Post by TinyTimPig on Mar 24, 2021 15:43:09 GMT -5
Update Schedule: Sims 3, 6, 9, 12
Hello, and welcome to TimPig's Sophomore Staircaseâ„¢! I like looking at players who are in their second year in the league as they've usually received significant playing time, upgrades, camps, and gone through two training camps. I'll be doing my best to update this four times per season, on a schedule that has as little crossover with Delap's Rookie Ladder as possible.
The 3002 class has produced quite a few nice looking players, though I'm not sure I see any with a ceiling as high as Antoine Carr, Dale Ellis, Clyde Drexler, Marc Gasol, or Al Horford. In other words, I see quite a few guys who would make great second or third options on championship teams, including possibly some guys who are currently in the Honorable Mention category but are certainly candidates to make the Staircaseâ„¢ in future updates.
10. Kelvin Ransey
Team: Golden State Warriors
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: 7
Season Per-36:
Summary: Ransey battles Wes Matthews for the top PG spot in the class. Matthews is performing admirably this year, but I don't expect it to keep up. Ransey appears to have a higher floor with better rebounding and fewer turnovers. Efficiency is a tad lower than you'd hope for, but he's definitely a starter in this league for a long time.
Team: Golden State Warriors
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: 7
Season Per-36:
Name | Position | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | FG% | FT% | 3P% | Pts/TSA | PER |
Kelvin Ransey | PG | 17.7 | 4.5 | 10.5 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 2.4 | .457 | .955 | .429 | 1.069 | 19.3 |
Summary: Ransey battles Wes Matthews for the top PG spot in the class. Matthews is performing admirably this year, but I don't expect it to keep up. Ransey appears to have a higher floor with better rebounding and fewer turnovers. Efficiency is a tad lower than you'd hope for, but he's definitely a starter in this league for a long time.
9. Rick Mahorn
Team: Indiana Pacers
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: T-5
Season Per-36:
Summary: All-around solid big as he's tied for fourth in the class in rebounding, possesses about average efficiency, and puts up enough bleals to not be a defensive liability. High floor, low ceiling player who would be a great third big and a serviceable second.
Team: Indiana Pacers
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: T-5
Season Per-36:
Name | Position | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | FG% | FT% | 3P% | Pts/TSA | PER |
Rick Mahorn | PF | 23.0 | 11.8 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.5 | .491 | .711 | .000 | 1.088 | 20.9 |
Summary: All-around solid big as he's tied for fourth in the class in rebounding, possesses about average efficiency, and puts up enough bleals to not be a defensive liability. High floor, low ceiling player who would be a great third big and a serviceable second.
8. Andrew Toney
Team: Golden State Warriors
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: 3
Season Per-36:
Summary: This one may come as a shock as he finished 3rd in the final rookie ladder, but I'm not as high on Toney as others. His efficiency is 24th in the class among (my definition of) eligible players, doesn't play defense, and turns it over a pretty good amount. He's a good candidate to drop off of the Staircaseâ„¢ entirely if his efficiency, which he pairs with high volume, doesn't increase.
Team: Golden State Warriors
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: 3
Season Per-36:
Name | Position | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | FG% | FT% | 3P% | Pts/TSA | PER |
Andrew Toney | SG | 27.6 | 5.9 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 3.1 | .463 | .819 | .457 | 1.043 | 18.9 |
Summary: This one may come as a shock as he finished 3rd in the final rookie ladder, but I'm not as high on Toney as others. His efficiency is 24th in the class among (my definition of) eligible players, doesn't play defense, and turns it over a pretty good amount. He's a good candidate to drop off of the Staircaseâ„¢ entirely if his efficiency, which he pairs with high volume, doesn't increase.
7. Jeff Ruland
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: 8
Season Per-36:
Summary: Excellent efficiency combined with high volume, Ruland was a sneaky good draft pick by Mike. Turnovers aren't awful for 6.0, especially considering his current usage. I draw the line for "average" rebounding right around 10, so I don't consider him a liability there either. Defense isn't good, but overall, he's a fine second or very good third big.
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: 8
Season Per-36:
Name | Position | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | FG% | FT% | 3P% | Pts/TSA | PER |
Jeff Ruland | PF | 32.5 | 10.1 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 2.4 | .540 | .759 | .000 | 1.137 | 25.4 |
Summary: Excellent efficiency combined with high volume, Ruland was a sneaky good draft pick by Mike. Turnovers aren't awful for 6.0, especially considering his current usage. I draw the line for "average" rebounding right around 10, so I don't consider him a liability there either. Defense isn't good, but overall, he's a fine second or very good third big.
6. Roosevelt Bouie
Team: Seattle SuperSonics
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: HM
Season Per-36:
Summary: Bouie is another player who will probably drop in future updates as his efficiency and rebounding are both likely going to drop a bit in future sims. Turnovers are a bit higher than you'd prefer, but he's showing some defensive chops with 1.7 bleals per game to go along with excellent scoring so far.
Team: Seattle SuperSonics
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: HM
Season Per-36:
Name | Position | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | FG% | FT% | 3P% | Pts/TSA | PER |
Roosevelt Bouie | C | 23.5 | 10.7 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 2.8 | .548 | .685 | .000 | 1.165 | 20.8 |
Summary: Bouie is another player who will probably drop in future updates as his efficiency and rebounding are both likely going to drop a bit in future sims. Turnovers are a bit higher than you'd prefer, but he's showing some defensive chops with 1.7 bleals per game to go along with excellent scoring so far.
5. Mike Woodson
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: NR
Season Per-36:
Summary: Surprise, surprise! I'm a huge fan of Woodson now that he's received upgrades and is actually playing. Good efficiency, solid rebounding for a shooting guard, very good defense, and no turnovers to speak of. He's solidly above average in every category so far but not spectacular in any. If he keeps this up, he probably gets a bump in future updates.
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: NR
Season Per-36:
Name | Position | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | FG% | FT% | 3P% | Pts/TSA | PER |
Mike Woodson | SG | 17.3 | 6.6 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.8 | .512 | .781 | .269 | 1.120 | 17.6 |
Summary: Surprise, surprise! I'm a huge fan of Woodson now that he's received upgrades and is actually playing. Good efficiency, solid rebounding for a shooting guard, very good defense, and no turnovers to speak of. He's solidly above average in every category so far but not spectacular in any. If he keeps this up, he probably gets a bump in future updates.
4. Larry Smith
Team: Brooklyn Nets
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: T-5
Season Per-36:
Summary: Unquestionably the best rebounder in the class, he's averages a full 1.3 rebounds more than Jawann Oldham, who is second in the class on the glass. Efficiency has improved with upgrades and he should be a very good player for the Nets for a long time. Defense and turnovers aren't a huge liability.
Team: Brooklyn Nets
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: T-5
Season Per-36:
Name | Position | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | FG% | FT% | 3P% | Pts/TSA | PER |
Larry Smith | PF | 23.6 | 13.5 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 2.4 | .518 | .787 | .250 | 1.156 | 24.1 |
Summary: Unquestionably the best rebounder in the class, he's averages a full 1.3 rebounds more than Jawann Oldham, who is second in the class on the glass. Efficiency has improved with upgrades and he should be a very good player for the Nets for a long time. Defense and turnovers aren't a huge liability.
3. Michael Brooks
Team: Brooklyn Nets
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: 3
Season Per-36:
Summary: A good scorer and rebounder with positional versatility, decent turnovers, and not much by way of defense. Brooks' strengths outweigh his deficiencies and I expect him to be an excellent player for a very long time. Definitely a max player.
Team: Brooklyn Nets
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: 3
Season Per-36:
Name | Position | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | FG% | FT% | 3P% | Pts/TSA | PER |
Michael Brooks | SF | 26.0 | 8.0 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 2.2 | .547 | .711 | .000 | 1.156 | 21.8 |
Summary: A good scorer and rebounder with positional versatility, decent turnovers, and not much by way of defense. Brooks' strengths outweigh his deficiencies and I expect him to be an excellent player for a very long time. Definitely a max player.
2. Kevin McHale
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: 1
Season Per-36:
Summary: McHale's overall efficiency should rise and he's appeared to take a step in both defense and rebounding in year two while his turnovers have decreased, though that is surely due in some part to better teammates around him. McHale is a nice building block for Sap and his young Cavs team.
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: 1
Season Per-36:
Name | Position | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | FG% | FT% | 3P% | Pts/TSA | PER |
Kevin McHale | PF | 30.4 | 10.4 | 4.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 2.5 | .495 | .763 | .000 | 1.109 | 26.7 |
Summary: McHale's overall efficiency should rise and he's appeared to take a step in both defense and rebounding in year two while his turnovers have decreased, though that is surely due in some part to better teammates around him. McHale is a nice building block for Sap and his young Cavs team.
1. Kiki Vandeweghe
Team: Carolina Cougars
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: 2
Season Per-36:
Summary: I have a huge crush on Kiki, whose efficiency I'd call unbelievable if he didn't put up similar numbers as a rookie. Like Brooks, he can also play shooting guard and while his rebounds are lower, his turnovers are half of what Brooks offers, which is a tradeoff I'd take any day of the week. For me, Kiki appears firmly planted in first place, even if the coach keeps him on a minutes restriction for his entire career.
Honorable Mentions:
Point Guards:
Dave Britton
Larry Drew Sr.
Wes Matthews
Wings:
Bruce Collins
Craig Shelton
Darrell Griffith
Mike O'Koren
Bigs:
James Ray
Jawann Oldham
Joe Barry Carroll
Lavon Mercer
Mike Gminski
Wayne Robinson
Team: Carolina Cougars
Rookie Ladder Final Ranking: 2
Season Per-36:
Name | Position | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | FG% | FT% | 3P% | Pts/TSA | PER |
Kiki Vandeweghe | SF | 22.9 | 7.0 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.1 | .584 | .804 | .500 | 1.252 | 22.0 |
Summary: I have a huge crush on Kiki, whose efficiency I'd call unbelievable if he didn't put up similar numbers as a rookie. Like Brooks, he can also play shooting guard and while his rebounds are lower, his turnovers are half of what Brooks offers, which is a tradeoff I'd take any day of the week. For me, Kiki appears firmly planted in first place, even if the coach keeps him on a minutes restriction for his entire career.
Honorable Mentions:
Point Guards:
Dave Britton
Larry Drew Sr.
Wes Matthews
Wings:
Bruce Collins
Craig Shelton
Darrell Griffith
Mike O'Koren
Bigs:
James Ray
Jawann Oldham
Joe Barry Carroll
Lavon Mercer
Mike Gminski
Wayne Robinson