NBA Roster Construction Report

In the Coming Days and Weeks, I will begin creating sub-sections for Different Sports and Subjects. While I will continue to focus my energy on Football and the NBA in the main feed, the Sub-Sections will include topics such as Investor Wisdom, NFL, MLB, and other things like Consilient Research. Until then, I will continue to write here as I explore different topics, subjects, and ideas. In this Newsletter, I am going to continue to talk about Roster Construction in the NBA especially as it pertains to Top 3s, Starting 5s, and Players 6-8 keeping in mind the backdrop of Contending for an NBA Title. This is an important exercise because it illustrates how hard it is to Build an NBA Team and the importance of every decision and every function. I am going to focus my efforts today on the Atlantic Division excluding the New York Knicks. I am excluding the Knicks from this because the Anatomy of their Rebuild is far more instructive and requires a dedicated post.

Boston Celtics (Top 3)

1. Jayson Tatum

2. Jaylen Brown

3. Any Combination of Kristaps Porzingis/Derrick White/Jrue Holiday

Starting 5

1. Hybrid Guard - Derrick White

2. Hybrid Guard - Jrue Holiday

3. Wing - Jaylen Brown

4. Wing - Jayson Tatum

5. Stretch 5 - Kristaps Porzingis

Bench

1. Scoring Point Guard - Payton Pritchard

2. 3PT Specialist Wing - Sam Hauser

3. Stretch 5 - Al Horford

Observations

The Celtics are arguably one of the best built teams in the NBA. The Celtics have successfully developed Payton Pritchard from a Traditional Point Guard off the bench into a Dynamic Scorer off the Bench. The Celtics have also done an incredible job of developing a contingency around Kristaps Porzingis injury. They’ve done this by incorporating and developing Neemias Queta and Luke Kornet. There one problem isn’t actually a problem because they’ve won an NBA Title with this same exact roster. But, I would be surprised if the Celtics weren’t trying to add an Athletic Wing off the bench to create a Top 9 as opposed to a Top 8. That said, Hauser is a lethal 3 Point Shooter and holds up well on defense.

Brooklyn Nets (Top3)

1. -

2. -

3. -

Starting 5

1. -

2. Traditional SG - Cam Thomas

3. -

4. -

5. Modern Big - Nic Claxton

Bench

1. -

2. -

3. -

Observations

The Brooklyn Nets are rebuilding and like most rebuilding teams they do not have a 1, 2, or a 3. They also don’t have the possibility of a 1, 2, or 3 unless you’re high on Cam Thomas. While I really like Cam Thomas, I want to be conservative in my assumptions. Alternatively, you look at the Portland Trail Blazers and in Shaedon Sharpe they clearly have a player who has Top 3 if not Top 2 Potential. With that in mind, the Brooklyn Nets have a lot of pressure to not hit on their Draft Pick this season. They have the pressure to Hit and Develop Multiple Draft Picks over the next few years. They also have to make Good Trades with Cam Johnson, Ben Simmons(If Possible), De’Anthony Melton. Once again, I like Cam Thomas because the thing that he does is unique and remains the most important skill in basketball. His appetite and ability to score the ball will also translate to the Playoffs. He’s also improved this season as a distributor and decision-maker. I also like the Nets Young Players. I like Jalen Wilson, Keon Johnson, and Noah Clowney.

Philadelphia 76ers (Top 3)

1. -

2. Scoring PG - Tyrese Maxey

3. -

Starting 5

1. Scoring PG - Tyrese Maxey

2. -

3. -

4. -

5. -

Bench

1. Scoring PG - Jared McCain

2. -

3. -

Observations

The Philadelphia 76ers Built a Championship Contender around an Often Injured Veteran at the back end of his career in Paul George and an injured Joel Embiid who is supposed to be in the prime of his career. While they clearly have a theoretical 1 in Embiid, his inability to stay on the Basketball Court and perform at a high level in the playoffs is largely untenable. In my opinion the Sixers should sell and restart the Hope Engine with Maxey and Jared McCain. Of course they will have to figure out if Maxey and McCain can operate as a combination keeping in mind their size restrictions. Even then McCain is a clear asset and Maxey is has two potential.

Toronto Raptors (Top3)

1. -

2. -

3. -

Starting 5

1. -

2. Traditional SG/SF - Gradey Dick

3. Traditional SF - RJ Barrett

4. Secondary Playmaker and Point F - Scottie Barnes

5. -

Bench

1. Scoring PG - Immanuel Quickley

2. Wing - Ochai Agbaji

3. -

Observations

There Biggest Problem is that 70% of their Cap is invested in three players who in my opinion are not projected to be a 1, 2, or 3 on a Contending Team. Scottie Barnes could become a 3 but he would have to make a big jump. They also have other problems. For Example, Gradey Dick is supposed to be a Good Shooter, the problem is he’s not a Good Shooter. Although some of the other things like his ability to finish at the rim and his movement off the ball is encouraging. RJ Barrett plays to his contract but doesn’t elevate a team because he doesn’t have a singular skill that creates space for himself or his teammates. Quickley gets paid like a Top 3, but his destiny lies in being a Primary Ball Handler and Scorer off the Bench. When you put all of that together, they have to Start Hitting Big on their Draft Picks. They also need to develop better.

Finally, My Approach to Team Building partially begins with what I have within the context of what it takes to contend for an NBA Championship. That Approach can and should be consistent across Professional Sports. For me this exercise has become even more important as Professional Sports has become more and more transactional.

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Ambition

I am a Former Sports Executive, who harbors an ambition to Work Again in Professional Sports. My EDGE or Value Proposition is my unique ability to operate in Multiple Sports at the Intersection of Sports, Finance, and Decision-Making. I believe my ability to Identify Talent, Recognize Patterns, Calibrate a Team and Organization Building Process, and Leverage Consilient Research would make me a valuable member of a Football Operations Department, NBA Front Office, Advisory Group, Private Equity Firm, or a Consulting Firm.