Fate and Fortune: The Andy McCutcheon Story (NBA 2K13)

[trekfan]

Re: Fate and Fortune: The Andy McCutcheon Story (NBA 2K13)

Wait...so you resigned, and picked a new team, which is the Magic? Very cool. Loving the storyline, and thanks for the help in the OS Trade Finder Thread.

That's exactly what I did. Before the playoffs started I resigned and signed on with the Magic, and the storyline reflects this (in much more dramatic fashion). I'm glad that you're enjoying it so far and that I could help ... stay tuned as more is on the way as we get to my favorite part-the offseason

[trekfan]

Re: Fate and Fortune: The Andy McCutcheon Story (NBA 2K13)

COMMENTARY


Let the dismantling begin: Magic gut roster


Hector Young

June 16, 2013



It won’t be a quiet offseason for the Magic. Not if these past few days are any indication.


The Magic hired embattled GM Andy McCutcheon, formerly of the Phoenix Suns, to help guide their franchise into a new direction because, frankly, former new GM Rob Hennigan had this team heading nowhere fast. Hennigan tried his best to get back decent pieces in the Dwight Howard trade but turned down Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol for bit players, rookies, and picks.


The Magic fans suffered through last year’s abysmal 29-53 record and the new Amway Center was relatively empty. The Magic saw sales go down at the gate and saw profits go down across the board. For the first time in years the Magic had no presence in the public … there was no one on the team willing or able to be the face of the franchise.


That may be true now too but only in the sense that no one player on the team is ready to take that responsibility. New GM Andy McCutcheon is though.


His hiring was interesting a number of fronts. Firstly, the Magic needed a new direction in the front office and needed someone who could work-pardon the pun-some magic with the roster assembled by Hennigan. It was going to take someone willing to take risks and willing to make moves, even if they weren’t necessarily ones everyone liked.


McCutcheon, in his short time with Phoenix, proved that he could do that. From a business standpoint, McCutcheon was good for the Suns. He took them from a potential lottery team to a good playoff squad.


But McCutcheon, much like the roster he inherits, has baggage. The accusations of rape and his subsequent firing from his position in Phoenix tainted his image. Women’s rights groups across the nation have made McCutcheon their focus. His hiring in Orlando has caused local women’s rights groups to call for a boycott of all Magic games. More action from those groups should be expected as the season goes on.


The Magic knew this was going to happen and knew this was going to have ramifications for as long as McCutcheon held the post of GM. The Magic have wagered that McCutcheon’s brilliance in the front office with Phoenix wasn’t a fluke and that his brilliance will lead to wins in Orlando, wins this franchise desperately needs after what nearly everyone perceives as a loss in the Dwight Howard trade.


With McCutcheon, for better or worse, as the face of the franchise at the moment everything he does is magnified, analyzed, and overdramatized.
That’s what he signed up for when he took this job and he doesn’t seem to be shying away from that. Only on the job for two days, McCutcheon has made some significant moves.


In the span of a day he traded away Jameer Nelson, a team leader and one of the few leftovers from the Magic’s 2009 Finals run, to the Bucks for … Beno Udrih? It was a salary dump for the Magic as Nelson was due to make 8 million dollars this season and a similar amount next year. Udrih was unhappy in his role with the Bucks. He’ll likely be just as unhappy in Orlando

but at least it’s sunnier.


McCutcheon followed that up with a big deal to the Timberwolves. He traded Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Hedo Turkoglu, and the Magic’s 2014 1^st and 2^nd round pick for Andrei Kirinlenko, JJ Barea, Malcom Lee, and the Timberwolves 9^th overall 2013 1^st round pick.


Now, if you’re looking through the players and wondering what the point of this trade was for Orlando, you won’t find it as far as players are concerned. McCutcheon coolly sent Afflalo to the chilly north for a top ten pick in this year’s draft, which experts are calling just as good as last years.


Seeing Hedo leave again has to make Magic fans happier but seeing AK47, 10 million dollar contract included, arrive does temper that enthusiasm a bit. What exactly does McCutcheon plan to do now that he possesses the first overall pick and this one?


He’s trying to rebuild in one draft. He’s going all-in for this draft alone.


This is the type of move that can get you fired as a GM. It’s only been tried a few times in NBA history and the results are, as always, mixed. The Bulls attempted to do something similar to this in the 2004 draft by taking Ben Gordon third overall and then trading for Luol Deng, the seventh overall pick. Deng was picked by the Suns who sold him away for 3 million dollars and a second round pick.


Obviously, Minnesota made out much better here. They picked up a young wing player in Afflalo who is an instant starter, picked up Turkoglu on the cheap (he declined his player option and resigned with Orlando for 1.82 million dollars), took Al Harrington, and received the Magic’s unprotected 2014 first round pick which could easily be in the top five with the way this roster looks.


The Magic pretty much got bit players and a pick here. AK47 will likely assume the starting role and then be let go next offseason. JJ Barea is nice off the bench and that’s about it. Malcolm Lee may get waved because he doesn’t provide much of anything except defense.


There had been thoughts that the Magic would make a run at a few restricted free agents, notably Brandon Jennings, but McCutcheon doesn’t seem keen on that idea.


“I’m an admirer of Brandon Jennings and the way he plays his game, but I have no intention of offering a contract to him,” said McCutcheon. “The Bucks are going to match any offer made on him and that’s a fact in my mind.”


McCutcheon has made moves and shown he’s still just as bold, just as brash, as he was last season … the question is will this young GM guide the Magic into a future full of wins or more lottery picks?


Only time will tell and the clock is ticking.

[trekfan]

Re: Fate and Fortune: The Andy McCutcheon Story (NBA 2K13)



6-27-2013

Andy’s hands were still sweating. He rubbed them on his pants legs as he pace back and forth in the war room. His eyes looked at the clock. Three minutes until the draft. They were still at an impasse.


“Damn it, Andy, you have to pick Noel!” Gil’s fist slammed against the table.

“We can’t risk him getting away … he’s a future all-star big man!”


Andy ran his hand through his shortened hair. He had gotten it cut for the more humid summer weather in Orlando. “Muhammad is the best talent in this draft.”


“I understand that, but the kid is not a big man … think how many teams would kill for Noel.”


Andy shook his head and emphatically pointed at the scouting reports scattered about the warroom table. “Scouts love his physical tools, but mentally they think he’s another Demarcus Cousins … the kid just doesn’t seem all there. Those are character questions, Gil, and no one wants a knucklehead on their roster.”


Gil scoffed. “You’re going to take Muhammad and bet Noel falls to us at nine? You’re insane. There are teams aplenty who would kill for him before us. We have to take him.”


“I know we do, but not first overall!” Andy glanced at the clock, his heart pounding in his ears. “We have another minute before our pick is due to be in.”


“You’re the GM, not me,” Gil said angrily as he stood and poured himself a whiskey. “But you don’t ignore future big men.”


“And what if we pick an Oden over a Durant?”


Gil shot him a glare. “And what if we let a Dwight Howard slip?”


Both were entrenched. They had been for nearly two weeks now. “The Magic have picked two big men first overall before … both left this franchise in bad shape. I’m not going to make that mistake a third time.”


Gil set his drink down angrily. “You think Noel is gonna leave?”


“He’s a headcase, he might.”


“The kid is a good one … a little overwhelmed by everything but he’s a good one. Once he gets in a stable environment he’ll be fine.”


Andy bit his lip and picked up the phone. He had made his decision. “Muhammad,” he said quickly and hung up.


Gil stared at him and shook his head. “I hope you’re right.”


“If Noel doesn’t fall to us, we can pick up Zeller or McAdoo.”


“And what if they’re not there?”


“Poythress. This draft is deep, Gil … we’ll get an important piece of the future at the ninth spot.”


Gil sighed. “Next year’s doesn’t look nearly as good.”


“Agreed,” Andy said as his eyes locked onto the TV. “Our pick is in.”


Gil looked at it and smirked. “Feels good.”


“Muhammad will be good for us.”


“I don’t doubt that,” Gil said as he sipped his glass.


They remained silent as they waited for their next pick.


While they waited, Andy fielded calls for it. He listened but didn’t budge … he wasn’t convinced by any of the offers he heard.


Gil’s eyes were intently focused on the TV.


Noel kept sliding down the draft board.


The calls from the teams under them grew more frequent. The offers more outstanding.


Andy was smiling as he watched their turn come up.


Gil finished his glass of whiskey and shook his head. “Insanity.”


Andy winked at him. “It’s because we’re that good.”


“What spell did you cast on the other GMs?”


“The same one the Lakers do to make themselves better while screwing everyone else,” Andy said with a chuckle as Gil shot him a look.


He picked up the phone and said, “Noel.”


Their pick was in.


Their future was set.


Muhammad and Noel.


Andy couldn’t wait to see them work together.

[K.So]

Re: Fate and Fortune: The Andy McCutcheon Story (NBA 2K13)

6-27-2013

Andy’s hands were still sweating. He rubbed them on his pants legs as he pace back and forth in the war room. His eyes looked at the clock. Three minutes until the draft. They were still at an impasse.


“Damn it, Andy, you have to pick Noel!” Gil’s fist slammed against the table.

“We can’t risk him getting away … he’s a future all-star big man!”


Andy ran his hand through his shortened hair. He had gotten it cut for the more humid summer weather in Orlando. “Muhammad is the best talent in this draft.”


“I understand that, but the kid is not a big man … think how many teams would kill for Noel.”


Andy shook his head and emphatically pointed at the scouting reports scattered about the warroom table. “Scouts love his physical tools, but mentally they think he’s another Demarcus Cousins … the kid just doesn’t seem all there. Those are character questions, Gil, and no one wants a knucklehead on their roster.”


Gil scoffed. “You’re going to take Muhammad and bet Noel falls to us at nine? You’re insane. There are teams aplenty who would kill for him before us. We have to take him.”


“I know we do, but not first overall!” Andy glanced at the clock, his heart pounding in his ears. “We have another minute before our pick is due to be in.”


“You’re the GM, not me,” Gil said angrily as he stood and poured himself a whiskey. “But you don’t ignore future big men.”


“And what if we pick an Oden over a Durant?”


Gil shot him a glare. “And what if we let a Dwight Howard slip?”


Both were entrenched. They had been for nearly two weeks now. “The Magic have picked two big men first overall before … both left this franchise in bad shape. I’m not going to make that mistake a third time.”


Gil set his drink down angrily. “You think Noel is gonna leave?”


“He’s a headcase, he might.”


“The kid is a good one … a little overwhelmed by everything but he’s a good one. Once he gets in a stable environment he’ll be fine.”


Andy bit his lip and picked up the phone. He had made his decision. “Muhammad,” he said quickly and hung up.


Gil stared at him and shook his head. “I hope you’re right.”


“If Noel doesn’t fall to us, we can pick up Zeller or McAdoo.”


“And what if they’re not there?”


“Poythress. This draft is deep, Gil … we’ll get an important piece of the future at the ninth spot.”


Gil sighed. “Next year’s doesn’t look nearly as good.”


“Agreed,” Andy said as his eyes locked onto the TV. “Our pick is in.”


Gil looked at it and smirked. “Feels good.”


“Muhammad will be good for us.”


“I don’t doubt that,” Gil said as he sipped his glass.


They remained silent as they waited for their next pick.


While they waited, Andy fielded calls for it. He listened but didn’t budge … he wasn’t convinced by any of the offers he heard.


Gil’s eyes were intently focused on the TV.


Noel kept sliding down the draft board.


The calls from the teams under them grew more frequent. The offers more outstanding.


Andy was smiling as he watched their turn come up.


Gil finished his glass of whiskey and shook his head. “Insanity.”


Andy winked at him. “It’s because we’re that good.”


“What spell did you cast on the other GMs?”


“The same one the Lakers do to make themselves better while screwing everyone else,” Andy said with a chuckle as Gil shot him a look.


He picked up the phone and said, “Noel.”


Their pick was in.


Their future was set.


Muhammad and Noel.


Andy couldn’t wait to see them work together.

Amazing. Noel and Muhammad. Wow. You've been hoping for that since the season completed, did you plan it or are you a sorcerer like McCoutcheon? LOL. Nicely done.

Also, what's your ratio of association games simmed to games played? I don't want to post 82 media articles, write all the ESPN, Twitter stuff from around the league and make 82 box scores. I have school!

[trekfan]

Re: Fate and Fortune: The Andy McCutcheon Story (NBA 2K13)

Amazing. Noel and Muhammad. Wow. You've been hoping for that since the season completed, did you plan it or are you a sorcerer like McCoutcheon? LOL. Nicely done.

Also, what's your ratio of association games simmed to games played? I don't want to post 82 media articles, write all the ESPN, Twitter stuff from around the league and make 82 box scores. I have school!

Dude, I was planning Muhammad but not Noel ... I figure he'd get taken long before I got there but teams passed him up, and up, and up for (in my opinion) less talent. I'm not sure why except that his primary position in the game PF and the game has a ton of decent ones in there but ... hey, I ain't complaining. I wish I could fault the CPU but it drafted on need I guess. I was planning on taking Zeller or one of the talented SFs, but I got Noel ... I did do a little jig, lol.

As for what I play-I usually do about a third of the Association's games. So, for an 82 game season, I play between 27-29 games a season.

That averages out to about 4-5 "Key games" a month as I like to call them. Key games are ones that I'll play and usually they're against division opponents (the top 2-3), important conference opponents, and interesting out of conference opponents in that order of importance. To secure the best playoff spot possible, you want to put those division and conference opponents ahead in the pecking order.

With you playing a third of the games and then simming the other 2/3rds it allows for more balance (because no matter how good the sliders are, we are humans and we can figure out the computer and dominate). It also allows for you to really GM the team and mircomanage if you like that or just sim in chunks, posting recaps and interesting articles of things that happen during the simmed period.

The thing to remember about NBA seasons is that not every game is important and thusly not every game deserves a recap. I only recapped the important ones, referenced some, and largely didn't mention the others. I like to focus on my team and the things that matter to it in my franchises, so what's happening with the Lakers is inconsequential to me as the Magic unless I'm playing them soon.

I usually play every playoff game but in certain situations (where storyline reasons demand it or game reasons demand it) I just sim them. I did that for the Phoenix playoffs because I needed to "get fired" and join the Magic when the playoffs started, so I simmed and watched Phoenix beat the Spurs (FU spurs) and then lose to the Clippers (expected). If the Magic make the playoffs this year I'll play it but I seriously, seriously doubt we'll make the playoffs ... our roster is young, raw, and just not polished enough for that.

And that's about it. Any more questions? I'm happy to help.

[trekfan]

Re: Fate and Fortune: The Andy McCutcheon Story (NBA 2K13)

RETIREMENTS

Jason Kidd


Jason Terry


Jerry Stackhouse


Andre Miller


Anthony Carter


Marcus Camby


Grant Hill


Antwan Jamison

[AdamMorrisonHOF]

Re: Fate and Fortune: The Andy McCutcheon Story (NBA 2K13)

I've been reading stuff on OS for a few years now and this is one of my favorites. I'm really enjoying this. The whole plot going on behind the actual basketball decisions makes it pretty fascinating. I think I might actually do something in a similar dramatic style. It's definitely more engaging and interesting. Keep it up!

[trekfan]

Re: Fate and Fortune: The Andy McCutcheon Story (NBA 2K13)

I've been reading stuff on OS for a few years now and this is one of my favorites. I'm really enjoying this. The whole plot going on behind the actual basketball decisions makes it pretty fascinating. I think I might actually do something in a similar dramatic style. It's definitely more engaging and interesting. Keep it up!

Thanks man! The NBA is unique in that the off the court stories are just as engaging as the on the court stuff, in my opinion, and so any dynasty can benefit from a mixture of both. I look forward to seeing what you roll out if you decide to try this style out, I love a good 'chise

[AdamMorrisonHOF]

Re: Fate and Fortune: The Andy McCutcheon Story (NBA 2K13)

Thanks man! The NBA is unique in that the off the court stories are just as engaging as the on the court stuff, in my opinion, and so any dynasty can benefit from a mixture of both. I look forward to seeing what you roll out if you decide to try this style out, I love a good 'chise

No problem dude. Right now I'm just deciding whether it'd be more fun to see things from the vantage point of a player, a GM, or even a coach (I could let the computer make all the front office moves...the results would be hilarious I'm sure).

BTW, congrats on Muhammad and Noel...I'd be surprised that Noel dropped to you if I hadn't done 100s of seasons of simming in the 2k series haha. Interested to see where the story goes next.

[plumplylumpkin]

Re: Fate and Fortune: The Andy McCutcheon Story (NBA 2K13)

Keep it up! Definitely a follow here . I had a good read thanks!
Great story off the court.

[trekfan]

Re: Fate and Fortune: The Andy McCutcheon Story (NBA 2K13)

No problem dude. Right now I'm just deciding whether it'd be more fun to see things from the vantage point of a player, a GM, or even a coach (I could let the computer make all the front office moves...the results would be hilarious I'm sure).

BTW, congrats on Muhammad and Noel...I'd be surprised that Noel dropped to you if I hadn't done 100s of seasons of simming in the 2k series haha. Interested to see where the story goes next.

Thanks, dude! The story has got some turns coming ... the league made some interesting moves in the offseason and Andy's got some things to deal with (by far this is the rawest team of talent I've ever assembled in 2K).

Keep it up! Definitely a follow here . I had a good read thanks!
Great story off the court.

Thanks! Stay tuned for more

[trekfan]

Re: Fate and Fortune: The Andy McCutcheon Story (NBA 2K13)



COMMENTARY


2013 NBA Draft: Winners and Losers


Hector Young

June 29, 2013



The 2013 NBA draft is behind us and with it goes a draft that GMs for years to come will appreciate or regret, depending on whether this draft let them keep a job, got them one, or got them fired. Some GMs will never be fired but, as we all know, a draft can make or break a team. Here are eight teams whom this draft may have made or broken.


WINNERS:

1. The Orlando Magic – You knew this was going to happen, right? Right. As blatant a homer pick it may be, the Magic came out the clear winners of this draft. Drafting the explosive Shabazz Muhammad first overall was enough to get them into the winner column. Seeing GM Andy McCutcheon not trade this pick away (as some believed he would) sent sighs of relief throughout the Magic fanbase.

But McCutcheon had gone all in on this draft a few weeks earlier by trading the team’s best player, Arron Afflalo, for Minnesota’s ninth overall selection. They had seven picks and seven teams standing between them and whomever they had targeted next.

Stupid luck or stupid teams gifted the Magic Nerlens Noel, who was reportedly very unhappy with the other teams that passed him up to the point that he nearly left the building (I kid you not). He was convinced by his fellow Kentucky teammates at the draft and his family to stick it out. When the Magic called his name, the smile was quite genuine on his face.

The Magic also cleaned up with their first overall pick in the second round, taking center Alex Len. Len was projected to go in the middle of the first round earlier in the season but a poor showing in the NCAA tournament for the Maryland big man hurt his draft stock significantly. The Magic picked him up at the beginning of the second round. Len was a big value pick and could be a starter for the Magic in the future.

2. The Phoenix Suns – The Suns, former team of GM Andy McCutcheon, made the other splashy GM hire this offseason, one that didn’t quite get the headlines the Magic did but still got some serious press. In response to the entire McCutcheon situation, owner Robert Sarver named his longtime personal assistant Veronica Sellers to the position of GM. Barely 25, Sellers is a virtual unknown to the NBA but she’s no slouch in the business world.

She is, essentially, a borderline business genius. She graduated from high school in two years, did her undergrad and masters in three years, and has spent the time since by Robert Sarver’s side.

Sarver has appointed a very determined, ambitious, businesswoman GM of the team. Suns fans were naturally worried that the team would spend even less than before with a Sarver lackey as GM, but Miss Sellers surprised many by keeping the Suns team largely intact.

She also drafted quite well. With their late first round pick from the Lakers getting Steve Nash, she took SF James McAdoo from North Carolina. McAdoo slid deep into the first round, as did most SFs in the draft, and landed with a team that will have instant use for him. McAdoo could easily win the starter job from Jared Dudley this year if he performs well in camp.

She also snagged Kenny Boyton, the combo-guard from Florida, late in the second round. Boyton suffered his share of injuries this past year and his performance in the big dance was nonexistent. Boyton lands in the perfect place for players with injury issues and guys looking to prove something.

Phoenix, with only two picks in the draft, made their team better this year and in the future. Not bad for the first female GM in the NBA, huh?

3. The Portland Trail Blazers – Portland worked another draft very efficiently. That seems to be the team’s calling card. Portland drafted fourth overall and wanted Archie Goodwin, from Kentucky. They got their man. Goodwin is a raw, but promising talent at SG.

The Blazers then went and addressed its lack of big man depth. Using two early second round picks, the Blazers picked up Gorgui Deng from Louisville and Dewayne Dedmon from USC. Both players look to become a contributor in a big man rotation that also included Myers Leonard.

Considering Portland’s injury history with big men, perhaps having a stable full of them is a good idea. At the very least both big men were value picks and should contribute at some point this season.

4. The Boston Celtics – Don’t count Boston out this year. Last year, the first year post Ray Allen, Boston struggled to find a consistent offense. Rondo missed nearly 20 games with injury as the aging Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett struggled to carry the load down the stretch. As a result, Boston missed out on the playoffs for the first time in years.

But don’t think that made Danny Ainge panic. He played the hand that was dealt to him and drafted intriguing, if somewhat raw, Rudy Gobert from France. He fell to Boston at the 14^th pick and the Celtics pounced on him.

Fab Melo hardly contributed at all last year and the Celtics look like they might have reached on him. Gobert is not as raw as Fab, but he’s close. Still, his upside is tremendous and learning from the two hall of famers on that team should make his potential that much better.

Boston similarly took another intriguing prospect at PF in Augusto Lima from Brazil. Lima, offensively, is one of the better PF prospects from this draft. Defensively he struggles. If any team can take a defensive liability like Lima and mold him to be at least average, that team is the Boston Celtics.


LOSERS:

1. The Charlotte Bobcats – They passed on Nerlens Noel. Need I say more? The Bobcats were, perhaps, the one team in the top ten who could not afford to pass on the outstanding talent from Kentucky. Sure, Noel is about as creative offensively as Carrot Top is with his jokes (how is he still relevant anyway?). Sure, Noel is a bit of a headcase, and his maturity level is questionable.

But he is still a top five talent. Easily a top ten talent.

And the Bobcats passed on him.

Not only did they pass on him, they also passed on Cody Zeller (who went to the Kings interestingly enough) and the aforementioned Rudy Gobert.

The hiring of Rich Cho, supposed up and coming GM who got shafted by the Blazers in 2011, was supposed to make the franchise … you know … better. Instead, in his short time as GM, Cho has signed and traded for players that few other teams want, and then with the eighth overall pick in a deep draft he took …

Sean Kilpatrick from Cincinnati.

Bobcats fans (are there any?) collectively sighed. Kilpatrick was a darling in the big dance, getting Cincinnati all the way to the Final Four before fizzling out. He was obviously going in the first round but eighth overall? Eighth?
Considering that Kilpatrick is only 6’4” and has an eerily similar play style to one Ben Gordon (known also as Benny the Albatross), this pick smells like a reach. This pick reminds me a lot of the Jimmer pick the Kings made (and Charlotte helped facilitate … karma? Perhaps).

The Bobcats have been panned across the board by draft critics. Time will tell if they really blew it but it looks like the really blew it, which is exactly why they get the number one spot here.

2. The Dallas Mavericks – Dallas had a horrible year last season and they landed the seventh overall pick in this draft. They too passed on Nerlens Noel, Cody Zeller, and Rudy Gobert for … wait for it, this is good …

Ray McCallum from Detroit.

Admittedly, the name sounds amazing when you say it. Almost has an Axel Foley feel to it.

But that’s about the best thing you can say about this pick. Dallas, admittedly, had a clogged front court with Dirk, Brandon Wright, and Ekpe Udoh. Mark Cuban has cap space and looks to make a run at Dwight Howard in free agency (who has, unsurprisingly, still not decided if he will or won’t resign with the Lakers).

Is that any reason to pass on future big men for the soon to be approaching post-Dirk era?

Not really. Considering that Dallas also locked up Daren Collison for four years and 29 million dollars, committing to him as their guard of the future, you’d think grabbing a young point man would be towards the bottom of their list.

But Cuban, as always, is supremely confident that McCallum is the right pick for his team.

Let’s hope that confidence can guarantee wins.

3. The Los Angeles Clippers – It’s hard to make the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history and then watch the all world point guard who led you there enter free agency. Maybe that’s why the Clippers went back to … well … being the Clippers.

With the 25^th overall pick in this draft, the Clippers needed to be smart about who they took. There was still plenty of great small forward talent on the board, a position the Clippers needed a youth infusion in.

Instead, they took Nate Wolters from South Dakota State.

If you need to look him up, don’t feel bad, most people do. Wolters plays point guard and it looks as if the Clippers are preparing for Paul to bolt. They know things we don’t, of course, but Wolters doesn’t look to have a high ceiling.

In fact, the kid might be living in a basement and may have no idea what the outside world looks like. Wolters is more a SG than he is a PG at 6’4” and his passing skills are questionable. It’s unclear where the Clippers intend to use him but, with so much talent left on the board at SF taking Wolters was a pick the Clippers could have used better.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers – Last year, the Cavs went and grabbed Dion Waiters, who played well in his rookie year. This year the Cavs made the playoffs for the first time since Lebron left town and even beat the Heat in one game at home, sending the crowd into a euphoria like they won the NBA championship.

The Cavs lost that series 4-1 and then watched the Heat lose to the Nets 4-2 in the next series. Cleveland seems to have worked through some of their Lebron demons and has been in a state of euphoria since then.

Maybe that’s why they took another PF with the 19^th overall pick when there were so many good SF prospects left on the board. SF is a position of need for Cleveland, but rather than fill it with another young blood, they stacked up on the PF position.

They took Patric Young from Florida.

Young is deserving of a first round pick, don’t get me wrong, but Cleveland already has a young big in Tristan Thompson who showed significant improvement last year. Why take Young if you have Thompson?

Perhaps Cleveland is taking a Rockets-like approach and acquiring assets for the future. Maybe they’ll make some big trade and justify that pick by including Young.

Still, it was a poor pick, especially with such good SF talent left on the board at 19^th overall, virtually untouched by other teams.

[trekfan]

Re: Fate and Fortune: The Andy McCutcheon Story (NBA 2K13)



7-3-2013

Andy stood up from the couch and extended his hand. “Shabazz, welcome.”
Shabazz Muhammad, all 6’6” of him, shook Andy’s hand and the two sat down. Andy was floored … Shabazz was just as impressive in person as he was on tape. Hell, he was more impressive.


“Are you excited?” Andy asked as he pulled some bottled water from the nearby mini-fridge.


Shabazz nodded. “I want to thank you for taking me, Mr. McCutcheon—”


Andy waved him off and handed him some water. “Call me, Andy … I’m not old enough to be called ‘Mister’ yet.”


Shabazz flashed a smirk at him. “I guess so … how old do you have to be?”


“I hope I never get that old,” Andy responded with a chuckle. He took a swig of the cold water. “I know you must have a lot of questions.”


Shabazz shook his head. “Not a lot … I just wanna know three things.”


Andy leaned forward. “Shoot.”


“Who’s gonna be our head coach?”


Andy sighed. The coaching search had been long and he wanted a coach in here before the week was out. He had narrowed down the candidates but he wasn’t sold on any of them long term. “I’m going to be honest with you … the current crop of coaches out there don’t scream ‘long term solution’ to me.”


Shabazz’s eyes widened. “And that means … what?”


“It means that I’m not convinced the right coach is out there for this team but I’ve entered preliminary talks with Kevin McHale.” Andy looked at him for a brief moment. He didn’t know if he should ask this question but he wanted to know. “What do you think?”


Shabazz looked at him in surprise. “My opinion?”


“I’m not going to promise you anything, Shabazz. I like knowing what other people think, especially the guys who are out on the floor. You guys play for the coach, you guys react to the moves we make up here in the office … I want to hear your thoughts. I won’t guarantee it’ll be the deciding factor in the end but it will matter in the decision process.”


Shabazz nodded. “Okay … okay, I can do that. Thanks.”


Andy smirked. “Don’t thank me, just tell me what you think.”


Shabazz shrugged. “McHale got fired last year … I don’t know much about him as a coach. I know he won some championships with Boston as a player and I know that he knows how to win as a player … but he got fired.”


“So did I. Does that mean I’m a horrible GM?” Andy asked with a chuckle. Shabazz looked like he wanted to apologize, but Andy waved him off. “McHale has rings. He has experience guiding young teams. The Rockets aren’t that young anymore and last season they were expected to make the playoffs. They didn’t and he got fired … the fact that his GM drafted about seventeen frontcourt players and little else doesn’t matter apparently. I’m not going to hold it against him … I think he’ll be good for this team. We’re young,” Andy said with a wink. “From top to bottom.”


Shabazz nodded. “All right … what about Noel?”


“Question number two?”


“Yeah.”


“Noel is your running mate. You’re a creator and he’s a defender, the two of you will be able to feed off one another. You guys know each other, right?”


“We know each other, yeah. We’ve seen each other a lot over the last two years, all the events and everything … he’s a cool guy. Kinda crazy sometimes but I like that … he hates losing more than me I think,” Shabazz joked.


Andy was relieved. It seemed that Shabazz and Nerlens got along well … he didn’t want the two to fight each other. “You guys are going to be the franchise cornerstones for us. I want you to build around you two and make this squad a consistent championship contender.”


Shabazz’s eyes lit up, a fire in them. “That’s my last question … are we building a playoff squad or a championship contender? I want to win. I want to win it all, Andy … I don’t want to be stuck on a playoff team for years. I love you guys for drafting me and for showing faith in me to make me that number one overall pick, I respect that, really … but I won’t wither away on a playoff team that doesn’t compete for titles. I want rings on my fingers and banners in the rafters.” Shabazz stared at him. “Do you?”


This kid was intense. The scouting reports had said he was like a friendlier Kobe … Andy could see why that comparison was made. He leaned forward. “I could feed you a line of a bull that playoff teams are the same as championship contenders but we both know that’s not the case. To win a title, you have to build a title team … a contender that can take the best shots from everyone else and keep winning. I want to assure you that I’m not going to settle for playoffs … we’re making a championship team and we’re going to be a contender. But you have to understand, it’s going to take time.”


“I understand that … I just want to make sure you know.”


Andy nodded, his mind drifting back to all those people who died in the tragedy in Phoenix. “I know. And we’re going to win championships.”


Shabazz nodded. “Okay … good.”


Andy smiled. “Good.”


The meeting was over.


The two had reached an agreement.


It was championships they were after. Anything less would be failure.


And they both hated failure.

[Tehbest13]

Re: Fate and Fortune: The Andy McCutcheon Story (NBA 2K13)

Great job so far! cant wait to read more

[trekfan]

Re: Fate and Fortune: The Andy McCutcheon Story (NBA 2K13)

Great job so far! cant wait to read more

Thanks man, appreciate it