Post by eric on Sept 4, 2023 12:58:27 GMT -5
Jim Paxson
SG
6'6"
200
22
Dayton
An elite shooter and steady ball-handler, Paxson enters the league with his calling card already printed: catch and shoot, midrange assassin. On the flip side, his rebounding efforts will often be for naught, unless a carom comes directly to him, as a combination of mental and physical factors keep him from ever being an average board collector. Could function as a secondary playmaker but would be overstretched at point. More scrappy than effective on defense, Paxson won't need any coaxing to put in the work on that end and will force a good number of turnovers.
Sidney Moncrief
SG
6'3"
188
22
Arkansas
Undersized, but not ineffective, Moncrief has been a spark plug for the Razorbacks with his all-around great offensive game, which includes frequent trips to the free throw line and a startling amount of putbacks given his small stature. Couple that with his dogged determination on the perimeter, and Moncrief can absolutely be the lead guard on an elite team at the next level. Opponents just can't get by or through Moncrief, and those that dare to try a jumper frequently find the ball going in the opposite direction. Not a strong three point shooter and a little sloppy with the ball, and hasn't shown much interest in refining these blemishes on his game, but the total package leaves little room for doubt.
Calvin Natt
SF
6'6"
220
22
Northeast Louisiana
Gritty and a grinder, Natt is a workhorse wing in an old-school mold. He is efficient inside through pure determination, outworking opponents to spots and relentlessly attacking. He rebounds better than most on both ends, despite his height. Offensively he's a sub-par passer and doesn't take threes, so he won't be the most popular teammates, but those are the only real negatives in his game at this time.
Bill Laimbeer
C
6'11"
245
22
Notre Dame
Following a relatively unproductive college career, a sudden star on draft boards is found in Notre Dame's Bill Laimbeer. His workouts with teams across TMBSL have wowed and he has shown that he can hold his own inside against grown pros. He is a strong scorer, constantly moving bigger men off their spots, but functions best when he runs away scared from contact, utilizing his strong midrange game and unsportsmanlike "three" point shot. Good rebounder but doesn't do much defensively. He looks ready to compete now, so GMs should take him without regard for future potential or moral fiber.
Bill Cartwright
C
7'1"
245
22
San Francisco
A scoring machine, Cartwright uses his strong scoring desire and feathery jumper to rack up the buckets. usually has him going right back up with the ball following an offensive board. Smart enough to never shoot from three, Cartwright knows his role. Not interested in passing or rebounding, and doesn't try all that hard to defend either, a GM will need to build the right supporting cast to get the most out of Cartwright.
James Donaldson
C
7'2"
277
22
Washington State
Shot-blocker from Wazzu, Donaldson can make his presence felt in both paints, powering in for slams or rejecting shots above the rim. Opponents hoping to hack him out of the game are in for a rude awakening as he is an above average free throw shooter. Despite putting in an appropriate amount of work in practice, Donaldson still has a below average feel for the intangibles - doesn't get in good defensive position, doesn't read passing lanes well on defense, really struggles anticipating weak side double teams when he has the ball despite rarely spreading it around. With some good coaching he may go from a good rebounder to a great one.
Magic Johnson
PG
6'8"
216
20
Michigan State
A flashy, one-of-a-kind playmaker, Johnson comes off a national championship ready to compete for real champions in TMBSL. A floor general with precision and flair, Magic finds teammates in the perfect spot to succeed out of the half-court or in transition, often surprising even them with unfortunate results. Would be an efficient finisher in any context but the passing threat leads him into regular easy buckets, and on the rare occasions opponents can keep his team from the rim he can turn to his very reliable midrange jumper. Exceptional generator of defensive statistics, Magic can leave a little to be desired in positioning and fundamentals, but raw size makes him a terror on the boards. Not a big proponent of practice which is a shame, since polishing up a slightly creaky three point form could catapult Magic into all time great territory.