(NBA 2K23) Changing the Landscape of the NBA.

[Deuce2223]

Going into the off-season some big names were available in F.A. after several top players declined player options to test the open market.

Cleveland's Evan Mobley and Donovon Mitchell as well as "The King" Lebron James all hit the market.

Atlanta gave away (3) 1st Round picks as well as 2 former 1st Round picks for Giannis Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline, which lead to them finishing with the Best record in the NBA last season and the #1 seed in the East hoping it was help boost their chances at a new deal.

Jayson Tatum is said to bleed Celtic Green but he was also looking to add more green to his bank account as he opts out for a new deal.

New York had to ask themselves if resigning Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle was the move or would they be better going after Mitchell/Giannis or Tatum.

The Lakers are a sinking ship after A.D. left them for Chicago last season, they dealt Lebron to Cleveland for what many thought would be their final season. Now the rebuild starts around Austin Reaves.

Oklahoma City has a ton of young talent and Josh Giddey is among the best. The problem is there isn't alot of cap space available thus the Thunder were going to have to make some moves to make it happen if they wanted to keep Giddey on the team.

Dallas traded for CJ McCollum before the draft which basically said Kyrie Irving's time was done.

Milwaukee losing Giannis opens huge cap space, the question is who really wants to play for the Bucks.

The Clippers are much like their crosstown rivals. They added James Harden last year and made the NBA finals but then Paul George jumped ship last off-season and the Clippers failed to even make the playoffs.

The Denver Nuggets Jamal Murray is Free Agency and wants to be back, but the question is after picking DJ Wagner in last year's draft #2 Overall, do they really want to give the 28 yr old a big contract.

[Deuce2223]

FREE AGENTS SIGNINGS

**Disclaimer** I tried to control most of the signings, but at the start of the season after giving control back to the CPU, several teams made signings that made no sense for their franchise**

I am only going to list major players/starters who resigned with their squad and a couple major signings of other players not on the team last year.


76ER'S
Resigned PG Tyrese Maxey to a 5 yr 200 mil deal
Signed C Jaxson Hayes to a 2 yr 14 mil deal

BUCKS
Resigned PG Jose Alvardo 2 yr 8 mil and Dalano Banton 4 yr 66 mil
Signed PG D. Schroder 2 yr 8 mil and SG Jalen Suggs 4 yr 39 mil

BULLS
Signed SG Derik White 3 yr 28 mil
Signed SG RJ Hampton 4 yr 36 mil

CAV'S
Resigned Evan Mobley 1 yr 14 mil
Resigned Bobby Portis Jr 4 yr 94 mil
Resigned Donovan Mitchell 4 yr 179 mil
Resigned Lebron James 1 yr 51 mil
Signed Terence Davis 1 yr 2 mil
Signed Cody Martin 1 yr 2 mil

CELTICS
Resigned Jayson Tatum 5 yr 284 mil
Signed PG Fred VanVleet 1 yr 7 mil
Signed SG Vicor Oladipo 1 yr 4 mil
Signed SG Caris LeVert 1 yr 2 mil

CLIPPERS
Resigned Ivica Zubac 4 yr 82 mil
Resigned Terance Mann 4 yr 40 mil
Resigned Brandon Boston 4 yr 43 mil
Signed Malik Beasley 2 yr 9 mil

GRIZZLIES
Resigned Steve Adams 3 yr 37 mil
Resigned Santi Aldama 3 yr 41 mil
Signed SG Josh Christopher 1 yr 6 mil

HAWKS
Resigned Giannis Antetokounmpo 5 yr 290 mil
Resigned Saddiq Bey 4 yr 97 mil
Signed TJ Warren 1 yr 5 mil

HEAT
Resigned Thomas Bryant 4 yr 34 mil
Signed Ziarie Williams 2 yr 14 mil

HORNETS
Resigned Nick Richards 4 yr 37 mil
Resigned Jarred Vanderbilt 3 yr 52 mil
Signed Jalen Johnson 1 yr 6 mil
Signed Jalen McDaniles 2 yr 12 mil

JAZZ
Resigned Lauri Markkanen 4 yr 135 mil

KINGS
Resigned Davion Mitchell 4 yr 60 mil
Resigned C. Duarte 4 yr 14 mil
Resigned Trey Lyles 2 yr 14 mil

KNICKS
Resigned Jalen Brunson 3 yr 124 mil
Resigned Julius Randle 1 yr 33 mil

LAKERS
Signed Myles Turner 4 yr 137 mil (from Indiana)

MAGIC
Resigned Mortiz Wagner 4 yr 33 mil

MAV'S
Resigned Jaden Hardy 4 yr 93 mil
Resigned Buddy Heild 1 yr 8 mil
Resigned Tim Hardway Jr 3yr 19 mil

NET'S
Resigned Ben Simmons 3 yr 123 mil (won the 6th man award for 2nd straight year)
Resigned Lonnie Walker IV 3 yr 18 mil

NUGGETS
Resigned Jamal Murray 5 yr 200 mil
Resigned Aaron Gordon 3 yr 65 mil
Resigned Zeke Nnaji 5 yr 120 mil

PACERS
Resigned Isiah Jackson 4 yr 47 mil
Resigned Bruce Brown 3 yr 43 mil
Resigned Jalen Smith 4 yr 48 mil
Signed Christian Wood 4 yr 62 mil

PISTONS
Resigned Cade Cunningham 1 yr 19 mil
Signed Tre Jones 3 yr 46 mil

RAPTORS
Resigned Miles Bridges 4 yr 123 mil
Resigned Scottie Barnes 1 yr 13 mil
Signed Marvin Bagley III 3 yr 43 mil
Signed Cam Reddish 4 yr 26 mil

ROCKETS
Resigned Jalen Green 1 yr 16 mil
Resigned Alperen Senguyn 4 yr 155 mil

SPURS
Resigned Gordon Hayward 1 yr 7 mil

SUNS
Resigned John Collins 3 yr 110 mil
Resigned Tredon Watford 1 yr 8 mil
Signed TJ MCConnell 1 yr 2 mil
Signed Seth Curry 1 yr 2 mil

THUNDER
Resigned Josh Giddey 1 yr 11 mil
Resigned Khris Middleton 1 yr 34 mil


HUSTLERS
Resigned Naz Reid 4 yr 128 mil
Resigned Jaden McDaniels 5 yr 121 mil
Resigned Jaylen Nowell 4 yr 14 mil
Resigned Nick Alexander-Walker 4 yr 24 mil

TRAIL BLAZERS
Resigned Patrick Williams 4 yr 96 mil
Signed Kyrie Irving 1 yr 35 mil **One of the dumb CPU signings**


WARRIORS
Resigned Jonathan Kuminga 3 yr 116 mil
Resigned Kevon Looney 3 yr 29 mil
Signed Chris Boucher 3 yr 21 mil

WIZARDS
Resigned Landry Shamet 4 yr 13 mil
Signed Kelly Oubre Jr 3 yr 45 mil
Signed Lonzo Ball 1 yr 2 mil

**Several guy's where just limited in options and had no where to go so I just resigned them to 1 yr deals with their clubs and hopefully I can figure out how to clear some cap space up for some teams to make some moves next year. I really wanted to get someone like Donovan Mitchell or Giannis on the Knicks.**

[Deuce2223]

OFF-SEASON TRADES

Well not alot of star power players moved in Free Agency, a few did switch via some Off-Season trades.

The L.A. Clippers were busy shipping out a future (2028 pick) to the Thunder for Center Daniel Gafford.

They then sent backup Center Xavier Tillman and a 2nd Round pick to the Warriors for Draymond Green (not happy about it, he just needs to retire as a Warrior)

They then added another PF dealing a 2027 1st Round pick to Detroit for former UCLA Bruin/Miami Heat pick Jamie Jacquez Jr.

The New York Knicks are swapping Donte DiVincenzo to the Lakers for Alex Carouso and a 2nd Round pick and shipped out Mitchell Robinson to the Mavericks for Nassir Little

The Lakers are not done, after adding DiVencenzo at SG they are swapping PG's dealing D'Angelo Russell to the the Magic for Jrue Holiday

Toronto is bringing back OG Anuboy in exchange for Paul George as PG is headed to the Spurs.

[Deuce2223]

SEATTLE FINIALIZES FINAL ROSTER SPOTS

Seattle was pretty quite on the Free Agent front resigning Trey Murphy to a 1 yr deal worth 7 million. The 6th man will need a extension addressed at some point or GM Ryan Derozan might have to consider trading him before the deadline to get something back.

Derozan did add a future (2026) 1st Round pick via Detroit by shipping out SF Christan Braun (78 Ovr) well also getting back 2023 2nd Round pick Boban Miller (72 Ovr).

Braun averaged 6.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG and shot 39% from 3pt last season after being acquired from Denver

Looking to finish off the squad Derozan signed veteran SG Gary Harris (73 Ovr) to a 1 year league min. Harris was the #19 Overall pick of the 2014 Draft by Denver where he 7 seasons before being dealt to Orlando in the 20-21 season. He has a career 11.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.9 APG 1.1 SPG average well shooting 36% from 3PT.

Derozan filled roster spot #15 with veteran Marquese Chriss (74 Ovr). Chriss the #8 Overall pick in 2016 by the Suns, has a career average of 7.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.0 APG. The 6'9 PF/C played his college ball at Washington.

Here is a look at the projected roster.

PG-Tyrese Haliburton (92 Ovr)
SG-Jordan Hawkins (79 Ovr)
SF -Brandon Ingram (88 Ovr)
PF-Zion Williamson (94 Ovr)
C-Jarrett Allen (85 Ovr)

2ND UNIT
PG-Tyrese Proctor (80 Ovr)
SG-Tre Johnson (82 Ovr)
SF-Dyson Daniels (83 Ovr)
PF-Trey Murphy (82 Ovr)
C-Aaron Bradshaw (78 Ovr)

MORE DEPTH
SF/PF Harry Bennett (74 Ovr)
PG/SG Gary Harris (73 Ovr)
PF/C Marquese Chriss (74 Ovr)

G League
PG Jasen Richardson (68 Over)
"2nd Round Pick in last year's draft (#19) played at Washington"
PF Boban Miller (72 Ovr)
"2nd Round Pick in the 2023 Draft (#10) played at Florida State


All eyes will be on SG Jordan Hawkins. Is he the man to replace Herb Jones in the starting lineup or will Dyson Daniels or Rookie Tre Johnson get the call.

Also Jarrett Allen is a Free Agent at the end of the season and reports are he is looking for a big raise from his current 20 million dollar salary. With Tyrese Haliburton making 38 million is there room to resign Allen or will Aaron Bradshaw be ready to join the rotation next season.

[Deuce2223]

THE QUEST OF A REPEAT

Seattle made some pretty big changes to their lineup in the offseason dealing 6 1st Round picks including the #2 and #4 in this year's draft to add PG Tyrese Haliburton to the roster well trading away veteran PG CJ McCollum and SG Herb Jones.

So far the moves havn't paid off, as Seattle starts the year with a 10-9 record through the month's of October/Novermber.

GM Ryan Derozan

Quote:

"To be honest 10-9 isn't what we expected especially with the fact that our roster has been pretty healthy the entire month. But when you add 2 new starters and ask younger players to play bigger roles the chemistry is going to be off at the start (currently 68%)".

Well Haliburton has adjusted pretty well to his new team averaging 19.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 9.8 APG, 1.7 SPG well shooting 40% from 3PT (2.7 per game), SG Jordan Hawkins has struggled averaging just 9.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG 2.6 APG well shooting just 28% from 3PT after connecting on 44% from 3PT last year.

It looks like Hawkins spot in the starting lineup is going to be short lived because Rookie Tre Johnson the #9 pick in the draft is playing well so far averaging 11.6 PPG, 3.3 RPG and 3.1 APG playing 18 MPG but like Hawkins is struggling from the outside hitting just 24% from 3PT.

Dyson Daniels however could be the answer. The 6'7 former #8 pick in the 2022 draft, is having his best season yet averaging 10.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.0 SPG in 23 MPG well shooting a career high 43% from 3PT (1.7 per game).

Coach Gary Payton

Quote:

"Having 3 talented players capable of playing SG isn't a bad thing, and to be honest all 3 have the ability to start and play major minutes. We will give Jordan another week or 2 but odds are it could be a night to night matchup as well giving the other guy's a chance to make some starts and play with the 1st unit as well"

[Deuce2223]

OCT/NOV AROUND THE LEAGUE UPDATE

Well the defending champs are off to a slow 10-9 start, the same can not be said of some other teams.

Memphis leads the West with a (15-3) record so far well Cleveland is leading the East also starting out (15-3).

Oklahoma City is currently the next best at (14-7) in the West, well Detroit is off to a hot start at (13-5) in the East.

In the Northwest Division, Seattle is currently 2 GB of the division leading Portland Trail Blazers who are off to a hot start at 12-7 after winning their past 3 games.

Well those teams are off to great starts, there are plenty of teams already struggling just 1 month in. The Kings are currently in last place in the West at (5-14) well the Clippers (7-13), Warriors (7-12) , Lakers (7-11) and Suns (8-11) are all under .500.

Orlando however is leading the way for the #1 pick, as they are currently dead last in the East with a (1-19) record, well the Bucks are (3-16). Chicago (8-13),Indiana (8-11) , and Charlotte (8-11) are also under .500.

KEY PLAYER STATS

Brooklyn's Mikal Bridges currently leads the league in scoring at 30.2 PPG. Bridges has shined since being traded from the Suns averaging over 23 PPG in his first 2 seasons as a Net.

Steph Curry isn't to far behind at 29.8 PPG, followed by Anthony Edwards (29.5 PPG) and Lamelo Ball (29.3 PPG).

Edwards actually led the league in scoring last season averaging 31.4 PPG.


Luke Doncic (28.0 PPG, 9.3 PRG, 9.6 APG, 1.1 SPG) and Nikola Jokic (27.5 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 10.1 APG 2.1 SPG) are going head to head for the race for MVP.

Jokic has averaged a triple double the past 2 seasons, finishing the 22-23 season (23.8 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 11.5 APG) and again last season (20.8 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 10.1 APG).

ROOKIE REPORT

Well Tyrese Haliburton is putting up nice #'s in Seattle the man who replaced him in Indiana is doing quite well too. Dylan Harper the #2 pick in the draft so far has started 15/19 games for the Pacers and is averaging 33.5 MPG, well putting up 18.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.2 SPG well shooting 45% from 3PT.

Teammate Cody Williams the #4 pick in the draft also is putting up big #'s averaging 30.5 MPG, well averaging 14.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 5.3 APG and 1.3 SPG.

Ian Jackson the #1 pick in the draft has starting 19/19 games for the Suns and is averaging 27.8 MPG well putting up 11.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG well shooting 43% from 3PT.

BLAZERS MAKE 2 MOVES

There has only been 2 trades so far in the first month of the season and Portland was involved in both.

Portland first traded PG Cameron Payne and SF Kris Murray to the Clippers for former Thunder Center Daniel Gafford who was dealt to the Clippers last year at the draft.

Portland with Gafford on board to backup starter Adam Mara, then dealt their current backup Center Paul Reed to the Pacers for PG Artis Morris and a 2nd Round Pick (via the Spurs in 2026).

INJURY REPORT

Well now we know why Orlando is 1-19, as they lost Paolo Banchero for the season with a Torn ACL. Banchero led the Magic last season with 21.3 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 4.2 APG and 1.2 BPG. Orlando also is without SF Franz Wagner for the next 1-2 weeks with a Torn Right Hand Ligament. Wagner averaged 17.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.1 APG last season and is averaging 16.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 2.3 APG this season.

Former Nugget/Sonic Christan Braun's stint in Detroit has been cut short. Braun has a broke ankle and is expected to miss the next 6-8 weeks. He was averaging 8.8 PPG and was shooting 54% from 3PT for the Pistons before going down.

Dylan Harper's move to PG for the Pacers is in large part because Andrew Nembhard is out for the next 6-8 weeks with a Broken Left Thigh. The former Gonzaga star was averaging a career best 13.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG and 5.6 APG at the time of the injury.

[Deuce2223]

FROM CHAMP TO CHUMP!!

BIG MOVES OR BAD MOVES?
Seattle's trade for Tyrese Haliburton and their trade of CJ McCollum and Herb Jones is starting to look like a bust. The Defending Champs went 9-6 in the month of December and are currently (19-15) and sitting in #8th place in the West.


ALLEN UNHAPPY

Despite currently leading the team in MPG (31.3) Center Jarrett Allen is unhappy in Seattle. Allen played well his 1st season in New Orleans after the trade from Cleveland averaging 14.6 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 1.7 APG and 1.7 BPG but saw those # drop a little last season after the move to Seattle despite the Sonics winning the title (13.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.3 BPG). So far those # are dropping again this season (11.6 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.5 APG 1.1 BPG) and reports out of the locker room is Allen is refusing to talk to GM Ryan Derozan about a extension.

So now the question is, does Derozan and Payton keep Allen on the team in hopes of having his help to make the playoffs and make a push at a repeat or does the duo trade Allen for a chance at replacing him with a cheaper alternative.

GM Ryan Derozan

Quote:

"To be honest we are a little disappointed with Jarrett's stance right now. I feel like he is a great ift for our team and a despite being only 27, he and Ingram are considered to be the veteran leadership of the team. However if we are going to lose our starting center for the past 3 seasons, then this year's draft is the time to do it with 5 projected Centers that will go in the 1st Round and 5 PF's including #1 Prospect Cameron Boozer also projected as 1st Round picks."

Seattle currently has 2 picks in this year's First Round. The Bucks (currently projected to be a Top-3) and Charlotte's (projected to be a Top-15). However Allen could fetch the Sonics a 3rd pick in this year's draft potentially.

HAWKINS CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE, JOHNSON JOINS THE STARTING LINEUP

Jordan Hawkins has struggled since taking over the starting job fulltime at SG for Herb Jones, averaging 9.7 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.1 APG and shooting just 31% from 3PT now on the season.

Enter Rookie Tre Johnson. The 6'4 guard out of Texas has proven his worth as the #9 Overall pick, averaging 11.8 PPG (4th best on the team) with 3.9 RPG, 3.7 APG, but is struggling from 3PT now shooting just 27% on the year.

ZION SO FAR STAYING HEALTHLY

Zion Williamson has missed games the past 2 seasons including last year's first 3 rounds of the playoffs. But so far this season Williamson has started all 34/34 games and is 1 of 4 player averaging over 30 MPG well leading the team in scoring 22.2 PPG, well also averaging 8.3 RPG, 3.8 APG, and 1.2 SPG.

[Deuce2223]

DECEMBER UPDATE

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Memphis (26-9)
Portland (22-12)
Oklahoma City (21-13)
Houston (21-13)
Utah (20-13)
Seattle (19-15)
Dallas (18-15)
San Antonio (18-16)
Golden State (15-20)
Las Vegas (15-21)
Los Angles Lakers (12-23)
Phoenix (12-24)
Los Angles Clippers (10-26)
Sacramento (9-25)

Golden State has the 9th best record in the Western Conference but with current playoff format rules, is currently listed as the #3 seed as they are leading a very week Pacific Division with the Lakers currently on a 7 game losing streak and the Clippers on a 5 game streak.

Well Seattle's (19-15) start is disappointing they are only 3 GB of the Northwest leading Portland Trail Blazers.

Oklahoma City has (3) 1st Round Picks this year including the Clippers and Heat's selections which currently are projected as #4 and #7. Will the Thunder hold on to their picks yet again, or is this the year they trade them for a NBA star?



EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Cleveland (25-9)
Detroit (24-11)
Atlanta (21-14)
Toronto (21-12)
Philadelphia (20-15)
Washington (20-15)
Boston (19-16)
Charlotte (19-17)
Brooklyn (18-16)
New York (18-17)
Miami (16-20)
Chicago (15-22)
Indiana (13-21)
Milwaukee (7-28)
Orlando (7-28)

Cleveland might have the best record in the East, but Detroit is playing some amazing basketball having won 10 straight to climb with 1.5 GB.

Orlando and Milwaukee are currently battling it out for the title of worst team in the NBA, but the Bucks don't own their own pick this year but they do own the Kings who are currently slated to pick #3 being the worst team in the West.

Orlando is the winner right now, with the projected #2 pick, the Magic will get a chance to draft either Cameron Boozer or Cooper Flagg.


BLAZER CONTINUE TO MAKE MOVES

Portland shocked everyone when they signed Kyrie Irving (89 Ovr) to a 1 year deal this off-season after nobody else offered the former #1 pick a longer term contract.

Iriving who ended up taking over the team's starting SG spot with Ant Simmons moving to the bench in a 6th man role, played well averaging 20.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 5.2 APG and 1.4 SPG well shooting 43% from 3PT

Now Irving is on the move for a different #1 Overall pick, as Kyrie is heading South to Sin City to join the Hustlers. Coming back to Portland will be the #1 Pick of the 2015 Draft, Karl-Anthony Towns (87 Ovr). Towns once considered to be a possible trade package for Lillard now joins the team 2 years later.

Towns was averaging 19.3 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 4.8 APG and was shooting 38% from 3PT at the time of the trade.

Portland is also sending former Piston PF Isiah Stewart in the deal and will be receiving PF Trent Flowers the #14 Overall pick in this year's draft.

Stewart was starting at PF with Patrick Williams on IR and was averaging 8.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.1 SPG starting 25/34 games.

Flowers has seen action in 26 games, averaging 22.2 MPG, with a 9.0 PPG, 1.3 RPG and 3.5 APG average.

**Patrick Williams is gone for the season with a Dislocated Left Patella.