Chris' Draft Results For The RCL

Before I get into draft stuff, I wanted to give everyone a head’s up that Steve Nash has a boo-boo and is likely to miss four or so weeks. More news as it develops. Now on to draft stuff…

Due to some last minute procrastinators (I can relate!), I ended up commishing two of the Razzball Commenter Leagues, both of which drafted last week. What you will see here is a list of players that went for more than $10, as well as my team. Both times I went after a top three player (read: Chris Paul), so it really goofed up my draft strategy of spreading money around. I’m satisfied with my teams, but I did miss out on some prime mid-round players because of that. Sometimes I don’t follow my own advice.

As you may or may not know, the “pick” is just when the player was nominated. Sometimes there is a strategy for not nominating the best players first, especially if there are a few autodrafters in your league that are going to drive up prices. You may as well have them tank their budgets on third tier guys.

League: Kissing Cousins

Pick / Player / Cost / Team

1. LeBron James (Mia – SF,PF) $82 DerrickSexualFavors
3. Kevin Durant (OKC – SF) $81 Al & the Jeffersons
4. Chris Paul (LAC – PG) $74 Gasol Brothers Inc
6. Russell Westbrook (OKC – PG) $64 The Thrilladelphians
8. Dwyane Wade (Mia – PG,SG) $64 Knicks Bricks
10. Al Jefferson (Uta – PF,C) $61 The Highs and Lowrys
2. Kevin Love (Min – PF,C) $60 NotsoSneakyNinja
5. Josh Smith (Atl – SF,PF) $54 DerrickSexualFavors
7. Deron Williams (Bkn – PG) $54 The Thrilladelphians
11. Andrew Bynum (Phi – C) $53 Book It!
26. Dirk Nowitzki (Dal – PF) $53 NotsoSneakyNinja
12. LaMarcus Aldridge (Por – PF,C) $52 Jackie Moon
15. Dwight Howard (LAL – C) $49 BomSquad
16. Kobe Bryant (LAL – SG) $48 Jackie Moon
18. Marc Gasol (Mem – C) $45 Gasol Brothers Inc
9. James Harden (Hou – SG,SF) $45 Knicks Bricks
13. Kyrie Irving (Cle – PG) $45 Book It!
17. Ty Lawson (Den – PG) $42 Manifest Destiny
21. DeMarcus Cousins (Sac – PF,C) $41 DerrickSexualFavors
14. Pau Gasol (LAL – PF,C) $41 Gasol Brothers Inc
20. Serge Ibaka (OKC – PF,C) $40 NotsoSneakyNinja
24. Al Horford (Atl – PF,C) $40 Jackie Moon
28. Danny Granger (Ind – SF,PF) $39 The Highs and Lowrys
19. Carmelo Anthony (NY – SF,PF) $39 The Highs and Lowrys
22. Paul Millsap (Uta – PF) $38 NotsoSneakyNinja
25. Brandon Jennings (Mil – PG) $36 The Highs and Lowrys
36. Goran Dragic (Pho – PG) $36 Manifest Destiny
30. Mike Conley (Mem – PG) $35 The Thrilladelphians
37. Nicolas Batum (Por – SG,SF) $35 Donna’s mate
31. Paul Pierce (Bos – SF) $33 The Thrilladelphians
40. Paul George (Ind – SG,SF) $31 BomSquad
29. Kyle Lowry (Tor – PG) $31 BomSquad
34. Rudy Gay (Mem – SF,PF) $31 BomSquad
52. Anthony Davis (NO – PF) $29 Knicks Bricks
42. Marcus Thornton (Sac – SG) $27 Manifest Destiny
48. Marcin Gortat (Pho – C) $27 Al & the Jeffersons
35. John Wall (Was – PG) $27 Manifest Destiny
43. Rajon Rondo (Bos – PG) $27 Book It!
39. Andre Iguodala (Den – SG,SF) $27 Al & the Jeffersons
23. Ryan Anderson (NO – PF,C) $26 Book It!
32. Kevin Garnett (Bos – PF,C) $26 BomSquad
44. David Lee (GS – PF,C) $24 Al & the Jeffersons
38. Blake Griffin (LAC – PF,C) $24 Book It!
46. Greg Monroe (Det – C) $24 BomSquad
41. Eric Gordon (NO – SG) $23 Manifest Destiny
33. Amar’e Stoudemire (NY – PF,C) $21 Manifest Destiny
45. Monta Ellis (Mil – PG,SG) $21 Donna’s mate
27. Stephen Curry (GS – PG) $20 Donna’s mate
47. Steve Nash (LAL – PG) $19 Al & the Jeffersons
49. Joe Johnson (Bkn – SG,SF) $19 Gasol Brothers Inc
51. Chris Bosh (Mia – PF,C) $18 Knicks Bricks
67. Jrue Holiday (Phi – PG) $17 Donna’s mate
53. Roy Hibbert (Ind – C) $16 Donna’s mate
54. Gerald Wallace (Bkn – SF,PF) $16 The Highs and Lowrys
71. Damian Lillard (Por – PG) $14 Jackie Moon
50. Jeremy Lin (Hou – PG) $13 Manifest Destiny
79. Kenneth Faried (Den – PF) $12 Donna’s mate
60. Danilo Gallinari (Den – SF) $11 Donna’s mate
57. Joakim Noah (Chi – PF,C) $11 Donna’s mate
55. Manu Ginobili (SA – SG,SF) $11 Al & the Jeffersons
69. Brook Lopez (Bkn – C) $11 Donna’s mate
64. Tony Parker (SA – PG) $11 Jackie Moon
62. Klay Thompson (GS – SG,SF) $10 Jackie Moon

(Autodrafters: Not So Sneaky Ninja, The Thrilladelphians, Bomsquad, Al & the Jeffersons, Manifest Destiny, The Highs & Lowrys)

My draft ($200 budget) went as follows:

1. (4) Chris Paul (LAC – PG) $74
2. (14) Pau Gasol (LAL – PF,C) $41
3. (18) Marc Gasol (Mem – C) $45
4. (49) Joe Johnson (Bkn – SG,SF) $19
5. (73) Kris Humphries (Bkn – PF) $8
6. (74) Luol Deng (Chi – SF) $6
7. (86) DeMar DeRozan (Tor – SG,SF) $1
8. (109) Jose Calderon (Tor – PG) $1
9. (119) Harrison Barnes (GS – SF) $1
10. (128) Jonas Valanciunas (Tor – C) $1
11. (137) Antawn Jamison (LAL – PF) $1
12. (144) Jordan Crawford (Was – PG,SG) $1
13. (150) Ramon Sessions (Cha – PG,SG) $1
Unused $0

Thoughts: My budget went towards Chris Paul & the Gasols, my favorite do-wop group. I didn’t really intend to do that going into the draft, but on the other hand I have Chris Paul and both Gasol brothers, so I’ll take it. Considering seven of my players went for $1, I think I did alright. Clearly, the autodrafters raised the value of every player, and that was one reason I felt the need to jump in early.

League: Anthony Davis Bidding War

Pick / Player / Cost / Team

6. LeBron James (Mia – SF,PF) $83 TBD
12. Kevin Durant (OKC – SF) $82 Grit and Grind
10. Chris Paul (LAC – PG) $76 Mark Cuban Sandwich
9. Dwight Howard (LAL – C) $56 Boom Dizzle
18. Russell Westbrook (OKC – PG) $54 Alex Kirk is Stacked
15. Al Jefferson (Uta – PF,C) $54 Serving Somebody
2. Kevin Love (Min – PF,C) $53 Serving Somebody
14. Dwyane Wade (Mia – PG,SG) $50 ShootMeOrSaluteMe
24. Kyrie Irving (Cle – PG) $48 JB Time
8. James Harden (Hou – SG,SF) $47 JB Time
22. Deron Williams (Bkn – PG) $46 Triple Double D’s
26. Josh Smith (Atl – SF,PF) $46 Mo Williams Mo probs
136. Harrison Barnes (GS – SF) $43 TBD
13. Kobe Bryant (LAL – SG) $41 JuicyJs
30. LaMarcus Aldridge (Por – PF,C) $41 Boom Dizzle
40. Carmelo Anthony (NY – SF,PF) $39 Alex Kirk is Stacked
16. Al Horford (Atl – PF,C) $38 New York Jazzin
19. DeMarcus Cousins (Sac – PF,C) $36 Mark Cuban Sandwich
1. Rudy Gay (Mem – SF,PF) $35 Triple Double D’s
21. Blake Griffin (LAC – PF,C) $35 Triple Double D’s
32. Marc Gasol (Mem – C) $34 New York Jazzin
44. Pau Gasol (LAL – PF,C) $34 Mark Cuban Sandwich
23. Ty Lawson (Den – PG) $32 Grit and Grind
5. Dirk Nowitzki (Dal – PF) $32 JuicyJs
11. Rajon Rondo (Bos – PG) $31 Boom Dizzle
49. Nicolas Batum (Por – SG,SF) $30 Mo Williams Mo probs
3. Andrew Bynum (Phi – C) $30 Grit and Grind
28. Andre Iguodala (Den – SG,SF) $30 New York Jazzin
33. Paul Millsap (Uta – PF) $30 ShootMeOrSaluteMe
29. Serge Ibaka (OKC – PF,C) $29 Alex Kirk is Stacked
17. Danny Granger (Ind – SF,PF) $29 ShootMeOrSaluteMe
37. Paul George (Ind – SG,SF) $28 JB Time
20. Anthony Davis (NO – PF) $27 JB Time
36. Brandon Jennings (Mil – PG) $26 Alex Kirk is Stacked
42. Monta Ellis (Mil – PG,SG) $26 Triple Double D’s
39. Joe Johnson (Bkn – SG,SF) $25 Alex Kirk is Stacked
7. Steve Nash (LAL – PG) $25 JuicyJs
45. David Lee (GS – PF,C) $24 New York Jazzin
4. Mike Conley (Mem – PG) $24 New York Jazzin
56. Goran Dragic (Pho – PG) $23 Mo Williams Mo probs
48. Kyle Lowry (Tor – PG) $23 Mo Williams Mo probs
25. John Wall (Was – PG) $23 JuicyJs
74. Greg Monroe (Det – C) $23 Mo Williams Mo probs
34. Kevin Garnett (Bos – PF,C) $21 Triple Double D’s
27. Paul Pierce (Bos – SF) $21 Mark Cuban Sandwich
113. Brook Lopez (Bkn – C) $20 Mo Williams Mo probs
52. Tyreke Evans (Sac – SG,SF) $19 Boom Dizzle
46. Chris Bosh (Mia – PF,C) $19 Serving Somebody
54. Danilo Gallinari (Den – SF) $19 Triple Double D’s
35. Eric Gordon (NO – SG) $19 Serving Somebody
88. Klay Thompson (GS – SG,SF) $18 New York Jazzin
47. Tony Parker (SA – PG) $17 Grit and Grind
55. Marcus Thornton (Sac – SG) $17 TBD
58. Stephen Curry (GS – PG) $16 JB Time
70. Marcin Gortat (Pho – C) $16 TBD
38. Joakim Noah (Chi – PF,C) $16 JuicyJs
63. Tyson Chandler (NY – C) $15 ShootMeOrSaluteMe
61. Luol Deng (Chi – SF) $14 Grit and Grind
62. Ersan Ilyasova (Mil – PF) $14 Mo Williams Mo probs
53. Nene Hilario (Was – PF,C) $14 Serving Somebody
60. Ryan Anderson (NO – PF,C) $14 Mark Cuban Sandwich
84. Zach Randolph (Mem – PF,C) $14 JB Time
64. Carlos Boozer (Chi – PF,C) $14 JuicyJs
51. Gerald Wallace (Bkn – SF,PF) $13 Alex Kirk is Stacked
72. Tim Duncan (SA – PF,C) $13 JuicyJs
68. Roy Hibbert (Ind – C) $12 JB Time
41. Amar’e Stoudemire (NY – PF,C) $12 Boom Dizzle
80. Jrue Holiday (Phi – PG) $12 Mo Williams Mo probs
71. Kenneth Faried (Den – PF) $12 Serving Somebody
78. Kevin Martin (OKC – SG) $10 Boom Dizzle
73. Wesley Matthews (Por – SG,SF) $10 ShootMeOrSaluteMe
66. Evan Turner (Phi – SG,SF) $10 Triple Double D’s

My draft ($200 budget) went as follows:

1. (10) Chris Paul (LAC – PG) $76
2. (19) DeMarcus Cousins (Sac – PF,C) $36
3. (27) Paul Pierce (Bos – SF) $21
4. (44) Pau Gasol (LAL – PF,C) $34
5. (60) Ryan Anderson (NO – PF,C) $14
6. (90) Jason Terry (Bos – PG,SG) $5
7. (94) Arron Afflalo (Orl – SG) $4
8. (98) Jose Calderon (Tor – PG) $3
9. (124) O.J. Mayo (Dal – SG) $2
10. (130) Ekpe Udoh (Mil – PF,C) $1
11. (138) Jordan Crawford (Was – PG,SG) $1
12. (145) Jeremy Lamb (OKC – SG,SF) $1
13. (150) Ramon Sessions (Cha – PG,SG) $1
Unused $1

Thoughts: With all live drafters, the values were much better, and there were some great bargains in the 2nd tier guys, which made me regret bidding on Paul again. I’m not in love with my team, but there’s potential there.

Of the players that went for more than $25, here are some that stand out and my thoughts:

James Harden – He is absolutely worth the increased price tag. He has already taken advantage of his new surroundings and could even finish as a top ten player.
Harrison Barnes – I drafted him for $1 and someone else took him for $43. I think my valuation is closer to his actual value.
Rudy Gay – He has not been up to full value and is still producing 21.5/7.5 PPG/RPG.
Ty Lawson – I’m still not sure I would take him that high, but he is producing 14.0/6.7 PPG/APG
Nicolas Batum – His price range (and average draft round) are higher than I think his value warrants.
Serge Ibaka – See Batum, Nicolas. He’s not quite one-dimensional but even a two-dimensional player isn’t worth $40 (or a 2nd round pick). I don’t hate the guy, I hate his draft value.
Anthony Davis – He has a mild concussion, which is 80% “he should be fine,” 20% “lingering injury that affects him all season.” I think he will have a good season, but his sex appeal is over-inflating his value a bit.
Danny Granger – Well, he’s a good player, but as of press time he has an unknown knee ailment, so there’s a big risk if you’re still drafting.
Goran Dragic – His assists have been spectacular recently, but his APG is still only 9th among Point Guards. His value may be a little too high for people still in draft mode.
Marcin Gortat – Among guys with only Center (not dual Power Forward) eligibility, he is ranked 3rd, behind Marc Gasol and Spencer Hawes. Considering he has better PPG, RPG and BPG averages than Hawes, I think rankings are stupid. He is tied with Roy Hibbert for the most blocks (12) this year. He certainly looks sexy.
Steve Nash – As described above, he is likely to miss a month, which hurts his value. Who knows how he comes back? I mean, I doubt he comes back gimpy, but he may not hit full steam until 2013.