So Breems' awesome Wizards story really inspired me, and I really wanted to do something with a story; firstly, I was thinking of rebooting my NBA 09: The Inside story, but the gameplay is just too damn primitive. I tried playing the next game of the season at Dallas but there's no reason that story is ever being touched again between the gameplay and lack of features.
Since I wanted to do throwback, I didn't really want to touch this story, but I didn't want to touch an older 2K either since all I do is play the franchise; NBA Live 10 seemed like the ideal middle-ground: problem is, I don't own the game anymore and don't have a car (lol). I have a nice long weekend ahead of me and wanted to take advantage of it by putting some time into a story, so my option is to either order Live 10 off eBay and receive it by the time the weekend is up or continue this and take advantage of the time (I swear there is always something drawing me to this story). For all I know I'd receive Live 10 and the gameplay would be primitive as well (I see it as an upgraded version of The Inside), and I'd just end up coming back to this story... at least I net some VC in the process.
Anyway...
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My favorite simulation, where somehow the Heat upset the Cavs, Celts, 6ers, and even took two games from the Dubs... same roster as real-life; bunch of players in double-figures with no clear leader (but if there had to be it was Whiteside).First thing I boot up the game to the random message 'Timberwolves acquire Tyronn Lue from Cavaliers to work as their head coach'... don't know how this happened, but good riddance! I signed the best available coach name Michael Stauffer to a 4-year, $21.68M deal; Kidd to NYK, Thibs to Dallas and Hornacek to Charlotte on the coaching carousel.
So the Cavs somehow got the third pick in the draft (still projected 8 like irl); I would've fielded trade offers for the pick as I knew LeBron would stay but I accidentally backed out of the menu which I couldn't go back into. Pick ended up being a 6'4", 73 overall sharpshooter named Wade Powell (cool looking white dude with mohawk). Usually there's one huge steal in the trade offers, but I guess this makes it more interesting; I keep LeBron, but at a price, so we are still looking stuck in no-man's land even though we have the best player in the game.
Sorry I couldn't make this all fancy and stuff btw; really want to plow through this - many notable free agents stayed home; some of the names on the move include DJ to the Grizzlies, PG13 to 6ers, Butler to LAL, Bledsoe to Utah, Toby Harris and IT to Denver and Chris Bosh coming out of retirement (as he does in every story) to go to the Blazers for 3 years. As an underrated move to a contender, Houston brings on Rudy Gay for $14.24M over 3 years; I see him being a nice fit next to Paul and Harden. In typical 2K fashion, they cancel this out by bringing on the black hole (Z Bo), who seems even more cancerous than Melo to their team.
LeBron rejoins the Cavs (he always does [$$$]) for 5 years/$206.42M; I pretty much gave him what he wanted, and will keep him for the rest of his prime - maybe he will retire a Cav and I can bring him on as a coach. Roster is filled out with middle-of-the-road players after cleaning house: Ilyasova, Gortat, Belinelli, Pachulia, Trevor Booker, Larry Sanders, Pierre Jackson, Beno Udrih and Vince Carter.
Cavs package TT and Zizc to Houston for Ryan Anderson and a 2021 1st round (top 3 protected) pick after they accidentally sign 16 free agents and need to clear a roster spot... so I didn't mind letting Korver, JR and Hill go; Nance and Hood would've been nice to keep around, but they both want like $15M a year... Nance is not a FA irl, so why is he in this game?
I guess the offseason was a success because we brought back LBJ, but then the Lakers approach us not even a week into the season offering Kuzma for Osman and a '21 2nd rounder... no brainer; it was too good to pass up, but the thing I don't like is our best players are all the same (LeBron, Kuzma, Love, etc.), just like last season.