Offline Association - Bobcats

[MmP]

Im using the Association Mode offline with the Bobcats and I gotta say it's really interesting building a team from practically 0.
So far I've played in allstar and it has been quite easy. So Im at HOF and guarding is becoming a real concern.
My first moves in the organization has been: Sign Oden to a 1-year deal. Put Kemba Walker as first option, Gordon at second and MKG at third.

My starting lineup from start to half the season (im aproaching ASG) has been:

Walker
Henderson
MKG
Biombo
Oden

I gotta say. Henderson is a good prospect. He's 24 though but he has room to improve I think. A solid SG and shooter. Great athletiically when finisihing.
Biombo has been mostly a let down. Since I've done some development drills he's improved in def rebonding but I find him overall very soft. As Steve Kerr says at the in-game broadcasting: he's still very raw. Im not sure if he's gonna become a solid player in the future.

I signed Oden with the intention of devolping him offensively as he's a great presence down low. And he's had ups and downs in terms of overall production. Sometimes showing up, sometimes disappearing. But I think he has become a liabilty offensively. I used to isolate him in the post and he used to get a few shots in, but for some time he has been real bad.

MKG is a beast when driving but he really lacks of a solid offensive threat. If you post him up he tends to be effective with a drop step.

Ramon Sessions is a solid backup PG. His morale has been down since he expects to be a starter and Im using him as 6th man. He's a better finisher than Kemba, he usually draws fouls and goes to the free thow line. So he's been useful.
Another pleasent surprise is Reggie Willims a solid left handed shooter. That if he has room he usually nails everything.

Gordon hits everything, so he sees most of the SG minutes.
Tyrus Thomas in not bad at all, although he can't do anything at the offensive end.

Mullens is a solid C backup, but I dont see him going anywhere in terms of potential so I worked a trade with the Hornets. Mullens, Sessions and Henderson for 1st round pick and J. Warrick. NO are dead last in the west so Im assuming Im getting a top 5 pick.
The sim draft in my association doesn't look strong. The scouts have a SG at the 1st pick although Im really looking forward to add a legit C and develop him.

So, here are my doubts:

Im new at drafting high picks so I'd like to know if you have some advice. Should I draft the hightest player by the scouts and then trade him or a player that fits my team? As I said Im looking for a solid bigman as Biombo lacks in a lot of areas.

How the draft works? Every top 5 player is gonna develop into a great player or can I find a surprise in the top 15?

How do I devolp young players? Play them as many minutes as they can and make them do development drills?

Thanks!

[miesomn]

You could get that 1st pick SG and keep him as a backup PG and SG for Walker and Gordon (and eventually move Gordon to the 6th man spot because you need a high% scorer off the bench) . The cpu generates amazing players ; I've seen in a Fantasy Draft Association a 81 OVR SG as the 1st pick with A potential , finisher and ankle breaker as signature skills. So ,what I'm saying is that I wouldn't risk loosing a future superstar just because the team needs a solid bigman .

You need to look elsewhere for the that bigman.
- one option is to wait for the season to end and get a free agent. I don't know what you did with the team's salary cap .. but normally the Bobcats should have huge cap space in the 2013-2014 pre-season free agent signing. (JJ Hickson is the only name that comes to mind)
- another is to get the team up to 14-15 players and trade for a solid bigman . And it's super easy in off-line associations because what you get in the "trade finder" tab will be 100% accepted . There are a lot of bigmen that are underrated and you can get them for basically nothing .. get Anderson from Hornets (the guy is great from all points of view : potential , salary , contract and offensive power) , get Hawes from 76ers (I like to think he'll be as good as Brook Lopez in 2 seasons. Not a fan but he's solid , I have him in a Online Association and I'm pretty sure he'll have McGee's spot) . Oh , or look at the 1st round picks from the 2012 Draft .. Sullinger , Drummond, White (in-game he will be Ok )

[MmP]

Update of my offline association with Bobcats. If anyone it's interested
After trading Session and Henderson (this one still hurts) for Hornets 1st round pick, it tourned into the 1st pick overall. I scouted almost the entire first round. And did work outs with the top 5. Projected #1 was great, a very solid SF. Can do everything, drive, shoot, pass. I'd say he's already better than MKG. Projected #5 was a scorer PG, very solid too but I already had Kemba, so I passed and took the projected #1, named Darryl Slater. He's better than I thought. Im wondering I should trade away Walker and MKG to leave room for him to grow. He's a monster.
After selecting Slater every team proposed trade scenarios for me. Portland was the #2 pick overall proposed inmediately to swap my selection for his #2 pick, strange.
I'd scouted a russian PF, very solid too that fitted perfect in my rotation but Slater was something else. Afted the PF was selected I proposed Detroit trading for him. They basically took my 1st round selection from next year and added Tyrus Thomas (who had an important role in my rotation) and gave the russian PF and Jason Maxiell.
So im starting my second season, playing at HOF, my first game is agains cleaveland, who rarely signed Chris Paul in the offseason and put Irving off the bench. Waiters and Paul is an extremely difficult backcourt. So let's how this new players develop is really exciting.

Thanks for the tips miesomn

[werewolf914]

You should try to change the player position sometimes. I drafted a 6ft9 72 overall PF with #7 pick, then when I change him to SF, he jumped to 78 overall => best player of the draft (Well I didn't try with other rookies but compare to other default rating, he's the best)

[MmP]

My #1 selection, Slater, after draft was rated 82, amazing. Already better than MKG. Im wondering wheter I should leave space for him to grow. He doesn't get the touches he needs.