2023 CS Historic Draft Thread - Results in OP!

[smokeablount]

My favourite roster thus far is the one that stole the show in the 4th round picking up Bob Lanier and Blake Griffin adding them to two top picks early on with Tracy McGrady and David Thompson. That team is incredible.

I love B Griffin next to Lanier. A mobile athletic PF next to Lanier in the pivot. Two athletic wings. Impossible for the opposing team's defense to know where the attack is going to come from. Get all 3 of those guys moving off the ball off of Lanier's high post passing from the elbows. Beautiful.

Thanks Who. I always enjoy your commentary on players styles and fits, and I remember you won one of these recently with a Nash/Gasol team that inspired the offense of the team I’m trying to build.

[gouki88]

The problem with Lanier is he missed 20 games basically every eligible season except one when he was well past his prime.  He just couldn't stay on the court post-merger.

He was a big boy. Those joints took a battering! Whilst he did have health issues, the impact is worth the risk I reckon

[smokeablount]

Deleted

[gouki88]

My favourite roster thus far is the one that stole the show in the 4th round picking up Bob Lanier and Blake Griffin adding them to two top picks early on with Tracy McGrady and David Thompson. That team is incredible.

I love B Griffin next to Lanier. A mobile athletic PF next to Lanier in the pivot. Two athletic wings. Impossible for the opposing team's defense to know where the attack is going to come from. Get all 3 of those guys moving off the ball off of Lanier's high post passing from the elbows. Beautiful.

Thanks Who. I always enjoy your commentary on players styles and fits, and I remember you won one of these recently with a Nash/Gasol team that inspired the offense of the team I’m trying to build.

I remember that Who team. Durant, Nash & the Gasol brothers. Stockton & Sheed too. Incredible talent

[smokeablount]

The problem with Lanier is he missed 20 games basically every eligible season except one when he was well past his prime.  He just couldn't stay on the court post-merger.

Don’t worry, he played in the playoffs the year I picked and put up 28-17-2-1-2 on 63% shooting. And was healthy enough the next year to finish 10th in MVP voting.

Just some typical modern load management, all the way back in 76-77 

[Moranis]

The problem with Lanier is he missed 20 games basically every eligible season except one when he was well past his prime.  He just couldn't stay on the court post-merger.

He was a big boy. Those joints took a battering! Whilst he did have health issues, the impact is worth the risk I reckon

Maybe, but the 4th round for a guy that isn't going to play in 25% of the season seems a bit too high for me, especially when there are still healthy centers that put up incredible numbers available.  I mean if had Wilt-esque numbers, then sure, but I just don't think 25/11/3 is worth it when you miss every 4th game at this point of the draft.  All personal preference, but that is a lot of games missed.

[gouki88]

Team thread is updated, link is in OP

[Roy H.]

Nice job, Gouki.

[smokeablount]

Team thread is updated, link is in OP

Have another well deserved TP Gouk.

Going to check out the rosters after my wife goes to bed, possibly leave some comments.

[smokeablount]

Quick thoughts on the teams:

Bulls: I'm biased but I like my team, and my pick is in for 5.1 tomorrow.

OKC: This team is terrifying. Every player on it was on my list of targets.

Memphis: This team has a lot of offensive firepower, could be interesting.

Denver: Another great team by Who, this one with multiple 1st round grade players and great fit so far.

Clippers: This is a tough, gritty team. Interested to see who you add to provide offense off the bench.

Sacramento: This team stole Mark Price from all of us and broke all our hearts. Boo this team.

Magic: I love the current big 3 and Gouki has tons of middle round depth. If good guys drop then he could clean up in rounds 5 and 6.

Cleveland: That's a good list of binkies. Still good value on the picks too.

Toronto: Terrifying backcourt, and the first team to field a starting lineup, and it's nice. Curious to see who else joins the frontcourt beyond your starters,

Brooklyn: Great frontcourt talent. Really solid group of skilled, Blake Griffin-caliber players. Formidable.

Utah: Led by Grant Hill and Tony Parker, this team has a lot of potential. This is another team where I really want to see who else is added.

Kernewek: Making the most out of a less than desirable pick, I think you're building a competitive team and rounds 5-6 should be big for you with back to back picks. Should be really good talent there for your big 6.

[Moranis]

I have 1 guy standing above the rest this round, but do have a full llist so I hopefully won't be scrambling around like a crazy person at my pick time today.

I was bummed I didn't get Alvin or Price, but I think Cheeks will do really well in this league. Elite defender, great passer, played well with greats, a champion, HOFer, and I do think he'd easily have 3 point range today.

He retired as the all time leader in steals and is still 6th all time. He is 15th all time for assists. He has the 53rd best VORP in NBA history, 53rd in ORTG, 39th for AST%, and 85th in WS (99th for OWS and 92nd for DWS).  He played at a high level for a decade+ and is probably really underrated all time as he was often overshadowed by the true greats that he played with i.e. Dr. J, Moses, and Barkley.

[Who]

I love Mo Cheeks. He is still for me the example of what a prototypical PG is / what you want from your PG. Some guys say Stockton but I consider Stockton to be such a freak that you can't really emulate him. You can emulate Mo Cheeks.

Very good athlete. 6-2, strong, fast. Hard nosed defender. One of the toughest defensive PGs of his era & All-Time. Team first all the way. Executed the offense well. Ran the break well. Shared the ball constantly. Not the most creative passer but disciplined and about as unselfish a player as they come.

Only shot the ball when there was an opportunity for a rim attack or if his defender left him open and was daring him to shoot the long jump shot (18-20 foot in those days). I agree with Moranis, those 18-20 footers would be 3s today. But still a low volume reluctant three point shooter. Only when left open. Aggressive enough looking for those rim attacks. He would take it hard when he saw the opportunity.

Played well in a two PG backcourt (at PG or SG). Played well next to a small score first two guard. Played well next to a two SF wing combination in Doc and Bobby Jones. Played well next to a prototypical SG. He could function well alongside all types of alignments on the perimeter.

Often referred to as the real leader of that 1983 76ers Championship team. The guy who kept everyone else together and focused. Kept them playing the right way.

In today's game, I always thought Mike Conley was the player most similar to him. The mentality. The unselfishness. The competiveness on defense. The leadership. Conley shoots a bit more and is a better ball-handler / driver but very similar. Cheeks was stronger physically and even better on D. He was also better using that strength to finish at the rim on his drives.

Mo Cheeks did all the small things and did nothing but make others & his team better.

[Roy H.]

I have 1 guy standing above the rest this round, but do have a full llist so I hopefully won't be scrambling around like a crazy person at my pick time today.

I was bummed I didn't get Alvin or Price, but I think Cheeks will do really well in this league. Elite defender, great passer, played well with greats, a champion, HOFer, and I do think he'd easily have 3 point range today.

He retired as the all time leader in steals and is still 6th all time. He is 15th all time for assists. He has the 53rd best VORP in NBA history, 53rd in ORTG, 39th for AST%, and 85th in WS (99th for OWS and 92nd for DWS).  He played at a high level for a decade+ and is probably really underrated all time as he was often overshadowed by the true greats that he played with i.e. Dr. J, Moses, and Barkley.

I'm curious to see who that guy is. 

I don't want to start any controversy or drama by criticizing another team here.  I like all of your individual pieces, with the possible exception of Amare (who I think would have to have a very specific team constructed around him).

But, with your team, I'm curious about it's spacing.  Amare, Gasol, Dantley and Cheeks all played almost exclusively inside the arc.  How do you get around that?

[theswitch]

I have 1 guy standing above the rest this round, but do have a full llist so I hopefully won't be scrambling around like a crazy person at my pick time today.

I was bummed I didn't get Alvin or Price, but I think Cheeks will do really well in this league. Elite defender, great passer, played well with greats, a champion, HOFer, and I do think he'd easily have 3 point range today.

He retired as the all time leader in steals and is still 6th all time. He is 15th all time for assists. He has the 53rd best VORP in NBA history, 53rd in ORTG, 39th for AST%, and 85th in WS (99th for OWS and 92nd for DWS).  He played at a high level for a decade+ and is probably really underrated all time as he was often overshadowed by the true greats that he played with i.e. Dr. J, Moses, and Barkley.

I'm curious to see who that guy is. 

I don't want to start any controversy or drama by criticizing another team here.  I like all of your individual pieces, with the possible exception of Amare (who I think would have to have a very specific team constructed around him).

But, with your team, I'm curious about it's spacing.  Amare, Gasol, Dantley and Cheeks all played almost exclusively inside the arc.  How do you get around that?

There's still time to find some specialists to complement the forward scorers, but Amar'e was truly terrible defensively and my understanding of Dantley is more or less the same, so I'm hoping for a more defensive Swing type player (maybe a 3-D type to solve both problems) that can play with either Dantley or Amar'e and take the tougher challenge. There are a few of those defensive Swings out there which could work for that.

[celticinorlando]

I have three guys I would be very happy with today and at least one of them should fall my way.