NBA 2K17: Playing GM of the Memphis Grizzlies for five years

Year 5

Offseason Review

This year we still didn’t have to sign any staff as I had signed them to four year deals in the first offseason. We did decide to use the 20th pick in the draft on Thomas Skinner, a center out of Iowa. Not only was he best overall available, but he provides interior defense and rebounding which would help with the likely departure of Deyonta Davis.

Going into free agency, my number one priority was re-signing Davis, but with my cap already near the ceiling, I knew he would most likely be gone. I ended up being about three million per year short of where I needed to be and had to settle with signing Rajon Rondo and Georges Niang as two end of the bench role players. The team definitely did not improve in free agency, but there was nothing we could do.

Midseason Review

After another poor start of 13-18, I decided with it being my last year. I would use all my assets to bring the championship to Memphis. With my cap being too high to bring in a big contract, I knew I would have to trade one big contract in a deal blockbuster deal. The contract I picked ended up being Kyle Lowry’s because I thought he was the most expendable. With the growth of Wade Baldwin IV at point guard, we could use Lowry and assets to acquire a better post player than what we currently had on the roster. That player ended up being Kristaps Porzingis along with Kyle Anderson. Now I know the Knicks may never trade Porzingis, but my offer was pretty solid and this was the last chance to win the championship and complete my five years by bringing the trophy home to Memphis.

"Kristaps Porzingis"

By the time we got to the break, the team had rebounded to become 31-27 and currently hold the sixth spot in the conference. The team seemed to move the ball better without Lowry at the point since Baldwin IV wasn’t as much of a shot taker, but rather more of a distributor. Porzingis fit in well with Whiteside as he could roam more and get perimeter shots with Whiteside sitting in the lane.

Postseason Overview

The year didn’t finish as well as I had hoped for however. The Grizzlies finished 45-37, earning the sixth seed in the west. Playing the Karl-Anthony Towns led Minnesota Timberwolves in round one actually turned out pretty solid. Porzingis ate up the Wolves, whereas Towns struggled, leading to the Wolves getting eliminated in six games. The next round looked to be tough facing the defending champion Dallas Mavericks. After going up two games to one, I thought the Grizzlies might have a fairy tale ending to my run as the general manager. Instead the Mavericks came back and beat us in six games ending my hopes of having a parade in Memphis. The final three games were tough to look at with too many players missing a majority of their shots and turning the ball over more than I would have liked.

Season Notes:

• James Harden won MVP, Brandon Knight won the Sixth Man of the Year for a fourth time in five years
• Sixers were one seed again along with Utah Jazz led by Rodney Hood and Dennis Smith Jr.
• Warriors were ousted in second round again while the Sixers finally beat Lebron to make it to Finals where they lost to the Mavericks in six games