NBN 2029 Early Season Power Rankings [#29-#17]
Aug 13, 2024 19:43:56 GMT
vanimmer, afro, and 5 more like this
Post by cop5414 on Aug 13, 2024 19:43:56 GMT
2029 NBN Early Season Power Rankings: #29-#17
29. Miami Heat
Projected Lineup:
C: Kuminga
PF: Igodaro
SF: Alex Constanza
SG: George Washington III
PG: Johnuel "Boogie" Fland
Bench: Bob Thornton, Tru Washington, Chidi Nwigwe
The Heat are officially on a tank, well at least if you weren't given any indication from 3-43 back half of the season and the currently ongoing 19-game losing streak. The biggest downside to this "official" shift is that the Heat didn't have many pieces to deal out in return for draft capital or cash. However, the one player truly worth something in Bam Adebayo was officially moved, thus ending his longtime tenure as a member of the Miami Heat. In return they got a nice wad of cash ($1500) and a first round pick three years out from a team that 100% cannot keep their current roster heading into next season. The even larger plus side is that they got rid of one of the larger contracts in the league, thus hopefully opening on opportunity to sign potential free agents or trade pieces in upcoming years, as in next year they currently onpy on the books for a little under $4million. Tank well my friend.
28. Los Angeles Lakers
Projected Lineup:
C: Mo Bamba
PF: Bryson Tiller
SF: Josh Giddey
SG: Freddie Dilione
PG: Kaimani Ganub
Bench: who dat?
The heart can only handle so much break, and after consistent shortcomings in the past season for the Lakers, with the last two being early first round exits. Spikelee has decided to pull the plug, dealing out the big guns in Ja Morant to the Hawks, and Austin Reaves to the Jazz. I'd also fully expect SF Josh Giddey to be on the move at some point during the season, which is looking more likely to be after the all-star break. Throughout the offseason the Lakers have acquired several picks (mostly their own) and lots of cash, with a couple of young prospects and several stops from mentor capable players. This is indeed set up to fail, and given that tanking is seemingly harder than actually competing, they are built for a top 3 pick.
27. Houston Rockets
Projected Lineup:
C: Paul Osaruyi
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
SF: Karter Knox
SG: TBA
PG: Cayden Boozer
Bench: Alex Len? And pick a name out of the hat
Hunt is taking his time with this rebuild, I'm certain he tried to make a splash in FA, but sadly only one of the big names left. But the Rockets are building on a young core, consisting of the #5 overall pick Paul Osaruyi, Cayden Boozer, and Karter Knox. None of whom I'd believe will drop +20 a night this season. But that's okay, the rest of the roster will consist of no names and Giannis (if he stays). They should pray to be horrible, and get a top 3 pick. The move I hope pans out for them this season is the Giannis mentor camp of Osaruyi. I kinda liked Osaruyi out of the draft, his big flaws of course was the essentials for being a post player in this league, rebounding and post D. However he had a high, if not the highest potential out of the class, so it is a shame to see his potential drop to a B grade so quickly. Hopefully the mentor "salvages" his potential, and plead that this next draft class is strong.
26. Indiana Pacers
Projected Lineup:
C: Mitchell Robinson
PF: Pateick Baldwin
SF: R.J Barrett
SG: Cam Thomas
PG: Keyonte George
Bench: Rog, Lu Dort, The one Ring to rule them all
New league GM Paradise wants to start fresh. The Pacers had a solid but rather expensive squad, with Embiid, Haliburton, and Cam Thomas eating roughly 75% of the cap. The Pacers amnestied Embiid, traded Haliburton for a couple of picks and $2500. Now the league leading scorer Cam Thomas is all that is left, on an expiring contract mind you. I respect the tear down for new GMs, get rid of any expectation and you get to build something for yourself, which is the fun of this game imo. Now the success of this season will rely on Cam Thomas not stealing too many game before he is eventually traded.
25. Portland Trailblazers
Projected Lineup:
C: Patrick Ngongba II
PF: Tito Horford
SF: Oscar Wembanyama
SG: Korie Corbett
PG: Darnell Walker
Bench: Michael Finely, Trevor Ariza, other people
A former longtime and just returned GM afro has somehow returned and the league is in rejoice. I believe the last time we've (or at least I) heard of him was when he left for a half year trip to Africa before the fold. Now the man is a stone cold killer, when he strikes he usually strikes gold. So now consider this, the Trailblazers currently sit with like 8 picks in the next two drafts and a roster full of prospects. If the Blazerz can get their hand on a legit prospect in this next draft, they'll have something like $130m in cap space to play with via trade or FA. They could turn it around very quick. Anyhow, welcome back.
24. Phoenix Suns
Projected Lineup:
C: Aaron Bradshaw
PF: Kristps Porzingus
SF: Ace Bailey
SG: Jasper Johnson
PG: Aaron Rowe Jr.
Bench: Nurkic, Dink Pate
The Suns have been hobbling around the past couple of seasons. Hobbling probably isn't the most apt description, after all they've only missed the playoffs once in these past six seasons. Nonetheless they could never overcome the barrier of being a #4/5 seed in the West often ending their season in the 1st or 2nd round. Another newbie to the league in zheld is shifting the focus to the tank. Booker and Jaren Jackson are gone, yet Murray, Porzingus, and Nurkic all remain. I might actually have them ranked worse than they should be, after all they compete in the West which is by far the more inferior conference, meaning more unneeded wins. I do believe those three key names remaining will all be moved at the deadline, relatively cheap contracts and all expiring. If I'm the Suns I push hard to sell them as soon as you can, and get that tank smooth sailing more early. Hope they land something good.
23. Milwaukee Bucks
Projected Lineup:
C:Zach Edey
PF: Caleb Gaskins
SF: Dame Sarr
SG: Mitch Richmond
PG: Chris Paul II
Bench: scrubs
Projected #1 pick, yet fell all the way down to #4, rather sad for a newly initiated GM, them landing the #1 in their first draft is all one would hope for, but luckily I do believe the draft fell in their favor. The Mavericks put their faith in a draft note and a player who already exhibited the potential for elite defense. The Heat I think wisely took a high risk high reward player in the international SF Oscar Schmidt, the Pistons for whatever reason decided they needed a 6th point guard (at the time) rather than take the likely biggest name of the draft who went #4 in Mitch Richmond. You could say by the end of this he wound up with the #4 pick anyways. He's a step or two behind on Eddie Jones currently, but Richmond still has the higher potential to ride on and 4 years worth camps. Chris Paul II, Mitch Richmond, and the steal of FA Dame Sarr. Nice potential looking trio right there. All that's left is to figure out the big man situation. I'd possbily look to leverage this year's pick come draft time.
22. San Antonio Spurs
Projected Lineup:
C: Karl Anthony Towns
PF: Domatas Sabonis
SF: Jaylen Brown
SG: Johm Starks???
PG: Not Cade Cunningham
Bench: Clarke, Proctor, Profit
Recently moved legacy stat padder Cade Cunningham to the Nuggets in exchange for Jaylen Brown, Brandon Clarke, and Tyrese Proctor. Not much to say on this squad currently as the Spurs are currently operated by the interim. I could randomly see them pushat a playoff spot in what is usually a weak Western Conference, but they don't have a lot going for themsleves in the scoring department. Well who knows, at least this Bronny James can knock down some three's. There is Jeremiah Profit to look foward to, I'd assume he doesn't produce much this season, but he could turn into a really nice get in this past draft.
21. Denver Nuggets
Projected Lineup:
C: Insert Center Name
PF: Derrion Reid
SF: Tahj Ariza
SG: Jason Richardson
PG: Is Cade Cunningham
Bench: Bradley, Bidunga, Jason Richardson with an "X", Yang
A team I don't believe is quite ready to enter the fold, but are well on their way. The addition of Cade Cunningham, despite my earlier comments speaking of him as a stat merchant, should fix the weakness at point. To be candid, I didn't like the move. Not to say I didn't like the value, but more rather along the lines of the tuming of it. Tahj Ariza and Jason Richardson are still underdeveloped and their front court poses no real threats. The addition of Cade Cunningham will give them more wins than they need but likely not enough. They'll likely find themselves in that mid to late lotto range. Love the direction of this team however.
20. Boston Celtics
Projected Lineup:
C: Keiner Asprilla
PF: Jaylen Johnson
SF: Kiyan Anthony
SG: Stephan Castle
PG: Killian Hayes
Bench: Yuki Togashi, Jermaine Jr., Caleb Wilson
I've been there or was there in 2.0, taking over the lousiest franchise named the Orlando Magic, no picks for the 1st round pick on 60 loss team for my first season. A player by the name of Drazen Dalipagic who was handed a max contract to play to the equivalent of the a current Piston PF Isaiah Hartenstein. He was a SF by the way. Thank the gods for them amnesty cuts. The only saving grace was that the previous GM had surprisingly made the correct choice in Adrian Dantley. Point is, as naterade has previously stated, its only uphill from here and currently the Celtics have Asprilla and Kiyan building the foundation, then there is Sarunas and his nasty development to mention. I say don't rush and find a way to get that always needed point guard and a nice rotation of bigs, in two seasons time when Sarunas finally comes over this will be a nice looking roster hopefully on the verge of a their 1st playoff appearence.
19. Dallas Mavericks
Projected Lineup:
C: Jarrett Allen
PF: Naz Reid?
SF: Matas Buzelis
SG: Eddie Jones
PG: Nikola Topic
Bench: Sander Raeist, Jalen Smith
Considering how things seem to be, I wonder if bundy wishes he could retract that Peterson trade. Nice to get out of that Ayton contract, I wouldn't call it horrible, but he doesn't produce enough stocks to be awarded that much money. I also wouldn't say it's the worse thing to move on from Peterson either. The guy shot 21.7% from three last season. Yeah, that's freaking morbid, I just wonder if he could've pulled a greater player for the Rookie of the Year than Topic. This roster is nothing to make light of either, Raeist and Eddie Jones had nice offseason development, plus Jarrett Allen is perfectly capable of being a defensive anchor. Problem for me is if they'll get have any sort of positive point differential, no one on the offense would absolutley scare me, and defensively they aren't too impressive. I'd expect them to be 10-15 games better this year.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves
Projected Lineup:
C: Ugonna Kingslev
PF: Alexander the Great
SF: Vrenz Bleijalenbergh
SG: Jalen Hood-Schifino
PG: Jalen Suggs
Bench: Hell if I know
This will likely be my worst ranking, to be honest I'm sure why I had them so high up. I want to say they still had Zubac at the time and Bufkin was still on the roster until this morning or late last night. Their gone and the decent frontcourt and solid backcourt pieces I was counting to be there are lost. Never saw them as a playoff team however. Usually it seems there is a big gap of wins between playoff contenders and the lottos. 39-45 records for the #7/8 seeds. Beneath that you'll have one straggler or two left out of the party before the league seperates to its filth who lost 48 or more games in a season. I had the Twolves here with what I thought was going to be their opening day line up. Probably back to being a 24-win team this season. Good for them, higher lotto projection and a slew of new picks from previous trades.
17. Brooklyn Nets
Projected Lineup:
C: Ismalia Diagne
PF: Tyrene Stokes
SF: A.J Dybansta
SG: Trey Alexander
PG: Tahaad Pettiford
Bench: Brandon McCoy, Rupert, Arenas, Kyle Flipowski, Mr. Brad Miller
I'll round this first half of the list off with a team I believe will be o e of the left over stragglers in the playoff race. The Nets have had a nice offseason. A.J Dybansta is still A.J Dybansta, sophmore player Tyran Stokes is still coming to, and they've recently added a slew of point guards, named Tahaad Pettiford, Brandon McCoy Jr., and Trey Alexander. I like two of these three additions. Really hate the Alexander contract. That one will be a pain to be rid of, and there is no further opportunity of development rather than TC. As for their bigs, I like their young core specifically Diagne whome I tried to reacquire last trade deadline. I think it's a decently constructed roster that'll produce given the correct TC, however I don't see much flexibility nor any truly dominant piece at any postion. I do see this team making some kind of threat for the 8th seed, still think they fall slightly below .500.
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