Baltimore Pirates
Baltimore Pirates
Team Season Records
Season 1: 11-51 (Out of Playoffs)
Season 2: 30-50 (Out of Playoffs)
Season 3: 40-40 #8 Seed
Season 4: 49-31 #6 Seed
Season 5: 31-49 (Out of Playoffs)
Season 6: 31-49 (Out of Playoffs)
Season 7: 24-56 (Out of Playoffs)
Season 8: 34-46 (Out of Playoffs)
Baltimore Pirates
Season 9: 43-37 #7 Seed
Team Playoff Records
Season 3: Loss to Brooklyn 3-0 in 1st Round
Season 4: Loss to Washington 3-1 in 1st Round
Baltimore Pirates
Season 9: Loss to Budapest 3-2 in 1st Round
Season Leaders
Season 1
Points per game: Mike Sewell (17)
Rebounds per game: Frank Osteen (6)
Assists per game: Stub Madison (9.9)
Season 2
Points per game: Joe Jones (23.2)
Rebounds per game: Bill Lopez (10.8)
Assists per game: Stub Madison (11.2)
Season 3
Points per game: Joe Jones (25.9)
Rebounds per game: George Lush (8.8)
Assists per game: Stub Madison (11.9)
Season 4
Points per game: Joe Jones (24.7)
Rebounds per game: Larry Chapman (8.7)
Assists per game: Stub Madison (11.6)
Season 5
Points per game: Larry Chapman (19.9)
Rebounds per game: Larry Chapman (8.6)
Assists per game: Ethan Hunt (6.8)
Season 6
Points per game: Joe Jones (21.3)
Rebounds per game: George Lush (7.7)
Assists per game: Stub Madison (9.3)
Season 7
Points per game: Joe Jones (18.4)
Rebounds per game: George Lush (7.5)
Assists per game: Stub Madison (8.7)
Season 8
Points per game: George Lush (19.6)
Rebounds per game: George Lush (6.6)
Assists per game: Anson Valente (10.8)
Baltimore Pirates
Season 9
Points per game: Johnny Tatum (19.1)
Rebounds per game: Zane Rivers (8.3)
Assists per game: Anson Valente (10.7)
In the Beginning
As one of the original franchises in the World Basketball Association the Baltimore Golden Beavers began their quest for glory as optimistically as any of the other twenty-two teams embarking to build a champion. However, as circumstances would have it the Baltimore franchise ended up with a precarious position in the inaugural draft drafting from the 15th spot. Without a guarantee to land a star, management immediately set out on a course to build for the future. Credited with pulling off the first trade in WBA history, Baltimore reached an agreement with New York sending their 15th pick Mike Begley to New York for the 20th pick Pete Benton and a pair of future second round draft picks. The rest of Baltimore’s draft that was to shape the fortune of the team for years to come looked something like this:
2nd Round 30th Overall: Stub Madison
3rd Round 45th Overall: Mike Sewell
4th Round 60th Overall: Joe Clark
5th Round 85th Overall: George Grabowski
6th Round 100th Overall: Roger Mayer
7th Round 115th Overall: John Shannon
8th Round 130th Overall: Joe Miller
9th Round 160th Overall: Frank Osteen
10th Round 185th Overall: Jimmy Ortiz
11th Round 200th Overall: Barry McCormick
12th Round 215th Overall: Joe McCarthy
13th Round 230th Overall: Steve Walters
14th Round 245th Overall: Johnny Mitchell
Season 1
As the season commenced Mike Begley soon made Baltimore management regret trading him as he blossomed averaging close to 22 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks a game, eventually leading division rival New York to the playoffs. As the wins came few and far between management eventually decided to go the whole nine yards into a full on rebuilding mode. The team traded their 4th round pick Joe Clark to Roswell for Tom Robertson a 13th round pick and another future 2nd round. Although Clark had not panned out as planned, Robertson was not going to help any the hope laid in the overrated 2nd round pick. To further emphasize rebuilding the team dealt their supposed star Pete Benton and a 2ndround pick to Midland for a future first round pick. Management obviously felt these draft picks to be quite a commodity for the price that was being paid for them. Only time would tell if these investments in the future would pan out for the franchise.
Rebuilding is often a softer term given to the fact that the team is going to face a lot of losing and that is what Baltimore did in season one, a lot of losing. Their eleven wins were second only to Gabon’s nine as worst in the league. One media report summarized the season for Baltimore, “they sucked they did end up battling for the worst record and were tied with Gabon until recently. They had the third worst offense and the second worst defense. But, 3 first round draft picks should help ease the pain.” Indeed, the only bright spot in season one was the play of second round pick Stub Madison as he garnered an all-spot after averaging close to 10 assists a game. The leading recipient of those assists was 3rd round pick Mike Sewell as he too earned an all-star spot leading the team in scoring at a 17 a game while contributing with rebounds and assists. Although wins were scarce the franchise and the city of Baltimore had a lot to look forward to as their all-stars developed but the ultimate hope lay in the draft picks that they had sacrificed so much to attain.
Season 2
The fate of Baltimore lay in the league’s first rookie draft as they had four draft picks and three of those of the first round caliber. The first rookie draft proved abundant with talent as names like Wayne Taylor, Bill Yeager, and A.J. Shulz were taken. However, as luck would have it the cream of the draft was taken right before Baltimore could get a slice of it. Holding the number nine, ten, and fourteen picks the team ended up with Joe Jones, Bill Lopez and George Lush, missing out on such players as Horace Colbert, Scott Nicholson, Paul Wilson, Kelvin Davidson and passing up on Harry Jarvis.
The young blood brought newfound hope to the franchise as each of the picks showed promise with Joe Jones lighting it up as one of the league’s leading scorers while Lopez gave the team its first consistent double digit rebounder. Lush provided solid play and coupled with Stub Madison and Mike Sewell the team almost tripled its win total of the previous season be racking up 30 wins but finished just outside the playoffs.
Although disappointment lingered the Baltimore loyal remained hopeful as reports credited the young age of the players as the reason for the struggles and maintained that the team would “mature into a great team over the next few years.”
Season 3
Drafts had not been kind to Baltimore, as it seemed that the superstar that would redefine the franchise was always slightly out of reach but this season’s draft proved that even if within reach the right selection consistently eluded them. For the season three rookie draft the team ended up with the 11th overall pick and unfortunately for the team the 10th selection by Washington snatched hall of fame point guard Parker Mason off the boards. The team could have rebounded well with the selection of Heiko Van Brandt who was still on the boards but opted to select the mediocre Bob Delaney. To Baltimore’s credit, even the team after them Varese passed on Van Brandt opting to take the forgotten Myron Faris.
Early in the season in a quest to reach the next level Baltimore put together a package that included Bill Lopez to acquire a true center in Winifred’s Marty Williams who was good for 15 points and 10 rebounds a game. The move helped Baltimore tremendously but later in the season William’s welcome wore out. In the 3rd time that season Williams was moved once again this time to Midland in exchange for unproven player Burt Rodriguez and two future 1st round picks. Right when the team was on the way to respectability a move for the future once again sacrificed the present.
Still the improved play of last years rookies Joe Jones and George Lush and the core of Stub Madison and Mike Sewell provided Baltimore with its best season finishing at an even 40-40 good enough for the 8th seed in the east. The core of the team looked strong, Jones ignited the scoring with 25 points a game while Sewell and Lush chipped in with a 19 and 17 points respectively while Madison enjoyed a career year with 11.9 assists. However, the team was still not ready to face the big boys as evidenced by Brooklyn’s 3-0 sweep over Baltimore in the team’s playoff debut.
Season 4
During the off-season the team faced the loss of Mike Sewell via free agency but as free agency takes it also gives as the team was able to sign double-double machine Larry Chapman a career 20 point and 10 rebound player. Besides the loss of Sewell the rest of the team remained intact and with Chapman signifying an improvement over Sewell the team was set to achieve its greatest season yet. Joe Jones now established as one of the leagues most proficient scorers averaged close to 25 points a game while new addition Larry Chapman chipped in 21 of his own while pulling down almost nine rebounds a game. Madison proving himself as one of the leagues most consistent performers once again had a great season by dishing out 11.6 assists a game.
Ultimately, the team improved by nine games over the previous season reaching the highest point in the franchise’s history by recording a 49-31 record and attaining the number six seed in the east. Media reports were now showering praises on Baltimore’s high octane offense that allowed them to average 105 points a game but what kept them from the top was their rebounding. This weakness was compounded in the playoffs when they squared off against the defensive minded Washington Monuments led by Boom Boom Casey. Although losing the series to Washington three games to one Baltimore managed to make break new ground by attaining their first playoff win in franchise history. The franchise was set on an upward swing but only time would tell if these seasonal improvements marked a continuing winning trend or this playoff win signified the peak of the franchise for years to come.
Season 5
#20 Baltimore John Kelly
Baltimore
Larry Chapman 8.6 reb 19.9 ppg 2.4 bpg
Ethan Hunt 6.8 apg 14.3 ppg 55.4 fg%
Baltimore 31 49
No play-offs
Season 5 trades
Baltimore gets:
Ethan Hunt, Jesus Dienes and VI’s Season8-2nd Round Pick
Virgin Island gets:
Stub Madison, John Simmons, Billy Owens, Rochester’s Season6-1st round pick, and 1mil in season 6
Baltimore gets:
Sage Walker
Gabon gets:
Burt Rodriquez
Baltimore gets:
Mercer, Alfonso, E. Jones Montana season 6 2nd, & London season 7 2nd
Chacarita gets:
Delaney & Baltimore Season 10 2nd
FA G MIN FG% FT% 3P% REB A PF BLK TO STL PTS
Don Beard 61 21 45.2 63.6 31.0 1.7 0.7 1.2 0.0 0.4 0.4 9.3
Lou Lee 76 11 38.0 77.6 0.0 1.4 1.0 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.5 3.6
Junior Palladin 51 7 40.9 46.7 0.0 1.7 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.5 0.4 2.9
Roger Starr 26 9 38.7 50.0 0.0 0.5 1.1 0.4 0.0 0.4 0.1 2.5
Eric Bonham 33 8 42.5 62.1 0.0 2.0 1.0 0.4 0.1 0.8 0.4 2.4
Extended contract of PF George Lush
A new wind blew into Baltimore, with it came a new Coach/Gm owner Robby Arnold and new name the Sentinals Coach Arnold got to inherit a playoff team but also had to handle FA and an unholy cap problem.
With three players (Madison,Chapman and Delaney) combined salaries over 20+ million and fa George Lush and Joe Jones GM Arnold had to make a decision.So he decided to have an fire sale by letting Jones go and resigned Lush, and then made the move that still stands as one of the most inexprenced trades in league history traded George Lush to Washington. This was overturned by Commish Hicks who ruled that the was trade was unfair and started the now infamous trade committee to protect other rookiee GM’s from making mistakes.
With Jones gone the Sentinals had no real offensive threats Chapman tried to pick up the gap but the pressure was showing on the old vetran who just didnt have enough help. So Arnold did the next logical thing he started trading superstars to get under the cap. He traded away Stub Madison and Bob Delaney for scrubs picks and cap room.
Season 5 was an learning experince for the GM/Coach Arnold.
Rookie Season G MIN FG% FT% 3P% REB A PF BLK TO STL PTS
John Kelly 80 21 39.3 82.9 30.5 2.9 2.8 2.1 0.4 1.5 0.4 6.9
Where are they now:
John Kelly Retired working as a physical therapist in Coral Springs Fl.
Season 6
Baltimore 31 49
No play-offs
Joe Jones 21.3 ppg
George Lush 7.7 reb
Stub Madison 9.8 apg
Draft
#11 Baltimore Bert Haug
#12 Baltimore Roy Hoyle
#38 Baltimore Bob Kaplan
#39 Baltimore Bob Price
Trades
Baltimore gets:
Ray Walters, Clark Wayne, Lance Armstrong & $1.29 million in season 6
Birmingham gets:
Roy Houle, Bob Price, & Baltimore’s Season 11 2nd rounder
FA G MIN FG% FT% 3P% REB A PF BLK TO STL PTS
Craig King 79 17 51.8 86.5 47.2 3.0 1.5 0.9 0.5 1.0 0.9 6.5
Johnny Tatum 79 15 45.1 75.0 18.5 1.5 1.6 0.9 0.2 0.5 0.8 6.2
Gilbert Silvers 28 14 36.8 58.1 0.0 3.9 0.2 1.9 0.6 1.2 0.6 5.9
Damon Trout 62 16 40.9 98.5 22.1 1.3 2.4 0.9 0.0 0.8 0.7 5.2
Well you can say one thing about Coach Arnold he is consistent matching last season of futility with another season of futility.Still struggling to figure out the ins and outs of the WBA and Fa Coach Arnold made another rookie mistake in the draft but made some nice picksin the 2nd round. After his first draft where the Sentinals had two first round picks and two second rd picks. Coach Arnold went after old Sentinals Joe Jones and Stub Madison. Traded away Larry Chapman and brought in defensive minded PF/C Clarennce Collins. Lance Armstrong made Rookie All-Star team and game MVP.
Rookies G MIN FG% FT% 3P% REB A PF BLK TO STL PTS
Lance Armstrong 71 22 34.2 80.7 27.3 5.2 2.8 1.9 0.1 1.9 1.0 9.4
Bert Haug 73 15 45.3 74.3 31.5 2.2 1.0 1.4 0.5 0.8 2.1 7.8
Clark Wayne 36 13 45.1 80.8 17.1 2.4 0.6 1.5 0.5 0.6 0.4 6.7
Bob Kaplan 45 12 35.3 85.6 14.9 0.5 2.4 0.5 0.0 1.0 0.3 4.6
Where are they now:
Lance Armstrong FA
Bert Haug Rochester Blaze
Clark Wayne Retired boys basketball Coach at his high school
Bob Kaplan Retired working as Computer Graphics artist.
Season 7
Baltimore 24 56
No Play-offs
Joe Jones 18.4 ppg
George Lush 7.5 reb
Stub Madison 8.7 apg
Draft
#10 Baltimore Obibe King
#38 Baltimore Chuck Murphy
#48 Baltimore Oliver Doherty
No Trades
No FA
The third season for Coach Arnold was even worse than previous two. The fans were calling for the head of Coach/GM Arnold. The team was really showing its age and the draft picks weren’t getting the job done. The bright spot for this horrible season was the emergence of Clarence Colllins who took over the C postio avg 6.9 reb and 12.9 pts against some of the division Centers.King played like the rookie he was projected to be.
Rookies seasons G MIN FG% FT% 3P% REB A PF BLK TO STL PTS
Odibe King 80 32 40.8 69.0 36.4 5.6 2.7 2.0 0.4 0.1 1.1 13.0
Chuck Murphy 4 19 44.1 66.7 0.0 3.3 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 0.8 8.0
Oliver Doherty 68 11 37.3 72.2 22.7 1.4 1.1 0.7 0.0 0.6 0.7 6.5
Where are they now
Odibe King playing for Alaska
Chuck Murphy California Hellcats
Oliver Doherty backup for Montana
Season 8
Record 34 46
No play-offs
George Lush 19.6 ppg 6.6 reb
Anson Valente 10.8 apg 6.2 reb
Draft
#5 Baltimore Don Laine
#29 Baltimore Walter Callaway
#32 Baltimore Mike Ivey
Trades
Baltimore gets:
Anson Valente and Washington and Montana’s S 9 second round picks
Nebraska gets:
Johnny Burns and $0.05 in season 8 and Baltimore S9 1st rd
FA G MIN FG% FT% 3P% REB A PF BLK TO STL PTS
Lance Armstrong 8 9 34.5 80.0 33.3 2.5 0.9 0.8 0.0 0.8 0.9 3.6
Steve Vernie 33 7 44.7 59.4 0.0 0.5 1.0 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.5 3.4
Extended contract of PG Anson Valente
Extended contract of PF/C Clarence Collins
The Sentinals increased their win total by 10 games. Coach Arnold attributed this to the trade for Anson Valente. Moving John Tatum (who Baltimore aquired during fa) to starting line-up and the improved play of Odibe King and a better bench.
Rookie seasons G MIN FG% FT% 3P% REB A PF BLK TO STL PTS
Don Laine 80 13 38.2 73.6 0.0 3.3 0.3 1.0 0.6 0.4 0.9 4.3
Walter Callaway 54 10 43.7 65.9 32.1 2.3 1.1 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.4 3.9
Mike Ivey 46 9 41.3 90.3 31.5 2.1 0.9 0.8 0.4 0.3 0.0 3.2
Where are they now Don Laine Resigned with Baltimore Walter Callaway playing for Budapest
Season 9
Baltimore 43 37
Play-offs
Budapest beat Baltimore 3-2
Johnny Tatum 19.1 ppg
Zane Rivers 8.3 reb
Anson Valente 10.7 apg
Draft
#22 Baltimore Matt Archer
#36 Baltimore Bailey Wood
Trades
Baltimore gets:
pick #22
Texas gets:
Pick #41, #52nd and Baltimore’s first round pick in season 11
FA G MIN FG% FT% 3P% REB A PF BLK TO STL PTS
Zane Rivers 80 30 46.9 83.3 27.7 8.3 2.9 4.3 1.7 3.1 0.7 12.8
Ruben Schmidt 16 3 25.0 78.6 0.0 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.3
Extended contract of SF/PF Mike Ivey
After several seasons as the Sentinals GM Rob Arnold thought it was a time for a change so once again the team went through another change. A new name the Pirates and new colors purple and black.Also Stub Madison, George Lush,and Joe Jones were let go for new stars to rise. Johnny Tatum,Anson Valente,and Clarence Collins formed a new exciting brand of Piratre ball which moved Baltimore to new terrioty play-offs. Even though they lost in the 1st round. Coach loved the new style of ball. Mike Ivey was the new star on the horizon this season splitting time with Odibe King.
Rookie seasons G MIN FG% FT% 3P% REB A PF BLK TO STL PTS
Bailey Wood 78 10 37.2 82.9 36.6 0.5 1.5 0.3 0.2 0.6 0.6 3.3
Matt Archer 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Where are they now
Matt Archer playing for Miami
Bailey Wood FA
Season 10
Record 39 41
Play-offs
Baltimore beat Albacete 3-2
Round 2
Rochester beat Baltimore 4-2
Johnny Tatum 18.5 ppg
Don Laine 8.8 reb
Anson Valente 11.6 apg
Draft
#17 Baltimore Joe Herrera
Trades
Miami gets:
Matt Archer, Baltimore’s Season 12 2nd, and Baltimore’s season 13 1st
Baltimore gets:
Tobias Harrison and Carolina’s Season 13 2nd Round pick
FA G MIN FG% FT% 3P% REB A PF BLK TO STL PTS
Johnny Burns 21 11 34.2 75.0 0.0 0.3 1.5 0.4 0.0 0.5 0.6 2.7
Lonnie Graham 78 15 41.7 67.9 0.0 2.3 1.4 0.9 0.5 1.3 0.2 6.7
Stub Madison 29 8 37.2 0.0 0.0 0.7 1.0 0.7 0.0 0.4 0.4 1.1
Extended contract C Don Laine
Now how do the Pirates repeat last year success? They dont they go in the opposite direction by losing 4 more games but still slip int the play-offs. Where the team really picked up and shocked the league by making it into the second round before losing to Rochester.Don Laine finally showed why he was the 5th pick in season 8 by avg 18.2 ppg and 12.7 reb and 1.7 blks in the play-offs.Coach Arnold is relly looking for next season and hopes the Pirates will make it back to the play-offs and continue to make the next steps in the play-offs.
Rookie Season G MIN FG% FT% 3P% REB A PF BLK TO STL PTS
Joe Herrera 32 5 36.4 90.0 42.9 0.9 0.8 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 1.6
Where are they now
Joe Herrera Still with Baltimore.
Baltimore Season 11
Baltimore finished season 11 of the World Basketball Association with a underachieving record of thirty one and forty nine. Granted the young Pirates are in a stacked division filled with league powerhouses such as Brooklyn and Boston. Their leading scorer for the season was guard Joe Watts who managed to put up twenty three points per game. He was below average in terms of rebounds and assists, but on the other hand he was a defensive beast averaging two blocks per and steal per game. The leading rebounder for the Pirates was big men George Lush and Mike Ivey. Ivey pulled down seven point three rebounds while also putting up fourteen points per game. Lush also put pulled down nearly eight rebounds per game and scored fourteen points per game next to Ivey down on the blocks for the Pirates. Finally the leading assist getter for the Pirates was passing savant Anson Valente. Valente dished out nearly eleven assists per game for the Pirates while also swiping a steal per game at the point guard.
Throughout the season Baltimore made one major trade and a few minor trades. The major trade for the Pirates involved them getting rid of young wing Jim Woods to Frankfurt for veteran Antonio Gleason. While Woods had a ton of potential to be one of the most underrated wings in the league in the future, Baltimore was trying to win noe and Gleason is already established in the league being able to lead the young Pirates on and off the court.
During the offseason Baltimore managed to score the number one draft pick in the upcoming draft. They used the pick to select the Italian guard Arturo Fonzarelli or the “Fonz” as he is known as. Arturo is filled with potential to be a elite scorer, but is a raw prospect at this point in his career. One day though he could be skilled enough to garner a max contract during the point of his free agency.
Baltimore Season 12
Season Twelve for the Baltimore Pirates was an improvement for the franchise, but they are far from the desired product. They finished the season with a thirty eight and forty two record in a tough division once again led by Brooklyn, Long Island, and Toronto. Their leading scorer for the year was veteran big man Mike Ivey who put up an average of fourteen points per game nearly identical to the year before. The leading rebounders for the Pirates were big man Mike Ivey who was second on the team pulling down just over seven rebounds a game. The leading rebounder for the Pirates was veterna big man Don Laine who led the team for the year pulling down an average of nearly ten rebounds per game. Finally the leading assist getter for the Pirates was once again guard Anson Valente. Valenite was once again the maestro of the Pirates offense dishing out nearly ten assists per game for the Pirates while also scoring nine points per game running the Pirates offense to a tee once again.
During the season Baltimore managed to supplement their youth movement with veterans that will be able to help the kids on and off the court that they had acquired over the past few seasons. They did this by acquiring veteran guard Joe Watts from Omaha for three second round picks. While picks are a valuable commodity in the league veteran leadership is perhaps even more valuable allowing the young guys to be able to absorb any knowledge the vets have.
The other trade that Baltimore made during the season was shipping off the twenty eighth overall pick from the previous year Jim Woods. Woods was full of potential, but had a long way to go in order to reach a level where he could fully contribute to a contending team. In return from Woods the Pirates received guards Scott Currie and point guard Yoshi Tawaraya while also picking up Frankfurts first round pick.
During the offseason Baltimore should really focus in building around their core young guys and continuing to ship out the veterans for draft pick compensation. This includes the “Fonz” as well as young wings Jay Dickinson and Justus Rhodes. Dickinson, Rhodes, and the “Fonz” are all long and lengthy and should fit perfectly in the Pirates system of moving the ball and a free flowing offense. On the other hand while bigman Mike Ivey has always been solid for the franchise management should really consider moving on from him and acquiring a young big man that can be groomed in the Pirates system.
Baltimore Season 13
In the return of the great World Basketball Association Baltimore reintroduced themselves to being one of the top teams in the league finishing with a record of forty seven wins and thirty three losses in the pretty talented Atlantic division. Their leading scorer for the season were guard Jay Dickinson and forward Arthur Fonzarelli. Dickinson was the teams leader and averaged twenty points per game while also starting all eighty games. The Fonz on the other hand averaged a clean sixteen points per game while also shooting nearly forty seven percent from the field. The leading rebounder for the Pirates was veteran big man and the voice in the locker room Mike Ivey. Ivey has been solid throughout his career and should be kept around to lead the young stars on this team in Dickinson and The Fonz. Finally the leading assist getter of the Pirates was passing savant Anson Valente who averaged nearly eight assists a game by far the most on the team.
The Pirates only made one trade during the year, but it was a massive trade involving four teams including themselves. The main gets for the Pirates were big time and could help them build for the future. In essence they traded veterans Jamie Crouch and Yoshi Tawaraya for young wins David Flores and Commas Neeter. While Crouch and Yoshi are established and solid they have already reached their potential and are not part of the long term solution for the Pirates. Flores and Neetar on the other hand should be as both are oozing full of potential. Neetar has the all around game and does not possess many major holes in his game while also on standing out in any one area. He will need help from Baltimore’s training staff in order to prioritize how he want to develop his game. Flores on the other hand is an athletic freak and at a young age is definitely still a raw prospect. What makes him intriguing his if he can develop his game and pair it with his athleticism making him a very good player in the future.
Baltimore went into the playoffs full of optimism as most teams often do, but ended up being cut short as they ran into the four seed, Miami Xtreme. The Xtreme slowed the Pirates young guards down with their dynamic duo of Birkhead and Ashman pulling out the series win in a brutal seven game struggle leaving the Pirates disappointed with the outcome. Management went into the season without their first round pick, but still able to get in on the action in the draft with a late first rounder at number twenty five. They used the pick to draft young big man Guy Welty. At just twenty years old and already possessing a solid inside game Welty is a solid young prospect that Baltimore will be able to pair with their young core in order to mesh them together for the future.
Baltimore Season 14
Season fourteen for the Baltimore Pirates showed that they need to reset and build around their young core of guards. They finished with a record of thirty eight and forty two record in the insanely tough East Division that was created after league realignment. Considering this fact Baltimore still a decently competitive team, but in a ever improving division it was time for them to blow it up. Their leading scorers for the year were once again the dynamic duo of Jay Dickinson and Arturo Fonzarelli or The Fonz. Dickinson once again poured in twenty points per game while also adding six rebounds and nearly a steal a game. The Fonz bumped his scoring average up to nineteen points per game while also pulling down three rebounds and dishing out three assists. The leading rebounder for this team was veteran bigman Don Laine who pulled down nearly seven boards a game followed closely by Dickinson at six boards a game. The leading assist leader was once again Anson “The Glue” Valente who dished out seven assists a game running this offense to perfection and also leading the team on defense.
There was obviously no playoffs for the Pirates due to the below average record and they did not own their first round draft pick unfortunately. They did add talent in the second round though as Earl Martin was drafted with the twenty second pick of the second round. Martin should prove to be a solid bench option with a little grooming and development. Baltimore’s young draft pick they are still waiting on Vitor Morales should also be able to lead the Pirates in a new direction once he comes over from the IBA due to his increased development and skills. The problem is getting a good enough core around Morales to convince him to come over to the WBA and lead the young Pirates into the future.
Baltimore Season 15
Season fifteen of the WBA was again a disappointing one for the Baltimore Pirates as they finished the season with a record of twenty seven and fifty three good for last in the ever so tough East Division. The Pirates went all in on the youth movement as three of their five starters were under twenty six years of age and they still had four guys under twenty five years coming off the bench. The leading scorers for the young Pirates guard and forward Lenn Marella and Justus Rhodes. Rhodes was the leading scorer for the team averaging fifteen points per game while also pulling down six rebounds and dishing out three assists. Marella on the other hand averaged fifteen points while also pulling down five rebounds and swiping one steals a game. The leading rebounder for the Pirates was veteran center Michael Huryta who pulled down eight rebounds a game. The second rebounder was young forward Rhodes who managed to pull down six rebounds a game from the three position. Finally the leading assist man for the Pirates young point guard Trevor Tomlin who dished out five assists a game while also swiping nearly a steal a game.
The Pirates made multiple trades throughout the season in order to fully delve deeper into the well oy youth that they had started on the past few season. They acquired a number of new guards and brought in some old faces as well. They firstly acquired veteran forward Jaime Crouch after trading him a few seasons ago as well as bringing back guard Yoshikazu Tawaraya. Crouch and Yoshi will provide some help to the young guys while also delivering valuable minutes to the rotation. Some newer faces that the Pirates brought in were Lenn Marella, Trevor Tomlin, and Remi Jeay. Marella and Tomlin are young and full of potential, but are extremely young and should require some development before reaching their full skills. Jeay on the other hand is a established veteran who is perfect to help lead Tomlin and coach him through how to run a offense.
The draft for the Pirates was a major bust as they picked up guard Stephen Harrelson over game changing talents such as Victorio Pinelo and Chris Dao. While Harrelson is solid he is now where near the talent that Pinelo and Dao are and the Pirates should feel the pain for a few more years to come.
Baltimore Season 16
Season sixteen for the Baltimore Pirates was another bust of a season as they finished the season with a record of twenty seven and fifty three record once again oddly. The leading scorers for the team once again guard and forward Lenn Marella and Justus Rhodes. Rhodes averaged seventeen points, six rebounds, and three rebounds a game in just under thirty six minutes a game. Marella on the other hand averaged nearly sixteen points a game while also pulling down six rebounds a game in just under thirty six minutes a game. The leading rebounder for the Pirates was three man Justus Rhodes. Rhodes managed to once again pull down nearly seven rebounds a game. The leading assist man was veteran guard Remi Jeay who dished out nearly six rebounds a game perfectly running the Pirates offense.
The only major transaction for the Pirates during the offseason was picking up big man Andre Rawlings for three years in free agency. Rawlings was a good pickup for the Pirates as he was the center of the defense for the young Pirates. He averaged six points and five rebounds a game while blocking nearly two blocks a game. While Rawlings was a solid pickup for the Pirates he is not the long term solution for the Pirates as he has already reached his prime.
The offseason was a eventful time for the Pirates as they acquired some major young talent to help them build for the future in foreign guard Vitor Morales and forward Aidan de Schutter. Morales was a draft pick by the Pirates a few years back but did not come to the WBA due to
the structure of the team. Morales is already established and should be a top talent in a few years while being developed in the Pirates system. de Schutter on the other hand is a top draft pick for the Pirates this year and is only nineteen years old. While he is talented he is still more than a few years away from really reaching his full potential. While he is developing his skills his major athleticism should serve to help him compete with established veterans in the league.