I’m surprised to see Toronto listed as a candidate for best team, and I’m also a bit surprised to see fairly little love for San Antonio (in particular from one of Lebron’s #1 fans). Same with Minnesota, but I think a lot of folks explained they’re just down on Trae Young.
I agree with the praise for Milwaukee and Indiana.
I don't like Ingram and Jonas surrounding Lebron at all and am not really a fan of Jrue/Lebron either. Brown is the only guy starting that I think works well with Lebron and because of roster construction neither one is playing SF, which is just weird. I just don't like how that team was set up. The bench players I think actually work a lot better i.e. Seth Curry, Joe Harris, Robert Williams (and even Morris), that is such a talent downgrade you can't do that, which is why I really dislike that team. Like I really think the Spurs most effectively lineup would be Curry, Harris, Brown, James, and Williams. That lineup has much better spacing because they are all much better passers and shooters than their counterparts. Lebron just isn't good enough anymore to carry that lesser talented unit like he could in years past against the competition you see in a 12 team league.
That is interesting. I share many of the same questions / issues. I am still very high on San Antonio despite those issues but those issues do stop me from automatically putting them near the top.
Memphis and Milwaukee are the two teams that jump out at me as special at first blush.
Before this draft started I noted several players I did not like as finishing pieces on a team (4th/5th starters) -- and I actually ended up drafting one to finish my team despite this ... idiot that I am!
I forget who all of the players were but they were usually offensive wings/forwards that need shots/touches and do not provide much defense. Michael Porter Jr is the guy on my team I had on my do not draft list. Ingram and John Collins were two others. Not so much do not draft under any circumstances but beware the value is less than it appears and they are not easy fits on teams (while maintaining value).
In terms of Ingram next to LeBron, Ingram is still figuring out how to impact winning. He has loads of talent but he is still trying to figure out how to best use those talents to win games. He still cannot defend anyone. He needs a lot of touches and shots. I'm not sure how well he will play off of a heavy usage ball-dominant player. Ingram to me seems more like the type who needs to be in a more decentralized offense or have the offense run through him. He doesn't know how to fit next to people and can get lost (passive). He is not a natural off-ball player. He is an on-ball guy.
Jonas Valanciunas was a pick that surprised me. I had him as bench big in this. I thought Nick might take him early and use him as a 6th man behind a defensive big. I thought Jonas could be a wrecking ball in that role. Still, a good player.
I do not know what to say exactly about Jrue. I like it and I don't like it. I'm not sure how to put it. When I was doing a mock draft and trying to figure out where to value Jrue - he was a player that made me nervous. I thought he'd get overvalued and go to early and was dodgy value until late 3rd / early 4th. That said, I love the defensive fit of Jrue, Jaylen and LeBron.
I share Moranis concerns with Jrue's jumper. At times he is a very good shooter and he convinces completely but then he becomes merely adequate and for long stretches. Jrue's struggles with his jumper caused a lot of problems for IRL Milwaukee in the playoffs.
Overall, it is a team I really like. It is very strong.
LeBron will be very difficult to handle with three skilled perimeter threats next to him and a strong big man finisher like Jonas in the paint. Tough to matchup effectively against because of their speed & guard-type skills at the two forward slots and big powerful two way guards.
G: Jrue
G: Jaylen
F: Ingram
F: LeBron
C: Jonas
But it doesn't jump off the page as "best in class" the same way that Milwaukee or Memphis do for many of the reasons that Moranis mentioned.
That said, I'm not sure they are that far off either. That team is a load.