2017 Power Rankings (Week 2)

 

Who elevated in the rankings this week?

Hi everyone and welcome to a second week of Power Rankings. 

Each team was ranked in six categories for the week:
-Total fantasy points scored.
-Fantasy points averaged per game by starters.
-Total amount of points produced by the bench.
-Games missed due to injuries (doubled for starters).
-Fantasy points per game gained in the wavier wire.
-Their place in the standings.

Then, each team was given points depending on where they were in the rankings. The better a team performed in the rankings, the less points I gave them.

I doubled the scores in the weekly total and per game categories as a final touch because this game is ultimately about scoring fantasy points.

From there, I totaled each team's score across the six categories and used those final scores to sort my power rankings. 52 points would be average with the lower scores being above average.


I also added everyone's cumulative score (and ranking) beneath their week's score. Just another way to consider how things are shaking out.


Here is week two's results:


12. MAMA Said Knock You Out - Rich (0-2)
Week Total: 11
Per Game: 11
Bench Scoring: 8
Injuries: 5
Wavier Additions: 6
Standings: 10
Week 2 Total: 73
Season  Total: 143 (12th)

At the bottom once again, MAMA Said Knock You Out lost this week with a score of 712 for the week on 22.3 points per game. Rich's bench put up a much more promising 200 points and he did not add anyone off of the wavier wire. This squad missed 9 games due to injuries.

While the scoring categories all saw encouraging increases, Rich was hindered in this week's ranking by being boxed out of the wavier wire and losing a tough one to RIM JOBS. This week, MAMA Said Knock You Out will be looking for their first victory against another team with some early season struggles: Pippen Aint Eazy.

11. TimAint Duncan - Nick (1-1)
Week Total: 12
Per Game: 12
Bench Scoring: 11
Injuries: 2
Wavier Additions: 7
Standings: 4
Week 2 Total: 72
Season  Total: 133 (11th)

Dropping two spots this week, TimAint Duncan scored 686 points on a 22.1 per game average in a loss to Team Penetration. Nick's bench posted 160 points and the team lost 0.3 fantasy points per game with the drop of Terrence Ross for Andre Roberson.

These numbers may be misleading as TimAint Duncan suffered through 14 missed games due to injuries, including several in the starting lineup. That will certainly cause a significant dent into any team's numbers. As the injuries clear up, Nick's numbers are likely to rise.

10. Pippen Aint Eazy - Freddy (0-2)
Week Total: 8
Per Game: 8
Bench Scoring: 12
Injuries: 2
Wavier Additions: 6
Standings: 10
Week 2 Total: 62
Season  Total: 106 (9th)

Dropping four spots in the rankings this week, Pippen Aint Eazy posted 794 points on a 24.8 per game average in their second loss of the season. Freddy's bench mustered a league low 129 points and, once again, no waiver moves were made this week.

All of these pedestrian numbers can be explained by the same thing: 14 missed games due to injuries. Evans, Barton, Rubio, Valenciunas and Harris are all missing games. On top of all this, Freddy has yet to fill a vacant spot on his bench, which will certainly be a boost whenever he finds the perfect apple to pick. I doubt Pippen Aint Eazy will remain this low much longer.

9. Por Favors - Nathaniel (0-2)
Week Total: 9
Per Game: 9
Bench Scoring: 2
Injuries: 5
Wavier Additions: 6
Standings: 10
Week 2 Total: 59
Season  Total: 96 (7th)

Dropping five spots this week, Por Favors put up 794 fantasy points on a 24.2 per game average in a loss to the hot All-NBA 5th Team. Nathaniel's squad missed 9 games due to injuries and his bench dropped another bomb with 322. No wavier moves were made.

A very interesting week for this team as the starting lineup was weak while the bench remained strong. It seems to me that this team may have some positional issues as Dragic, Schroder, George Hill, and Kyrie all battle for two point guard spots while all outperforming any shooting guard this squad has. Regardless of how that situation resolves, I'm certain Por Favors will make a bounce back.

8. RIM JOBS - Monty (1-1)
Week Total: 10
Per Game: 10
Bench Scoring: 1
Injuries: 8
Wavier Additions: 4
Standings: 4
Week 2 Total: 57
Season  Total: 118 (10th)

Rising two spots in the rankings, RIM JOBS scored 739 points on a 22.4 per game average in a big time win over MAMA Said Knock You Out. Even more encouraging is the league leading 331 points scored by Monty's bench this week. RIM JOBS missed 5 games this week and added 8.7 fantasy points per game with the exchange of Domantas Sabonis for Tyson Chandler in the wavier wire.

Monty's squad is already proving to be a team that can build quickly. With a strong wavier presence and rising numbers, I suspect this team may finish the season much higher than I initially expected. Look out for RIM JOBS.

7. Admiral Kryptonite - Gus (1-1)
Week Total: 7
Per Game: 6
Bench Scoring: 9
Injuries: 4
Wavier Additions: 6
Standings: 4
Week 2 Total: 49
Season  Total: 94 (6th)

In the same spot as last week, Admiral Kryptonite posted 805 fantasy points on a 25.2 per game average in a tough loss to Make It Nashty. My bench scored a disappointing 180 points though my squad did miss 10 games due to injuries. I made no wavier wire moves this week.

My team continues to put up middling numbers while my bench heals from injuries. I think this team will hover around this spot in the rankings for awhile.

6. Blow Me - Tyler (1-1)
Week Total: 6
Per Game: 6
Bench Scoring: 3
Injuries: 8
Wavier Additions: 5
Standings: 4
Week 2 Total: 44
Season  Total: 81 (4th)

Dropping three spots this week, Blow Me threw up 807 fantasy points on a 25.2 per game average in a narrow loss to Balls to the Wall. Tyler's bench was elite, scoring 320 points. Blow Me missed 5 games due to injuries and added 3.3 fantasy points per game on the wavier wire this week.

An unfortunate loss after a fortunate victory, Tyler's squad has been involved in the closest matches of each week so far. Though his starting lineup was not as strong as last week, it was still above average. Meanwhile, the bench is top notch and ever-improving in the wavier wire. Because of this, I imagine that this is about the lowest Blow Me will ever drop in the rankings.

5. Balls to the Wall - Brett (1-1)
Week Total: 5
Per Game: 4
Bench Scoring: 6
Injuries: 8
Wavier Additions: 2
Standings: 4
Week 2 Total: 38
Season  Total: 105 (8th)

Rising six spots as our Jump of the Week, Balls to the Wall bounced back in a big way. Scoring 812 points on a 27.1 per game average, Brett's squad got a big win over a good team this week. Brett's bench also chipped in 250 points while missing 5 games due to injuries. Balls to the Wall added 13.8 points per game with J.J. Barea replacing Tony Parker.

After a flat first week, guys like Lowry and Harrison Barnes took steps forward while John Wall and LaMarcus Aldridge continued to play strong. These to numbers should be a better indicator of what to expect from Brett's squad going forward.

4. Make It Nashty - Danny (1-1)
Week Total: 4
Per Game: 5
Bench Scoring: 10
Injuries: 1
Wavier Additions: 1
Standings: 4
Week 2 Total: 34
Season  Total: 91 (5th)

Rising four spots this week, Make It Nashty put up some big numbers. Posting 925 points on a 26.4 average, Danny's squad is looked strong in a win over Admiral Kryptonite. The bench put together 174 points though this could be explained by a league leading 15 games missed this week due to injury. In addition, Danny made this biggest wavier wire addition by bringing on 21.2 points per game in C.J. Miles to fill an empty bench spot.

All of this is to say that Danny had a very good week. As the injuries clear up and the bench shapes out, the numbers are primed to improve. Dwight Howard and Rudy Gay have been great additions to this team. Make It Nashty is showing that they may have had the best Auction Draft this year.

3. All-NBA 5th Team - Matt (2-0)
Week Total: 3
Per Game: 3
Bench Scoring: 4
Injuries: 11
Wavier Additions: 6
Standings: 1
Week 2 Total: 34
Season  Total: 72 (3rd)

Rising two spots this week, All-NBA 5th Team notched 932 fantasy points on a 27.4 average in a strong win over Por Favors. Matt's bench also did well with 267 points this week. This squad missed 2 games due to injuries and no wavier moves were made.

Two strong weeks in a row is a very good sign for Matt's squad. All-NBA 5th Team will be facing a big test against Team Penetration this week. Regardless of the outcome, I expect Matt's numbers to remain strong.

2. Team Penetration - Michael (2-0)
Week Total: 2
Per Game: 2
Bench Scoring: 5
Injuries: 12
Wavier Additions: 3
Standings: 1
Week 2 Total: 29
Season  Total: 58 (2nd)

In the same spot as last week, Team Penetration continued their dominance with 1093 points on a 29.5 average, numbers significantly ahead of the majority of the league. Michael's bench provided 260 points in his second victory of the season. No games were missed due to injury and 10.3 points per game were added with the addition of Terrence Jones in the place of Mario Hezonja.

The only knock that can really be said about this team is their luxury of no missed games due to injury thus far. Though, I doubt that is even much of a knock  since it is possible that Michael has build his team with injury histories in mind. I think Team Penetration will be tough to knock from this spot.

1. Team Nipple - Chris (2-0)
Week Total: 1
Per Game: 1
Bench Scoring: 7
Injuries: 7
Wavier Additions: 8
Standings: 1
Week 2 Total: 27
Season  Total: 50 (1st)

Remaining on top, Team Nipple dropped 1114 fantasy points on the week with a 32.8 per game average as Chris got his second win of the season. The bench added 225 points and the team missed 7 games due to injuries. Team Nipple lost 2.8 points per game in the wavier wire this week, mainly because the addition of Jared Sullinger has yet to play a game this season.

T.J. Warren and Joel Embiid have been top notch surprise starters thus far and have filled some holes nicely. Despite this, Chris's bench is still pretty mundane and could be the only weakness this team really has. It will be interesting to see how Chris continues to handle that. That is, while he continues to stake victories.

2017 Power Rankings (Week 1)

Who is the spookiest fantasy monster?

Hey everyone. Happy Halloween and cheers to an exciting first week of JBL basketball. We saw superstar performances, major surprises, and narrow victories. A lot of crazy stuff went down and I am here in an attempt to make sense of all of it. Before I go into my power rankings, I would like to explain my scoring system.

Each team was ranked in six categories for the week:
-Total fantasy points scored.
-Fantasy points averaged per game by starters.
-Total amount of points produced by the bench.
-Games missed due to injuries (doubled for starters).
-Fantasy points per game gained in the wavier wire.
-Their place in the standings.

Then, each team was given points depending on where they were in the rankings. The better a team was in the rankings, the less points I gave them.

I doubled the scores in the weekly total and per game categories as a final touch because this game is ultimately about scoring fantasy points.

From there, I totaled each team's score across the six categories and used those final scores to sort my power rankings. 52 points would be average with the lower scores being above average.

Here are my results:

12. MAMA Said Knock You Out - Rich (0-1)
Week Total: 12
Per Game: 12
Bench Scoring: 11
Injuries: 3
Wavier Additions: 1
Standings: 7
Total: 70

MAMA Said Knock You Out lost while posting a league low 575 fantasy points on a 21.3 average. Meanwhile, the bench produced a paltry 66 points. Rich had a tough week as his players missed 8 games due to injuries. Fortunately for him, Rich has the saving grace of adding 31.3 fantasy points per game off of the wavier wire when he picked up Matt Barnes and Justin Hamilton to replace the unproductive Al Jefferson and Jared Sullinger

MAMA Said Knock You Out started slow last year as well and Klay Thompson seems to play his best basketball later in the year. Also, Rich's bench is full of project guys, which would explain their low production. I have a hunch MAMA Said Knock You Out will soon turn things around.

11. Balls to the Wall - Brett (0-1)
Week Total: 10
Per Game: 10
Bench Scoring: 8
Injuries: 5
Wavier Additions: 7
Standings: 7
Total: 67

Balls to the Wall lost a middling match, scoring 611 points on 22.6 fantasy points per game. Fortunately, the Faried-led bench showed some strength with 152 fantasy points. 6 games were missed and Brett did not make a move on the waiver wire. This strikes me as an outlier performance.

Key guys like Lowry and Aldridge gave flat weeks and this team will most certainly be better. The lack of waiver activity may have been a misstep but the patience could pan out. Either way, next week should be an improvement as Brett's guys get in rhythm.

10. RIM JOBS - Monty (0-1)
Week Total: 8
Per Game: 10
Bench Scoring: 5
Injuries: 10
Wavier Additions: 3
Standings: 7
Total: 61

RIM JOBS posted a decent score of 633 fantasy points on 22.6 fantasy points per game in their loss to the Defending Champions. The bench showed a lot of strength, scoring 173 fantasy points and should get even better with the 14 fantasy points per game addition in Ilyasova. Monty's squad missed 2 games due to injuries this week.

Promise continues to blossom for this team, specifically in Russell who put up 73 fantasy points on the bench. Among other moves, if Monty can capitalize on his monopoly of point guards, this team make a jump in these rankings. The trend up could be sooner rather than later.

9. TimAint Duncan - Nick (1-0)
Week Total: 11
Per Game: 9
Bench Scoring: 12
Injuries: 1
Wavier Additions: 7
Standings: 1
Total: 61

TimAint Duncan got a big time win but was only able to produce 594 fantasy points on a 22.8 per game average. The bench probably won't help anytime soon as they posted the lowest total for the week in 65. Despite all this, no moves were made on the wavier wire.

This is possibly because Nick's team experienced the most missed games this week with 13, including Chandler Parsons in the starting lineup. That would explain why the overall point total is low yet nobody has been cut from the team. Parsons, Noel and Smart were noteably missed this week. Getting a victory under those conditions makes it a quality win.

8. Make It Nashty - Danny (0-1)
Week Total: 9
Per Game: 6
Bench Scoring: 10
Injuries: 3
Wavier Additions: 7
Standings: 7
Total: 57

Make It Nashty had a tough loss this week when his team scored 621 points on a rather high clip of 25.9 points per game. Meanwhile, the bench put up a weaker but passable number of 122.

This was all done while missing 8 games this week. Danny's number should only get better with the return of Dirk, Reggie Jackson and Darren Collison. Missing out on this week's wavier wire may
come back to haunt this team but there is always next week. This team has a lot of potential to put up some bigger numbers.

7. Admiral Kryptonite - Gus (1-0)
Week Total: 6
Per Game: 8
Bench Scoring: 7
Injuries: 2
Wavier Additions: 7
Standings: 1
Total: 45

My team got a win (yay!), scoring 688 points on a 25.5 per game average. My bench was middle of the pack with 156 total points. My team missed 9 games and I didn't make a move on the wavier wire.

Overall, a very average performance from a team that I was pretty hyped about. Injuries played a major role in my week so these numbers may change. I am looking forward to the return of Middleton, Richardson and Holiday.

6. Pippin Aint Eazy - Freddy (0-1)
Week Total: 4
Per Game: 3
Bench Scoring: 9
Injuries: 7
Wavier Additions: 7
Standings: 7
Total: 44

Pippen Aint Eazy had a very strong score of 749 fantasy points for the week on a 26.8 per game average. Despite the above average scoring numbers, Freddy's team was hurt by a below-average 149 score off the bench and only 5 missed games to explain the mundane bench total. No waiver wire moves were made and, above all else, Pippen Aint Eazy suffered a heart-breaking loss to Blow Me.

The loss, as I'm sure Freddy knows, is the biggest issue here. This team's numbers show that they can hang with the best around. I expect Freddy to rise in these ranks as he makes moves, shapes his bench, and stacks up some wins.

5. ALl-NBA 5th Team - Matt (1-0)
Week Total: 7
Per Game: 5
Bench Scoring: 6
Injuries: 5
Wavier Additions: 2
Standings: 1
Total: 38

All-NBA 5th Team put out a strong performance this week. Matt's team scored 686 fantasy points on a 26.4 average while his bench posted 157 in a big win over Make It Nashty. Even more impressive is that all of this was done with 6 games missed. Matt also added 21.5 fantasy points per game off of the waiver wire when he exchanged Ivica Zubac for James Ennis.

With strong numbers all around, this was a very promising first week for All-NBA 5th Team. This team has made promising strides to start the season and is showing a lot of potential to go further up the ranks. Matt on the rise!

4. Por Favors - Nathaniel (0-1)
Week Total: 5
Per Game: 3
Bench Scoring: 1
Injuries: 7
Wavier Additions: 6
Standings: 7
Total: 37

Por Favors is the highest ranking team with a loss not only because they put up 724 points on a 26.8 average but also because Nathaniel's bench exploded for 269 points. All these points to go around despite the team missing 5 games due to injury, including Derrick Favors in the starting lineup.

Nathaniel also made a 1.6 fantasy point per game gain in the waiver wire this week. His biggest fault was that he had to play Team Penetration this week but at least that is out of the way now. The deepest team in the league seems to be Por Favors once again.

3. Blow Me - Tyler (1-0)
Week Total: 3
Per Game: 6
Bench Scoring: 2
Injuries: 9
Wavier Additions: 7
Standings: 1
Total: 37

Team Blow Me had the most exciting win of the week, scoring 750 fantasy points on a 25.9 per game average and escaping with a one point victory. Tyler is also armed with a strong bench that hit an extremely high mark of 256 point. This team missed 3 games and no moves were successfully made on the wavier wire.

Tyler seemed to have turned this team around even quicker than expected. The third best starters and the second best bench were on the same team this week. The high quality win and strong numbers all around has this team looking like a contender.

2. Team Penetration - Michael (1-0)
Week Total: 2
Per Game: 2
Bench Scoring: 4
Injuries: 11
Wavier Additions: 5
Standings: 1
Total: 29

Team Penetration put up absurd numbers this week with 890 fantasy points and a 33.0 per game average as they cruised to a comfortable win against a good team. The bench was good, but not elite at 196 fantasy points for the week. Michael also netted 6.3 fantasy points per game through the waiver wire for the week and did not miss any games.

It is clear that the top of this league is between Michael and Chris with contenders trying to emerge around them. Last year, Chris was in a league of his own. This week, it looks like Michael closed that gap. Team Penetration's numbers are very close to the top.

1. Team Nipple - Chris (1-0)
Week Total: 1
Per Game: 1
Bench Scoring: 3
Injuries: 11
Wavier Additions: 4
Standings: 1
Total: 23

Team Nipple sure exerted its this week. 943 points scored on a 33.7 per game average are high bars set by Chris. Even more alarming, his bench was one of the best with 251 total points for the week. Trading in Ty Lawson for TJ Warren gained Team Nipple 11.3 fantasy points per game. In fact, the only thing counting against Chris is that his team didn't miss a game.

This team is scary. Possibly less scary than last year, but scary all the same. The defending champs still look like the team to beat.

2017 Juicy Basketballs League Season Preview (Part 4)

Without further ado, the three spookiest JBL teams of 2017:

What will be the peak of Steph Curry's career?

Pippen Aint Easy (Freddy)

2016 Fantasy Total: 14,671 (3rd)

2016 Regular Season: 8-8 (7th)

2016 Playoffs: First Round

Extended Contracts: Ricky Rubio (1yr, $27), Damien Lillard (3yrs, $27), Stephen Curry (3yrs, $56), Paul George (3yrs, $48), Zach Randolph (1yr, $19), Jonas Valanciunas (2yrs, $19)

Expiring Contracts: Tyreke Evans (FA, $29), Rudy Gay (FA, $48)

Intriguing Players: Wesley Matthews (2yrs, $9), Will Barton (2yrs, $16), Zaza Pachuila (1yr, $17), Dragon Bender (2yrs, $10)

NBA Comparison: San Antonio Spurs

This year, it will be very interesting to see just how important Duncan was to San Antonio's success. Although his fantasy production took a hit during his final season, The Big Fundamental was still the starting center of a 67 win Spurs club. Upon retirement, Tim Duncan has the highest winning percentage of any player across four major sports in last 19 years. No surprise, this coincides with the Spurs being the most dominate regular season team over the same stretch. 

Despite this, Duncan and the Spurs seem to never get the credit they justly deserve. Every year they are counted out and ever year they contend. Despite the blow of Duncan's retirement, This year will be no different. 

Kawhi Leonard is the best wing player in the NBA. LeMarcus Aldridge is likely to grow into the role left behind by Duncan. Danny Green, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili are great supporting cast members that know how to do the most with what they got.

Most importantly, the team has a well-established system and culture of winning that runs from the front office to the court. San Antonio is the best run NBA franchise of the last 20 years and I doubt their stretch of consistency will end any time soon.

Luckily for Freddy, Pippen Aint Easy will not be losing any core pieces this off-season. In fact, Lillard, Curry, and George may just now be hitting their collective peak. Last year, they provided a total of 115.9 fantasy points per game on only $131. It is amazing that Freddy has had these three franchise players since 2013. That is probably why Pippen Aint Easy has more regular season wins than any other JBL franchise, averaging over 11 wins a season. Like the Spurs, Freddy has the most well-established core and culture of winning out of anyone in the game.

Furthermore, similar to San Antonio, Freddy has done a great job of using his cap space to consistently put out a strong supporting cast around his Big Three. Guys like Rubio, Valanciunas, Evans, and Rudy Gay certainly give Pippen Aint Easy a lot of extra pop. 

It was unfortunate luck that this team finished third in fantasy points on the season while only winning eight regular season matches last year. That peculiarity will likely not be repeated next season. I believe this is the team that has the best shot of crashing the Michael/Chris rematch party and sending someone home earlier than they expected.

This team should definitely average over 900 fantasy points per week once again. Following that, Pippen Aint Easy should have their eyes set on the JBL finals.

Team Penetration (Michael)

Is Anthony Davis a generational player?

2016 Fantasy Total: 15,545 (2nd)

2016 Regular Season: 12-4 (2nd)

2016 Playoffs: Finals

Extended Contracts: James Harden (3yrs, $88), Anthony Davis (3yrs, $68), DeMarcus Cousins (3yrs, $85)

Expiring Contracts: Thaddeus Young (E, $12)

Intriguing Players: CJ McMollum (1yr, $0), Jordan Clarkson (1yr, $14), Justice Winslow (2yrs, $11), Dion Waiters (2yrs, $0), Nikola Jokic (2yrs, $3), Alex Len (2yrs, $7), Jae Crowder (2yrs, $12),

NBA Comparison: Cleveland Cavaliers

Last June, the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off possibly the most incredible finals performance in last decade. LeBron displayed that he still has a level of play higher than anybody else on the planet and the Cavs proved themselves to be the best team in the NBA. They also proved that NBA is much more competitive than many may expect. 

Yes, there are some superfluous franchises but there is much more unpredictability than our collective memory gives credit for. Every year it seems like it is all so obvious. Every year we are surprised. LeBron James is the embodiment of that truth. His most recent championship surprised us all yet also reminded us of something we already knew: It ain't over until its over.

Down 3-1 and going against the best regular season team of all time, LeBron James cemented himself as one of the greats by doing the impossible. Somehow he was David going against Goliath and he showed the entire world that he was Goliath all along. Oddly enough, he has another opportunity to prove that point again this year. 

Armed with LBJ and his current Big Three, the Cavs are likely to dominate the Eastern Conference once again and strike fear into whoever they face in the NBA finals. In fact, as overpowered as the Warriors look, it is the Cavs who are most likely team to be in the finals next year. Not only because they are in the weaker conference but because they will be dealing with less significant turnover and the chemistry issues that usually come with it.

LeBron James' finals sreak is the only of its kind in the last 50 years. At this point, it is as predictable as spring itself to see LeBron playing through it. 

Much like LeBron, Michael has been to the finals for the last three years. Because of that, Team Penetration now stands alone as JBL leader of finals appearances. Michael has a good chance of building on that record as Team Penetration's elite core and reliable supporting cast continue to grow. Winslow, Jokic and Len are all likely to take steps forward this year while Harden, Davis and Cousins continue to be the best fantasy contributors for their respective positions and provide top five fantasy value apiece. 

With strong moves made every year, the work for this team has already been done. Though I doubt Michael is ready to take any breaks. He has been able to add value to his team every year, there is no reason to think that will stop now. Adding guys like McCollum and Jokic last year are the kinds of things we can come to expect from Team Penetration.

The backbone of any fantasy team is their core of extended players. Because you cannot drop them, they are what your team is about. For Michael, that core is his Big Three. This gives Team Penetration just about the best backbone any franchise could ask for.

With additions like McCollum and Clarkson and few tough decisions to make, Michael's squad is only getting better and has more than a punchers chance at adding to the ring collection.

I believe Michael has built a perennial contender and 950 fantasy points per week is basically inevitable. A finals appearance is more than likely with plenty of possibility for more. 

What history will be made this year?

Team Nipple (Chris)

2016 Fantasy Total: 17,216 (1st)

2016 Regular Season: 15-1 (1st)

2016 Playoffs: Champions

Extended Contracts: Jimmy Butler (2yrs, $19), Andre Drummond (2yrs, $23)

Expiring Contracts: Russell Westbrook (FA, $60), Giannis Antetokounmpo (FA, $3), Paul Millsap (FA, $36), Jeff Teague (E, $15), Tobias Harris (E, $18)

Intriguing Players: Kevin Durant (1yr, $85), Mike Conely (2yrs, $11), Marcin Gortat (1yr, $23)

NBA Comparison: Golden State Warriors

With Kevin Durant joining Golden State, the Warriors display the largest NBA talent disparity in decades. Despite losing in the finals, the Warriors are the odds on favorite to win the championship come 2017. Last year, they were the greatest regular season team ever and now have a new top three NBA talent on their roster. 60 wins and a finals appearance are almost guaranteed at this point.

However, there are more than a few pitfalls surrounding Golden State. History has shown that chemistry is more than just a buzzword in the NBA. LeBron's first year in Miami and Dwight's time with the Lakers have proven that. Growing pains should be expected.

Steph Curry and Kevin Durant will have to answer the alpha male question that Dwyane Wade understood and Dwight Howard did not. In addition to this, there will be the difficult puzzles of maximizing Klay Thompson and Draymond Green as well as knowing who gets the ball when the game is close. Furthermore, with their struggles in the playoffs, Golden State was exposed as fallible. Their weaknesses are now public knowledge.

Ultimately, Steve Kerr's squad in Oakland is in the driver seat to take the crown this year but I'm not so sure I'd take them over the field. Although Durant is an obvious upgrade in Golden State, I suspect the record-breaking days of the Warriors to be behind them.

Chris dominated the JBL last year. During the regular season he averaged 1,076 fantasy points a week, breaking the previous JBL regular season record of 1,046 fantasy points per week. Dropping over a thousand points in a week of JBL basketball is very uncommon and usually marks the highest score of the week. Last year, Team Nipple topped that score 13 out of the 16 regular season weeks, leading to the best regular season record in JBL history. 

The postseason was no different, as Chris put up 2,322 fantasy points per playoff series on his way to a title.

Despite this, to assume that Team Nipple is going to have an easy road to another championship is jumping conclusions. Like with any team, there are weaknesses if you are willing to look. 

The advantages are obvious: Butler, Drummond and Giannis are all on ridiculous contracts and entering their primes, Durant and Westbrook are top five fantasy contributors and Conely is the steal of the late season wavier wire at $11.

However, with a plethora of expiring contracts this off-season, money has gotten tight. Chris will have to make some tough decisions and he is most likely going to see more than one good contract go. Already, Julius Randle has been lost in Restricted Free Agency. On top of that, Team Nipple has less cap space than most of the league, meaning the upcoming Auction Draft will not be Chris' to win.

Last year, Chris separated himself from the heard in a big way. This year, I think that separation diminishes as team around him get better. Ultimately, I think Chris has a potential dynasty on his hands but I suspect that even if he does, his most dominate year is behind him.

I expect Team Nipple to average over 1,000 fantasy points per week once again this season, though this time I think it will be closer to 1,000 than 1,100 like it was last year. Odds are that Team Nipple will win the regular season and return to the finals. The defending champions are the still the team to beat.

2017 Juicy Basketballs League Season Preview (Part 3)

MAMA Said Knock You Out (Rich Mamaradlo)

Can Chris Paul lead a team to the finals?

2016 Fantasy Total: 13,065 (9th)

2016 Regular Season: 9-7 (T-4th)

2016 Playoffs: First Round

Extended Contracts: Klay Thompson (3yrs, $34)

Expiring Contracts: Gordon Hayward (FA, $40), Aaron Afflalo (FA, $4)

Intriguing Players: Al Horford (2yrs, $40), Stanley Johnson (1yr, $10), Zach LaVine (1yr, $1), Chris Paul (1yr, $78), Jared Sullinger (2yrs, $8), Jaylen Brown (2yrs, $10), Jamaal Murray (2yrs, $10)

NBA Comparison: Toronto Raptors

The Raptors made franchise history last year by making it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time ever. That may come as a surprise considering the franchise once had Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady near their primes at the same time. All this goes to show how much the DeRozan-Lowry era has accomplished. The franchise has made so much ground lately that their GM, Masai Ujiri got a large contract extension this off-season. 

The east is still run by Lebron and the Cavs but Toronto remains their top contender in an ever-strengthening Eastern Conference. Toronto was able to take Cleveland to six games last year but it is the longevity of the Raptors that make them so compelling. Lowry and Carroll are the eldest at 30 while their teammates are still hitting their primes. LeBron's most dominate years are likely behind him but the Raptors are trending up. A currently good squad with promise to get better is just about all anyone can hope for from their franchise.

In the Juicy Basketball League, there is a lot to like about the squad that Rich has assembled. Stanley Johnson is expected to take a step forward and may even overtake the starting small forward position in Detroit. Zach LaVine has become a NBA starter on what many believe to be a playoff contender. Klay Thompson is, at the very least, a premium shooting guard on one of the best contracts around. Gordon Hayward, Al Horford, and Chris Paul are all top-tier fantasy contributors for their positions. MAMA Said Knock You Out has a great blend of value, youth, and elite talent. All the money has been spent efficiently giving plenty of opportunity for further growth.

This off-season, Rich could go a lot of different ways with his team. I am interested to see how he handles Hayward's extension. Keeping Chris Paul at such a large price may be just as difficult a decision to make. These are the choices that define a franchise.

Maybe Rich decides to run it back with what he's got. There would still be enough money to gather more quality guys in the auction draft if he did. Maybe he decides to let the expensive guys go and build around all his value players and his exciting new rookies. Either way, this team is sure to perform and I expect to see Rich MAMA in the playoffs once again. This team should put out over 825 fantasy points per week this coming fantasy season.

Is Derrick Favors about to hit his prime?

Por Favors (Nathaniel Coromelas)

2016 Fantasy Total: 14,399 (5th)

2016 Regular Season: 9-7 (T-4th)

2016 Playoffs: Second Round

Extended Contracts: Derrick Favors (3yrs, $25)

Expiring Contracts: Isaiah Thomas (FA, $7), Aaron Gordon (R, $10), Dante Exum (R, $10)

Intriguing Players: Draymond Green (1yr, $1), Kyrie Irving (2yrs, $60), Kristaps Porzingis (1yr, $10), Carmelo Anthony (2yrs, $69), Rudy Gobert (1yr, $12)

NBA Comparison: Boston Celtics

Boston's first world problem right now seems to be that they have more good pieces than they know what to do with. They have been hoarding assets as much as possible and now have enough quality role players to start a second D-league team. The unfortunate issue is that even with all this apparent value, they are missing that next-level superstar to elevate the team to contend with the league's best. Horford certainly helps in that regard but he and Isaiah Thomas still feel like good second and third options for Boston's next great Big Three. The Celtics have assembled all they can but are still missing that final puzzle piece, a franchise player.

One of the most commons trades that occur in both fantasy sports and the NBA is when one great player is given up for several quality assets. Like exchanging a dollar for four quarters, the former provides consolidated value while the latter gives increased flexibility. Two example from the NBA are when Pau Gasol went from Memphis to the Lakers for Marc Gasol and the cap space to sign Zach Randolph and when the Nuggets got the Knicks' starting lineup for Carmelo Anthony. Often, these types of trades can be mutually beneficial depending of the needs or directions of the teams involved. 

 

The Celtics have put themselves in prime position to receive a superstar in a similar kind of trade. Had this Boston team existed when OKC traded James Harden, they could have offered much more than the Rockets gave up. Instead, the Celtic must continue to wait patiently until a star becomes available.

Much like the Celtics, Por Favors is a team that has plenty of quarters and Nathaniel is simply waiting for his chance to land a few more bills. If that happens, I see Por Favors blossoming into an electric title contender. And with only Derrick Favors on the extended books, Nate Dogg has the flexibility to mold his team around any good move that presents itself.

Gordon and Porzingis are two very intriguing young players with All-Star potential. Irving and Carmelo are both top fantasy contributors. The ever-mysterious Dante Exum still has upside on a value contract. Meanwhile, Favors, Green, and Gorbert are all of the above. 

All of this leads me to believe that even if no exciting roster changes are made, Por Favors should be expected to take a step forward from last season. Much like the Celtics, Por Favors is prime to contend with out without a move.

Nathaniel has done a great job of developing this team in a truly healthy way. He has done this by collecting several value contracts. It will be exciting to see what he has in store this upcoming season.

Last year was Nathaniel's first trip to the second round, I suspect that was only the beginning. This campaign, I expect 900+ fantasy points per week during the regular season and another playoff berth.

Blow Me (Tyler Lopez)

How many stars does a true contender need?

2016 Fantasy Total: 12,274 (11th)

2016 Regular Season: 3-13 (12th)

2016 Playoffs: None

Extended Contracts: Blake Griffin (3yrs, $74), Kawhi Leonard (3yrs, $29)

Expiring Contracts: Bradley Beal (FA, $1), DeAndre Jordan (FA, $5), Marc Gasol (FA, $56)

Intriguing Players: Marcus Morris (2yrs, $2), Jeremy Lin (2yrs, $15), Chris Bosh (2yrs, $39), Ben Simmons (2yrs, $10), Eric Gordon (2yrs, $0)

NBA Comparison: Los Angeles Clippers

For the last few years the Clippers have been elite contenders in the Western Conference. The product of basketball that they put on the floor is top of the line. They sport the best pure point guard, the best rim protector, and one of the top offensive big men in the league. This core is only highlighted with veteran depth and an experienced coach. Unfortunately, their promising season was dashed by a slew of injuries.

  

With the Thunder presumably out of their way, the Clippers are one of the top contenders to Golden State's western throne. We are about to have a long season ahead of us. A lot of things can happen but one thing is certain, Chris Paul and the Clippers can only be fueled by Durant's move to Oakland.

If last June has taught us anything it is that the unexpected can happen even on the NBA's biggest stage. 

That truth is only magnified in fantasy sports.

The team delightfully known as Blow Me went through the worst year of injury luck any team has ever suffered in this league. Chris Bosh, Marc Gasol, and Blake Griffin missed a combined 106 games causing Brett Hoxie's team to lose about 160 fantasy points per week. 

That's the difference between ending up eleventh and third in fantasy production for the year. It is safe to say that those injuries cost Brett about seven wins last year.

Clearly, this squad is far better than what last year's record shows. The franchise had been in decent shape for the past few years and Michael drafted really well for the team last auction draft. 

Brett inherited a good team and made strong decisions all seasons. The unfortunate truth is sometimes you just get unlucky.

Oddly enough, all of Brett's misfortune developed into Tyler's fortune when Blow Me landed the top overall pick in this year's rookie draft.

I am confident that Ben Simmons will be a fantasy difference maker. Getting a top tier rookie like him is one of the best ways to kick a fantasy team into a higher gear. Tyler's situation gives me flashbacks to how the Spurs got to draft Tim Duncan the one year that David Robinson happened to miss a lot of games the prior season. The Spurs followed that with a twenty year dynasty of winning.

With quality superstars like Griffin, Leonard, and the newly arrived DeAndre Jordan, Tyler already had everything he needed to contend for a playoff spot. With Simmons and an excess of cap room, he could win multiple playoff games this year.

Tyler is a proven owner and I expect him to bring a stability to this team that the franchise has always been missing. He is a good craftsmen with good tools at his disposal. At the very least, I expect team Blow Me to post around 900 points a week in the regular season and follow that with a playoff win.

2017 Juicy Basketballs League Season Preview (Part 2)

Rim Jobs (Jonathan Montgomery)

How bright is the future in Lakerland?

2016 Fantasy Total: 10,998 (12th)

2016 Regular Season: 4-12 (11th)

2016 Playoffs: None

Extended Contracts: Kemba Walker (2yrs, $29), Kevin Love (1yr, $73)

Expiring Contracts: Elfrid Payton (R, $10)

Intriguing Players: Victor Oladipo (2yrs, $25), D'Angelo Russell (1yr, $10), Derrick Rose (2yrs, $20), Brandon Ingram (2yrs, $10), Kris Dunn (2yrs, $10)

NBA Comparison: Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia has been rebuilding for some time now and it looks like this is the year where things will finally start to change. Expectations should be higher but how high is still somewhat of a mystery.

They've collected nice, young talent for the last few years. Covington, Noel and Okafor have proven to be good NBA players. Despite that, it is their newest addition, Simmons, who seems to be their franchise player. If he is what they expect him to be, they can finally start to move forward.

Philly will most likely miss the playoffs this year but their fan base is going to want to see an uptick in the wins column for years to come. The playoffs should be a fair goal within the next few seasons.

Oddly enough, their biggest issue now seems to be that they have a lot of redundant talent. Embiid, Noel and Okafor all play center primarily and Simmons' favorite position is only one spot down at the power forward. This put the Sixers in a position where they can no longer turtle up with lottery picks. They must now be proactive and creative.

The franchise that Monty has inherited has preformed the worst in our league's history thus far. Across the four completed seasons, this team has averaged over 12 losses a year and has never made the playoffs. 

Fortunately, through the turmoil, nice assets have been collected. Payton can be expected to be a starter for the next few years. Russell is in the running to be the face of the Lakers franchise. Walker and Oladipo are legitimate studs and have two of the best value contracts in the JBL. With the recent addition of rookies Brandon Ingram and Kris Dunn, each dancing with starters minutes right off the bat, Monty might have the most intriguing collection out of all of us.

It has been a long, bumpy road but after four seasons of rebuilding, it looks like the flowers are starting to bloom for team Rim Jobs.

Monty is a smart guy and has shown that he can put together a contender quickly. On top of that, his new team has assets out the wazoo. When good poker players get good hands, good things usually happen.

Much like the Sixers, I think this is the year that the franchise starts trending up. Monty just has to figure out how to fix his similar issue of having too many studs at the same position. Only for him, it will be point guards that he will be dealing with.

Ultimately, it all depends on what strategy Monty decides to implement but at the very least I expect this team to be respectable and growing in the right direction. I'm very interested to see how it all shakes out. Regardless, with the most cap space in the league this team has the most boom potential. I expect at least 800 fantasy points per week this coming season.

Is DeRozan a superstar?

Make It Nashty (Danny Leong)

2016 Fantasy Total: 13,917 (6th)

2016 Regular Season: 7-9 (8th)

2016 Playoffs: First Round

Extended Contracts: DeMar DeRozan (2yrs, $19), Eric Bledsoe (2yrs, $24)

Expiring Contracts: Deron Williams (FA, $41), Reggie Jackson (FA, $1), Jordan Hill (FA, $1), Dwight Howard (FA, $63)

Intriguing Players: Rajon Rondo (2yrs, $8), Robert Covington (1yr, $0), Al-Farouq Aminu (2yrs, $3), Taureen Prince (2yrs, $0)

NBA Comparison: Portland Trailblazers

The Blazers surprised a lot of people last season. Just a year ago, they lost three starters in LeMarcus Alderige, Wesley Matthews, and Nicolas Batum. The team truly became Damien Lillard's and, with the help of the emergence of a few teammates, the team excelled. Portland finished 5^th in the the tougher conference and even won a playoff series. Plumlee, Aminu, and Crabbe stepped up, McCollum erupted, and Lillard cemented himself as a top tier NBA player. 

Despite all this, Portland still remains a unpopular free agent destination. Putting the Trailblazers in the position of paying more for a baller would who have played for less elsewhere. Unfortunate as they may be, I believe the Blazers improved once again this off-season. Guys like Evan Turner and Festus Ezeli may be overpaid in the eyes of many but it cannot be denied that they are improvements on the roster. Because of all this, Portland will once again be the wild card of the western conference.
 

In the four seasons of the Juicy Basketball dynasty league, Danny's franchise has never missed the playoffs. Danny took on this team just two years ago and already has a playoff win. Looking at the roster, it is easy to see why. There are a lot of valuable contracts here, two of the most valuable being the extended contracts. 

Since extended contracts are the most important contracts, Danny has one of the healthiest salary distributions of us all.
 

Despite his injury concerns, I like Eric Bledsoe at 2 years for $24. It's a short and sweet contract for an elite player that should just about cover his prime. Even more though, I love the deal with DeMar DeRozan. I have a weakness for elite wing players. Much like with running backs in fantasy football, because it is the scarcest position, it is the most valuable to lock down. Because we have $300 to spend on 15 player, we can spend $20 on an average rosterable player. Last year, DeRozan was the second highest scoring shooting guard, behind only James Harden. A guy like that for $19 is an absolute steal.
  

Despite how bad Chicago may be, Rondo should continue to put up good fantasy stats. Robert Covington remains a starter with an new, elite distributor playing next to him. And Dwight Howard has the potential to have his best year since his days in Orlando. 

Much like the Blazers, Danny seems to be attracted to those guys that everybody else is sleeping on. So far, it has paid dividend to him as it has in Portland. This team has a strong enough core to fight for the playoffs once again and put up north of 800 fantasy points per week.

Balls to the Wall (Brett Lakey)

Can John Wall be the best player on a championship team?

2016 Fantasy Total: 13,721 (7th)

2016 Regular Season: 9-7 (T-4th)

2016 Playoffs: First Round

Extended Contracts: Kyle Lowry (3yrs, $42), John Wall (2yrs, $40), Kenneth Faried (1yr, $19), Serge Ibaka (1yr, $63)

Expiring Contracts: Nicolas Batum (E, $16), Doug McDermott (R, $10)

Intriguing Players: Otto Porter Jr. (2yrs, $16), LaMarcus Aldridge (2yrs, $64), Robin Lopez (1yr, $5), Michael Carter-Williams (2yrs, $16), Darren Collison (2yrs, $3), Nikola Mirotic (1yr, $11)

NBA Comparison: Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks continue to be one of the most compelling teams in the Eastern Conference. LeBron James has made 6 straight finals appearances and he is favored to make that 7 this year. Since the days of Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, Atlanta has been in the discussion as possible team to dethrone James. With the signing of Dwight Howard and the emergence of Dennis Schroder, I believe Atlanta has never had a better chance of reaching the finals. 

There is a lot to dislike about Dwight Howard but his return to the east has really been understated. In his last two years in Orlando, he went to the Eastern Conference Finals or further. Even if his talent has dropped off some since, Atlanta is probably the best team he has ever played for. 

Millsap continues to be the most underrated post player in the league. Schroder has eventual All-Star potential. And most importantly, the Hawks have been one of the most well-run front offices around. They should only continue to get better as time goes on.
 

Brett took over this team just last year and has immediately taken Balls to the Wall in a strong direction. In his first year, he finished 3 spots higher than the franchise had ever finished before. This newfound prosperity should continue since Brett's extended contracts are all elite players on reasonable contracts. 

The best thing a fantasy owner can hope for is a small collection of all-stars and Brett has gathered his while maintaining enough cap space to surround them with a strong supporting cast. Otto Porter Jr. is on a value contract. Mirotic is a lock to start in Chicago. Aldridge is a top tier post player. 

There is a lot to like here. Just like the Hawks, Brett has established himself as a contender to fight at that next level. I would not be surprised if he gets his first playoff win this season.

Atlanta has been making some daring moves and they have been paying off. Similarly, I have seen Brett's willingness to strike when he knows a good move can be made. I expect him to continue that this coming season. If the opportunity is there, I believe Brett will find a way to add another all-star to his collection. 

If that happens, I can see Balls to the Wall elevating beyond that plateau and becoming a true finals contender. Either way, I expect this team to put up no less than 850 fantasy points per week.

2017 Juicy Basketballs League Season Preview (Part 1)

Who will be top fantasy dog this year?

I feel like our league has sure gotten interesting. Before we go any further, here is a quick look at what each team did in the regular season last year:

How much will this change next year?

The NBA was founded in 1946 and was initially known as the BAA. It didn't really resemble what we know as the NBA today until after its merger with the ABA in 1977 which bumped the league to 22 teams. Many consider that to be the beginning of the “modern NBA” (Though the 3 point line didn't even show up for another two years). So for the first 30 years or so, the NBA was kinda weird. 

I think it all counts of course but its impossible to ignore how different things were back then. Things on the court have changed but, even more, the business side has grown a great deal.  The ways players are drafted, traded and signed have evolved to form a fun game that we like to play.

I love comparing our league to the NBA because I think that was always the ultimate goal of fantasy sports. We all want the experience of running an NBA franchise. And like the NBA, our league has gone through some weird beginnings.

Looking back on the past 4 years, it is noticeable in how we played the game. In our first season, almost everyone was trying to win that very year. Nobody wanted to trade for a guy that produced significantly less fantasy points just because of their “potential”. We saw first round picks flying around like crazy. Eric Gordon got picked up for over $100 dollars. Every franchise was in win-now mode.

That was just naturally going to happen in the inaugural season. The 50s NBA didn't have teams intentionally tanking like we see today. 

The rules changed and the intentions of the franchises changed so the way to play the game was changed.

Here are some things at play for the JBL this year that are brand new:

Extended Contracts. We have a lot of these floating around now. Since they cannot be dropped without penalty, they define the teams that hold them.

Restricted Free Agency. Our first RFA was last year and it was a weak draft. I feel like that was almost a practice round of what the real RFA will be like.

Talent Disparity. We have some strong teams at the top like never before and that makes it difficult for the rest of the league to keep up in the conventional sense. Owners will have to be creative in their strategies, spawning more ways to play this game we all love.

For these reasons, I have a feeling that 2017 will be for the JBL what 1977 was for the NBA: the dawning of the modern era.

So with the modern era upon us, I figured we could use a season preview. Here are my thought on each team in our league, which NBA franchise matches their narrative, and why I think so. This is week one of a four part series, enjoy!

–

TimAin't Duncan (Nick Coromelas)

Can Noel be a franchise player?

2016 Fantasy Total: 12,285 (10th)

2016 Regular Season: 5-11 (T-9th)

2016 Playoffs: None

Extended Contracts: Jrue Holiday (1yr, $29), Chandler Parsons (3yrs, $29), Luol Deng (1yr, $27), Nikola Vucevic (3yrs, $28)

Expiring Contracts: Nerlens Noel (FA, $22)

Intriguing Players: Marcus Smart (2yrs, $11), Brandon Knight (1yr, $42), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (1yr, $7)

NBA Comparison: Phoenix Suns

The Suns have been in a weird spot ever since they traded away Steve Nash. In the four seasons since doing so, they have averaged 36 wins a year. That sounds bad but there has actually been some highlights. Just two years ago, Phoenix surprised everyone by winning 48 games and contending for a playoff spot. That was the year where they decided to play two point guards and surround them with shooters, something that has become somewhat of a fad in the NBA as of late. It was also the year their coach finished second for COTY. It is uncommon for a team that is supposed to be rebuilding to accomplishes so much.

Now, Phoenix seems to be in a tough spot of deciding which direction to go. On one hand, they still have guys like Bledsoe, Knight, and Chandler who are ready to help a team now; on the other hand, they have guys like Booker and Len who have shown promise but probably will not be their best for a few more years. 

 

I suspect that this will be the year where the Suns fully embrace the rebuild and go with their young guys. Knight will probably be shipped off. Bledsoe may be traded as well. Meanwhile, they will likely try to cultivate their younger core. 

 

Because of this, Phoenix has been a team that has had my attention for some time now. Clearly this is a franchise that wants to succeed. Unfortunately, it seems like their best option may be to get worse before they get better. Personally, I'm pretty excited to see what these baby Suns have got. They have a lot of exciting talent and I they are headed in the right direction.

In the JBL, Andrew Baron-Vartian liked to trade away his first rounders. The only first rounder he ever used was in 2013 when he picked Trey Burke at #4 and subsequently traded him away for J.R. Smith that same summer. Clearly, Nick inherited a team where future-minded assets were not emphasized. There is nothing wrong with that but it has made it all the harder for Nick to cultivate his own rebuild.

Being a new owner is extremely difficult. Rich had a tough first season as well before coming on as contender over the last couple years. It takes time for the team to become your own.

Therefore, I expect this season to be the season where Nick takes a few large steps in the right direction as the team starts to become his. He has a lot of cap space, he has young players on good contracts, and he finally has some draft picks to work with as well. Maybe his record won't be picture perfect but I do think there is a lot to be optimistic about here. 

 

Nick's extended contracts are all short and small. I see them as all being highly tradeable or keepable. That offers Nick more flexibility than most. Meanwhile, guys like Noel, Smart, and Caldwell-Pope are still emerging and may still have their best years ahead of them. It it always nice to have guys like that.

 

Chris proved that it can take as little as one season to rebuild any team into a contender (In 2014, he finished with a record of 3-13. In the two years since, he has won 27 regular season games). I believe Nick is in a prime position to make some proactive moves, making him one of the most dangerous teams in the league this year. Progress will be made, I predict this team will average 750 fantasy points per week.

All-NBA 5^th Team (Matt Wong)

How much is LeBron worth?

2016 Fantasy Total: 13,315 (8th)

2016 Regular Season: 5-11 (T-9th)

2016 Playoffs: None

Extended Contracts: None

Expiring Contracts: Trevor Ariza (FA, $1)

Intriguing Players: Dennis Schroder (2yrs, $1), Ryan Anderson (2yrs, $11), Hassan Whiteside (2yrs, $46), LeBron James (2yrs, $99), Dwayne Wade (2yrs, $20)

NBA Comparison: New York Knicks

The Knicks have always been crapped on for making bad moves but I like what they have done this off-season. I think they have a shot at making the playoffs next year and I think that's all the fan-base really wants anymore. Deep down, the smart thing for the Knicks to do would probably be to trade Carmelo to a team like Boston and start fresh with Porzingis and the nice pieces they got for Melo. But that would never happen because Carmelo likes playing for New York and New York is ultimately happy to have him (even if he couldn't single-handedly will them to the level of success everyone might have hoped for).

I believe Matt is facing a similar decision that the Knicks recently had to make: build around the current core or do a soft reboot. I believe Matt has the most intriguing keeper decisions to make this fall because I can see a strong argument for two opposite directions. He could use his excess cap space to pick up a star or two to support LeBron or he could let LeBron's big contract go and focus on building around the likes of Schroder and Whiteside. 

 

Matt has a unique advantage of having no extended contracts on his books. That gives him the flexibility to go in any direction he pleases. He could drop all his players today and start fresh this Auction Draft if he fancied. 

 

Schroder and Whiteside are on great value contracts. Focusing on them as a core could pay hefty dividends down the road. 

 

But superstars are hard to come by, even in fantasy sports. LeBron James is the biggest superstar of all and this is the smallest contract he has ever been on. Every owner in the league would like to have him on their team. Even with the biggest contract in the league, he still holds value. This will be a big decision for the future of Matt's team with two paths that lead very different directions. Both can lead to success if followed correctly. All I know is that I'm glad I'm not the one deciding. 

 

Predicting this team's production this upcoming season depends on this one stipulation. With LeBron, this team can put up over 825 fantasy points a week. Without LeBron, I expect closer to 775.