2015 Dynasty Draft Official Thread

[lethalweapon3]

With the 82^nd pick in the 2015 SDL Draft, the Lethal Voltage selects…

 

 

Smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em, Trevor Ariza (Small Forward/Shooting Guard, Age 30, 6’8”, 215 lbs.)! And by "em", of course, I’m referring to hookahs! We ARE talking about hookahs, right? Wait, whaddya mean, “offseason”?

 

As the saying goes, good things come in threes. Trevor Ariza brings a third championship ring to the hardware party, after his heroics in the 2009 Finals helped keep a certain slithery superstar relevant for a few more seasons. While Coach Gregg Popovich is hardly impressed, the title-winning experiences of Ariza, Stephen Curry, and Danny Green, will be greatly influential for the more youthful Voltage players, particularly rookie Karl-Anthony Towns, a Dominican-American kicking off his NBA career at age 19, just like Ariza was back in 2004. But it’s not all Show-and-Tell with the rings in Lethalopolis.

 

“A-Three-Za” raises to three (with Curry, Green) the number of Voltage starters ranking in the league’s Top 10 for three-pointers swished last season. His three-point shooting in 2013-14 helped point god John Wall lead the league in dimes for the first time in his career. Last season he helped James Harden, a shooting guard without a passing-oriented PG around him, lead the entire league in 3-point assists and bolstered The Bearded One’s MVP candidacy. Ariza will fit right in with the league’s MVP lead guard, boosting Curry’s assist tallies while expanding the dimensions of Green’s and Towns’ overall skillsets.

 

Ariza also brings to four (with Curry, Green, and Rudy Gobert) the Voltage starters among the league’s Top 20 in defensive win shares and All-Defensive Team vote-getters, nestled among the Top 5 in steals along with Curry. Steph, Danny, and Trevor represent one half of the six non-PF/C players from last season’s Top 20 for defensive win shares. The dual-threat 3-and-D potential at the wing positions opens up all kinds of possibilities for Curry, as well as the Voltage front line stars Gobert and Towns.

 

He’s got 11 NBA seasons of mileage under his belt, yet the minutes Ariza logged in the past two seasons are the most of his career, a testament to his conditioning of late. Meanwhile, his scoring averages in these last two seasons are the second- and third-highest of his career. These days, threes make up well more than half of his shot volume (61% of shot attempts), but he remains useful as a slasher to the rim as well.

 

Ariza’s a notorious hot-and-cold guy, his 40.2 FG% and 35.0 3FG% in 2014-15 down from his marks of 45.6 FG% and 40.7 3FG% (a career-best) the prior season. Now entering his 30s, he’ll have to find a stable offensive comfort zone as his shot volumes and minutes decline over time. His usage rate in 2014-15 was his lowest in seven seasons, and isn’t likely to bounce back up.

 

One area where Ariza has improved remarkably is his free throw accuracy. Once a 66-percent shooter over the course of his career, he made freebies at a career-best 85.3% clip last season, 90.5% as a vital X-Factor during his team’s playoff run.

 

Curry, who was unintentionally upended by Ariza on a layup attempt during the conference finals, will be happy to know Ariza will now be out on the perimeter, clearing the way for Steph’s future forays into the paint. Ariza’s roles on both ends of the floor, and in the locker room, will be integral to the success of a youthful but well-coached title-contending roster. 

 

In the meantime, in between time, it’s @ATLHawks3 who’s on the sundial!

 

THE LETHAL VOLTAGE: True to Lethalopolis.

PG: Wardell Stephen Curry II

SG: Daniel Richard Green, Jr.

SF: Señor Trevor Anthony Ariza

PF: Señor Karl-Anthony Towns

C:  Monsieur Rudy Gobert

HCIC: Gregg Popovich

 

~lw3

Edited July 14, 2015 by lethalweapon3

[Nicholasp27]

Good fit for your team

[Guest]

With the 82^nd pick in the 2015 SDL Draft, the Lethal Voltage selects…

Smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em, Trevor Ariza (Small Forward/Shooting Guard, Age 30, 6’8”, 215 lbs.)! And by "em", of course, I’m referring to hookahs! We ARE talking about hookahs, right? Wait, whaddya mean, “offseason”?

A little verbiage on Magnum T.A. in this space a bit. In the meantime, in between time, it’s @ATLHawks3 who’s on the sundial!

THE LETHAL VOLTAGE: True to Lethalopolis.

PG: Wardell Stephen Curry II

SG: Daniel Richard Green, Jr.

SF: Señor Trevor Anthony Ariza

PF: Señor Karl-Anthony Towns

C: Monsieur Rudy Gobert

HCIC: Gregg Popovich

~lw3

Omg hilarious!!! Lmao

[JETSET]

@AHF

 

You better keep your boy locked in a cage until practices and games.  Ty Lawson was just arrested for his 2nd DUI this year. 

[AHF]

@AHF

 

You better keep your boy locked in a cage until practices and games.  Ty Lawson was just arrested for his 2nd DUI this year. 

 

That is how bad he needs to get out of Denver!

[JETSET]

That is how bad he needs to get out of Denver!

You know they are regretting not shipping him off already now.  Where would you like to see him end up? 

 

I think Utah would be a great spot if he would be willing to go there.  They are a PG away from being a solid playoff team.  Xxxx can relate to his partying ways and possibly reign him in.

Edited July 14, 2015 by lethalweapon3
Hush! Hush!

[AHF]

You know they are regretting not shipping him off already now.  Where would you like to see him end up? 

 

I think Utah would be a great spot if he would be willing to go there.  They are a PG away from being a solid playoff team.  Quin can relate to his partying ways and possibly reign him in.

Xxxx would be great for him and he would be a dramatically better shooter for Utah than their current PG offensive liability, Xxxx Xxxxxx.

Edited July 14, 2015 by lethalweapon3
Shhhhhhhhh!

[ATLHawks3]

No time for a writeup, but with the next pick in the 2015 Hawksquawk Dynasty Draft, the Atlanta Attack selects.. Goran Dragic

 

 

@Blazemore is on the clock.

[AHF]

I like that pick.  The big question for him is whether that one season in Phoenix was the outlier for his career or whether he can return to that level going forward.  As your backup PG, though, you will be getting outstanding production in that role either way.

[capstone21]

No time for a writeup, but with the next pick in the 2015 Hawksquawk Dynasty Draft, the Atlanta Attack selects.. Goran Dragic

 

 

@Blazemore is on the clock.

He should have gone much higher ... great pick

[Blazemore]

With the next two picks the Paulding County Blazers select:

 

Omer Asik

(7.3 PPG, 9.8 RPG, .7 BPG)

 

and

 

Luol Deng

(14.0 PPG, 1.9 APG, 5.2 RPG)

 

With Tim Duncan on our squad it's vital that we have a solid backup as he will be playing very limited minutes for the bulk of the regular season. While Asik is certainly no Tim Duncan, he's proven himself to be a solid defender and a good rebounder and will certainly be a competent back up.

 

As for Luol Deng...he's an elite defender that can score a variety of ways (including shooting the 3), rebound, and isn't a terrible passer. We are happy to have him.

 

Blazemore's Blazers

 

PG: Kyle Lowry

SG: Kyle Korver

SF: Gordon Hayward, Luol Deng

PF/C: Anthony Davis

PF/C: Tim Duncan, Omer Asik

 

@AHF you're up

Edited July 14, 2015 by Blazemore

[Guest]

With the next two picks the Paulding County Blazers select:

Omer Asik

(7.3 PPG, 9.8 RPG, .7 BPG)

and

Luol Deng

(14.0 PPG, 1.9 APG, 5.2 RPG)

With Tim Duncan on our squad it's vital that we have a solid backup as he will be playing very limited minutes for the bulk of the regular season. While Asik is certainly no Tim Duncan, he's proven himself to be a solid defender and a good rebounder and will certainly be a competent back up.

As for Luol Deng...he's an elite defender that can score a variety of ways (including shooting the 3), rebound, and isn't a terrible passer. We are happy to have him.

Blazemore's Blazers

PG: Kyle Lowry

SG: Kyle Korver

SF: Gordon Hayward, Luol Deng

PF/C: Anthony Davis

PF/C: Tim Duncan, Omer Asik

@AHF you're up

Danny Ferry approves of the latter pick....

[AHF]

Ashley and I are astounded and pumped that this big man is somehow still on the table!

 

 

 

With the 86th pick, the U-Niques select:

 

Jonas Valanciunas

 

At age 22, he put up the 27th most win shares in the league last year.  He has improved every year in the league and last year put up per 36:

 

16.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.6 blocks on .623% TS% (including a more than solid 79% from the free throw line)

 

His metrics looked great, too:

 

20.6 PER, .189 WS/48

 

Let's just say we aren't going to have problems in the paint with this giant coming onto the team.  The best part is that coming into his age 23 season there is every reason to think he is going to keep growing as a player.

 

He's so excited he decided to celebrate (at the hotel, unlike his PG).  Welcome to the team, Jonas!

 

 

@lethalweapon3 is on the clock

[lethalweapon3]

Most Players Drafted, by NBA Team:

BULLS 5

WARRIORS 5

heat 5

HAWKS 4

CAVS 4

CLIPPERS 4

GRIZZLIES 4

BUCKS 4

SPURS 4

 

Fewest Players Drafted, by NBA Team:

CELTICS 0

NUGGETS 1*

PISTONS 1

KNICKS 1

SUNS 1

BLAZERS 1

 

*about to go up to 2 with my next pick (but may go back to 1, if Denver's GM has his way soon)

 

~lw3

[AHF]

 

*about to go up to 2 with my next pick (but may go back to 1, if Denver's GM has his way soon)

 

~lw3

 

Nevermind - it was right from the beginning!

Edited July 14, 2015 by AHF

[lethalweapon3]

Uh oh, I have a feeling a sharp shooter is about to go....

 

I wish this dull shooter was sharp! Oh, lemme shut up and pick!

 

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Annnnnnnnnnnd with the 87^th pick in the 2015 SDL Draft, the Lethal Voltage selects…

 

 

Alright, enough with the trickery, Emmanuel Mudiay (Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Age 19, 6’5”, 195 lbs.) It’s clear, you’ve taken on this little “Globetrotter” persona way too seriously, and now it’s gotten to your head. No worries, though. We’re going to keep you away from all the bad-influence hookah-smoking ballers, so you can mature properly, young man! Ain’t that right, Trevor? Trevor?

 

No young up-and-coming superstar is known for traveling quite as much as Emmanuel Mudiay. And that’s really a good thing. Surviving his formative years in war-torn DR Congo, his family fled for the U.S. and arrived in Texas. Mudiay came of age as a top-flight prep hooper, particularly as a senior under the watchful eye of Deion Sanders, and it wasn’t long before the world knew Emmanuel was a Ready for Prime Time player.

 

After spurning a commitment to play at SMU, Mudiay elected to forgo college ball altogether and accepted a more lucrative deal as a pro overseas, in the Chinese Basketball Association. He also signed a sneaker deal with Under Armour, a brand that the guard above him on the depth chart is rapidly making relevant in the hoops world.

 

The multi-continental experiences give Mudiay an air of maturity that stands out among his peers. More practically, what’s also prominent is his immense athletic frame for a point guard, coupled with good court vision and ballhandling technique. He has the skill and the will to get by his man and into the paint, usually resulting in a dish, a bucket, and/or a drawn foul. Much of his potential is becoming evident in Summer League contests, currently ranking 3^rd among prospects. He also uses his size well as a help rebounder, which will be a valuable commodity to fellow lottery rookie Karl-Anthony Towns.

 

But even in China, Mudiay couldn’t hit the side of a pagoda with a long-range jumpshot, and that’s becoming clearer in Las Vegas so far. He acknowledges that and is dedicated to improving his shot mechanics. But in the meantime, he plays a crucial role on the Voltages, by allowing the baby-faced assassin Curry to spend some time off the ball.

 

In a Curry-Mudiay backcourt, the latter has the strength and the hops to D up opposing two-guards on switches, plus the quickness to get by either PGs or SGs off the dribble on offense. Mudiay’s early success in this league will be defined by his ability to penetrate and create off drives.

 

To the best young guards in the U.S., every game feels like an And1 Mixtape Showcase, and Mudiay is prone to turning the ball over by trying to get too fancy. That won’t fly with the real Professor, Voltage coach Gregg Popovich. Coach Pop is familiar with transforming hot-dogging speed-demon guards into reliable ballhandlers that can also sink the occasional jumper at the end of the clock.

 

Mudiay’s ability to become a better half-court player will dictate how soon the Voltages can boast of two All-Star-caliber lead guards on the roster. Here's hoping his passes won't be preceded by any puffs!

 

The benevolent @Nicholasp27 is up next!

 

THE LETHAL VOLTAGE: We're Not Offering a Playoff Guarantee. But C’mon...

PG: Wardell Stephen Curry II, Monsieur Emmanuel Mudiay

SG: Daniel Richard Green, Jr.

SF: Señor Trevor Anthony Ariza

PF: Señor Karl-Anthony Towns

C:  Monsieur Rudy Gobert

HCIC: Gregg Popovich

 

~lw3

Edited July 14, 2015 by lethalweapon3

[AHF]

We did our best with these last two picks, @lethalweapon3, but I think the Greak Freak still leads with longest player name drafted so far.

[Guest]

We did our best with these last two picks, @lethalweapon3, but I think the Greak Freak still leads with longest player name drafted so far.

Which is why every time I lust my starting lineup I call him Giannis...might switch to G. Freak though lol

[lethalweapon3]

We did our best with these last two picks, @lethalweapon3, but I think the Greak Freak still leads with longest player name drafted so far.

 

We'll have to wait-and-see whether his bro Xxxxxxxx has anything to say about that!

 

~lw3