NBA 2k23 Franchise - MKnight82 & Flatlyner Dual League

MKnight82 · May 9, 2023

This is the first time I'm going to attempt to post about an online league I'm doing with someone else. It just so happens this person also posts here on the forum @Flatlyner . Not sure if he will post in this or not but I plan on tracking the majority of the league for entertainment purposes.

First some background. We tried to do expansion teams but we kept running into a glitch during the expansion draft. So instead we had to restart the league and replace existing teams with new branding. @Flatlyner replaced the Spurs with his team the Las Vegas Hustlers, and I replaced the Hornets with the Virginia Beach Neptunes.

MKnight82 · May 9, 2023

We have rules for the league. Here they are:

- Cannot sign any FA above 75 OVR.

- Cannot have more than two first round picks in any draft.

- Cannot trade your own first round pick. Ever.

- Cannot trade up in the draft at any time.

- Cannot trade for any current picks once the season starts.

There are no restrictions on second round picks except you still can't trade up.

It's fine to sign FAs and then trade them once they are eligible.

There's no restriction on number of trades.

Basically the objective is to eventually draft your entire team, but FA isn't a legitimate option.

There aren't any rules for games that have to be played in the regular season. Most regular season games will be simmed. All playoff games will be played by the user. Its very possible we sim several seasons before either of us plays a game.

Edited May 9, 2023 by MKnight82

MKnight82 · May 9, 2023

So since we couldn't do the expansion draft, and we need a ton of future draft picks to build our roster we both went nuts with trades. I'm not going to go over the million trades we did but here's where our draft pick situation netted out entering the first season:

VA Beach Neptunes
Year	Round	Protection	Origin
2023	1st	-	Neptunes
2023	1st	-	Rockets
2023	2nd	-	Neptunes
2023	2nd	-	Pistons
2024	1st	Lottery	Bulls
2024	1st	-	Neptunes
2024	1st	-	Pistons
2024	1st	Top 3	Wizards
2024	2nd	-	Neptunes
2025	1st	-	Clippers
2025	1st	-	Neptunes
2025	1st	Lottery	Kings
2025	1st	-	Warriors
2025	2nd	-	Neptunes
2026	1st	-	Neptunes
2026	1st	-	Nuggets
2026	1st	-	Thunder
2026	1st	-	Warriors
2027	1st	-	Cavaliers
2027	1st	-	Neptunes

Vegas Hustlers
Year	Round	Protection	Origin
2023	1st	-	Magic
2023	1st	-	Hustlers
2023	2nd	-	Bulls
2023	2nd	-	Magic
2023	2nd	-	Hustlers
2023	2nd	-	Thunder
2024	1st	-	Kings
2024	1st	-	Magic
2024	1st	Top 10	Pelicans
2024	1st	-	Rockets
2024	1st	-	Hustlers
2024	1st	-	Timberwolves
2024	2nd	-	Bucks
2024	2nd	-	Pelicans
2024	2nd	-	Hustlers
2024	2nd	-	Timberwolves
2025	1st	-	Heat
2025	1st	-	Hustlers
2026	1st	-	Cavaliers
2026	1st	-	Pelicans
2026	1st	-	Hustlers
2026	2nd	-	Hustlers
2027	1st	-	Kings
2027	1st	-	Pelicans
2027	1st	-	Hustlers
2027	1st	-	Warriors
2027	1st	-	Wizards
2027	2nd	-	Hustlers

MKnight82 · May 9, 2023

We are both actively trying to tank Year 1. Here are our lovely rosters for Year 1:

Opening Day Roster - VA Beach Neptunes - Year 1
Position	Name	OVR	Potential	Age	Years Remaining	Badges	Current Annual Salary (mil)
PG	Matthew Dellavedova	69	C+	32	1	0	$1.84
SG	Isaiah Joe	78	B-	23	3	0	$1.84
SF	Patrick Baldwin Jr.	72	B-	20	4	0	$2.23
PF	Vlatko Cancar	73	C	25	3	0	$2.23
C	Mark Williams	78	A-	21	4	1	$3.72

PG	Kobi Simmons	68	B-	25	1	2	$1.84
PG	Carlik Jones	67	C+	25	1	0	$1.64
SG	Brandon Boston Jr.	74	B	21	2	0	$1.64
SG	Bryce McGowens	72	B-	20	2	0	$1.02
SF	Garrett Temple	70	C-	36	2	0	$5.16
PF	JT Thor	73	C+	20	3	0	$1.64
PF	Jake Laravia	72	C+	21	4	0	$3.05
PF	Isaiah Todd	71	B-	21	3	0	$1.64
PF	Admiral Schofield	70	B-	25	1	0	$1.84
C	Kai Jones	72	B-	21	3	1	$2.91
EuroStash Players
	None

Opening Day Roster - Las Vegas Hustlers - Year 1
Position	Name	OVR	Potential	Age	Years Remaining	Badges	Current Annual Salary (mil)
PG	Gabe Vincent	76	B+	26	1	4	$1.84
SG	Malaki Branham	76	B	19	4	0	$2.93
SF	Chuma Okeke	74	B-	24	2	2	$3.43
PF	Jaxson Hayes	76	C+	22	1	6	$6.80
C	Sandro Mamukelashvili	73	C	23	1	0	$1.64

PG	Jordan McLaughlin	73	B+	26	2	0	$2.16
PG	Blake Wesley	72	B	19	4	4	$2.39
PG	DJ Augustin	70	C+	35	1	0	$1.84
SG	Dyson Daniels	75	B+	19	4	2	$5.51
SG	Romeo Langford	73	B-	23	1	1	$5.63
SG	Sam Merrill	72	B	26	1	0	$1.84
SG	Dylan Windler	71	B-	26	1	0	$4.04
SF	John Konchar	72	B	26	5	4	$2.30
C	Meyers Leonard	72	C	30	1	2	$1.84
C	Marko Simonovic	70	C+	23	2	0	$1.64
EuroStash Players
	None

MKnight82 · May 9, 2023

We're going to sim out Year 1. I'll update everyone how the first season standings turn out. I have the Rockets first round pick this first year and @Flatlyner has the Magic. We're both hoping those teams are equally as bad as us. I'll then post the results of the draft lottery, and build a big board for the draft. I'll have to wait to post any of my thoughts on the prospects until after the draft to keep them a secret from @Flatlyner but I'll try to summarize my strategy entering the draft, how it played out and whether I got what I wanted.

MKnight82 · May 9, 2023

End of the Season Standings - Year 1
West			East
Seed	Team	Record	Seed	Team	Record
1	Lakers	56-26	1	Hawks	53-29
2	Suns	51-31	2	Celtics	51-31
3	Mavericks	51-31	3	76ers	51-31
4	Grizzlies	50-32	4	Heat	51-31
5	Nuggets	48-34	5	Bucks	50-32
6	Timberwolves	48-34	6	Cavaliers	49-33
7	Warriors	45-37	7	Knicks	46-36
8	Clippers	41-41	8	Raptors	42-40
9	Thunder	41-41	9	Pistons	41-41
10	Pelicans	39-43	10	Bulls	41-41
11	Kings	39-43	11	Nets	37-45
12	Trailblazers	33-49	12	Wizards	35-47
13	Jazz	30-52	13	Pacers	30-52
14	Rockets	28-54	14	Magic	28-54
15	Hustlers	16-66	15	Neptunes	9-73

We both successfully tanked and picked teams with high lottery chances.

MKnight82 · May 9, 2023

NBA LOTTERY - YEAR 1

TEAM ODDS

1. Neptunes - 14.0%

2. Hustlers - 14.0%

3. Hustlers (via Magic) - 13.3%

4. Neptunes (via Rockets) - 13.2%

5. Jazz - 9.8%

6. Pacers - 9.7%

7. Trailblazers - 6.0%

8. Wizards - 6.0%

9. Nets - 6.0%

10. Pistons (via Pelicans) - 2.5%

11. Kings - 2.5%

12. Clippers - 1.0%

13. Bulls - 1.0%

14. Magic (via Pistons) - 1.0%

RESULTS

1. Magic (via Pistons) - they had 1% chance!!!

2. Neptunes

3. Bulls - 1% again!!!

4. Hustlers

5. Hustlers (via Magic)

6. Neptunes (via Rockets)

7. Jazz

8. Pacers

9. Trailblazers

10. Wizards

11. Nets

12. Pistons (via Pelicans)

13. Kings

14. Clippers

Insane lottery results. @Flatlyner traded the Magic the Pistons pick in order to get their first round pick, then the Magic hit 1% lottery chance to get #1 overall despite the Pistons going 41-41. Also the Bulls hit #3, also with 1.0% chance.

Edited May 9, 2023 by MKnight82

MKnight82 · May 9, 2023

TOP 10 PROSPECTS ACCORDING TO DRAFT EXPRESS

Name

Position

School

OVR

Age

Height

Weight

Wingspan

DE Rank

INS

MID

3PT

INS D

PER D

PLMK

REB

IQ

PHYS

POT

Badges

Comparison

Ceiling

Calbert Stevenson

PF

Georgetown

78

18

6'11"

218

7'0"

1

A

B

C-

C

B

C+

A

A+

4

Tim Duncan

Hall of Fame

Freddie Watson

C

Colorado State

80

22

7'0"

229

7'4"

2

B-

B+

B

A

D-

C-

A+

C+

B

A-

2

Dave Cowens

All-NBA

Predrag Toroman

PG

Serbia

77

23

6'0"

175

6'7"

3

A

A-

A+

D+

B-

C-

A-

B+

8

World B. Free

All-NBA

Boris Whitehead

PG

Duquesne

73

19

6'0"

173

6'6"

4

C+

B+

A-

C+

C

B-

B

A-

1

Mark Price

All-NBA

Geoffrey Lane

SF

Utah

75

19

6'8"

216

6'9"

5

B-

D+

B-

B

C

C+

B-

A

B+

1

Rick Fox

Starter

Johnny Early

SF

UNC

72

21

6'8"

223

7'1"

6

B

C

D

C+

D+

B-

D

B-

A

1

Vince Carter

All-NBA

Kevin Houston

SF

Northern Iowa

75

19

6'7"

226

6'10"

7

B

D

B

C-

C+

A

B+

4

Dennis Scott

Starter

Lloyd Evans

PF

Romania

75

22

6'9"

229

6'9"

8

C-

B

D

B+

C

D+

B

B-

C+

B+

0

Jonathan Isaac

Starter

Conrad Willis

SF

Arizona

75

21

6'7"

226

7'1"

9

C-

D

B

B-

B

C-

C+

A-

B

1

Bobby Jones

All-Star

Kenneth Soto

SG

Portland

74

18

6'4"

207

6'7"

10

C-

C

D+

C-

A+

C

D

B-

B+

B-

6

Jerry Sloan

All-Star

This isnt my draft board, its just the top 10 players in the class according to the Draft Express service in the game.

Flatlyner · May 10, 2023

My lottery luck couldn't be worse in this one. I made the right choice trading Pistons pick for Magic pick, and then they hit a 1% chance top pick..... Just initially looking at the board, there are 2 Good+ prospects, one Good and the rest.

JBURGE · May 10, 2023

Calbert 😭 awful luck

MKnight82 · May 10, 2023

14 minutes ago, JBURGE said:

Calbert 😭 awful luck

The draft will be interesting. The Magic don’t need a PF at all and Fultz isn’t on the team anymore so PG is their biggest need. The PF could absolutely fall to me at 2….

JBURGE · May 10, 2023

5 hours ago, MKnight82 said:

The draft will be interesting. The Magic don’t need a PF at all and Fultz isn’t on the team anymore so PG is their biggest need. The PF could absolutely fall to me at 2….

Nah

MKnight82 · May 10, 2023

We're shooting to draft tomorrow night. You can blame @Flatlyner for the delay.

MKnight82 · May 12, 2023

2023 NBA DRAFT

Entering this first draft I need everything since I have no one on the roster worth keeping. Now granted, Mark Williams isn’t a terrible Center prospect, but remember the goal is to draft an entire team. So his presence won’t keep me from drafting a Center if I think there is one that is BPA.

The top prospect in the draft is a PF named Stevenson. He’s an interesting prospect. 6’11” size with a 7’0” wingspan, good athleticism for the position (81 SPD, 75 ACC, 87 VERT, 79 STR). His HOF potential rating basically makes him the unquestioned #1 prospect in this class but I do have concerns. First, he’s not a great defender or rebounder. His block rating is pretty terrible, so even with the high potential he’ll never generate a lot of big plays on defense. Also, despite some B grades at shooting, he’s much more of an interior offensive player than a stretch big. I would say he’s probably the best interior scorer in this draft class (all 4 of his badges are Finishing Badges). So you have an athletic interior scorer that isn’t a great defender or rebounder, that is kind of a dinosaur in the modern NBA. Now I will say this, 2k isn’t like the real NBA, having a guy that can consistently get you buckets is huge in the game and the things he struggles at now he should improve on cause of his high potential rating. He also has the highest chance in the class of getting a crapload of badges, which will help. At the end of the day I’m not totally in love with Stevenson as a prospect, but he’s my #1 in this class.

I think there are four starter level guys in this class, including Stevenson. The other three are PG Predrag Toroman, C Freddie Watson & C Cliff Morris. PG Toroman is probably the best shooter in this draft class and is the fastest player in the class. His 8 badges are also the most I’ve found in this class, with some really useful ones like Catch & Shoot, Corner Specialist, Needle Threader and Acrobat. He has solid passing abilities as well and should be a competent PG that can run a defense. The issue with him is his limited size and complete lack of ability on defense. I would say his NBA comparison is a Trae Young type, can completely carry your offense but a huge liability on defense. Generally speaking in 2k, PG is probably the best position to have a weak defender at. Especially in user games cause you want your bigs defending your back while you play user D on the defender with the ball. Also, I feel like the priority checklist for this draft class should be either A) a franchise player (Stevenson) or B) a legitimate #1 scoring option, and Toroman checks that box.

Next is C Freddie Watson who at 80 OVR is tied for the highest OVR player in the class. He has a good potential rating and with 73 SPD and 94 VERT, is a solid athlete for his position. He also has some stretch 5 skills going on, with the ability to shoot a bit from deep and a solid midrange game. His inside D is solid, and is the 2^nd best rebounder in this class (ratings wise, though he doesn’t have any rebounding badges). His athletic profile is appealing but I don’t use a Stretch 5 in my offense so he isn’t super appealing for me. I prefer an elite defensive/rebounding Center and I think a lot of his badges will end up on the offensive side of the ball. So he’s not really in play for me at my selection at #2, and I suspect he will be gone at either #3 or be Flatlyner’s top choice at #4.

Then there is Cliff Morris, who is 37 lbs heavier than Watson, has a 7’8” wingspan, and 98 STR rating. He has better badges than Watson for a Center too, with the Boxout Beast, Post Lockdown, Backdown Punisher, Fearless Finisher, Masher and Break Starter badges. Those are some of the best badges for my ideal center. His offensive rebounding is slightly lower than Watson’s but his defensive rebounding rating is 99, and his badges and wingspan should make him one of the best rebounders in the NBA. With all of this said, he is pretty slow, 61 SPD, 56 ACC, and only 62 VERT. I expect his athletic profile to drop him off of Flatlyner’s board since he generally puts a premium on speed, so I think he’s a real possibility for me at #6.

After these four I think there’s a dropoff of talent level from people I expect to be Day 1 starters to guys who may only be bench role players (you never know though someone could surprise you). The top of this list for me is SF Geoffrey Lane, who has a solid 6’8” size with decent athleticism (87 SPD, 78 ACC, 77 VERT) and 84 steal rating (2^nd highest in class) plus 61 Block (highest non big rating in class). He can do a little of everything and I think his floor is a solid 6^th man. Its possible Flatlyner takes Lane so he isn’t available for me at #6, but he usually prioritizes high potential guys and Lane’s biggest downside is his suspect potential rating (plus only 1 badge).

After Lane there’s a group of guys with issues. SG Ken Soto appears to be a lockdown defender but has terrible steal and block ratings. C Steven McMillian has good potential rating but is super slow, has only 1 badge and is inferior in defense and rebounding compared to the other Centers in the class. PG Nate Manis is an athletic pass first PG who can’t shoot at all. SF Kevin Houston is solid but he’s just inferior to Geoff Lane across the board. SG Doyle Boyd is interesting as a 3 & D and is pretty fast, but I feel everything he does SF Conrad Willis does a little better (Willis also has an impressive 90 steal rating). C Calloway is the best rebounder in the class but is the slowest center in the class too. Worst case scenario is Flatlyner takes Lane and I get stuck choosing from this group, ultimately I think I will take Willis if that happens.

UPDATE

After final visits I think I’m considering SF Conrad Willis over Lane. He has a higher potential rating, much better 3 point shooting and a 90 steal rating.

My Rank

Name

Position

School

OVR

Age

Height

Weight

Wingspan

DE Rank

INS

MID

3PT

INS D

PER D

PLMK

REB

IQ

PHYS

POT

Badges

Comparison

Ceiling

1

Calbert Stevenson

PF

Georgetown

78

18

6'11"

218

7'0"

1

A

B

C-

C

B

C+

A

A+

4

Tim Duncan

Hall of Fame

2

Predrag Toroman

PG

Serbia

77

23

6'0"

175

6'7"

3

A

A-

A+

D+

B-

C-

A-

B+

8

World B. Free

All-NBA

3

Freddie Watson

C

Colorado State

80

22

7'0"

229

7'4"

2

B-

B+

B

A

D-

C-

A+

C+

B

A-

2

Dave Cowens

All-NBA

4

Cliff Morris

C

Virginia

76

20

7'2"

266

7'8"

11

C+

B

D

A-

D-

D

A+

D

C+

B

7

Wayne Embry

All-NBA

5

Conrad Willis

SF

Arizona

75

21

6'7"

226

7'1"

9

C-

D

B

B-

B

C-

C+

A-

B

1

Bobby Jones

All-Star

6

Geoffrey Lane

SF

Utah

75

19

6'8"

216

6'9"

5

B-

D+

B-

B

C

C+

B-

A

B+

1

Rick Fox

Starter

7

Kevin Houston

SF

Northern Iowa

75

19

6'7"

226

6'10"

7

B

D

B

C-

C+

A

B+

4

Dennis Scott

Starter

8

Perry Calloway

C

Memphis

79

21

7'1"

276

7'5"

14

C

C+

D

A-

D

D-

A+

C

B

5

Deandre Ayton

Starter

9

Doyle Boyd

SG

Kentucky

76

20

6'5"

195

6'11"

17

B-

A-

C-

C+

D+

C+

B+

2

Bradley Beal

All-Star

10

Nate Manis

PG

Michigan State

72

22

6'2"

207

6'2"

12

B

B-

D+

C-

C

A

D-

B-

A-

B

6

Jason Williams

Starter

11

Steven McMillan

C

Mexico

80

22

7'0"

250

7'6"

13

C+

C

B+

D-

C-

B+

C+

B-

1

Anthony Davis

All-NBA

12

Kenneth Soto

SG

Portland

74

18

6'4"

207

6'7"

10

C-

C

D+

C-

A+

C

D

B-

B+

B-

6

Jerry Sloan

All-Star

NBA DRAFT

Ok the draft is starting now.

LOL the Magic select PG Toroman with the #1 overall pick. PF Stevenson falls to me at 2.

With the 2^nd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft the Virginia Beach select:

PF Calbert Stevenson, Georgetown

Love this pick, I get a foundational piece in the first class. Now to see who falls to 6.

The Bulls have selected C Watson with the 3^rd pick, pretty sure that was Flatlyner’s top choice.

Ok Flatlyner has taken C Morris, which sucks, and PG Aldridge who honestly wasn’t in my top 12 board.

I’m going to go with Willis here who looks like a solid 3&D player.

With the 6^th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft the Virginia Beach select:

SF Conrad Willis, Arizona

I feel pretty good about how the first round went. Here’s my board for the 2^nd, most of these guys probably won’t fall out of the first round though:

SECOND ROUND BOARD

Name

Position

School

OVR

Age

Height

Weight

Wingspan

DE Rank

INS

MID

3PT

INS D

PER D

PLMK

REB

IQ

PHYS

POT

Badges

Comparison

Ceiling

Edmund Aldridge

PG

Seton Hall

75

19

6'2"

196

6'8"

19

B-

A

B+

C+

C

B

D+

B-

B

C+

7

Billy McKinney

Starter

Caron Rivers

PF

Drake

74

23

6'11"

249

7'3"

20

C+

D

C

C+

D

B

D_

A-

B+

0

Richard Dumas

Starter

Juan Diaz

SG

Mexico

69

21

6'7"

223

7'0"

22

A-

C-

C+

C

C-

D+

A

B

4

Darrell Griffith

Starter

Mark Ingram

SF

Wake Forest

72

23

6'9"

236

7'0"

23

C+

C

D-

C+

C-

D+

C-

D

A+

B

1

Marques Johnson

All-Star

Alex Maggette

PG

Michigan St

72

22

6'0"

201

6'6"

24

A-

C-

D-

C

B-

C+

D+

A

B-

2

John Wall

All-NBA

Sagana N/Dour

SG

Kentucky

70

21

6'7"

238

7'1"

26

C+

B+

C-

D

C

D+

C

A-

0

Klay Thompson

All-NBA

Louis Holland

C

Creighton

76

20

7'2"

246

7'9"

29

B

C-

D-

B-

D

D-

B+

D-

A

C+

2

Theo Ratliff

Starter

Trevor Hardaway

PF

FSU

73

22

6'8"

246

7'2"

37

D+

A

B-

D

B-

C+

D+

C+

3

Tom Heinsohn

All-NBA

Kenny Best

SG

Cleveland St

67

21

6'3"

184

6'8"

77

C+

D+

C

C-

A-

D

D-

C-

B

C-

1

Donte Divincenzo

Bench

Ok I’m on the clock at 31. Most of the players on my board are gone. The only 4 left are PG Maggette, SG N’Dour, SF Ingram and SG Best. Maggette is a good athlete that I think can run my second offense, he can’t shoot though. SF N’Dour has a high potential rating and good athlete but he’s super raw. SF Ingram is a good athlete who may be a solid slasher. SG Best is a good defender who can maybe develop a shot eventually, terrible athlete though.

With the 31st overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft the Virginia Beach select:

PG Alex Maggette, Michigan State

I went with Maggette to be my backup PG.

With the 43rd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft the Virginia Beach select:

SF Mark Ingram, Wake Forest

I think he has the potential to be a bench guy eventually. Not sure if he’ll make the roster long term but he should stick around for a year or two.

All in all a pretty huge first class for me.

Edited May 12, 2023 by MKnight82

MKnight82 · May 12, 2023

2023 DRAFT CLASS RECAP - BOTH TEAMS

VA Beach Draft Picks - 2023
Round	Pick	Position	Name	OVR	Potential
1	2	PF	Calbert Stevenson	79	A+
1	6	SF	Conrad Willis	75	B+
2	31	PG	Alex Maggette	72	C+
2	43	SF	Mark Ingram	71	B

Vegas Hustlers Picks - 2023
Round	Pick	Position	Name	OVR	Potential
1	4	C	Cliff Morris	75	B
1	5	PG	Edmund Aldridge	73	B
2	32	SG	Richard Jamison	70	B
2	34	SG	Carl Gregory	69	B-
2	42	SG	Dexter Stewart	67	B
2	44	PG	Oleg Markov	67	C+