I look at match ups in this one at starters first.
I imagine the starters match up being
Irving vs Westbrook
Beal vs Derozan
Crowder vs Batum
Davis vs Randle
Turner vs Whiteside
Davis is better today, no questions asked. In fact, I dont know if Randle, as good as he is and can be, could ever reach where Davis is now, let alone where he could be. Problem is health. Davis is consistently injury prone despite us always worrying about his weight making him too fragile. Hes up to a respectable 253 pounds now, a weight I never thought Id see him at. Unfortunately every game is a toss up. If this wasn't a 7 year debate I dont think itd be a contest between these 2. And while Davis isnt Embiid bad, hes not good at all. This is a list of his injuries
04/08/2017 Sore Left Knee
01/23/2017 Right Quad Contusion
01/17/2017 Sprained Left Thumb
01/11/2017 Bruised Left Hip
12/17/2016 Left Lower Leg Contusion
11/18/2016 Sore Quad
11/16/2016 Sore Quad
11/12/2016 Lower Back
10/12/2016 Sprained Ankle
03/18/2016 Sore Left Knee
02/27/2016 Sprained Right Toe
01/25/2016 Concussion
01/08/2016 Back
11/18/2015 Sore Shoulder
11/11/2015 Right Hip Strain
03/19/2015 Sprained Ankle
02/21/2015 Sprained Shoulder
02/07/2015 Sprained Right Shoulder
01/30/2015 Sore Groin
01/16/2015 Sprained Left Toe
12/13/2014 Chest Contusion
04/09/2014 Back Spasms
03/28/2014 Ankle
01/29/2014 Finger
12/01/2013 Fractured Left Hand
Per 36, Randle is averaging 16.5ppg, 10.75rpg and 4.5 rebounds. I imagine those points to go up with Lonzo dishing the ball the season as well as his body change. He took it upon himself to get shredded and lost 18 pounds to make himself a more mobole freight train. Its great production now with a 17 and 11 per 36 kid whos trend is way up vs an injury proned all star. Davis is almost guaranteed to miss significant time over the next 7 years, potentially when needed most.
After Davis, its Turner and old Howard vs Whiteside and Gasol. Howard is still rebounding well and is an ox, but isnt what he used to be. He has no chance of lasting 7 more years. 3, maybe 4 if hes lucky as a meaningful player. Gasol on the other hand is a player who does not rely on athleticism or brute strength to survive. A nimble, skilled big man who is one of the most offensively skilled bigs in the league whos game can allow him to play for many years to come in my opinion. He shoots 39% from 3 to boot.. Its offense vs rebounding.
I have rebounding and defense taken care of with one of the hottest big men in the game, Hassan Whiteside. Averaging 18.7ppg and 15.6rpg per 36, along with being one of the best shot blockers with over 2 per game. At 7 feet and nearly 270 pounds, hes no string bean either. He can dominate even without scoring, similar to how Howard USED to be. Turner is great but Whiteside is in his prime and will be dominant and strong for the next 5 to 6 years. He wont be slowing down until maybe the final season or so. By then, my OTHER big man, Mr. Skal Labissier will be there as the young blossoming Haitian Sensation. At 20 years old, hes figuring out how dominant he can be and per 36 is averaging 17.1ppg and 9.5rpg while also shooting 38% from downtown.
Its Davis/Turner/Howard/Young vs Whiteside/Gassol/Randle/Labissier. I personally dont think its a contest. Even if I concede Davis is definitely the best of all, I feel Whiteside Gassol and Labissier easily outdo Turner Howard and Young over 7 years.
Out front I have 2 of the best guards in the game. The dynamic and athletic Demar Derozan who averaged better than 27 per game and at 6'7 with ridiculous hops is near impossible for any opposing 2 man to guard. Next to him is one of the most dominant well rounded players in the game who averaged a triple double for the year. Averaged...a triple double. Not only a crazy scorer who somehow rebounds like hes 7 foot at only 6'3, but also finds a way to get his fellow team mates involved at over 10 assists a game. Irving doesnt make anyone but himself look good, despite being a prolific scorer. Westbrook owns Irving. Bradley Beal is definitely a remarkable player but he looks great playing alongside one of the best passers in the game in John Wall. How would he look playing alongside blackhole Kyrie? Conversely, how good would Derozan look having all the attention on Westbrook? Leaving hin free to drive and do as he pleases. Westbrook/Derozan >>> Irving/Beal.
After Westbrook I bring in a starter for most other teams, Jrue Holiday. A phenomenal scorer, very good passer as well as lock down defender who can also knock down 3s. Hes a great back up facilitator and defender who definitely would be my starter if not for Westbrook. After Derozan I have my guys Fournier, the Frenchman for the Magic whos an incredible scorer as well as Seth Curry. Both are good for 2 makes from downtown a piece.
Holiday/Fournier/Curry > Beverly/Harrison/Smith Jr. Smith Jr definitely has a bright future but I dont see Harrison or Beverly becoming what Fournier and Holiday are now or what they will be over the next 7 seasons. Curry is my dead eye from deep on top of that mix.
My 3s arent shabby either with Nick Batum and Danilo Gallinari. Gallinari is ridiculous on offense and, like Curry and Fournier is good for 2 makes from deep a game. Batum is the LeBron of this team (not in talent) as the guy who does what you need him to do to win. He was the leading rebounder and assist man for Charlotte and only 2nd in scoring to dynamic Kemba Walker at 15oog 7rpg and 6 assists. He can be a primary ball handler or get you a rebound. A well rounded, Swiss army man on the court to counter balance my star powered 1-2 punch of Westbrook and Derozan while also being the man to dump passes inside to my young stars Randle and Whiteside. My anchor amongst all the firepower. Ariza is a very good player who Id be worried about 2 or 3 years ago but hes already 32. I dont see him doing this to his 40s. Gasol is the same age but again, is an offense guy and shooter. Those guys play for years. Defensive athletes like Ariza go for less mileage. As he gets even older, defense will get worse as he relegates himself to roll player in a couple years. Crowder is legit. Hell of a player. I cant pick him apart really. That, or Im too tired.
Larry Nance jr was my final pick and is looked at as a bright spot for lakers this upcoming season and for seasons to come. A 6'8 mega athlete who can play the 3 or 4 who has basketball in his genes
Ive done this all from my phone rather than waiting to do this from a computer at work tomorrow. Want to get my feelings out now before votes are cast.
