Post by Danny on Jul 23, 2013 15:13:26 GMT -5
Let's not muck about. Here's my first mock creation draft as things currently stand:
Denver Nuggets (#1 Overall) Adrian Dantley - SG/SF
So how do I figure this? I mean, the game projects Dantley at #10 overall to San Antonio. Well, simply put you can't take an established star at #1 in this creation draft because you'll have to wait until the 44th pick overall to select again. You're almost handicapped and Denver mentioned as much when the draft order was revealed. Frankly, I think there's reason for trepidation on the part of Denver with the top pick. I wouldn't be surprised at all to find him move it to get other assets.
Having said all that, I think he takes Dantley because, well, Dantley will be the top scorer in the league in a matter of 3 years or less and will be a top 10 scorer during those three years prior. He's a stud and will be the best SG in the game in no time. Oh, and he's 20 years old. This makes sense for Denver because (1) Dantley will play for the next 12+ seasons ans (2) there will be plenty of solid, veteran players to place around Dantley with picks 44 and 45. I think you have to go young with the top pick because if you don't you'll have to wait forever to select others to place around your Kareem or Artis.
Houston Rockets (#2) Moses Malone - PF/C
Another guy not projected until later in the draft by the game (#4 projected) but I don't think he lasts that long. Moses Malone is 21 and he's a beast. He's going to be able to demand double teams from day one and should record double-doubles in bunches. He's an athletic freak and did I mention he's only 21? I really think these first picks will be teams jumping on the best prospects available, and not just the best players available for the reasons I mentioned above. Well, Malone is certianly a top prospect.
New York Knicks (#3) George Gervin - SG/SF
Yeah, I guess it's a bit easy to call the #3 overall spot to the guy that the game projects to be the top pick, but I did it anyway. Gervin is only 24, but already boasts ridiculous ratings (like his A+ Inside Scoring and A- Free Throw and Jump Shot ratings). He's also off the charts in terms of his potential. I think he'll end up being like his original AvN counterpart (as in record-setting scorer) and might even be ALMOST as good as Steph Curry. Yeah, I said it because that's the way it works. Overall I think the
Knicks get the best shooter in the game and he's an instant All-Star.
Seattle Supersonics (#4) Lew Alcindor, er... Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - C
"Sweet Lew" is projected #2 in the game, but I think he falls to #4. He's a tad older (29) but he's also one of the best 3-4 centers ever to play the game. His ratings are great and he should play at a high level for 5+ seasons. This is why he falls. He just doesn't have as much life in his legs as the guys mentioned above, but he's still Kareem. He's still going to get nutty numbers and he's a guy that Seattle can thrive with.
Washington Bullets (#5) Artis Gilmore - PF/C
You know, I might have Kareem and Artis mixed up. I mean, Artis is purple/purple and he's two years younger than Kareem. He's a physical specimen and he'll do well for whatever team he falls to. He certainly has the talent to be selected before #5, but in the end I think the Bullets will be in that proverbial "tall cotton" if a 7'2" 240 lbs monster falls this far. Gilmore is an All-Star and worth every penny of the contract he'll get.
Chicago Bulls #6 Dr. J - SF
The Bulls take advantage of the fact that the previous 5 teams have made a mini-run on young prospects by selecting a guy in his prime. Dr. J is athletic and his AvN counterpart was a stud. He's going to be all over the place in terms of his stats. He's a guy that jump, shoot, steal, block, dish, and play all kinds of defense. Really, he's just a great ball player and one that will certainly yield high returns for the Bulls.
Cleveland Cavaliers (#7) Bob McAdoo - C/PF
There is a theme here involving big men and I think that theme will continue in the first round. I think the Cavs take a long hard look at a number of post players and settle on McAdoo. He can do many things well and he's still relatively young (25). He's probably a bit undersized to play C, but he should excel at PF. HE's not the greatest defender, nor does he go nuts in the weight room, but his offensive prowess more than makes up for any deficiencies he may have. At the end of the day he's a big man that can get it done all over.
Milwaukee Bucks (#8) Bill Walton - C
Milwaukee takes Walton just because I said I wanted him.
Portland Trailblzaers (#9) Bob Lanier - C/PF
Woe is me. I don't get Bill Walton. I have to "settle" for Bob Lanier. Boo hoo. The run on big men continues and Lanier makes the top 10. He's a guy we all know about and we all want. Him slipping to #9 just tells you how deep this talent pool is. We'll build around the 28 year old and be content about it.
San Antonio Spurs (#10) Robert Parish - PF/C
The Spurs jump all over the 23 year old Parish expecting to make him the "Chief" in the home of the Alamo. Parish is limited offensively, but should develop into a solid contributor in that end (I think he's a peak 15-18 ppg player). His prime area of strength is his defense. I don't expect to see another Serge Ibaka (I mean, who the f**k saw a 18/15/5 average his MVP year?) but I think he'll be equal to, or better, than the AvN Greg Oden who was a dominant force down low.
Golden State Warriors (#11) Alex English - SG/SF
The bad news for Tao? The elite posts are gone. The good news? The elite guards and wings are still there! Part of me wants to select Nate Thurmond here. I mean, Tao is the WORST GM in league history. Jokes aside, I think he takes English with the 11th pick overall. It makes sense. English is only 22 and he's already an elite scoring wing. Sure, we all want big men that can swat shots away, but every team needs a shooter. English is that and if he holds true to his original AvN counterpart he'll be setting records for the Warriors that will last 30+ years.
Kansas City Kings (#12) World B. Free - PG/SG
The Kings take the flier on Free here not knowing exactly what they'll be getting. He's another one of those "tweener" guards that is a hybrid PG/SG. I think long term (or immediately after he's drafted) he moves over to SG. He just doesn't look like the great passer you want at PG, but he should develop into a very good off-guard. AT 22 years old there's lots of time for the Kings to see his progression along. Frankly, at #12 overall he's a steal.
More to come, but PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SIMPLY KEEP THIS THING RUNNING IN THE COMMENTS. Someone start with #13 and let her rip. Maybe we can get a solid league-wide mock going. If not, I'll just finish the first round when I get home.
Denver Nuggets (#1 Overall) Adrian Dantley - SG/SF
So how do I figure this? I mean, the game projects Dantley at #10 overall to San Antonio. Well, simply put you can't take an established star at #1 in this creation draft because you'll have to wait until the 44th pick overall to select again. You're almost handicapped and Denver mentioned as much when the draft order was revealed. Frankly, I think there's reason for trepidation on the part of Denver with the top pick. I wouldn't be surprised at all to find him move it to get other assets.
Having said all that, I think he takes Dantley because, well, Dantley will be the top scorer in the league in a matter of 3 years or less and will be a top 10 scorer during those three years prior. He's a stud and will be the best SG in the game in no time. Oh, and he's 20 years old. This makes sense for Denver because (1) Dantley will play for the next 12+ seasons ans (2) there will be plenty of solid, veteran players to place around Dantley with picks 44 and 45. I think you have to go young with the top pick because if you don't you'll have to wait forever to select others to place around your Kareem or Artis.
Houston Rockets (#2) Moses Malone - PF/C
Another guy not projected until later in the draft by the game (#4 projected) but I don't think he lasts that long. Moses Malone is 21 and he's a beast. He's going to be able to demand double teams from day one and should record double-doubles in bunches. He's an athletic freak and did I mention he's only 21? I really think these first picks will be teams jumping on the best prospects available, and not just the best players available for the reasons I mentioned above. Well, Malone is certianly a top prospect.
New York Knicks (#3) George Gervin - SG/SF
Yeah, I guess it's a bit easy to call the #3 overall spot to the guy that the game projects to be the top pick, but I did it anyway. Gervin is only 24, but already boasts ridiculous ratings (like his A+ Inside Scoring and A- Free Throw and Jump Shot ratings). He's also off the charts in terms of his potential. I think he'll end up being like his original AvN counterpart (as in record-setting scorer) and might even be ALMOST as good as Steph Curry. Yeah, I said it because that's the way it works. Overall I think the
Knicks get the best shooter in the game and he's an instant All-Star.
Seattle Supersonics (#4) Lew Alcindor, er... Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - C
"Sweet Lew" is projected #2 in the game, but I think he falls to #4. He's a tad older (29) but he's also one of the best 3-4 centers ever to play the game. His ratings are great and he should play at a high level for 5+ seasons. This is why he falls. He just doesn't have as much life in his legs as the guys mentioned above, but he's still Kareem. He's still going to get nutty numbers and he's a guy that Seattle can thrive with.
Washington Bullets (#5) Artis Gilmore - PF/C
You know, I might have Kareem and Artis mixed up. I mean, Artis is purple/purple and he's two years younger than Kareem. He's a physical specimen and he'll do well for whatever team he falls to. He certainly has the talent to be selected before #5, but in the end I think the Bullets will be in that proverbial "tall cotton" if a 7'2" 240 lbs monster falls this far. Gilmore is an All-Star and worth every penny of the contract he'll get.
Chicago Bulls #6 Dr. J - SF
The Bulls take advantage of the fact that the previous 5 teams have made a mini-run on young prospects by selecting a guy in his prime. Dr. J is athletic and his AvN counterpart was a stud. He's going to be all over the place in terms of his stats. He's a guy that jump, shoot, steal, block, dish, and play all kinds of defense. Really, he's just a great ball player and one that will certainly yield high returns for the Bulls.
Cleveland Cavaliers (#7) Bob McAdoo - C/PF
There is a theme here involving big men and I think that theme will continue in the first round. I think the Cavs take a long hard look at a number of post players and settle on McAdoo. He can do many things well and he's still relatively young (25). He's probably a bit undersized to play C, but he should excel at PF. HE's not the greatest defender, nor does he go nuts in the weight room, but his offensive prowess more than makes up for any deficiencies he may have. At the end of the day he's a big man that can get it done all over.
Milwaukee Bucks (#8) Bill Walton - C
Milwaukee takes Walton just because I said I wanted him.
Portland Trailblzaers (#9) Bob Lanier - C/PF
Woe is me. I don't get Bill Walton. I have to "settle" for Bob Lanier. Boo hoo. The run on big men continues and Lanier makes the top 10. He's a guy we all know about and we all want. Him slipping to #9 just tells you how deep this talent pool is. We'll build around the 28 year old and be content about it.
San Antonio Spurs (#10) Robert Parish - PF/C
The Spurs jump all over the 23 year old Parish expecting to make him the "Chief" in the home of the Alamo. Parish is limited offensively, but should develop into a solid contributor in that end (I think he's a peak 15-18 ppg player). His prime area of strength is his defense. I don't expect to see another Serge Ibaka (I mean, who the f**k saw a 18/15/5 average his MVP year?) but I think he'll be equal to, or better, than the AvN Greg Oden who was a dominant force down low.
Golden State Warriors (#11) Alex English - SG/SF
The bad news for Tao? The elite posts are gone. The good news? The elite guards and wings are still there! Part of me wants to select Nate Thurmond here. I mean, Tao is the WORST GM in league history. Jokes aside, I think he takes English with the 11th pick overall. It makes sense. English is only 22 and he's already an elite scoring wing. Sure, we all want big men that can swat shots away, but every team needs a shooter. English is that and if he holds true to his original AvN counterpart he'll be setting records for the Warriors that will last 30+ years.
Kansas City Kings (#12) World B. Free - PG/SG
The Kings take the flier on Free here not knowing exactly what they'll be getting. He's another one of those "tweener" guards that is a hybrid PG/SG. I think long term (or immediately after he's drafted) he moves over to SG. He just doesn't look like the great passer you want at PG, but he should develop into a very good off-guard. AT 22 years old there's lots of time for the Kings to see his progression along. Frankly, at #12 overall he's a steal.
More to come, but PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SIMPLY KEEP THIS THING RUNNING IN THE COMMENTS. Someone start with #13 and let her rip. Maybe we can get a solid league-wide mock going. If not, I'll just finish the first round when I get home.