Round 1: Well, it was kind of easy I guess. Do a quick search on dudes with 6 points of usage or more, over 54% eFG, 90 or better D, less that 3 or less TO/G, 3 or less F/G. It is a short list. The only return is Kawhi. I basically wanted to build my team around what I perceive to be the most efficient, high usage player in the sim and sort out the rest based on how the draft unfolded.
Round 2: Well, I took a swingman in the first. So now I desperately need an elite big man or point guard. I have one high usage guy already, and Kawhi can credibly defend 1-4 (95 at PG and 99 at PF) so it makes sense to get an elite player to defend C. I was stuck between Artis, Whiteside and Gobert but ultimately decided I wanted Gobert's D and FG% over the added usage I could get from Artis or Whiteside. In hindsight, Duncan probably would have been the better pick and made me less concerned about usage for pick 3.
Round 3: Sh**, I definitely need someone who can play the 1 and get some assists. But most of the elite PGs with good efficiency, the right value for round 3 are gone and I don't want to be scrambling for usage. I like Drexler's 91/92 season because he has 20% AST, plays 100% at the one and has 70+ D. Plus, he can play 1-3 (and 93% at PF in a pinch) so he can credibly defend whoever Kawhi doesn't pick up. 23% of his shots are threes so that works for me. Him and Kawhi both have 6 points of usage and overlap positions so I can always keep one of them on the floor and never worry about dropping below 10.
Round 4: No idea what to do here. With Kawhi and Drexler, I figure I can just get a low usage, okay defense guy who passes, rebound and shoots threes later. I kind of narrowed it down to Porter or Batum, who I can start at 3 or 2 depending on what else happens. However, I am pretty sure I can get them later. So, who is a good value who has a CREB% over 35%, eFG over 55%, DEF over 60, F/48 less than 4 and TO/48 less than 3? Of the dudes who are left with a good chunk of minutes, almost no one. Lucas fits the bill. I wanted decent shooting and low fouls and turnovers because I am going with one of the Drexler seasons that isn't great there. The 2 points of usage on another season (71-72) would have given me more roster flexibility plus 23 points of better defense. However, I feel good about my defense right now, and I feel like I want the shooting and rebounding more.
Round 5: As discussed above, Batum is the move here. Porter would have been good and Batum probably would have been available later (or undrafted) but with his passing, I really needed him and could not risk it. Porter just didn't have the assists I thought I needed (since I didn't expect Calderon to be available in round 6). Also, Batum can play 4 positions at 98 or above, which really goes nicely with what I have in Drexler and Kawhi. I like being able to do creative things with positions in depth chart/defensive assignments.
Round 6: I knew I wanted Johnson here even though he sucks. He rebounds okay, doesn't turn the ball over, is not a defensive sieve and his fouls aren't great but are manageable. That isn't a glowing description, so why take him? His usage is so damn low that he is super cheap for the amount of minutes and boards you get. I originally was going to go with a specific big man for the other pick here who rebounds well and shoots a lot of threes (not the one you are thinking of) because he fit salary wise. However, I was shocked Calderon was around and I didn't want anyone else to get him. I go with the 12/13 season for the low fouls, low turnovers, good everywhere else but D... but most importantly 2 points of usage so he can use the minutes left over from backing up Batum to spell Drexler while Drexler moves behind Kawhi.
So, it leaves me with $4.5M to fill around 2800 minutes. Not a ton to work with but outside of making sure I get some usage out of those minutes I don't need a lot else.
I also probably need to start Johnson over Lucas or else I am letting 2 points of usage go to waste. I have the defensive flexibility for that to not really hurt me since I have 3 multi positional guys with 90/90/78. It only gives me 58.5% of AST% in the starting lineup which is above the penalty line but not great. So I may experiment with this.
7/19/2017 12:45 PM (edited)