Out: Jason Terry, Jabari Parker, Marshall Plumlee, Brandon Jennings
I feel like the Bucks can live without these guys but losing these guys doesn't make them better. Terry was a nice veteran presence, Parker could still be a star and the Bucks may regret letting him walk (he still could've had trade value), Plumlees are always a nice piece off the bench; then again: Terry barely played, Jabari was hurt a lot and never the first-option that he wanted to be, Plumlees are fungible commodities, I still kinda like Jennings off the bench (wouldn't be surprised to see him end up back in Milwaukee, if maybe after another trip to China).
In: Brook Lopez, Ersan Ilyasova, Donte Divincenzo, Trevon Duval, Jaylen Morris, Pat Connaughton, Christian Wood, Tim Frazier
The biggest acquisition is Coach Budenholzer, whose mission is to streamline the offense to maximize Giannis. But on the floor: Lopez (1yr/$3.4m) will shore up rebounding while the Bucks figure out what they've got in Thon Maker. Ilyasova (3yr/$21m) is a reliably vet, nice guy, not great at anything but okay at everything, reasonable contract. Personally, I thought Divincenzo (4yr/$5.4m rookie) was a college player, not a pro, but we'll see; if he can hit the corner three he'll get playing time. Connaughton (2yr/min?) had moments with the Blazers, if he knocks down shots, he'll play for the Bucks. Duval and Morris are 2-way contracts. I always kinda liked Wood but if he couldn't catch on with the Nets or Hornets, then you gotta figure he's not long for the league. Frazier is a nice journeyman vet for the 2nd string.
Re-signed: Shabazz Muhammad
Muhammad is one of those guys that'll go nuts every once in a while but mostly doesn't do much (re: Jeff Green). Hey, that's not necessarily a bad thing, the trick is to know when he's gonna go off so you can get rest for the regular scorers. Coach Bud is an offensive guru, gotta figure he'll know how to use Shabazz.
All in all
I guess they'll start Eric Bledsoe, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounpo, Ilyasova and Lopez. Coach Bud's new offense will either make the most of this lineup or expose its cracks (such as Bledsoe and Giannis not being a natural fit together). The starting five is sturdy, the maturation of Giannis will take this team as far they go.
Macolm Brogdon, Shabazz, Tony Snell Thon Maker, John Henson, Tyler Zeller and Dincenzo form the core of the 2nd string. Not bad, Brogdon's efficiency will give this line opportunities to score. If Connaughton finds his stroke or DJ Wilson finds some kind of role in the rotation, presumably under Coach Bud's tutelage, the Bucks might have themselves a deep enough rotation to allow Giannis to really shine. Even if Bud's innovations get Giannis to MVP level, I still don't see this team finishing higher than the Celtics or Raptors. I kinda think they can be better than the Sixers, probably battling with the Pacers for a top 4 slot in the East.
Bulls
Out: Noah Vonleh, Jerian Grant, David Nwaba, Sean Kilpatrick, Paul Zipser
The youth movement continues in Chicago but gets some pruning here. Vonleh is the top ten pick that just hasn't worked out yet, Grant is the 1st rounder that just doesn't look any better than 3rd string, Zipser was the fan favorite who just never quite found a spot in the rotation last year, and Kilpatrick is G-League level (that may well end up back with the Bulls in the future). But I'm a little surprised they let Nwaba walk, his efficiency numbers are so-so but he was pretty good scorer and he just generally looked like at least a solid bench guy for the Bulls.
In: Wendell Carter, Chandler Hutchinson, Jabari Parker, Antonius Cleveland, Rawle Alkins, Derrick Walton Jr, Kaiser Gates, JaKarr Sampson,
Carter (4yr/$9.6m rookie) and Hutchinson (4yrs/$4.3m rookie) are a pair of Dukies brought in to deepen the youth movement. Parker (2yr/$40m) is another young Dukie given a second chance at being the badass he was supposed to be. Cleveland, Alkins,Walton, Sampson and Gates are probably competing for a roster spot beyond pre-season (or a 2-way deal).
Re-signed: Zach LaVine, Antonio Blakeney, Ryan Arcidiacano
LaVine (4yrs/$78m) is an interesting leap of faith for the Bulls, he's a crazy athlete who seems quite capable of taking a giant leap in his game, that said he's kinda lazy on D and injury-prone to the point where its hard to tell what his game actually is. Blakeney (2yr/$2.9m) and Arcidiacano (1yr/min) are probably fighting for roster spots
All in all
So the starting lineup is Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, Jabari Parker, Lauri Markanen and Robin Lopez? Hmmm, that's either a crazy unpredictable upside squad or a total disaster. And that bench doesn't look like much help: Carter and Hutchinson will be interesting projects, Bobby Portis and Denzel Valentine should be reliable (if unspectacular), but I've never been a fan of Christiano Felicio or Justin Holiday or Cam Payne and surely--for the love of God!--they're not planning on getting minutes out of Omer Asik?! Throw in that it feels like Cleveland, Alkins, Walton, Blakeney, Sampson and Arcidiacano are fighting for four roster spots (then just hoping to get some run) and...uh...man, that bench does not look deep.
The fact that Parker and LaVine are the two highest paid players has gotta be troubling for Bulls fans. I like Markanen and Carter to be interesting and Lopez and Portis to give predictable output, but Dunn, LaVine and Jabari are still unknowns, Payne and Felicio and Valentine are just kinda hanging on, and who knows what they'll get out of that pile of down-roster fighters. I dunno, man, that does not look terribly tantalizing even in the post-Lebron East. Unless Parker, Dunn and/or LaVine seriously blow up, they're a lock for the lottery and a decent contender for a top five pick. I think it'll take this team a while to come together, I can see them being kinda good by Feb or March but I can't see them in the playoffs.
Cavs
Out: Lebron James, Jeff Green, Jose Calderon, London Perrantes, Kendrick Perkins, Okaro White
Okay, well, this will be a...uh...transition year for the Cavs. Losing Lebron won't be easy but they're back to being a realistic NBA franchise and that'll be fun. The fact that they're also losing Green, Calderon, Perkins, Perrantes and White is a step forward and that's a good thing.
In: Collin Sexton, Billy Preston, Channing Frye, David Nwaba, Sam Dekker, (the rights to Renaldas Seibutis), Isiah Taylor, Levi Randolph, Kobi Simmons, Bonzie Colson,
Okay, this is Sexton's team now. Personally I wasn't a huge fan of his game in the NCAA but he'll have plenty of chances at the next level and he'll give the Cavs a new look (for better or worse). Nwaba and Dekker bring in some youth while Frye gives veteran smarts off the bench. Preston and Taylor have a long way to go. Randolph is probably a pre-season casualty but Simmons and Colson come with some promise.
Re-signed: Kevin Love, Rodney Hood
Hey, man, for as maligned as he's been throughout his career, Love (4yr/$120m) is a helluva player and a great rock to build around, the Cavs are wise to max him out. Hood (1yr/$3.4m), too, was much maligned for his playoff performance but I think throughout the course of a regular season, he'll be just fine and that contract is a bargain.
All in all
They've got a lot of interesting pieces actually, hardly the collection of zeroes that Lebron-ites like to claim. Starting lineup: PG Sexton, SG Smith, SF Osman, PF Love, C Tristan w/ Hill, Clarkson, Nwaba, Hood, Korver, Dekker, Nance, and Frye off the bench. Not bad. If they get anything out of Zizic, that'll be a nice bonus. I'd still look to move Hill and Smith, but even still that's a pretty good mix of vets and youth, all looking to re-define themselves now that Lebron has headed west.
Pacers
Out: Lance Stephenson, Joe Young, Cory Joseph, Glenn Robinson, Trevor Booker, Al Jefferson, Alex Poythress
Hmmmm, I still kinda like Joseph (wait...did they keep him?), but otherwise there's not much to miss here. Lance has been washed for a while, I love Big Al but his prime is behind him, Robinson is nice but not much of a contributor, Booker didn't really fit in anyway, Poythress is a hell of an athlete but (and I say this as a Kentucky fan) not much of a basketball player and I don't know who Young is.
In: Aaron Holiday, Doug McDermott, Tyreke Evans, Kyle O'Quinn, Alize Johnson, Elijah Stewart, CJ Wilcox, Omari Johnson
I kinda love all these moves. No big stars, just role players adding up to a whole new 2nd string. Holiday should be fun to watch, I still believe McDermott can be a top quality filler-upper, Tyreke showed he still has good years left, O'Quinn is the kind of guy that just does what needs to be done, Johnson, Stewart and Wilcox fill out the bench. Johnson is probably pre-season fodder. None of these are big moves but they are the right moves to support the core.
Re-signed: Thaddeus Young (player option), Ben Moore
Young (1yr/$13.7m) is a solid member of that lineup, the Pacers did well to keep him in the fold. And Moore (1yr/$1.3m) is....uh....his name rhymes with 'roar'.
All in all
Lineup: PG Oladipo, SG Collison, SF Bogdanovic, PF Young, C Turner with Holiday, Joseph, Evans, McDermott, Sabonis, O'Quinn off the bench. Leaf, Johnson, Anigbogu and Stewart are just bonus minutes. I like this crew. If Oladipo takes another step forward (as is the current buzz), then the Pacers will be competing with the Raptors and Celtics for home court through the playoffs.
Pistons
Out: Kay Felder, Anthony Tolliver, Jameer Nelson, James Ennis, Dwight Byucks, Eric Moreland
These guys are all pretty replaceable but for a team that could use anything/everything I'm a little surprised they let James Ennis walk (needed Zaza money, I reckon).
In: Bruce Brown, Glenn Robinson, Jose Calderon, Zaza Pachulia, Khyri Thomas, Kheenan Evans, Johnny Hamilton, Zach Lofton
I like the low risk/high reward chances of Brown and Thomas. But what exactly does Robinson give them? And do they really need Calderon or Pachulia?
Re-signed: Reggie Bullock (team option)
They let Ennis go and brought back Bullock?
All in all
Not an exciting summer for Piston fans. The Stan Van era is over, the Dwane Casey era has arrived. This is Blake Griffin's team, but even if he returns to all-world status, do they even come close to the playoffs? How rose-colored are your glasses?
Lineup: SG Reggie Jax, SG Kennard/Galloway, SF Stanley Johnson, PF Griffin, C Drummond with Ish, Calderon, Brown, Smith, Bullock, Leuer, Ellenson and Zaza off the bench. Ehhhh, not feeling that crew. Coach Dwane got a brilliant performance out of his bench last year with the Raptors but I'm not sure he's got that magic in him. With Griffin and Drummond down low, it won't look like they're tanking but, man, they're right around .500.
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