2025 CsBlog Post-Draft: Voting, How?s my Team

[smokeablount]

Kicking off the post draft thread here for what typically goes on

Be sure and get me your selected seasons, depth charts, and minutes allotments

At least 9 players need to play 8+ minutes, or 10 players need to play 5+ minutes

Link to the team rosters thread:
https://forum.celticsstrong.com/index.php?topic=109542.msg3317664#msg3317664

[smokeablount]

2025 CelticsBlog 05-25 Fantasy Draft - Rosters

Moranis (Cavs) -

PG: Luka Doncic, Dyson Daniels
SG: Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, Kyle Korver
SF: Lebron James (MVP), Gerald Wallace
PF: Victor Wembanyama, Carmelo Anthony
C: Shaq (prior MVP), Joakim (DPOY), Myles Turner
13th man: Jim Jackson

CFF (Magic) -

PG: CP3, Fred VanVleet
SG: Ray Allen, OG Anunoby, Zach Lavine
SF: Paul Pierce, Gordon Hayward
PF: Chris Bosh, Serge Ibaka, David West
C: Tim Duncan (prior MVP), Andrew Bogut
13th man: Brian Scalabrine

Who (Knicks) -

PG: Steve Nash (MVP), Haliburton, Kyrie Irving
SG: Manu Ginobili, Joe Johnson
SF: Andre Iguodala, Khris Middleton, Ron Artest
PF: KG (prior MVP, DPOY), Jaren Jackson Jr (DPOY)
C: Joel Embiid (MVP), LaMarcus Aldridge
13th man: Bernard King

Jvalin (Pacers) -

PG: Damian Lillard, Derrick White, Jamal Murray
SG: Jalen Williams, Anthony Edwards
SF: Paul George, Mikal Bridges
PF: Jayson Tatum, Rasheed Wallace, Aaron Gordon
C: Nikola Jokic (MVP), Brook Lopez
13th man: Reggie Miller

Snively (Bulls) -

PG: Chauncey Billups, Deron Williams
SG: Kobe Bryant (MVP), Eric Gordon
SF: Jimmy Butler, Danny Granger, Danilo Gallinari
PF: Pau Gasol, Al Horford, Zion Williamson
C: Yao Ming, Tyson Chandler (DPOY)
13th man: Tacko Fall

Roy (Celtics) -

PG: Steph Curry (MVP), Jalen Brunson
SG: Jrue Holiday, Victor Oladipo, Bruce Bowen
SF: Hedo Turkoglu, Amen Thompson
PF: Giannis (MVP, DPOY), Elton Brand
C: Porzingis, DeAndre Jordan, Domantas Sabonis
13th man: Cooper Flagg

SAB (Thunder) -

PG: SGA 24-25 (MVP), JKidd ?, DRose 10-11 (MVP)
SG: Klay Thompson 14-15, Danny Green 14-15
SF: KD 13-14 (MVP), Siakam 18-19, Vince 04-05
PF: Evan Mobley 24-25 (DPOY), Bam Adebayo 20-21
C: Rudy Gobert 18-19 (DPOY), KAT 17-18
13th man: Malik Fitts

Dons (Bucks) -

PG: Tony Parker, Andre Miller
SG: Brandon Roy, Michael Redd, Tony Allen
SF: Tracy McGrady, Tayshaun Prince
PF: Dirk (MVP), Draymond (DPOY), Zach Randolph
C: Dwight Howard (DPOY), Ben Wallace (DPOY)
13th man: Sidney Moncrief

RodyTur10 (Raptors) -

PG: Kyle Lowry, Mike Conley
SG: Dwayne Wade, Devin Booker,
SF: Kawhi Leonard, Shawn Marion, Shane Battier
PF: Paul Millsap, Chet Holmgren
C: Marc Gasol, Robert Williams, Jarrett Allen
13th man: Drake

Timdawgg (76ers) -

PG: Rajon Rondo, Westbrook (MVP), John Wall
SG: James Harden (MVP), Marcus Smart (DPOY)
SF: Andrei Kirilenko, Peja
PF: Amare Stoudamire, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin
C: Anthony Davis, Marcus Camby (DPOY)
13th man: Leon Powe

[snively]

OK, I think I have a handle on my team

Starters:

Billups/Kobe/Jimmy/Horford/Yao. Other than maybe Al, who is my most essential glue guy, most of these guys will not be playing heavy minutes. A Team USA approach.

On offense, Kobe and Yao as focal points, with Jimmy as 3rd option slasher/cutter/match-up hunter, Chauncey as set-up guy and Horford as high post facilitator and floor spreader.

Defensively the perimeter trio as intense attack dogs. Horford as shot-caller and switchable 4. Yao as paint monster closing off the paint.

Pau and Granger the first two off the bench coming in for Yao and either Kobe or Jimmy. A similar offensive philosophy but with more range from Granger and mobility from Pau in the middle. When playing one of the massive teams, Pau can come in for Al and super-size the frontcourt.

Then comes the line change and a big shift in playstyle. Deron Williams and Eric Gordon (pre-injury when he was a lightning quick slasher and on ball defender) take over the backcourt and Zion comes in as their primary scoring partner at the 4. Pau or Al stays on as the highskill 5, working off the penetration of Zion and the guards. When we want all shooting/scoring on the floor we put in Gallo anywhere from 2-5. Chandler is there for defensive substitutions.

Minutes and Seasons

Billups (07/08) 28 mpg/D-Will  (07/08) 20mpg
Kobe (07/08) 28 mpg/ Gordon  (10/11) 20mpg
Butler (22/23) 24mpg/ Granger (08/09) 24mpg
Al (17/18) 28mpg/Zion (20/21) 18 mpg
Yao  (04/05) 22 mpg/ Pau 22mpg (10/11)/Gallo (18/19) 6mpg

[Roy H.]

I may update some of this before the deadline, and I expect my minutes allocations would change based upon matchups.  But, for now...

Boston Celtics

KP / Giannis / Turkuglu / Jrue / Curry
Sabonis / Brand / A. Thompson / Oladipo / Brunson
Jordan / Bowen

Porzingis (2023) / Sabonis (2023) / Jordan (2015)
Giannis (2019) / Brand (2006)
Turkoglu (2008) / Thompson (2025) / Bowen (2016)
Jrue (2021) / Oladipo (2018)
Curry (2016) / Brunson (2024)

Very rough playoff rotation:

C: Porzingis - 24 minutes - Sabonis - 10 minutes - Jordan - 14 minutes
PF: Giannis - 20 minutes - Brand - 28 minutes
SF: Giannis - 9 minutes - Turkoglu - 26 minutes - Bowen - 7 minutes - Thompson - 6 minutes
SG: Jrue - 32 minutes - Oladipo - 16 minutes
PG:  Curry - 35 minutes - Brunson - 13 minutes

Cooper Flagg, waving that towel and representing Maine for 48 minutes

But, as mentioned, it's matchup dependent.  Jordan would get more minutes against bigger teams, I suspect.  Bowen will play more when the team is struggling to contain Lebron or Durant or Kobe, etc.

In terms of team philosophy, it was important to have a foundation of game changers.  Curry is the most game-changing player of his generation, and I say that with all due respect to Lebron.  Curry stretched the floor well beyond the 3PT line, from about 23 feet to a legit 30 feet for him.  He needs to be covered no matter where he is, forcing his defenders completely out of helping roles. 

The other legit game changer is Giannis.  At his peak, he was the best defender in the NBA, perhaps the most efficient volume-scoring forward, a guy too strong for small ball PFs to cover and way too fast and athletic to be covered by bigger PFs.  He pressures a defense constantly.

After that, it was basically finding players that fit around them.  Elite, league-best rebounding.  Multiple floor-stretching centers.  A rim-runner who blocks shots and finishes at the best rate in NBA history.  A 6'10" SF who was an excellent shooter and passer and who was a good defender at his peak.  Perhaps the best perimeter defender available in Bruce Bowen, who won three rings.  A young disruptive athletic freak who can cover four positions.  An all-defense two-way guy off the bench.  The player considered to be perhaps the most clutch player in the NBA today. 

All five of the starters have been to the NBA finals.  Four of the starters have won rings.  Six of the seven bench players have received DPOY votes.  And, not a fat guy in the bunch.

To me, these drafts are about more than stats.  Fit needs to come into play.  I don't think it's as easy as looking at the guys with the highest usage, taking them, and calling it a team.  If it were, Russell Westbrook would have gone top-5 in this draft.  It's about the individual pieces and whether they'd thrive in the role that's been asked of them.  I think most teams achieved that assignment this year, so well done. 

I think my team is an offensive juggernaut that wouldn't be stopped in a 7-game series, and it's quite strong on defense, as well.  And yes, I fully endorse Moranis's take that Steph Curry was a "good" defender, although perhaps not a great one. 

This year has been a lot of fun.  Thank you all for participating, and for having me back. 

[Who]

New York Knicks

Starters

G: Steve Nash
G: Manu Ginobili
F: Andre Iguodala
F: Kevin Garnett
C: Joel Embiid

Bench

G: Tyrese Haliburton, Kyrie Irving
G: Joe Johnson
F: Khris Middleton, Ron Artest
F: Jaren Jackson Jr
C: LaMarcus Aldridge

Team Identity

The team will be based around the creativity of the two starting guards. Nash will be our main man on offense. Pulling the strings. Manu his sidekick. Embiid will slot into that Amare type role where he will lead the team in shot attempts and scoring but play off of Nash. Work that PnR game and then turn into some isolations for Embiid if nothing materializes. Same as with Amare.

KG will take over that Amare role when Embiid goes to the bench. KG will slide over to center. Jaren Jackson Jr will slot in as a stretch PF to open the game up for KG inside. And do the same for Embiid when JJJ is partnered with him. KG will play a more opportunistic role like Marion did next to Amare when KG is alongside Embiid.

Haliburton will step in to replace Nash and keep the offense buzzing. I wan the PGs to push the ball hard in transition and get everyone involved. Keep everyone happy.

Team Passing

We have strong passing throughout most of the team. I think the starters have some of the top ranked ball-handlers and passers at their respective positions at PG (Nash), SG (Ginobili), SF (Iggy), PF (KG). The C in Embiid is a good passer and an excellent ball-handler for a center.

Then we go to the bench. We have one of the top passing PGs in Haliburton. Strong passing & ball-handling wings in Joe Johnson and Khris Middleton. Both have had seasons of 5.0+apg with 2:1 AST:TOV ratios. JJJ is a strong driver with the ball but a limited passer. Aldridge is a low mistake low creativity passer. Not that good but he doesn't screw up.

The Defense

Most of the defense is based around the big men. KG is one of the best defensive bigs of All-Time. Jaren Jackson Jr is a high level defensive PF and former DPOY. Embiid is a plus defender. Aldridge gives the team a 4th 7 footer in the rotation who is a good defensive PF or adequate defensive C. We want to control the paint defensively as much as possible. Most nights we should be able to do that.

Iggy is our main man defensively on the perimeter. Our only top level perimeter defender. Ginobili is a very good team defender but average man defender. Joe Johnson is a plus man defender but average team defender. Khris Middleton is a solid all-round defender. Then we have a break in case of emergency option with Ron Artest. A 2nd top notch wing defender. 

The PG defense is weak. Nash is a weak defender. Smart positionally but limited in speed and size. Haliburton is a mixed bag. Inconsistent but capable of good D. He is a better team defender than man defender. He uses his size and length well on team D to create turnovers.

Shooting

One of the best shooters in NBA History in Steve Nash. A very good shooter in Haliburton behind him. Another top level shooter in Kyrie behind Hali. Quality shooters at SG with Ginobili & JJ. High level shooter in Middleton. Dodgy shooter in Iggy. Decent shooter in Artest.

The bigs will provide good spacing for the team. All four of them can stroke it with range making it difficult for the opponent to camp out in the paint. Aldridge and KG were two of the best midrange and long 2 point jump-shooters in the league. Embiid has a strong midrange game and a little 3 point game. JJJ is more of a slasher / driver and three point shooter who can stretch the floor further. The bigs are designed to open up the floor for others. To make it hard to seal off the paint.

Midrange shot making is big weapon for this group. The bigs have. JJ and Middleton are very good at this. Nash is excellent. Kyrie is excellent. Hali is very good there. A lot of guys who can make that midrange J when the paint is cut off and they are run off the 3 point line.

[Who]

Be sure and get me your selected seasons, depth charts, and minutes allotments

At least 9 players need to play 8+ minutes, or 10 players need to play 5+ minutes

I'll make a separate post for this part.

New York Knicks

Nash = 2006-07 = 33mpg
Ginobili = 2007-08 = 28mpg
Iggy = 2013-14 = 28mpg
KG = 2007-08 = 32mpg
Embiid = 2022-23 = 32mpg

Haliburton = 2024-25 = 15mpg
Joe Johnson = 2004-05 = 20mpg
Khris Middleton = 2020-21 = 20mpg
Jaren Jackson Jr = 2024-25 = 27mpg
Aldridge = 2015-16 = 5mpg

Kyrie = 2023-24 = 0mpg
Artest = 2007-08 = 0mpg

[Timdawgg]

Philadelphia 76ers:

PG: Rajon Rondo '11-'12       25 minutes
SG: James Harden '18-'19      28 minutes
SF: Andrei Kirilenko '05-'06;    28 minutes
PF: Anthony Davis '17-'18;        24 minutes
C: Amare Stoudemire '04-'05;    28 minutes 

PG Russell Westbrook '16-'17    20 minutes
SG Marcus Smart '21-'22         15 minutes
SF Peja Stojakovic  '04-'05      20 minutes
PF Kevin Love '13-'14             20 minutes
C Marcus Camby '06-'07        20 minutes

Deep Bench

PG John Wall '16-'17            8 minutes
PF Blake Griffin '13-'14        4 minutes

[Jvalin]

Starting lineup


Rotations
PG: Damian Lillard (30) / Derrick White (18)
SG: Jalen Williams (11) / Anthony Edwards (30) / Derrick White (7)
SF: Paul George (34) / Mikal Bridges (14)
PF: Jayson Tatum (32) / Jalen Williams (16)
C: Nikola Jokic (28) / Brook Lopez (20)

Bench


Offense
Jokic runs he show. Everybody else feeds off his gravity. We run a 5-out, PnR/PnP-heavy motion offense. All players can put the ball on the floor and create their own shot. All of them are reliable volume 3pt shooters, hence they can be effective off the ball. All but BroLo are willing facilitators, to say the least. Lillard-Tatum are my conventional PnR ball handlers. Jokic/BroLo can either roll or pop from 3. Jokic has free reign to post-up at will. Everybody else attacks exclusively facing the basket. If Jokic is doubled, he finds the open man on the perimeter for an easy 3. If not, he dominates his opponent 1-on-1. The Lillard-Jokic 2-man game should be unstoppable. Lillard has arguably the deepest range in the draft. Can make shots from virtually everywhere on the court. Opposing defenders are tightening their D from the moment Lillard crosses the half-court line. His mere presence on the court generates loads of space for everybody around him. Ant provides instant scoring off the bench similarly to his role in the 2024 Olympics. We know for a fact he can coexist with multiple stars from his spell with team USA. The lower his usage, the higher his efficiency. In fact, he was averaging 58% from the field and 48% from 3 during the Olympics.

Defense
Jokic/BroLo drop. Lillard pre-switches and peels off to cover the corner. All teams have a 3+D glue guy lurking in the corners. J-Dub and D-White are my POA defenders. The have the size and strength to fight through picks, if necessary. Wing D should be very strong with loads of versatile/switchable wing defenders on the roster.

Selected seasons
2020 Damian Lillard
2025 Jalen Williams
2019 Paul George
2024 Jayson Tatum
2023 Nikola Jokic
2024 Derrick White
2025 Anthony Edwards
2006 Rasheed Wallace
2021 Mikal Bridges
2019 Brook Lopez
2024 Jamal Murray
2025 Aaron Gordon

[Moranis]

I will be editing this as I have time. 

Cleveland Cavaliers - Towel Waiver - Jim Jackson

Player Year

Lebron - 12-13
Shaq - 04-05
Luka - 23-24
Wemby - 23-24
Brown - 23-24
Noah - 13-14
Wallace - 09-10
Anthony - 13-14
Mitchell - 22-23
Daniels - 24-25
Korver - 14-15
Turner - 24-25

Projected Roation with Minutes

PG - Doncic, Daniels, Mitchell
SG - Brown, Mitchell, Korver
SF - James, Wallace, Korver
PF - Wemby, Anthony
C - Shaq, Noah, Turner

[RodyTur10]

TORONTO RAPTORS

Team formation and identity

We started with the lottery and I came in 9th. In my opinion the worst position to be in. The absolute studs (like Curry, James, Durant, Jokic) would be gone and the next guy can coordinate his two consecutive picks. That's what I wanted too, so I traded down with Timdawgg and I had picks 11 and 12 which brought me Dwyane Wade and Kawhi Leonard which I thought were both obvious picks and really lucky.

Now I had two superstars with elite defense and proven go-to-scorers at the top level. So based on that I felt I could built the best defensive team in the league. Since I didn't have that elite playmaker (like James, Jokic, Nash, Doncic or Paul) and I wouldn't want to subject my stars to a lower usage offball-role I figured I didn't need high usage playmakers or scorers and neither would I want "just" shooters who would not be necessarily be activated optimally and cause holes in my defense.

With the enormous pool of point guards I now prioritized my front court. My ideal center was Marc Gasol (DPOY) as defensive anchor with high IQ, passing and shooting ability. Lots of sublime rim protectors and post defenders out there, but none of them could replicate his overall game. Twice this draft Donoghous snatched a player I wanted (Green and Roy) right before me, but with Shawn Marion I picked another unique, versatile and fundamental piece for my team.

By my deal I had consecutive picks during the first eight rounds of drafting. That was helpful. I now was going to pick my point guard and got what I hoped for with Kyle Lowry, because he's a "POS" to play against, while providing enough shooting, passing and scoring to perfectly accommodate Wade in the backcourt. At the same time I picked my sixth man Devin Booker who can easily play with either guard at his side by his three-level-scoring ability. During the Olympics he proved again how devastating and consistent he is as a scorer when he gets free reign on my second unit.

To others my team now looked boring (I can understand) and there are definitely higher overall quality teams out there with more than impressive weaponry. But I was on a road to counter that. I could not outscore or outshoot other teams. No, I would need to disrupt the pace and fluidity of my opposition and make them less effective and create extra possessions for my team to punish in transition with also disciplined, efficient and low turnover offense. Like how the Indiana Pacers made the NBA Finals more by a different style of play than a pure talent advantage.

I now decided that I would want either Leonard or Marion on the floor at all times, because they can be a nightmare to even the very best like James, Durant or Antetokounmpo. So as a result I had a priority to pick a very solid PF who could defend well, shoot a bit and adjust easily to others: Paul Millsap. And even though he's a 7th round pick I feel he is a servicable starter. Then my next focus was an athletic back-up center behind Gasol with pace, vertical spacing, rim protection, switchability and efficient offense (not a dark hole by high usage, bad passing or terrible free throw shooting). To my surprise (and  others) that led me to draft Robert Williams. Our Timelord basically had one great season where he was mostly injury-free and that just ticked all the boxes.

With my last picks I got another quite unique stretch big and rim protector in Chet Holmgren, an ideal and much coveted back-up point guard in Mike Conley, a prototype 3-and-D wing in Shane Battier and underrated center Jarrett Allen. Fysically in this league Holmgren has to focus on PF and he'll get some minutes, while I can safely play Conley a significant amount of minutes. Like other managers it feels unjust to stick some players to the bench. To me Battier and Allen are very playable guys. They can be X-factors for when I get in foul trouble or specific situations.

Conclusion is that the draft went quite prosperous and my team brings some nasty attributes to play against. With my starters Lowry, Wade, Leonard, Millsap and Gasol it's a challenge to find an easy mismatch and they'll play smart, disciplined, together and Wade or Leonard will punish weak defenders inside. With my bench Conley, Booker, Marion, Holmgren and Williams I bring reliable shooting, more disruptive defenders and strong rebounding, while Booker can be the focal point on offense. I can cause many turnovers and transition opportunities with my team and it'll be very annoying to play against me. We'll not be a pushover and surprise teams who may be considered more talented.

Players' seasons:

Guards: Mike Conley (2013), Kyle Lowry (2016), Devin Booker (2022), Dwyane Wade (2009)
Wings: Shane Battier (2007), Kawhi Leonard (2016), Shawn Marion (2006), Paul Millsap (2016)
Bigs: Chet Holmgren (2024), Robert Williams (2022), Jarrett Allen (2025), Marc Gasol (2013)

Rotations (regular season):

Point guard: Lowry (24), Conley (20), Booker (4)
Shooting guard: Wade (32), Booker (16)
Small forward: Leonard (29), Marion (19)
Power forward: Millsap (25), Holmgren (12), Marion (11)
Center: M.Gasol (30), R.Williams (18)

Final note: I much enjoyed participating in this draft game. Thanks everyone for the positive attitude! However it could have used more participants as this league was incredibly deep.