Golden State Warriors draft C Amida Brimah, UConn
***Trade: Nuggets trade #51 pick to Thunder for 2018 Bulls 2nd***
#51: Oklahoma City Thunder draft Xander Gabriel, Belgium
#52: Washington Wizards draft SG Luke Kennard, Duke
#53: Phoenix Suns draft C Thomas Bryant, Indiana
#54: Boston Celtics draft SG Antonio Blakeney, LSU
#55: Boston Celtics draft SF L.J. Peak, Georgetown
#56: Utah Jazz draft PG Derrick Walton Jr., Michigan
#57: Brooklyn Nets draft PF T.J. Leaf, UCLA
#58: New York Knicks draft PG Monte Morris, Iowa State
#59: San Antonio Spurs draft SG Dwayne Bacon, Florida State
#60: Atlanta Hawks draft C Luke Fischer, Marquette

[JazzMan]

So, the off-season process got a little bit mixed up because of the Start Today feature. All contracts are a year behind, so guys like Hayward, Paul, Griffin, Durant, etc... are all on contract for next year. It says they have a player option for the following year.

This is going to take a bit of editing, but I think I can fix it. I'll have to edit everybody's contract I think and take out a year.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[trekfan]

Quote: Originally Posted by JazzMan

So, the off-season process got a little bit mixed up because of the Start Today feature. All contracts are a year behind, so guys like Hayward, Paul, Griffin, Durant, etc... are all on contract for next year. It says they have a player option for the following year. This is going to take a bit of editing, but I think I can fix it. I'll have to edit everybody's contract I think and take out a year. Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

I was wondering if you encountered that particular bug -- hope the edits aren't too time consuming.

Like the trades you did in the draft -- definitely feel like the Jazz got a good player in Bledsoe, like the landing spot for Favors (though, within the division, that'll be tough to see often).

[JazzMan]

Quote: Originally Posted by trekfan

I was wondering if you encountered that particular bug -- hope the edits aren't too time consuming. Like the trades you did in the draft -- definitely feel like the Jazz got a good player in Bledsoe, like the landing spot for Favors (though, within the division, that'll be tough to see often).

Yeah, I'm really excited to use Bledsoe. I liked using George Hill and all (outside of MyLeague, of course), but I feel like Bledsoe is going to be an offensive and defensive machine.

I'm just wondering how I'm going to do this free agency since I'm going to have to waive players from rosters. Teams won't have Bird Rights over them. I'd have to go into each free agent after they sign and give them more money/years to compensate.

In the process of moving right now so I've got some time to think about it as I settle into my new place lol

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[Jumpman14]

When it comes to Ball I don't think you really need to move Russell who can really just slide over to the two guard spot.

[JazzMan]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jumpman14

When it comes to Ball I don't think you really need to move Russell who can really just slide over to the two guard spot.

I agree, I just know that with Clarkson there as well, there's a bit of a logjam. They could get a lot more out of Russell than they could Clarkson. But they might be better off keeping Russell, like you said.

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[JazzMan]

Upon further inspection, this contract situation is a mess. For players who aren't expiring, it's just fine, as I can simply edit the money amount on each year of the deal.

But for upcoming free agents, I'm in a bind. The only way to make them free agents is to downright waive them, which means that team surrounds their bird rights. So a team like Cleveland won't be able to resign any of their expirings because they are already $35M above the cap for next season.

Not sure what I can do to solve this. Pretty frustrating glitch.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[michaellowll]

Quote: Originally Posted by JazzMan

Upon further inspection, this contract situation is a mess. For players who aren't expiring, it's just fine, as I can simply edit the money amount on each year of the deal. But for upcoming free agents, I'm in a bind. The only way to make them free agents is to downright waive them, which means that team surrounds their bird rights. So a team like Cleveland won't be able to resign any of their expirings because they are already $35M above the cap for next season. Not sure what I can do to solve this. Pretty frustrating glitch. Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Unfortunately, you have to start the season right from the start because there are no free agents at "start today"