2020 Historical Draft Thread: Draft over. Playoffs coming soon!

[gouki88]

Michael Redd is a sneaky good pick. He was an excellent scorer in the early aughts that didn't get the national exposure he deserved.

I also like what he provides next to Curry. With another elite shooter on the wing teams can't afford to only focus on Curry. Seen this tactic work pretty darn well in Golden State with Klay.

[gouki88]

I need a shot creator from the wing spot, and who would have thought one of the best scorers in this draft would fall to me? With the eleventh pick of the 4th round, I pick one of the greatest Olympic basketball players of all time...



Carmelo Anthony!!!

Hell yeah. Highlighting Olympic Melo is a good call - I think that's how he'd play with other elite players. Great defenders around him too

[Somebody]

I need a shot creator from the wing spot, and who would have thought one of the best scorers in this draft would fall to me? With the eleventh pick of the 4th round, I pick one of the greatest Olympic basketball players of all time...



Carmelo Anthony!!!

Interesting pick. Advanced plus-minus doesn't love him much and neither does portability, but I do think that his team USA performances highlight the possibility of him transforming himself into a deadly "spot up isolation" scorer.

[Who]

Embiid was someone I was unsure about entering the draft. I was unsure how he would handle the matchups he'd face in this Historical League.

He is supremely gifted but his decision making is still a work in progress. He has struggled against good defensive big men that can hold their ground against him of which there will many in this fantasy league.

There is still a lot of immaturity in his offensive game. He doesn't work hard enough off the ball to establish deep position. Often catching the ball at 14-15 feet from the hoop instead of 10 feet as a result. Which often forces him into more contested difficult shots.

Even outside those situations, Embiid frequently settles for both difficult contested shots or long jump-shots instead of pounding home his main advantage down low. Then there is the decision making in the passing. Sometimes he wows you, others he annoys you by having tunnel vision (for his own offense).

Plus, he wants to take a lot of shots. Prove himself. Show his talent. Show that he can be the best player (scorer) on the court. Not sure how ready he would be take step back and accept a smaller role (how well he would do that). Even in a league like this where he is surrounded by great talents.

Skill level + physical talent is clearly there - among the most talented centers in this draft in terms of raw talent - but I question him mentally. His mental maturity.

I had a few makeshift team ideas with Embiid on them and I never felt fully comfortable about him - his role / his place - on those teams. I still feel that way. Unsure of him.

Of how well he'll do when defended against a guy like Alonzo Mourning or David Robinson. There is few easy matchups for Embiid in this league. It requires a more sophisticated / experienced attack. Superior decision making.

Wisdom and leadership. I don't think he has those things.

[nickagneta]

I'm not the biggest Melo fan, but playing alongside Timmy, Draymond and The Glove, he is a really good offensive tool and his Olympics runs demonstrate how well he can sacrifice his game and play alongside other stars.

High quality pick, IMO.

[Donoghus]

If you're getting Olympic Melo, you're fine.  It really shouldn't be a worry.

Also, you're surrounding him with guys like the Glove & Duncan.   He really shouldn't be an issue.  Its a solid pick for this point in the draft.

[action781]

At pick 4(12), the Utah Jazz select...

consummate teammate who can stretch the floor, defend, and is guy who was always best suited to play PF, but can play the 5 in pinches (especially if he doesn't have to defend Shaq!)...



Al Horford

Very unsure of the season as of now

[GreenFaith1819]

I've seen several youtube clips of Embiid's exceptional passing skills for a Big man - but don't want to post them here because it will give away players not drafted.

But feel free to check them out yourself.

Double Joel? He's kicking it out to Dirk or Hayward or Tony.

And that's not even counting my SG I'm looking at and my bench.

That's surprising, my evaluation of Embiid's passing is that his vision and decision making were problematic at times and is subpar overall.

Would you like me to post about a 4 min youtube clip that perfectly displays Embiid's passing ability?

It will give away a few players not drafted yet.

The bolded is simply not true.

This is why I tried to stay away from certain players with this draft - because of some biases Bloggers here have with some of our real life competition.

Joel Embiid - real life rivalries aside - is simply one of the best Bigs in this draft and will fit well with this team.

Or would you like me to post you videos and articles from people who've pored over hours of tape (instead of 4 minute YouTube videos, lol) criticising his passing?

Knock it off Somebody. It's stuff like what I deleted that causes drama.

I didn't instigate this stuff but sure, can't defend myself when someone insinuates that I have a bias against some of his players. It was my honest opinion and I stand by it.

I wouldn't call Embiid's passing exceptional but it is generally quite good.  When he gets into problems, it is more about him trying to force the issue and over dribbling. 
With the team Green Faith is assembling, that should be much less of an issue.

See - I can go with this analysis Tazz. TP.

At the end of the day - EVERYONE here is "blustering" their players somewhat. We ALL do it in this format.

I get it.

As I chose Embiid I also considered that his "current" real life team is basically imploding around him. Certain players that fit with him have left or been traded, which is sad.

Some players with him haven't developed quite yet.

In THIS format I believe Embiid's best will shine.

[Roy H.]

I’ve said it a dozen times, but I think Carmelo would be seen as only a step behind Lebron if he’d been drafted by the Pistons.  Developing in a team-oriented environment would have made him a different player.

[Who]

Love the Horford pick. Ideal glue guy. Can impact the game a lot without needing huge numbers of touches or shots.

[Somebody]

With the 13th pick in the fourth round, the Toronto Raptors select a franchise legend who has quietly strung together multiple All-NBA calibre seasons last decade:

Kyle Lowry

[gouki88]

Al and Shaq is a funky duo. Like it quite a bit

[Who]

Shaq always liked to have a physically robust defensively capable PF next to him. Help him out with the interior D and rebounding. Let Shaq save some of his energy for offense.

[bdm860]

I'm not the biggest Melo fan, but playing alongside Timmy, Draymond and The Glove, he is a really good offensive tool and his Olympics runs demonstrate how well he can sacrifice his game and play alongside other stars.

High quality pick, IMO.

Ya not a big Melo fan either, but I think Payton, Green, and Duncan are the perfect guys to keep him in line and get the most out of him.  Duncan will lead by example, while Payton and Green won't hesitate to call Melo out if he starts to go into business for himself.  I think the current Denver team has a great chance to get Olympic Melo.

[RPGenerate]

I'm not the biggest Melo fan, but playing alongside Timmy, Draymond and The Glove, he is a really good offensive tool and his Olympics runs demonstrate how well he can sacrifice his game and play alongside other stars.

High quality pick, IMO.

Ya not a big Melo fan either, but I think Payton, Green, and Duncan are the perfect guys to keep him in line and get the most out of him.  Duncan will lead by example, while Payton and Green won't hesitate to call Melo out if he starts to go into business for himself.  I think the current Denver team has a great chance to get Olympic Melo.

That's what I'm hoping for. I also think Melo played his best basketball when surrounded by great defenders (guys like Billups, Jason Kidd, *insert other guys I can't mention yet*)