Seattle Reborn

[DrBuckets]

Statistics

#02 PG Damian Lillard
33.2 MPG, 16.7 PPG, 7.9 APG, 4.1 RPG, 0.8 STL, .482 FG%, .403 3P%, .896 FT%
#07 SG Bradley Beal
31.1 MPG, 22.3 PPG, 1.8 APG, 4.6 RPG, 1.1 SPG, .483 FG%, .349 3P%, .820 FT%
#21 SF Moe Harkless
28.0 MPG, 8.6 PPG, 1.8 APG, 4.5 RPG, 1.0 SPG, .383 FG%, .188 3P%, .704 FT%
#15 SF Tobias Harris
19.5 MPG, 8.4 PPG, 0.9 APG, 3.8 RPG, 0.6 SPG, .444 FG%, .387 3P%, .803 FT%
#31 SF Chris Singleton
26.3 MPG, 7.7 PPG, 2.1 APG, 4.7 RPG, 1.6 SPG, .395 FG%, .391 3P%, .721 FT%
#17 SF Chris Douglas-Roberts
15.4 MPG, 7.2 PPG, 0.8 APG, 1.8 RPG, 0.3 SPG, .441 FG%, .333 3P%, .941 FT%
#55 C Josh Harrellson
26.4 MPG, 9.0 PPG, 1.4 APG, 5.5 RPG, 1.3 SPG, .405 FG%, .314 3P%, .568 FT%
#04 C Jeremy Tyler
23.0 MPG, 8.7 PPG, 0.7 APG, 5.6 RPG, 0.8 SPG, .462 FG%, .619 FT%

[DrBuckets]

Analysis

Rookie guards Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal have been the heart and soul of this team throughout the season combining for 39 PPG, 9.7 APG, and 8.7 RPG on the year. They are both efficient shooters (neither are too far off from chasing a spot in the 50-40-90 club) and solid franchise players that have been a sensation in local media coverage. Their offensive game is explosive but their defense needs plenty of work, although the latter can be said of the team in general. Moving ahead, they are the cornerstone that we will continue to build around.

Essentially our entire front court ran on a rotation of various players at each position – we received some decent production out of a few players but we are desperately in need of a solid starting-caliber player in that area of the team. Overall we performed better than what was probably expected of us – our final record of 27-55 is good for 28th place in the league, which is slightly better than being in the bottom two, and more than twice as many wins as our expansion brother in Las Vegas.

Moving forward there is obviously still a lot of work ahead of us before we can field a playoff-caliber team, but we are at least scrappy and competitive and more than capable of developing and growing in an outward direction.

[DrBuckets]

Conference Quarter-Finals

(1) Miami Burn v. (8) Memphis Roar
Final: 4-0 MIA

(4) Atlanta Eagles v. (5) Detroit Gears
Final: 4-3 DET

(3) Orlando Mystics v. (6) Philadelphia Freedom
Final: 4-1 ORL

(2) Indiana Racers v. (7) New Orleans Wasps
Final: 4-2 NO

(1) Los Angeles Riders v. (8) Minnesota Coyotes
Final: 4-2 MIN

(4) San Antonio Outlaws v. (5) Utah Blues
Final: 4-1 SA

(3) Oklahoma City Twisters v. (6) Sacramento Royals
Final: 4-3 OKC

(2) Golden State Spartans v. (7) Milwaukee Moose
Final: 4-0 GSS

Conference Semi-Finals

(1) Miami Burn v. (5) Detroit Gears
Final: 4-0 MIA

(3) Orlando Mystics v. (7) New Orleans Wasps
Final: 4-3 ORL

(8) Minnesota Coyotes v. (4) San Antonio Outlaws
Final: 4-1 MIN

(3) Oklahoma City Twisters v. (2) Golden State Spartans
Final: 4-1 OKC

Conference Finals

(1) Miami Burn v. (3) Orlando Mystics
Final: 4-3 MIA

(8) Minnesota Coyotes v. (3) Oklahoma City Twisters
Final: 4-3 MIN

Regional Basketball Association Finals

(1) Miami Burn v. (8) Minnesota Coyotes
Final: 4-3 MIN

The defending champion Miami Burn had an easy walk through the first two rounds of the playoffs. While their spirit would be tested in a seven-game series against Orlando in the conference finals, they ultimately secured the Eastern Conference Championship.

Meanwhile, in the west, the eighth-seed Minnesota Coyotes went 12-6 through the first three rounds of the playoffs in an uphill struggle that ultimately led them to a Western Conference Championship.

Although Miami, the top seed in the east, was heavily favored against the road-weary Minnesota group, the Coyotes pulled off a huge upset in game seven of a stunning finals series and brought home a league championship.

[DrBuckets]

Draft Lottery

16. Chicago Bison
15. New York Metros
14. Brooklyn Hoops
13. Denver Peaks
12. Cleveland Knights
11. Washington Americans
10. Las Angeles Waves
9. Brooklyn Hoops
8. Portland Pioneers
7. Houston Blast
6. Seattle Speed
5. Charlotte Wildcats
4. Las Vegas Aces
3. Phoenix Beams
2. Seattle Speed
1. Toronto Dinos

We scored big in the draft lottery – getting the second overall pick is huge and the pick that we acquired from Charlotte earlier in the year came up at sixth overall. Our draft prospects are higher than I had anticipated and we should have a lot of flexibility moving through the off-season.

[DrBuckets]

Player Awards

MVP: SF Lebron James (29.6 PPG, 5.4 APG, 6.0 RPG, 2.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG)

DPOY: C Marc Gasol (15.5 PPG, 1.7 APG, 8.1 RPG, 3.1 SPG, 2.0 BPG)

SMOY: SG Manu Ginobili (15.2 PPG, 5.0 APG, 3.8 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG)

ROY: PG Damian Lillard (16.7 PPG, 7.9 APG, 4.1 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG)

COY: Vinny Del Negro (Los Angeles Riders)

All-League First:
PG Chris Paul (Los Angeles Riders)
SG Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Waves)
SF Lebron James (Miami Burn)
PF Kevin Love (Minnesota Coyotes)
C Dwight Howard (Orlando Mystics)

All-League Second:
PG Derrick Rose (Chicago Bison)
SG Bradley Beal (Seattle Speed)
SF Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Twisters)
PF Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Riders)
C DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Royals)

All-League Third:
PG Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Twisters)
SG Eric Gordon (Dallas Rangers)
SF Carmelo Anthony (New York Metros)
PF Greg Monroe (Detroit Gears)
C Marcin Gortat (Phoenix Beams)

All-Defense First:
PG Chris Paul (Los Angeles Riders)
SG Paul George (Indiana Racers)
SF Lebron James (Miami Burn)
PF Anthony Davis (New Orleans Wasps)
C Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies)

All-Defense Second:
PG Rajon Rondo (Boston Irish)
SG Eric Gordon (Dallas Rangers)
SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Charlotte Wildcats)
PF Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City Twisters)
C Dwight Howard (Orlando Mystics)

All-Rookie First:
PG Damian Lillard (Seattle Speed)
SG Bradley Beal (Seattle Speed)
SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Charlotte Wildcats)
PF Anthony Davis (New Orleans Wasps)
C Jonas Valanciunas (Toronto Dinos)

All-Rookie Second:
PG Marquis Teague (Orlando Mystics)
SG Dion Waiters (Las Vegas Aces)
SF Moe Harkless (Seattle Speed)
PF Thomas Robinson (Washington Americans)
C Fab Melo (Dallas Rangers)

I thought that Bradley Beal would have been a lock for Rookie of the Year following five consecutive Rookie of the Month awards, but Damian Lillard did put together a more complete stat-line throughout the season and is probably slightly more polished at this point. He is looking more like a steal at 13th overall now than ever. Beal did secure All-League Second Team honors and both rookie guards are featured on the All-Rookie First Team roster. Moe Harkless earned a spot on the All-Rookie Second Team roster meaning that all three players selected in the previous draft have won a major league award.

[zike_42]

How does someone who makes an All NBA team not get the Rookie of the Year award? What were the voters smoking? Decent first season and with two top six picks you should be able to put together a good core of players.

[DrBuckets]

How does someone who makes an All NBA team not get the Rookie of the Year award? What were the voters smoking?

Especially when Beal won literary every single Rookie of the Month award this season. Honestly I am just happy that one of my guys got it - regardless of who won the duo has been absolutely exceptional and in some of my other franchises it seems like Anthony Davis always gets the nod in 2012-13.

[DrBuckets]

Season 2

“I thought I would call and have a quick chat about the upcoming season. So tell me, how is the team going to fare this season?”

The first season of Seattle franchise history was in the books. Our overall performance was respectable for an expansion team in its inaugural effort, but I knew that it would be some time until we developed into a playoff-caliber team. “It’s going to be an average year.”

“Look, I’m not a nut job like some of the other guys in the league but is it too much to expect to go to the playoffs? Make some tweaks and get us in. What will it cost to do it?”

Andre Arline’s infinite optimism may be a vote of confidence but I am not nearly ready to make a serious run for the bracket. We simply need more time to develop naturally and cultivate team chemistry; for the time being I ignored the matter completely. “Right about at the cap.”

“I’m OK with that. Good luck this season.”

Roster v2.1
Total Salary: $42,149,035
Cut Salary: $14,500,000
Team Salary: $27,649,035
Cap Status: +$15,850,965

#02 PG Damian Lillard (22)(3.5/3.5)
#03 PG Allen Iverson (37)(1.5/1.5)

#07 SG Bradley Beal (20)(3.5/4.5)

#21 SF Moe Harkless (20)(2.5/3.5)
#31 SF Chris Singleton (23)(2.5/3.0)
#20 SF Stanley Robinson (25)(2.0/2.5)
#17 SF Chris Douglas-Roberts (26)(2.0/2.0)

Note: When I was doing the write-up for this season I forgot to update the salary numbers for each player so those numbers will simply be omitted for this season. Also note that this roster is missing our free agents.

Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal will continue to be the features of our offense. We desperately need to expand our front court and improve our defensive prowess – center and power forward are our most immediate needs; we are deep at small forward but I am still willing to build at that position if the right opportunity should arise.

[DrBuckets]

2013 Regional Basketball Association Draft (round one)

1. Toronto Dinos – SF Shabazz Muhammad

SEA: 2013 R1P2 <> WAS: 2013 R1P11; 2014 R1P, R2P; PF Kevin Seraphin

2. Washington Americans – C Cody Zeller
3. Phoenix Beams – SG Ben McLemore
4. Las Vegas Aces – PG Michael Carter-Williams
5. Charlotte Wildcats – SG Victor Oladipo
6. Seattle Speed – C Nerlens Noel
7. Houston Blast – C Alex Len
8. Portland Pioneers – SF Otto Porter
9. Brooklyn Hoops – SF Tony Mitchell
10. Los Angeles Waves – SF Anthony Bennett

SEA: 2013 R1P11, R2P5; 2014 R2P <> BKL: 2013 R1P14, R1P17

11. Brooklyn Hoops – PG Trey Burke
12. Cleveland Knights – SF Glen Rice Jr
13. Denver Peaks – C Rudy Gobert
14. Seattle Speed – SG C. J. McCollum
15. New York Metros – SF Giannis Adetokoubo
16. Chicago Bison – SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
17. Seattle Speed – SG Tim Hardaway Jr
18. Memphis Roar – PF Dennis Schroeder
19. New Orleans Wasps – PG Pierre Jackson
20. Philadelphia Freedom – PG Shane Larkin
21. Charlotte Wildcats – PF Mason Plumlee
22. Detroit Gears – SF Tumay Bozbeyli
23. Sacramento Royals – C Lucas Nogueira
24. Houston Blast – C Gorgui Dieng
25. Utah Blues – PF Augusto Lima
26. Orlando Mystics – SG Shota Abamelek
27. Chicago Bison – PG Myuk Kabongo
28. San Antonio Outlaws – SG Alex Abrines
29. Oklahoma City Twisters – SF Jiao-long Geng
30. Miami Burn – PG Lorenzo Brown
31. Golden State Spartans – PG Matthew Dellavedova
32. Los Angeles Riders – SG Brandon Paul

Roster v2.2
Total Salary: $50,454,348
Cut Salary: $14,500,000
Team Salary: $35,954,348
Cap Status: +$7,545,652

#02 PG Damian Lillard (22)(3.5/3.5)
#03 PG Allen Iverson (37)(1.5/1.5)

#07 SG Bradley Beal (20)(3.5/4.5)
#13 SG CJ McCollum (23)[$1,566,900](2.5/3.0)*
#10 SG Tim Hardaway Jr (22)[$1,343,300](2.0/3.5)*

#21 SF Moe Harkless (20)(2.5/3.5)
#31 SF Chris Singleton (23)(2.5/3.0)
#20 SF Stanley Robinson (25)(2.0/2.5)
#17 SF Chris Douglas-Roberts (26)(2.0/2.0)

#11 PF Kevin Seraphin (24)[$2,761,113](3.5/4.0)

#04 C Nerlens Noel (20)[$2,634,000](2.0/5.0)*

Shabazz Muhammad was the only player I would have taken at second overall – once he was off the board I traded down to Washington and received two first round picks and power forward Kevin Seraphin. Seraphin is an immediate starter with above-average defensive skills, a much needed upgrade in an otherwise weak front court.

Nerlens Noel may be a diamond in the rough, but he has all the potential to develop into an elite center with lock-down defensive capabilities. He is almost a steal at sixth overall given just how high his ceiling is. If he can develop into a serious starter then he could be a staple of this front court for years to come.

Otto Porter or even Anthony Bennett would have been my preferred choices at eleventh overall, but again I barely missed my mark and decided to trade down once more to Brooklyn, receiving the fourteenth and seventeenth overall picks.

CJ McCollum is a dangerous scoring talent who can play minutes at shooting guard and point guard; he is an excellent back-up option to both Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal. Tim Hardaway Jr was the best player on the board at seventeenth overall – he is a pure shooting guard who needs time to develop on the professional level but should make a valuable addition to the bench while giving McCollum more flexibility in his play.

[DrBuckets]

Summer League Roster:

PG Damian Lillard*
PG Nick Calathes

SG CJ McCollum*
SG Tim Hardaway Jr*

SF Moe Harkless*
SF Chris Singleton*
SF Stanley Robinson*

PF Trey Thompkins

C Nerlens Noel*
C Hasheem Thabeet

Seattle Speed @ Oklahoma City Twisters
SEA 91, OKC 73
SF Moe Harkless – 17 PTS, 5 REB, 2 BLK
SG CJ McCollum – 21 PTS, 2 STL
PG Damian Lillard – 13 PTS, 4 AST, 5 REB

Los Angeles Riders @ Seattle Speed
LA(R) 95, SEA 113
PG Damian Lillard – 21 PTS, 10 AST, 6 REB
SG CJ McCollum – 21 PTS, 4 REB
SF Stanley Robinson – 17 PTS, 7 REB, 2 STL

Memphis Roar @ Seattle Speed
MEM 79, SEA 107
PG Damian Lillard – 16 PTS, 12 AST, 3 REB
SG CJ McCollum – 12 PTS, 3 STL
C Nerlens Noel – 11 PTS, 5 REB, 2 STL

Seattle Speed @ Detroit Gears
SEA 113, DET 92
C Nerlens Noel – 16 PTS, 6 REB, 3 BLK
SF Moe Harkless – 15 PTS, 5 REB, 3 BLK
SG Tim Hardaway Jr – 16 PTS, 4 REB

Seattle Speed @ Los Angeles Waves
SEA 118, LA(W) 76
PG Damian Lillard – 52 PTS, 8 AST, 9 REB, 3 STL
SF Stanley Robinson – 16 PTS, 4 AST, 7 REB
SF Moe Harkless – 12 PTS, 5 REB, 3 STL

CJ McCollum is a very talented scorer who seems poised for sixth-man responsibilities. Tim Hardaway Jr needs more work than McCollum but has a much higher ceiling. If Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal are going to be the foundation around which this team is built, then it is important to have a serious contingency plan at those positions (especially considering Beal’s relatively low durability and endurance ratings). Although our team is young and we are still betting on a lot of potential, our back court looks absolutely dangerous with the likes of Lillard, Beal, McCollum and Hardaway Jr.

Nerlens Noel is the first big step towards building defensive talent for the future. He is rough, even by summer league standards, and will probably spend some time in the developmental league to work on his game. Nevertheless, he has the potential to be an elite player at the position I have the most difficultly filling, so I am willing to give him plenty of time to grow.