Post by delap on Aug 13, 2021 7:17:11 GMT -5
After a hiatus, the Ladder is back and better than ever!!
This class looks DEEP, so there are certainly some good players that will end up with an HM and a few players that aren't even on HM at this time that I expect to make a leap with some uppies in their system in a few days. Ewing is not so dominant that his #1 spot is a foregone conclusion, as there are multiple ways his uppies could be applied and they could really lead to different outputs in the here and now.
1. Patrick Ewing - Pittsburgh Pipers
Leading scorer in the class, but that isn't saying much. Below average P/TSA. That said... he's 2nd in rebounding and 1st in blocks and bleals/stocks. He doesn't turn it over. The choice for ba will be to either pump inside or jumpshot, I assume.
2. Joe Dumars - Indiana Pacers
We haven't had many SGs that come out of the box scoring as much as Dumars did in the PS, and he plays defense well and is careful with the ball. There's a lot to like for him and he doesn't have any obvious weaknesses, which could allow a variety of upgrade packages.
3a. Terry Porter - Vancouver Grizzlies
3b. Delaney Rudd - Houston Rockets
Two promising PGs! Both shoot enough and efficiently enough to be worthwhile as scorers, neither is a TO machine (Porter is a tad high), and both should be able to grow into solid defensive players. Porter gets the edge over Rudd by virtue of his strong boards from the PG position (5.0/36)... but Druce probably shouldn't bank on him shooting 97% from the FT line over the course of his rookie year/contract/career... seems like a small sample bump.
5a. Karl Malone - Milwaukee Bucks
5b. Charles Oakley - Milwaukee Bucks
Mil-ee-wah-kay, or "the Good Land", is home to a pair of bigs who are both doing well, but not great. Neither play defense, which could be an issue when they are on the court together. Malone is a bright spot offensively (one of the few + offensive players in this class, pre-upgrades). TOs aren't great, but they aren't killer either. Oakley's offensive issues are surprisingly not from the charity stripe, so maybe a +30 to his Inside attribute will sort him out. That said, he is a rebounding machine, tied with Ewing for 2nd in the class, and doesn't turn it over at all. If either of them could even average a block/36 they'd be in strong contention to challenge Pat, but that doesn't seem likely from what we've seen so far.
7a. Xavier McDaniel - Milwaukee Bucks
7b. Mark Davis - Texas Chaparrals
Dissimilar players, but paired together now... it's a choose your own adventure situation on the wing. Both look like impactful starters very early in their career. Need offense? Mark Davis can score with at least average efficiency and decent volume from all 3 levels of the floor. His defense and rebounding aren't stellar, but aren't bad either. Need a defensive/rebounding injection? The X-Man looks like a ready made Glue Guy Award winner from the jump. Averaging just shy of double-digit boards/36 while posting very strong defensive stats from the wing, he is your man. He's not efficient, but is close enough that points in his jumpshot or inside would not be a waste.
9a. Mike Smrek - Anaheim Amigos
9b. Uwe Blab - Charlotte Hornets
Strong centers with a more defensive than offensive bent, but neither is a negative offensively either. Smrek is 2nd in bleals in the class, Blab is 2nd in blocks... both are around league average on P/TSA. If either of them jump up a bit in rebounding they could be a strong contender to move up the ranks at the next update.
Honorable Mentions:
Points:
Sedric Toney - Cleveland Cavaliers
Spud Webb - New York Knicks
Wings:
Ralph Lewis - Minnesota Timberwolves
John Battle - Orlando Magic
Chris Mullin - Los Angeles Clippers
Bigs:
Cozell McQueen - Portland Trail Blazers
Blair Rasmussen - Anaheim Amigos
Wayman Tisdale - Utah Jazz
Arvydas Sabonis - Charlotte Hornets
Benoit Benjamin - Carolina Cougars
