WBS EDITORIALS

[GM Lucas]

Top 10 free agents on the market.

The top free agents have been categorized by ability, ability plus age, specialties (Rebounder, 3-point shooter, defensive wizard, assist king) and overall grade. Keep in mind, with a rookie or two sprinkled into this list we also have bonafide studds who I am sure will be looking to for max deals.

Center
Deaundra Anderson
Steve Ausler
Zach Sheppard
Brian Nelson
Zourab Djidjishvili

Power Forward
Derion Williams
Vojislav Kraljevic
Adrian Summerall
Ben Whiteman
Kevin Van Hook

Small Forward
Hingle McCringleberry Jr
Kevin Fuller
Al Fuller
Fender Esquire
LaRon Hicks

Shooting Guard
Greg Barnes
Brandon Holbrook
Brad Smith
Jerome King
J.J Smith

Point Guard
Mario Wright
Victor Ryan
Byron Riggs
Marc Brown
Tobiah Brown

Sandra McMagnus

[GM Lucas]

Top free agents currently on the market.

With the season on the verge of beginning, many teams have loaded up. Fender Esquire may be right about waiting in the title game because the west looks stacked enough that they will beat on each other all season. Let's not only focus out West as Manhattan, Smokey Mountain and if Bar Harbor and Panama City can get it together the East may look as stacked. While we wait and see ho it all pans out let's take a look at the top Free Agents remining so far in no particular order

WBS: Sandra McMagnus

MOD NOTE OF BRIAN NELSON. I HAD THE MOUSE RESTING ON THAT NAME. IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING SPECIAL.

[GM Lucas]

WORLD ALL-STAR GAME

VS

Welcome to my very first WBS Editorial, man did it take long. I'm Jake Reno, not to be confused with Jake from State farm. Some know me as John Doe, that's because when I show up to events no one knows who I am. Now let's get to it. Here we are, finally, and boy do we have a good one to start with. THE WORLD ALL STAR GAME preview. Now, I just got word that WBS will announce their starters next week, but I am here to tell you my thoughts on who I think should start and how the match-ups break down. Now, I'm just a guy with a headset and microphone who has been following the WBS since it's inception into professional mainstream sports. I can tell you the history and only guess on the future but that is what we do as sports fans, so let's get to it.

First my thoughts on the teams and how they were built. I'm on two frames of thinking here. My first thought process of how this was put together was "HOLY SMOKES" How does anyone beat the WBS. You would need twelve guys playing like Cease Fire to have a chance. I mean right out the gate, on paper this team is world beaters, literally. Derion Williams, Johnny Walls, Fender Esquire, Maryjan Jovanovic, the list is damn near unstoppable.

Then I have my second frame of thought, WHAT IF!. Now you are probably asking, "JAKE! WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT IF!" Well, what if, and here's why. THE IBA team was selected by the owner, commissioner and CEO of the IBA, Jean Claude Von Doom. A man how has no obligations to stroke any egos, placate to any fans or worry about hurt feelings. What does that mean? Well it means he's going to put the best basketball team out there which means he's going to build the best BASKETBALL TEAM. He's not going to take the top 12 gunners and throw them on the court and hopes they score 200 points. And that showed on how he picked his team. He picked specialist, guys who have specific jobs on the court. He built a throwback team from when big men rebounded, block shots and dominated the paint. When forwards defended, past the ball out from a rebound and boxed guys out. When point guards set plays, got their fellow teammates opened and dished assist and shooting guards killed you from long range. When the three-point specialist came off the bench and the 6th man was a great defender. When having depth on your bench mattered so your superstar didn't burn out halfway through the season. That right there, how he built this team is why WBS should be a bit concerned. Not that I don't think WBS won't win but for the WBS, every GM pretty much sent their best player and as we know, WBS is a big mans league. With that said, there was no GM meeting where guys got together to think about strategy, game play or structure of the team. GM's had obligations to their stars, the fan outcry, public appeal and were concerned with star power being upset for not being chosen, kind of like when Super Star Guard Lucas Fonseca didn't sign a long-term deal with Motor City after finding out Fender was chosen and not himself. Now some say that didn't have anything to do with it but it was a huge coincidence that news broke of him wanting to wait until the end of the season after he found out Fender was chosen for the All-Star game. Anyway, that is what GM's had to deal with so let's see what they put together because honestly, I love this WBS team but my biggest concern is that there is only one ball. So, once again, this is the announced IBA starting five and I am predicting what the WBS starting five should look like to compete.

Point Guard

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William Kelly                                                        Dustin Gilchrist

Ok, So the IBA made William Kelly their point guard. An undrafted player from 4 seasons ago who actually stopped play for one year to take care of personal issues before he came back and played two seasons in the D-League before it was shut down. He then made his way overseas to play for Italy and that's where he crafted his game. A player who is a natural point guard. Has great open court vision, knows how to move around to get guys open and is a pass first point who can also score if needed. He is your premiere tone setter and to top it off, he's a 6'6 guard with great handle and footwork. WBS has some great players who do everything I just talked about except they are not in this game. Across from Kelly is one of the WBS most talented two-way guards who has spent his career in NY and is currently dragging the Manhattan Moguls to the finish line. That aside, Gilchrist vision, speed, footwork and ability to score would frustrate any opponent and make them dizzy but his game has changed because it had to. Once a standout point guard in all the point guard categories like assist, steals and defense, he now has become a pure scorer. I'm not sure if he could switch his game back to the Dustin he used to be for this very important exhibition game, but if he can, that would bode well for WBS because as we see, the WBS is lacking a true point guard. If Dustin can find a way to once again summon the tone setter he is, WBS will be in good hands.

EDGE: IBA

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Shooting guard

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Julius Hardwick                                           Kurt Berry

Julius Hardwick, some say the chip on this guys shoulder is bigger than the iceberg that sunk the titanic. Once, one of the WBS premiere superstar guards and the only guard to ever be a rebounding champ in the WBS for the Bar Harbor Storm took his talents overseas when newly appointed GM Franchise was hired and quickly traded for current MVP, Jerald Chadwick. Now Julius didn't just walk away like some disgruntled kid on the court when his big brother comes with his buddies to play, he was actually released because GM Franchise couldn't find a way to pay him. Having told the press that GM Franchise could have used the money he gave Jerald to help build the team around him, left Julius displeased, disgruntled and promising to make Bar Harbor and the WBS look stupid for allowing GM's to disrespect so many players. Well, here he is, letting Bar Harbor and GM Franchise know what he thinks about their decision. Averaging 35 points and 8 rebounds a game for Serbia, Julius has not stopped being an all-star. He has taken his game from a strictly scoring mindset to being an overall stellar performer. A top three player in steals, scoring, rebounding and overall defense. He can't wait to win this game, his words not mine Now, On the WBS side, I'm happy to say that position should start Kurt Berry. Averaging 39 points in the last 10 games and carrying the Black Rock Scorpions out of the depth of obscurity into second place since the tragedy of them losing their Gm, Kurt berry has been playing some of the most inspired basketball I have ever seen. In the last ten games he is averaging 5 assist 8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.2 blocks and 39 points. His gutty performances only lead me to believe he is still playing for a reason and on a mission, especially this season. There is nothing telling me he won't take that into this game on the biggest stage in front of the world. He is the prototypical five tool player and it's a shame he's not on a better team with more help but this is his time to shine and he should be made the starter.

EDGE: WBS

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Small Forward

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Angel Nunez                                                Johnny Walls

Angel Nunez, no one ever heard of him until IBA went to Puerto Rico. A former center fielder for the Puerto Rican national baseball team became one of the best two two-way players on both offense and defense in the IBA. He can rebound, pass the ball when needed and finds a way to the rim. The Duo of Angel and his other IBA and Puerto Rico Coquis teammate Cuba Macey is one of the best tandems in the IBA. What makes Angel even scarier is that he has the handle and vision of a point guard and even plays that position at times for Puerto Rico at 6'8. He does the job he is told to do and does not ever go into hero ball. One of the best players to come into the spotlight. If you want to counter his ability, you need someone who can do all the things Angel can do, but better, so I think johnny Walls needs to be called upon to start at the small forward position. Former Texas high school standout who was drafted by the then, Houston Snipers became one of the best young players WBS has the their league. If this guy was on one of the old marvel superhero cards we all collected as kids and you turned it around it would show; scoring 8, defense 8, speed 8, IQ 10, clutch 10 all in green. The now DC superstar has the Patriots in first place and has made every player around him better. I can see him showing the world how good he really is. Averaging 29 points per game and nearly 5 assist his game is so much more and I hope he is the starter on that court come game time.

EDGE:WBS

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Power Foward

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Cease Fire                                                  Derion Williams

Ok look, I have never seen a player do what Cease Fire has been able to do in any sport. Averaging 79 points a game, 14 rebounds, 9 assist, 3 blocks. His stats make him look like he's playing children. Some are saying his game won't translate because he doesn't have players like Derion Williams, Fender Esquire and Maryjan Jovanovic to go up against but he's still playing men and he's playing men who will b e his teammates for this game so there is something to be said about that. Being a force from the 3 point arch, a menace in the paint and a scoring machine he has to have a Cease Fire type day for IBA to have a chance. I am torn here because across from him, has to be, Derion Williams. He's averaging 31 points per game, 8 rebounds and nearly 2 steals and 2 blocks per and I believe is the only player who can match Cease Fire stride for stride. I still don't know if I'm close in that assessment, but we all know what Derion can do, he's got Vancouver in first place, but even with all those stats, Derion has disappeared from time to time, not often but on a few occasions. I have to believe Derion will rise to the occasion. If he doesn't have a Derion type game, WBS could be in big trouble. He has to has to stay with Cease stride for stride and land pound for pound and be true competition for Cease Fire. I really want to give the edge to WBS here but until I see it I can't go away from the man who scored a hundred points in a game this season

EDGE:IBA

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Center

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So here we have a much maligned and disgruntled Center in Doug Paul. A player who was absolutely dominating IBA as your prototypical big who can dominate the paint, score inside and just be a wrecking force under the rim. A force to be reckoned with. then the Brazil team allows sources to leak to the media all his personal struggles on national tv causing him to bail from the team in embarrassment and talk Retirment. Well he hasn't retired yet and wants to make Brazil pay for their distrust. He is on the IBA team as a favor to Jean Claude Von Doom and will represent Von Doom himself in this game. Doug Paul was averaging 28 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assist and 3 blocks as a center. Great footwork, handle, IQ, court vision and the ability to just about score when needed. The veteran center has played all over the world before finding a home in Brazil. He has never wanted to play for the WBS because he is a very private player and wants to keep a low profile, which is why he is now considering retirement after the scandal in Brazil. Now, across from him and because the WBS didn't pick a true center I am going to choose the guy who often plays center for his team in Seattle when called upon and who is possibly the player who will be the MVP of the WBS this season if he manages to get Seattle into the playoffs, Maryjan Jovanovic. This guy does it all on the offensive side of the ball, He has been asked to play each position and when he does, he produces what is needed from that position while averaging 4 points per game. Even with his great play, Seattle is third in their division. Some say Maryjan is starting to tire out because of the minutes he has to logged in, in order to keep Seattle in the playoff hunt but it hasn't slowed him down yet. He is as dominating as they come but many worry that Seattle's struggles are coming due to the fact Maryjan is completely given up the defensive side of the ball because off all the scoring he needs to do, much like Dustin Gilchrist. Because I don't know what head space Doug Paul will be coming into this game and I'm not sure what type of shape Maryjan will be coming into this game with sources saying he is nursing some ankle issues. I am going to have to disappoint y'all and call this an even match up.

EDGE:EVEN

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BENCHES

While IBA put together a great bench of specific skill players like three-point specialist Abel Marley. slashing fiery point guard from Japan Talon Yamada and another disgruntled former WBS star out for revenge and diffensive two-way star Mario Wright. The WBS bench is another all-star team that could easily start in place of all the players i just mentioned. There is no one on the IBA side of the ball who can match up with Kasey Babayaga, Fender Esquire and Jared Anderson. And there is definitely no player over 6'8 that can defend the permitter when 6'8 small forward John Holden starts launching 3 pointers. The bench may be the difference in this game and it just might have too.

EDGE: WBS

I hoped you enjoyed this editorial. I have been given the keys to the Ferrari and will be doing more in the future. I hope WBS listens to me, but if not, good luck WBS and make us all proud, because if you don't we will have a lot to talk about after Cease Fire gets off the mic.