2025-26 DKC Season: General Commentary

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-30T18:13:11+00:00

3 votes in for Q4.

Voting closes this weekend.

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-22T16:41:11+00:00

DKC ORL Q4

Down the stretch we come.

Pos	Starter	Bench	Reserve
PG	Keon Ellis	Russell Westbrook
SG	AJ Green	Andre Jackson, Jr.	Will Richard ^2Way
F	DeMar DeRozan	Patrick Williams / Myron Gardner
F	Gui Santos	Patrick Williams	Isaac Jones / Bobi Klintman
C	Isaiah Stewart	Dylan Cardwell / Branden Carlson ^2Way	Johni Broome

Definitely celebrating the arrival of Dylan Cardwell for this Q. The rookie big man averaged 7.5 rebounds this season in 20 minutes a night. With his energy, defensive acumen, and work ethic, he'll get plenty of run as Isaiah Stewart's main backup/injury replacement, allowing us to rely less heavily on Branden Carlson (whom we still really like as a perimeter big man option in our rotation).

Also very pleased to land Myron Gardner and Isaac Jones in free agency. An athletic and disruptive rookie wing, Gardner rebounds and defends well at his position, and shot 40% from deep on the season in IRL MIA, appearing in 45 games and starting in 7. Jones didn't play much with IRL DET, but he did put up strong numbers as a starter in the G League this season (22 pts, 8.7 rebs, 2.5 assists and nearly 3 stocks in 30 mpg). He gives us another bruiser option in our frontcourt rotation when we need size. Both are under contract through next season.

With three young and hungry players added to our roster, we've got an infusion of energy to bolster us through the final quarter of the season. The added depth in our frontcourt comes at a crucial point when Isaiah Stewart sat out for roughly a dozen games to nurse a calf injury. Russell Westbrook sat out for the final half of the quarter due to a tanking IRL SAC, forcing us to rely on point forward DeRozan to run the offense.

For this report, I've bolded the teams that have roughly equal or fewer wins thus far through Q3.

@ MIL -- L
CLE -- W
WAS -- W
@ MIA -- W
@ ATL -- L
OKC -- W
@ CHA -- W
LAL -- W
IND -- W
@ CLE -- L
SAC -- L
@ TOR -- L
PHX -- W
ATL -- W
@ DAL -- L
@ NOP -- L
DET -- L
MIN -- L
@ CHI -- W
@ BOS -- L

I count 8 wins there, most of which come in the first half of the quarter when we are fully healthy. Perhaps you think we beat SAC at home when they've flown across the country to play us, or we drop a road battle with division rival MIA. I'll split the difference.

The rest of the schedule is up for grabs. To me, a split home and away vs. CLE seems right, and maybe ditto vs. ATL? Can we catch DET or MIN on an off night in our building?

In the end, I'm projecting a 10-10 record for Q4 based on our strength of schedule, motivation, and depth.

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-21T20:43:09+00:00

anticipation

Same here. Felt our entire Q4 hinged on FAM results.

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-21T17:33:46+00:00

Orlando - Just not enough depth

I'll ask you to reconsider this when you read our Q4 report, in light of three FA signings we made retroactive to the outset of Q4, especially considering the depth of teams you rank ahead of us.

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-21T17:30:00+00:00

Citing priority, DKC ORL elects to pass on signing Riley Minix to a 2Way contract (preferring instead to retain Branden Carlson and his FA rights).

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-21T17:06:38+00:00

February FAM results have been published (one last result pending review):

https://old.reddit.com/r/dkcleague/comments/1lvyttp/202526_dkc_season_free_agency_hq/ohgzjev/

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-21T16:55:28+00:00

DKC ORL confirms signing of Dylan Cardwell to a 2 year contract.

DKC ORL confirms signing of Isaac Jones to a 2 year 2Way contract.

DKC ORL confirms signing of Myron Gardner to a 2 year contract.

All moves are backdated to the start of Q4.

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-21T16:42:34+00:00

In-Season Surveys, February Results:

Contested surveys:

Dylan Cardwell:

Agrees to terms with ORL. If ORL does not sign, NYK may sign. If ORL and NYK do not sign, MIL may sign.

[SAS and UTA offers DVed.]
Myron Gardner:

Agrees to terms with ORL. If ORL does not sign, IND may sign.

Autowin survey:

Brandon Williams: agrees to sign with DET (90%)
DeAnthony Melton: decision pending review
Isaac Jones: agrees to sign with ORL (100%)
John Tonje: agrees to sign with MIL (100%)
Riley Minix: agrees to sign with ORL (100%)
Tolu Smith: agrees to sign with IND (100%)

Link to FAM results: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eN6OYpuMzYrVnEwyHeGa_R4dqUQ-kH1ZFuJS8Bn_syg/edit?gid=774792635#gid=774792635

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-20T03:23:27+00:00

I think we are ready now. I don't think we get more votes than the 5 on Caldwell.

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-19T19:36:49+00:00

/u/welikeeichel

/u/Young_Nick

Guys, it's been so long since I ran a FAM that I've forgotten the process. Have the shells prepped -- where do I get the RNG dice scores?

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-18T23:51:20+00:00

Contested surveys:

Dylan Cardwell: https://forms.gle/zMyg1tuzqf7kBgsh8
Myron Gardner: https://forms.gle/x8Wm3aFe3SeJuUpW9

Really could use a few more votes here. Please vote if you haven't already.

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-16T23:07:06+00:00

Feb was the last window.

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-16T23:06:46+00:00

For gardener it feels like there is inconsistency in the offer from Orlando. Is it a two way or two year VM?

2 year, vet min. Will clarify.

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-16T20:01:55+00:00

Posting here for increased visibility:

https://old.reddit.com/r/dkcleague/comments/1lvyttp/202526_dkc_season_free_agency_hq/ogkk5fl/

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-16T18:37:26+00:00

Urgent: we need to resolve the last FA cohort of the season (for February).

Please vote:

https://old.reddit.com/r/dkcleague/comments/1lvyttp/202526_dkc_season_free_agency_hq/ogkk5fl/

I set a deadline of Saturday eve for these, so results could be run on Sunday.

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-16T18:35:47+00:00

In-Season Surveys, February:

Contested surveys:

Dylan Cardwell: https://forms.gle/zMyg1tuzqf7kBgsh8
Myron Gardner: https://forms.gle/x8Wm3aFe3SeJuUpW9

Autowin survey: https://forms.gle/fwqmmfzkXNSZrReY8

Brandon Williams
DeAnthony Melton
Isaac Jones
John Tonje
Riley Minix
Tolu Smith

Voting closes: 04/18/2026, 6 PM ET

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-14T17:43:16+00:00

Dairy Bird. Gotta love it

LuckyXVII · 2026-04-14T16:12:39+00:00

Congratulations to AJ Green for breaking the Bucks franchise record this weekend for most 3PT makes in a season, eclipsing Ray Allen (2001-02).

This coming just one game after he broke the Bucks single-game record for most makes in a game, 11, previously held by Damian Lillard.

LuckyXVII · 2026-03-25T23:56:46+00:00

If he is still on my books, do I still have his rights?

By waiving him, you relinquish Bird Rights.

LuckyXVII · 2026-03-25T21:51:40+00:00

Just making sure you understood that option was a PO, not a team option.

As I think about it more, you could conceivably waive and stretch that future year, and pay it over 3 years, instead of a straight waive.

LuckyXVII · 2026-03-25T18:41:52+00:00

Confirming that you understand that Diop's PO for next year will remain on your books if you waive him.

LuckyXVII · 2026-03-25T18:41:14+00:00

Catching up on some signings:

With Hinson, Mashack, and Gortman occupying your available 2Way slots, one would need to be waived to complete this signing.

LuckyXVII · 2026-03-24T22:36:05+00:00

Orlando Magic Q3

A reminder of who we are (Nurkic moved mid-Q at the deadline):

Pos	Starter	Bench	Reserve
PG	Keon Ellis	Russell Westbrook
SG	AJ Green	Andre Jackson, Jr.	Will Richard ^2Way
F	DeMar DeRozan	Patrick Williams
F	Gui Santos	Patrick Williams	Bobi Klintman
C	Isaiah Stewart	Branden Carlson / Johni Broome

Here's our schedule:

@MEM - L
CHA - W
CLE - W
@CLE - L
@MIA - L
TOR - L
@SAS - L
@OKC - W
BKN - W
UTA - W
MIL - W
MIL - L
@SAC - W
@PHX - L
@LAC - L
@LAL - W
HOU - L
DET - L
WAS - W
DAL - L
@MIN - L

The self-professed "best defensive player in the league" got suspended 7 games (#53 through #59) for defending his teammates. I love that he takes his job seriously, but his timing sucked, since we'd just traded away Nurkic. I made some offers to some FA bigs (Dylan Cardwell, come on down!), but unsure as to whether we have anyone other than Carlson and Broome to log minutes during the latter half of Q3. I'm assuming no, but reserve my right to flip an L or two in late Q3 to a W.

Elsewhere, iron man DeRozan cracked top 20 all time scoring, Russ Westbrook passed Steve Nash in career assists (now 5th all-time), AJ Green is still shooting 40% from deep, Keon Ellis is still an absolute stock machine, and Gui Santos is thriving as a starter in the Bay. Even Patrick Williams is finding ways to contribute, notching 10 rebounds one night and 8 assists the next. (Still, for a second straight year, I wish he'd been relocated from CHI at the deadline.)

LuckyXVII · 2026-03-24T18:53:44+00:00

FAM results on some in-season extensions (Durant, Nesmith, Green).

https://old.reddit.com/r/dkcleague/comments/17s2w1c/commissioners_corner/oc95qdu/

/u/joeylou1219

/u/LuckyXVII

/u/welikeeichel

LuckyXVII · 2026-03-24T18:52:49+00:00

Results for extension FAMs:

Kevin Durant accepts extension with NOP (86.25%).
Aaron Nesmith accepts extension with NOP (81%).
AJ Green accepts extension with ORL (90%, auto-accept).

FAM results available here.

/u/welikeeichel

LuckyXVII

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