Can you build a team of NON-MAX players?

[Yoki_IsTheName]

So, this started as a discussion at work, and eventually got shared to the DKC League on Reddit, and it was fun, so I thought, might as well bring it to the C-Blog and see what the peeps here think.

So here's the challenge:

Build a starting five of NBA players who ARE NOT making max salaries.

- It has to good enough (we will debate this, of course) to be able to beat Cleveland and eventually Golden State.

- You cannot pick players from both the Cavs or the Warriors, because you're trying to beat that team.

- ALL MAXES COUNT. Including the small ones from the previous CBA, and the ones who already signed their max extensions.

So, is it doable? Does that team exist, or you can't build one with these certain parameters?

Let's see your squad.

[max215]

I think I've finalized my team:

Kyle Lowry
Danny Green
Khris Middleton
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Joel Embiid

Five two-way players, including some true game-changers on both ends.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I think I've finalized my team:

Kyle Lowry
Danny Green
Khris Middleton
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Joel Embiid

Five two-way players, including some true game-changers on both ends.

You're going to have to rely heavily on Kyle Lowry in the post-season here. And he hasn't been exceptional in the playoffs of late. 

The rest of the team, very juicy.

[BitterJim]

I think I've finalized my team:

Kyle Lowry
Danny Green
Khris Middleton
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Joel Embiid

Five two-way players, including some true game-changers on both ends.

I'd swap out Lowry due to his... lackluster playoff performances. I'd probably have IT take his place (no, he's not a 2 way player, but he stepped up in the playoffs and would give that team a top-5 scorer). Patrick Beverly or Bradley at the 1 spot would also be tempting

[max215]

I think I've finalized my team:

Kyle Lowry
Danny Green
Khris Middleton
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Joel Embiid

Five two-way players, including some true game-changers on both ends.

I'd swap out Lowry due to his... lackluster playoff performances. I'd probably have IT take his place (no, he's not a 2 way player, but he stepped up in the playoffs and would give that team a top-5 scorer). Patrick Beverly or Bradley at the 1 spot would also be tempting

Beverly at the 1 with Giannis as the primary ball-handler would be interesting.

[Moranis]

The real question, what kind of team can you get if you take out rookie salary players and impending free agents (since you have no idea what their contract looks like)?

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I think I've finalized my team:

Kyle Lowry
Danny Green
Khris Middleton
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Joel Embiid

Five two-way players, including some true game-changers on both ends.

I'd swap out Lowry due to his... lackluster playoff performances. I'd probably have IT take his place (no, he's not a 2 way player, but he stepped up in the playoffs and would give that team a top-5 scorer). Patrick Beverly or Bradley at the 1 spot would also be tempting

Beverly at the 1 with Giannis as the primary ball-handler would be interesting.

If we swap Danny Green with Trevor Ariza, and play Khris Middleton at the SG, would it work?

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Also, with the help of the DKC crew, the Coffee Shop Boys has found their team.

PG: Eric Bledsoe
SG: Khris Middleton
SF: Giannis Antetokounmpo
PF: Paul Millsap
C : Nikola Jokic

Stud defenders from 1-4, plenty of scoring to offer. We understand Jokic's defense is not to be desired, but ultimately his talents offensively and his durability is much more valuable.

[Moranis]

allowing for rookie and expiring contracts  I'd go with Wiggins and Towns from the Wolves and add Beverly, Giannis, and Jokic (Embiid is probably better but with the injury issues, I'd rather have the continuity in the starting lineup).  On the bench I'd have Thomas, Walker, Harris, Bradley, Embiid, Covington, and Porzingis. 

So new team

PG - Beverly, Thomas, Walker
SG - Giannis, Bradley, Harris
SF - Wiggins, Covington
PF - Towns, Porzingis
C - Jokic, Embiid

The strength of a team like this is of course its depth.  That is where it could really make up some ground on a team like the Warriors.  I do feel a bit strange with the weakest of the 3 PG's starting, but I think the team needs Beverly's defense in the starting 5 and Thomas and Walker would be great off the bench in this type of scenario.  As I mentioned above if healthy Embiid is better than Jokic, but you can't count on his health so I'd start Jokic.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

allowing for rookie and expiring contracts  I'd go with Wiggins and Towns from the Wolves and add Beverly, Giannis, and Jokic (Embiid is probably better but with the injury issues, I'd rather have the continuity in the starting lineup).  On the bench I'd have Thomas, Walker, Harris, Bradley, Embiid, Covington, and Porzingis. 

So new team

PG - Beverly, Thomas, Walker
SG - Giannis, Bradley, Harris
SF - Wiggins, Covington
PF - Towns, Porzingis
C - Jokic, Embiid

The strength of a team like this is of course its depth.  That is where it could really make up some ground on a team like the Warriors.  I do feel a bit strange with the weakest of the 3 PG's starting, but I think the team needs Beverly's defense in the starting 5 and Thomas and Walker would be great off the bench in this type of scenario.  As I mentioned above if healthy Embiid is better than Jokic, but you can't count on his health so I'd start Jokic.

I worry about the defense from Towns and Jokic. I think you'd have to start either Zinger or Process here just to provide some semblance of defense. Other than that, that's a tough team.

[Moranis]

allowing for rookie and expiring contracts  I'd go with Wiggins and Towns from the Wolves and add Beverly, Giannis, and Jokic (Embiid is probably better but with the injury issues, I'd rather have the continuity in the starting lineup).  On the bench I'd have Thomas, Walker, Harris, Bradley, Embiid, Covington, and Porzingis. 

So new team

PG - Beverly, Thomas, Walker
SG - Giannis, Bradley, Harris
SF - Wiggins, Covington
PF - Towns, Porzingis
C - Jokic, Embiid

The strength of a team like this is of course its depth.  That is where it could really make up some ground on a team like the Warriors.  I do feel a bit strange with the weakest of the 3 PG's starting, but I think the team needs Beverly's defense in the starting 5 and Thomas and Walker would be great off the bench in this type of scenario.  As I mentioned above if healthy Embiid is better than Jokic, but you can't count on his health so I'd start Jokic.

I worry about the defense from Towns and Jokic. I think you'd have to start either Zinger or Process here just to provide some semblance of defense. Other than that, that's a tough team.

Perhaps but if the goal is to beat GS or Cleveland, I'm not sure you really need the defense down low in the starting lineup. 

[action781]

PG - Beverly
SG - Danny Green
SF - Giannis
PF - Embiid
C - Gobert

I think the way to beat GS is to slow the game down and go big on them.  This team is stellar defensively 1-5 with so much length.

Bradley would be a close insert at SG, but I prefer Danny Green's height against Klay.

[Moranis]

PG - Beverly
SG - Danny Green
SF - Giannis
PF - Embiid
C - Gobert

I think the way to beat GS is to slow the game down and go big on them.  This team is stellar defensively 1-5 with so much length.

Bradley would be a close insert at SG, but I prefer Danny Green's height against Klay.

Gobert signed a max extension already so you can't use him.

[max215]

PG - Beverly
SG - Danny Green
SF - Giannis
PF - Embiid
C - Gobert

I think the way to beat GS is to slow the game down and go big on them.  This team is stellar defensively 1-5 with so much length.

Bradley would be a close insert at SG, but I prefer Danny Green's height against Klay.

Gobert signed a max extension already so you can't use him.

Nope, he signed for a hair under the max.

[Beat LA]

Absolutely, imo.

Starters:

C Daniel Ochefu
PF Jarrod Uthoff
SF Nigel Hayes
SG Malcolm Hill
PG Xavier Rathan-Mayes

Bench:

PF/C Moses Kingsley
PF Jacob Wiley
SG/SF/PF Deonte Burton (I really have no clue as to what position this dude plays, btw, lol )
SG/SF Antonius Cleveland
SG Peter Jok/Wayne Selden
PG P.J. Dozier/Gary Payton II