NBA: Starting From Scratch (With Salary Cap), Pick Your 12-Man Team
Sure we could all pick the 12 best guys and say yeah these guys would be awesome on the same team (oh wait, didn't the Miami Heat do that?). Now try to take in to consideration the style of play, egos and most everything that goes into team chemistry. Now throw the 58M Salary Cap into the mix, it gets a little more difficult.
Here is a cool website listed below that you can use to get the NBA salaries. Let us know who you'd select, but for now, check out my roster, coaches included.
http://hoopshype.com/salaries.htm
12th Man: Landry Fields G/F: Salary: 800K
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This 6'7 swing-man knows his game, doesn't try to do too much and plays well off the ball. Though he is not extremely athletic, he is smart coach-able and cheap. He looks like he used to sing with the group Shai, but nobodies perfect.
11th Man: DeJuan Blair PF: Salary: 1M
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This guy is a bruising, undersized power forward, that rebounds like a machine. Blair looks like he used to take the entire fourth grade's lunch money, when he was in kindergarten. He is tough as nails. He doesn't require plays to be run for him, he will supply a physical presence, but he has obvious height limitations. His wingspan allows him to play bigger than he is, but he has been hampered by injuries.
He is a perfect bench player with his physical and mental makeup and again he is cheap.
10th Man: Jordan Crawford SG: Salary: 1.1 M
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Jordan Crawford, not to be confused with Jamal is a slasher. Think an undersized Johnny Newman (there's a blast from the past), not a good shooter, but he is a capable defender.
Again he is a bench player that can bring energy and easy buckets and again, you guessed it, he's cheap.
9th Man: Anthony Randolph SF/PF: Salary: 3M
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My man looks like a bizarre version of Henry Simmons (you know, the black guy from NYPD Blue). Beyond that, Randolph is extremely talented and as a GM, I'd hope that being around the talent on my team, he'd elevate his game to match his talent. He offers all types of versatility, standing 6'10, he can score and when motivated he can be a good defender. He only costs me three million a year, but he may pay off big if my master motivating head coach can work his magic.
8th Man: Jeff Teague PG: Salary: 1.6M
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Teague has major athleticism. Jeff could probably go with a different do though. The combination of the fro-hawk and the protruding calcium from his mouth makes him look a little like a piranha. That said, Teague is extremely confident and can score the ball. He is a good backup on my team, as he can supply energy and apply pressure to the defense as he spells my starting point guard. At only 1.6 M, its a bargain.
7th Man: Shane Battier G/F: Salary: 5M
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Shane is a free agent, so I'm guessing at his salary for next year. He is the veteran presence on my team. He is a solid defender and he can knock down the open three, which is huge for my team. His 6'8 frame also offers plenty of versatility. He may even be on the floor at the end of some games for me.
"Pack of Hot-dog Head" is likely my team captain. Think of the rolls of fat on his head like the rings on trees. They must count for years of wisdom and sturdiness. I myself have a large dome, but Mr. Battier has the largest amount of fat on his scalp of any man I've ever seen.
6th Man: Serge Ibaka F/C: Salary: 1.3M
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This is the second biggest bargain on my team. Ibaka is a Shawn Kemp like athlete (without all the kids) with Alonzo Mourning like defensive instincts. He hasn't developed much offense and is not a great passer yet, this is only reason he isn't starting for my team.
The first guy off the bench for me, playing at either PF or C, when my starters at those positions pick up that second foul.
The Starters: Small Forward: Trevor Ariza: Salary 7M
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Ariza's defense is what I covet most. He is long, athletic and when locked in defensively he's an on-ball and passing lane terror. His defense will lead to easy baskets and he knocks down the open three. He has experience playing with a ball dominator, so don't expect any crying from Trevor.
The Starters: Power Forward: Joakim Noah: Salary 10M
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Sideshow Bob is pure energy, a tenacious rebounder and good defender. He is coach-able, with a high basketball IQ. He is a very good passer for a big man. He doesn't require plays run for him. He may be the best garbage man in the league right now.
He is the guy other teams love to hate and I want that guy on my team, even at 10 million a year.
The Starters: Shooting Guard: Arron Afflalo: Salary 3M
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Afflalo could be a free agent, but his qualifying offer is around three million a year. Afflalo can shoot it, he has good size at the two guard. He is best in catch and shoot situations. He would begin the season starting, but it would be feasible he'd be replaced by Battier in the lineup. I think he and Andre Iguodola are related and don't know it.
The Starters: Center: Dwight Howard: Salary 18M
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The big man with the little head is the league's best center, most dominant force and my man in the middle. Howard changes shots, changes offenses and consumes boards like a mad man. He wants the ball and plays with a mean streak on defense. The lane belongs to him, he anchors my strong defense and gives me a low post presence.
I believe he would allow my point guard to run the team and trust he'll get his share of touches.
The Starters: Point Guard: Derrick Rose: Salary 7M
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The league MVP is a physical mixture of Winnie The Pooh and Sonic The Hedgehog. He is the most explosive player and possibly possesses the strongest will. D-Rose is unselfish, humble and too good not to put on any fantasy team you, me or anybody else is creating.
He has the ability to take a game over with his scoring, but also finds the open man and will feed the hot hand. As good as he is, he still has room for growth. That is a scary thought considering what he's already accomplished.
The Assistant Coaches: Tom Thibodeau, Monty Williams, Pat Ewing & Sam Cassell
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Thibs for his defensive strategies and adjustments. Monty Williams for his youth, discipline and offensive approach. Ewing and Cassell are there because every team has those recently retired players earning coaching experience. Primarily, they are there to relate to the players and be a liaison between player and coach. Ewing for Howard and Ibaka, Cassell (every group needs a face man) for Rose and Teague.
The Coach: Phil Jackson
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Let me put this into proper perspective. Phil Jackson is a people and personality manager first, coach second. That is what tells me he completely checked out on this most recent Laker team, because that seems to be where they failed. When he is in his best space mentally and physically, he acknowledges his lack of X's and O's expertise and leaves that to his assistants. Phil manages the chemistry and this young team would need that and someone they respect. Also, every team needs an old guy that plays mind games to hide the fact he really doesn't know whats going on.
Oh well, its just a fantasy, maybe I'll pop in NBA2K11 and see if I can put this team together and play through a franchise mode.
