Re: Through The Storm: A St. Louis Story
Which draft class are you using? How are the cpu ones?
Which draft class are you using? How are the cpu ones?
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Re: Through The Storm: A St. Louis Story
I'm using one generated by 2K and their ... okayish? This particular class was pretty top-heavy and was heavy on guards (particularly SGs), but I didn't find anything too outlandish in it -- overall, I project it to be a fairly average class, great at the top and bad the further down you go, which works for me.
It's definitely a flawed class, which I don't mind in the least considering how stacked with talent the 2016, 17, and 18 classes were.Comment
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Re: Through The Storm: A St. Louis Story
Heck of a party! Good for the fans and the community. I'm curious about what the rest of the league thinks about this, are they happy for St. Louis? Pissy?
Also, amazing to get such a good draft pick. That's really, really nice. Is the PG the team is targeting at #2 a franchise-type player, or just pretty good??The Bulgarian Brothers - a story of two brothers (Oggy and Dinko) as they coach in the NCAA and the NBA.
?Ask me about the Xbox Ally handheld - I'm on the team that made it.Comment
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Re: Through The Storm: A St. Louis Story
Bullard is very pro-ready -- he'll come out as a 78 overall (the top 3 guys in this draft class are between 75-79, then there's a dropoff, leaving mid-lottery guys between 73-70, before we get to the 69ers and below).
Bullard's good -- he could be a franchise guy, but he's got virtually no 3pt shot to speak of, a huge weakness in the modern NBA. He makes up for it with crafty passing and a superb mid-range game (a very throwback skillset) but, to really be a franchise-type guy, he's got to get that 3pt shot up -- I'll be sending him to camp to do that basically every year he's on his rookie deal and we'll see where he come up, but I definitely feel he's a big piece of the future if he can improve that; which I think he can.
All I need from him is a 10 PPG, 10 APG kinda guy and if he can get those numbers we'll be in good shape. I plan on starting him right away, so we'll see how he shapes up, but good lord is the division going to be BRUTAL this season.
I've done the draft and free agency has been very interesting -- the Spurs may have just positioned themselves for the title ...Comment
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Re: Through The Storm: A St. Louis Story
Okay, thank you so much for explaining that to me. I have just been scared to use them due to all the dislike and hate I see from people but with my expansion team I'm running out of classes, so I'm gonna try one. Just didn't understand the hate!Comment
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Re: Through The Storm: A St. Louis Story
2019 NBA Draft
1. Draft Day Trades
If you think the Wizards are done, you're right -- Washington is finished, at least with their core of Bradley Beal and John Wall. The Wizards, after missing the playoffs this year and being beaten in back-to-back years in the 1st round by the Celtics, are moving on. John Wall informed the Wizards that he would not be re-signing with them, causing a fire-sale to commence in Washington; one fans must find relieving and bittersweet all at once.
The Celtics, with draft picks to burn, sent Marcus Smart packing for the much more offensively polished Beal -- Beal will combine with the Celtics deadliest lineup, starring Thomas, Jae Crowder, Melo (at PF), and Jahill Okafor. With Beal aboard, and the Celtics bench well-stocked with young, NBA talent, Boston fans have to expect they'll finally be able to get past the second round and back to the ECF, if not the Finals.
For the Hornets, they simply traded away Enes Kanter after a miserable year for the franchise. The big buys of Avery Bradley, Kanter, and Julius Randle last summer were supposed to vault the Hornets into contender status; at the very least back into the playoffs.
Instead, Charlotte finished with an even worse record, was told by Kemba Walker that he wouldn't be coming back, and Walker's defection caused Batum to enter free agency as well; all that's left in Charlotte are the smoldering ashes of dreams lost, but Bradley and Randle remain, now joined by Wizards castoff Otto Porter, who's on a much more manageable deal than Kanter ever was and will help fill a team need at the three.
It didn't take the Thunder long to decide to move on from Cameron Payne. After signing his extension in the offseason, the Thunder limped into the playoffs as the 7th seed and were shellacked by the Flight in four easy games; the resulting loss has seen changes in OKC, notably with an eye towards balancing the roster out.
Payne's new address in Brooklyn shouldn't have him feeling too down, as he instantly becomes the Nets best PG since Jason Kidd (sorry Deron Williams, you don't count). Bogdanovic should find himself open for far more triples than ever before in OKC's Westbrook-centric offense, and the trade of Payne opens up the Thunder's salary cap to tinker around the edges, notably at their weakest position, SG. McCullough was a sneaky good get for OKC as well as he never found any consistent time with the Nets and could develop into a solid player for the Thunder and Billy Donovan.
The Draft:
The top of the draft wasn't filled with many surprises -- Frankie Gibson went 1st overall, instantly becoming a starter (and much needed floor-spacer) for the 76ers who now boast a starting five of Jrue Holiday, Gibson, Simmons, Saric, and Embiid.
At the second spot, the Flight took Daniel "Bulldog" Bullard, the Massachusetts point guard who's unflinching play through pain during the NIT has earned him a decent following; NBA scouts don't question his readiness as a pro so much as his lack of a three-point shot, but the Flight don't seem to be worried as league sources report they'll be tapping him immediately as the starter.
In the latter stages of the lottery, the Magic made the first reach of the night for Chester Booth. Booth, despite being projected as a late 1st rounder, was the last good center on the board -- Orlando was desperate for him, especially after Vucevic declared his free agency and promptly crossed Orlando off his potential destinations. Without their former starter, the Magic reached in a big way and continue to be stuck as a mediocre team, not good enough to be in the playoffs and not bad enough to get 1st overall.
After the lottery, the next biggest reach belonged to the Suns and Marion Hickson. Hickson was seen as a fringe 1st rounder at best by many scouts, but the Suns wanted him and weren't confident he'd be there for them at the end of the 1st round if they traded back. Phoenix reached here but Hickson projects as a very solid player, if given time to grow; seeing as how Phoenix doesn't seem to be going anywhere, it appears he'll have it.
The end of the 1st round saw teams scoop up what was left of the guards; the most intriguing prospect here would have to be Peter Stanley, selected by the Pelicans. Stanley's draft stock took a major hit after his medical records got out; multiple NBA teams advised not drafting him based off a worrying medical history (primarily with his knees) and a lack of durability over the last 18 months. The Pelicans aren't exactly known as a top-notch medical outfit, but if NOLA can keep him upright the Pelicans might be able to further help out Anthony Davis, who announced during the draft that he would be signing a contract extension with NOLA -- perhaps the best news any fan of New Orleans sports has ever heard.Last edited by trekfan; 01-15-2017, 09:55 PM.Comment
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Re: Through The Storm: A St. Louis Story
Yeah, the 2K draft classes were really bad in past years. I don't hate this one here, it's got some oddballs (but every draft class does) and it'll take a few years to really see if it breaks the league or not. I'm hopeful that 2K's figured it out and, if they haven't, I can always adjust the ratings/tendencies myself if scores start getting screwy.
I just don't have the time to create multiple 40+ draft class players so I'll rely on 2K to be, at least, average in draft class creation -- if they give me that, I'm fine.
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Re: Through The Storm: A St. Louis Story
Wow, Booth was a terrible pick! Orlando fans can't be happy about that.?The Bulgarian Brothers - a story of two brothers (Oggy and Dinko) as they coach in the NCAA and the NBA.
?Ask me about the Xbox Ally handheld - I'm on the team that made it.Comment
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Re: Through The Storm: A St. Louis Story
Yeah, Booth was a major reach -- Orlando's draft record is a bit spotty overall the last 4 drafts -- Valentine in 16 (not bad), Dennis Smith Jr in 17 (looks really good), Tony Brown (all-round SG who has had little playing time), and now Booth.
In the Magic's defense, Booth does have a potential of 81 with intangibles of 80, but I highly doubt he ever reaches that -- at least on his rookie deal anyway. As it stands right now, he's a raw prospect and shouldn't have been taken this high, but centers were such a shallow position this draft class the Magic had no choice but to bite.
Orlando has some tough decisions to make in free agency anyway (what to do with Mario Hezonja, who doesn't want to be in Orlando and might sign his RFA tender to be totally free next summer if he doesn't get an offer he likes).
I plan to revisit the 2016 draft class anyway, just to check in on their progress -- I was struggling last night myself to remember where the guys in the late 1st round went.Last edited by trekfan; 01-16-2017, 10:16 AM.Comment
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Re: Through The Storm: A St. Louis Story
Finally caught up...just my luck that on the one day I don't check the forums, you do mass updates...
1. CONGRATS!
2. I do like Brooklyn trading Bojan for Payne, but "as he instantly becomes the Nets best PG since Jason Kidd (sorry Deron Williams, you don't count)"...listen, Devin Harris was an All-Star in New Jersey LOL.
3. That Booth pick could be a reach, but maybe Orlando will luck out with that 81 potential.
4. What went into the pick of Cheaney at 32? Just BPA?
And I'm definitely looking forward to that re-visit of the 2016 Draft...very excited.Patiently waiting for a New York Jets title.Wish me luck.Comment
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Re: Through The Storm: A St. Louis Story
I forgot about Devin Harris -- man, that seems like a lifetime ago that he was A) that good and B) played PG -- he's kinda a swing/combo guard now.
So, it's Devin Harris, Payne, then Williams (or J-Lin?) post J-Kidd.
Ah, yes, Cheaney at 32 overall -- I liked his game. The weakest bench position I have is, in my opinion, at the two; Wright drives me mad with his games where he's hot or cold, and so I drafted Cheaney as a project of sorts -- I like his game, he's an inside scorer without much of an outside shot, so he projects as a Tony Allen-lite, which I'm totally fine with as a bench player.
Probably going to be making some cuts to my roster, parting with end of bench guys like Norman Claxton (great shooter, horrible at everything else), AJ Hammons (serviceable third-big but I'm looking for more), and maybe my sneaky "I thought this was a genius pick" PG LJ Warren, who has a super-high potential (of 89) but intangibles of 55 and is only a 67 after two/three years. He looks like a waste, but damn it all I think he'll make something of himself before long so we'll see I guess.Comment
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Re: Through The Storm: A St. Louis Story
Revisiting the 2016 NBA Draft
The 2016 NBA draft is now three years old and, as such, it’s time to look back on the class and see how it’s done — where it has been and, potentially, where it could go.
1. Ben Simmons
Taken by Philly after trading up with the Celtics (sending Jahill Okafor and extra 1st rounders packing), Simmons has been everything Philly has dreamed of, and more. Simmons took a big leap this past season, averaging 14.3 PPG with 10 RPG and 5.4 APG on 48% shooting, but only 27% from deep. Despite Simmons’ struggles from beyond the arc, the 76ers have made the playoffs the last two seasons and are among the league’s most intriguing teams.
2. Kris Dunn
Taken by the Bulls, Dunn instantly became Chicago’s starter at PG and hasn’t disappointed; in three years with him as the starter, the Bulls have made the playoffs the last two seasons — they have failed to advance past the 1st round, however, but that can’t be put on Dunn. Dunn put in work this past season, averaging 16.1 PPG with 3.6 RPG, 7.3 APG, 2.1 SPG, and 1.1 BPG on 44% shooting and a much improved 39% from deep. He’s the swiss army knife weapon that Chicago continues to have faith in and one that’s been much more dependable health-wise than former NBA-player Derrick Rose.
3. Brandon Ingram
The sweet shooting SF was taken by the Lakers and was immediately projected to be the next Kevin Durant; though Ingram hasn’t quite hit that mark (yet), he’s been an important piece in the Lakers ongoing quest to get back to the playoffs. Ingram had a good year last season, averaging 16.3 PPG with 7.5 RPG and 3.5 APG, along with 1.5 SPG and 1.5 BPG on 43% shooting and only 32% from deep, numbers that were well below his 2017-18 percentages. Despite that, the Lakers are hopeful he reaches his full potential sooner rather than later, especially as LA has only sniffed the playoffs the last two seasons.
4. Thon Maker
Taken by the then fledging St. Louis Flight, Maker and his franchise have both exceeded expectations. Maker has been remarkably consistent as an NBA player, his averages for all three years coming out near what he posted this season: 15.5 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2 APG, and 1.5 BPG, all on 44% shooting and 32% from deep. Maker has been an efficient, floor-stretching big for the Flight and he’s the key cog on their offense — and a key reason why they won the NBA Finals this past June.
5. Jaylen Brown
Brown, taken by the Kansas City Knights, hasn’t had nearly the career of any of the picks before him. Brown entered into a situation much like Maker did with St. Louis, as the go-to franchise pick for an expansion team. Brown’s limitations however — namely, his shooting — resulted in two seasons of sub-par stats before he was traded to Denver last summer, where his stats still didn’t improve. Brown posted 7.4 PPG, 6 RPG, 4.2 APG, and 1.1 SPG on an abysmal 38% shooting and only 28% from the field this past season. Brown’s numbers are bench player numbers, but he’s been averaging over 32 MPG since he came into the league. The Nuggets are hopeful that a full year within HC’s Jason Kidd’s system, along with another offseason of training, can get his numbers up, but Brown leads the 2016 Draft Class Bust pool by a wide margin.
6. Buddy Hield
Taken by the Celtics with a pick involved in the 76ers trade, Hield hasn’t been the second-coming of Ray Allen, but he certainly hasn’t been devoid of value. Hield has been a good sixth-man for the Celtics and, as the oldest player of the 2016 draft class, came in and immediately made a difference. His first two year’s in the league he averaged 13.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 3.5 APG on 45% shooting, 39% from deep — but this past year he only played in 40 games, missing the last two months of the regular season and the playoffs with a fractured leg. Boston hasn’t rushed him back and, arguably, made his life easier with the recent trade for Bradley Beal, but Hield hasn’t been as transformative a pick as one would expect at 6th overall and some in Boston hold that against him.
7. Dragan Bender
Taken by the Suns and seen as a true stretch-4, Bender has been eased into the league with Phoenix — in his first year he played a scant 20 minutes a night, 25 in his next year, and he was given a full 28 this season, posting career best numbers: 11.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, and 1.5 BPG on 43% shooting and 34% from deep. Bender’s steady progress mirrors that of the Suns and, with Phoenix now employing David Blatt — recently fired from the Knights after leading them to a 33-49 record — Bender will have to get used to a whole new system as the Suns look to make the leap back into the playoffs.
8. Marquese Chriss
The springy PF from Washington was taken by the T’Wolves to be the ultimate compliment to KAT; instead, Chriss has found himself in Thibbs’ doghouse more than once. Starting out as a super-sub, Minney tried Chriss this past season as a full-time PF but he only managed to play in 34 games this season, missing most everything between mid-November to early-March; Chriss did comeback and help the T’Wolves make the playoffs for the first time since 2004. But what Minnesota doesn’t know is if Chriss is the answer at the four; he averaged only 23 MPG with 6.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 1.5 BPG on 51% shooting and only 20% from deep, numbers that give one hope, but not much of it.
9. Jamal Murray
Drafted by the Pelicans, Murray arrived as an instant starter with NOLA and a perfect compliment to Anthony Davis; in his three years there, his averages have gone up each time and this past season was his best of all with 18.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, and 1.5 SPG on 47% shooting and 43% from deep. With averages like that he’s one of the league’s premier marksman and his play has helped NOLA secure the long-term contract extension of Davis, along with playoff success the last three seasons.
10. Juan Hermangomez
Tenth overall, the Nuggets selected Juan Hermangomez and the young player hasn’t found his way to be an effective piece in the NBA at this point. He was glued to the pine his first year, getting no playing time at all and in 17-18 he found his way into only two games, putting up numbers that aren’t worth the effort to type. Last season he saw significant action off the bench as a role player, averaging 14.7 MPG and only gave 3.5 PPG and 4.4 RPG on an ugly 33% from the field, 22% from deep. Head coach Jason Kidd believes Hermangomez still has room for development and, at only 23, that’s very likely —it just depends on how long Denver is willing to wait.
11. Caris LeVert
The Kings took LeVert 11th overall, a shooter with a checkered injury history and many hailed it as yet another “KANGZ” move, one with limited upside and long-term infamy. Instead, LeVert has ably showed himself to be what he was billed as — a guard with a sweet stroke. LeVert came in and instantly became a valuable sixth-man off the bench for the Kings, a role he was still in last season when he put up averages of 24.5 MPG, 7.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.2 APG, and 1.5 BPG on 44% from the field and 35% from deep. It was likely those numbers would have gone up if he played more than 24 games last season, but an early back-injury during the season sunk any chance for LeVert to make a real difference for the Kings and he didn’t return to the lineup till early March — Sacramento was well-out of the playoff race by that point. LeVert’s growth into a full-time starter is a storyline to watch in Sactown as, finally, they might be able to do something right.
12. Domatas Sabonis
The Raptors took Sabonis to be their starter at the four, someone who could stretch the floor for the Raptors dual-threat backcourt of Lowry and DeRozan; instead, Sabonis has been a bit injury riddled and his play has been less than spectacular. He entered the league as a solid role player, helping the Raptors get to the playoffs in 2016-17, but he hasn’t taken the leap. He played in 60 games last year and averaged 10.3 PPG, 9.9 RPG, and 1.5 APG on an unsightly 39% shooting and 29% from deep; his numbers indicate that he should stay away from the deep shot and keep it inside, but the paint is already heavily occupied … Sabonis isn’t a bad player, but he’s certainly not developed as Toronto has hoped.
13. Wade Baldwin
The Bucks have been looking for a point guard for years it seems and their search in 2016 led them to Wade Baldwin, who got his first significant run last season as a sixth-man off the bench; he didn’t disappoint, though he certainly has room for improvement. Clocking in with 23.4 MPG, 9.3 PPG, 2.2 RPG, and 5.3 APG on 40% shooting, 34% from deep, Baldwin is a bit of a wildcard; much like the rest of the Bucks, he has a unique skillset for his position and HC Pau Gasol made the most of it last season, allowing him to flourish off the bench, which helped lead the Bucks to their first playoff appearance since Brandon Jennings was their star guard. Expect Baldwin’s numbers to improve as he assumes the starting role at PG this season.
14. Denzel Valentine
The Magic have seemingly been trying to move on from Dwight Howard for almost a decade now and their journey in 2016 started with Denzel Valentine, another SF on a roster that became stocked with them. Valentine, however, finally won the starting job last season and showed the Magic that good things do come to those who wait: with averages of 16 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.6 APG on 47% shooting and 44% from three, Valentine was a great compliment to PG Dennis Smith and PF Aaron Gordon; Valentine’s blossoming does make other decisions the Magic face harder, but they have a player that has steadily shown improvement every year and, once could make the case, should have been drafted sooner.
15. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot
When the Hawks took Cabarrot, they knew they had a project on their hands — blessed with great athleticism, Cabarrot was raw in multiple other places and was still incomplete as a basketball player; three years later, Cabarrot hasn’t show much — over an 11 game stretch last season he was brought off the deep bench and got some playing time, averaging 14.1 MPG with 6.1 PPG, 1.9 RPG, and 1.8 APG on 49% from the field and 50% from deep — numbers that project well, albeit on a very small sample size. But Cabarrot is expected to be, at best, a role player this season and the Hawks may very well move on from him if he doesn’t show more that that, especially considering how close they came to nabbing a playoff spot last year with a 40-42 record.
16. Paul Zipser
Taken by the Suns, Zipser was released last summer by Phoenix after two lackluster years and little production; the German product landed with the Pacers and promptly became glued to the bench as a developmental project for Indiana. He’s helped neither team do much of anything and despite his god-given shooting abilities, doesn’t seem to possess the intangibles necessary to make it in the NBA — he very well could find himself out of the league in the next few years if he’s not careful.
17. Taureen Prince
Taken by Denver and given little playing time, Prince was shipped off along with Jusuf Nurkic to the Knights for Jaylen Brown; the result was more playing time (on a worse team) but with the increased minutes Prince finally displayed that “glue guy” ability that so many teams covet. He averaged 25.4 MPG, 6.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 1.2 APG on 42% shooting and 32% from deep. His numbers aren’t eye-opening but they’re indicative a player who could become more if given the chance to develop. Considering the Knights now employ a new head coach in Kevin Garnett, one of the last generation’s great leaders, it’s possible Prince hits his ceiling … or, like Jaylen Brown before him, he might wither away.
18. Deyonta Davis
The PF from Michigan State has had plenty of time to marinate on Boston’s bench, seeing only a smattering of playing time in his three years in the league — until last season, when he ascended into a role player and was given 18.5 MPG to do something. The results were as follows: 4.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 1 BPG on 42% shooting. It wasn’t reassuring, especially for a player the Celtics want to man the PF spot in the future, but Davis hasn’t been given up on and his numbers project better than they look, assuming he continues improving. For a Celtics squad that is all-in on their title hopes this season, Davis play off the bench could be key in Boston obtaining their next title.
19. Patrick McCaw
Taken by Memphis, McCaw was drafted for his youth for a team that was long in the tooth. McCaw was promoted to a full-time starter last season and put up underwhelming numbers: 8.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, and 1.7 SPG on 39% shooting and 32% from deep. Despite ample playing time the last two years, McCaw seems to be approaching his ceiling and it isn’t as high as the Grizzlies would like. As McCaw enters the final year of his rookie deal, it’ll be interesting to see if Memphis keeps him or moves on.
20. D Murray
Taken by Detroit to eventually succeed Reggie Jackson, Murray has developed into a capable role player: averaging 19.6 MPG with 5.9 PPG, 1.8 RPG, and 4.2 APG on 43% from the field and 33% from deep, Murray has been a steady hand for Stan Van Gundy off the bench; but his time as merely a role player may soon come to an end as the Pistons look to get back into playoffs, a place they’ve missed by mere games the last two seasons in a very competitive East. With Reggie Jackson entering the final year of his deal, Murray may be trying out for next year’s starting job this upcoming season.
21. Tyler Ulis
Undersized but not underpowered, Tyler Ulis has been a sparkplug backup for the Denver Nuggets, presenting a very different look for the team off the bench. Ulis got his first run as a significant role player last year, averaging 19.7 MPG with 7.6 PPG and 3.7 APG on 39% shooting and 34% from deep. Though his shooting numbers could use a definite boost, Ulis appears to be an Isiah Thomas-lite off the bench, and has met the expectations of the Nuggets so far.
22. Jakob Poetl
When the Nets selected Poeltl 22nd overall, it was assumed that the big man from Utah would eventually succeed Brook Lopez; that assumption has proven correct. After splitting time with Lopez since entering the league, Poeltl got significant run as a semi-starter last year, averaging 27.8 MPG with 7.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 3.2 APG, and 1.7 BPG on a very efficient 51% from the field and 68% from the free throw line. Poeltl looks to be the successor to Lopez next season, barring injury, and the Nets feel he still has room to grow beside Derrick Favors in the frontcourt. The future looks bright for Poeltl and, similarly, it looks the same for Brooklyn — finally.
23. Skal Labissiere
When the Hawks selected Labissiere it was assumed he’d succeed Al Horford as the long-time franchise big man; instead, Horford was traded in 2017 and Labissiere was thrust into a larger role than any assumed he would be. He’s responded beautifully as the first big off the bench for the young Hawks, turning in a solid campaign last year with 25.9 MPG, 7.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 1.4 BPG on a paltry 36% from the field and 20% from deep. If Labissiere can refine the shots he takes and improve his numbers, the Hawks will likely have found a long-term replacement for Kenneth Faried at center and a perfect partner for their young stars in Harry Giles and Michael Porter.
24. Malik Beasley
For the Hornets, Beasly was a pick they selected to add bench depth and develop as a starter years down the line; instead, thanks to Charlotte’s losing ways over the last three years, Beasley has seen his minutes and his play fluctuate wildly. Last season he came off the bench as a sixth-man and put up so-so numbers; in 26.4 MPG, he averaged 7.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG, and 2.6 APG on a worrying 38% from the field and 33% from deep — much lower numbers than he posted the previous two seasons. It’s possible Beasley will bounce back from the worst season of his career, but if the Hornets dysfunction continues, his play may suffer more.
25. D. Emerson
Emerson was taken to develop into the next Jae Crowder for the Celtics, a glue-guy who can do a little bit of everything; Emerson, so far, looks to be on track for that. With a build between that of a SF or PF, Emerson spent time last season splitting time between those two positions and putting up decent numbers for a small-time role player: on 11.4 MPG he put up 3.5 PPG on 40% from the field and 38% from deep. Emerson will likely see more time this season as a key contributor on a loaded Celtics roster — his time to replace Jae Crowder will be sooner than later as Crowder himself will be a free agent next summer and is likely to leave Boston for much greener pastures.
26. Malik Richardson
The 76ers took Richardson towards the end of the draft and have used him sparingly so far, but Richardson did receive a significant bump in minutes last season, averaging 21.5 a game; with that he put up 6.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.7 APG, and 1.2 SPG on 40% from the field and 37% from deep. Richardson seems prime to ascend into the starter role, replacing the aging Eric Gordon, and with more minutes he should only get better.
27. Henry Ellenson
The Clippers took Ellenson as a backup big and Ellenson has developed into their best bench player, averaging 28.4 MPG last season in the Clippers injury filled year. With those minutes, he put in 7.1 PPG with 8.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, and 1.4 BPG on 45% shooting and 83% from the free throw line. As Blake Griffin and Chris Paul continue to get older, Ellenson will be looked upon to contribute more, but so far he’s played a key role for LA.
28. AJ Hammons
He was drafted by the Celtics but was released during training camps due to a series of team violations; Hammons signed with the Flight soon after — and has served as a decent big man off the deep bench. Though he doesn’t see consistent playing time, Hammons did contribute during a 49 game stretch last season as the Flight fought through injuries to get to playoffs — he only put up 3.3 PPG and 3.5 RPG on 10.4 MPG, however, and Hammons is slated to likely be cut during training camps if the Flight can secure the services of a better big man in free agency.
29. Isiah Whitehead
Whitehead was taken by the Raptors and was promptly stashed in D-League as Toronto struggled to make the playoffs in 2016. Whitehead only saw playing time this last season, averaging 20.1 MPG with 9.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 2.6 APG on 47% shooting and 39% from deep; with numbers like that, it’ll be no surprise if Toronto lets Corey Joseph, their previous backup, walk in free agency and push Whitehead into a leading role off the bench full-time.
30. Jake Layman
Taken by Phoenix, Layman got no playing time at all in the three years he was on the Suns roster, consistently passed over for minutes over and over again. Phoenix released him at the end of the season and Layman looks likely to be done as a player in the NBA; he might catch on in the D-League somewhere, but it’s unlikely he finds his way to being a productive bench player in the pros.
31. Georgios Papagiannis
The Spurs selected Papagiannis and, immediately, it was hailed as another “sneaky good Spurs pick.” San Antonio has had a rough time of it since Papa G’s drafting, missing the playoffs entirely last seasons due to a devastating injury to Kawhi Leonard early in the year; but Papa G was fully unleashed on the NBA last season and he didn’t disappoint. Averaging 25.3 MPG with 7.9 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.1 APG, and 1.3 BPG, on 51% shooting, Papa G looks to be the next great Spurs big man.
32. Damian Jones
The last pick in the first round of 2016, Jones was taken by the Warriors and was hardly seen for two years. He appeared in a big role last season as the first big off the bench and didn’t disappoint, despite the Warriors failing to win the title. Averaging 26.7 MPG, Jones put up 6.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG and 1.5 BPG on 50% shooting from the field and 63% from the line. As Golden State retools itself this summer, expect Jones to see more time next season as the likely starter at the five.Comment
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Re: Through The Storm: A St. Louis Story
2019 Retirements
Jersey Retirements:
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Re: Through The Storm: A St. Louis Story
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Big free agency update coming up this weekend -- been plotting this out for nearly two weeks to make it all work and I think I just about got it. I didn't make the life of the Flight that much easier, though ... things got *really* interesting in the Durant sweepstakes and he landed with a team I didn't expect (not St. Louis, I'm not horrible like that).
As always, thanks for keeping the faith, folks.
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