Post by Handsome Pete on Nov 24, 2021 16:53:23 GMT -5
There may not be a class that had more intrigue heading into to the draft than the 3013 class, made up of players whose size and weights were often comically low, most of whom pre-dated the NBA, and whose scouting reports were high on quirks but low on discernable sim league skills. We had a mix of polished pro-ready prospects and high-upside teens, and we saw a variety of player types have success. Four seasons in, this is a very strong class, and I found it harder to narrow down the list to 15 players than in previous seasons, where I'm forced to include some scrubs just to get close. This is one of those classes that may shape the league for the next decade, or it may end up producing a few stars and a lot of good role players. Either way, there's a lot to like here.
1. Los Angeles Lakers - George Mikan C 6'10'' 245 23 B+ C, C, B, A- C, DePaul
Redraft pick: George Mikan C 6'10'' 245 23 B+ C, C, B, A- C, DePaul
The final piece to the championship puzzle for my Lakers squad. Mikan tore up the college stats and was the obvious number one selection at the time. He showed elite traits in every phase of the game for a big, scoring efficiently, rebounding like a mad man, and blocking shots. The big questions were around whether his turnovers would be an issue, and whether his low starting potential (in the 40s) would mean a more rapid decline than the other elite players in the class. Mikan's turnovers were very manageable, no doubt benefitting from being on a team where he didn't have to serve as a primary scoring option. The answer to the second question remains to be seen. He's a net negative in TC growth through 4 seasons, but he was so good already that it really hasn't mattered. As the Lakers 6th man, he was counted on often when one of the other bigs got into foul trouble, and continued his college dominance with elite scoring efficiency, top 10 rebounding numbers, and around 2 blocks per 36. He became a starter for the 3015 title team and looked like one of the 2 or 3 best bigs in the league last season once Nique went down. He's the only member of the class over .200 WS/48 thusfar and I'm very eager to see how he looks shouldering more of the load in Houston.
2. Original pick: Pittsburgh Pipers (from Clippers) - John Beckman PG 5'10'' 195 20 C- B- A, C+ D+ B, Hudson County League
Redraft pick: John Beckman PG 5'10'' 195 20 C- B- A, C+ D+ B, Hudson County League
Some might argue for William Gates here, but in my view Beckman is on the very short list of MVP caliber players if Kyrie ever starts to slow down. He may not be a prolific scorer (he's never cracked 20+ per game), but Beckman is incredibly well-rounded, providing offensive efficiency along with sterling defense and an all-time great Ast/TO ratio. He's the engine that drives the Pipers, and a big reason why they shocked the Cougars last season gone to the conference finals in back to back seasons. He could be even better on a team running outside focus, so it will be interesting to see where he lands in free agency and if he becomes more of a focal point on offense.
3. Original pick: Seattle SuperSonics - Dolph Schayes PF 6'8'' 220 21 C+ C, C, B- A- B, NYU
Redraft pick: Williams Gates SF 6'4'' 230 22 B- C+ C, B, B- B, Buffalo
Tim faced a big decision at this pick, as both players seemed to be on the same level as prospects. Should he go for the upside of Dolph as a scoring big, who was a hidden gem? Or go for William Gates, the wing who looked like a shoo-in for 1.2 before fading down the stretch of the college season. He ultimately went Schayes, but probably should've gone Gates. The face of Microsoft has had a stellar career with the Chaps, providing scoring in bunches, good rebounding for the position, and handles that are rarely found in scoring small forwards like him. He's made an all-league team in 3 straight seasons and has made an all-defensive team as well, showing that he's a standout player on both sides of the court.
4. Original pick: Texas Chaparrals - Williams Gates SF 6'4'' 230 22 B- C+ C, B, B- B, Buffalo
Redraft pick: Dolph Schayes PF 6'8'' 220 21 C+ C, C, B- A- B, NYU
I can't knock the Dolph pick too much, because in my view he's just barely behind Gates as a performer through four seasons. He is a big time scorer, twice finishing as runner up for the league scoring title. He's very efficient as a scorer, although just a little behind the true elites for the position. He's been a very good rebounder as well, although I am somewhat surprised he isn't better. His rebounding was his elite trait as a prospect but doesn't look like it's developed much and may even be regressing a little. The biggest flaw with his game by far is his carelessness with the basketball. Granted, as a 30 PPG scorer he's going to have a high usage rate and more opportunities to turn the ball over, but a career mark just shy of 3 TOs per 36 really hurts the value he brings to the team. If he was around 2 per game, he'd probably be fighting with Beckman for 1.2 honors. But instead, he drops a slot in the redraft.
5. Original pick: Chicago Bulls - Bob Pettit PF 6'9'' 205 22 B, C+ C, C- B, B, LSU
Redraft pick: Joe Lapchik C 6'5'' 215 19 B- C- C- C+ C+ A, Parts Unknown
Poor Mike has had a pretty bad string of lottery picks since I've been doing this exercise, and Bob Pettit is no exception. He actually rates OK via WS/48 compared to others on this list, but in my view he's the definition of ordinary. Meanwhile, all credit is due to Delap for the Joe Lapchick selection a few picks later. Lapchick was someone that was not on my radar as a top 10 pick, and was definitely an upside pick as a 19 year old with A potential. But he's really blossomed into a great all-around big for the Raptors. Lapchick is an A-level defender capable of blocking 2+ per game, and his rebounding is nearly on par with Dolph Schayes for their careers. What's more, he's an effective weapon on offense who can draw a lot of fouls and convert them at a good clip, as well as score in the run of play. He's steadily improved throughout his career and with his high starting potential remains a threat to take a leap into the elite shot blocker category.
6. Original pick: Vancouver Grizzlies (from Hawks) - Paul Arizin SF 6'4'' 190 22 C+ C+ D+ B, B, B, Villanova
Redraft pick: Paul Arizin SF 6'4'' 190 22 C+ C+ D+ B, B, B, Villanova
This is a bit of a reach if I stick to WS/48, as there are several players who have outperformed Arizin to this point in their careers. But I don't think I'm alone in finding a lot more value in what he brings to the table than the players that follow him. For starters, he is a great rebounder on the wing, pulling down over 8.5 per 36 for his career and averaging 9.5 per game last season. He's also a good scorer, putting up over 25 per game last season on 1.17 Pts/TSA. He's also at a B+ rating as a defender, which doesn't necessarily mean anything but the Grizzlies played good team defense last season and I'm sure Arizin was a big part in that. But there's no denying that Arizin has a big turnover problem. His 2.9 per game were in the top ten in the league last season, and as he becomes more of a focal point offensively they will continue to cause problems. But I think the rest of his skill set is good enough that you can live with the turnovers.
7. Original pick: Toronto Raptors - Joe Lapchik C 6'5'' 215 19 B- C- C- C+ C+ A, Parts Unknown
Redraft pick: Al Cooper PG 5'11'' 160 23 C, C+ A, C, C- B, England
Al Cooper was a relatively unheralded draft choice at the time, coming at 1.13. He's been entrenched as the starting point guard for the Suns ever since, and like Lapchick he seems to get better every year. He went from afterthought on offense to a 20 PPG scorer last season, and he's been a great ball-handler since day one. This is a point guard heavy class, and with so many of them testing FA (Beckman, Cooper, Cousy, Hough), it will be interesting to see who the market values. Cooper could be someone who gets a reasonable contract offer thanks to the other options, then makes whoever signed him look very smart.
8. Original pick: Seattle SuperSonics (from Pipers) - Branch McCracken SF 6'4'' 200 21 B+ C, C, C, C, C, Indiana
Redraft pick: Barney Sedran PG 5'5'' 165 22 C- C+ A+ B, C- C, City College of New York
The SuperSonics took the first of two McCracken boys here at 1.8, and Branch is a servicable back-up who fell just outside of my top 15, but probably would've been top 12 in last year's class. Instead, he gets Barney Sedran here, yet another quality point guard from this class. Unlike the others, offense is a minor part of Barney's game. He's a better version of Fat Lever from the class before, a point guard who won't take a ton of shots (although a few more than Fat), but who can rebound for the position, which is even more impressive when you remember that he's only 5'5". Unlike Fat, he's an outstanding defender and a better passer, and has earned numerous accolades thusfar including rookie of the year, all-defensive teams, and even a 3rd team all-league nod. Until last year, his offense was pleasantly mediocre, although 18+ PPG in 3015 is probably more than you'd like to see. Last season he put up a career worst Pts/TSA, but if he can bounce back a little, I could see him swapping places with Al Cooper. A nice career for the little guy.
9. Original pick: Cleveland Cavaliers (from Stags) - Ed Wachter C 6'1'' 240 19 B, C, C+ B- C+ A, Jersey City High
Redraft pick: Charles Hyatt SG 6'0'' 190 22 C+ B, C, C+ C- C, Pittsburgh
The biggest riser in the class, Hyatt only has one season on which to judge him, but the results speak for themselves. 27.9 points per 36, a 1.179 Pts/TSA mark, and only 1.5 turnovers per 36 are all elite numbers for a wing, and Heebs rightfully trumpeted Hyatt as a great find who has stepped into Dumars's shoes admirably. Maybe he'll come back to earth next season, but in classic Heebs fashion he got zero minutes for three seasons, then signed a 7 year deal for 1.3 mil per and is suddenly an all-star level contributor. If he can keep this up, he'll join the list of great 2nd round SGs like Dave Jamerson, proving again that gambling on 2nd round SGs can pay huge dividends.
10. Original pick: Anaheim Amigos - Jack McCracken SF 6'4'' 205 23 C+ B- D, C+ C+ C, NW Missouri State
Redraft pick: Ed Wachter C 6'1'' 240 19 B, C, C+ B- C+ A, Jersey City High
McCracken #2 is trash, so let's give some love to another upside gamble that appears to have paid off with Ed Wachter. He's another player of questionable dimensions, towering as a 6'1" center. That lack of size hasn't hurt him too much, as he's been a solid scoring big and quality defender. He's weak on the glass, averaging only 9 boards per 36, and he turns it over a little more than you'd like. But Wachter is a quality third big who can help carry some of the scoring load and protect the rim with surprising skill.
11. Original pick: Milwaukee Bucks - Bob Cousy PG 6'1'' 175 22 C, C+ A- C+ C- B, Holy Cross
Redraft pick: Harry Hough PG 5'7'' 145 18 C, C+ C+ C, D+ A, Bristol
Trofie has had quite the journey with Bob Cousy over his four seasons, labeling him as untouchable after his rookie season but growing tired of his poor playoff performances. So who better to replace him with than Harry Hough, the young point guard in Indiana who was last seen bricking the game winning attempt in game 7 of the Eastern Conference semis. Hough was a late 1st round potential play, and he blew up in TC to become the starting point for some very good Pacers teams. His WS/48 are remarkably high, putting him above guys like Dolph and Gates, but to me they don't jibe with the production I see. He's not as eficient a scorer as Beckman or Cooper, his defense seems only so-so, and his Ast/TO is good but not great. He's a servicable starting point guard in this league but I don't see any one trait that would make him elite. Still, at this point in the draft he's a great value.
12. Original pick: Utah Jazz (from Heat) - Ace Gruenig C 6'8'' 220 18 B- C- C, B- C+ A, Crane Tech High
Redraft pick: Bob Cousy PG 6'1'' 175 22 C, C+ A- C+ C- B, Holy Cross
I've highlighted a few upside swings who apepar to have panned out, so it's only fair that I talk about Ace Gruenig as well, who is the flip side of that coin. Ace was one of my sleepers going into this draft because of the blow-up potential two teen TCs could provide. Instead, he's been pretty terrible in the limited minutes he's gotten. Sometimes you get the +5 TCs and the world is your oyster, and sometimes you get bupkus. Instead of Ace, let's give Fason the slightly less disappointing Bob Cousy! As I mentioned above, Cousy showed a lot of promise early on, putting up 10 win shares in his sophomore season and averaging career highs across the board. Since then, he's regressed to more of the player he was his rookie season, a slight negative offensively and average everywhere else. You could do a lot worse at pick #12 than a Bob Cousy, though.
13. Original pick: Phoenix Suns - Al Cooper PG 5'11'' 160 23 C, C+ A, C, C- B, England
Redraft pick: Frank Selvy SG 6'3'' 180 22 C+ B+ C, C, C, C, Furman
With Cooper long gone, the Suns get Frank Selvy, another riser from the latter half of round 1. Selvy is a player in the archetype we've all seen before, the non-profile outside oriented wing. He is capable of filling it up and scored over 26 per game his sophomore season. But like a lot of these non-profile SGs, his efficiency is highly dependent on maintaining how close his inside scoring is to the 70 point cap, and by all indications he's slipped a bit on that front over the past two seasons. He's still OK as a scorer but is a lot closer to replacement level than he was two seasons ago. But he's only one good TC away from being a top-flight scorer again.
14. Original pick: Anaheim Amigos (from Bobcats) - Jack Twyman SF 6'6'' 210 21 C+ B, C, C, C, C, Cincinnati
Redraft pick: Jack Twyman SF 6'6'' 210 21 C+ B, C, C, C, C, Cincinnati
The Amigos took a lot of swings at the wing position in this draft, and Twyman was the best of the bunch. He's not going to be confused for an all-star, but he averages 20 points per 36 on 1.15 Pts/TSA for his career, and I think most every team could find some minutes for a player like that. Every team except the Amigos, that is, who kept him firmly on the bench this season. That proved to be a smart move as Twyman's efficiency went in the tank the year prior and the Amigos won the title. But I think Jack will at worst be an MLE-level back-up for the next several seasons.
15. Original pick: Anaheim Amigos (from Knicks) - Barney Sedran PG 5'5'' 165 22 C- C+ A+ B, C- C, City College of New York
Redraft pick: Joseph Fogarty PG 5'9'' 165 21 C, B, C+ C, D+ C, Catholic HS
Sedran was a great value pick for the Amigos at 1.15, but he's gone now, so let's give BK an even better value pick with one of the league's best undrafted players of all time in Joseph Fogarty. Fogarty is a one trick pony, but 20 points per 36 on 1.156 Pts/TSA puts him in strong company among point guards. His Ast/TO ratio is brutal, but whatever. Fogarty would've held the fort down well until Gossy Baby came on the scene, and could've saved BK from burning a pick on D'Angelo Russell. As the 15th player in this redraft, to get a player of Fogarty's quality really speaks to the depth of this class, particularly at point guard.
3013 Re-Draft
1. Los Angeles Lakers - George Mikan C 6'10'' 245 23 B+ C, C, B, A- C, DePaul
Redraft pick: George Mikan C 6'10'' 245 23 B+ C, C, B, A- C, DePaul
The final piece to the championship puzzle for my Lakers squad. Mikan tore up the college stats and was the obvious number one selection at the time. He showed elite traits in every phase of the game for a big, scoring efficiently, rebounding like a mad man, and blocking shots. The big questions were around whether his turnovers would be an issue, and whether his low starting potential (in the 40s) would mean a more rapid decline than the other elite players in the class. Mikan's turnovers were very manageable, no doubt benefitting from being on a team where he didn't have to serve as a primary scoring option. The answer to the second question remains to be seen. He's a net negative in TC growth through 4 seasons, but he was so good already that it really hasn't mattered. As the Lakers 6th man, he was counted on often when one of the other bigs got into foul trouble, and continued his college dominance with elite scoring efficiency, top 10 rebounding numbers, and around 2 blocks per 36. He became a starter for the 3015 title team and looked like one of the 2 or 3 best bigs in the league last season once Nique went down. He's the only member of the class over .200 WS/48 thusfar and I'm very eager to see how he looks shouldering more of the load in Houston.
2. Original pick: Pittsburgh Pipers (from Clippers) - John Beckman PG 5'10'' 195 20 C- B- A, C+ D+ B, Hudson County League
Redraft pick: John Beckman PG 5'10'' 195 20 C- B- A, C+ D+ B, Hudson County League
Some might argue for William Gates here, but in my view Beckman is on the very short list of MVP caliber players if Kyrie ever starts to slow down. He may not be a prolific scorer (he's never cracked 20+ per game), but Beckman is incredibly well-rounded, providing offensive efficiency along with sterling defense and an all-time great Ast/TO ratio. He's the engine that drives the Pipers, and a big reason why they shocked the Cougars last season gone to the conference finals in back to back seasons. He could be even better on a team running outside focus, so it will be interesting to see where he lands in free agency and if he becomes more of a focal point on offense.
3. Original pick: Seattle SuperSonics - Dolph Schayes PF 6'8'' 220 21 C+ C, C, B- A- B, NYU
Redraft pick: Williams Gates SF 6'4'' 230 22 B- C+ C, B, B- B, Buffalo
Tim faced a big decision at this pick, as both players seemed to be on the same level as prospects. Should he go for the upside of Dolph as a scoring big, who was a hidden gem? Or go for William Gates, the wing who looked like a shoo-in for 1.2 before fading down the stretch of the college season. He ultimately went Schayes, but probably should've gone Gates. The face of Microsoft has had a stellar career with the Chaps, providing scoring in bunches, good rebounding for the position, and handles that are rarely found in scoring small forwards like him. He's made an all-league team in 3 straight seasons and has made an all-defensive team as well, showing that he's a standout player on both sides of the court.
4. Original pick: Texas Chaparrals - Williams Gates SF 6'4'' 230 22 B- C+ C, B, B- B, Buffalo
Redraft pick: Dolph Schayes PF 6'8'' 220 21 C+ C, C, B- A- B, NYU
I can't knock the Dolph pick too much, because in my view he's just barely behind Gates as a performer through four seasons. He is a big time scorer, twice finishing as runner up for the league scoring title. He's very efficient as a scorer, although just a little behind the true elites for the position. He's been a very good rebounder as well, although I am somewhat surprised he isn't better. His rebounding was his elite trait as a prospect but doesn't look like it's developed much and may even be regressing a little. The biggest flaw with his game by far is his carelessness with the basketball. Granted, as a 30 PPG scorer he's going to have a high usage rate and more opportunities to turn the ball over, but a career mark just shy of 3 TOs per 36 really hurts the value he brings to the team. If he was around 2 per game, he'd probably be fighting with Beckman for 1.2 honors. But instead, he drops a slot in the redraft.
5. Original pick: Chicago Bulls - Bob Pettit PF 6'9'' 205 22 B, C+ C, C- B, B, LSU
Redraft pick: Joe Lapchik C 6'5'' 215 19 B- C- C- C+ C+ A, Parts Unknown
Poor Mike has had a pretty bad string of lottery picks since I've been doing this exercise, and Bob Pettit is no exception. He actually rates OK via WS/48 compared to others on this list, but in my view he's the definition of ordinary. Meanwhile, all credit is due to Delap for the Joe Lapchick selection a few picks later. Lapchick was someone that was not on my radar as a top 10 pick, and was definitely an upside pick as a 19 year old with A potential. But he's really blossomed into a great all-around big for the Raptors. Lapchick is an A-level defender capable of blocking 2+ per game, and his rebounding is nearly on par with Dolph Schayes for their careers. What's more, he's an effective weapon on offense who can draw a lot of fouls and convert them at a good clip, as well as score in the run of play. He's steadily improved throughout his career and with his high starting potential remains a threat to take a leap into the elite shot blocker category.
6. Original pick: Vancouver Grizzlies (from Hawks) - Paul Arizin SF 6'4'' 190 22 C+ C+ D+ B, B, B, Villanova
Redraft pick: Paul Arizin SF 6'4'' 190 22 C+ C+ D+ B, B, B, Villanova
This is a bit of a reach if I stick to WS/48, as there are several players who have outperformed Arizin to this point in their careers. But I don't think I'm alone in finding a lot more value in what he brings to the table than the players that follow him. For starters, he is a great rebounder on the wing, pulling down over 8.5 per 36 for his career and averaging 9.5 per game last season. He's also a good scorer, putting up over 25 per game last season on 1.17 Pts/TSA. He's also at a B+ rating as a defender, which doesn't necessarily mean anything but the Grizzlies played good team defense last season and I'm sure Arizin was a big part in that. But there's no denying that Arizin has a big turnover problem. His 2.9 per game were in the top ten in the league last season, and as he becomes more of a focal point offensively they will continue to cause problems. But I think the rest of his skill set is good enough that you can live with the turnovers.
7. Original pick: Toronto Raptors - Joe Lapchik C 6'5'' 215 19 B- C- C- C+ C+ A, Parts Unknown
Redraft pick: Al Cooper PG 5'11'' 160 23 C, C+ A, C, C- B, England
Al Cooper was a relatively unheralded draft choice at the time, coming at 1.13. He's been entrenched as the starting point guard for the Suns ever since, and like Lapchick he seems to get better every year. He went from afterthought on offense to a 20 PPG scorer last season, and he's been a great ball-handler since day one. This is a point guard heavy class, and with so many of them testing FA (Beckman, Cooper, Cousy, Hough), it will be interesting to see who the market values. Cooper could be someone who gets a reasonable contract offer thanks to the other options, then makes whoever signed him look very smart.
8. Original pick: Seattle SuperSonics (from Pipers) - Branch McCracken SF 6'4'' 200 21 B+ C, C, C, C, C, Indiana
Redraft pick: Barney Sedran PG 5'5'' 165 22 C- C+ A+ B, C- C, City College of New York
The SuperSonics took the first of two McCracken boys here at 1.8, and Branch is a servicable back-up who fell just outside of my top 15, but probably would've been top 12 in last year's class. Instead, he gets Barney Sedran here, yet another quality point guard from this class. Unlike the others, offense is a minor part of Barney's game. He's a better version of Fat Lever from the class before, a point guard who won't take a ton of shots (although a few more than Fat), but who can rebound for the position, which is even more impressive when you remember that he's only 5'5". Unlike Fat, he's an outstanding defender and a better passer, and has earned numerous accolades thusfar including rookie of the year, all-defensive teams, and even a 3rd team all-league nod. Until last year, his offense was pleasantly mediocre, although 18+ PPG in 3015 is probably more than you'd like to see. Last season he put up a career worst Pts/TSA, but if he can bounce back a little, I could see him swapping places with Al Cooper. A nice career for the little guy.
9. Original pick: Cleveland Cavaliers (from Stags) - Ed Wachter C 6'1'' 240 19 B, C, C+ B- C+ A, Jersey City High
Redraft pick: Charles Hyatt SG 6'0'' 190 22 C+ B, C, C+ C- C, Pittsburgh
The biggest riser in the class, Hyatt only has one season on which to judge him, but the results speak for themselves. 27.9 points per 36, a 1.179 Pts/TSA mark, and only 1.5 turnovers per 36 are all elite numbers for a wing, and Heebs rightfully trumpeted Hyatt as a great find who has stepped into Dumars's shoes admirably. Maybe he'll come back to earth next season, but in classic Heebs fashion he got zero minutes for three seasons, then signed a 7 year deal for 1.3 mil per and is suddenly an all-star level contributor. If he can keep this up, he'll join the list of great 2nd round SGs like Dave Jamerson, proving again that gambling on 2nd round SGs can pay huge dividends.
10. Original pick: Anaheim Amigos - Jack McCracken SF 6'4'' 205 23 C+ B- D, C+ C+ C, NW Missouri State
Redraft pick: Ed Wachter C 6'1'' 240 19 B, C, C+ B- C+ A, Jersey City High
McCracken #2 is trash, so let's give some love to another upside gamble that appears to have paid off with Ed Wachter. He's another player of questionable dimensions, towering as a 6'1" center. That lack of size hasn't hurt him too much, as he's been a solid scoring big and quality defender. He's weak on the glass, averaging only 9 boards per 36, and he turns it over a little more than you'd like. But Wachter is a quality third big who can help carry some of the scoring load and protect the rim with surprising skill.
11. Original pick: Milwaukee Bucks - Bob Cousy PG 6'1'' 175 22 C, C+ A- C+ C- B, Holy Cross
Redraft pick: Harry Hough PG 5'7'' 145 18 C, C+ C+ C, D+ A, Bristol
Trofie has had quite the journey with Bob Cousy over his four seasons, labeling him as untouchable after his rookie season but growing tired of his poor playoff performances. So who better to replace him with than Harry Hough, the young point guard in Indiana who was last seen bricking the game winning attempt in game 7 of the Eastern Conference semis. Hough was a late 1st round potential play, and he blew up in TC to become the starting point for some very good Pacers teams. His WS/48 are remarkably high, putting him above guys like Dolph and Gates, but to me they don't jibe with the production I see. He's not as eficient a scorer as Beckman or Cooper, his defense seems only so-so, and his Ast/TO is good but not great. He's a servicable starting point guard in this league but I don't see any one trait that would make him elite. Still, at this point in the draft he's a great value.
12. Original pick: Utah Jazz (from Heat) - Ace Gruenig C 6'8'' 220 18 B- C- C, B- C+ A, Crane Tech High
Redraft pick: Bob Cousy PG 6'1'' 175 22 C, C+ A- C+ C- B, Holy Cross
I've highlighted a few upside swings who apepar to have panned out, so it's only fair that I talk about Ace Gruenig as well, who is the flip side of that coin. Ace was one of my sleepers going into this draft because of the blow-up potential two teen TCs could provide. Instead, he's been pretty terrible in the limited minutes he's gotten. Sometimes you get the +5 TCs and the world is your oyster, and sometimes you get bupkus. Instead of Ace, let's give Fason the slightly less disappointing Bob Cousy! As I mentioned above, Cousy showed a lot of promise early on, putting up 10 win shares in his sophomore season and averaging career highs across the board. Since then, he's regressed to more of the player he was his rookie season, a slight negative offensively and average everywhere else. You could do a lot worse at pick #12 than a Bob Cousy, though.
13. Original pick: Phoenix Suns - Al Cooper PG 5'11'' 160 23 C, C+ A, C, C- B, England
Redraft pick: Frank Selvy SG 6'3'' 180 22 C+ B+ C, C, C, C, Furman
With Cooper long gone, the Suns get Frank Selvy, another riser from the latter half of round 1. Selvy is a player in the archetype we've all seen before, the non-profile outside oriented wing. He is capable of filling it up and scored over 26 per game his sophomore season. But like a lot of these non-profile SGs, his efficiency is highly dependent on maintaining how close his inside scoring is to the 70 point cap, and by all indications he's slipped a bit on that front over the past two seasons. He's still OK as a scorer but is a lot closer to replacement level than he was two seasons ago. But he's only one good TC away from being a top-flight scorer again.
14. Original pick: Anaheim Amigos (from Bobcats) - Jack Twyman SF 6'6'' 210 21 C+ B, C, C, C, C, Cincinnati
Redraft pick: Jack Twyman SF 6'6'' 210 21 C+ B, C, C, C, C, Cincinnati
The Amigos took a lot of swings at the wing position in this draft, and Twyman was the best of the bunch. He's not going to be confused for an all-star, but he averages 20 points per 36 on 1.15 Pts/TSA for his career, and I think most every team could find some minutes for a player like that. Every team except the Amigos, that is, who kept him firmly on the bench this season. That proved to be a smart move as Twyman's efficiency went in the tank the year prior and the Amigos won the title. But I think Jack will at worst be an MLE-level back-up for the next several seasons.
15. Original pick: Anaheim Amigos (from Knicks) - Barney Sedran PG 5'5'' 165 22 C- C+ A+ B, C- C, City College of New York
Redraft pick: Joseph Fogarty PG 5'9'' 165 21 C, B, C+ C, D+ C, Catholic HS
Sedran was a great value pick for the Amigos at 1.15, but he's gone now, so let's give BK an even better value pick with one of the league's best undrafted players of all time in Joseph Fogarty. Fogarty is a one trick pony, but 20 points per 36 on 1.156 Pts/TSA puts him in strong company among point guards. His Ast/TO ratio is brutal, but whatever. Fogarty would've held the fort down well until Gossy Baby came on the scene, and could've saved BK from burning a pick on D'Angelo Russell. As the 15th player in this redraft, to get a player of Fogarty's quality really speaks to the depth of this class, particularly at point guard.
