NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(One Shining Moment)

For the final time, who will claim the ultimate prize and lay claim to the title as basketball champions of the world? Who will be declared the 2019 NBA Champions?






First Round

The East, for all it's competitiveness in the regular season, showed none of the that to open the playoffs, as no series was close. The Hawks lost the first game to the Wizards, before easily dispatching them in 4, while the Nets also advanced in 4, ousting the Pacers to set up an intriguing match-up of Derrick Rose against LeBron James. The Knicks swept the Pistons and the Raptors did the same to the Bucks, as Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul will do battle with Kyrie Irving, Paul George and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the second round.

The West nearly started with a massive upset, as the league best Nuggets went 2-0 against the underdog Warriors. But Dion Waiters brought Denver back into it with a couple great games, then finished Golden State off with 33 points in the decisive Game 5. The Kings had the opposite experience, quickly sweeping the Jazz to earn a shot at the Nuggets. Phoenix and San Antonio put on a show, as these real life rivals squared off in a doozy that went all 5 games. In Game 5, the Spurs offense was completely shut down, as they commit 24 turnovers and shot just 34% from the field as the Suns cruised to Round 2. And in the biggest shocker of not just this playoffs, but The New Millennium's history, the Dallas Mavericks were stunned in a sweep by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Although Tony Parker and Pau Gasol are not the offensive magicians they used to be, they provided excellent defense on Stephen Curry and DeMarcus Cousins, allowing Kevin Durant and Jabari Parker to lead the offense. The two Parkers would combine in Game 3, as Jabari hit the game winner off an assist from Tony and the defending champs were out.


Second Round

But the magic ran out for Minnesota in Round 2, as the younger and better Phoenix Suns marched right over the Timberwolves, sending them home in just 5 games as D'Angelo Russell never scored less than 22 points in any game. Denver and Sacramento had themselves a great series, full of plenty of scoring and highlight worthy plays. In Game 6 with the Nuggets up 3-2, the Kings collapsed, as several players fouled out and Denver advanced to face Phoenix.

The Nets and Hawks was an absolute slugfest, as you could've expected. Derrick Rose was absolutely stellar, especially in Game 3s and 4, where he scored above 30 points, but they were both losses for New Jersey as Atlanta was just that little bit better. With everything on the line, Rose delivered a vintage performance in Game 5, dropping 42 points as the Nets kept their season alive. But it all came to an end in Game 6, as LeBron posted a triple-double with 28 points and the Nets were sent packing. It certainly looked like the Toronto Raptors would be joining the Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals, after winning the first three games against the overmatched Knicks. With their backs against the wall, the Knicks forced an absolute classic in Game 4, which went all the way to quadruple overtime. Melo had 45 points, CP3 had 24 assists, but it didn't matter, because after over 50 minutes on the court, Kyrie Irving buried the game winner to send the Raptors through, still without a single loss on their resume.


Conference Finals

The Raptors made it 7 wins in a row when they won Game 1, but LeBron had the answer, dropping 46 points to hand Toronto their first loss. Then J.R. Smith gave them their second, coming off the bench for 32 points to win Game 3. Game 4 went to the Raptors, but Game 5 was all LeBron, who scored 27 points and held Giannis to 14 points with 4 turnovers in 40 minutes. Game 6 was another duel between LeBron and Giannis, with both men over 30 points, but it was the Greek Freak who stood tall this time, making several key blocks down the stretch to force a Game 7. At home, Atlanta had an excellent strategy, using time wasting techniques and ensuring it stayed a halfcourt game, not letting Toronto run the fastbreak. This strategy proved excellent, as the Hawks would go up by as many as 21 in the 3rd quarter, cruising towards an NBA Finals berth. But shooting guard Dane Grimes came to life, hitting three after three for 15 points in the 3rd, and suddenly, everything flipped. George, Giannis and Kyrie got going, the fastbreak ran wild, and the lead was blown, and Atlanta was left heartbroken once more, another great lead blown.

Out West, the Nuggets were red hot, and quickly took a 3-0 lead, on the verge of an easy run to the NBA Finals. But the Suns fought back, forcing 20 turnovers to win Game 4, before Brook Lopez dominated Game 5, delivering 43 points to keep Phoenix's season alive. But Denver's defense clamped down in Game 6, forcing 19 turnovers as Tyreke Evans had a triple-double and the league's best team made it all the way.


NBA Finals

Game 1 was a seesaw affair, with Denver taking a small lead into halftime that melted away in the 3rd quarter. It would come down to late game execution, and Denver's was abysmal, as Dion Waiters just took every shot, missed most of them and Paul George took command on the offensive end, finishing with 36 points and a victory. But Denver got revenge in Game 2, as Tyreke Evans led an incredibly effective offense that opened up a 20 point lead early and held on after a late Raptors rally to tie the series.

Waiters opened strong in Game 3, but Dane Grimes quickly answered, posting 20 points in the 2nd quarter alone and it was over from there, as Grimes finished with 33 and Irving added 24 and Toronto's guards put the Nuggets away. The Raptors best stars certainly came to play in Game 4, as Irving, George and Antetokounmpo combined for 79 points, but it was Grimes that was the hero once more. He three consecutive threes late that put the game out of reach, and left Toronto one win short of another title.

And a motivated and hungry Raptors squad left no doubt of who was the best in Game 5, a game that was never close despite Denver being at home. Giannis had a triple-double, Paul George had 34 points and 6 steals, and the Nuggets were absolutely blown out of the water and The New Millennium ends with the same champions as in real life. For the second time, the Raptors are kings of the basketball world, and could be for a long time to come. The Toronto Raptors are your 2019 NBA Champions!


NBA Finals MVP: Paul George(28 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 6.6 apg, 2.6 spg)


Thank you all for reading these posts, this series has been an absolute blast to make, an unexpected success for me. I run a lot of these simulation type series in my spare time, but I never imagined anyone would want to read them. Certainly, there is an audience for this content, and I already have an idea in mind for another of these long simulations that I will be bringing to this blog in the future. But for now, I thank you for reading The New Millennium, for going along for this crazy ride and sticking with me the entire way. Congratulations to the two-time champion Toronto Raptors!

- Henry

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Last Ride)

Last time on The New Millennium, the Lakers and Heat got new franchise players in Luke Doncic and Trae Young, while the Charlotte Hornets made the biggest moves, trading away Tony Parker to acquire Eric Bledsoe and picking DeAndre Ayton fourth overall. There's one final regular season left, one final chance for 16 different teams to make the playoffs and give themselves a chance to claim the last Larry O'Brien Trophy. What lies ahead in the 2018-2019 regular season?






Western Conference

1. Denver Nuggets(54-28)
2. Dallas Mavericks(51-31)
3. Phoenix Suns(49-33)
4. Sacramento Kings(45-37)
5. Utah Jazz(43-39)
6. San Antonio Spurs(42-40)
7. Minnesota Timberwolves(42-40)
8. Golden State Warriors(42-40)
9. Houston Rockets(40-42)
10. Vancouver Grizzlies(40-42)
11. Los Angeles Lakers(35-47)
12. Seattle SuperSonics(35-47)
13. New Orleans Pelicans(32-50)
14. Portland Trail Blazers(31-51)
15. Los Angeles Clippers(26-56)


Led by the trio of Tyreke Evans(16.7 ppg, 6.6 apg), Dion Waiters(18.4 ppg) and Thaddeus Young(16 ppg, 6.4 rpg) the Denver Nuggets reign supreme in the most competitive season in The New Millennium's history. Right behind them are the defending champion Dallas Mavericks, as Stephen Curry(24.7 ppg, 11.1 apg) wins his fourth MVP, tying Wilt Chamberlain in real life. Behind them you find a lot of the usual suspects, and I'll give a shout-out to Devin Booker(20.6 ppg, 5.3 apg) who I'm pretty sure led the Kings to their best record in this series. And hey, Minnesota is back in the playoffs, as Kevin Durant(28.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 5.2 apg) leads his old squad into the postseason for one more run. The Lakers improved massively thanks to Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic(15.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 5.9 apg), though the other LA was nowhere near as lucky, as the Clippers fell off a cliff.




Eastern Conference

1. Atlanta Hawks(53-29)
2. Toronto Raptors(51-31)
3. New York Knicks(51-31)
4. New Jersey Nets(49-33)
5. Indiana Pacers(48-34)
6. Detroit Pistons(48-34)
7. Milwaukee Bucks(46-36)
8. Washington Wizards(45-37)
9. Cleveland Cavliers(43-39)
10. Boston Celtics(41-41)
11. Charlotte Hornets(35-47)
12. Chicago Bulls(34-48)
13. Philadelphia 76ers(30-52)
14. Orlando Magic(30-52)
15. Miami Heat(19-63)


Atlanta remains atop the East, looking for redemption after being swept in the Finals last year, but they faced an extremely tough test in the Toronto Raptors. Toronto features the incredible Big 3 of Kyrie Irving(20.8 ppg, 5.4 apg), Paul George(18.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Giannis Antetokounmpo(19.5 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 6.3 apg), who looks to deliver glory to all of Canada once more. The Eastern Conference is absolutely stacked, and resulted in absolute heartbreak for the poor Cavaliers, who had their first winning season in absolutely forever but still didn't make the playoffs. The Hornets still can't get their act together, with star James Harden(22.3 ppg, 7.4 apg) about ready to leave, though Charlotte still has one other future superstar in DeAndre Ayton(14.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg). The Bulls finally missed their first playoffs since 2002, and with an aging, subpar roster, might be ready to completely rebuild. And the Miami Heat remained awful, but at least the future is now bright with Trae Young(16.9 ppg).




Awards

MVP: Stephen Curry, Dallas Mavericks
Rookie of the Year: Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
Sixth Man: Isaiah Thomas, Dallas Mavericks
Defensive Player: Willie Lewis, Boston Celtics
Most Improved: C.J. McCollum, Vancouver Grizzlies
Coach of the Year: Michael Malone, Denver Nuggets

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Final Destination)

Last time on The New Millennium, new acquisition DeMarcus Cousins led Stephen Curry and the Dallas Mavericks to their second title of the series, besting LeBron James and the Hawks. Now, the final offseason is upon us and changes are coming.






Player Retirements

Biding farewell to the NBA this year were the likes of Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Colin Braun, Julio McDaniels, Clifton Davenport, Damien Baxter, Damon Stallworth, Cliff Hobbs and Jason Richardson. Kobe, McGrady and Richardson would all be inducted into the Hall of Fame.


Draft Lottery

The Lakers and Cavaliers were the losers of the lottery this time, as LA fell to pick number four while Cleveland had to settle for five. The Hornets moved up to third, and the Miami Heat, who trade away both Derrick Rose and Boogie Cousins in the past few years, won the lottery, beating out the Warriors for the top spot.


- The Golden State Warriors trade the 2018 2nd overall pick and PF J.T. Samuel(85 OVR) to the Los Angeles Lakers for SG Itsi Bajza(87 OVR)- 

Golden State had a poor year but are absolutely not rebuilding, so give up the second pick to acquire Bajza, who had a very good season(15.6 ppg) on the awful Lakers squad. Los Angeles now receives their second pick in the top four, and are poised to get a few more good pieces.


2018 NBA Draft

(Henry's Note- I actually made this draft class myself, importing player DNA from every rookie I could find, and because of that, the class is almost entirely full of real players, unlike the classes 2k puts out. It would be way too long for me to list all the real players drafted here, so instead, I've given you a link to check out the entire class in full)


https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XY5n3SVstbi3xWz1R4IIvpJBwZnTu6CCaxXPtBbNazU/edit?usp=sharing


Free Agency

(Apparently DeMarcus Cousins had a player option in his contract, which he took so this free agency ended up being incredibly dull)

Here are the players that switched teams in free agency:

SF Bojan Bogdanovic(85 OVR), Los Angeles Lakers, 3 years, 44 million dollars
SF Kelly Oubre Jr.(80 OVR), Dallas Mavericks, 3 years, 32 million dollars


Trade Summary

There were no really, really big trades made, but there were still quite a few that should have relevance for the postseason picture. The Utah Jazz picked up Jonas Valanciunas(89 OVR) who should pair well with Anthony Davis(97 OVR) while the Bucks brought back D.J. Augustin(88 OVR). The Bulls sent Joel Owens(88 OVR) to the Clippers to pick up 22 year old wingman Justise Winslow(83 OVR). In what was probably the biggest name trade, the Hornets sent Tony Parker(89 OVR) to Minnesota, before picking up Eric Bledsoe(90 OVR) from the Wizards for SF Calbert Walton(84 OVR) and a pick. The Celtics acquired Javier Sanchez(87 OVR) from the Magic and John Collins(86 OVR) from the Kings, as they prepare for another playoff run this year. A couple other big men switched teams, as Serge Ibaka(89 OVR) moved from Orlando to Sacramento and the Pacers got Vincent Curtis(89 OVR) from Portland.

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Big Man Boogie)

Last time on The New Millennium, the Spurs and Hawks continued to dominate their respective conferences, with LeBron taking home his third MVP. But none of it matters if you can't win in the playoffs, and both teams are seeking redemption for the past few years of heartbreak. Who will claim the ultimate prize and win the 2018 NBA Championship?






First Round

This time, there would be no mistakes for Atlanta. LeBron led his fired up Hawks squad to an absolute romp in their first round, easily sweeping the defending champion Bucks. The Pacers and Celtics had themselves a great series, but in the end, it was Boston's clutch ability that led them through, as LaMarcus Aldridge hit the game winner to send Indiana home. Meanwhile, the Knicks fell victim to the force of nature known as Russell Westbrook, who dominated Chris Paul in every facet of the game on the way to a 3-1 series win. The Pistons would be met in the second round by the Nets, who swept past the Bulls thanks to their great backcourt of Derrick Rose and midseason signing C.J. McCollum.

Out West, the feisty SuperSonics gave the Spurs a run for their money, pushing the best team in the NBA all the way to a Game 5 before San Antonio rallied to advance. Denver, led by the extremely underappreciated Thaddeus Young, took down the Utah Jazz in 4, and the Mavericks would do the same to the Grizzlies. But the biggest story of the first round came out of the west coast, as the Phoenix Suns simply couldn't handle Devin Booker and the Kings. Booker took down his real life team in 4, and got plenty of help from wing partner Brandon Ingram and former NBA Finals MVP Sherman Conway in the successful upset.


Second Round

The East remained fairly lopsided, and started out as the Hawks quickly dispatched of the Celtics as Atlanta's Alec Burks thoroughly outclassed Boston's Eric Gordon in all 5 games. In another upset, the New Jersey Nets, former 3-time NBA Champions with all the firepower in the world, fell in 5 to the Detroit Pistons, as Russell Westbrook outdueled Derrick Rose, highlighted by a 40 point performance in the Game 4 win.

The Spurs survived an upset attempt in the first round, and looked stronger for it, as the Denver Nuggets went down in 5. Denver was actually pushing hard for the top spot in the West for most of the year, but this series was extremely lopsided, as Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Love were just so much better than anything the Nuggets could offer. But the Mavericks were not nearly as fortunate, as they ran up against the young and hungry Kings, as Devin Booker, Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram gave the heavily favored Mavericks all they could handle. In Game 7, Dallas finally woke up, as the big man trio of Enes Kanter, DeMarcus Cousins and Zach Randolph took control inside, allowing Stephen Curry to hit seven threes in a blowout win to advance.


Conference Finals

As the seasons have gone on, the Dallas Mavericks have improved massively on defense, and it showed in this inter-Texas battle against the Spurs. Marvin Williams and DeMarcus Cousins harassed Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Love all series long, and while San Antonio was able to take two games, it all unraveled in the end. Game 6 was the demise of the Spurs, as Kawhi Leonard shot just 1-8 from the floor, and the Mavericks back-up point guard Isaiah Thomas came off the bench for 23 points to send Dallas to another NBA Finals.

The Hawks vs the Pistons was a match between teams with very different identities, as Detroit's backcourt of Westbrook and Arthur Stinson frequently combined to win them games, while Atlana's frountcourt of James, Jimmie Lydon and Dwight Howard traded right back. It all came down to a Game 7, which was dead even for most of the first half. In the second, Jrue Holiday absolutely locked down Russell Westbrook, who would finish just 8-25 shooting, while LeBron and J.R. Smith provided more than enough scoring, combining for 54 points and Atlanta was one step away.


NBA Finals

A lot of fans were very excited to see the first ever playoff matchup between LeBron James and Stephen Curry, and while James logged 37 points in Game 1, Curry was largely held in check. Zach LaVine made some big plays down the stretch for Dallas, but an Alec Burks buzzer-beater for Atlanta sent it to overtime. In the extra period, James and DeMarcus Cousins exchanged buckets and assists, but it was Curry who hit the dagger on a wide-open three to win Game 1. The Mavericks had all the momentum heading into Game 2, and it showed, as Atlanta ended up down by 24 at the half and never recovered, as Cousins had his way with Dwight Howard, notching 25 points and 15 rebounds.

The Atlanta Hawks were by this point a complete mess, and the wheels once again fell off in another blowout in Game 3. This time it was Curry who absolutely killed Atlanta hitting 10 threes to finish with 39 points and leave the Mavericks one win away from a sweep and the title. With everything left to do, the Hawks started strong in Game 4, as J.R. Smith drilled one big shot after another as Atlanta was up 6 at halftime. But with Curry and LaVine struggling, it was on Cousins to step up and save Dallas, and he did just that. Cousins filled up the stat sheet, scoring 39 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, but saved his best for last. With LeBron dragging his team back into the game, Atlanta's franchise player hit two big dunks. But when he went for a third, Cousins blocked him at the rim, before taking off with the ball to set up an easy three for LaVine. On the next possession, Cousins blocked Howard at the rim, before setting up a dagger three for Curry, and Dallas went wild. In the end, it was all about the big man, as the preseason acquisition of DeMarcus Cousins will go down as one of the best in The New Millennium's history. The Mavericks cruised to victory, and Cousins was mobbed, the absolute heart and soul of the franchise. The Dallas Mavericks are your 2018 NBA Champions!


NBA Finals MVP: DeMarcus Cousins(23.8 ppg, 14.3 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.3 blkpg)




Boogie Cousins has seen his stock plummet in real life, with multiple devastating injuries that, as of this writing, leave his career in a state of limbo. But in this series, he almost fills the Kawhi Leonard role, the player traded for before the season started who leads the team to glory. And just like Leonard, his contract has now expired, and according to the game, he's testing free agency. That's the headliner for what will be the final offseason of The New Millennium, coming tomorrow.

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Crown of Thorns)

Last time on The New Millennium, some lower tier teams found success in the offseason, with the Wizards starting things off by taking Donovan Mitchell first overall in the draft. The Pelicans took Jayson Tatum and Lauri Markkanen, before signing Jimmy Butler, the Clippers got Al Horford in free agency and the Lakers drafted De'Aaron Fox. In trades before the season, the contenders loaded up, with the Mavericks making the biggest splash after acquiring DeMarcus Cousins. The Lakers sold off pieces, sending Carlos Boozer to New Jersey, Dorell Moncrief to Milwaukee and Dante Exum to Chicago. The Grizzlies also sold, as Tyson Chandler was sent to the Hornets, Marvin Williams went to Dallas and Rajon Rondo joined the Magic, while the Kings finally got a top big man, trading Joe Johnson to Philly for Sherman Conway. Finally, after a great rookie season, Buddy Hield was sent to the defending champion Bucks, as Washington cleared the way for Mitchell. How will these changes affect the 2017-2018 regular season?






Western Conference

1. San Antonio Spurs(59-23)
2. Phoenix Suns(50-32)
3. Dallas Mavericks(50-32)
4. Denver Nuggets(49-33)
5. Utah Jazz(47-35)
6. Vancouver Grizzlies(43-39)
7. Sacramento Kings(39-43)
8. Seattle SuperSonics(38-44)
9. Portland Trail Blazers(37-45)
10. Minnesota Timberwolves(35-47)
11. Los Angeles Clippers(34-48)
12. New Orleans Pelicans(34-48)
13. Golden State Warriors(33-49)
14. Houston Rockets(33-49)
15. Los Angeles Lakers(22-60)


A year removed from their catastrophic collapse in the NBA Finals, the Spurs fell just one win short of becoming the first team in this series' history to win 60 games in back to back years. The Suns have turned into a powerhouse, thanks in large part to Anton Kozlov(16.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg) turning back the years. Despite trading away their best players, the Grizzlies still made the playoffs anyways thanks to a stupendous home record, while young teams in Sacramento and Seattle get in with losing records. It's become clear that nothing Timberwolves management are doing is going to save their team, as Kevin Durant gets more and more frustrated, desperate to win his first ring. But nothing's as bad as the Lakers' fall from grace, as this once well-respected giant falls all the way to rock bottom, but they should have a very high pick, as young stars like Luka Doncic, Trae Young and DeAndre Ayton wait in the draft class.




Eastern Conference

1. Atlanta Hawks(53-29)
2. New Jersey Nets(52-30)
3. New York Knicks(49-33)
4. Indiana Pacers(49-33)
5. Boston Celtics(47-35)
6. Detroit Pistons(46-36)
7. Chicago Bulls(45-37)
8. Milwaukee Bucks(44-38)
9. Philadelphia 76ers(38-44)
10. Washington Wizards(38-44)
11. Toronto Raptors(38-44)
12. Orlando Magic(34-48)
13. Charlotte Hornets(33-49)
14. Cleveland Cavaliers(32-50)
15. Miami Heat(29-53)


For the third time in his career, LeBron James(25.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 7.6 apg) is the MVP, leading an Atlanta team that has fallen in the first round two years in a row. They get a rematch with the defending champion Bucks, who seem incapable of dominance in the regular season but remain dangerous for the playoffs. The rest of the list features a large amount of the usual suspects, so it's more interesting to look at the teams who missed out on the playoffs. The Wizards could've hoped for a better rookie year from Donovan Mitchell(10.6 ppg), but they still improved massively regardless. The Raptors struggled on defense for the first half of the year, improving in the second half when it was too little, too late. Orlando adding Rajon Rondo(10.7 ppg, 9.7 apg) did nothing to help them win games in the division, while the Hornets imploded thanks to the steep decline of Tony Parker(12.6 ppg, 7.7 apg) who is a shadow of his former self. Cleveland remains awful, and Miami fell to last but will get a good shot at a top pick.




Awards

MVP: LeBron James, Atlanta Hawks
Rookie of the Year: Douglas Edwin, New Orleans Pelicans
Sixth Man: D'Angelo Russell, Phoenix Suns
Defensive Player: Willie Lewis, Boston Celtics
Most Improved: Yuri Klimov, Orlando Magic
Coach of the Year: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Restocking)

Last time on The New Millennium, the Milwaukee Bucks won their first title in over four decades, as their young core of Karl-Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis, C.J. McCollum and more led them to an enthralling seven game victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Now, the offseason is upon us and changes are coming.






Player Retirements

Biding farewell to the NBA this year were the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Travis Sanders, Yao Ming, David West and Toni Petrovic. Dirk, Yao and West all made it into the Hall of Fame.


Draft Lottery

The big losers in this lottery were the 76ers, who dropped to pick number 5. Taking their spot in the top 3 were the Wizards, who used a little bit of magic(wink) to leapfrog their way up to the top pick in the draft. The Clippers and Pelicans round out the top 3, while the Heat will pick at number 4.


2017 NBA Draft

1. SG Donovan Mitchell, Washington Wizards(Certainly a dynamic and exciting player, should bring life back to the franchise)
2. PG Chao Snyder, Los Angeles Clippers
3. SF Jayson Tatum, New Orleans Pelicans

4. PF Kyle Kuzma, Miami Heat
5. C Bam Adebayo, Philadelphia 76ers(I mean, it's a big man driven league, but this is a strange pick)
6. PG Lonzo Ball, Seattle SuperSonics(Someone give Seattle an intervention, they just keep drafting guards)
7. PF John Collins, Sacramento Kings(Quality big man for a team that needed one)
8. PF Lauri Markkanen, New Orleans Pelicans(Well, this team can shoot at least)
9. SF Josh Jackson, Cleveland Cavaliers(Yeah, this ain't saving the franchise)
10. PG Markelle Fultz, Minnesota Timberwolves(It's hard to ignore how things went in real life, but he should develop well playing with KD)
11. PG De'Aaron Fox, Los Angeles Lakers(Great pick, great fit)
12. SF Clayton Webb, Vancouver Grizzlies
13. PG Dennis Smith Jr., Toronto Raptors
14. PF Hugh Mills, Indiana Pacers
15. PG Mingyu Su, Milwaukee Bucks
16. SF Jonathan Isaac, Boston Celtics
17. SG Josh Hart, Washington Wizards
18. PF Jordan Bell, Orlando Magic
19. PF Semi Ojeleye, Phoenix Suns
20. SF OG Anunoby, Golden State Warriors
21. SF Dillon Brooks, Utah Jazz
22. SG Luke Kennard, Los Angeles Lakers
25. SG Sindarius Thornwell, New York Knicks
26. PG Frank Ntilikina, Detroit Pistons
27. C Harry Giles, Sacramento Kings
28. PF Tyler Lydon, Atlanta Hawks
30. PF Caleb Swanigan, Los Angeles Clippers
31. PG Derrick White, Chicago Bulls
32. SF Terrance Ferguson, Seattle SuperSonics
33. SF Dwayne Bacon, Miami Heat
34. SG Malik Monk, Houston Rockets
36. SG Davon Reed, Seattle SuperSonics
39. PG Frank Mason, Sacramento Kings
42. SG Sterling Brown, Toronto Raptors
44. SG Damyean Dotson, Houston Rockets
45. PF D.J. Wilson, Indiana Pacers
47. PG Frank Jackson, Utah Jazz
48. SF Wesley Iwundu, New Jersey Nets
50. C Tony Bradley, Atlanta Hawks
51. C Jarrett Allen, New Orleans Pelicans
52. PF T.J. Leaf, Atlanta Hawks
53. PF Zach Collins, Portland Trail Blazers
54. SG Kadeem Allen, Chicago Bulls
55. PG Jawun Evans, Boston Celtics
56. C Justin Patton, Chicago Bulls
57. PF Ike Anigbogu, Toronto Raptors
58. C Thomas Bryant, Utah Jazz
60. PG Monte Morris, Charlotte Hornets


Free Agency

Here are the players who switched teams in free agency:

C Al Horford(91 OVR), Los Angeles Clippers, 4 years, 180 million dollars
SG Jimmy Butler(89 OVR), New Orleans Pelicans, 4 years, 120 million dollars
C Jesse Wilks(87 OVR), Cleveland Cavaliers, 4 years, 84 million dollars
C Kyle O'Quinn(84 OVR), Washington Wizards, 3 years, 42 million dollars
SF Solomon Hill(83 OVR), New Jersey Nets, 3 years, 32 million dollars
C Miles Plumlee(82 OVR), Los Angeles Clippers, 3 years, 20 million dollars


Offseason Summary

It's a long road back for the Clippers, who have lost more talent over the past 5 years than anyone else in the league. They've already got Gordon Hayward(91 OVR) and now sign Horford, plus get Chao Snyder(84 Potential) out of the draft. Maybe someday they'll reclaim their respectability. The Pelicans are also trying to rebuild their team, as they've lost the likes of Tony Parker, David West, Bradley Beal and DeMar DeRozan over the past couple years. They do get Tatum and Markkanen in the draft, plus sign Knicks hero Jimmy Butler, so maybe the Big Easy will have a team to cheer for in the near future. I do like the Kings getting Collins, I think he's a great fit for their team, as is Fox for the Lakers, who begin their life post-Kobe with Jaylen Brown(85 OVR, 87 Potential) and Myles Turner(84 OVR, 87 Potential).

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(The Last Laugh)

Last time on The New Millennium, the Spurs and Hawks stayed atop both conferences, but new franchises rose up to take over the spots behind them. With three more rings up for grabs, who will claim the ultimate prize and win the 2017 NBA Championship?






First Round

In the West, the Spurs dropped the first game to Houston before coasting to a 3-1 win, while big Tyreke Evans bodied Stephen Curry, as the Nuggets took down the Mavericks and joined San Antonio with both top seeds through to the second round. The Jazz would be next to face the Spurs, after eliminating the Warriors in a tough five game series. Utah's hero was Juwan Moncrief, acquired in the J.R. Smith trade, who dropped 53 points in the final two games against Golden State. Portland would also have a tough time against Phoenix, but it was big man Jimmie Owens who stepped up, leading the Trail Blazers to a Game 5 win to face Denver in the second round.

Out East, the Hawks and Bucks went at it, with Milwaukee desperate to send Atlanta home in the first round for the second year in a row. It went all the way to Game 5, where LeBron delivered his best game of the series, notching a triple-double and giving Atlanta a big lead. The Hawks promptly blew it, as Milwaukee came roaring back, leaving long-serving veteran Luol Deng to hit a game winner over LeBron as the Bucks advanced. The Nets would face the Bucks next, as a hard fought series with Chicago saw Derrick Rose lead the Nets to a blow-out win in Game 5. The Knicks would have no trouble against the Magic, winning in a sweep, while the Celtics pulled out another great upset, as LaMarcus Aldridge dominated Josh Smith and Joakim Noah in the post en route to a 3-1 win.


Second Round

The upsets just kept coming in the Eastern Conference, as the two lowest seeds in Milwaukee and Boston kept up the barrage. Despite Rose's best efforts, including 40 points in New Jersey's lone victory, the Nets couldn't keep up with the Porzingis-Towns duo, losing in 5. The Knicks were also defeated in 5, as Boston won thanks to the stellar play of Mike Conley, who led them to four straight wins never scoring less than 26 points, and dropped 50 to win Game 4.

It was the opposite story in the West, as top seeds San Antonio and Denver made it the Western Conference Finals. The Spurs had little trouble with the Jazz, as Kawhi Leonard brushed Utah aside with ease, but Denver was not nearly as lucky. Portland went up 3-1 thanks to Bradley Beal's scoring, but the Nuggets would rally. They shut Beal down, as he was held to a measly 4 points in Game 6, as Denver's excellent defense carried them to three straight wins.


Conference Finals

All hail the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite their incredibly young core, the Bucks have played far beyond their level, and have continued to improve throughout their playoff run. They were at their absolute best against the Celtics, who never really stood a chance. Three-time Defensive Player of the Year Willie Lewis was completely unhelpful against Towns, Porzingis and midseason signing Nikola Vucevic. Mike Conley would lead Boston to one win, and the Celtics would force a Game 5, where they took a big lead heading into the 4th quarter. But just like Round 1, no lead is safe against the Bucks, as all three big men led an absolute rout, with Towns, Porzingis and Vucevic all scoring above 20 points and the Bucks powered their way to the NBA Finals.

It was a different story once again in the West, as the Nuggets and Spurs looked incredibly well matched, trading wins through the first 4 games. But in Game 5 in San Antonio, the Spurs' defense stepped up and Kawhi Leonard took control in a 30 point win to take a 3-2 lead. Now at home, the Nuggets rallied for a big lead, but couldn't hang on, as Leonard and Love combined for 30 points in the 4th quarter and the Spurs finally made it to the promised land.


NBA Finals

Two teams that hadn't tasted much success now squared off in the 2017 NBA Finals, and Game 1 was an interesting affair, as the stars on both sides were held in check. That allowed shooting guard Jodie Meeks to play the hero, as he led the Spurs with 19 points and a win on home floor. But Game 2 was dominated by one star in particular, as former NBA Champion Kevin Love came to play. He held Porzingis to 4-19 shooting, as the Bucks were limited to just 77 points in a dismal display, while Love notched 23 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and the Spurs won by 33 to go up 2-0.

The humiliated Bucks could have just folded there, but buoyed by a home crowd that had not seen a Finals game since 1974, Milwaukee rallied. Porzingis and Towns combined for 48 points and the Bucks defense limited Love to 5-20 shooting as the Bucks got their first win. Game 4 was a classic, a back and forth flow that saw both teams make big runs, as the stars traded back and forth. But in the end it was Kawhi Leonard who was the man, scoring 32 points to put the Bucks away and leave the Spurs with a chance to lift the title on their home court.

The Bucks started strong in Game 5, taking an early lead, but couldn't hold the Spurs off for long, as Leonard and Love led a comeback and had the game tied at halftime. But in the 3rd quarter, an unlikely hero emerged, as young Andrew Wiggins came off the bench for Milwaukee, and turned the game on its head. Wiggins blocked a shot from Leonard, before delivering two thunderous dunks and hitting a corner three, and the Bucks never looked back, rolling to an 18 point win to force Game 6.

Game 6 was once again led by a role player, and once again, the Bucks stepped up. After a very tight game the whole way through, it was shooting guard C.J. McCollum that took over in the 4th quarter with 14 points, part of 24 for the game, as the Milwaukee fans rejoiced. We're going to a Game 7!

After one hell of a series, it all came down to Game 7. The story of this game was focused on the Spurs, as after two losses in a row, San Antonio stayed one step ahead of their younger counterparts. Milwaukee just couldn't get over that final hurdle, trailing by 1 at halftime and by 1 at the end of the 3rd quarter. The 4th opened strong for the Spurs, who would take a 9 point lead led by Kawhi Leonard who totaled 38 points for the game. But Karl-Anthony Towns wasn't finished yet. Milwaukee's big man stepped up, denying everything at the rim, grabbing any rebound he could find and even hitting several three-pointers. With the interior secure, a battle outside emerged, as Leonard and McCollum traded threes, as the game reached a deadlock. But if we've learned anything about these Bucks, it's that they produce the most unlikely heroes....

Veteran Anders Fredriksson, 36 years old and a journeyman of the league, largely known after losing his starting job to Russell Westrbrook in Detroit and then John Wall in Phoenix. A career defined by others' success became his own, as Fredriksson delivered on the grandest stage, forcing several key turnovers. And then, finally, Kristaps Porzingis blew the game wide open, blocking three straight shots from Kevin Love, and running the fastbreak for dunk after dunk. Even Kawhi Leonard's magnificent performance did nothing to save the doomed Spurs, who were ran off their own court by nothing short of an unstoppable force. For the very first time, a team blew a 3-1 lead in the Finals, and when the final horn sounded, all of Milwaukee began to party like it's '71, baby! The Milwaukee Bucks are your 2017 NBA Champions!


NBA Finals MVP: Karl-Anthony Towns(18.9 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 1.6 blkpg)



I don't think anyone saw this one coming. Just a couple years removed from being the basement of the league, the Bucks narrowly make the playoffs and then completely demolish everyone in their path. An excellent NBA Finals, but a bitterly disappointing loss for the Spurs, who will certainly take plenty of abuse for this choke job. Join me next time on The New Millennium for the 2017 offseason, and perhaps see how could be next to build a roster as good as Milwaukee's.

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Fresh Start)

Last time on The New Millennium, the Toronto Raptors made a big move, trading away their third overall pick to acquire Kyrie Irving, while another star guard in John Wall got a massive contract to join the basement dwelling Wizards. In trades before the season, the Miami Heat blew everything up, trading away their franchise point guard Derrick Rose to the New Jersey Nets, while Zach LaVine was sent to Dallas. The Hawks got J.R. Smith from Utah, while the Bulls picked up forward Jack Jamison from Cleveland for Andre Igoudala. The Bulls also sent away veteran Damien Baxter to San Antonio, the Knicks got some extra scoring in Willis Hammonds from Philly and the SuperSonics sent DeMar DeRozan to New Orleans for DeAndre Jordan. How will all of these changes affect the 2016-2017 season?






Western Conference

1. San Antonio Spurs(60-22)
2. Denver Nuggets(55-27)
3. Portland Trail Blazers(48-34)
4. Golden State Warriors(47-35)
5. Utah Jazz(47-35)
6. Phoenix Suns(45-37)
7. Dallas Mavericks(43-39)
8. Houston Rockets(41-41)
9. Vancouver Grizzlies(39-43)
10. Los Angeles Lakers(37-45)
11. Minnesota Timberwolves(36-46)
12. Sacramento Kings(34-48)
13. Seattle SuperSonics(33-49)
14. New Orleans Pelicans(23-59)
15. Los Angeles Clippers(19-63)


The Spurs joined the exclusive 60 win club in another dominant season, but what is very interesting is the names lined up behind them. You have Denver, led by breakout star Victor Oladipo(22.4 ppg) and Portland, who signed Bradley Beal(21.5 ppg) before the season started. Dallas fell all the way to seventh, while shockingly, Minnesota fell out of the playoff picture in a season where they failed to find success on the road. Sacramento started in last place, making a midseason trade for C Carson Rollins(86 OVR) that at least got them out of the cellar, but they have completely failed to provide a good landing spot for Joe Johnson(19 ppg). New Orleans fell hard after trading away Jordan and losing Beal, though no one was as bad as the Clippers, who were so putrid that Gordon Hayward(26.2 ppg) took almost every shot and led the league in scoring, so there's that.




Eastern Conference

1. Atlanta Hawks(55-27)
2. Detroit Pistons(53-29)
3. New York Knicks(53-29)
4. New Jersey Nets(52-30)
5. Chicago Bulls(48-34)
6. Orlando Magic(43-39)
7. Boston Celtics(42-40)
8. Milwaukee Bucks(42-40)
9. Indiana Pacers(41-41)
10. Toronto Raptors(39-43)
11. Cleveland Cavaliers(34-48)
12. Charlotte Hornets(34-48)
13. Washington Wizards(32-50)
14. Philadelphia 76ers(28-54)
15. Miami Heat(27-55)


A lot of the usual suspects making in the East, though Detroit made a huge improvement thanks to a career year from Arthur Stinson(20.1 ppg). And New Jersey is once again a major threat after an absolutely ridiculous season from Derrick Rose(28.9 ppg, 10 apg) that won him his first MVP. Also, a big shout-out to the Bucks, who have improved so much in the past few years that they beat out the ever present Pacers for the final playoff spot. Milwaukee is led by the big man duo of Kristaps Porzingis(20.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and Karl-Anthony Towns(18.4 ppg, 11.6 rpg), and should provide an excellent early test for LeBron and the Hawks. Toronto also made massive strides this year, but fell just short in the end, and Charlotte just can't figure things out. And in a stiff competition for the worst record in the East, Miami won out in the end, with the third best odds to claim the #1 overall pick.




Awards

MVP: Derrick Rose, New Jersey Nets
Rookie of the Year: Ben Simmons, Cleveland Cavaliers
Sixth Man: Ricky Rubio, Detroit Pistons
Defensive Player: Willie Lewis, Boston Celtics
Most Improved: Derrick Rose, New Jersey Nets
Coach of the Year: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs


Ben Simmons, by the way, was mostly a bench player for Cleveland in Year 1 but did put together a solid all-around campaign(12.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.6 apg). Join me next time on The New Millennium for the 2017 NBA Playoffs.

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Winter is Coming)

Last time on The New Millennium, Carmelo Anthony delivered a title to the Knicks faithful, restoring faith in a franchise that desperately needed it(and could use it in real life). Along the way, New York gave Stephen Curry his second consecutive Finals defeat, as since his early career break-through, his time in Dallas has been defined by failure. Now, the offseason is upon us and changes are coming.





Player Retirements

Biding farewell to the NBA this year were the likes of Jermaine O'Neal, Paul Pierce, Richard Jefferson, Hubert Conway and Brett Moran. Pierce would be inducted into the Hall of Fame, though leaving out a guy like O'Neal is highly questionable, given he won two titles and was the Finals MVP both times, defining the Pacers dynasty of the mid-2000s.


Draft Lottery

Put on your tin foil hats ladies and gentlemen, because the winds of controversy are blowing. The Seattle SuperSonics, with the best odds at the top pick, somehow fell all the way to sixth, a catastrophic disaster for a franchise in need of stability. And then, the real shocker, as the Los Angeles Lakers, one year removed from giving up Joe Johnson and with star Kobe Bryant on the decline, stunned the world after stealing the number one pick. The Cavaliers moved up to second and the Raptors to third, with the Wizards and Clippers rounding out the top five.


- The Toronto Raptors trade 2016 3rd overall pick, PG Daniel Gibson(84 OVR) and PF Tobias Harris(87 OVR) to the Cleveland Cavaliers for PG Kyrie Irving(93 OVR)- 

Despite being hailed as a savior when he was picked second overall in 2011, Kyrie Irving has been a bench player the past couple years in Cleveland, largely forgotten by management. Early in the offseason, news broke that he had demanded a trade, and the Cavaliers find a pretty good package. They now have the 2nd and 3rd picks, and get Harris, who is still only 23 and signed on a long term extension. Toronto could afford to give Tobias up, as Giannis Antetokoumpo(87 OVR, 99 Potential) is ready for a bigger role. The Raptors finally get a top flight scoring threat, and hope to finally move back into championship contention.


2016 NBA Draft

1. SG Jaylen Brown, Los Angeles Lakers(Possibly not the best player available, but a perfect Kobe replacement)
2. PF Ben Simmons, Cleveland Cavaliers(Can't shoot threes, but does have 91 Potential)
3. PG Jamal Murray, Cleveland Cavaliers(There's your scoring, great 1-2 combo here)
4. SG Buddy Hield, Washington Wizards
5. PG Kris Dunn, Los Angeles Clippers(Kinda sums the Clippers up, doesn't it?)
6. PG Malcolm Brogdon, Seattle SuperSonics(How many guards do they need?)
7. SF Brandon Ingram, Sacramento Kings(Good value pick)
8. PG Niko Tavcar, Milwaukee Bucks
9. SF Tyrus Christie, New Orleans Pelicans
10. PF Marquese Chriss, Sacramento Kings
11. SF Denzel Valentine, Cleveland Cavaliers
12. PF Skal Labissiere, Houston Rockets
13. SF Taurean Prince, Detroit Pistons
14. PF Domantas Sabonis, Miami Heat(Nice steal)
15. C Ante Zizic, Denver Nuggets
17. PG Kay Felder, Phoenix Suns
20. PG Dejounte Murray, Boston Celtics(Great back-up for Mike Conley)
22. PF Guerschon Yabusele, Los Angeles Clippers
24. C Jakob Poeltl, Vancouver Grizzlies
26. SG Malik Beasley, Washington Wizards
27. PG Demetrius Jackson, San Antonio Spurs
29. SG Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Atlanta Hawks
30. C Thon Maker, New Jersey Nets
31. C Deyonta Davis, Miami Heat
33. SG Patrick McCaw, Los Angeles Lakers
35. PF Pascal Siakam, Philadelphia 76ers

36. SG Caris LeVert, Portland Trail Blazers
37. SF Deandre Bembry, Minnesota Timberwolves
39. SG Malachi Richardson, Los Angeles Clippers
40. PF Chinanu Onuaku, Philadelphia 76ers
43. PF Henry Ellenson, Boston Celtics
45. PF Dragan Bender, Atlanta Hawks
47. PF Juan Hernangomez, Charlotte Hornets
49. C Damian Jones, Los Angeles Clippers
50. SF Jake Layman, Minnesota Timberwolves
52. C Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers
54. SF Georges Niang, Washington Wizards


Free Agency

Here are the players that switched teams in free agency:

PG John Wall(93 OVR), Washington Wizards, 4 years, 160 million dollars
SF Evan Turner(85 OVR), Charlotte Hornets, 4 years, 46 million dollars
SF Kevin Martin(85 OVR), San Antonio Spurs, 4 years, 52 million dollars


Offseason Summary

We now approach the end of this series, with only three more rings to hand out, every team is going all out to try and book their spot in the history books. The Raptors have made a big move, gambling on the core of Kyrie, Paul George and Giannis, which looks good on paper. The Wizards finally get a hold of John Wall, who now hopes to save their franchise, with help from Buddy Hield. It'll be interesting to keep an eye on how the Cavaliers fare, as they have only a short amount of time to get a lot of young players up to their absolute best, but it is a great opportunity to approach everything with a nice clean slate. And can Jaylen Brown learn enough from Kobe in his final few years to prove worthy of taking the Black Mamba's mantle? Lots of interesting storylines to keep an eye on, plus a lot of teams will be looking to make some aggressive moves in the trade market...

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Reputation Restored)

Who will claim the ultimate prize and win the 2016 NBA Championship?





First Round

Out West, the Spurs faced no issues to start off, easily sweeping past the Jazz, and would be joined by the Timberwolves in Round 2. Minnesota got an incredible 48 points from Kevin Durant to win Game 3, and then 30 more to clinch Game 4. The 3 seed Vancouver Grizzlies saw their defensive collapse against the underdog Warriors, who promptly sent Vancouver packing in a sweep thanks to the scoring duo of Ellis Carlisle and Julio McDaniels. Denver would also look for a big upset, stunning Dallas after winning Game 1, but the Mavericks quickly recovered to win the next 3 in a row and advance.

But in the East, the Hawks were not so fortunate in avoiding the upset, as the Celtics would push Atlanta all the way to 5, before stunning the home crowd as Eric Gordon dropped 30 and the best team in the NBA were sent packing. The unproven Orlando Magic were no match for the veteran Bulls, who dispatched of the Magic in 4 games, with Damien Baxter and Dwyane Wade combining for 68 points in the decisive Game 4. The 2nd and 3rd seed Pacers and Knicks would also be in danger of the upset, as both were pushed to Game 5. But the Knicks took out the defending champion Nets with stellar defense, while Klay Thompson out-dueled James Harden to secure Indiana's ticket.


Second Round

In a series that saw Chicago got in heavy favorites, the bookers should really have watched the first round, as Boston crushed the Bulls, who took 2 games but it wasn't enough. And in the other Eastern Conference series, Jimmy Butler, recently returned to New York, proved to be one of the best guards in the league. Butler completely neutralized Thompson, and Indiana never found a second scoring option, as they were sent packing in 5.

Out West, the top seeded Spurs looked good in Game 1, winning their fourth game in a row. But Kevin Durant had enough of that, and led the Timberwolves to their own four wins in a row, brushing San Antonio aside. Dallas was pushed to their limits against the feisty Warriors, who got all the way to overtime of Game 6 before Edwin Russell took charge, sending Golden State home.


Conference Finals

Despite a great playoff run, Boston's lack of starpower finally cost them in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics would quickly go down 3-0 with no one really stepping up to save them, though they did scrap out a couple wins, before finally being put down in Game 6 on their home floor, with Carmelo Anthony and Hassan Whiteside combining for 42 points.

In the Western Conference Finals, Dallas would win the first two games at home, though both wins were close. But Minnesota's stars came to play, as point guard Colin Braun dropped 35 in Game 3 and Kevin Durant went off for 40 in Game 4, both wins for the Timberwolves to even the series. The Mavericks backcourt responded well, as Russell and Stephen Curry combined for 53 points to win Game 5, but would be shut down in Game 6, as Pau Gasol scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to force a Game 7. With every home team victorious so far, Dallas had the advantage. Both teams struggled to score in a defensive slugfest, but in the end, the Timberwolves fell apart, scoring just 13 points in the 4th quarter as the Mavericks hung on to advance to their third NBA Finals appearance in The New Millennium.


NBA Finals

After third road losses against Minnesota, Dallas visited Madison Square Garden and erased their previous misfortunes, as guard Kenneth Nance provided 25 points off the bench in a Mavs victory. Game 2 was all defense, as everyone struggled to get open shots. But as always, Stephen Curry was the difference for Dallas, forcing seven turnovers from Chris Paul and hitting several clutch threes down the stretch for another road win.

But Paul responded well in Game 3, as he now forced Curry to miss every shot he took in the 4th quarter and set up his teammates with easy looks for a double digit win. Curry would have another poor shooting night in Game 4, which belonged to Hassan Whiteside. The former Marshall product dominated Al Jefferson in the paint, notching 26 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks as the Knicks held off a late Mavericks rally to tie the series.

With momentum in their corner, the Knicks were firing on all cylinders in Game 5. Both Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul had 10 assists, Anthony added on 28 points and New York withstood nine three-pointers from Curry to take a 3-2 lead.

The Mavericks were all out of sorts, and even a trip back home to Dallas couldn't solve their woes. The entire team struggled, Curry most of all who went 2-9 from downtown. And with the Mavericks' star in a slump, Melo took advantage, stealing the limelight. Anthony dropped 36 points and added on another 10 assists, finishing just one rebound short of a triple-double. Dallas had no answer, and would be completely sunk when young Jimmy Butler outran the entire team on an incredible coast-to-coast lay-up that proved to be a defining moment of the series. The Mavericks fans watched on as Anthony, Paul, Whiteside and Butler, many of whom are considered bad boys and troublemakers by modern NBA fans, took over basketball's biggest stage. Anthony took the final inbound, and from half the country away, you could just about hear the masses in the Big Apple began to celebrate. The New York Knicks are your 2016 NBA Champions!


NBA Finals MVP: Carmelo Anthony(22.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.2 apg)




A huge victory, not just for guys like Anthony and Paul whose careers have been defined by failing to even sniff a ring, but for Knicks fans who have suffered through many years of agony, both in real life and in this game. The Knicks were The New Millennium's very first runner-up; it seems only fair as this series winds to a close, they finally get their title. Join me next time on The New Millennium for the 2016 offseason.

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Watch the Throne)

(Henry's Note- I actually did the trades for the 2015-2016 season a long time ago, so I've forgotten some of the reasoning behind several moves. Instead of doing a big trade post, I'll just summarize the big moves now)


In the biggest trade before the season started, the Hornets acquired PG Tony Parker(95 OVR) from the Pelicans as New Orleans received several players and two first round picks in exchange. Several big name centers switched teams, including Joel Embiid(88 OVR, 91 Potential) to the Wizards for SG Dane Grimes(89 OVR) which saw Washington flip Al Jefferson(89 OVR) to Dallas for a couple first round picks. Finally, longtime Clipper Pau Gasol(93 OVR) finally left LA, as he joins Kevin Durant(98 OVR) in Minnesota.


Last time on The New Millennium, the Kings completed a quick retooling, trading for Joe Johnson and picking up Devin Booker in the 2015 Draft. Plus, the Bucks used their first and third picks to load up their frontcourt, selecting Karl-Anthony Towns and Kristaps Porzingis. How will these moves, plus the trades made earlier, affect the 2015-2016 regular season?






Eastern Conference

1. Atlanta Hawks(59-23)
2. Indiana Pacers(58-24)
3. New York Knicks(56-26)
4. Orlando Magic(50-32)
5. Chicago Bulls(48-34)
6. New Jersey Nets(46-36)
7. Charlotte Hornets(46-36)
8. Boston Celtics(46-36)
9. Miami Heat(43-39)
10. Detroit Pistons(39-43)
11. Philadelphia 76ers(35-47)
12. Milwaukee Bucks(33-49)
13. Cleveland Cavaliers(32-50)
14. Toronto Raptors(32-50)
15. Washington Wizards(19-63)


The Hawks, Pacers and Knicks all went hard for the top spot in the East and the league, but in the end Atlanta won out as LeBron James(22.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 6.6 apg) took home his second MVP. Orlando enjoyed a breakout season thanks to the wing scoring tandem of J.J. Redick(17.6 ppg) and Javier Sanchez(18.5 ppg). The Hornets were a little inconsistent throughout the year, but got hot at the end to solidify a playoff spot, while Miami were unfortunate to miss out on the postseason with a winning record. Milwaukee added 14 wins with new rookies Porzingis(17 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Towns(12.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg) both making 1st team All-Rookie. The gap between the largely mediocre teams and the basement was massive this year, as the Wizards lost their first 21 games, but did at least have Rookie of the Year winner Joel Embiid(16.5 ppg, 10.4 rpg).




Western Conference

1. San Antonio Spurs(56-26)
2. Dallas Mavericks(53-29)
3. Vancouver Grizzlies(50-32)
4. Phoenix Suns(47-35)
5. Minnesota Timberwolves(47-35)
6. Golden State Warriors(41-41)
7. Denver Nuggets(38-44)
8. Utah Jazz(38-44)
9. Houston Rockets(38-44)
10. Portland Trail Blazers(36-46)
11. New Orleans Pelicans(34-48)
12. Sacramento Kings(33-49)
13. Los Angeles Lakers(28-54)
14. Seattle SuperSonics(26-56)
15. Los Angeles Clippers(23-59)


San Antonio and Dallas continue to dominate the West, with the Spurs coming out on top this year. Behind them, Vancouver and Phoenix surprisingly took the next two spots, thanks to breakout seasons from Marvin Williams(17.6 ppg) and Perry Drew(20.3 ppg) respectively. For Minnesota, new acquisition Pau Gasol(13.1 ppg, 10.6 rpg) had a fine season though he continues to show his age, and Houston suffered a tough loss on the final day to end their playoff hopes. The Pelicans enjoyed an incredible campaign from Bradley Beal(25.5 ppg) who provides hope with no more Tony Parker, and Sacramento began the slow move up the standings with a solid year from Joe Johnson(19.1 ppg). The Lakers and Clippers were as bad as anticipated, but Seattle continues to confound, losing 14 more games than last year and putting forth one of the worst defenses in the league.




Awards

MVP: LeBron James, Atlanta Hawks
Rookie of the Year: Joel Embiid, Washington Wizards
Sixth Man: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
Defensive Player: Willie Lewis, Boston Celtics
Most Improved: Zach King, Philadelphia 76ers
Coach of the Year: Mike Budenholzer, Atlanta Hawks




With three legit contenders in the East and two more in the West, will it be one of the Hawks, Pacers, Knicks, Spurs or Mavericks who claim the title? Once again in the playoffs, can the Nets prove they still have what it takes in their title defense? Or will one of these lesser teams surprise everyone? Find out next time on The New Millennium!

A Quick Update on The New Millennium

I haven't posted here in about two weeks, but I do want to assure you that I'm still planning on finishing up The New Millennium. Right now I'm just focusing on my main blog and Henry's Universe Mode, so I don't have the time or energy to work on anything else. However, in September, football season starts and Henry's Universe Mode content will be all caught up, so I'll have nothing to post over there except for The Dog League. So, near the end of August or the start of September, The New Millennium will return, and the plan is to finish up the final few seasons before October begins and the next NBA season starts. Hopefully you'll stay patient- we're almost at the end.


- Henry

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Cream City)

Last time on The New Millennium, Jason Richardson and Jamaal Teague led the Nets to their third title in six years, becoming the first team in this series to lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy three times. Now, the offseason is upon us and changes are coming.





Player Retirements

Biding farewell to the NBA this year were the likes of Shawn Marion, Baron Davis, Elton Brand, Jamal Crawford, Jayden Stafford, Mike Miller, Coty Porter and Quinn Park. Brand would later be inducted into the Hall of Fame.


Draft Lottery

The Bucks and Kings are two teams that have not fared well in recent years, but smart trading may have changed their fortunes. The Bucks got the first pick from the Raptors, while the Kings will draft second thanks to the Clippers. The Bucks will also have the third pick, the Kings have the fourth and the interloper Cavaliers pick fifth. Sacramento also has the eleventh, fourteenth and twenty-ninth picks, making this an incredibly busy draft for them.


- The Sacramento Kings trade the 2015 4th and 29th picks to the Los Angeles Lakers for SF Joe Johnson(93 OVR)- 

Eager to begin rebuilding in earnest, the Lakers trade away their best player in Joe Johnson, who now gets a fresh start in Sacramento, who still have the 2nd, 11th and 14th picks. Johnson is now 34, and is signed on for 4 more years on a massive deal. It is a risky deal for the Kings, but one they hope will kickstart a speedy rebuild.


2015 NBA Draft

1. C Karl-Anthony Towns, Milwaukee Bucks(Milwaukee will now attempt to build around KAT)
2. SG Devin Booker, Sacramento Kings(A very good fit to go alongside Joe Johnson)
3. PF Kristaps Porzingis, Milwaukee Bucks(Now that's a very scary looking frontcourt)
4. SG Theo Watts, Los Angeles Lakers
5. SG Mario Hezonja, Cleveland Cavaliers(Cleveland, what are you doing?)
6. C Myles Turner, Los Angeles Lakers(Good value pick)
7. PG D'Angelo Russell, Phoenix Suns(A solid replacement for John Wall)
8. C Jahlil Okafor, Denver Nuggets
9. PF Frank Kaminsky, Washington Wizards(They probably think he's the next Dirk. That's hilarious)
10. PG Emmanuel Mudiay, New Orleans Pelicans
11. C Willie Cauley-Stein, Sacramento Kings(Another player goes back to his irl team)
12. PF Trey Lyles, Miami Heat
13. SF Justise Winslow, Charlotte Hornets
14. PG Tyus Jones, Sacramento Kings
15. SF Josh Richardson, Houston Rockets
18. PG Andrew Harrison, Portland Trail Blazers

21. SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Utah Jazz
23. PG Terry Rozier, Los Angeles Clippers
24. PG Jerian Grant, Utah Jazz
25. PG Delon Wright, Boston Celtics
27. PF Bobby Portis, Indiana Pacers
28. SF Stanley Johnson, Dallas Mavericks
29. SF Justin Anderson, Los Angeles Lakers
30. C Richaun Holmes, New Jersey Nets
32. SG Pat Connaughton, Los Angeles Clippers
33. SG Cedi Osman, Vancouver Grizzlies
34. SF Norman Powell, Sacramento Kings
38. SF Sam Dekker, Los Angeles Lakers
40. SF Kelly Oubre Jr., San Antonio Spurs
42. PF Kevon Looney, Atlanta Hawks
43. PF Jordan Mickey, Houston Rockets
46. PG Cameron Payne, Minnesota Timberwolves


Free Agency

Here are the players that switched teams in free agency:

PF Orlando Barbosa(85 OVR), Cleveland Cavaliers, 3 years, 37 million dollars
C Brandan Wright(85 OVR), Vancouver Grizzlies, 4 years, 46 million dollars
PG Ross Dillon(85 OVR), Charlotte Hornets, 4 years, 38 million dollars
PF Drew Gooden(85 OVR), Los Angeles Lakers, 4 years, 56 million dollars
PG Raymond Felton(85 OVR), Los Angeles Lakers, 4 years, 33 million dollars


2016 Draft Preview

Right now, the undisputed top pick appears to be Ben Simmons, though I've learned not to put too much stock into the early season mock drafts. There are a lot of guards scheduled to go after him, including Kris Dunn, Malcolm Brogdon, Jaylen Brown, Buddy Hield and Jamal Murry, in addition to Brandon Ingram. This seems to be a very weak draft for quality big men, with the top projected forward being Skal Labissiere outside of the lottery.


Top Unsigned Players

(Henry's Note- At this point, most teams are having tons of cap issues, meaning lots of top players will not be signed in free agency. Let's take a look at who is still left)

PG John Wall(93 OVR)
SG Lenny Park(91 OVR)
SG Lou Williams(90 OVR)
SF Gordon Hayward(90 OVR)
SG Edwin Russell(89 OVR)
SF Danilo Gallinari(88 OVR)
SG Danny Green(88 OVR)
PG Ricky Rubio(87 OVR)
SG Jimmy Butler(87 OVR)
PF Derrick Favors(86 OVR)
PG Jerryd Bayless(85 OVR)
SF Evan Turner(85 OVR)
PF Al-Farouq Aminu(85 OVR)
SF Brandon Rush(85 OVR)

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Dynatic Visions)

Last time on The New Millennium, the Mavericks and Nets continued to rule the roost, but new challengers arose, including powerful duos in New York and San Antonio. With only four more rings left to be handed out, who will claim the ultimate prize and win the 2015 NBA Championship?





First Round

Out West, the Mavericks had no issues in the first round, only dropping one game to the Rockets. The Grizzlies were in for a much tougher test, but did just manage to take down the Trail Blazers, as Albert Ruffin and Marvin Williams combined for 45 points to win the decisive Game 5. The Jazz demolished the Warriors to advance, and in a shocker, the SuperSonics proved to be too deep for the Spurs to handle as Seattle progressed in a sweep.

In the East, the Nets swept the Magic, and would be joined in the second round by the Hawks. Atlanta had a much tougher time against the Celtics, as LeBron struggled for consistency, forcing Anton Kozlov to step up and lead the team to victory in Game 5. The Pacers were also in for a hard-fought five game battle with the defending champion Bulls. In Game 5, Indiana's stifling defense came to the rescue, holding Chicago to just 35% shooting in a 13 point win. In another shocking upset, the Knicks would go down in 4 to the Pistons, as Carmelo Anthony was held to one bad shooting night after another by defensive ace Nelson Cassell.


Second Round

Consistency issues continued to plague LeBron in the second round, and the Hawks would be left to fight without him on some nights. Still, what James could offer was enough to push New Jersey all the way to seven, before he was held to a woeful 5-18 shooting night in Game 7 that saw the Nets advance. Joining New Jersey in the Eastern Conference Finals would be the Indiana Pacers, who survived an incredible battle with the Pistons. Detroit got all the way to 7, and in Game 7, Russell Westbrook was on fire, logging 38 points, 11 assists and 5 steals, but it wasn't enough, as Tyreke Evans scored 20 crucial points off the bench and Indiana survived.

The Dallas Mavericks would also survive a tough battle with the Grizzlies, as Rajon Rondo's excellent defense held Stephen Curry in check for most of the series. But in Game 7, Curry hit 8 threes to the tune of 41 points and a decisive Mavericks victory. The Western Conference would feature another great point guard duel, as Kemba Walker and the Jazz faced Damian Lillard and his SuperSonics. Lillard struggled early in the series, scoring only 7 total points in Games 1 and 2, but rebounded quickly, never scoring less than 18 the rest of the way, as Seattle pulled off another upset in 6.


Conference Finals

It seemed evident that Stephen Curry was tiring over the course of the playoffs, as he was constantly asked to play 45+ minutes a game. But whatever fatigue he was feeling, he did not show it, as he completely embarrassed Damian Lillard in the Western Conference Finals. The young Lillard never stood a chance against the three time MVP, and Seattle was swept.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Nets would jump out to a quick 3-1 lead, as Jamaal Teague continued to pad his resume with one dominant performance after another. But in Game 5 in New Jersey, Klay Thompson saved the Pacers with 33 points to send the series back to Indianapolis. Any home court advantage the Pacers had was wiped out in the 3rd quarter, as the Nets held the Pacers to just 8 points and 76 overall in a dominant win. With that, the top two seed advanced to the NBA Finals for a rematch of the 2011 Championship.


NBA Finals

This rematch between the Mavericks and the Nets kicked off the right way in Game 1, with a shoot-out between Stephen Curry and Rudy Gay. Curry outscored Gay, 43-30, but Rudy won the war as New Jersey drew first blood. But the Mavericks stole home court advantage in Game 2, as Clifton Davenport's 29 points were enough to tie up the series.

Game 3 would also go to the Mavericks, as veteran shooting guard Kenneth Nance had himself a night with 34 points in the win. After watching his backcourt partner go off, Stephen Curry took control of Game 4, scoring 48 points and notching 15 assists. But unfortunately for him, the Nets made a late comeback to force overtime, where New Jersey dominated to once again even up the series.

Game 5 was a thriller, as the Mavericks would hold an early lead, only for the Nets to make another comeback. Down 3 late, Roland Snow's long range effort would just rattle out of the rim, and Dallas hung on to head back home, one win away from another title.

Game 6 was another fantastic contest, as Stephen Curry fought desperately to win another ring. In the end, Curry's 37 points were not enough, as Kenneth Nance missed a crucial late lay-up and the Nets would win by 5 to head back home for Game 7.

But Game 7 was another story completely, as Curry would get into early foul trouble. Completely spent physically and emotionally, Curry fouled out after just 20 minutes on the floor, and the reigning MVP was forced to watch from the bench. With their leader gone, the Mavericks fell apart, and Jason Richardson turned back the clock. As the New Jersey fans went wild for their wizened hero, Richardson poured it on, finishing with 30 points. The final minutes were filled with nothing but "Rich!" chants, as the crowd paid respect to one of the defining icons of The New Millennium. It was an emphatic 16 point win in the end, as the confetti once again fell in the Barclays Center(pretend it's in New Jersey). The New Jersey Nets are your 2015 NBA Champions!

NBA Finals MVP: Jamaal Teague(18.7 ppg, 10.6 rpg)




Somehow, this series has made Jason Richardson into a hero of New Jersey basketball and one of the greatest players in NBA history, and that is absolutely amazing. Richardson was one of my favorite players to watch, and someone who definitely deserves the legacy that he has been given in this fictional reality. Join me next time on The New Millennium for the 2015 offseason.

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Tri-State)

Last time on The New Millennium, Dwyane Wade led the Chicago Bulls to capture the 2014 NBA Championship, and the Cleveland Cavaliers won the lottery. They would shockingly select Marcus Smart first overall, before taking Nikola Jokic with the fourth pick. Jabari Parker was taken by the Nuggets, Andrew Wiggins went to Milwaukee and Joel Embiid joined Paul George and Giannis in Toronto. In free agency, James Harden was the headliner as he signed with the Charlotte Hornets, though the likes of John Wall, Gordon Hayward and Lou Williams are still available. Finally, the Kings blew up their team before the season started, as Chris Paul was sent to New York to team up with Carmelo Anthony and Sherman Conway went to Philly. How will all of these changes affect the 2014-2015 Season?






Eastern Conference

1. New Jersey Nets(56-26)
2. New York Knicks(55-27)
3. Indiana Pacers(51-31)
4. Atlanta Hawks(49-33)
5. Boston Celtics(49-33)
6. Chicago Bulls(48-34)
7. Detroit Pistons(44-38)
8. Orlando Magic(43-39)
9. Philadelphia 76ers(43-39)
10. Charlotte Hornets(41-41)
11. Miami Heat(38-44)
12. Washington Wizards(36-46)
13. Cleveland Cavaliers(34-48)
14. Toronto Raptors(31-51)
15. Milwaukee Bucks(19-63)


Once again, the Nets are the best team in the East, although they got a heck of a challenge from the new "superteam" in the Big Apple. Most of the other qualifiers are the usual suspects, except for the Orlando Magic, who made the playoffs for the first time in years thanks to a breakout campaign from small forward Javier Sanchez(17.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg). Philly were unfortunate to miss out thanks to a tiebreaker on head to head record, even after bringing back Lou Williams(17.8 ppg). Charlotte also missed out despite an excellent year from new star James Harden(24.3 ppg, 8.9 apg), and clearly need a secondary star. Miami still can't get their act together, and Cleveland struggled thanks to the incredibly unwise decision to bench young Kyrie Irving. And poor Milwaukee thought they could contend, and traded away a first round pick for Marion Geiger(14.7 ppg, 10.2 rpg) though at least the pick was top ten protected.




Western Conference

1. Dallas Mavericks(51-31)
2. San Antonio Spurs(48-34)
3. Utah Jazz(47-35)
4. Vancouver Grizzlies(47-35)
5. Portland Trail Blazers(42-40)
6. Golden State Warriors(41-41)
7. Seattle SuperSonics(40-42)
8. Houston Rockets(39-43)
9. New Orleans Pelicans(37-45)
10. Minnesota Timberwolves(37-45)
11. Denver Nuggets(36-46)
12. Phoenix Suns(35-47)
13. Los Angeles Lakers(35-47)
14. Sacramento Kings(32-50)
15. Los Angeles Clippers(26-56)


It was no surprise to see Dallas atop the standings this year, as Stephen Curry(29.4 ppg, 12 apg) had his best season yet en route to a third MVP. More shocking was the meteoric rise of the Spurs, as Kawhi Leonard(23.8 ppg) and Kevin Love(21.7 ppg) formed a devastating one-two punch. Portland could be a title contender this year thanks to new signing John Wall(20.9 ppg, 6.2 apg), while improved defense and better communication got Seattle back on track. Meanwhile, the aging core in New Orleans are clearly on the decline, and Minnesota struggled without Kevin Garnett's interior defense despite a tremendous year from Kevin Durant(30 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 5.2 apg). For the first time in The New Millennium, the Lakers did not make the playoffs, as Kobe Bryant(15.3 ppg) continues to decline. The other LA team certainly did not pick up the slack, as the Clippers finished in dead last and desperately need some sign of hope on the horizon. And up in Sacramento, the Kings were as bad as expected, but did get a very good year from young Julius Randle(14.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg).




Awards

MVP: Stephen Curry, Dallas Mavericks
Rookie of the Year: Julius Randle, Sacramento Kings
Sixth Man: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
Defensive Player: Willie Lewis, Boston Celtics
Most Improved: Kevin Love, San Antonio Spurs
Coach of the Year: Lionel Hollins, New Jersey Nets




Join me next time on The New Millennium for the crowning of the 2015 NBA Champions.

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Banana Business)

Stuck on a last place team despite being one of the best stars in the NBA, one superstar hooks up with an old friend to attempt to begin a dynasty. Here are the trades for the 2014-2015 season.





- The New York Knicks trade PG Darren Collison(89 OVR), SG Leo Henderson(85 OVR) and 4 1st round picks to the Sacramento Kings for PG Chris Paul(95 OVR) and SG K.J. McDaniels(71 OVR)-

After 9 years spent in Sacramento, most spent losing, CP3 is off to the bright lights of the Big Apple. In doing so, Paul(still just 29) joins up with Carmelo Anthony, whom he was just pictured with early in the summer as part of the infamous Banana Boat quartet. Sacramento gets some solid pieces in Collison and Henderson, though Henderson is 37 with his contract expiring at the end of the year. The Kings also receive 3 picks(Clippers, Knicks and Timberwolves) for the upcoming draft as an attempt to completely rebuild their team.


- The Sacramento Kings trade C Sherman Conway(90 OVR) to the Philadelphia 76ers for C Dan Buckner(87 OVR), PF Louis Joseph(76 OVR) and 2 1st round picks- 

The Kings finish blowing up their team, sending Conway to Philly. In exchange, they take on Buckner and Joseph, both of whom have expiring contracts, as well as picking up picks for this year and next year, both completely unprotected. The 76ers get Conway, who is still signed for 2 years and has remained one of the best centers in the NBA after winning the NBA Finals MVP award for Denver in 2010.


- The Denver Nuggets trade PG Jameer Nelson(84 OVR) and 2015 1st round pick to the Utah Jazz for PG Jason Coles(88 OVR)- 

Speaking of the Nuggets, they jettison the aging Nelson, another part of that championship team, alongside a top five protected Spurs pick to acquire Jason Coles. Coles should provide tons of scoring for a team that looks to once again push for the playoffs.


- The Chicago Bulls trade PG Frank Evans III(81 OVR) and 2018 1st round pick to the Detroit Pistons for PG Dennis Schroder(85 OVR)- 

With starting point guard Damien Baxter(88 OVR) now 35 years old, the Bulls make a move for Schroder, who is still only 21. In making this move, they give up Evans III, who is mostly just a benchwarmer, alongside an unprotected pick.


- The Los Angeles Clippers trade SG Edwin Russell(88 OVR) to the San Antonio Spurs for SF Toni Petrovic(85 OVR) and 2015 2nd round pick- 

With Russell likely to leave in free agency, the Clippers flip him one year after acquiring him in the Dwyane Wade deal. The Spurs offload the 35 year old Petrovic for the 35 year old Russell, who has never been a star, though has scored double digit points for all 10 years of his career.


- The Los Angeles Clippers trade C Marion Geiger(85 OVR) to the Milwaukee Bucks for C Pat Riley(80 OVR) and 2016 1st round pick- 

Since losing James Harden in free agency, the Bucks have drafted C.J. McCollum(82 OVR, 87 Potential), Draymond Green(81 OVR, 87 Potential) and Andrew Wiggins(81 OVR, 85 Potential). That makes next year's pick expendable to them, though they did chose top ten protection before sending it to the Clippers. They get back Geiger, who will be their starting center next season.

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(The Smart Pick)

Last time on The New Millennium, Dwyane Wade finally won his first ring, doing it with his hometown team, as the Bulls won their first title since 1998 and the Michael Jordan Era. Now, the offseason is upon us and changes are coming.





Player Retirements

Biding farewell to the NBA this year were the likes of Kevin Garnett, Steve Nash, Ray Allen, Tim Duncan, Antawn Jamison, Rashard Lewis, Mike Bibby, Richard Hamilton, Michael Redd, Jason Terry, Lamar Odom, Shane Battier and Darryl Berry. Garnett, Duncan and Nash would all be inducted into the Hall of Fame.


Draft Lottery

The big winners this year were the Cleveland Cavaliers, who definitely needed some help.With the fourth best odds, they won the lottery, and also hold the fourth pick courtesy of the Seattle SuperSonics. The Nuggets got the second pick, Milwuakee will pick third and the Raptors round out the top five.


2014 NBA Draft

1. SG Marcus Smart, Cleveland Cavaliers(WHAT???)
2. PF Jabari Parker, Denver Nuggets(Don't know about this one)
3. SF Andrew Wiggins, Milwaukee Bucks(Will his career turn out better this time?)
4. C Nikola Jokic, Cleveland Cavaliers(That's more like it, Cleveland gets their Yao replacement)
5. C Joel Embiid, Toronto Raptors(Ironic given Kawhi's shot irl)
6. SG Gary Harris, Golden State Warriors
7. PF Julius Randle, Sacramento Kings
8. SG Zach LaVine, Miami Heat
9. PF Aaron Gordon, Phoenix Suns
10. C Clint Capela, Phoenix Suns
11. PG Shabazz Napier, San Antonio Spurs
12. SG Nik Stauskas, Philadelphia 76ers
13. PG Jordan Clarkson, Los Angeles Clippers
14. PG Elfrid Payton, Golden State Warriors
15. PG Dante Exum, Los Angeles Lakers
16. SF Bogdan Bogdanovic, Houston Rockets
20. PF Noah Vonleh, Orlando Magic
23. SG Rodney Hood, Cleveland Cavaliers
24. SG James Young, New Orleans Pelicans
26. SF T.J. Warren, Minnesota Timberwolves
27. PG Spencer Dinwiddie, Atlanta Hawks
29. PF Dario Saric, New Jersey Nets
32. SF Doug McDermott, Indiana Pacers
39. PF Adreian Payne, Minnesota Timberwolves
41. PG Tyler Ennis, Vancouver Grizzlies
42. PF Dwight Powell, Minnesota Timberwolves
43. SF Kyle Anderson, Philadelphia 76ers
44. PF Jerami Grant, San Antonio Spurs
47. C Josuf Nurkic, New York Knicks
48. SF Glenn Robinson III, Orlando Magic
50. PF Johnny O'Bryant, Atlanta Hawks
51. SF Josh Huestis, Charlotte Hornets
54. SG K.J. McDaniels, Sacramento Kings
57. PG Semaj Christon, Indiana Pacers


Free Agency

Here are the players that switched teams in free agency:

SG James Harden(98 OVR), Charlotte Hornets, 4 years, 159 million dollars
SG Perry Drew(90 OVR), Phoenix Suns, 3 years, 91 million dollars
SG Danny Granger(87 OVR), Vancouver Grizzlies, 4 years, 53 million dollars
PF Drew Gooden(86 OVR), Chicago Bulls, 1 year, 8 million dollars
PG Bernard Clancy(86 OVR), Vancouver Grizzlies, 4 years, 49 million dollars
SG Danny Green(86 OVR), Charlotte Hornets, 4 years, 58 million dollars
PG Daniel Gibson(86 OVR), Toronto Raptors, 4 years, 55 million dollars
C Ekpe Udoh(86 OVR), San Antonio Spurs, 4 years, 55 million dollars
C Darko Milicic(85 OVR), Minnesota Timberwolves, 4 years, 35 million dollars


2015 Draft Preview

The 2015 class includes the likes of Kristaps Porzingis, Karl-Anthony Towns, D'Angelo Russell, Devin Booker and Myles Turner. At least to me, Porzingis looks like the clear number one choice, but this year's draft showed that anything can happen when GMs get nervous.

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Flashpoint)

Last time on The New Millennium, the Nets, Pacers and Bulls continued to control the Eastern Conference, while the Timberwolves just edged out the Mavericks for the top spot in the West thanks to new acquisition Jimmy Butler. Who will claim the ultimate prize and be crowned 2014 NBA Champions?





First Round

In the East, the Nets would not have it easy early on, as the feisty Magic pushed all the way to 5 before New Jersey got the job done. Atlanta had no such issues with the Celtics, as LeBron and company cruised to a sweep. The Bulls and Pacers were both pushed to 5 by the Hornets and Pistons respectively, but both advanced thanks to great performances by their star players. Dwyane Wade scored 36 to keep Chicago going, while Klay Thompson dropped 33 for Indiana to advance.

Out West, the first round was tough for everyone, as every single series would reach a Game 5. Game 5 between the Timberwolves and Lakers somehow turned into a shootout between Kevin Durant and Jodie Meeks, which Durant would win to keep the top seed Wolves alive. In a hard fought defensive series, the Trail Blazers ousted the Grizzlies thanks to Andre Douglas' 28 point Game 5 performance. In what was an upset on paper, the young Utah Jazz used their dynamic offense to take down the Pelicans, as James Harden combined for 48 points to win Game 5. Finally, in a battle between two Texas franchises, the Mavericks would eliminate the Rockets thanks to the ever reliable duo of Clifton Davenport and Stephen Curry.


Second Round

The Western Conference was thrown into turmoil in Round 2, as 24 year old Gordon Hayward out-dueled two time MVP Kevin Durant, and the Trail Blazers swept the Timberwolves in a stunning upset. But the chaos didn't stop there, as the former champion Dallas Mavericks ran into the buzzsaw known as Anthony Davis. The Brow, only in his second year in the league, dominated every game inside, and the Jazz advanced in 6.

Out East, the defending champion Nets couldn't handle LeBron James, as the King, upset at the lack of recognition for his game in recent years, took New Jersey out in just 5 games. Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade was stellar for the Bulls in his pursuit of his first ring, putting together one great game after another. But the series was tied 2-2 entering Game 5 in Indiana, and Wade had had enough. Young Klay Thompson couldn't handle the veteran star, as Wade rolled to 41 points and a dominant win, before finishing it off in Game 6.


Conference Finals

2014 may have been the Year of the Horse, but these playoffs proved to be the Year of Dwyane Wade. After scoring 30 points to win Game 1, a double overtime thriller, he powered his team to a Game 2 win, before slowing down in Game 3, as Atlanta stole a win. But Wade closed it out from there, torching the Hawks for 39 in Game 4 and 32 in Game 5, both Chicago wins as the Bulls finally made their first NBA Finals trip in The New Millennium.

The Western Conference Finals between the Jazz and Trail Blazers was a back and forth affair through the first 4 games, with the series tied at 2-2. The pivotal Game 5 went to Portland in front of their home fans, as Gordon Hayward dropped 30. Facing elimination at home, James Harden responded with 31 points to force a Game 7. True to form, Game 7 was an incredibly tight contest throughout. With his team trailing by 1, James Harden delivered, hitting a fadeaway jumper as time expired to send Utah to the 2014 NBA Finals.


NBA Finals

Game 1 in Chicago saw the home fans leave disappointed, as Harden got some help from Anthony Davis and Kemba Walker, who combined for 40 points in a double digit win. But Game 2 saw the Bulls get revenge, as Dwyane Wade responded with 26 points and 11 assists in another double digit win.

Now at home, the Jazz faltered in Game 3, and the Bulls took advantage. Wade put on a masterclass in a 43 point performance, and got some help from bench guard Abe Fordham, who had 30 more in a 32 point win. Completely humiliated, the young Jazz fell apart in Game 4, scoring just 80 points and committing 13 turnovers, as the Bulls won by 19 despite a quieter night from Wade.

Game 5 was as close as it could be, as the Jazz finally recovered from their mishaps to put together a stellar performance. Kemba Walker showed himself to be a legit superstar, scoring 13 points in the 4th quarter, part of 30 overall. But in the end, this story was always about Dwyane Wade. After years of failure with the Clippers, including two Finals losses, Wade would strike the death blow to the young Jazz, with some incredibly nifty passing to go along with a couple crucial baskets. In the end, the emotional Wade was just too much for the Jazz to handle, and dribbled the clock out, before launching into a massive celebration his hometown fans. For the first time since 1998, which was also against the Jazz, the Chicago Bulls are NBA Champions!

NBA Finals MVP: Dwyane Wade(24.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 10.8 apg, 2.4 spg)



After years of being the best in the NBA in the regular season, plagued with constant playoff failure, the Chicago Bulls have finally given their fans another title. All they ever lacked was a true star, and in their blockbuster trade this last offseason, they finally got one. This is validation for the career of Dwyane Wade, who proves that even without the big names he played with in real life, he can still become the best of the best. Join me next time on The New Millennium for the 2014 offseason.

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Complete Chaos)

Last time on The New Millennium, the New Jersey Nets won another NBA title and the San Antonio Spurs won the Draft Lottery for the second year in a row. They would end up trading the pick to Denver for Kevin Love, and the Nuggets picked Victor Oladipo first overall. Also in the 2013 NBA Draft, Giannis Antetokounmpo joined Paul George in Toronto, while C.J. McCollum was picked to begin to fill the enormous task of replacing James Harden in Milwaukee, while Harden(97 OVR) remains a free agent. In the trade period before the season, Dwyane Wade was traded to Chicago while the SuperSonics acquired Yao Ming. Lou Williams joined Derrick Rose in Miami, the Pelicans sent Andre Igoudala to Chicago for Lenny Park and Jimmy Butler filled a big perimeter defense role in Minnesota. How will all of these changes affect the 2013-2014 season?





Eastern Conference

1. New Jersey Nets(56-26)
2. Indiana Pacers(56-26)
3. Chicago Bulls(54-28)
4. Atlanta Hawks(52-30)
5. Boston Celtics(48-34)
6. Charlotte Hornets(47-35)
7. Detroit Pistons(46-36)
8. Orlando Magic(46-36)
9. New York Knicks(45-37)
10. Philadelphia 76ers(37-45)
11. Washington Wizards(34-48)
12. Miami Heat(32-50)
13. Cleveland Cavaliers(31-51)
14. Milwaukee Bucks(31-51)
15. Toronto Raptors(27-55)


Despite a late push from the Pacers, the defending champion New Jersey Nets got the top spot in the East by tiebreaker thanks to a better conference record. Meanwhile, former Net Coty Porter(18.7 ppg) emerged as a star in Charlotte, leading the underdog Hornets to the playoffs. Preseason signing Ricky Rubio(14.4 ppg, 7.3 apg) proved to be a surprising leader in Orlando, while the Knicks have to be one of the unluckiest teams in The New Millennium's history, missing out on the playoffs despite winning 45 games. Despite trading for Lou Williams(16 ppg) and having one of the best young cores in all of basketball, the Heat lost 20 more games than last year, while the Cavaliers, Bucks and Raptors remain awful.




Western Conference

1. Minnesota Timberwolves(51-31)
2. Dallas Mavericks(50-32)
3. New Orleans Pelicans(48-34)
4. Portland Trail Blazers(47-35)
5. Vancouver Grizzlies(46-36)
6. Utah Jazz(43-39)
7. Houston Rockets(40-42)
8. Los Angeles Lakers(38-44)
9. Los Angeles Clippers(37-45)
10. San Antonio Spurs(36-46)
11. Phoenix Suns(35-47)
12. Golden State Warriors(31-51)
13. Sacramento Kings(31-51)
14. Denver Nuggets(30-52)
15. Seattle SuperSonics(25-57)


The Timberwolves deserve all the praise in the world for the acquisition of Jimmy Butler(17.1 ppg) who provided a very solid second option on offense to go along with his absolutely stellar defense. In his second season, former second overall pick Bradley Beal(18.3 ppg) was fantastic in New Orleans, providing an influx of energy that propelled the Pelicans back to the playoffs. The Utah Jazz ended up signing James Harden(19.7 ppg, 7.2 apg) before the season started and he led the team to another playoff berth, while the Rockets and Lakers got extremely lucky in getting the final two spots despite losing records. The Spurs continued to improve as Kawhi Leonard(23.3 ppg) made his first All-Star Game, but everything paled in comparison with the trainwreck that was the Seattle SuperSonics. Despite making the playoffs last year, the team imploded, as young stars Damian Lillard and DeMar DeRozan where frequently seen arguing during games. The team could only muster a pathetic 9 wins on the road, and rumors of a potential move once again popped up.




Awards

MVP: Kevin Durant, Minnesota Timberwolves
Rookie of the Year: Zach King, Philadelphia 76ers
Sixth Man: Gordon Hayward, Portland Trail Blazers
Defensive Player: Josh Smith, Detroit Pistons
Most Improved: Bradley Beal, New Orleans Pelicans
Coach of the Year: Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets




For those wondering why Josh Smith ended LeBron's 9 year run as Defensive Player of the Year, Smith did have a very good season(8.7 rpg, 1.2 spg, 1.9 blkpg). Also, King was mostly a bench player for the 76ers, and did play well(15.5 ppg) but his win was more indicative of a lack of rookie talent around the league. Next time on The New Millennium, find out who wins the 2014 NBA Championship!

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Trade Winds Blowing)

After years spent constantly coming up short in the playoffs, and a dismal season last year, sees one superstar return home. Here are the trades for the 2013-2014 season.





- The Los Angeles Clippers trade SG Dwyane Wade(96 OVR), C Austin Wade(79 OVR) and SF Zac Barrett(74 OVR) to the Chicago Bulls for SG Edwin Russell(88 OVR), C Jonas Valanciunas(86 OVR), PG Jamal Crawford(84 OVR) and 2014, 2015 and 2016 1st round picks- 

There's a lot to take in from the end of the Dwyane Wade Era in Los Angeles, as Kobe Bryant is left as the one elite shooting guard in the city. Wade has seen two different titles pass him by, as the Clippers were swept by the Pacers in '08 and took only one game from the Hawks last year. After a last place finish, he officially requested a trade, and returns home to Chicago, to a Bulls team in desperate need of a superstar. The Clippers are not planning on rebuilding just yet, as they still have a deep, quality team, though any shot of being championship contenders is certainly dead.


- The Cleveland Cavaliers trade C Yao Ming(91 OVR) and SG E'Twaun Moore(77 OVR) to the Seattle SuperSonics for C Stanley Rider(86 OVR), SF Shawn Marion(80 OVR) and 2014 1st round pick- 

Having not made the playoffs once since 2004, the Cavaliers have finally pulled the plug, sending their franchise centerpiece to the Pacific Northwest. In quick order, the SuperSonics have completely rebuilt their team, and now have an elite big man for guards DeMar DeRozan(88 OVR) and Damian Lillard(84 OVR, 92 Potential) to build around.


- The Philadelphia 76ers trade SG Lou Williams(89 OVR), SF Ivan Bosnjak(78 OVR) and SF Alvin Benjamin(77 OVR) to the Miami Heat for C Dan Buckner(87 OVR), SF Zach King(82 OVR) and C Harold Buckner(66 OVR)-

With Lou Will in his contract year, Philly sends him to Miami to pair up with Derrick Rose(95 OVR), which is a lethal duo on paper. The 76ers already have Willis Hammonds(89 OVR), so they use their extra depth at shooting guard to get Buckner, who still has two years left on his deal. They also got King, a former first round pick who has 86 Potential.


- The New Orleans Pelicans trade SF Andre Igoudala(89 OVR) to the Chicago Bulls for SG Lenny Park(90 OVR)- 

The Pelicans wanted a player who could score, and the Bulls wanted one who could defend. New Orleans gets Park, who consistently averaged 13-15 points a game in the crowded Chicago backcourt, while the Bulls get one of the best defenders in the game in Iggy.


- The Cleveland Cavaliers trade SG Danny Granger(86 OVR) and SG Lloyd Marshall(81 OVR) to the New York Knicks for SF Corey Maggette(84 OVR), C Leroy Person(81 OVR) and 2016 1st round pick- 

The Knicks get a very good bench piece in slasher Danny Granger as the Cavaliers continue to jettison talent, picking up a first round pick in the process.


- The New York Knicks trade PG Colin Braun(88 OVR) and SG Jimmy Butler(84 OVR) to the Minnesota Timberwolves for PG Brook Perry(90 OVR), SG Daniele Balestrieri(81 OVR) and 2015 1st round pick- 

Braun is the higher rated player, but Minnesota made this trade for Butler, the former ninth overall pick. They needed a shooting guard who was good on defense, to make up Kevin Durant's struggles to defend the perimeter. Butler offers excellent perimeter defense, and is only 24 with 89 Potential. The Knicks were willing to give Butler up as Carmelo Anthony felt the youngster was taking too long to develop, and jumped at the opportunity to pick up Brook Perry, an elite passer who has averaged over 8 assists a game for the last eight years, and someone who be willing to pass to Melo as often as possible.

NBA 2k19: The New Millennium(Three Peat)

Last time on The New Millennium, Jason Richardson and Rudy Gay led the New Jersey Nets to another NBA Championship, their second in five years. Now, the offseason is upon us and changes are coming.





Player Retirements

Biding farewell to the NBA this year were the likes of Allen Iverson, Ben Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Marcus Camby, Stephon Marbury, Vince Carter, Peja Stojakovic, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Andre Miller, Ron Artest, Hedo Turkoglu, Trent Samuels and Greg Oden. Iverson, Marbury and Carter were inducted into the Hall of Fame.


Draft Lottery

Somehow, someway, the San Antonio Spurs have done it again. With the sixth best odds, the Spurs got the first overall pick for the third year in a row, luck almost too good to be true. The Bucks and Clippers settle for second and third, while the Raptors and Pelicans round out the top five.


- The San Antonio Spurs trade 2013 1st Overall Pick and 2015 1st Round Pick to the Denver Nuggets for PF Kevin Love(91 OVR) and 2013 11th Overall Pick- 

A blockbuster trade sees former NBA Champion Kevin Love sent to San Antonio in exchange for the 1st pick in the draft. Love was rumored to be unhappy in Denver, and with the Nuggets preparing for a potential rebuild, they take the top pick, while San Antonio is overjoyed, getting a true superstar to pair with Kawhi Leonard and Andre Drummond.


2013 NBA Draft

1. SG Victor Oladipo, Denver Nuggets(Denver takes the most NBA ready player first overall)
2. SG C.J. McCollum, Milwaukee Bucks(Milwaukee adds more shooting)
3. C Nerlens Noel, Los Angeles Clippers(That's why they are the Clippers)
4. SF Giannis Antetokoumpo, Toronto Raptors(Giannis and Paul George, oh my)
5. C Steven Adams, New Orleans Pelicans
6. SF Darin Harmon, Sacramento Kings
7. SG Anthony Collinsworth, Phoenix Suns
8. PG Trey Burke, Orlando Magic
9. SF Otto Porter, Phoenix Suns(Solid pick)
10. C Rudy Gobert, Cleveland Cavaliers(Another good pick)
11. SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, San Antonio Spurs
12. SF Jay Turner, Portland Trail Blazers
13. PG Michael Carter-Williams, Charlotte Hornets
14. PG Dennis Schroder, Detroit Pistons(Ironically, Schroder will back up Russ)
15. C Alen Len, Seattle SuperSonics
16. SG Ben McLemore, Utah Jazz
17. C Mason Plumlee, Golden State Warriors
18. C Cody Zeller, Philadelphia 76ers
19. SF Shabazz Muhammad, Boston Celtics
20. SG Isaiah Canaan, Minnesota Timberwolves
22. SF Solomon Hill, Los Angeles Lakers
23. SG Tim Hardaway Jr., Chicago Bulls
24. SG Alex Abrines, Houston Rockets
25. PG Lorenzo Brown, Atlanta Hawks
26. SG Allen Crabbe, Miami Heat
27. PG Shane Larkin, Dallas Mavericks
29. SF James Ennis, Seattle SuperSonics
30. C Gorgui Dieng, Detroit Pistons
31. SG Reggie Bullock, Los Angeles Clippers
33. C Joffrey Lauvergne, Denver Nuggets
34. C Kelly Olynyk, San Antonio Spurs
35. SG Andre Roberson, Sacramento Kings
38. PG Raul Neto, Charlotte Hornets
39. SF Tony Snell, Indiana Pacers
43. C Mike Muscala, Vancouver Grizzlies
45. C Lucas Nogueira, San Antonio Spurs
47. SG Carrick Felix, Sacramento Kings
49. C Jeff Withey, Toronto Raptors
50. PG Nate Wolters, Washington Wizards


Free Agency

Here are the players that switched teams in free agency:

PG Jason Coles(88 OVR), Utah Jazz, 4 years, 89 million dollars
PF Thaddeus Young(87 OVR), Denver Nuggets, 4 years, 94 million dollars
C Douglas Norris(86 OVR), Charlotte Hornets, 4 years, 43 million dollars
PG Cliff Hobbs(85 OVR), Orlando Magic, 3 years, 39 million dollars
PF Ersan Ilyasova(84 OVR), Utah Jazz, 4 years, 54 million dollars
C Omer Asik(84 OVR), Sacramento Kings, 4 years, 52 million dollars
PF Yi Jianlian(83 OVR), Charlotte Hornets, 3 years, 36 million dollars


2014 Draft Preview

Next year's class is one for the big man, as Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic should go very high. Andrew Wiggins is, for now, projected to be the top pick, though whether his struggles in real life affect his draft status in game is yet to be determined.