rookie scouting

[Nick]

Yeah, they're like rated 59 n shit... you can't even use them.

I think NBA comparison would be excellent. I could imagine it working...

E.G.
"Bob freedachicken"
NBA comparison: Darius Miles.

Doesn't mean the ratings would be the same, infact they'd most likely be worse, but it just gives you a good idea of how they're play is. in this case he would be an athletic freak whose jump shot isn't good and isn't very finely tuned.

E.G. 2
"Henry Atetwochickens"
NBA Comparison: Less fit Elton Brand

You could always use the "Less fit" or "smaller" or "bigger" or "young" words before the name to give you an even better idea. in this case i'd assume that my rookie will be a pure kind of player with a good jumpshot and is finely tuned...but isn't very fast, agressive and wont be on many highlight reels.

[- Ace -]

Or have the option of bring the players in and use them in a practice session aka practice mode to see if they're any good.

[Metsis]

One thing that also could work... If you could pick a handful of guys to try out in practise mode before the draft. You could get a feel for the rookies.

Their ratings would be hidden, but maybe their scouting report could be visible. So you'd know how the players are approximately rated. You could test out players of one position and the guys that will likely fall to your draft slot.

Here's the thing broken down into pieces:

1. You had an average season 18th pick in the draft.

2. Pre-draft Camp selection would be on the off-season "to-do" list

3. With the pre-draft camp you could select a position to whom to try out.

4. The AI would automatically choose players of that position around the "top 20" projected status and have them available for practise. The AI would always choose at least 3 players starting from you projected draft position, but never more then 5.

5. Then you could test out the players in practise mode. And get a feel for them, so you'd know a little more about who you are drafting.

You had the 18th pick... You selected shooting guards. You could have 2 top 20 projected guys at the camp and two late first round projected guys. Then you could try out their shooting, dribbling and athletic skills in single practise. You could also view their projected strengths and weaknesses so you wouldn't try shooting threes with a guy who don't know how to shoot them etc.

This could work... And you pretty much know what position needs a little strengthening through the draft. Or it really doesn't matter if you could pick multiple positions in this cause the AI would then pick the top of the projected people for your workouts.

Just another thought, that would help out on the draft day...

[Fresh8]

Well...I think that in Dynasty, the teams should be able to hold Pre-draft camps which would cost points (There's some kind of NBA Live 04 points scheme or somethin...which works like money in the game....dm if u don't understand!) anyways...the computer could simulate all these training camps...and this could effect how rookies are projected. Then it may be possible to draft real crap players/floppers higher (not saying that he is crap...Kwame Brown) and better players lower...(Gilbert Arenas...or Dennis Rodman...etc.) This could add realism to the NBA Draft and may surprise the user...

Along with a new draft system...with more detailed analysis...i reakon it would improve the aspect of buildin and rebuilding teams!

Also...we need rookies who will improve even if they are picked in the Second Round- have players who are from overseas and you need to wait for them to enter the league (wait a season or two).

I guess these three points would improve Dynasty Mode!

[Andrew]

Great ideas as usual Metsis, but it's unlikely we'll see anything like that just yet.

I still think the CPU shouldn't be so predictable in drafting. CPU teams always seem to pick the players who have the better ratings/potential, rather than drafting a lesser player because they are weak at his position. For example, the best player in the draft may be a point guard, but if the team that gets the first overall pick already has a great point guard but needs a good post player, chances are they'll pick a centre or a forward.

The NBA Draft has a history of lesser players (especially big men) being taken ahead of more talented players, as teams draft out of need rather than picking a player who they feel is too good to pass up but don't really need.

A few foolish/unusual selections would make the draft a little more realistic. Sometimes GMs do select a player whose position is already filled with a good player (the Bulls selecting Marcus Fizer in 2000 when they already had Elton Brand) or make selections that later prove to be foolish (Sam Bowie over MJ, Sir Charles and Stock in 1984).

A mix of wise and unwise selections would make the draft realistic, and result in better players falling to lower picks.

[Colin]

the Bulls selecting Marcus Fizer in 2000 when they already had Elton Brand

Andrew, always the Bulls. Also when the Clips drafted...I'm not sure who they drafted, maybe Haislip and Wilcox? When they already had Elton Brand. Hmmm, nobody likes Elton.

I don't know if practicing with them would be as good of an idea as just seeing a 5 minute game between two teams as a spectator. I'd really like College/High School stats as well.

[Andrew]

Ely and Wilcox, Haislip plays for the Bucks. But yes, same deal.

[[Q]]

I think there should be a way to implement actual high school/college prospects so they could be drafted into the game. The generic rookies don't really mean anything to me, but I think there should be a place to put potential rookies and they randomly appear in a draft.

For example, you "create a player" named "Luke Ridnour" and put in his ratings and height and stuff like that. When you play dynast, after the first year, he will enter the draft (because he's a senior).

By the way, has EA Sports made an option where you can choose which year you want to start your dynasty mode? I remember playing Live 2001 and Tyson Chandler was 16 years old, because they always started in the 2000-2001 season.

[cocobee]

Simple solution, in ESPN NFK2k4, you can edit a Rookie's name and there ratings starting after the trade deadline. I did this with my franchise and added real college players in the draft. It was one of the coolest features I've ever seen. I wish all sports games would implements this. I think ESPN 2k4 did this because they didn't have a College game where you can import players.

[Andrew]

By the way, has EA Sports made an option where you can choose which year you want to start your dynasty mode? I remember playing Live 2001 and Tyson Chandler was 16 years old, because they always started in the 2000-2001 season.

I doubt it, but it would be a good option, especially if you could go backwards for old season roster patches.