Official Discuss your CB Draft team

[Rondo2287]

Milwaukee Bucks

Pg: Jason Kidd/Jarret Jack
Sg: Rip Hamilton/CJ Miles/Nick Young
SF: Tayshaun Prince/Matt Barnes
PF: Dirk Nowitzki/Brandon Wright
C: Marcin Gortat/ Ronny Turiaf

So Far I think my Starting 5 is one of the best in the game.  One of the overlooked parts of my team is that we are one of the tallest in the league with two 7footers, a 6'9 sf, 6'7 sg and 6'4 PG.  Which will cause problems for opposing offenses.

I also think that the bench is getting overlooked.  We have a starting pg that running the second unit as well as a sg and sf that started a combined 24 games in the playoffs this season. 

We have a promising young PF who is coming  off an injury plagued season but is a freak of an athlete who blocks shots and rebounds.  Needless to say we will ease him into the rotation this year with Turiaf, Gortat, and Dirk seeing the bulk of the minutes

Turiaf is another guy who started last season and who is set to start for the knicks this year.  hes got a motor that never quits and is a plus defender at both the 4 and 5.

I'm not sold on either on of yout centers being starting centers...not sure were everyone thinks Gortat is that good.

Well when he was a RFA teams were lined up for his services but thats beside the point. The point is that he defends, and rebounds, and thats what Dirk needs in a front court partner.

[indeedproceed]

So now, the nearly completed Chicago Bulls:

Brandon Jennings/Eric Maynor
Mike Miller/Von Wafer
LeBron James/Tony Allen
Ersan Ilyasova/Louis Amundson
Joakim Noah/Kyrylo Fesenko

Waitin' til February: Micheal Redd

How do you guys feel about this? I play in a division with Kobe Bryant, so despite some strong offers I've held on to Tony Allen with white knuckles. I added Von Wafer for some scoring punch during the season, and Michael Redd for some veteran presence during the last season/post season run. I feel like my team is better than either of the Cleveland teams the last 2 years, and I still have LeBron James.

Lets hear it.

I'll spare you the "what might have beens".  I think this is a very strong team.  Your bench is pretty bad, I think, especially at the big man positions, but I think Lebron's play will elevate those around him.  I think you're looking at a team fairly similar to the "real" Cavs were last season.

I'm not sure how I feel about the D'Antoni pick.  Others seem to like it a lot, but I wonder how a team that has several offensively-deficient players in its rotation is going to fare with a defensively-deficient coach.

D'Antoni is never going to play Fesenko.

Too limited, too many dumb mistakes. He'll drive D'Antoni nuts.

Well I have 2 picks left, including the next available.

What type of guys do you think I should target?

[Roy H.]

For starters, IP, you need a real backup SF.  Tony can't cut it there on a nightly basis.

[indeedproceed]

Denver Nuggets         Gainsville Celtic
-Guards: Russell Westbrook, Ronnie Brewer, Terrance Williams, Steve Blaek
-Forwards: Trevor Ariza, Drew Gooden, Taj Gibson, Josh Childress
-Center: Tim Duncan, Darko Milicic

PG Westbrook/Blake
SG Brewer/Williams
SF Ariza/Childress/
PF Gibson/Gooden/
C Duncan/Milicic

100 Words:
I think that Westbrook is a good person to run this backcourt as long as Ariza manages to regain his shooting form. The thing that worries me is that without a premier scorer at the 2/3 (the traditional 1st or 2nd scorer on a team), who is going to take the burden off of Ariza, who wilted under the pressure this past season? Duncan/Gibson/Gooden/Milicic Is as good a bigs rotation as there is probably, from top to bottom. Other teams have better starters, but 1-4 is one of the best. Childress could surpass Ariza for the starting minutes, but I think Ariza starting will be as much about his own ego (compared with Childress's own balanced temperment) as anything else. I like Blake behind Westbrook and I see Blake playing a lot of minutes at the 2 also, unless Terrance Williams finds some consistency.


Utah Jazz              Donoghus
-Guards: Jose Calderon, Omri Casspi, Danilo Gallinar
-Forwards: Pau Gasol, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Wesley Johnson, Craig Smith
-Centers: Yao Ming, Robin Lopez

PG: Calderon,
SG Omri Casspi/ Gallinari
SF Luc Mbah A Moute/Wesley Johnson
PF Pau Gasol/Craig Smith
C Yao Ming/Robin Lopez

100 Words:
I am no longer a big Calderon fan. I know he can pass the ball, and I know he doesn't turn the ball over, but he doesn't play good defense, and he just can't seem to improve at all. That said, I love Casspi, Gallinari, and Mbah a Moute. In my own vision for this team, Wesley Johnson would start over Mbah a Moute but this isn't my squad. Pau Gasol and Yao Ming as the top starting 4,5 in the division, if not the conference, if not the league. They're going to be a little slow, but that's mostly on Ming's shoulders, not Gasol's. These guys while in the game together will dominate every facet of the post. Casspi, Gallo, Johnson, and Calderon should keep the opposing teams' post defenders honest with their ability from deep. Also love Robin Lopez behind Ming. If Yao isn't ready for training camp, which is a possibility, Lopez can easily start and play as a tough  defender in the post. 

Portland Trailblazers  Jsaad
-Guards: Evan Turner, Goran Dragic, Ricky Rubio, Jason Williams
-Forwards: Derrick Favors, Thaddeus Young, Maurice Evans
-Centers: Brook Lopez, Spencer Hawes, Matt Bonner

PG Dragic, Jason WIlliams
SG Turner
SF Thad Young, Evans
PF Favors, Bonner
C Lopez, Hawes

100 Words: This is obviously not a playoff caliber team, and really can't be honestly evaluated until next season (or the season after) when Rubio comes over.  Favors should be inconsistent at best this season, and while Turner should be better, he won't be an all-star or anything close.  I also don't like Young as a SF, I think he's proven that he's more of a tweener with a leaning to 4 than a tweener with a leaning towards the 3. That's the bad news. The good news is that there isn't a younger core in the league that is head and shoulders above this one, and with the addition of Rubio a very good case could be made for team of the future. Brook Lopez is a straight out stud at the center, and Favors/Turner should compliment him well. The record won't look good this season, but the lottery pick could become their starting SF.


Oklahoma City Thunder  Greenbean
-Guards: OJ Mayo, Darren Collison, Thabo Sefolosha, DeMar DeRozan
-Forwards: Jermaine O'Neal, Glen Big Baby Davis
-Center: Chris Kaman, Marreese Speights


PG Darren Collison
SG Sefelosha
SF Butler
PF O'Neal
C Kaman

100 Words:
This team should start Speights. There is no way that Jermaine O'Neal can consistently start at the 4 with that team. Too slow, and honestly too versatile to waste him playing major minutes at the 4. I love Darren Collison, like Thabo Sefelosha, and have cooled a bit on Butler.  I worry about the shooting with Darren Collison being the only consistent shooter out there, I don't know if there will be enough room for Kaman and Speights to operate. The defense on the wings should be excellent, and O'Neal can hold his own. BBD should provide a good burst off the bench, and DeMar Derozan should supplant Thabo as the starter at the 2 within 2 years.

Minnesota Timberwolves Evantime34/Lip413
Guards: Deron Williams, Rodrigue Beaubois, Marquis Daniels
Forwards: Josh Howard, Gordon Hayward, Josh Smith, Brandon Bass
Centers: Brandon Haywood, JaVale McGee

PG Deron Williams/Beaubois
SG Rodrigue Beaubois/Hayward
SF Josh Howard/Hayward
PF Josh Smith/Brandon Bass
C Brandon Haywood/McGee


I like Deron Williams as the reigning "Best PG In the League". Chris Paul might very well steal that honor back this season, but Williams has it now. I also like Roddy B, but not as the starting 2 here. One reason being, he won't be ready for the start of the season. I think Hayward is talented enough now to be a role player at the 2 for a team that should get close to 20 ppg from its PG as it is now anyways. In the frontcourt, I like the idea of Josh Smith on other peoples' teams. I don't quite get him enough to get behind him, but he'll keep your team moving end to end, he'll create a lot of turnovers (and probably commit a fair amount too), and he'll take some ill advised shots. In the end, he'll bring more to the party than he takes away, so that's what really counts. Brandon Bass is a terrific traditional backup to have behind him. I also love McGee behind Haywood, and I think after this year, McGee might be the better player. Josh Howard has a LOT to prove this year. I think he's still got a fair amount of run left in him, and I think he can turn it around. We'll see. It'll be interesting to see if anything happens when knucklehead A (Josh Smith) meets knucklehead B (Josh Howard)

End Judgment:

1) Utah: I like the versatility, and I love the frontcourt. I think Yao's health is a major enough concern though that it keeps them from having HC in the playoffs.
2) Denver: Top to bottom the most talented team in the division, but even Tim Duncan can't compensate for Utah's frontcourt. I love Westbrook here too, especially with long athletic players like Brewer, Williams, Childress, and Ariza.
3) Minny: Deron Williams is the best thing going for this team, and it'll be up to him if they can leapfrog Utah or Denver. If Howard returns to form and Beaubois can quickly return to health to develop a rapport with Deron Williams, this team could concievably move ahead of both the #1 and #2 team, especially in terms of regular season wins.
4) OKC: I love Collison here, but he doesn't really compare to Deron Williams or Russell Westbrook. I also love Sefolosha, but I don't know how much his defensive ability will count 1)in a division without powerhouse SG's, and 2) on a team without a premier scorer on the wing.
5) Portland: A good team two years from now. Maybe a great one in 5. Portland will eat it up though and this is certainly a team that will be fun to watch if they gel. 

And also 1,000 words and one lousy response? Well the response wasn't lousy, but one response? Last favor I do the Northwest division!

[Donoghus]

Denver Nuggets         Gainsville Celtic
-Guards: Russell Westbrook, Ronnie Brewer, Terrance Williams, Steve Blaek
-Forwards: Trevor Ariza, Drew Gooden, Taj Gibson, Josh Childress
-Center: Tim Duncan, Darko Milicic

PG Westbrook/Blake
SG Brewer/Williams
SF Ariza/Childress/
PF Gibson/Gooden/
C Duncan/Milicic

100 Words:
I think that Westbrook is a good person to run this backcourt as long as Ariza manages to regain his shooting form. The thing that worries me is that without a premier scorer at the 2/3 (the traditional 1st or 2nd scorer on a team), who is going to take the burden off of Ariza, who wilted under the pressure this past season? Duncan/Gibson/Gooden/Milicic Is as good a bigs rotation as there is probably, from top to bottom. Other teams have better starters, but 1-4 is one of the best. Childress could surpass Ariza for the starting minutes, but I think Ariza starting will be as much about his own ego (compared with Childress's own balanced temperment) as anything else. I like Blake behind Westbrook and I see Blake playing a lot of minutes at the 2 also, unless Terrance Williams finds some consistency.


Utah Jazz              Donoghus
-Guards: Jose Calderon, Omri Casspi, Danilo Gallinar
-Forwards: Pau Gasol, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Wesley Johnson, Craig Smith
-Centers: Yao Ming, Robin Lopez

PG: Calderon,
SG Omri Casspi/ Gallinari
SF Luc Mbah A Moute/Wesley Johnson
PF Pau Gasol/Craig Smith
C Yao Ming/Robin Lopez

100 Words:
I am no longer a big Calderon fan. I know he can pass the ball, and I know he doesn't turn the ball over, but he doesn't play good defense, and he just can't seem to improve at all. That said, I love Casspi, Gallinari, and Mbah a Moute. In my own vision for this team, Wesley Johnson would start over Mbah a Moute but this isn't my squad. Pau Gasol and Yao Ming as the top starting 4,5 in the division, if not the conference, if not the league. They're going to be a little slow, but that's mostly on Ming's shoulders, not Gasol's. These guys while in the game together will dominate every facet of the post. Casspi, Gallo, Johnson, and Calderon should keep the opposing teams' post defenders honest with their ability from deep. Also love Robin Lopez behind Ming. If Yao isn't ready for training camp, which is a possibility, Lopez can easily start and play as a tough  defender in the post. 

Portland Trailblazers  Jsaad
-Guards: Evan Turner, Goran Dragic, Ricky Rubio, Jason Williams
-Forwards: Derrick Favors, Thaddeus Young, Maurice Evans
-Centers: Brook Lopez, Spencer Hawes, Matt Bonner

PG Dragic, Jason WIlliams
SG Turner
SF Thad Young, Evans
PF Favors, Bonner
C Lopez, Hawes

100 Words: This is obviously not a playoff caliber team, and really can't be honestly evaluated until next season (or the season after) when Rubio comes over.  Favors should be inconsistent at best this season, and while Turner should be better, he won't be an all-star or anything close.  I also don't like Young as a SF, I think he's proven that he's more of a tweener with a leaning to 4 than a tweener with a leaning towards the 3. That's the bad news. The good news is that there isn't a younger core in the league that is head and shoulders above this one, and with the addition of Rubio a very good case could be made for team of the future. Brook Lopez is a straight out stud at the center, and Favors/Turner should compliment him well. The record won't look good this season, but the lottery pick could become their starting SF.


Oklahoma City Thunder  Greenbean
-Guards: OJ Mayo, Darren Collison, Thabo Sefolosha, DeMar DeRozan
-Forwards: Jermaine O'Neal, Glen Big Baby Davis
-Center: Chris Kaman, Marreese Speights


PG Darren Collison
SG Sefelosha
SF Butler
PF O'Neal
C Kaman

100 Words:
This team should start Speights. There is no way that Jermaine O'Neal can consistently start at the 4 with that team. Too slow, and honestly too versatile to waste him playing major minutes at the 4. I love Darren Collison, like Thabo Sefelosha, and have cooled a bit on Butler.  I worry about the shooting with Darren Collison being the only consistent shooter out there, I don't know if there will be enough room for Kaman and Speights to operate. The defense on the wings should be excellent, and O'Neal can hold his own. BBD should provide a good burst off the bench, and DeMar Derozan should supplant Thabo as the starter at the 2 within 2 years.

Minnesota Timberwolves Evantime34/Lip413
Guards: Deron Williams, Rodrigue Beaubois, Marquis Daniels
Forwards: Josh Howard, Gordon Hayward, Josh Smith, Brandon Bass
Centers: Brandon Haywood, JaVale McGee

PG Deron Williams/Beaubois
SG Rodrigue Beaubois/Hayward
SF Josh Howard/Hayward
PF Josh Smith/Brandon Bass
C Brandon Haywood/McGee


I like Deron Williams as the reigning "Best PG In the League". Chris Paul might very well steal that honor back this season, but Williams has it now. I also like Roddy B, but not as the starting 2 here. One reason being, he won't be ready for the start of the season. I think Hayward is talented enough now to be a role player at the 2 for a team that should get close to 20 ppg from its PG as it is now anyways. In the frontcourt, I like the idea of Josh Smith on other peoples' teams. I don't quite get him enough to get behind him, but he'll keep your team moving end to end, he'll create a lot of turnovers (and probably commit a fair amount too), and he'll take some ill advised shots. In the end, he'll bring more to the party than he takes away, so that's what really counts. Brandon Bass is a terrific traditional backup to have behind him. I also love McGee behind Haywood, and I think after this year, McGee might be the better player. Josh Howard has a LOT to prove this year. I think he's still got a fair amount of run left in him, and I think he can turn it around. We'll see. It'll be interesting to see if anything happens when knucklehead A (Josh Smith) meets knucklehead B (Josh Howard)

End Judgment:

1) Utah: I like the versatility, and I love the frontcourt. I think Yao's health is a major enough concern though that it keeps them from having HC in the playoffs.
2) Denver: Top to bottom the most talented team in the division, but even Tim Duncan can't compensate for Utah's frontcourt. I love Westbrook here too, especially with long athletic players like Brewer, Williams, Childress, and Ariza.
3) Minny: Deron Williams is the best thing going for this team, and it'll be up to him if they can leapfrog Utah or Denver. If Howard returns to form and Beaubois can quickly return to health to develop a rapport with Deron Williams, this team could concievably move ahead of both the #1 and #2 team, especially in terms of regular season wins.
4) OKC: I love Collison here, but he doesn't really compare to Deron Williams or Russell Westbrook. I also love Sefolosha, but I don't know how much his defensive ability will count 1)in a division without powerhouse SG's, and 2) on a team without a premier scorer on the wing.
5) Portland: A good team two years from now. Maybe a great one in 5. Portland will eat it up though and this is certainly a team that will be fun to watch if they gel. 

And also 1,000 words and one lousy response? Well the response wasn't lousy, but one response? Last favor I do the Northwest division!

Thanks IP!

I, for one, am happy seeing it.  Nice, thorough breakdown too.

[indeedproceed]

For starters, IP, you need a real backup SF.  Tony can't cut it there on a nightly basis.

Noted, and I thought about that. But, do you think I have to go reliable or can I gamble on a younger guy here?

[The Walker Wiggle]

And also 1,000 words and one lousy response? Well the response wasn't lousy, but one response? Last favor I do the Northwest division!

The Southwest is here for you, IP.

[indeedproceed]

And also 1,000 words and one lousy response? Well the response wasn't lousy, but one response? Last favor I do the Northwest division!

The Southwest is here for you, IP.

The Southwest is the best division in the game. That one I'm gonna need 2,000 words for.

[The Walker Wiggle]

And also 1,000 words and one lousy response? Well the response wasn't lousy, but one response? Last favor I do the Northwest division!

The Southwest is here for you, IP.

The Southwest is the best division in the game. That one I'm gonna need 2,000 words for.

You heard it hear first, folks.

[The Walker Wiggle]

For starters, IP, you need a real backup SF.  Tony can't cut it there on a nightly basis.

Noted, and I thought about that. But, do you think I have to go reliable or can I gamble on a younger guy here?

Given James is going to play 40 minutes - 42 in the postseason - can't Miller ably fill 6-10 minutes at the 3? If so, I have no problem with Chicago's depth at the 2.

Whatever position - the Bulls could benefit from an old head. It's a young locker room as is.

[KCattheStripe]

And also 1,000 words and one lousy response? Well the response wasn't lousy, but one response? Last favor I do the Northwest division!

The Southwest is here for you, IP.

The Southwest is the best division in the game. That one I'm gonna need 2,000 words for.

You heard it hear first, folks.

I believe he meant Southeast.

[indeedproceed]

For starters, IP, you need a real backup SF.  Tony can't cut it there on a nightly basis.

Noted, and I thought about that. But, do you think I have to go reliable or can I gamble on a younger guy here?

Given James is going to play 40 minutes - 42 in the postseason - can't Miller ably fill 6-10 minutes at the 3? If so, I have no problem with Chicago's depth at the 2.

Whatever position - the Bulls could benefit from an old head. It's a young locker room as is.

That I have also considered.

And also 1,000 words and one lousy response? Well the response wasn't lousy, but one response? Last favor I do the Northwest division!

The Southwest is here for you, IP.

The Southwest is the best division in the game. That one I'm gonna need 2,000 words for.

You heard it hear first, folks.

I believe he meant Southeast.

Actually KC is right. I meant the Southeast

[The Walker Wiggle]

The Southwest is the best division in the game. That one I'm gonna need 2,000 words for. - IndeedProceed

[The Walker Wiggle]

First thought, best thought, IP.

[Who]

So now, the nearly completed Chicago Bulls:

Brandon Jennings/Eric Maynor
Mike Miller/Von Wafer
LeBron James/Tony Allen
Ersan Ilyasova/Louis Amundson
Joakim Noah/Kyrylo Fesenko

Waitin' til February: Micheal Redd

How do you guys feel about this? I play in a division with Kobe Bryant, so despite some strong offers I've held on to Tony Allen with white knuckles. I added Von Wafer for some scoring punch during the season, and Michael Redd for some veteran presence during the last season/post season run. I feel like my team is better than either of the Cleveland teams the last 2 years, and I still have LeBron James.

Lets hear it.

I'll spare you the "what might have beens".  I think this is a very strong team.  Your bench is pretty bad, I think, especially at the big man positions, but I think Lebron's play will elevate those around him.  I think you're looking at a team fairly similar to the "real" Cavs were last season.

I'm not sure how I feel about the D'Antoni pick.  Others seem to like it a lot, but I wonder how a team that has several offensively-deficient players in its rotation is going to fare with a defensively-deficient coach.

D'Antoni is never going to play Fesenko.

Too limited, too many dumb mistakes. He'll drive D'Antoni nuts.

Well I have 2 picks left, including the next available.

What type of guys do you think I should target?

D'Antoni normally uses a short rotation of 7/8 guys so I wouldn't worry too much about your 12/13th men. It's not like they are going to get much court time either way.

Eric Maynor gives you a solid enough backup point guard so I would concentrate on trying to add another wing player and a backup big man who can move ahead of Fesenko with your next two picks.

I have a couple of guys in mind, I'll send them to you.