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IBL

IBL Power Rankings 2017/18 – Western Conference

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IBL Power Rankings – Western Conference

So on the eve of the difficult second album that is the International Basketball League year 2, here are the Power Rankings, and thus the waiver wire order,  for the Western Conference.

15.  Minnesota Timberwolves

PG Reggie Jackson
SG Dunn
G Murray
SF Josh Jackson
PF Cauley-Stein
C Gortat
F/C Kanter

Very young side with no impending expring contracts. 3 x 1st and 3 x 2nds in next years draft tells us this is very much a project. Look for 1 of the Jackson 4 to be traded near deadline with interest in Reggie from a potential contender.

14.  Denver Nuggets

PG Jones
SG Evans
G Mudiay
SF Oubre Jnr
PF Millsap
C Davis
F/C Simmons

A top 3 of Millsap, Davis and Simmons can rival any 3 on any given night… The issue here is that Free Bobby Portis and Mudiay will also be in line for starting berth. Killer for Denver is that they do not have their own pick – With that in mind, more moves from Shayne should be expected.

13. Sacramento Kings

PG Ball
SG Lin
G Hill
SF Fournier
PF Adams
C Lopex
F/C Embiid

Sacs top salary is Cap hits at 23m this year, followed by Lopez and then outgoing cash considerations. Kings do have strength in depth and will be looking for bounceback seasons from Favors and Parsons. Ball will be fun to watch along with Ingles and Fournier showing further improvement.

12. Los Angeles Lakers

PG Curry
SG Matthews
G Lillard
SF Gay
PF Noel
C Love
F/C Randolph

70m tied up in 4 guys makes it very tricky for The Lakers this season. If Rudy Gay can do Rudy things then we may see a lift in the rankings. Side might be a bit too reliant on unreliable guys in Noah, Morris and Matthews to mount anything more than competition for the last play off place.

11.  San Antonio Spurs

PG McCollum
SG Hood
G Mills
SF Durant
PF Randle
C Lopez
F/C Thompson

A decent side on the face of it… But IT4 being out until Jan hurts, Thompson losing his starting spot too. Only 4 guaranteed starters in their best 7 guys so expect this season to be tough. The 8-12 range is very tight and I expect SAS to being in and amongst it this season.

10. Oklahoma City Thunder

PG Oladipo
SG Bledsoe
G Brogdon
SF Saric
PF Barnes
C Gobert
F/C Gasol

Bit light on top but plenty of depth. As with a couple of other sides just missing the play offs – OKC are in a good spot with plenty of youth and picks. Add a couple of large pieces in next seasons free agency and The Thunder could be a future force.

9. Utah Jazz

PG Rubio
SG Beal
G Teague
SF Middleton
PF Howard
C Ibaka
F/C Wiggins

Utah is a side of 2nd and 3rd options and this season will reflect that. Rubio being a pass 1st guy in a pass 1st team will reap dividends yet there is a lot of uncertainty for many of their players like Teague, Ibaka, Wiggins and Fultz. An injury to a star that elevates any of their guys is needed to compete.

8. Dallas Mavericks

PG Irving
SG Thompson
G Hield
SF Porter
PF James
C Vucevic
F/C Ariza

Cant ever count out a LeBron side? I agree but this might be a stretch too far for this generations GOAT. If Porter can again, improve on last year and Klay get a bit more of the ball then maybe Dallas can spring a surprise. Again, in the bracket to scrape the play offs.

7. Phoenix Suns

PG Rose
SG Clarkson
G Richardson
SF Anthony
PF Cousins
C Whiteside
F/C Dieng

This side has a 1 season window to do anything. Their top 3 guys are rebound heavy and will need to take advantage of the scoring set up in terms of rebounds. Batum injury really hurts them – Had them ranked 6th before this. A good bench should see them through this and in to the knockout stages of the competition.

6. Memphis Grizzlies

PG Payton
SG Dragic
G Smith Jnr
SF Antetokounmpo
PF Aldridge
C Nurkic
F/C Capela

At 6th we have the Grit and Giannis of Memphis. GA to make another leap, LMA to delivery strong IBL performances (ignore his NBA play). Love the backcourt of Dragic, Payrton and DSJ. Capela to create Lob City v2.0 but this franchise need Valanciunas to start to deliver if they are to challenge in the play offs.

5. Los Angeles Clippers

PG Walker
SG Booker
G Holiday
SF Ingram
PF Griffin
C Horford
F/C Gallinari

A nice mix of proven talent and youth here. One would like a few more points coming from assists and beyond the arc. Questions over how Horford and Jrue fit in with their franchises with the additonal talent they have. Blake to flourish with CP3 gone and Kemba to finally have a dominant big to run with. This will be a tightly fought contest in the 1st round of the playoffs.

 

4. Portland Trailblazers

PG Wall
SG Hayward
G Lowry
SF George
PF Green
C Jordan
F/C Monroe

Your reigning, defending IBL Champions have a top 5 that can rival most but might struggle should any injuries arise. Hayward moving to Boston will have an impact on his productivity whilst John Wall is on for putting up career numbers. The IBL family feud to end the season at one a piece.

3. New Orleans Pelicans

PG Conley
SG Hardaway Jnr
G Bazemore
SF Butler
PF Porzingis
C Towns
F/C Turner

Some serious moves this off season will see New Orleans become a serious contender in the West. Carmelo leaving NY will see Porzingis elevate his game to 50-54ppg and both Bazemore and THJ will see bumps based on lack of options in ATL and NY respectively. PG13 leaving Indiana also pops Turners value. A respectable loss to Houston in the Conference Semi Finals will put an end to their season but this franchise has talent, youth and time on their side.

2. Houston Rockets

PG Paul
SG Harden
G Russell
SF Gordon
PF Jokic
C Gasol
F/C Harris

After finishing last season 2nd in the West but missing out on the conference title via tie break, Houston have remained static for this season – And that’s no bad thing. The core remains strong, there are concerns on how the 2 ball dominant guys in Houston can keep their stats up and if Aaron Gordon can make that next step he threatened to last season. Emergence of Jokic after the All Star break means Houston have strength in every position. The conference finals beckon.

And now on to the #1 ranked side in the West… And potentially the competition:

  1. Golden State Warriors
PG Westbrook
SG Bradley
G Schroeder
SF DeRozan
PF Green
C Drummond
F/C Leonard

Westbrook, Bradley, Schroeder, DeRozan, Draymond, Drummond, Leonard.

Oh.. More? Ok.

The strongest starting 7 by a long way so Westbrook’s predicted dip in usage shouldn’t hurt this side too much. GSW were severely hit by the reduced cap increase yet were able to work a trade Schroder who will surely see a bump in production based on how bad ATL will be this season. Very light on the bench and no real youth for development… After the disappointment of losing out last season – All focus will be on bringing home a championship for 2018.

IBL

TORONTO-BROOKLYN TRADE

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A busy inaugural pre-season has seen the Toronto Raptors acquire a 2017 2nd round pick from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for 2nd year Power Forward Trey Lyles.

Lyles was traded to Toronto as salary balance in the Hield/Dragic-Randle/2017 1st move and it was apparent from the off that Lyles, 20, would be available.

When asked of the trade GM Dan Taylor stated “Trey is a great kid and has done well so far this pre-season but we are stacked at the forward position and we feel we have enough to make the play offs with what we have.”

IFL analysts have projected Toronto to fill the final spot on the East this season, something that Taylor had very few words for when asked, “Thats their job. They are there to speak, we are here to play.”.

There is an air of discontent in and around the ACC this summer as the franchise has already traded away All Rookie 1st team lock in Buddy Hield and has now given up another young player with upside. “We all want what is best from the franchise, it is my job to liaise with the staff here and, together, decide what is the best way to progress not only for this season, but for the next 1-4. Our focus now will be to work with the group we have. I cannot see any more coming or going.” Said Taylor when pressed on this.