Imagine for a moment that there is no salary cap in the NBA
or the NFL. There already isn’t on in MLB, so instead we will imagine that
there is no luxury tax. And your pockets are as deep as space.
Money is no issue.
Better yet, every player in the NBA, NFL, and MLB has
suddenly become an unrestricted free agent at the exact same time. Anyone can
go anywhere.
And as if it couldn’t get any better, they all want to play
for you.
This scenario is as unrealistic as it gets. This will never
happen. Even if you become three times richer than the U.S. debt, the
likelihood that all players become available at one is so remote that Pluto has
a better chance of being both reinstated as a planet and determined to be the
center of the universe. And the notion that all three leagues would give up the
ability to restrict (if even by fear of paying a tax) payroll for the sake of
balance would be as likely as the winner of this year’s presidential election
selling off New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami to the highest bidding
country.
So this will never, ever, happen.
But it’s a fun exercise.
So here is how I would build my rosters (NBA and NFL first-
and second-string only, MLB a full 25-man roster).
NBA
Starters:
1) Rajon Rondo
2) Dwayne Wade
3-4) Lebron James
4-5) Kevin Love
5) Dwight Howard
Backups:
1) Steve Nash
2-3) Paul Pierce
2-4) Kevin Durant
4-5) Kevin Garnett
5) Brook Lopez
It is hard for me to ignore the ability of Russell Westbrook
and Derrick Rose, but there just isn’t enough space when I am only taking 10
players. Plus, Nash is a guilty pleasure as he has long been my favorite player
to watch and maybe it’s something about him being a South African-born Canadian
soccer fan who can get the ball to anyone anywhere at any time makes him my
back-up point guard to get him his ring!
Yes, I left out Kobe Bryant. But I don’t like Kobe’s
attitude. Never have. Never will. Undoubtedly amazing on the court, but in my
game, it’s about team dynamic. And he doesn’t fit mine. Wade is younger and
nearly as talented when he is on and healthy. Better yet, he took a sidekick role on his own team so that Lebron
could get his ring. That’s my kind of teammate.
Rondo is not the greatest shooting point guard in the game,
but every now and again he can light up the hoop almost to spite those who
think he can’t. And he doesn’t need to on my wish-list team. His ability to
create shots for other players is tops in the game and his back-up, Nash, can
hit the late game three or the free throws when needed. He is a plus defender
as well.
Lebron is the King and, for now at least, he is the best
player in all of basketball. The second-best comes of the bench more likely to
join Lebron as they will combine to play some combination within the 2-4 range.
Likewise, Paul Pierce will be available off the bench so if the game is close
late the offense has the ball, the lineup may feature Nash, Pierce, Durant,
Lebron and either Love or Garnett.
The key to my team is versatility and pure ability. Howard
is pretty much stuck at the 5 and isn’t dominating the free throw line, but he
will dominate the paint and the boards. In doing so and getting the ball
quickly to Rondo, Nash, Durant, Pierce, Wade, and Lebron, he allows the offense
to have a jump start. Love is similar with a bit more ability as he can play 4
or 5 and has more range.
And Lopez is another big who can score and provide a rest
for the others, though he is likely the 10th man to make it on the
floor. Don’t think I didn’t consider taking his brother, Robin, instead, for no
other reason than that Side-Show Bob hair cut!
NFL
Starters:
OFFENSE:
QB) Tom Brady
RB) Arian Foster
TE) Rob Gronkowski
1 WR) Calvin Johnson
2 WR) Larry Fitzgerald
Slot WR) Wes Welker
T) Jake Long
T) Joe Staley
G) Devin Joseph
G) Ben Grubbs
C) Nick Mangold
DEFENSE:
DE) Dwight Freeney
DE) Jared Allen
DT) B.J. Raji
DT) Vince Wilfork
OLB) Clay Matthews
OLB) DeMarcus Ware
ILB) Ray Lewis
CB) Darrelle Revis
CB) Jonathan Joseph
S) Ed Reed
S) Troy Polamalu
Backups
OFFENSE:
QB) Eli Manning
RB) Matt Forte
TE) Aaron Hernandez
1 WR) Andre Johnson
2 WR) Greg Jennings
Slot WR) Victor Cruz
T) Joe Thomas
T) Jason Peters
G) Jahri Evans
G) Marshal Yanda
C) Maurkice Pouncey
DEFENSE:
DE) Elvis Dumervil
DE) Jason Pierre-Paul
DT) Haloti Ngata
DT) Paul Soliai
OLB) Von Miller
OLB) Terrell Suggs
ILB) Patrick Willis
CB) Carlos Rogers
CB) Nnamdi Asomugha
S) Ryan Clark
S) Adrian Wilson
Selecting a quarterback in the NFL is easy. Brady, Manning,
Peyton, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger and Phillip
Rivers are fairly well established. I suppose Joe Flacco could be included
there as well. Many would then say Andy Dalton, Matt Schaub, Cam Newton, and
Michael Vick are all great QBs. Many think Matt Flynn will be good and Kevin
Kolb is said to have a great ceiling. And we have the rookies Andrew Luck, RG3,
and Ryan Tannehill. I will choose the
two who seemingly put up the numbers in the regular season, but more
importantly in the post-season as well. Between the two, they have 7 Super Bowl
appearances, 5 Super Bowl trophies and 4 Super Bowl MVPs.
Running back is fairly deep as well, as is wide receiver. AJ
Green would be my 7th choice, followed by Mike Wallace, Jeremy
Maclin, Mario Manningham, Devone Bess, Brandon Lloyd, Vincent Jackson, Brandon
Marshall, Steve Smith, Roddy White, DeSean Jackson, Anquan Boldin, Malcolm
Floyd, Percy Harvin, Stevie Johnson, Miles Austin, Julio Jones, and even (a
personal favorite) Brian Hartline, in no particular order.
Offensive line is harder to choose because they don’t get as
much press. Checking the Pro Bowl rosters is a good way of recognizing some
names as well as checking the starters for playoff teams with “elite”
quarterbacks or even dominating running games. Offensive lines go a long way in
allowing running backs and quarterbacks to get going.
There are a lot of great defenders in the league, too. But
to me, the usual names are the usual names for a reason. The hardest part for
me was not including Eric Weddle and Cameron Wake (of my Miami Dolphins).
MLB
Starters:
C) Yadier Molina
1B) Joey Votto
2B) Dustin Pedroia
3B) David Wright
SS) Andrelton Simmons
LF) Mike Trout
CF) Jacoby Ellsbury
RF) Bryce Harper
DH) David Ortiz
Bench:
C) Jarrod Saltalmacchia
1B/3B) Eric Hosmer
2B/SS) Andrelton Simmons
OF) Matt Kemp
OF) Giancarlo Stanton
Rotation:
SP) Stephen Strasburg (R)
SP) Gio Gonzalez (L)
SP) Cole Hamels
(L)
SP) Chris Sale (L)
SP) Zack Greinke (R)
Bullpen:
LRP) Scott Atchison (R)
LRP) Cesar Ramos (L)
MRP) Joaquin Benoit (R)
MRP) Aroldis Chapman (L)
SU) Joel Hanrahan (R)
CP) Craig Kimbrell (R)
No when I set up an MLB roster, I like to have a 6-man
bullpen as you see above. This allows me to have a 5-man bench. Ideally, I
would keep two infielders (who can play all four infield positions between
them), two outfielders, and a backup catcher. I do not buy in as much to the
idea of lefty-v-lefty at the plate because righties face righties all the time.
I can see where facing a left-handed pitcher would be easier for a righty and
vice-versa, but if righties are expected to hit righties than likewise should
apply to lefties.
There are a number of good pitchers out there that I have
passed on. I am basing my decision on this year. Justin Verlander, Clayton
Kershaw, Felix Hernandez, Cliff Lee, Yu Darvish, Roy Halladay, and maybe the
struggling Jon Lester could all be acceptable additions or substitutions. As
would Ryan Dempster, RA Dickey, and even Matt Garza. But I based my decision on
their performances right now.
And whether I buy into the lefty-lefty matchup, I do like to
keep two lefties in the bullpen by four righties. It could be a three-three
split. This is not necessarily for matchups, but also for balance. A good
closer and an equally good setup man are keys. As are good long relief guys.
Last year, Alfredo Aceves and Daniel Bard would have been a shoe-in for the
long relief and setup roles, respectively.
These are my opinions and based on the scientific process of
fairly-well-educated opinion. If you disagree, I don’t blame you. But I hope it
gets you thinking about who you might use on your teams.
(please note that I have left the NHL out of this exercise.
This is because, though I love hockey, I am not as knowledgeable about the
players in that league. I can make a logical argument for choosing each of the
players that I have, but in the NHL I would be doing a disservice to the more
loyal and hardcore fans to attempt my feeble opinion. So I apologize to the
hockey fans, but trust me, you'd be far more outraged had I tried.)
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