Post by idle on Mar 28, 2009 2:35:44 GMT -5
Winners 
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6. Dallas Mavericks (last season #27, 23-59, lottery)
Could go under losers list for having the 2nd worst record all last season until the last sim when the Hawks passed them. Draft lottery night the Mavericks pick dropped from projected 3rd to #5 as the Rockets and Jazz jumped them. Michael Finley, probably the 4th best prospect, fell to them because the Hawks have Latrell Sprewell and Jamal Mashburn on the wings. His TC improved his inside and defense. Entering free agency, Dallas had $18 million to spend. Targeting the big name players with max offers - Glen Rice, Vernon Maxwell, Danny Manning, Roy Tarpley, Wayman Tisdale, and Muggsy Bogues - they signed Wayman for $53 million over 6 years. The contract broke the break for many teams - the 3rd largest in UOSLR history - but the Magic became a suitor for a sign and trade. Overall Dallas netted 5 future 1sts for last year's PG Rod Strickland, Tisdale, and Day 4 signing Nate McMillan.
5. Utah Jazz (#13, 43-39, 6 seed, Western Conference Finals)[/color]
From taking the UOSLR champions to 5 games in the conference finals to selecting 3rd Overall. How'd they do it? They had the hapless Kings' projected 4th pick and it won the lottery to move up to #3 - letting the Jazz schedule a press conference to welcome Penny Hardaway to Salt Lake City instead of Sam Cassell. Penny is a revolutionary player - the size of a 2 with the skillsets of both guard positions. Heralded as the next Magic Johnson (who just won a UOSLR championship at 33) - he takes the Jazz from playoff Cinderellas to regular season power house. With their own pick they selected defensive dog Bo Outlaw at #17.
4. Philadelphia 76ers(#16, 40-42, lottery)[/color]
Shawn Bradley fell to the bottom of the lottery and joins MVP candidate David Robinson to form the league's real Twin Towers - the Pistons' Gheorghe Muresan and Luc Longley are a sad poor man's version in comparison. The real treat came when Muggsy Bogues left Chicago for $32 million over 4 years - he's the 76ers 1st free agent signing in 3 years. Bogues is a great playmaker and defender - 2nd in assists and 3rd in steals last season. Robinson has been piling up awards but has never won a playoff series - Bogues makes him relevant again. Replacing the old GM with Maniac is making Philly a basketball town again.
3. Houston Rockets (#23, 36-46, lottery)[/color]
The Rockets leapfrogged several more deserving teams from the 7th best chance of winning the lottery to #2 and Chris Webber. CWebb is #1 in any draft without a player nicknamed Shaq. Getting a rookie #1 big man is a huge advantage for another rookie - their new GM ducky. He's brand new in UOSLR and it is interesting to see what kind of dynamic a relatively unknown commodity will bring to the Rockets. His next move was to sign a veteran PG Alvin Robertson - a former 6th man that had lost favor in Phoenix playing only 4.9 minutes per game. Rockets should be able to make the playoffs in the weak Western Conference - 3 .500 teams or worse every season go to the postseason.
2. Vancouver Grizzlies (#29, 14-68, lottery)[/color]
Rookie GM csdude's 1st offseason was do or die - this is the only 1 of his 1st round picks he has until 1999 (94 to 76ers, 95 and 96 to Timberwolves, 97 to Bucks, and 98 to 76ers) - a gift from the 1st GM CWizz. He finished with the worst record last season and won the draft lottery to select Shaquille O'Neal. If he was bumped to #2 or #3 - his team would be a perennial loser with no hope of salvation through the draft for 6 years. He made other good moves to - trading for the #6 pick to draft sharpshooter Allan Houston, a draft day trade of future 1sts for playmaker Rod Strickland, and 2 smart free agent signings. All-League 1st Team defender and 3rd year pro Lionel Simmons signed for a 3 year max deal and bruiser Charles Oakley signed for the rest of his cap room. The Grizzlies have a complete starting lineup and every 1 of them worked hard and improved during TC. The playoffs aren't an impossible goal now.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves (#24, 31-51, lottery)[/color]
Minnesota has won 100 games the past 3 seasons, low of 31 and high of 35. Tired of the losing culture that had spread among his young team, gotrunks took advantage of 2 rebuilding teams. He traded for Larry Nance and Tim Hardaway from the Bucks and 1990 Playoffs MVP Charles Barkley and Mitch Richmond from the Braves. It cost him a lot of future 1sts and 3 lottery picks in the past 2 drafts but look at the results. Minnesota fans are raving about a 60 win season - Minnesotans may spend too much time daydreaming indoors to stay warm but this is hands down the most improved team.
and LOSERS
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5. Toronto Raptors (#1, 60-22, 1 seed, Conference Semifinals)[/color]
If you're not moving forwards, you're moving backwards. While an elite team with Michael Jordan, they sat out this offseason. All they added was the 58th pick Mr. Irrelevant, a LLE and 8 more for the minimum. That's 10 roster spots taken up by bad players. The Raptors lost their starting center Andrew Lang to the Kings and the backup PG Nate McMillan is in Cleveland now. This offseason may not effect them this year but with a couple inactive offseasons in a row and they'll be nowhere near the 60 win juggernaut they are now.
4. Los Angeles Clippers (#6, 50-32, 3 seed, 1st round exit)[/color]
The "other" team in Los Angeles - shares the Forum with the Lakers and uses the visitor's locker room for home games. Tired of being a side attraction, crazymike went out and brought in a farewell tour for 1980s stars - 36 year old Larry Bird, Kevin McHale (35), Rolando Blackman (34), Eddie Johnson (34), Kevin Willis (31), and Terry Porter (30). This worked with some success as each player could be had cheaply for a 1st round pick and put up big numbers and exicting shows as the Clippers finally played in front of sold out crowds. Finishing with homecourt advantage in the 1st round - there was a lot of playoff hype but the Jazz came through on their way to the conference finals. Wayman Tisdale was their #1 option last season and put up huge numbers while a Clipper - skipped Disneyland for Disneyworld and $53 million. Still a playoff team with their aging superstars but Bird and McHale's Celtic rings from the 80s could be their last.
3. Washington Bullets (#2, 55-27, 2 seed, Conference Semifinals)[/color]
Everyone knows the Bullets have the league's best player Hakeem Olajuwon and he has powered them to 117 wins the past 2 seasons. The knock on the Bullets is there was little else and that was evident every year in the playoffs (2 series wins in 3 seasons). What Dream did have was Vernon MAXwell - a All-League 1st Team calibur guard with A+ defense. 9 teams - the Kings, Bucks, Pistons, Braves, Grizzlies, Mavericks, 76ers, Celtics, and Trailblazers offered Mad Max the maximum salary allowed but the Bullets didn't. Mad Max wants to play for a winner but felt the slight in Washington and signed with division rivals Boston. With only the #28 pick and no cap room - the Bullets had little to work with to make up for losing him. Their GM posted a trade block listing Dream this offseason - his departure may come all too soon as he enters his contract year. The Bullets may get what they can before he too signs a contract to play for a team with bigger pockets.
2. Sacramento Kings (#26, 28-54, lottery)[/color]
uoslr.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=completedtrades&action=display&thread=117&page=1
The Kings traded Reggie Williams, 2x All-Star Rodney McCray, and 5 1sts - #23 in '91 (Isaac Austin), #19 in '92 (Tracy Murray), #3 in '93 (Penny Hardaway), Kings '94, and Kings '95 to the Jazz for Ron Harper, Danny Manning, and Reggie Theus.
They won 88 games and had a playoff series win in 2 seasons before blowing the team up last year. They're on this list because they only have Manning left and could have drafted Penny this season. The Kings resigned Manning for the $69 million over 6 years this offseason. The Jazz still have their picks for this year and next year and can either sit on them and receive lottery picks while they're winning or let the Kings have them back for Manning and Kenny Smith. When that trade happens in the next day or 2, the Jazz will be an elite team and the Kings can tank the next 2 seasons.
1. The Eastern Conference[/color]
The East has dominated the West for forever. The last 2 All-Star games were double-digit blowouts led by 2x MVP Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan. The West embarrassingly has 2 teams with losing records make the playoffs every year. But this offseason with the Timberwolves and Jazz (with Manning and the Jet) joining the Warriors as elite teams - the balance of power is evening out. The Bullets and Raptors both took steps back and the cinderella Braves were blown up. The Spurs and SuperSonics kept their teams together. The top 3 picks in the draft went out West. Should be the best year yet.
[/b]6. Dallas Mavericks (last season #27, 23-59, lottery)
Could go under losers list for having the 2nd worst record all last season until the last sim when the Hawks passed them. Draft lottery night the Mavericks pick dropped from projected 3rd to #5 as the Rockets and Jazz jumped them. Michael Finley, probably the 4th best prospect, fell to them because the Hawks have Latrell Sprewell and Jamal Mashburn on the wings. His TC improved his inside and defense. Entering free agency, Dallas had $18 million to spend. Targeting the big name players with max offers - Glen Rice, Vernon Maxwell, Danny Manning, Roy Tarpley, Wayman Tisdale, and Muggsy Bogues - they signed Wayman for $53 million over 6 years. The contract broke the break for many teams - the 3rd largest in UOSLR history - but the Magic became a suitor for a sign and trade. Overall Dallas netted 5 future 1sts for last year's PG Rod Strickland, Tisdale, and Day 4 signing Nate McMillan.
5. Utah Jazz (#13, 43-39, 6 seed, Western Conference Finals)[/color]
From taking the UOSLR champions to 5 games in the conference finals to selecting 3rd Overall. How'd they do it? They had the hapless Kings' projected 4th pick and it won the lottery to move up to #3 - letting the Jazz schedule a press conference to welcome Penny Hardaway to Salt Lake City instead of Sam Cassell. Penny is a revolutionary player - the size of a 2 with the skillsets of both guard positions. Heralded as the next Magic Johnson (who just won a UOSLR championship at 33) - he takes the Jazz from playoff Cinderellas to regular season power house. With their own pick they selected defensive dog Bo Outlaw at #17.
4. Philadelphia 76ers(#16, 40-42, lottery)[/color]
Shawn Bradley fell to the bottom of the lottery and joins MVP candidate David Robinson to form the league's real Twin Towers - the Pistons' Gheorghe Muresan and Luc Longley are a sad poor man's version in comparison. The real treat came when Muggsy Bogues left Chicago for $32 million over 4 years - he's the 76ers 1st free agent signing in 3 years. Bogues is a great playmaker and defender - 2nd in assists and 3rd in steals last season. Robinson has been piling up awards but has never won a playoff series - Bogues makes him relevant again. Replacing the old GM with Maniac is making Philly a basketball town again.
3. Houston Rockets (#23, 36-46, lottery)[/color]
The Rockets leapfrogged several more deserving teams from the 7th best chance of winning the lottery to #2 and Chris Webber. CWebb is #1 in any draft without a player nicknamed Shaq. Getting a rookie #1 big man is a huge advantage for another rookie - their new GM ducky. He's brand new in UOSLR and it is interesting to see what kind of dynamic a relatively unknown commodity will bring to the Rockets. His next move was to sign a veteran PG Alvin Robertson - a former 6th man that had lost favor in Phoenix playing only 4.9 minutes per game. Rockets should be able to make the playoffs in the weak Western Conference - 3 .500 teams or worse every season go to the postseason.
2. Vancouver Grizzlies (#29, 14-68, lottery)[/color]
Rookie GM csdude's 1st offseason was do or die - this is the only 1 of his 1st round picks he has until 1999 (94 to 76ers, 95 and 96 to Timberwolves, 97 to Bucks, and 98 to 76ers) - a gift from the 1st GM CWizz. He finished with the worst record last season and won the draft lottery to select Shaquille O'Neal. If he was bumped to #2 or #3 - his team would be a perennial loser with no hope of salvation through the draft for 6 years. He made other good moves to - trading for the #6 pick to draft sharpshooter Allan Houston, a draft day trade of future 1sts for playmaker Rod Strickland, and 2 smart free agent signings. All-League 1st Team defender and 3rd year pro Lionel Simmons signed for a 3 year max deal and bruiser Charles Oakley signed for the rest of his cap room. The Grizzlies have a complete starting lineup and every 1 of them worked hard and improved during TC. The playoffs aren't an impossible goal now.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves (#24, 31-51, lottery)[/color]
Minnesota has won 100 games the past 3 seasons, low of 31 and high of 35. Tired of the losing culture that had spread among his young team, gotrunks took advantage of 2 rebuilding teams. He traded for Larry Nance and Tim Hardaway from the Bucks and 1990 Playoffs MVP Charles Barkley and Mitch Richmond from the Braves. It cost him a lot of future 1sts and 3 lottery picks in the past 2 drafts but look at the results. Minnesota fans are raving about a 60 win season - Minnesotans may spend too much time daydreaming indoors to stay warm but this is hands down the most improved team.
and LOSERS
[/b]5. Toronto Raptors (#1, 60-22, 1 seed, Conference Semifinals)[/color]
If you're not moving forwards, you're moving backwards. While an elite team with Michael Jordan, they sat out this offseason. All they added was the 58th pick Mr. Irrelevant, a LLE and 8 more for the minimum. That's 10 roster spots taken up by bad players. The Raptors lost their starting center Andrew Lang to the Kings and the backup PG Nate McMillan is in Cleveland now. This offseason may not effect them this year but with a couple inactive offseasons in a row and they'll be nowhere near the 60 win juggernaut they are now.
4. Los Angeles Clippers (#6, 50-32, 3 seed, 1st round exit)[/color]
The "other" team in Los Angeles - shares the Forum with the Lakers and uses the visitor's locker room for home games. Tired of being a side attraction, crazymike went out and brought in a farewell tour for 1980s stars - 36 year old Larry Bird, Kevin McHale (35), Rolando Blackman (34), Eddie Johnson (34), Kevin Willis (31), and Terry Porter (30). This worked with some success as each player could be had cheaply for a 1st round pick and put up big numbers and exicting shows as the Clippers finally played in front of sold out crowds. Finishing with homecourt advantage in the 1st round - there was a lot of playoff hype but the Jazz came through on their way to the conference finals. Wayman Tisdale was their #1 option last season and put up huge numbers while a Clipper - skipped Disneyland for Disneyworld and $53 million. Still a playoff team with their aging superstars but Bird and McHale's Celtic rings from the 80s could be their last.
3. Washington Bullets (#2, 55-27, 2 seed, Conference Semifinals)[/color]
Everyone knows the Bullets have the league's best player Hakeem Olajuwon and he has powered them to 117 wins the past 2 seasons. The knock on the Bullets is there was little else and that was evident every year in the playoffs (2 series wins in 3 seasons). What Dream did have was Vernon MAXwell - a All-League 1st Team calibur guard with A+ defense. 9 teams - the Kings, Bucks, Pistons, Braves, Grizzlies, Mavericks, 76ers, Celtics, and Trailblazers offered Mad Max the maximum salary allowed but the Bullets didn't. Mad Max wants to play for a winner but felt the slight in Washington and signed with division rivals Boston. With only the #28 pick and no cap room - the Bullets had little to work with to make up for losing him. Their GM posted a trade block listing Dream this offseason - his departure may come all too soon as he enters his contract year. The Bullets may get what they can before he too signs a contract to play for a team with bigger pockets.
2. Sacramento Kings (#26, 28-54, lottery)[/color]
uoslr.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=completedtrades&action=display&thread=117&page=1
The Kings traded Reggie Williams, 2x All-Star Rodney McCray, and 5 1sts - #23 in '91 (Isaac Austin), #19 in '92 (Tracy Murray), #3 in '93 (Penny Hardaway), Kings '94, and Kings '95 to the Jazz for Ron Harper, Danny Manning, and Reggie Theus.
They won 88 games and had a playoff series win in 2 seasons before blowing the team up last year. They're on this list because they only have Manning left and could have drafted Penny this season. The Kings resigned Manning for the $69 million over 6 years this offseason. The Jazz still have their picks for this year and next year and can either sit on them and receive lottery picks while they're winning or let the Kings have them back for Manning and Kenny Smith. When that trade happens in the next day or 2, the Jazz will be an elite team and the Kings can tank the next 2 seasons.
1. The Eastern Conference[/color]
The East has dominated the West for forever. The last 2 All-Star games were double-digit blowouts led by 2x MVP Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan. The West embarrassingly has 2 teams with losing records make the playoffs every year. But this offseason with the Timberwolves and Jazz (with Manning and the Jet) joining the Warriors as elite teams - the balance of power is evening out. The Bullets and Raptors both took steps back and the cinderella Braves were blown up. The Spurs and SuperSonics kept their teams together. The top 3 picks in the draft went out West. Should be the best year yet.
