Sacramento Kings
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GM: Bucketgetter
Head Coach: Dave Joerger
Roster:
PG - Damian Lillard / Wade Baldwin IV / D.J. Augustin
SG - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope / Rodney Stuckey / Jordan Adams
SF - Kawhi Leonard / Taurean Prince / James Jones
PF - Marvin Williams / Andrew Nicholson / Charlie Villanueva
C - John Henson / Boban Marjanovic / Jeff Withey
Rotation:
PG - Damian Lillard [35] Wade Baldwin IV [13]
SG - KCP [32] Rodney Stuckey [16]
SF - Kawhi Leonard [35] Taurean Prince [13]
PF - Marvin Williams [32] Andrew Nicholson [10] Henson [6]
C - John Henson [24] Boban Marjanovic [24]
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Important Stats:
Damian Lillard - 25.1 PPG last year, 37.5% from 3 last year, 610 3 point attempts last year, 6.8 APG last year, 7.7 Offensive Win Shares (#9 in NBA), 22.25 PER
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - 32.7% from 3 in career, 14.5 PPG last year, 36.7 MPG last year
Kawhi Leonard - 44.3% from 3 last year, 13.7 Win Shares (#4 in NBA), 21.2 PPG last year, 26.11 PER, 2X DPOY (last year and 2 years ago)
Marvin Williams - 40.2% from 3 last year, 378 3 point attempts last year, #12 in overall rim protection
John Henson - #2 in NBA in blocks per 36, #3 in NBA in FG% allowed, #11 in NBA in Contest%, #3 in NBA in Points Saved per 36, #8 in overall rim protection, 18.63 PER
Wade Baldwin IV - 42.2% from 3 in college career, 14.1 PPG last year, #17 pick in 2016 draft
Rodney Stuckey - 39% from 3 two years ago, 12.6 PPG two years ago
Taurean Prince - 37.6% from 3 in college career, 15.9 PPG last year, #12 pick in 2016 draft
Andrew Nicholson - 36% from 3, 78.5% free throw last year
Boban Marjanovic - 27.77 PER (#1 among Centers, #3 overall)
Drafting Philosophy: I knew coming in that in order for me to win, I had to do something different that just standing pat and drafting BPA in all my draft slots. With the level of knowledge of the other GMs I would be competing against, I knew that path would just lead to mediocrity. So I made two big moves, to move up and ensure I got my guy in Kawhi, and to pick up another 1st rounder to pair Kawhi with Damian Lillard, who complement each other perfectly and are the best duo in the Celticsblog league. I was able to do this without destroying my bench or the rest of my starting 5. I was able to pick up high quality role players in KCP, Williams, and Henson who all would play a specific role on my team.
KCP is an elite guard defender, and one of the premier "curry stoppers" in the league, so getting a guy like Lillard early who can't defend well, I knew I had to pair him with an elite defender at SG. A perimeter defense including KCP and Kawhi will allow Lillard to guard the easiest assignment 1-3 and let him focus all his energy on the offensive end. Marvin Williams is a great glue guy and the prototypical modern NBA 4, with his ability to space the floor with his 40.2% 3 point percentage on 378 attempts and ability to defend the highly valuable versatile forwards in this league. John Henson is a guy who has been underutilized and misused in Milwaukee since he was drafted there. An elite rim protector (see John Henson important stats for evidence), a good defender in space for a center, and a long, athletic lob-target, Henson should be playing the 5 and manning the paint on defense, while setting screens and catching lobs on offense. In Milwaukee, Henson had been forced to play mostly the 4 next to guys like Larry Sanders, Zaza, Monroe, and Plumlee. On defense this forces Henson away from the rim and on to the perimeter, which takes away his best asset in rim protection. And on offense on a team that already has guys like MCW, Giannis, and Jabari at the guard and wing positions as guys who can't shoot, playing Henson next to another center who can't space the floor exposes Henson's lack of shot making him useless on offense. In my scheme, Henson will be surrounded by 4 guys who can all hit the 3, allowing Henson to set screens and catch lobs off the pick and roll. On defense, he will be controlling the paint and allowed the block everything that comes his way, while playing next to physical players like Kawhi and Williams, and a guy like Boban to back him up and take some of the punishment that comes with being a center.
After I moved up to get Lillard, I expected my bench to be much thinner than it is. While it is not an elite bench by any means, I think it covers up for some of my starters weaknesses and complements them as well. Boban is an absolute monster at 7'3'' 290 with surprisingly good touch and athleticism who gives me the physicality Henson lacks. He's someone who if I match up with a guy like Drummond or Cousins I could start so I wouldn't be punished in the paint, and wouldn't have to worry about him being exposed in space due to my elite perimeter quickness with guys like KCP, Leonard, and Williams to help cover for him. Stuckey is the hidden gem of my second unit. I didn't think I would be able to find a guy who could create like him so late in the draft. He had a nasty high ankle sprain that affected his whole year last year, but two years ago he was lethal for Indiana. He shot 44% from the field and 39% from 3, averaging 12.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. He can be a solid 6th man for me, while helping run and create offense for the 2nd unit. Nicholson is another PF who can shoot it from 3 while also being a solid defender and rebounder. Baldwin IV and Prince are two rookies who I expect to come in right away and make a difference. While neither of them can create their own shot yet (which is why Stuckey will be given a lot of the ball handling duties), they both can defend at a high level and hit the 3 at a high level. I expect Joerger to mold Prince into Kawhi-lite by the seasons end. Due to the inexperience of Baldwin IV and Prince, I made sure I was able to get solid 3rd stringers at their positions just in case they falter, and D.J. Augustin and James Jones are proven NBA vets who have shown they have the ability to step in and contribute. The rest of my bench consists of Jeff Withey, Charlie Villanueva, and Jordan Adams who all fit the profiles of the starters and backups ahead of them at their positions so if anyone gets hurt, they can be counted on to replace them without having to change the game plan.
Best move: Trading up to get Lillard without selling the farm. I wanted to move up to pair Kawhi with another star but I wasn't going to jeopardize the rest of my team to do it. Luckily I was able to find a fair deal, get my second star, while still filling out the rest of my team the way I wanted.
Worst move: Falling asleep during the 5th round only to awake to missing my pick by 13 picks, and seeing my target (Clint Capela) go 11 picks after my pick was scheduled. I think Capela would have been able to give me what Henson gives me, but with more of a physical presence inside, but worse free throw shooting.
Outlook: This is a young, healthy, talented, athletic team who I expect to be a top seed and is competitive in every series and a real favorite to take home the ship.