Post by ripkobebryant on Jul 10, 2024 20:21:41 GMT
I would like to thank A. Silver for answering these questions and for everything that he does for the league. I was not here for version 1 or 2 but he has done an amazing job at what he does and I only can assume the first 2 versions were great.
1. With the departure of Domantas Sabonis, what are your current season plans and plans for the next 3 years?
As good as Sabonis has been for me, I'm not sure if his production ever matched his contract. Getting out of a 50 mil contract for a big man that doesn't play defense and takes shots away from Fox and Murray could be a net positive for my team. I love the guy in real life, but in FBB I don't think he brings as much to the table. I think my team is just as talented as it was before, but more flexible without the contract of an aging center who isn't a good defender.
2. We have seen some crazy contracts being thrown everywhere, what are your thoughts on it and how it might be trouble for the league 10 seasons from now when everyone is making close to 50M a year?
It is what it is. People have to overpay to get FA or keep their players, and others will search for the best value contracts and compete that way. This is the way every league goes, both real and sim.
3. We have managed to bring in some fresh new blood to the league at a point where its usually hard to bring in new people, how happy are you that we filled some of the open teams and how do you think it will better the league moving forward?
It's great that we have new blood in the league with slim and mbh11 - and even better that we're pairing that new blood with the old guard of afro. Adding these three highly competitive and active GMs is great for the league.
4. A question the league has given multiple times but I'd like to hear from the commish himself, if you were able to add 3 players to your team right now which 3 would it be and why? Give a 1, 2, 3 order starting with the best.
As a team looking to compete for the title I would add three players to fill my biggest holes and not necessarily the best three players in the league. 1st would be Monte Leyva. He has grown into an incredibly talented all around SG who doesn't really have any holes in his game. I would pair him with Wemby to round out my starting 5 of Wemby/Claxton/Murray/Leyva/Fox - and then my 6th may would be Cooper Flagg with an adapt camp.
5. It looks like we are about to start getting some really good retro players coming into the draft, who are you really excited to see come into the league soon and why?
I'm more interested in the new players than the old players. We've all played through sim leagues with all years of retro players which were all great, but seeing the young Cooper Flagg's or Ace Bailey's before they come into the real NBA and knowing what they bring to the table as basketball players is one of the best things about sim leagues in my opinion.
Response: I really wanted to reply to Silver's response on this. Out of all the people that answered this question, This one hit home hard.. I remember when I first did FBB sims back in the early early 2000's before LeBron/Melo/Wade/Bosh were even in the NBA and I never followed college basketball even til today but not knowing the future and seeing players like even Darko being great in sims was very very fun especially since I got to see 20 years of NBA after and actually saw what all those players were. That was what made the leagues what they are today... Like that is even what I did without realizing it.. I like getting the unknowns, Mara/Rocco/Staton/Aristode/Wagner/Topic I don't know who half these guys are in real life but you can bet 100% these are players I will be following in the NBA years from now just to see and root for them, thats what these FBB sims were about at first.. When it came out people didnt do retro leagues or drafts, everyone started with 2002-2003 original rosters and made drafts from that.
6. FA and Draft is now over and the season is about to begin, who do you think is an early GMOTY candidate so far and why?
Pelicans have got to be the early candidate after their 8-0 preseason sim. After being one of the worst teams in the league last season, if the Pelicans can put together a 50 win season like they expect then GMOTY is in reach.
7. Out of all the newer GMs that have joined recently, who has impressed you the most and which do you think has done the best job up to this point?
Slim had the best moves right out of the gate, making move after move to take advantage of his cap space and draft capital. Afro is the one to look out for though, he is a known winner in this league and I would not be surprised to see him make a big move or two to become a contender in the next season or two.
8. Who do you think will win the West and East and who do you think will be our champion this year and why?
The Griz and 76ers are still favorites until someone proves otherwise. I don't think any team has made enough moves to put themselves ahead of last year's leaders.
9. Final Question and unrelated, Draft and FA is now done in NBA as well, do you think next season will be Boston again in the Finals and a repeat or do you think somebody else wins a championship next year?
The Celtics were so good last year, it's hard to see anyone getting the best of them next year but the NBA is always unpredictable and any team is just one injury away from being eliminated. I also wouldn't be surprised to see the Nuggets back next year - Jokic is such a unique and difficult player to guard I think he can win a series by himself. The Wolves impressed me last year in the playoffs and have a chance if Edwards continues his ascension to the next MJ/Kobe type player in the league.
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