Submitted on: 07/08/2015 by
Chase Becotte
So after the jump, we'll talk about some of those teams and individuals, and how they'll look in their new surroundings.
LaMarcus Aldridge - Of course Aldridge went to the Spurs, of course he did! Is there any doubt he's sticking corner 3s and moving the ball like a Spursian robot by midseason? And the beauty is that in video game form, he won't even need to adjust. Small ball, pace and space lineups are even scarier in NBA 2K than they are in real life, which means they're super scary. And Aldridge playing some minutes at center will only make it easier for the Spurs to rack up points.
David West - I am so ready for the David West mean-mugging-in-San-Antonio era. I mean just look at that mug! This is going to be great. He's going to be the meanest version of David West ever. And in case you have not watched David West in the last 10 years, that means he's basically going to be insufferable, and you will hate him more than any other Spurs player in no time. Can't wait.
DeAndre Jordan - Staying in Texas, DeAndre Jordan going to the Mavericks is good times. In video games, I prefer a Dirk/DeAndre pairing to Griffin/DeAndre for spacing purposes, and with Parsons and Wes Matthews (and hopefully Lin!) out there it's a really threatening starting five. Even if Barea or Devin Harris end up being in there as the starting point guard (sit back down Raymond Felton I didn't call your name), I still think this is a fun lineup.
Wesley Matthews - In a world where I do not have to worry about virtual Achilles issues and how they ruin careers, signing Wes Matthews to a four-year, $57 million contract seems like a good deal to me. He is another player I like shooting with in NBA 2K, and besides that he's just a solid all-around player who will add to the 3-point barrage that surrounds DeAndre Jordan.
DeMarre Carroll - If the Raptors are serious about going with a lot of small-ball lineups where either James Johnson or DeMarre Carroll play next to Jonas Valanciunas, I like this signing even more for video game purposes. Carroll has an easy shooting form, and he instantly becomes a menace on offense in what become really fun video game lineups where you run out two point guards and a stretch four.
Cory Joseph - With all these potential small-ball lineups (and trading Greivis Vasquez), Cory Joseph being a point guard off the bench makes sense here. It's even more dynamite that he will become just the second Canadian-born athlete to ever play for the Raptors.
Bismack Biyombo - I was surprised the Hornets just let Biyombo walk -- he was a restricted free agent who became unrestricted when he was not tendered a contract -- but he's another player that fits as the one big on the floor surrounded by shooters. Plus, I've always been a big Bismack fan because in video games it's easier to hide somebody's lack of any sort of offensive talent or ball handling while accentuating the defense, rebounding and athleticism.
Rajon Rondo - Between the Karl/Cousins feud, being swindled by the Sixers, and striking out on their top free-agent targets, the Kings sort of vomited all over themselves to begin the offseason. Still, they ended up getting one of their main targets (even if they overpaid at $10 million). Rondo is always a weird player to use in video games, but he's still good at getting to the rim in the virtual world, and his jump shot is generally going to be more effective in this universe than the real NBA.
Marco Belinelli - Marco is straight cash in NBA 2K. He's got an easy shooting form that leads to plenty of green releases, and it just makes this signing easy to get behind. A lineup of Collison, Belinelli, McLemore, Casspi and Cousins could also be really fun because it's just Cousins punishing guys in single coverage or kicking out to shooters -- all without worrying about the defensive ramifications.
Kosta Koufos - The Kings end up having some versatility here as well because Koufos (along with Willie Trill Cauley-Stein) can push Cousins to power forward where it becomes even more trouble for opposing defenses. In other words, Koufos is great and all, but bumping Cousins to easier match-ups on the block is really why I like this move.
New Starting Five - So on one hand, it's really sad to see Damian Lillard as the only returning starter, but on the other hand it presents opportunity for those folks who like to rebuild a franchise. I don't actually think this is the starting lineup the Trail Blazers will use because it flies in the face of their affinity for space on the floor, but the point is it's a mostly clean cap sheet to go with a bunch of interesting young players.
Noah Vonleh - I'm cheating a bit because he was acquired in the Henderson/Batum trade, but the point is Vonleh is just one of the new interesting frontcourt players at your disposal here. A Noah Vonleh/Meyers Leonard duo could theoretically become a very dangerous combo where there's still size on the court to go with some shooting. Both would become easy partners in pick and roll with Damian Lillard as well, and then you at least have something tangible to go with on offense besides Lillard shooting 15 3-pointers a game.
Tyson Chandler - Again, I think athletic centers in NBA 2K are so important. Tyson Chandler is DeAndre Jordan-lite, and the Suns style and playbook in NBA 2K means there will be plenty of oops and putback opportunities for Chandler (sorry Alex Len, hit the bench).
Paul Pierce - Until the day he retires, Paul Pierce will be a killer in NBA 2K. His shot has always felt right to me, and you don't have to worry about racking up minutes on his old virtual legs. It's a nice addition in the face of the DeAndre Jordan departure.
Greg Monroe - Monroe is sort of the forward version of Rajon Rondo because you never quite know how to use him. He does have great passing skills for a big man, but that does not really matter much in a video game. Beyond that, he's not a great shooter and he does not block shots. Still, he's actually a beast in the post, so if you do go with him as the small-ball center and surround him with Parker, Giannis, Middleton and MCW that's a fun lineup to build with over the long haul in MyGM.
So who did I leave out here? Do Knicks fans think I should have included the Afflalo/Lopez/O'Quinn trio? Do Lakers fans think I should have gone with the Lou Williams/Hibbert/Brandon Bass pu pu platter? Let me know or just talk about what teams you're looking forward to using or avoiding in next year's game.
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