TeamID - Abbrev - Name (2019 Record, 2018 Record)
9 SQSQ Squirtle Squad (12-6-2, 9-10-2)It had been three long years out of the playoffs for Squirtles but they have steadily gotten better each year after a disastrous three-win 2016 season. After racking up twelve wins — while leading Chamberlain Conference for much of the season — and an upset first round win versus Funk Coalition, the time is now for NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to challenge for a ring and GM / top five coach Brian knows it.
Antetokounmpo is an incredible piece to build around and he’ll have some new keeper teammates this year. A pre-draft trade moved out Nikola Vucevic after seven years of service and brought in Blake Griffin and Bam Adebayo to replace him. Griffin will make up for Vucevic’s offense while Adebayo will cover for his defense — and faces a breakout year in Miami. The return from injury of Dejounte Murray and Lonzo Ball will boost the backcourt while last year’s mid-season trade acquisition, Tobias Harris, should get an even bigger role in Philadelphia.
It seems like Squirtles will continue their offense first philosophy as they drafted Lou Williams (RD1.11) and Terrence Ross (RD2.5) early on. Both are instant offense from the bench and there’s actually nobody else on the roster save for IR stashes Jusuf Nurkic and John Wall. While we are completely out on Wall, having Nurkic in their back pocket for a postseason run could help Squirtles go up another level this season. And with their fifth, and final, pick of the 2020 draft, Brian took Michigan man Moritz Wagner, who has had a surprising preseason so far. It’s been a long road back for this Squad back to contention but with Giannis around, it’s great to see them here!
10 ABCX Another Bad Creation (4-16, 15-5-1)
Ouch, after three straight division titles, Another Bad Creation had an awful 2019, putting up their worst regular season wins record ever. What happened? We don’t really know actually. I mean, it wasn’t like Oliver wasn’t coaching hard and trying to turn the season around, but maybe it was just of a talent? The highlights of the shoddy 2019 was a still inspiring Toilet Bowl run — upsetting two top seeds and almost getting to the TB Finals — that left them with the second overall pick in 2020.
That’ll be a great help to a keeper core that is, well, like the worst in the league. Russell Westbrook has even lost his alpha dog status, as he heads to Houston this season. Behind him is old man LaMarcus Aldridge, Derrick Rose, and young bucks like Enes Kanter, Evan Fournier, and TJ Warren. Maybe GM Oliver should have moved pre-keepers for some younger talent? We’ll see though, as this team has historically been good so it’s not up to us to question ABC’s vision.
Let’s talk about that 2020 RD1.2, which was used to select Ja Morant. Morant projects to be almost Westbrook-like, so this is an interesting destination for him. If he gets handed the keys to Memphis right away as expected, ABC will have two talents at the point guard position. It seems like Oliver is loath to overall the roster toward youth but invested instead in guys like Dario Saric and Alex Len, who have some promise. However, the other draft picks were Eric Gordon, Rajon Rondo, and Wes Matthews, who could be value picks for winning, but also lack upside. We’re curious how much ABC can improve this season, or if they’ll look to take the Westbrook-Morant pairing for another shot at a high lottery pick. We want this successful franchise back and competing for the top prize soon, even if it means a slower rebuild is in order.
11 Buffy (8-11-1, 3-16-2)Another team on the rebuild, but swinging upwards. Buffy emerged from their franchise low point — three wins in 2018 — to notch eight wins last season, and flash a free flowing offensive game that held promise for the future. It’s been six long seasons out of the playoffs for Buffy and they haven’t had a winning record since 2013.
Pre-draft, GM Roger made a bold move to acquire Ben Simmons — costing them last year’s RD1.4, Trae Young — and now Simmons will be the centerpiece of a team that could use a multi-talent like him. Brandon Ingram has been erratically healthy over his young career but seems positioned to do well in New Orleans, and the situations for Domantas Sabonis, Kyle Kuzma, and Malcolm Brogdon all improved over the offseason. If only Klay Thompson were healthy, but Buffy will have to wait for his return.
After years of going veteran heavy, Buffy brought in two more rookies this year, Hawks teammates RD1.5 DeAndre Hunter and RD4.11 Cam Reddish. If either of them makes it to keeper value, that would be a big boon for this team. Hunter especially is intriguing as his defensive prowess is sorely needed on this all-offense team. It was a return to the old guys for the rest of Roger’s draft though, as Paul Millsap, Harrison Barnes, Dwight Howard, and Nicolas Batum join up to flesh out the rotation. With a pretty deep team, Roger will work his way toward more victories this season, and we can see them even going back-to-back for most Games Played in 2020 as well. C’mon Buffy, it’s been a long time out of the light, let Simmons bring you back!
12 SOUR Sour Snails (14-5-1, 10-11)
Our many time defending champs were on the ropes just two years ago but after one of the best drafts and free agent pickups in recent history — hello Pascal Siakam and Mitchell Robinson — Sour Snails is entirely back. Sheesh. After five straight Finals appearances, and four out of five titles, Snails are the dynasty that looks reloaded and ready for another set of titles. Not like they ever left of course...
At least Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins are both out for the season — with Cousins being dumped as a potential keeper. It’ll be Steph Curry’s task to carry Sour to their title defense but he’ll have a lot of help. Zach LaVine is a scoring machine, Pascal Siakam is going to be even better sans-Kawhi, and GM Trieu even added Terry Rozier via a pre-draft trade that gives them another twenty point scorer. Even with Durant on the mend, this keeper core is as strong as anyone else’s.
Plus all those extra picks! Snails dealt up to secure two RD1s, spending them on Steven Adams and Landry Shamet. Adams gives them everything they need alongside Robinson and Shamet will be joined by rookie Tyler Herro and Glenn Robinson III as upside shooters. Fellow rookie PJ Washington may need time to develop but preseason find Marquese Chriss may find himself starting in Golden State. Oh and there’s obligatory Laker Alex Caruso, who doesn’t look half bad himself! We know the Snails will go all-in for another title so this is far from the final roster, but if this draft turns out anything like the last one, we may have to all just pray for more injuries to stop Snails!
After coming off their best regular season ever, and a Voltron division title two years ago, So Buckets saw themselves swapped from Russell to Chamberlain Conference. It looked like a golden opportunity to ascend to a higher plane as they became a top dog in their new home. Instead, Buckets took a step back last year yet still managed to pull it together to win the 2019 Toilet Bowl. Unfortunately new rules prevented So Buckets from adding the top overall pick — aka Zion Williamson — to an already loaded roster, but Buckets still earned a top-three pick for some tough work though the loser’s tournament as its top seed, fending off a fearsome upset bid by Another Bad Creation.
Kyrie Irving and DeMar DeRozan are heading into their ninth and eighth season with Buckets, with Joel Embiid and Rudy Gobert starting their sixth. Adding CJ McCollum via trade in 2017 solidified the fast five even more, paving the way for the past few seasons of Buckets stability. However, finding that last keeper has always been a bit tricky. In the past, Dario Saric and Jabari Parker didn’t quite work out and this year’s entry, Thomas Bryant looks good but could be jettisoned at the end of the season. However, that’s likely because So Buckets will add a promising rookie to this core, and not through any fault of Bryant’s, who’s on the verge of a breakout himself.
RJ Barrett was the consensus RD1.3 selection and he should bring in points and some assists right away. Adding a top flight selection to an already great keeper core is a recipe for a fast turnaround — just ask Swamp Dragons — and So Buckets should enter the 2020 title picture immediately. With that in mind, GM Josh went with Serge Ibaka and Goran Dragic in the draft as win-now veterans before trading a RD4 and RD5 for RD3.13 Delon Wright and his defensive upside. Josh Okogie will join this team as a sophomore with potential upside too. There should be zero chance these Buckets hit the Toilet Bowl again and we should look for them to be a true contender again.
14 SPDE Spade (12-7-1, 2-19)
Spade is used to being one of the most consistent teams around, posting at least twelve wins in each of their first four seasons in SlamNation. However, after a league low two wins in 2018, we weren’t sure if that would signal a wave of change for the most steady keeper cores around. Well, after another twelve win bounce-back season in 2019, it’s safe to say that Spade will be staying the course as a paper contender whose upside depends entirely on health. They were dangerous last season, as they proved by entering the playoffs as a #6 seed and then knocking out defending champs Chunky Monkeys. If they want to return to a Finals — something they did in 2016 — they’ll have to keep their fingers crossed.
We didn’t think it was possible for Spade’s keepers to get more injury prone, but by adding Danilo Gallinari — while jettisoning Paul Millsap — it’s likely none of their main six guys more than seventy games this season. Of course, when this lineup is even mostly intact, they are a well-balanced powerhouse. New champ Kawhi Leonard is basking in his title glow. Eric Bledsoe is um, already hurt. Kevin Love is healthy for now, as is Devin Booker, and Al Horford will Al Horford.
Last year’s early FA pickup of Brook Lopez really helped this team and Splash Mountain will return as Spade's first round pick. He will be joined by Jeff Teague and JJ Redick as fellow vets who produce and can be counted on to perform when the inevitable injuries hit this roster. Knowing that his team is getting longer in the tooth minute by minute, GM Randall invested mid-round picks in Zach Collins and OG Anunoby, and will hope one of them hits as solid contributors with potential keeper upside. RD6 pick Ish Smith could have a starting job in Washington so that’s a value buy. Barring more catastrophic injury, we can’t see Spade being anything other than a playoff team once again.
15 ILCN IL Conceived (7-13, 8-12-1)In just two years, IL Conceived has built up an intriguing young core that boasts some massive upside and talent. Back-to-back stellar drafts have landed them superior talent. Heck, last year’s top three picks were Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Miles Bridges (although not kept)! After some wheeling and dealing to get into position for another deep run in the Toilet Bowl last season, ILCN didn’t quite earn a top pick but still gave it a good shot and finished with RD1.4 in hand.
The question now is if Doncic and Donovan Mitchell are ready to take the next step. Aside from the young trio of Doncic, Mitchell, and Jackson, semi-new hands Caris LeVert and Montrezl Harrell will be on-board to shore up the depth in the keeper core. Draymond Green will have to have a huge year, as he’s the anchor of this team on defense and in the locker room.
While there’s a chance IL Conceived is ready to compete now, their draft certainly was aimed toward unearthing more talent. RD1.4 Darius Garland was the choice over Coby White — hopefully not a mistake! — and then fellow rookies Kevin Porter Jr. and Goga Bitadze were taken in the later rounds. Taurean Prince should get a head start on his free agency in Brooklyn, and an in-draft trade of Reggie Jackson for Markelle Fultz lands Frank with the mystery of mysteries. If Garland and Fultz flounder, Dennis Schroeder will have to pick up the slack here. Other than that, ILCN seems to be ready to challenge for a playoff spot this season after acquiring pieces the past two. Is it time for Luka and his boys to rack up some wins?!
16 HSTL Hilt the Stilt (6-14, 9-11-1)
We’re gonna give Hilt the Stilt a wash on last season. In his first season, Coach Dave racked up a ton of missed weeks and a very low number of Games Played, but yet still somehow emerged with six wins. That speaks to the talent on the team, as Hilt emerged from the dispersal draft with a nice core of youth and production. The offseason saw a bit of a shakeup, as a pre-draft trade shipped out Jason Richardson for Wendell Carter Jr. and Jaylen Brown. Interestingly, Terry Rozier wasn’t kept, even though HSTL had trouble finding a starting point guard all season last year -- he was moved for a 2020 RD4. Still, this team will return Victor Oladipo (eventually) and has the front court of Andre Drummond and Aaron Gordon to build around. Defensive stopper Mikal Bridges was the sixth keeper.
With a renewed emphasis on the season, there’s a chance Dave could pilot his team to the playoffs if he can get his Games Played under control. RD1.7 rookie Coby White seems to be better than advertised, and there’s still the upside of Anfernee Simons, Kevin Knox, Malik Monk, and rookie Bol Bol to explore. Jerami Grant has a new home in Denver but he fits right into this defensively talent team. For now, DJ Augustin will man the point as White grows into his new role in the NBA. Can we expect Stilt to make an improvement this season? It would be hard not to, as they made zero transactional moves last year en route to a not too shabby handful of wins. Here’s to a successful year two in SlamNation for Dave!
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