Chapter 1: The Offseason BeginsThis 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 | YESI 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 | NOI 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!!!