Post by IanBoyd on Feb 14, 2021 17:45:55 GMT -5
Centers:
1. Bob Kurland C 6'10'' 220 36 B+ C C B- B- C Mavericks
Fresh off winning a title and a trip to Germany, Bob Kurland is the Robin to Moala's Batman and one of the foundational pieces of the defending champs. At 36 years old and expiring, retirement is a huge risk and even likely result after the conclusion of this season. But should Kurland want to run it back another season, he would be well worth the short term investment.
Projected FA value: 3 year max
2. Noah Dickerson C 6'8'' 245 26 B+ D+ D+ C- C+ D SuperSonics
The poor man's version of Chief Whokickssimstallions of year 1, Dickerson is a volume scoring big with fantastic FG%, mediocre jumpers and a bit of ball security issues. The 0.3 blocks as well as his short stature makes the likelihood of Dickerson ever becoming a legitimate 2 way player far-fetched. With D potential, teams with max cap space are unlikely to want to commit long term money in day 1 when there are bigger prizes still on the board.
Projected FA value: 5 years 10 mil
3. Walter Magnifico C 6'11'' 232 34 C C C+ C+ A- C Raptors
The best defensive big hitting the FA market. Walter is one of the few bigs in the league that averages double figures in rebounding as well as 2+ blocks AND steals per 36. From the year 1 market, we've seen d/r bigs earn anywhere from a 1 year 17.5 mil max in the case of Sam Muldrow to a somewhat cheap 2 year 8 mil deal in Shawn James. Magnifico is a better player than both and is likely to receive more attention than both. I believe multiple day 2 max offer will likely be going out to Walter after teams strike out on the potential franchise tier FAs.
Projected FA value: 3 year max
4. Angus Brandt C 6'10'' 250 24 B- D+ D+ C C+ D Magic
The unheralded backup center of the Orlando Magic checks in with the #4 spot. Angus' efficiency and handles offer some intrigue, but with teams likely learning a few lessons about not offering long term contracts to mid level players, I could see Brandt only getting a 1 or 2 year max offer of 7-9 mil due to his age and without the benefit of an A potential like Cletrell Pope or Tyrese Breshers from last year's FA class, I don't believe a long term offer is likely for Angus.
Projected FA value: 2 years 9 mil per year
5. Nigel Dixon C 6'10'' 333 25 C+ D+ D- C C D Cavaliers
A slightly less polished Angus with higher turnover and less efficiency, Dixon is in the same realm of mid tier player that are better than throwaway MLE offers but still not worth long term investment. I project many 1 year offers, of which more than a few will be illegal due to lack of understanding the manual restrictions on 1 year offers to under 29 players from inexperienced GMs.
Projected FA value: 1 year 7 mil
Power Forwards:
1. Shawn Kemp Jr. PF 6'9'' 250 23 B C- C- C+ B- A Hornets
The poor man's Lloyd Sharrar and prized big man of this year's free agency class. The young Kemp has thus far been a product of neglect from his somewhat absentee GM fecta, receiving 0 upgrades and camps yet despite being the only A potential player on the roster and clearly the best. With both efficiency and TO issues in need of immediate upgrades, Shawn isn't as no brainer of a full max as the truly elite FAs like Gates and Riva, but A potential is A potential and with all 30 upgrade points (possibly 40 if he is a gem) available, I see multiple people offering maxes to him in day 1.
Projected FA value: 6 year max
2. Kenrick Zondervan PF 6'9'' 240 25 B- C- D C- C D Heat
Elite handles, good efficiency and a young age, if Kendrick had A potential he'd also be an immediate day 1 max. But like too many creation players, Zondervan is cursed with a lowly D potential and as such will be relegated to day 2 status in free agency while GMs with cap space go big game hunting for the Gates/Riva/Kemps of the world.
Projected FA value: 2 years 9 mil per year
3. Aloysius Anagonye PF 6'8'' 260 30 C+ C- D+ C- C D Stags
The 30 year old version of Kendrick Zondervan but with less handles. Maybe warrants slightly higher than a MLE but ultimately irrelevant in the grand scheme of sim things.
Projected FA value: 1 year 6 mil
4. Deon Thompson PF 6'8'' 280 22 C+ C- D D C D Lakers
Signed to a 1 year youngling max of 7 mil last year and probably got overpaid to do it. Likely MLE target in day 3-4
Projected FA value: MLE
Small Forwards:
1. Antonio Gates SF 6'4'' 255 24 B+ C+ B+ C+ A- B Heat
The cream of the FA crop in 3002 like his predecessor Wayne Estes, Antonio Gates slightly edges out Antonella Riva for the #1 SF slot and top prize in free agency. SG eligible with his height and the rebounding grade to take advantage of the fact, Gates' only weakness is his handles, but 3.0 TOs isn't a huge issue for a primary scoring option. Will be receiving a max from every team with cap space in free agency.
Projected FA value: 6 year max
2. Antonella Riva SF 6'5'' 220 29 A B- D- C D+ B Clippers
Gets slightly edged out by Gates due to the abysmal rebounding numbers and older age, Riva is more efficiency than Gates but has thus far seemed to have volume issues. One day we'll be rid of the cursed sim affliction known as Corey Maggette Syndrome, but that's a TED talk for another article. He too will receive a max from every team with cap space.
Projected FA value: 6 year max
3. Pete Mickeal SF 6'7'' 240 33 C D+ D- D+ C D Warriors
This year's version of Delon Turner/Scotty Thurman, those efficiency numbers are to die for, coupled with the actual letter grades to suicide for. Petey will be receiving more MLE offers than his advanced shooting numbers.
Projected FA value: MLE
4. Lloyd Ahye SF 6'6'' 219 30 C C+ D+ D C- D Warriors
Same great Pete Mickeal taste, slightly less filling, with a side of lower usage being more of a mirage. He too will be receiving multiple MLE offers in day 3-4 and onwards.
Projected FA value: MLE
Shooting Guards:
1. Mike Gansey SG 6'4'' 205 19 C+ C C- C C- A Lakers
Could be an overreaction and by Sim 6 we might only look like Mikey G as a MLE candidate but those sim 1 numbers are jaw dropping from a player that has flown under the radar for an entire season. At 19 years old, Gansey is and will be younger than any of the current rookies as well as the upcoming draft class. The TO numbers don't look as serious as the top shooting guard last year William Buford's do. With some more TC luck and the right upgrades, Gansey would easily justify a 6 year max.
Projected FA value: 6 year max
2. Dimitris Diamantidis SG 6'5'' 200 30 B- B- C C+ C+ C Chaparrals
2. Dimitris Diamantidis SG 6'5'' 200 30 B- B- C C+ C+ C Chaparrals
Despite the over inflated rumored price tag coming out of Brooklyn, West Virginia Texas of a top 5 pick, the man only bk calls "DD" is an integral part of the 3rd seeded 8th seed Chaparrals (pronounced sha·pr·al). Though not an efficiency scorer by any means, Diamantidis is perhaps the best rebounding and defensive pure shooting guard in the league, averaging an impressive 10.7 rebs a game in Sim 1. His high volume coupled with the low efficiency plays against his case in warranting a max contract but something in the 9-10 mil flat range is likely.
Projected FA value: 4 years 9 mil per year
3. Raymond Lewis SG 6'1'' 180 26 B C+ D C- D D Trail Blazers
3. Raymond Lewis SG 6'1'' 180 26 B C+ D C- D D Trail Blazers
Not the same tier of player as the #1 and #2 SGs, Lewis's low TOs warrants a higher than MLE contract next year, likely a target from teams with max space that whiffed in day 1 and looking to add expiring contracts that aren't a complete waste of a roster spot.
Projected FA value: 1 year 7 mil
4. Branko Lazic SG 6'5'' 223 32 C B- D+ D C- F Warriors
4. Branko Lazic SG 6'5'' 223 32 C B- D+ D C- F Warriors
Your run of the mill high efficiency low usage, per 36 darling that will probably not duplicate those numbers next year, still worth throwing a MLE at if for no other reason than filling out a roster space.
Projected FA value: MLE
Point Guards:
1. Theodoros Papaloukas PG 6'7'' 222 28 C+ C+ B- C C B Mavericks
The star point guard of the defending champs. A year ago, the trade for Papaloukas to the Mavericks shifted the balance of power in the entire league. At 6'7'' and C rebounding, Theodoros can rebound like few other floor generals can and unlike many of his counterparts, he is also an excellent caretaker of the ball, averaging less than 1.5 TOs for his career so far despite his usage. With a max starting at 15 mil, teams might hesitate a bit giving out a full max with full increases, but for the next 3-4 years it should be well worth every penny.
Projected FA value: 6 year max
2. Anderson Hunt PG 6'1'' 190 26 C B+ C+ C- D- A Suns
Like Jon Davis in the year before, the 2nd ranked PG hitting FA is this year's trap. Despite having a nice training camp and keeping his A displayed potential, Anderson Hunt is not ready for prime time yet judging by his poor efficiency and turnover issues in Sim 1. But with so few A potentials in this year's class, its likely someone will throw a max his way. At least we can say for certain that this probably a better option than Jon Davis a year ago.
Projected FA value: someone will throw a max at him and regret it
3. Aaron Bright PG 5'11'' 175 27 C- C A- D- D C Lakers
PG talent pool still not there yet in the league as the value drops off a cliff at #3. Bright's sim 1 efficiency numbers may be a mirage (and likely is) but if he averages out to around 48% FG he'll be one of the first offers teams over the cap extend to for a game manager.
Projected FA value: MLE
4. Derek Raivio PG 6'1'' 180 25 C B- C+ D D- D Lakers
Must be something in the water in Staples center that breeds capable MLE point guards. Derek Ravivio is more or less the same player as Aaron Bright. Will field multiple MLE offers on days 2-4.
Projected FA value: MLE
Top 5 Overall FAs:1. Antonio Gates SF 6'4'' 255 24 B+ C+ B+ C+ A- B Heat
2. Theodoros Papaloukas PG 6'7'' 222 28 C+ C+ B- C C B Mavericks
3. Antonella Riva SF 6'5'' 220 29 A B- D- C D+ B Clippers
4. Mike Gansey SG 6'4'' 205 19 C+ C C- C C- A Lakers
5. Shawn Kemp Jr. PF 6'9'' 250 23 B C- C- C+ B- A Hornets
