Post by James on Nov 13, 2007 22:28:19 GMT -5
The $60 Million Challenge[/u]
In the BBS, we as GM’s are fortunate enough to manage our teams relatively risk free. Losing your position as GM after 4 seasons is not a risk in my books as a) you have control over your own ‘destiny’ and b) if you ‘stuff’ up, you evidently get released however still have an opportunity to make a come-back in the near future. Furthermore, if you sign a player to a large contract and they decline in value, it’s easier to pawn off a $120 mill video game Nenad Kristic than it is to expect another franchise to pay off his contract using real money in the NBA.
In saying that, what if we were using real money? What if every move we made not only affected our win/loss column, however also our back pocket? Players who are efficient both on and off the court with smaller, more manageable contracts would become incredibly valuable and those with larger contracts who aren’t or are yet to live up to their numerical value would be an undesired commodity.
My challenge today (I love work) is to assemble the best team possible using a mere salary of $60 million. Obviously, that number is incredibly high however there are more teams over that total in the BBS than under it. To make the task more challenging, I’m going to avoid using any players still on a rookie contract and furthermore, accumulate a 12-man team.
The Starting Five
C: Emeka Okafor – New Orleans $10,216,339
Okafor is the highest earner on this entire team. A player earning just over 10 mill a year couldn’t be valuable I hear you say, but he is. Okafor is a defensive and just recently, an offensive beast averaging close to 21 and 12 per game. Most big men in the league are overpaid (see Cisse etc..) as they are a hot commodity so Emeka’s 10 mill deal seems quite nice to me. Plus, every team needs one go to man and the team I selected allowed me to splurge a little.
PF: Jason Maxiell – Milwaukee $6,304,350
The starting 4 man for this team is Milwaukee’s back-up big man, Jason Maxiell. Making $6 mill a year for the Bucks, Maxiell is having another consistent year putting up 10, 8 and a most impressive, 3.2bpg. His defensive capabilities for a player earning under $7 mill make him the clear-cut choice for this position.
SF: Ricky Davis – Seattle $4,950,000
The team’s small forward was easily selected. For the team, I picked Seattle’s Ricky Davis. Davis is earning a mere $4.9 mill and for it, is putting up 22 and 8 on the same team as Dwyane Wade, Danny Granger, Eddy Curry and Elton Brand. A true star who should statistically be earning a lot more than he is. The Sonics picked up a steal.
SG: James White – Memphis $7,260,000
White was a massive steal for the Grizzlies when he was signed some 3 years ago. Since then, he has improved immensely with every training camp and is earning is wage fair and square. A very good scorer and athletic freak, White, along with Davis, Taylor and Okafor would provide this team with a much-needed offensive weapon.
PG: Marcus Taylor – Portland $6,157,938
I won’t go on about Marcus Taylor, however he is and has been the best value point guard in the league for several years now. Earning a tad over $6 mill a year, Taylor can consistently put up 25ppg+ on any team as well as dishing out 8 dimes and limiting his turnover count to that below 1.5.
The Bench
C: Ronny Turiaf – Washington $2,619,335
A solid big man with a very affordable contract.
PF: Tyler Hansbrough – Chicago $1,325,000
Another solid rebounding big who does the dirty work for a very low salary.
SF: Ivan Redenovic – Memphis $565,850
Redenovic is the cheapest player on this squad and should receive a pay rise next season.
SG: Luke Walton – Atlanta $7,500,000
Walton could start but I gave the nod to White because he is slightly cheaper. Walton can also be utilised as a point guard.
PG: Rudy Fernandez – Minnesota $1,997,864
Playing exceptionally well this season for the T-Wolves for just under $2 mill.
11th and 12th Men
Thabo Sefalosha – Memphis $5,087,490
Thabo earns a bit more than some of the other guys on the bench but he is probably worth the money.
Joel Pryzabilla – Detroit $3,475,286
A stellar back up big for this team and any team in the BBS. A sensational shot blocker. Has been earning a mill per block during his BBS career.
Total Value: $59,457,316
We will never know how well this deep and talented team (both on the offensive and defensive ends) would fair against such teams as the Detroit Pistons, the New York Knicks or the Seattle Supersonics. However one can only believe that with the ability that they have, there is no doubt that they would give any of the aforementioned teams a run for their money, and not so much their own.
In the BBS, we as GM’s are fortunate enough to manage our teams relatively risk free. Losing your position as GM after 4 seasons is not a risk in my books as a) you have control over your own ‘destiny’ and b) if you ‘stuff’ up, you evidently get released however still have an opportunity to make a come-back in the near future. Furthermore, if you sign a player to a large contract and they decline in value, it’s easier to pawn off a $120 mill video game Nenad Kristic than it is to expect another franchise to pay off his contract using real money in the NBA.
In saying that, what if we were using real money? What if every move we made not only affected our win/loss column, however also our back pocket? Players who are efficient both on and off the court with smaller, more manageable contracts would become incredibly valuable and those with larger contracts who aren’t or are yet to live up to their numerical value would be an undesired commodity.
My challenge today (I love work) is to assemble the best team possible using a mere salary of $60 million. Obviously, that number is incredibly high however there are more teams over that total in the BBS than under it. To make the task more challenging, I’m going to avoid using any players still on a rookie contract and furthermore, accumulate a 12-man team.
The Starting Five
C: Emeka Okafor – New Orleans $10,216,339
Okafor is the highest earner on this entire team. A player earning just over 10 mill a year couldn’t be valuable I hear you say, but he is. Okafor is a defensive and just recently, an offensive beast averaging close to 21 and 12 per game. Most big men in the league are overpaid (see Cisse etc..) as they are a hot commodity so Emeka’s 10 mill deal seems quite nice to me. Plus, every team needs one go to man and the team I selected allowed me to splurge a little.
PF: Jason Maxiell – Milwaukee $6,304,350
The starting 4 man for this team is Milwaukee’s back-up big man, Jason Maxiell. Making $6 mill a year for the Bucks, Maxiell is having another consistent year putting up 10, 8 and a most impressive, 3.2bpg. His defensive capabilities for a player earning under $7 mill make him the clear-cut choice for this position.
SF: Ricky Davis – Seattle $4,950,000
The team’s small forward was easily selected. For the team, I picked Seattle’s Ricky Davis. Davis is earning a mere $4.9 mill and for it, is putting up 22 and 8 on the same team as Dwyane Wade, Danny Granger, Eddy Curry and Elton Brand. A true star who should statistically be earning a lot more than he is. The Sonics picked up a steal.
SG: James White – Memphis $7,260,000
White was a massive steal for the Grizzlies when he was signed some 3 years ago. Since then, he has improved immensely with every training camp and is earning is wage fair and square. A very good scorer and athletic freak, White, along with Davis, Taylor and Okafor would provide this team with a much-needed offensive weapon.
PG: Marcus Taylor – Portland $6,157,938
I won’t go on about Marcus Taylor, however he is and has been the best value point guard in the league for several years now. Earning a tad over $6 mill a year, Taylor can consistently put up 25ppg+ on any team as well as dishing out 8 dimes and limiting his turnover count to that below 1.5.
The Bench
C: Ronny Turiaf – Washington $2,619,335
A solid big man with a very affordable contract.
PF: Tyler Hansbrough – Chicago $1,325,000
Another solid rebounding big who does the dirty work for a very low salary.
SF: Ivan Redenovic – Memphis $565,850
Redenovic is the cheapest player on this squad and should receive a pay rise next season.
SG: Luke Walton – Atlanta $7,500,000
Walton could start but I gave the nod to White because he is slightly cheaper. Walton can also be utilised as a point guard.
PG: Rudy Fernandez – Minnesota $1,997,864
Playing exceptionally well this season for the T-Wolves for just under $2 mill.
11th and 12th Men
Thabo Sefalosha – Memphis $5,087,490
Thabo earns a bit more than some of the other guys on the bench but he is probably worth the money.
Joel Pryzabilla – Detroit $3,475,286
A stellar back up big for this team and any team in the BBS. A sensational shot blocker. Has been earning a mill per block during his BBS career.
Total Value: $59,457,316
We will never know how well this deep and talented team (both on the offensive and defensive ends) would fair against such teams as the Detroit Pistons, the New York Knicks or the Seattle Supersonics. However one can only believe that with the ability that they have, there is no doubt that they would give any of the aforementioned teams a run for their money, and not so much their own.