Yeah I was hoping to pick up Scottie later to defend some of these elite wings but alas, Yuv saw value and he took it. For my next pick, I wanted a big running mate for Steph. There were 2-3 players I was considering but ultimately the guy I want most is current Zion Williamson because I think he’s got the highest ceiling. @bode @JonnyA are up.
I’ll take Chris Paul - 2007-08 through 2011-2012:
I really wanted to grab a current player here, as don’t like already filling two of my four historical slots. However, the only two current guys that I see left who stand out both play the same position as Shaq.
I also only have a few more elite historical guys left and think Paul fits perfectly with Shaq. Only slight against him is lack of playoff wins, but I think that’s unfair to put on him as his performance hasn’t dropped that much in the playoffs.
Over this frame I think it’s pretty clear Paul was second in the league only to James, finishing:
1st, 2nd, 8th, 4th, and 2nd in WS/48; 2nd, 2nd, 5th, 2nd, and 2nd in BPM, and 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, and 3rd in VORP.
He did have one injured season, but he still played 45 games and was healthy at the end of the season (could have played a few more but they sat him once eliminated from playoffs).
His elite perimeter defense and floor leadership should help negate a bit Shaq’s limitations. On offense, I think a Paul/Shaq pick and roll would be pretty much unstoppable. He’d find creative ways to get Shaq the ball in good post-up spots (and then space the floor nicely with his elite shooting).
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Amazing pairing.
And it now becomes even easier to build around Shaq.
I’m just going to bow out. Sorry for being lame.
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Anthony Davis (Current, 26-30)
R2 Pk 16
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No worries. Feel free to comment and rail.
Current Davis was really the only player i considered for my pick other than Pippen. I just thought it is too much variance to start off with two current players, one of which is quite injury prone.
I’ve just been posting elsewhere how I think Chris Paul is the GOAT pg (w/ Bron being a point forward as well as Magic, altho I’d put Paul ahead of him too).
5+ years ago we had a draft and the wrinkle was LeBron, Durant, and CP3 were removed. He was considered to be in that rarefied air by TZ.
Davis is nice value here. I passed since the fit with Shaq would be abysmal.
Yes. Meanwhile he helps Duncan on him.
Paul with Duncan would’ve been a little ho hum compared to with Shaq also. That’s honestly both of their ideal hypothetical teammates (Paul and Shaq’s).
Could you imagine if your team somehow got Dirk?
Sure you guys all have unstoppable players, but my team will prevail in swag.
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Pippen=Biden
Ewing=Bernie
Starks= UP
Davis was the other player I was considering but yeah his Injury history scares me more going forward
Zion isn’t less scary + you already lost most of his 1st season. Upside is infinite obv
Derek Harper = Trump, i.e. useless bum just sitting there.
Went back to check out why Harper’s just sitting there and it’s more hilarious than I thought. First player ever to get his ankles broken on a bounce pass. Yep, that sounds like Trump, achieving new levels of fail.
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So, two draft tidbits I learned while researching my next pick. One, he was apparently drafted with the idea that he could be his original team’s defensive stopper on the perimeter. Two, the Bulls wanted to trade Scottie Pippen for him, but Jordan nixed the deal.
This guy doesn’t have a reputation as a great defender. He’s perceived as a guy who was sometimes lazy and inconsistent, but who could be a good defender when it mattered.
But he has a hell of a reputation as an offensive player. He could pass. He could rebound. And he could definitely score.
I think we’re all drafting with the idea that modern coaching will use older players more optimally and you can see this guy as a versatile player fitting in a modern defense and offense. He was never a great three-point shooter, which makes me worry a little, especially since Giannis is my first pick, but he was serviceable and probably would learn to do better from behind the arc with modern coaching.
00-01 Tracy McGrady
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