thierry!

[Valor]

L train, sit is taking 24 this season!

It's ok, I realize Sit want's to wear #24 just like his idol - me

You can't be my idol if you are a worse player than me.

Come to Sydney on a sem break and we'll see

[Fresh8]

I will dunk on your ass.

[Valor]

I will dunk on your ass.

Aren't you like...Earl's height?

More like the other-way round when I train back in shape n work on that vertical

[Martti.]

Come to Estonia, I'll dunk on both of ya.

[Valor]

Come to Estonia, I'll dunk on both of ya.

Man, if I could block this black dude that was going for a dunk, I could block you

Granted, that guy is like 5'11" only, but still...he's black

[Lamrock]

Chapter 1: The Offseason Begins

This was it. I had made it. I was officially an NBA general manager! Well, almost...

Donald Sterling slided a contract across the table. "I know it's half of what the current lowest paid GM is making, but with Neil Olshey suddenly leaving the team to pursue acting, this is the most we can offer.

I frowned, but knowing that I wouldn't get a better opportunity, I shrugged and signed. [i]"Glad to have you aboard. Your budget for this coming free agency is.... let's cap it at... five, no- four million." He extended his greasy hand, which I took and then I was on my way.

The first thing I did was check to see who was picking up their player options. Unsurprisingly, Melo didn't pick up his, and consequently, the Nuggets declined Billups'. With over $20 million in cap I figured we could lure Melo here. However, when I asked Sterling about it, he responded "I hope you're joking", then slammed his door.





I then went to work, picking up the cheapest NBA scout I could find, hiring a pair of scouts, and extending our excellent trainer (crucial, given Blake Griffin's history). I then signed, looking at Del Negro's contract, and knowing Sterling would never, in a million years, let me replace him.

The Staff


After that, it was draft time. The new scouts I added gave endorsements to Terrence Jones, Enes Kanter, Brandon Knight and Andrew Watson. I liked Jones, but Kanter reminded me too much of Kaman. Knight and Watson, meanwhile, were definite reaches at #5. I looked into trading down to get Anthony Randolph, but no dice.

The first four picks came and went, and Jones was gone. I opted, begrudgingly to grab Kanter. The Hawks then sent me a joke of an offer that pissed me off. I nearly turned my PDA off when I received the best offer ever: Ramon Sessions and the #8 pick for Eric Bledsoe and Ryan Gomes! I had already wanted Gomes gone, and Knight would be an upgrade over Bledsoe. Meanwhile, I have always been a fan of Sessions. Cavs must not be a fan of his contract (nor will Sterling...)


NO | YES
I scooped up Knight, and watched as the Blazers completely revamped their roster (probably a good call). Other than that, and a couple bad offers, the draft went business as usual, with me picking up the falling Chris Singleton at #33. Solid draft, if I may say so myself.


NO | NO
I then extended big man Ike Diogu and swingman Rasual Butler to modest contracts, and picked up Willie Warren's option, if only for his ties to Blake. Sadly, Brian Cook wisely accepted his player option. Damn it. Kenyon Martin (who wanted to play for a contender anyway) was let go. I told Jarron Collins to GTFO. DeAndre Jordan was pissed off for some reason, and refused to re-sign. Losing Craig Smith hurt, but I had anticipated his departure by extending Diogu. When life hands you lemons...





With only $4 million to spend on free agents, I had to watch as all the "fun" free agents, like Melo, Zach Randolph and Yao got scooped up. Seeing Melo to Phoenix and Yao to Cleveland was shocking to say the least. I made a pair of modest signings in Nazr Mohammed and Roger Mason. I went a half million over my budget (Sterling's gonna be PISSED), but we got our starting Center and backup shooting guard (I reckon Rasual Butler will start at the 3). Not turrible...



Going into the season, our depth chart is looking like:

PG: Baron Davis | Ramon Sessions | Brandon Knight
SG: Eric Gordon | Roger Mason | Willie Warren
SF: Rasual Butler | Al-Farouq Aminu | Chris Singleton
PF: Blake Griffin | Ike Diogu | Brian Cook
C: Nazr Mohammed | Enes Kanter

Lets get to .500!!!

[Martti.]

How tall are you? IRL

On topic, lol at the Jazz offer.

[Valor]

How tall are you? IRL

6'1" with shoes

@Lamrock, Good luck with .500....apart from Gordon and Blake I don't see any good players though, gonna be tough

and btw....i wanna quote this thing from my friend...

"when life hands you lemons, make lemonade!"

[The X]

Shite, even after solid draft, free agency let the Clippers down. Unfortunately the Clippers still look like the Clippers

You're strong at the guard positions. I guess you are hoping Aminu steps up this year.

Very nice summary btw. You did it in your style but made it interesting. For me to read the whole thing means it is good

[Kubik]

Cavs trading away thier pick...it's ugly. Nice off-season recap! Keep it up

[Fresh8]

Twas a good read L-Train!

[kibaxx7]

Acceptable offseason Hoping Mason and Mohammed can step up through the year.

[Houndy]

Eh, decent off season. Yao to the fucking Cavs?

[|)e8*]

Cleveland might be saved

[The X]

I can't believe everybody is saying acceptable off-season. Turrible off-season (great coverage though).

DeAndre Jordan was a key reason for moving Chris Kaman & his contract. Then Jordan just walked. I'd much prefer a Kaman/Jordan centre combo than Nazr/Turk combo.

I'm glad you stuck to your guns re Clippers' style spending.

I look at the team & it's no better, maybe slightly worse. This sort of off-season is reminiscent of my first Bobcats' one

EDIT: Btw, this is my pick for AotY if it continues, just for the sheer Clipper Madness we are seeing

[maksie]

I gotta agree with The X,turrible off-season.
The clippers look even worse than now,Nazi shouldnt be a starting C at any time.
Anyway good luck !

[hova-]

It wasn't the worst of all off-seasons. You did not loose any good player, so basically I think your struggling with stagnation a bit.

The bench sucks, really, I don't know who you hope can score on this bench (to be honest, in my eyes Willie Warren is your best bench scorer -> )

What I do like is that my man Nazr's going to start for you. Most underrated player in the last decade (exaggerated).

As X said, the recap was pretty cool to read. I found it quite relaxing. Keep this one up, and the B-Diddy pic is fierce (what a paunch)

[dare]

great recap, hope Kanter can turn out to be a good center

[Lamrock]

Sig Competion!
Updates will resume soon, now that finals are over. For now however, I am in need of a sig. Which skilled NLSC'ers want to step up to the plate?

Rules & Guidelines

- 450x150 image or smaller (obviously)
- Working titles for this are "The Blake Show" and "Hallway"
- Winner gets 50 points, runner-up 30, third place 15, other participants 5
- Points will go to NLSC players
- Might be the last chance for points in a while

Go at it!

[rise]

You're welcome.

[Fresh8]

[Lamrock]

Okay, z02 is the frontrunner!

[rise]

Cool.

[Fresh8]

[dare]

Sit got skills