The World Is Yours: A CAP NBA 2K14 Simulation

[ReidSkee]

NOTE: If you want to sign up for the 2015 class and beyond, make sure to go here to sign up!

The Faces of the 2014 NBA Draft

Shaq Davis
C, LSU
Projected Pick: Top 3

It's not hyperbole to suggest that Shaq Davis is the next great NBA center. It's also not a surprise to see who Davis has modeled his game after, given both his name and his school of choice. Davis is Shaquille O'Neal 2.0, a force on the boards and in the paint. Also brimming with potential, it would be shocking to see Davis fall beyond the top 5.

Danny Jones
SG, Alabama
Projected Pick: Top 3

There's a surprisingly large amount of competition vying for the #1 guard spot in this year's draft, but it seems fairly obvious to anyone with a pulse that Danny Jones is the best prospect of the bunch. A 6'5" SG/PG hybrid, Jones is an electric scorer who doubles as perhaps the best athlete in the entire draft. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Jones should be one of the first names said by Adam Silver.

David Solomon
SG, St. John's
Projected Pick: Top 3

Danny Jones' direct competition for the top guard position, some have argued that the only reason David Solomon is not projected higher than Jones is because of their relative potentials. It would be a mistake to overlook Solomon because of that, however. A strong finisher and ball handler, as well as a dynamite outside scorer, Solomon should be a great asset to have in this league for quite some time.

Michael Evans
PG, USC
Projected Pick: Top 5

Michael Evans could be the steal of this draft, if he falls further than his projected pick. Evans can do so many things on the court already. If he works on his basketball IQ, he's going to be a superstar in this league. He's, literally, got just about everything else in his arsenal.

Joe Cohen
PG, Wake Forest
Projected Pick: Top 5

Look past the best passer in this draft at your own risk. Joe Cohen isn't too worried. He knows that he's going to be around for a while, and he has a skillset that translates very well to the NBA game. Despite being somewhat undersized for the NBA, Cohen's passing will make him a force. He's also supremely intelligent, which will only work to his advantage as he runs NBA offenses.

Christian Carter
SG, Georgetown
Projected Pick: Lottery

What makes Christian Carter such an interesting prospect is that he began playing basketball in middle school, far later in the cycle than many fellow lottery players in this draft. After a great first year at Georgetown, Carter looks to bring his stifling defense and athleticism to the NBA. If his one year at Georgetown is any indication, he'll be just fine in the pros.

Trey Young
SF, Boise State
Projected Pick: Lottery

There's no denying what Trey Young is best at. The man was put on this planet to shoot and score buckets. In a draft with some pretty great shooters, Young has to be considered the top shooter of the bunch. Some have compared Young to fellow 3 point bomber Mike Miller, and the comparisons definitely make sense. He doesn't project to be much more than a shooter, but when you have a shot as great as Young's, who needs anything else?

Byron Ford
PF, Arkansas
Projected Pick: Lottery

Out of all of the lottery picks in this draft, Byron Ford is one of the players with the best chance of seeing his draft stock improve. At 6'10" and over 260 pounds, Ford was a monster in his lone SEC season, putting up 15 PPG and 10 RPG. His battles against LSU and Shaq Davis are revered in SEC country. Many feel that Davis won the battles, but Ford hit Davis with some hard haymakers. If he can compete with the possible #1 pick in this draft, he can compete in the NBA.

Denilson Santiago
SF, Brazil
Projected Pick: Lottery

By the time the Draft rolls around, Santiago will be 24 years old. Many scouts agree that Santiago has already reached his peak ability, and because of this, some believe that his stock, which was pushing the top 3 range, will drop dramatically once the draft rolls around. Whoever drafts Santiago, however, will get one of the best packages in the entire draft, an athletic force that does just about everything well.

Cam Rodman
PF, UCLA
Projected Pick: Lottery

Recently outed as an illegitimate son of NBA legend Dennis Rodman, Cam Tyus decided to roll with the punches and legally changed his last name to Rodman. In his lone season at UCLA, it was apparent that Tyus--er, Rodman plays a lot like his dad. He's not as good as his dad, but not many guys are. He's still a strong defender, a strong athlete, and a freak on the glass. You know exactly what you're getting with Cam Rodman.

Jeff Frazier
PF, Saint Mary's
Projected Pick: Mid-to-Late 1st Round

Gonzaga coach Mark Few has constantly referred to Saint Mary's big man Jeff Frazier as "The Evolutionary David Lee". He doesn't really have the outside touch that Lee has, but Frazier has one particular thing that his comparison lacks: Speed. He's also a good finisher at the rim and a good rebounder. The kind of traits that Frazier has should not be slept on.

Kobe Carr
SF, North Florida
Projected Pick: Late 1st/Early 2nd

Out of everyone in the 2014 NBA Draft, the player that most scouts have the most disagreement on is North Florida sleeper Kobe Carr. They can agree, for the most part, that Carr is a great athlete, a good shooter, and a pretty good rebounder. What many can't agree on is his ceiling. While many feel Carr has potential to grow into a pretty good NBA player, some wonder if he'll ever reach his potential, with one scout actually saying that Carr "will never amount to anything more than a 12th man in the NBA". If Carr does realize his potential, that scout will be looking for work in 12 months.

[ReidSkee]

Game: NBA 2K14 (duh)
Console: Xbox One
Quarter Length: 12 Minutes
Roster: JA Money14's Ultimate Xbox ONE Experience Rosters

The Simulation and Update Processes
Let's start with the first season: I'm getting the 2013-14 season out of the way, so that I can get to the Draft Lottery as soon as possible. Once I get to the draft lottery, I'll post the results, and then, most likely, do a "mock draft" based on what I think the teams should do, not what they necessarily WILL do. If all goes according to plan, I will be doing a HUGE draft results post, complete with analysis and commentary from "experts". After that, I'll do a quick summary of the rest of the offseason and then include the starting lineups/rosters of the teams where your players have been drafted to.

After ALL of this, we'll get to the real beginning of the simulation with the 2014-15 season. Because I intend on rushing to get to this point, the 2015 draft class will not include OS players and will be one of my own realistic drafts. From 2016 on, however, you'll be able to create new players to enter the league. If you currently have a player in the league, you are allowed to create a new player for another class if you wish. There is a limit of one player per user per draft class, though.

Once we get into the main simulation, I will try my hardest to update every day with weekly updates of every OS player, as well as monthly stats/standings updates, just as I did in my Magic dynasty. I will also be allowing those of you who wish to get involved in storylines, press conferences, social updates, etc. to use your creativity to comment on your player's actions for a given week (or weeks). I want to create a living, breathing world in this thread, and I'll need the help of those who agreed to user involvement to get to that point. I'm even considering the possibility of doing "interviews" with players.

If there is ANYTHING else you want to know about this simulation, do not hesitate to ask.

[ReidSkee]

2013-14 NBA Season Overview

NBA Champions

Chicago Bulls (defeated Los Angeles Clippers in seven games)

Finals MVP
Carlos Boozer (18.3 PPG, 10.1 RPG)

Award Winners
MVP - Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Rookie of the Year - Trey Burke, Utah Jazz
Sixth Man of the Year - Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic
Defensive Player of the Year - Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons
Most Improved Player - Isaiah Thomas, Sacramento Kings
Coach of the Year - Mike Malone, Sacramento Kings

Notable Retired Players
Tim Duncan
Ray Allen
Steve Nash
Dirk Nowitzki
Chauncey Billups
Marcus Camby
Derek Fisher

[ReidSkee]

The Fourteen Teams in the Draft Lottery

1) Philadelphia 76ers (18-64, 25% odds)
2) Orlando Magic (26-56, 19.9% odds)
3) Detroit Pistons (32-50, 15.6% odds)
4) Boston Celtics (33-49, 11.9% odds)
5) Toronto Raptors (34-48, 8.8% odds)
6) Los Angeles Lakers (35-47, 6.3% odds)
7) Charlotte Bobcats (36-46, 4.3% odds)
8) Phoenix Suns (36-46, 2.8% odds)
8) Milwaukee Bucks (36-46, 1.7% odds)
10) Dallas Mavericks (37-45, 1.1% odds)
11) Portland Trail Blazers (38-44, 0.8% odds)
12) Houston Rockets (38-44, 0.7% odds)
13) Utah Jazz (38-44, 0.6% odds)
14) New Orleans Pelicans (39-43, 0.5% odds)

And the results...

14) New Orleans Pelicans
13) Utah Jazz
12) Houston Rockets
11) Portland Trailblazers
10) Dallas Mavericks
9) Milwaukee Bucks
8) Phoenix Suns
7) Charlotte Bobcats
6) Los Angeles Lakers
5) Toronto Raptors
4) Philadelphia 76ers


3)

Boston Celtics

2)

Detroit Pistons

And that can only mean one thing...

1)

Orlando Magic

(And yes, I can't believe that the Magic have now won two consecutive lotteries in my Basketball Diaries threads, either.)

[ReidSkee]

June 25th, 2014

NBA Mock Draft 7.0: The Final Mock Before The Lights Shine Bright

NEW YORK - The draftniks and experts of the world have been waiting for this day to come. It's Draft Day Eve, and tomorrow is the day where we get to celebrate with the new presents given to us. With it being only one day left until the NBA Draft, what kind of analyst would I be if I didn't provide one more mock draft before the big night? Sit back and relax, because it's time to go mockin'.

1) Orlando Magic - Danny Jones, SG/PG, Alabama
I've been going back and forth on this pick, honestly. I've heard rumblings that the Magic want to trade down, I've heard rumors that the Magic are undecided even right now on who they want to take at #1. If nothing else, though, the Magic should consider Danny Jones out of Alabama. He can effectively play as a point guard in the Magic system, and the Magic backcourt for years would be set with Afflalo, Oladipo and Jones.

Alternate Pick: Michael Evans, USC

2) Detroit Pistons - David Solomon, SG/PG, St. John's
I can't imagine that it would make the Pistons too happy to see Jones go off the board at the #1 spot, but David Solomon is a very nice consolation prize for a team that desperately needs a spark. There's way too much talent on this team for the kind of finish the Pistons had last season, and Solomon would be the final piece in the puzzle that would shoot the Pistons back into the playoffs.

Alternate Pick: Christian Carter, Georgetown

3) Boston Celtics - Michael Evans, PG/SG, USC
There are a lot of different directions the Celtics could go with this pick. Shaq Davis would still be available here, and he, by all accounts, should be taken in the top 3. All I'm hearing lately out of Boston, though, is that Rajon Rondo is extremely unhappy and will leave Boston when his contract expires. If that winds up being the case, the Celtics would be wise to draft his replacement in Michael Evans, a guy with the potential to be their next Rondo.

Alternate Pick: Shaq Davis, LSU

4) Philadelphia 76ers - Christian Carter, SG/PG, Georgetown
As you can see, I think that the first part of the NBA Draft will be dominated by the little guys. The reason for that is because, quite simply, the needs for these teams center around the guard positions, other than, maybe, Boston. Carter isn't ideal at this spot, and the Sixers will be hoping to see one of Solomon or Jones fall, but Carter is a nice consolation prize that should grow into a reliable starter for Philly.

Alternate Pick: Shaq Davis, LSU

5) Toronto Raptors - Denilson Santiago, SF/PF, Brazil
I don't really see the Raptors as a team that truly needs a lot, despite their poor finish this past season. I think they could go one of two ways. They could either give Valanciunas a run for his money with Shaq Davis, or they could take a guy in Denilson Santiago that plays a position where the Raptors are undermanned. It's mind-blowing to me that Shaq Davis might fall out of the top five, but Santiago just seems like a better fit.

Alternate Pick: Shaq Davis, LSU

6) Los Angeles Lakers - Shaq Davis, C, LSU
If Shaq Davis falls to #6 like I'm projecting him to here, the Lakers will sprint up to the podium and take Davis in a span of five seconds. Davis is the man the Lakers have been targeting from day one, a guy with incredible presence in the paint. If Davis falls outside of the top five, there's no way he drops past #6.

Alternate Pick: Byron Ford, Arkansas

7) Charlotte Bobcats - Joe Cohen, PG/SG, Wake Forest
The Bobcats are another team that could go quite a few directions in this draft, but I think their biggest need, at the moment, is a backup for Kemba Walker. Luckily for the Bobcats, Joe Cohen is still there at #7 and would be a perfect compliment to the skills of Walker.

Alternate Pick: Byron Ford, Arkansas

8) Phoenix Suns - Francis Reece, SG/SF, Duke
I can't imagine that the Suns would be happy if the NBA Draft fell into place in the way I'm projecting right now. I wish they would consider going big here, but I would not be surprised at all if they see the lack of depth at the guard spot here and take the lone guard remaining worthy of a potential lottery pick in Francis Reece.

Alternate Pick: Byron Ford, Arkansas

9) Milwaukee Bucks - Trey Young, SF/SG, Boise State
The Bucks, I feel, could go one of two ways. They'll either draft a surefire starter at SF, or they'll draft someone at SG or PG that can fill in while Brandon Knight recovers from a torn MCL. The problem with the latter option is that, after the Suns take Reece, there's really not many other guard options worth spending a lottery pick on. I think they'd be better off taking a guy in Young that can play both positions and spread the court for O.J. Mayo and Knight, when he comes back.

Alternate Pick: Bradford Temple, Arizona State

10) Dallas Mavericks - Byron Ford, PF/C, Arkansas
The Mavericks have to like the way the draft has played out so far. Only one big man has been taken, meaning that the Mavericks would have the pick of the litter here. Leo Meier and Cam Rodman are both possibilities here, but if Byron Ford is on the board at #10, I can't imagine that the Mavericks would pass on him.

Alternate Pick: Leo Meier, Germany

11) Portland Trail Blazers - Leo Meier, C, Germany
Like the Mavericks, the Blazers would be ecstatic if the draft played out like this. The Blazers would be even happier if the Mavericks drafted Ford, because that would give them free reign to take the man they wanted more anyway in Meier. In Meier, you have a big man who can also shoot the ball from distance. Could you imagine the Blazers with five guys who could shoot the ball? Scary thought.

Alternate Pick: Jesse Baker, California

12) Houston Rockets - Karl Clancy, SG/SF, UConn
This is definitely a reach at #12, but Houston won't have the luxury of playing it coy with how James Harden is speaking out against the Rockets organization. Karl Clancy isn't the answer, nor is he even a replacement should Harden demand to be traded, but they need to have something in place, just in case the worst case scenario comes to life.

Alternate Pick: Bradford Temple, Arizona State

13) Utah Jazz - Cam Rodman, PF/SF, UCLA
The Jazz are in a position where they can use the draft to help strengthen their bench, as their starting five is pretty much set. In that scenario, they should look at drafting the best player available. I think, at this point, that could be Cam Rodman. He's so flexible that he could play guard or center. He would be a perfect fit for the Jazz bench.

Alternate Pick: Jeff Frazier, Saint Mary's

14) New Orleans Pelicans - Jeff Frazier, PF/SF, Saint Mary's
There are some who'd, for some reason, rather have Jesse Baker over Jeff Frazier. I just can't see why they would. In my opinion, Jesse Baker has peaked. He's not going to get much better. Jeff Frazier, meanwhile, at least has the chance to become a decent player in the NBA, and he has an interesting inside game that will make him a contributor from day one. Yes, Baker has the ability to play center, which may sway the Pelicans, but Frazier is the better talent.

Alternate Pick: Jesse Baker, California

And with that, I'm done for now. I should have the big draft post up sometime later today or tonight. Until then, I'm going to pose just one question to the OS members who will be selected in the 2014 NBA Draft:

If you could choose which lottery team you could go to in this NBA Draft, which team would it be?

Feel free to answer that question however you want to.

[Deuce2223]

Being a Northwest guy and the fact I am rolling with the Trail Blazers in my Association I would love to see Younglbood go to Portland. I don't mind being a backup to Matthews and Batum, but being how they also have CJ McCollum I see their need for a bigman.

I would still love to stay in the West and play for the Suns of the Lottery teams.

[mb625]

Carr is not a lottery guy, but I'd like to see him stick in Florida with the Magic (or Heat, which both are realistic given that the Heat are (likely) toward the end of the first and Magic will be at the top of the second). Though, I also think it'd be interesting if he went to New Orleans as well.

[Lil_Tip]

Jones would love to see himself drop to the Pistons seeing that him and Dre could become the new Shaq and Kobe.