The Golden Era | A Golden State Warriors Dynasty (NBA 2K20)

[marshdaddy]

Quote: Originally Posted by trekfan

Not a ton of surprises in the draft -- Jason Sanders has his work cut out for him. Can he do what only LeBron has managed to do in this current century? Can he make Cleveland relevant and a postseason contender?

Not a ton of surprises at the top, but Braun falling was a bit of a shock, as was Keon Granger going out of the first round. The decision by Phoenix to stay put and taking a project at third overall might spell the end of Booker, and maybe Ayton in the desert.

[marshdaddy]

Moving Forward
We’ll be fast forwarding to February of the 2023-24 season as we inch closer to in-game modern day. But before we do that, it’s time to introduce some of the people who will be telling and part of the story.

Rhadi Staley, Vice President, Basketball Operations, Golden State Warriors
Following the 2023 NBA Finals, Bob Myers announced the promotion of Staley to VP of Basketball Operations. By no means does that mean Myers isn’t heavily involved in basketball decisions, but Staley has taken a prominent role. Staley is highly regarded among NBA circles, and was considered a favorite for numerous General Manager openings in the league prior to deciding to stay with the Warriors.

Anthony Nojkic, NBA reporter for The Ringer
Nojkic has covered the NBA for years for a multitude of news outlets and is best known for breaking news about the NBA and players throughout it. Nojkic has been part of the rise of The Ringer’s top-notch NBA coverage. Affectionately known as ‘Noj Bombs’, Nojkic is the go-to source for NBA news. If he tweets it, it’s gospel.

Isaiah Charles, Golden State Warriors beat reporter for NBC Sports Bay Area
Charles is a talented reporter, having covered the Warriors in the Bay Area for years. A close confidant of the Warriors’ organization, Charles has as good a pulse on the team as anyone, Nojkic included. If there is news to be heard about Golden State and the happenings within the team, Charles has it, perhaps even better than Nojkic.

Ryen Simons, NBA reporter/personality for The Athletic
Simons is more of a personality than he is a reporter. Host of a popular podcast and blog, Simons isn’t afraid to offer his opinion on the league and players, and while they may be controversial, they tend to be right. Simons sources are reliable but he’s more opinion-based than he is a reporter.

James Bowman*, NBA Draft Reporter, ESPN
* - Changed to Chadwick Fjord in 2028
You’ll only hear from Bowman around the NBA Draft, but he’s a reliable source of NBA Draft intel and scouting. A veteran of the NBA scouting circles, Bowman provides seasonal recaps and brief player profiles ahead of the draft.

Future Format
As I mentioned, we’ll be fast forward to the end of the 2023-24 regular season, with some brief updates along the way. Beginning in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, all updates will come from the reporters who cover the league and the draft, and from Staley himself. So it may be a tweet or an article from Nojkic, a blog from Simons, or a piece by Charles, but this won’t be just a recap of who won in which year and who was drafted when.

My hope is to make this look and feel as similar to the real world as possible. Woj delivers breaking news, a few bloggers offer their two cents, and a draft expert offers perspective. The same will be happening here.

If you have any comments, feedback and input, please let me know. I really appreciate everyone that has been following along and commented on the happenings, and have enjoyed reading other franchise blogs to see how worlds differ. Hopefully this format will help make the world I’ve created feel like more than just box scores and awards.

[RolePlayer]

Really enjoying this

[marshdaddy]

February’s End and the Playoffs in Sight
We fast forward to the beginning of March 2024 and catchup with the current NBA season. Rather than individual posts for some of the trades they’ll be included in this update.

Breaking News, February 5
Anthony Nojkic: Sources: Hornets acquire center Moses Brown from Chicago. Hornets sending Kyle Kuzma and 2025 2nd round pick to Chicago.


Breaking News, February 7
Anthony Nojkic: Sources: Charlotte Hornets are sending Eric Paschall and a 2028 2nd round selection to Orlando in exchange for Nikola Vucevic. Charlotte adding more depth at center around James Wiseman.


Breaking News, February 13
Anthony Nojkic: Sources: Phoenix Suns completing trade that will send Devin Booker to Minnesota. Sources tell The Ringer that Booker had informed Phoenix that he didn’t intend to return to the Suns this summer when his contract expired and he hit free agency.

Booker had identified Minnesota as a preferred trade destination if the Suns decided to trade him. He never explicitly asked the organization for a trade.

Phoenix will receive Jarrett Culver, Deni Avdija, Jeremy Lamb and a 2025 1st round pick, top three protected. Minnesota is also receiving Raul Acy and Admiral Schofield as part of the deal.


Breaking News, February 13
Anthony Nojkic: Second deal of Trade Deadline. Sources tell The Ringer that Denver has acquired Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Buddy Hield, Gary Harris, an unprotected 2024 1st round pick and a 2025 second round pick from Chicago. Denver will also receive Kofi Toupane.


Breaking News, February 20
Anthony Nojkic: Justise Winslow has suffered a ruptured left achilles for the Grizzlies, ending his season.


Breaking News, February 21
Anthony Nojkic: Terrence Mann (torn left achilles) and Jonathan Isaac (dislocated left patella) both are out for the Magic. MRI results confirmed both injuries.


Breaking News, February 27
Anthony Nojkic: Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out by the Clippers with a pinched nerve in his back. The organization has not set a timeline for his return, but sources indicate he won’t be back until March. Big blow for a Clippers team looking to keep pace in crowded Western Conference.

[marshdaddy]

Quote: Originally Posted by RolePlayer

Really enjoying this

Happy to hear that man, thanks for following along!

[marshdaddy]

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Can the Jazz stay tuned in March?

Anthony Nojkic
March 1, 2024

The Jazz enter March with the best record in basketball at 42-17, owning a two-game edge on the Grizzlies in the West, though the Clippers (2.5 GB) and Spurs (3.5 GB) sit close on their tails.

In the East, Kyrie Irving has led the Hawks to the top record in the conference at 41-19. The All Star Point Guard is leading a team perfectly crafted for his talents. Filled with role players who do their job efficiently, the Hawks are averaging 118.1 points per game, best in the East.

Miami sits just one game behind the Hawks led by Kevin Durant and his 25.9 points per game. Jimmy Butler is coming off the bench for the two-time reigning Eastern Conference Champions, as Tyler Herro has stepped into the starting spot. The fifth-year pro is enjoying a career year, averaging 20.9 points per game and shooting 43.5% from deep, both career highs.

Jayson Tatum continues to set the league on fire, averaging 36.9 points per game for the Celtics. Tatum is one of seven players to averaging at least 30 points per game as the league has seen an offensive explosion. Zion Williamson is second in the NBA, averaging 36.2 points to go along with 12.6 rebounds.

In the West, the top four seeds are looking to run away from the crowd, with the Warriors and Pelicans (34-25, 8.0 GB) trying to keep pace at five and six. Dallas (33-28, 10.0 GB), and Oklahoma City (31-29, 11.5 GB) round out the top eight, but the Timberwolves and Lakers, each sitting at 29-31, are two games out of the eight seed while the Kings and Nuggets are at 28-33 and keeping hope alive.

Meanwhile in the East, the top five have fully separated themselves from the crowd. The Pacers sit in the six seed but are 11 games back of the Hawks and 5.5 behind the Celtics.Just six games separate the Pacers in six and the Hornets in 13. The 76ers, currently holding onto the eight seed, are ahead of the Hornets by just 2.5 games, meaning the East conference race will most certainly go down to the wire.

[marshdaddy]

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Warriors prepare for final months of regular season

Isaiah Charles
March 2, 2024

After a quiet trade deadline, the Warriors are confident that their current roster is capable of making up ground in the West. Currently sitting in a tie for the fifth seed at 34-25, the Warriors have rallied from a slow start to be right in the heart of the playoff race.

Despite beginning the season 8-11, Golden State has seen a rejuvenation when they inserted Kostas Antetokounmpo into the rotation as the backup center. Antetokounmpo has been a valuable piece for a Warriors team that has battled injuries, providing a dominant rebounding presence off the bench.

Stephen Curry remains out with right knee tendonitis suffered on February 23. Curry’s health down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs will be the main point of concern for a Golden State organization looking to complete a four-peat.

Quiet Trade Deadline
Sources tell NBC Sports Bay Area that while the Warriors didn’t push through any deals, that doesn’t mean phones weren’t busy. Golden State currently owns the Orlando Magic’s first round pick as the final piece of the Aaron Gordon deal and reportedly made the pick available in trade talks.

While the specific players remain unnamed, sources indicate a number of young players were made available along with the pick. It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to identify who those players may be: Anthony Edwards, Jonathan Kuminga and Ibraham Mobley. If Golden State was willing to part with any of their young core, they must’ve been hunting for superstars, potentially Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic. Clearly, Milwaukee and Dallas feel they have a chance to still compete this year.

[trekfan]

Warriors with a trove of assets (in terms of young players with high potential). Gonna be interesting to see how they approach the offseason after the playoff run.


Steph's injuries seem to be piling up in recent years, which is a big concern -- as Steph goes, so do the Warriors.