The 2K10 & Beyond Project - Season 19/20: NBA Finals - Game 7

NBA Draft

Draft Board



Sixers begin new era with Simmons, send Holiday to NYC



It's a new era in Philadelphia, with the Sixers selecting ultra-promising prospect Ben Simmons with the #1 pick. With Simmons touted to be playing PG, before the first pick long-time point general Jrue Holiday was sent to the Big Apple to team with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Andre Drummond. It's comes after a disappointing few seasons for Holiday at the Sixers, after hitting the highs of the NBA Finals only 3 years ago. With Simmons joining a young core of Derrick Favors, Khris Middleton and Devin Booker, the City of Brotherly Love won't take long to get back to the top.

Transactions
PHI Receive: Andray Blatche, 2017 1st Round Pick
NY Receive: Jrue Holiday

CHI Receive: Pick 8
LAL Receive: Luol Deng, 2018 1st Round Pick

GS Receive: Pick 9, 2017 2nd Round Pick
SAC Receive: Pick 13, 2017 1st Round Pick

ORL Receive: Andrea Bargnani
NO Receive: Patrick Beverley

DEN Receive: Pick 21
ORL Receive: Pick 22, 2016 2nd Round Pick

UTA Receive: Pick 22
ORL Receive: 2016 2nd Round Pick, 2018 1st Round Pick

Last edited by jubba910 on Sat Jan 29, 2022 7:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

Not a bad Draft for the Bulls, picking up Brown at third. And they're got the perennial Dunk Champ in Chriss!

Not a bad Draft for the Bulls, picking up Brown at third. And they're got the perennial Dunk Champ in Chriss!

Also a sneaky second round steal in Malcolm Brogdon....

I overlooked that. Guess AK took over from GarPax earlier in this reality!

Player/Team Options & Amnesties

Philadelphia 76ers
Brandon Davies (T) - Declined
Pat Connaughton (T) - Accepted
Josh Huestis (T) - Declined

Milwaukee Bucks
Ben McLemore (T) - Accepted
Dante Exum (2YRT) - Accepted
Jarvis Varnado (T) - Declined

Chicago Bulls
T.J. Warren (2YRT) - Accepted
P.J. Hairston (2YRT) - Accepted
Archie Goodwin (T) - Declined
Sergei Karasev (T) – Declined
Marreese Speights (P) - Declined

Cleveland Cavaliers
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (T) – Accepted
Joe Harris (T) - Accepted

Boston Celtics
Victor Oladipo (T) - Accepted
Joel Embiid (2YRT) - Accepted
Zach LaVine (2YRT) - Accepted

Los Angeles Clippers
Dennis Schroder (T) – Accepted
Devyn Marble - Team (Accepted)
Blake Griffin (P) - Declined

Memphis Grizzlies
Mitch McGary (2YRT) – Accepted

Atlanta Hawks
Elfrid Payton (2YRT) - Accepted
Mike Muscala (T) - Accepted
Shane Larkin (T) - Accepted
Gary Harris (T) - Accepted
Chase Budinger (P) - Accepted

Miami Heat
Kyle Anderson (2YRT) - Accepted
Quincy Acy (T) - Accepted
Branden Dawson (T) - Declined
Dwight Howard (P) - Declined

Charlotte Hornets
Jarrett Jack (T) - Declined
Cody Zeller (T) – Accepted
Shabazz Napier (T) - Accepted
Clint Capela (T) - Accepted
Tyreke Evans (P) - Accepted

Utah Jazz
Rudy Gobert (T) - Accepted
Rodney Hood (2YRT) - Accepted
Deron Williams (P) - Accepted
Eric Gordon (P) - Accepted

Sacramento Kings
Gorgui Dieng (T) - Accepted
Joseph Young (T) - Accepted
Brandon Jennings (P) - Accepted

New York Knicks
Giannis Antetokounmpo (T) - Accepted
Jordan Adams (T) - Accepted

Los Angeles Lakers
Andre Roberson (T) - Accepted
Chris McCullough (T) - Accepted

Orlando Magic
Beno Udrih (T) - Accepted
Kelly Olynyk (T) - Accepted
Julius Randle (2YRT) - Accepted
Tyler Ennis (2YRT) - Accepted

Dallas Mavericks
Tim Hardaway Jr. (T) - Accepted
Adrian Payne (T) - Accepted

Brooklyn Nets
Marcus Smart (2YRT) - Accepted
Solomon Hill (T) - Accepted
Joffrey Lauvergne (T) - Declined

Denver Nuggets
Steven Adams (T) - Accepted
Brandan Wright (T) - Accepted
James Young (2YRT) - Accepted

Indiana Pacers
Tony Snell (T) - Accepted

New Orleans Pelicans
Michael Carter-Williams (T) - Accepted
Nik Stauskas (T) - Declined
Richaun Holmes (T) - Accepted

Detroit Pistons
Aaron Gordon (2YRT) - Accepted
Trey Burke (T) - Declined
Spencer Dinwiddie (T) - Accepted
Damien Inglis (T) - Accepted
Al Jefferson (P) - Accepted
Wesley Matthews (P) - Declined

Toronto Raptors
Noah Vonleh (2YRT) - Accepted
C.J. McCollum (T) - Accepted
Vince Carter (T) - Declined
DeMar DeRozan (P) - Declined
Darren Collison (P) - Accepted

Houston Rockets
Kevon Looney (T) - Accepted
Omer Asik (P) - Accepted

San Antonio Spurs
DeJuan Blair (P) - Declined
Lucas Nogueira (T) - Accepted
Erick Green (T) - Declined
Chris Paul (P) - Declined

Phoenix Suns
Jabari Parker (2YRT) - Accepted
Alex Len (T) - Accepted
P.J. Tucker (T) - Declined
Josh Richardson (2YRT) - Accepted

Oklahoma City Thunder
Anthony Morrow (T) - Accepted
C.J. Wilcox (T) - Accepted
James Harden (P) - Declined
Ed Davis (P) - Declined

Minnesota Timberwolves
Mason Plumlee (T) - Accepted
Reggie Bullock (T) - Accepted
Bruno Caboclo (T) - Declined
Kevin Love (P) - Declined
Derrick Williams (P) - Declined

Portland Trail Blazers
Jusuf Nurkic (2YRT) - Accepted
Monta Ellis (P) - Declined

Golden State Warriors
Cole Aldrich (T) - Accepted
Doug McDermott (2YRT) - Accepted
Stephen Curry (P) - Declined

Washington Wizards
Andrew Wiggins (2YRT) - Accepted
Nerlens Noel (T) - Accepted
Martell Webster (T) - Declined

Multiple stars tease moves as they decline for bigger contracts



Though most declined player options this offseason are very strongly earmarked for longer deals at their current franchises, the names of James Harden, Chris Paul, Kevin Love and Stephen Curry added to the free agency list creates a monster market, as the league continues to find an answer to the unstoppable Thunder. Could Harden defect for an offer to be the #1 option?

Player Re-Signings

Philadelphia 76ers
Re-Signed J.J. Barea 2yr/$2.65m

Milwaukee Bucks
Re-Signed Amir Johnson 2yr/$10.51m

Chicago Bulls
Re-Signed Joakim Noah 3yr/$24.16m
Re-Signed Meyers Leonard 2yr/$7.48m

Los Angeles Clippers
Re-Signed Blake Griffin 4yr/$103.42m
Re-Signed Jamal Crawford 2yr/$11.43m
Re-Signed Devin Harris 2yr/$5.22m

Memphis Grizzlies
Re-Signed O.J. Mayo 2yr/$9.61m
Re-Signed Chuck Hayes 1yr/$1.31m
Re-Signed JaMaychal Green 2yr/$2.28m

Atlanta Hawks
Re-Signed Nicolas Batum 4yr/$20.01m

Miami Heat
Re-Signed Dwight Howard 4yr/$96.80m
Re-signed Will Barton 3yr/$7.87m

Charlotte Hornets
Re-Signed Hassan Whiteside 3yr/$38.75m
Re-Signed Jarrett Jack 2yr/$12.79m

Sacramento Kings
Re-Signed Paul Pierce 1yr/$6.08m

New York Knicks
Re-Signed Andre Drummond 4yr/$77.03m

Dallas Mavericks
Re-Signed Dirk Nowitzki 1yr/$15.10m
Re-Signed Dwight Powell 3yr/$5.38m
Re-Signed Miles Plumlee 2yr/$5.13m

Denver Nuggets
Re-Signed Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 4yr/$28.72m

Brooklyn Nets
Re-Signed Matt Barnes 1yr/$1.08m

Indiana Pacers
Re-Signed D.J. Augustin 2yr/$7.19m

Detroit Pistons
Re-Signed Harrison Barnes 5yr/$30.68m
Re-Signed Trey Burke 2yr/$6.81m

Toronto Raptors
Re-Signed DeMar DeRozan 4yr/$57.25m
Re-Signed Vince Carter 1yr/$1.55m

Houston Rockets
Re-Signed Troy Daniels 2yr/$2.23m

San Antonio Spurs
Re-Signed Chris Paul 4yr/$118.41m
Re-Signed Jordan Clarkson 2yr/$8.79m
Re-Signed DeJuan Blair 3yr/$6.00m

Phoenix Suns
Re-Signed Tyler Zeller 3yr/$19.62m

Oklahoma City Thunder
Re-Signed James Harden 5yr/$136.05m

Minnesota Timberwolves
Re-Signed Bradley Beal 4yr/57.56m
Re-Signed Kevin Love 3yr/$54.89m

Portland Trail Blazers
Re-Signed Damian Lillard 5yr/$103.35m
Re-Signed Randy Foye 1yr/$1.63m

Golden State Warriors
Re-signed Stephen Curry 5yr/$137.18m
Re-Signed Nick Young 2yr/$5.52m
Re-Signed Kyle Singler 2yr/$4.44m

Harden locks in for another 5 years


Despite tantalising offers from rivals, James Harden is set to return to the Thunder for another 5 years, as the OKC dynasty looks to win their fifth straight title. With Harden now locked in, attention now turns to both Russell Westbrook & Kevin Durant who will both be out of contract next offseason.

Last edited by jubba910 on Fri Feb 04, 2022 6:54 am, edited 1 time in total.

Unless someone makes some major moves, I'd say the Thunder are going to start challenging marks set by Russell's Celtics!

Also, did Kobe retire or re-sign? I noticed he was listed as doing both.

Unless someone makes some major moves, I'd say the Thunder are going to start challenging marks set by Russell's Celtics!

Also, did Kobe retire or re-sign? I noticed he was listed as doing both.

Good find! When I started to build out 2K17 I realised that Kobe retired in real life that season, hence why I put him in the retirements, but missed omitting his re-signing in 2K16, he wanted two more years!

Sounds like he wanted a shot at Kareem's record! Interesting turn of events, shame it can't play out with the transition to NBA 2K17. I do like the injection of reality with the retirements, though.

Free Agency

Melo returns to LA, Chandler heads to Cleveland


Despite a strong offer to return to his hometown of Brooklyn, Carmelo Anthony is set to stay in Los Angeles and continue his tandem with Blake Griffin, as the Clippers continue to battle in the hot Western Conference. The Clippers however will be without big man Tyson Chandler, who will join LeBron James & Al Horford in Cleveland, allowing the latter to move to his more natural position of PF.

Blazers snag Gasol, Grizzlies re-tool


After another disappointing postseason in Portland, the Blazers have made the biggest move of the offseason, stealing Marc Gasol from Memphis to pair with their already star-studded lineup of Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Draymond Green. With a fourth star now on-board, the Blazers may finally have enough to best their division rival in Oklahoma City. On the other hand, Memphis now appears to be in flux, relying on top 5 pick Dragan Bender and offseason pickup John Henson to fill a gaping hole in their frontcourt. Could the Grizzlies long-established potential under Kawhi Leonard be over?

Warriors welcome back Ellis, grab Davis from Thunder


As another team looking to match the firepower of the Thunder, the Warriors have taken a key piece of their four-time champion starting lineup in Ed Davis, who will share minutes with Taj Gibson in a revamped frontcourt. Joining Stephen Curry in the backcourt will be the man they originally traded for Eric Gordon in their championship year, as Monta Ellis returns to the Bay Area to steer them back to glory.

LaVine leaves for Phoenix


Following suit with Reggie Jackson last season, Zach LaVine has requested a trade out of Beantown due to the gridlock behind both Isaiah Thomas and Ricky Rubio. The Suns came knocking, sending former first rounder Justise Winslow and a 2017 2nd Rounder for the promising guard, and providing a promising backcourt partner to star PG John Wall.

Signings

Los Angeles Clippers sign Carmelo Anthony 4yr/$121.23m

Portland Trail Blazers sign Marc Gasol 4yr/$95.24m

Indiana Pacers sign Wesley Matthews 3yr/$28.58m

Golden State Warriors sign Monta Ellis 2yr/$24.77m

Cleveland Cavaliers sign Tyson Chandler 2yr/$21.74m

Golden State Warriors sign Ed Davis 3yr/$18.66m

Charlotte Hornets sign Tony Parker 1yr/$17.68m

Washington Wizards sign Louis Williams 2yr/$15.96m

Utah Jazz sign Marreese Speights 2yr/$14.48m

Memphis Grizzlies sign John Henson 3yr/$13.20m

Detroit Pistons sign Kyle Korver 2yr/$12.02m

Houston Rockets sign Evan Fournier 4yr/$11.88m

Cleveland Cavaliers sign Mo Williams 2yr/$11.41m

Minnesota Timberwolves sign Robert Covington 3yr/$11.20m

Cleveland Cavaliers sign Tony Allen 3yr/$11.20m

Chicago Bulls sign Jarnell Stokes 2yr/$10.55m

New York Knicks sign Austin Rivers 3y/$9.85m

Atlanta Hawks sign Trevor Booker 2yr/$9.80m

Denver Nuggets sign Shabazz Muhammad 2yr/$9.61m

Memphis Grizzlies sign Cory Joseph 2yr/$9.60m

Washington Wizards sign James Johnson 2yr/$9.12m

Brooklyn Nets sign Rodney Stuckey 2yr/$8.92m

Los Angeles Lakers sign Jeremy Lin 2yr/$8.86m

Dallas Mavericks sign Jeremy Lamb 2yr/$7.96m

San Antonio Spurs sign P.J. Tucker 2yr/$7.96m

Los Angeles Clippers sign Chris Kaman 2yr/$7.61m

Cleveland Cavaliers sign Anderson Varejao 2yr/$7.61m

Washington Wizards sign Tony Wroten 2yr/$6.82m

Toronto Raptors sign Ramon Sessions 3yr/$6.64m

Phoenix Suns sign Derrick Williams 2yr/$6.48m

Sacramento Kings sign Tyler Johnson 2yr/$6.01m

Dallas Mavericks sign Isaiah Canaan 2yr/$5.92m

Utah Jazz sign Nik Stauskas 2yr/$5.57m

Milwaukee Bucks sign Aron Baynes 2yr/$5.38m

Golden State Warriors sign C.J. Watson 2yr/$5.01m

New York Knicks sign Langston Galloway 2yr/$4.95m

Brooklyn Nets sign Dion Waiters 1yr/$4.27m

Chicago Bulls sign Garrett Temple 2yr/$3.96m

San Antonio Spurs sign Maurice Harkless 1yr/$3.70m

San Antonio Spurs sign David West 1yr/$3.29m

New York Knicks sign Perry Jones 1yr/$2.47m

Portland Trail Blazers sign C.J. Miles 1yr/$2.38m

Boston Celtics sign Jason Richardson 1yr/$1.88m

Boston Celtics sign Jermaine O’Neal 1yr/$1.38m

Denver Nuggets sign Russ Smith 1yr/$1.26m

Golden State Warriors sign Nick Johnson 1yr/$1.06m

Transactions

PHX Receive: Zach LaVine
BOS Receive: Justise Winslow, 2017 2nd Round Pick

Team Depth Charts

Philadelphia 76ers
PG: Ben Simmons/J.J. Barea/Donald Sloan
SG: Avery Bradley/Devin Booker/Pat Connaughton
SF: Khris Middleton/Jake Layman
PF: Derrick Favors/Marcus Morris
C: Robin Lopez/Kendrick Perkins/Henry Ellenson

Milwaukee Bucks
PG: Kemba Walker/Dante Exum
SG: Andre Iguodala/Jodie Meeks/Ben McLemore
SF: Paul George/Wilson Chandler/Otto Porter
PF: Jared Sullinger/Amir Johnson
C: Andrew Bogut/Aron Baynes/Georgios Papagiannis

Chicago Bulls
PG: Derrick Rose/Terry Rozier
SG: Jaylen Brown/Garrett Temple/Leandro Barbosa
SF: T.J. Warren/P.J. Hairston
PF: Nemanja Bjelica/Marqueese Chriss/Jarnell Stokes
C: Joakim Noah/Meyers Leonard/Cristiano Felicio

Cleveland Cavaliers
PG: Jeff Teague/Mo Williams
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope/Tony Allen/Rashad Vaughn/Joe Harris
SF: LeBron James/Terrence Jones
PF: Al Horford/Ryan Anderson/Chinanu Onuaku
C: Tyson Chandler/Anderson Varejao

Boston Celtics
PG: Isaiah Thomas/Ricky Rubio/Erick Green
SG: Victor Oladipo/Justise Winslow/Darrun Hilliard
SF: Chandler Parsons/Omri Casspi/Justin Anderson
PF: Brandon Bass/Andrew Nicholson/Brice Johnson
C: Joel Embiid/Cameron Bairstow

Los Angeles Clippers
PG: Dennis Schroder/Devin Harris
SG: Jamal Crawford/Bogdan Bogdanovic/Devyn Marble
SF: Carmelo Anthony/Wesley Johnson/Kelly Oubre Jr.
PF: Blake Griffin/Carl Landry/Thomas Robinson
C: Alexis Ajinca/Chris Kaman

Memphis Grizzlies
PG: Mike Conley/Cory Joseph
SG: Gerald Henderson/O.J. Mayo/R.J. Hunter
SF: Kawhi Leonard/Terrence Ross
PF: Ersan Ilyasova/Dragan Bender/JaMychal Green/Juan Hernangomez
C: John Henson/Mitch McGary

Atlanta Hawks
PG: Elfrid Payton/Shane Larkin
SG: Jamal Murray/Gary Harris/Lamar Patterson
SF: Nicolas Batum/Joe Johnson/Jerami Grant/Chase Budinger
PF: Kenneth Faried/J.J. Hickson/Trevor Booker
C: Myles Turner/Mike Muscala/Cheick Diallo

Miami Heat
PG: Kyrie Irving/Aaron Brooks/Tyler Ulis
SG: Dwyane Wade/Will Barton
SF: Trevor Ariza/Kyle Anderson/Rondae Hollis-Jefferson/Livio Jean-Charles
PF: Bobby Portis/Quincy Acy/Josh McRoberts
C: Dwight Howard/Tiago Splitter/Walter Tavares

Charlotte Hornets
PG: Tony Parker/Kris Dunn/Shabazz Napier
SG: Tyreke Evans/Jarrett Jack/Marcus Thornton/Cedi Osman
SF: Danilo Gallinari/James Anderson
PF: Cody Zeller/Nikola Mirotic/Christian Wood
C: Hassan Whiteside/Clint Capela

Utah Jazz
PG: Deron Williams/Dejounte Murray/Delon Wright
SG: Rodney Hood/Eric Gordon/Nik Stauskas/Malachi Richardson
SF: Jimmy Butler/Joe Ingles
PF: Anthony Davis/Paul Millsap
C: Rudy Gobert/Mareese Speights

Sacramento Kings
PG: Brandon Jennings/Cameron Payne/Joseph Young
SG: Tyler Johnson/Kevin Martin/Patrick McCaw
SF: Michael Beasley/Paul Pierce/Taurean Prince
PF: Zach Randolph/Cory Jefferson
C: Greg Monroe/Gorgui Dieng

New York Knicks
PG: Jrue Holiday/Austin Rivers/Langston Galloway
SG: Buddy Hield/Nate Robinson/Jordan Adams
SF: Giannis Antetokounmpo/Luc Richard Mbah a Moute/Georges Niang
PF: Jordan Hill/Mindaugas Kuzminskas/Mike Scott/Jarell Martin
C: Andre Drummond/Jeff Withey

Los Angeles Lakers
PG: Emmanuel Mudiay/Jeremy Lin/Marcelo Huertas
SG: Andre Roberson/Nemanja Nedovic
SF: Luol Deng/Jeff Green/Quincy Pondexter
PF: Patrick Patterson/Donatas Motiejunas/Chris McCullough
C: Nikola Vucevic/Timofey Mozgov/Tarik Black

Orlando Magic
PG: George Hill/Beno Udrih/Jerian Grant/Tyler Ennis
SG: Lance Stephenson/Iman Shumpert
SF: Gordon Hayward/Jared Dudley/DeAndre Bembry
PF: Marcin Gortat/Julius Randle/Andrea Bargnani
C: Brook Lopez/Kelly Olynyk/Dewayne Dedmon

Dallas Mavericks
PG: Rajon Rondo/Isaiah Canaan/Jonathan Gibson
SG: Jeremy Lamb/Tim Hardaway Jr./Seth Curry
SF: Rudy Gay/Stanley Johnson
PF: Dirk Nowitzki/Darrell Arthur/Dwight Powell/Adreian Payne/Deyonta Davis
C: Miles Plumlee/Spencer Hawes

Brooklyn Nets
PG: Patrick Mills/Matthew Dellavedova
SG: Marcus Smart/Dion Waiters/Sean Kilpatrick/Malik Beasley
SF: Rodney Stuckey/Matt Barnes/Solomon Hill
PF: Pau Gasol/Bismack Biyombo/Pascal Siakam
C: Festus Ezeli/Willie Cauley-Stein/A.J. Hammons

Denver Nuggets
PG: D'Angelo Russell/Mario Chalmers
SG: Arron Afflalo/Caris LeVert/James Young/Elliot Williams
SF: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist/Shabazz Muhammad
PF: Steven Adams/Jason Thompson/Montrezl Harrell/Jeff Adrien
C: DeAndre Jordan/Brandan Wright

Indiana Pacers
PG: D.J. Augustin/Ty Lawson/Andrew Harrison
SG: Wesley Matthews
SF: DeMarre Carroll/Bojan Bogdanovic/Denzel Valentine/Tony Snell
PF: Kyle O'Quinn/Trey Lyles
C: Ian Mahinmi/Roy Hibbert/Diamond Stone

New Orleans Pelicans
PG: Patrick Beverley/Michael Carter-Williams/Raul Neto
SG: Klay Thompson/Gary Neal/Marco Belinelli
SF: Tobias Harris/Gerald Green
PF: Karl-Anthony Towns/David Lee/Tyler Hansbrough/Richaun Holmes
C: Nikola Jokic/Willy Hernangomez/Ivica Zubac

Detroit Pistons
PG: Brandon Knight/Trey Burke/Spencer Dinwiddie
SG: Kyle Korver/Mario Hezonja/Alex Abrines
SF: Harrison Barnes/Aaron Gordon/Damien Inglis
PF: Chris Bosh/Jonas Jerebko/Jordan Mickey
C: Al Jefferson/Domantas Sabonis/Ekpe Udoh

Toronto Raptors
PG: Darren Collison/Ramon Sessions/Kendall Marshall
SG: Demar DeRozan/C.J. McCollum/Paul Zipser
SF: Jae Crowder/Vince Carter/Corey Brewer
PF: Tristan Thompson/Kris Humphries/Noah Vonleh
C: Jahlil Okafor

Houston Rockets
PG: Eric Bledsoe/Greivis Vasquez/Tim Frazier
SG: Evan Fournier/J.R. Smith/Troy Daniels
SF: Brandon Ingram/Evan Turner/Markieff Morris
PF: Kristaps Porzingis/Josh Smith/Kevon Looney/Davis Bertans
C: Nene/Omer Asik

San Antonio Spurs
PG: Chris Paul/Jordan Clarkson/Kay Felder
SG: J.J. Redick/Danny Green/Jonathan Simmons
SF: Boris Diaw/P.J. Tucker/Maurice Harkless
PF: Larry Nance Jr./David West/Dario Saric/DeJuan Blair
C: Zaza Pachulia/Lucas Nogueira

Phoenix Suns
PG: John Wall/Jerryd Bayless/Isaiah Whitehead
SG: Zach LaVine/Josh Richardson/K.J. McDaniels
SF: Jabari Parker/Derrick Williams/Dorrell Wright
PF: Jonas Valanciunas/Thon Maker/Alvin Williams
C: Alex Len/Tyler Zeller

Oklahoma City Thunder
PG: Russell Westbrook/Norris Cole
SG: James Harden/Thabo Sefolosha/C.J. Wilcox
SF: Kevin Durant/Anthony Morrow/Anthony Brown
PF: Nick Collison/Lavoy Allen
C: Serge Ibaka/Henry Sims/Damian Jones

Minnesota Timberwolves
PG: Goran Dragic/Tyus Jones
SG: Bradley Beal/Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot/Jordan McRae
SF: Al-Farouq AminuRobert Covington/Reggie Bullock/Bruno Caboclo
PF: Kevin Love/Mason Plumlee
C: Nikola Pekovic/JaVale McGee

Portland Trail Blazers
PG: Damian Lillard/Shaun Livingston/Briante Weber
SG: C.J. Miles/Randy Foye/Furkan Korkmaz
SF: Draymond Green/Thaddeus Young/Luis Montero
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge/Charlie Villanueva/Jeff Ayres
C: Marc Gasol/Jusuf Nurkic/Kosta Koufos

Golden State Warriors
PG: Stephen Curry/C.J. Watson
SG: Monta Ellis/Alec Burks
SF: Doug McDermott/Kyle Singler/Sam Dekker/Nick Young
PF: Ed Davis/Taj Gibson/James McAdoo
C: DeMarcus Cousins/Cole Aldrich/Jakob Poetl

Washington Wizards
PG: Kyle Lowry/Tony Wroten/Wade Baldwin
SG: Reggie Jackson/Louis Williams/Courtney Lee
SF: Andrew Wiggins/James Johnson/Jarell Eddie
PF: Nerlens Noel/Frank Kaminsky/Anthony Bennett
C: Enes Kanter/Kevin Seraphin

2016-17 Season Preview

With four years of absolute dominance in Oklahoma City, what is next for the unstoppable trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden? Continued uprising from the likes of their Northwest rivals in Utah and Portland look set to rock the boat this year, and finally knock the Thunder off their perch. It's now been 10 years since LeBron James has been to the finals, looking to return with the same team he did then, but with a wealth of disappointment in between. Could this be the season that Miami finally tastes the Championship champagne after two straight finals losses, or are the aging bodies of Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard too much for their superstar PG Kyrie Irving to carry? The Eastern Conference are still looking for their first championship of the 2010's, with the Western Conference dominating since Kobe Bryant's Lakers of 2009. With so much to play for and what seems like a new dawn approaching around the monotony of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 2016-17 season looks set to be one of the most competitive in a while.

Division Previews


Eastern Conference – Atlantic Division



Failing to get over the hump of the Conference Finals against Miami, the Celtics will have a tough task ahead of them to emulate last seasons success with the addition of Tim Duncan. Further development from Oladipo & Embiid will be key, including some solid production from their trade acquisition Justise Winslow who looks to be their X-Factor off the bench. A 10-game losing streak late last season took a lot of steam out of the Raptors postseason hopes, confirmed by a lackluster performance against the Heat in the first round. The Raptors will be tapping their sophomore big man Jahlil Okafor to match his All-NBA numbers of his rookie season, while the long-term deal of DeMar DeRozan sees him set to lead the franchise alongside Okafor for the rest of the decade. A much different picture than what was painted in New York at the start of last season, with three bonafide stars in Andre Drummond, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday giving Knicks fans hope that postseason play could be back on the menu. Proving all doubters wrong and almost taking out the 2nd seed Celtics in the first round of the Playoffs, Brooklyn has big shoes to fill with limited changes to their roster. Coming off career numbers, 36-year old Pau Gasol will need plenty of support if the Nets want to return to the Playoffs. A #1 pick will do little to turn around Philadelphia's fortunes just yet after abandoning ship mid-way through last season with the trade of Trevor Ariza. The Sixers have an eye on success in the next 1-2 years with their young core of Ben Simmons, Derrick Favors, Devin Booker & Khris Middleton.


Eastern Conference – Central Division



Can LeBron and the Cavs do it? Following up on a top-placed finish at the end of the regular season, the Cavaliers still faultered in the postseason, going down to the experienced Heat squad. Tyson Chandler & Tony Allen are huge boosts to Cleveland's lineup, and it would be wise to expect they will top the East once again. The Bucks appear to be stuck in gridlock, and likely without a strong start, it could be time to panic in Milwaukee. Their star trio of Paul George, Kemba Walker & Andre Iguodala is yet to hit its true potential, and may be starting to sour. A flat finish that saw them finish 9th in the East despite the acquisition of Chris Bosh, the Pistons have a ton to prove this season. Brandon Knight will be tasked with leading a not-too-dissimilar offense, swapping one sharpshooter out with another in Kyle Korver, it's playoffs or bust in the Motor City. A top 3 pick in Jaylen Brown is a win that Chicago needed, facing steep declines in production from their resident stars Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. A majority of focus this season will be spent on developing their next era, tipping Brown, T.J. Warren, Terry Rozier and Marqueese Chriss to lead the Windy City back into contention. The Pacers are at a complete crossroads, with horrific regression from Ty Lawson which has seen him lose his starting role to backup D.J. Augustin, as well as Roy Hibbert losing his spot to Ian Mahinmi, Indiana is in for a rough ride as they build around Wesley Matthews, Kyle O'Quinn, Denzel Valentine & DeMarre Carroll.


Eastern Conference – Southeast Division



Could this be the year that Orlando takes over as the best team in Florida? I'm tipping so. Brook Lopez & co have been one of the most consistent teams of the last 5 years, just falling short again of expectations. The loss of Patrick Beverley on the defensive end will be felt, but the twin towers of Lopez & Gortat paired with Gordon Hayward look to be the team to beat in the Southeast. Coming out of the fifth seed last season, Miami shocked no one with their gritty play that saw them make it all the way to the Finals once again, and even take a game off the eventual champions on their home floor. Regression of Wade and Howard will be the big question in South Beach, with their youth of Will Barton & Bobby Portis expected to pick up the slack and support Kyrie Irving. Could Miami head back to the Finals for a third year? As long as they make the playoffs, you wouldn't bet against them. The Wizards have snuck under the radar this offseason with two key aqcuistions of Louis Williams and James Johnson, providing veteran grit and grind as they look to do better than their impressive 7-game series with the top seeded Cavaliers. The tandem of Lowry & Jackson appears to be running on all cylinders, with Andrew Wiggins and Nerlens Noel still expected to develop further, there's a true contender in DC.


Western Conference - Pacific Division



A season to forget for the Warriors once Stephen Curry went down, but the addition of four-time NBA Champion Ed Davis will more than boost Warrior fans spirits heading into this season. Heavily tipped as the team that could finally beat the Thunder, the Bay Area looks set to dominate barring an injury to a star. The Melo-Griffin connection has returned to the Clippers, though the loss of Tyson Chandler will be felt greatly in LA. After taking it to the Thunder in the Conference Semifinals, the Clippers will be looking to go one better in 2017. The Suns are one of two teams yet to taste the postseason this decade, though that is set to change this year behind their All-NBA leader John Wall. Just falling short last season despite Wall's great play, Phoenix now has a promising guard to play alongside him in Zach LaVine, which should boost the Suns enough to get back into the playoffs in the tough Western Conference. Similar to the Pacers, the Kings now sit in a state of flux, without a true star to lead them. A solid team, the Kings are a frontrunner to unload and start from scratch if they're slow out of the gates. Without a first round pick this upcoming offseason also, the Lakers look set to crash hard in their first season without Kobe Bryant.


Western Conference – Southwest Division



After two straight first round exits, the pressure is on Chris Paul to lead the Spurs back to their title-winning former glory. Surrounded by many capable pieces, and David West entering as their new veteran PF, San Antonio can again expect to be in the upper echelon of the Western Conference. Continued development of Klay Thompson and Karl-Anthony Towns should see the Pelicans jump much higher than their 8th seed finish of last season, and could be the sleeping giant that can take the NBA by storm this season thanks to a possible diamond in the rough of Nikola Jokic, who has risen to starting status this season. A definite step back for the Grizzlies this season, after a very disappointing campaign last year. Now without Marc Gasol, Memphis is now stuck between a rock and a hard place, and may be forced to deal pieces to appease their superstar Kawhi Leonard and keep them contending. A season of growth is expected in Houston, with #2 pick Brandon Ingram being the catalyst. The handy cheap pickup of Evan Fournier will help install further youth into a Rockets team that has often danced on the older side of the league's age range. Without a first round pick, the Mavericks have little to expect from their outfit for this season, as Dirk begins to wind down his career. Much like Fournier, the Mavs secured another promising guard in Jeremy Lamb, who will duke it out with Tim Hardaway Jr. for starting minutes throughout the season.


Western Conference – Northwest Division



There looks to be a new leader in town for the most competitive division in the league, with the Blazers acquisition of Marc Gasol tipping them over the edge, and in front of the Thunder heading into the season. With such a star-studded lineup, the Blazers will be out to avenge their shock first round exit against the Nuggets and hold on to the #1 seed that they let slip away with only weeks to go in the season. Is the OKC dynasty coming to a close? Both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will be out of contract at season's end, and with five rings already on their fingers, a new challenge for both of them may be on the horizon. Pundits may have the Blazers slightly ahead at the moment, but it's hard to pick against the Thunder come playoff time, with five championships in their first six playoff appearances as a franchise. To round out the other big dog of the Northwest, Utah will continue to be the thorn in the side of many, touting the strongest defensive frontcourt in the league with Anthony Davis and Rudy Gobert, plus the lockdown wing defence of Jimmy Butler. As his massive contract winds down, Deron Williams could be the key piece that needs to transitioned out for the Jazz to find a new floor general to manage their dynamic offense.


Award Predictions


Most Valuable Player

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Out to avenge the disappointing decline of the Warriors in his absence, Stephen Curry will be on a mission to win his second NBA Championship.

Rookie of the Year

Brandon Ingram, Houston Rockets

Likely to be their number one option on offense and the rawness of Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram is the most NBA-ready of this year's prospects, and should show why throughout the season.


Defensive Player of the Year

Anthony Davis, Utah Jazz

Back-to-back DPOY's look to be on the cards for Anthony Davis, with the only threat to the crown likely coming in his teammate Rudy Gobert.


Most Improved Player

Zach LaVine, Phoenix Suns

Much like Reggie Jackson did last season, Zach LaVine looks to be the man to watch as he steps out of the shadows of the bench and into the starting lineup in Phoenix.


Sixth Man of the Year

Thaddeus Young, Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers are set for a record-setting season, and a key part of that will be Thaddeus Young's bench play behind Draymond Green.


Coach of the Year

Alvin Gentry, New Orleans Pelicans

Continuing to mentor their young core, Alvin Gentry will be the catalyst as the Pelicans move into the upper echelon of the Western Conference.

Opening Night

NY 80 @ CLE 92
25th October 2016

KCP takes over on Opening Night


Taking over the starting role from Kyle Korver, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope stole the show in the Land on Opening Night, leading the Cavs to their first win of the season.






UTA 123 @ POR 115
25th October 2016

Davis dominates in another Northwest Classic


The red-hot rivalry between the two Northwest contenders of the Jazz and Trail Blazers added another chapter on Opening Night, with Anthony Davis putting up a stellar 33-point, 16-rebound performance to sour Marc Gasol's debut in Portland.






SA 100 @ GS 108
25th October 2016

Boogie stars as Warriors open with win


With a healthy Stephen Curry back in the lineup, Golden State looks set to be a top contender once again, highlighted by a DeMarcus Cousins stellar double-double.

MIA 100 @ OKC 108
7th November 2016

Thunder continue dominance in Finals rematch


It was more of the same for the Thunder in their first matchup with their Finals adversary of the last two seasons, with three-time reigning MVP Kevin Durant leading the way with an impressive triple-double.

BOS 103 @ NO 125
14th November 2016

Thompson, Pelicans top Celtics


The Pelicans have continued to build on their playoff-making form from last season, taking an impressive win over an East contender in the Celtics.

This is 2K17, right? It's looking better and better

This is 2K17, right? It's looking better and better

Yep! Admittedly I played a bunch of 2K17 back in the day and did have some decent presentation mods on it so it probably looks slightly better than it did out of the box

TOR 104 @ MIL 124
25th November 2016

George, Bucks best Raptors, lead East


Paul George and the Milwaukee Bucks continue to click on all cylinders, taking out the Raptors as they improve to an East-best 11-2 through the first month of the season.

Monthly Report: November 2016

Conference Standings






League Leaders





Injury Report



Free Agent Signings


Milwaukee Bucks sign Marvin Williams 1yr/$8.83m
Indiana Pacers sign Allen Crabbe 1yr/$5.03m
Toronto Raptors sign Joffrey Lauvergne 1yr/$1.56m

Stories

Business as usual for Oklahoma City, Pelicans peak early

The Thunder continue to dominate in the West, getting out to a West-best record of 14-6 despite further roster changes from last season, relying heavily on their trio of superstars. The New Orleans Pelicans are well on their way to disrupting the Northwestern division dominance in the Western Conference, jumping out to 2nd after the first month. With a young core lead by Klay Thompson, the Big Easy is well on their way to a possible deep postseason run.

Nets again prove doubters wrong with hot start

With last year written off as a fluke, the Brooklyn Nets are back again at the top end of the East Standings, with Patty Mills leading the scoring charge alongside veteran Pau Gasol.

Slow starts for Magic, Clippers a worrying sign

After being consistent contenders for the last few years, a first month slow start for both the Orlando Magic & Los Angeles Clippers could see trouble in paradise. With the Clippers signing both Carmelo Anthony & Blake Griffin to long-term deals this offseason, could a continued slump see a shakeup in LA?

Interesting that LeBron isn't among the league leaders. That's very unlike the sim engine.

DEN 104 @ BKN 92
7th December 2016

Nuggets continue hot start in Brooklyn


Former Most Improved Player Stephen Adams lead the way for the Nuggets in Brooklyn, as the weak link of the Northwest division continues to hold strong in the top echelon of the West.

LAL 113 @ PHI 109
16th December 2016

Vucevic leads the way in Philly


Stepping up as the Lakers continue their first season without Kobe Bryant, Nikola Vucevic kept LA together with a monster 34-point, 13-rebound performance against the Sixers.

Christmas Day Double-Header

BOS 106 @ NY 96
25th December 2016

IT, Celtics best Knicks in MSG


Isaiah Thomas was the man to to follow for the Celtics on Christmas Day, producing a dominant all-round performance to lift Boston over their conference rival.






GS 106 @ CLE 115
25th December 2016

Varejao plays Christmas Day hero in Cleveland


In his first season back in Cleveland in over six years, Anderson Varejao picked Christmas Day as his welcome back party, producing an impressive 19-point, 16-rebound, 5-steal stat line to best Stephen Curry and the Warriors.

Monthly Report: December 2016

Conference Standings






League Leaders





Injury Report




Stories

Nuggets hold steady in West

Heading into 2017, the Denver Nuggets continue to be the biggest surprise across the league, sitting only one game behind the Thunder. Alongside their dominant twin towers of DeAndre Jordan & Stephen Adams, DeAngelo Russell continues to build on his Rookie of the Year honours, leading the league in assists.

Pressure continues to build for Magic, Clippers, Pistons

With large contracts on both squads, the two perennial contenders in the Magic and Clippers now sit at a crossroads, with a seismic shift expected on both teams at the deadline in February. After barely missing the playoffs last season, the Pistons can also be lumped into a possible fire sale, with another attempted rebuild around Al Jefferson and Chris Bosh appearing to go sour.

Another major injury for Rose, Cousins out for two months

The injury curse continues to plague former All-Star Derrick Rose, with another long layover likely sinking his chance of leading the Bulls back to the Finals in the years to come. The Warriors haven't been able to avoid the injury list for another year, with DeMarcus Cousins missing the next two months due to a torn MCL.

DEN 105 @ OKC 122
7th January 2017

Russ steps up against Nuggets


With a minor toe injury hampering Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook took over as the Thunder kept their top position in the West over the feisty Nuggets.