Post by carmelo115 on Apr 28, 2024 2:21:09 GMT
1. You made a huge trade this offseason acquiring Chet Holmgren for a ton of picks. What was your reasoning behind making this deal?
It’s something that can get me in trouble a lot with long term team building but I've always been of the opinion pretty heavily that you find superstars, you acquire superstars and you figure out the rest. Chet Holmgren is a superstar and the type of player winning titles right now. Hes young, signed long term, and fits any type of team mold so I thought the deal made a ton of sense. It left a bunch of youth on my roster to surround him with the idea that this season is likely lost.
2. You threw a max contract at Jalen Duren on day 1 of free agency. Whta did you see in him that made you feel comfortable shelling out that kind of money?
I very much am a proponent of using your cap space for things that make sense. He is going to top out at 52 million, just over a third of the cap and just over a fourth of your hard cap. You can fit two guys pretty easily in that and still have 100 million to fill out the rest of the roster. I liked Duren's youth, rebounding, and ability to improve still after he got paid. So far his rebounding is what is really standing out but I have hope he can put together a TC or two to make him better.
3. Cody Williams was a surprise pick at number 4 in this past draft. If all goes as planned, what is his ceiling?
What I saw in Cody Williams when I drafted him was a future A- B+ scoring with All-League defensive ability. His first TC didn't do what I had hoped in terms of bringing the outside forward so hopefully he can have a big second TC there. My hope is 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 stocks and a guy who doesn't turn it over a bunch and simply mans the SF position in a way that allows the rest of the roster to flourish. I didn't see a sure-star left in the draft at 4 so I took the guy I felt had the safest chance to become an above average starter. Hope for more but I went safe in this class over my usual love for potential.
4. After trading all of your future pick assets for Chet and Kawhi, what will you look to do with your roster this season while you still have a 1st?
Right now we're treading water, trying out some DCs, and looking at the trade market trying to navigate how to best put together a championship roster next year. IF that means we are a lottery team this year and have either a pick to trade for an upgrade somewhere or simply add to the youth on the roster, then thats what we'll do. If that means making the playoffs and trading some of the youth we have now to teams to make that happen while still looking toward next year, then thats what we’ll do.
5. You traded a large amount of cash to select DJ Burns in this past draft. Why did you think he was worth what you gave up?
Absolutely nothing. His note is fun and I really just thought he'd be a fun player to try and make work. He will never block shots the way I want but paired with Chet down the line and a shot blocking backup big I think he has a shot to do some fun things offensively. I need that rebounding to get there though.
6. Heading into season 4, the Sixers will be looking for a three peat, which has only happened once, dating back to the original NBN. If there is 1 team out there who can take the defending champs down, who is it and why?
Someonee out West for sure. Washington is really good but I still think they are a bit young with specific holes to be the team that does it. Toronto needs to find an upgrade on the wing. I like the Lakers or Grizzlies out West the most but they've struggled a bit so far this season so time will tell. Right now they have to be the overwhelming favorites to win it all again. Carlos has absolutely done a killer job making that roster as good as it is.
7. We've seen some top prospects struggle early on since the league has restarted, especially after some rough training camps. What are your thoughts on how the draft classes have looked on the court? Is the lack of success a product of the drafts or the randomness of FBB?
My intention here has been to give varied options across the draft and make the draft a valuable tool to add talent at all levels of the class, all the way down to the top of the second round. We've seen guys like Flagg and Alex Sarr at the top of the first two classes that were sure hits and then a bunch of prospects with specific flaws that have either developed correctly or are the reason they aren't succeeding so far. I've tried making some of the older prospects a bit more desirable at the top than usual and kept the higher potential players(outside of the top pick contenders) to flawed players who need a ton of luck and development to work out. So far I think it’s mostly FBB and a lack of data size that is causing the current thought processes with the draft. FBB has held back some of the guys I thought/intended to be hits and have pulled forward some guys I didn't expect to be that good. FBB Does what it wants and also smart camiping plays a part too.
8. We have not seen the worst regular season team be gifted the number 1 pick in the draft so far. Do you think there's to say that maybe full on tanking isn't necessary or even worth it with the way our lotteries have fallen so far?
Full on tanking will always be my preferred method of rebuilding. Too fun to me stripping a roster for parts and then watching the lottery balls hit or miss. It sucks when they miss and miss like Van has seen before this last draft where he got 2 and the guy he seemingly wanted the most, but its still a lot of fun to me and that really hasn't changed. Odds and stuff don't work this way, I'm aware, but the worst record still has the best chance to hit on the top pick and we haven't seen that yet so I feel like its coming.
9. There has been some discussion about potentially bringing PED camps back to the league. What's your thoughts on a) the camp itself and b) would it immediately lead to a more inflated league? Would there be a way we could introduce it that would be beneficial to the health of the league?
I think our camping system right now is in a good spot and I wouldn't change much outside of adding another camp or two that can add a bit of strength/jumping/quickness because they are crucial ratings that can make or break a player and if a guy is below some break points(80 quickness for a guard, 80 strength for a big, ect) its really hard for them to get the volume to make them truly worth it. But PED camps? Nah. I'm good. Too much controversy for not really all that much addition to the league.
10. Bam Adebayo was given a max deal that will pay him over 70 mil in his last year. With where a player has to be experience wise to be given a contract like this, can you foresee any players that are worth 70 million in the future? Who and why?
Yes, I do. Bam isnt one of them but let’s say a player comes into the league at 19 and develops into a megastar. You're telling me at 29 you're not going to max them? Flagg at 29 is a FA and you aren't going to 6 year, full max, 12.5% increase offer him? You're going to lose him and someone else is going to benefit. This is no different than guys ending up with 45-50 million deals in the last iteration of NBN. It’s the price you pay when your stars hit FA and you can't lose them.
Rog
It’s something that can get me in trouble a lot with long term team building but I've always been of the opinion pretty heavily that you find superstars, you acquire superstars and you figure out the rest. Chet Holmgren is a superstar and the type of player winning titles right now. Hes young, signed long term, and fits any type of team mold so I thought the deal made a ton of sense. It left a bunch of youth on my roster to surround him with the idea that this season is likely lost.
2. You threw a max contract at Jalen Duren on day 1 of free agency. Whta did you see in him that made you feel comfortable shelling out that kind of money?
I very much am a proponent of using your cap space for things that make sense. He is going to top out at 52 million, just over a third of the cap and just over a fourth of your hard cap. You can fit two guys pretty easily in that and still have 100 million to fill out the rest of the roster. I liked Duren's youth, rebounding, and ability to improve still after he got paid. So far his rebounding is what is really standing out but I have hope he can put together a TC or two to make him better.
3. Cody Williams was a surprise pick at number 4 in this past draft. If all goes as planned, what is his ceiling?
What I saw in Cody Williams when I drafted him was a future A- B+ scoring with All-League defensive ability. His first TC didn't do what I had hoped in terms of bringing the outside forward so hopefully he can have a big second TC there. My hope is 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 stocks and a guy who doesn't turn it over a bunch and simply mans the SF position in a way that allows the rest of the roster to flourish. I didn't see a sure-star left in the draft at 4 so I took the guy I felt had the safest chance to become an above average starter. Hope for more but I went safe in this class over my usual love for potential.
4. After trading all of your future pick assets for Chet and Kawhi, what will you look to do with your roster this season while you still have a 1st?
Right now we're treading water, trying out some DCs, and looking at the trade market trying to navigate how to best put together a championship roster next year. IF that means we are a lottery team this year and have either a pick to trade for an upgrade somewhere or simply add to the youth on the roster, then thats what we'll do. If that means making the playoffs and trading some of the youth we have now to teams to make that happen while still looking toward next year, then thats what we’ll do.
5. You traded a large amount of cash to select DJ Burns in this past draft. Why did you think he was worth what you gave up?
Absolutely nothing. His note is fun and I really just thought he'd be a fun player to try and make work. He will never block shots the way I want but paired with Chet down the line and a shot blocking backup big I think he has a shot to do some fun things offensively. I need that rebounding to get there though.
6. Heading into season 4, the Sixers will be looking for a three peat, which has only happened once, dating back to the original NBN. If there is 1 team out there who can take the defending champs down, who is it and why?
Someonee out West for sure. Washington is really good but I still think they are a bit young with specific holes to be the team that does it. Toronto needs to find an upgrade on the wing. I like the Lakers or Grizzlies out West the most but they've struggled a bit so far this season so time will tell. Right now they have to be the overwhelming favorites to win it all again. Carlos has absolutely done a killer job making that roster as good as it is.
7. We've seen some top prospects struggle early on since the league has restarted, especially after some rough training camps. What are your thoughts on how the draft classes have looked on the court? Is the lack of success a product of the drafts or the randomness of FBB?
My intention here has been to give varied options across the draft and make the draft a valuable tool to add talent at all levels of the class, all the way down to the top of the second round. We've seen guys like Flagg and Alex Sarr at the top of the first two classes that were sure hits and then a bunch of prospects with specific flaws that have either developed correctly or are the reason they aren't succeeding so far. I've tried making some of the older prospects a bit more desirable at the top than usual and kept the higher potential players(outside of the top pick contenders) to flawed players who need a ton of luck and development to work out. So far I think it’s mostly FBB and a lack of data size that is causing the current thought processes with the draft. FBB has held back some of the guys I thought/intended to be hits and have pulled forward some guys I didn't expect to be that good. FBB Does what it wants and also smart camiping plays a part too.
8. We have not seen the worst regular season team be gifted the number 1 pick in the draft so far. Do you think there's to say that maybe full on tanking isn't necessary or even worth it with the way our lotteries have fallen so far?
Full on tanking will always be my preferred method of rebuilding. Too fun to me stripping a roster for parts and then watching the lottery balls hit or miss. It sucks when they miss and miss like Van has seen before this last draft where he got 2 and the guy he seemingly wanted the most, but its still a lot of fun to me and that really hasn't changed. Odds and stuff don't work this way, I'm aware, but the worst record still has the best chance to hit on the top pick and we haven't seen that yet so I feel like its coming.
9. There has been some discussion about potentially bringing PED camps back to the league. What's your thoughts on a) the camp itself and b) would it immediately lead to a more inflated league? Would there be a way we could introduce it that would be beneficial to the health of the league?
I think our camping system right now is in a good spot and I wouldn't change much outside of adding another camp or two that can add a bit of strength/jumping/quickness because they are crucial ratings that can make or break a player and if a guy is below some break points(80 quickness for a guard, 80 strength for a big, ect) its really hard for them to get the volume to make them truly worth it. But PED camps? Nah. I'm good. Too much controversy for not really all that much addition to the league.
10. Bam Adebayo was given a max deal that will pay him over 70 mil in his last year. With where a player has to be experience wise to be given a contract like this, can you foresee any players that are worth 70 million in the future? Who and why?
Yes, I do. Bam isnt one of them but let’s say a player comes into the league at 19 and develops into a megastar. You're telling me at 29 you're not going to max them? Flagg at 29 is a FA and you aren't going to 6 year, full max, 12.5% increase offer him? You're going to lose him and someone else is going to benefit. This is no different than guys ending up with 45-50 million deals in the last iteration of NBN. It’s the price you pay when your stars hit FA and you can't lose them.
Rog
*
