Bucks
Out
Bryn Forbes (declined team option), Sam Merrill (traded to Grizzlies), Jeff Teague (free agent), Justin Jackson (free agent), PJ Tucker (free agent), Axel Toupane (declined to tender qualifying offer)
Meh. None of those guys were essential, the Bucks'll be just fine without them.
In
George Hill (2yr/$8m), Rodney Hood (1yr/$2.2m), Semi Ojeleye (1yr/$1.8m), Grayson Allen (trade with Grizzlies), #60 pick Georgios Kalaitzakis (Greece), Tremont Waters (1yr/$1.7m), Justin Robinson (2-way), #54 pick Sandro Mamukelashvili (Seton Hall/ 2-way), Elijah Bryant (Exhibit 10), Javin DeLaurier (Exhibit 10), Rayjon Tucker (1yr/$1.6m)
Hill is a regular season guy (but I wouldn't count on him in the post-season), might be a handy tool to get through the grind til April. I've watched enough to Ojeleye to wonder why anyone would want him on their team....except maybe the Bucks. If you're just looking for a big body defensive tough guy replacement for PJ Tucker, well, I guess Ojeleye could do that, but I wouldn't expect any more out of him. Hood is not so reliable due to injuries, but when he plays he is a pretty good scorer and that deal is cheap enough to make the flyer worth it (again, he feels like padding to get the real stars to the playoffs). Likewise with Grayson Allen (what's with all the Dukies?), the contract is manageable enough to make it worth giving him a shot, we'll see how hungry he is. Don't know the other guys, be surprised if we see them at all this year.
Re-Signed
Coach Mike Budenholzer (3-year extension), Bobby Portis (2yr/$8.9m), Thanassis Antetokounpo (2yr/$3.6m),
Coach Bud is a champion, a hero, got a 3-year extension...and he was one KD jumper from getting bounced in ignominious fashion; hey, man, that's modern sports. I think Coach Bud fits the Bucks, I think re-upping him is a good move. Likewise with Portis (I thought Portis could've gotten paid, chose to stick with the champs instead, ballsy move) and Thanassis: they know who they are and what they do for this team and that's why they're back for another shot at a title.
Rest of the roster
Giannis Antetokounpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez, Pat Connaughton, Donte DiVincenzo, Jordan Nwora
Still a good trio anchoring this squad. Still a good bench supporting them. Still got the right coach, loyal fans and a good vibe.
Summer '22 free agents
DiVincenzo, Allen, Hood, Ojeleye, Tucker, Waters, Nwora, Bryant, DeLaurier; player options for Connaughton, Portis, and Thanassis
Their perimeter is gonna need to be shored up next summer, that's pretty obvious. Shooters, defenders, they'll need them all.
Over/Under: 54.5 (Over, 1st in the East)
I got Over. I think the Bucks will play with Champion swagger and absorb the new additions (Hill, Hood, Allen) to ice games in the regular season and pile up W's. I think the Bucks finish 1st in the East and I think that means at least 55 wins.
Bulls
Out
Adam Mokoka (declined to offer qualifying contract), Ryan Arcidiacono (declined to offer qualifying contract), Cristiano Felicio (retired?), Daniel Theis (sign/traded to the Rockets), Denzel Valentine (free agent), Garrett Temple (sign/traded to Pelicans), Tomas Satoransky (traded to Pelicans), Thaddeus Young (traded to Spurs), Al-Farouq Aminu (traded to Spurs), Lauri Markkanen (traded to Cavs)
A mixed bag of youngsters and vets on the way out. Markkanen never quite found his stride in Chicago, nor did Valentine or Arcidiacono. I actually like Theis (not sure I 4yr/$36m like him, but he is a smart player) but this is Vucevic's team now, so Thies is probably expendable. Young, Satoransky and Aminu are still solid vets but not necessarily for the Bulls. I don't know Mokoka. But, at the end of it all: Bulls fan should be rejoicing that Felicio is finally gone!
In
Lonzo Ball (4yr/$85m), Alex Caruso (4yr/$37m), #38 pick Ayo Dosunmu (Illinois), #44 pick Marko Simonovic (Montenegro), DeMar DeRozan (3yr/$85m), Tony Bradley (2yr/$3.8m), Derrick Jones Jr (trade with Cavs), Alize Johnson (2yr/$3.6m), Stanley Johnson (Exhibit 9), Matt Thomas (Exhibit 9), Tyler Cook (Exhibition 10)
Lonzo and DeRozan to go with LaVine and Vucevic? I like it. A bit crowded perhaps, but a core full of crafty vets that know how to score is a great place to start. Vucevic is the most underrated player in the league and this is the best cast he's ever been a part of--is he primed for a Jokic-like breakout season? Not exactly but I do think Vucevic is a lot better than you've probably ever bothered to notice. I like Caruso's hustle and smarts, Alize Johnson will give reliable 3rd string PG minutes, Dosunmu is a promising rookie who should find his way into the rotation. Bradley is a big body that can...be a big body. Moving on from Markkanen and Theis doesn't seem so bad with this crew coming in. It'll make for a totally different Bulls team but as they round into shape, I think they can be really good.
Re-Signed
Javonte Green (2yr/$3.5m), Devin Dotson (2-way)
Okay.
Rest of the roster
Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine, Patrick Williams, Coby White, Troy Brown Jr, Bryce Alford
I like this roster. I think the Bulls can be really good. As DeRozan and LaVine and Vucevic find their spots and negotiate the ball handling, I think Lonzo, White and Caruso (and ideally Dosunmu), will do just fine at getting looks for their scorers.
Summer '22 free agents
LaVine, Jones, Brown, Johnson, Cook Thomas, Alford; player option for Bradley
Well, LaVine is the big whale they gotta bag next summer (or at least trade spectacularly). The others may well play their way into a bonus deal.
Over/Under: 42.5 (Over, 7th in the East)
Barring injuries, I think this team has enough talent to easily eclipse 43 W's. The East is tougher but the Bulls are one of those tougher teams and as that core gets used to each other, I think they'll find success. I think they're a legit playoff team (meaning top 6), indeed I can see turmoil if they're not. Forget what people are saying: the core of this team is Lonzo and Vucevic with LaVine and DeRozan scoring from the wings. I think that works just fine, I think this team will not get outscored all that often. And come playoff time, they'll be the team that no one wants to play.
Pacers
Out
Amida Brimah (declined to tender qualifying offer), Aaron Holiday (traded to Wizards), Doug McDermott (sign/traded to Spurs), Cassius Stanley (withdrew qualifying offer), Edmond Sumner (traded to Nets)
I like Holiday but not sure he was gonna fit in this squad, so probably not a big loss. The rest are just regular roster moves, nothing too traumatic to overcome.
In
#13 pick Chris Duarte (Oregon), #22 pick Isaiah Jackson (Kentucky), Torrey Craig (2yr/$10m), Brad Wanamaker (1yr/$1.7m), Nate Hinton (Exhibit 9), Duane Washington Jr (2-way), Terry Taylor (Exhibit 10), Keifer Sykes (Exhibit 10), DeJon Jarreau (2-way)
Duarte should be a fun rookie, plays hard, does a little bit of everything, I expect him firmly in the rotation by the all-star break. Jackson is a bit one dimensional (shot blocker), but I think he'll be real good at his one dimension and should be a reliable down-low defender (and should eventually learn to score), I think Jackson will be a firm part of their 2nd string as the season develops. I like Craig, I think his hard-nosed perimeter D will fit in nicely in Indy. Wanamaker is a serviceable 3rd string PG and I wouldn't pay him a ton but that deal seems just fine. Nothing earth-shattering but a string of nice additions.
Re-Signed
TJ McConnell (4yr/$33.6m)
I'm a huge McConnell fan, still think the Sixers fucked up big time but not locking him down long term years ago (he could still be playing for peanuts in Philly right now *smh*), and yeah I love this deal. Good for McConnell, good for the Pacers.
Rest of the roster
Malcolm Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, Caris LeVert, TJ Warren, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday, Goga Bitadze, Oshae Brissett, Kelan Martin, Nate Hinton, Keifer Sykes, Terry Taylor
Still a good, if a little weird, collection of talent that should be pretty good if they can avoid injuries. Brogdon and McConnell make for the most underappreciated backcourt in recent memory, Turner and Sabonis are both underappreciated as well (though they cannot play together, meaning one probably has to go), LeVert and Warren are both primed for breakout years (meaning one probably has to go), Duarte and Jackson are two good rookies that should make the rotation pretty quick meaning that Lamb, Holiday and Bitadze are either bonuses or trade bait. This team should be cohesive but also should be wheeling and dealing, too. Gonna be a weird year for the Pacers, but they're plenty capable of overachieving. (Seems like Martin, Hinton, Sykes and Taylor are fighting for a single roster sport, I expect most of these guys to be gone by opening night)
Summer '22 free agents
Warren, Lamb, Wanamaker, Martin, Hinton, Sykes, Taylor; team option on Bitadze
Warren and Lamb on expiring contracts adds that much more fuel to the trade scenarios. (I wouldn't expect to see any of them in Pacer uniforms this time next year)
Over/Under: 42.5 (Under, 10th in the East)
Cavs
Out
Matthew Dellavedova (to Australia), Isaiah Hartenstein (player declined option), Jeremiah Martin (declined to tender qualifying offer), Taurean Prince (traded to Wolves), Larry Nance Jr (traded to Blazers), Damyean Dotson (waived), Brodric Thomas (waived)
They brought in enough to not worry about what was going out. That said, I always liked Nance and Prince and I'm curious about Hartenstein and Dotson. Oh well, they'll get their chances elsewhere.
In
Tacko Fall (1yr/$1.7m), Denzel Valentine (2yr/$4.1m), #3 pick Evan Mobley (Southern Cal), Ricky Rubio (trade from Wolves), Lauri Markannen (trade from Bulls), Kevin Pangos (2yr/$3.5m), RJ Nembhard (2-way), Kyle Guy (Exhibit 10), Justin James (1yr/$1.6m), Ed Davis (status?), Brodric Thomas (2-way)
Mobley is arguably the best player in the 2021 draft--though splitting time with Allen and/or Okoru on a PG-heavy squad might not be the best platform for him. I like Markkanen, still think he's got a lot of upside of versatile wingman, but not sure how he fits in this lineup, feels like he's going from one bad scenario to another. I've always liked Rubio and obviously this sets them up to trade either Garland or Sexton, but until they pull the trigger on a trade, it's just an uncomfortably crowded backcourt. Tacko is a bit of a sideshow but he'll have his moments. I think Valentine can be a reliable veteran 3rd string PG and this is probably a good place for him to get minutes in that role (well Garland or Sexton is gone).
Re-Signed
Jarrett Allen (5yr/$100m)
I like Allen but it feels a little weird give him a hundred million right as you're drafting Evan Mobley...These two things seem at odds to me. Maybe this team just likes internal conflict.
Rest of the roster
Kevin Love, Cedi Osman, Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Isaac Okoro, Dylan Windler, Dean Wade, Mifioud Kebengele, Kyle Guy, Lamar Stevens,
Surely there's a hole big enough for Kevin Love out there somewhere, right? Wasn't OKC put on this earth to absorb malcontents with horrible contracts? I always liked Osman, not sure he fits in any more with Markannen on his turf. Clearly, either Garland or Sexton has to go. Seems like Windler and Kabengele are already superfluous. I like most all of these players but I just don't see how they fit together.
Summer '22 free agents
Sexton, Valentine, Guy, Fall
So it seems like Sexton is the first guy to get traded, right? Or can they move on from Garland in time to re-up Sexton? See, the roster is promising and yet complicated.
Over/Under: 26.5 (Under, 13th in the East)
I dunno, man. A lot of nice players but I don't see how they fit together. They've got to move on from Love, they've got to choose between Garland and Sexton, it feels like they'll have to choose between Allen and Mobley, and where does Markkanen play on this team? They should be better, they should be a team on the rise, but they feel like a clusterfuck until one or two trades really puts this roster straight.
Pistons
Out
Jahlil Okafor (traded to Nets), Sekou Doumbouya (traded to Nets), Mason Plumlee (traded to Hornets), Tyler Cook (waived), Jaylen Hands (renounced rights), Dennis Smith Jr (declined to tender qualifying offer), Wayne Ellington (free agent), Deividas Sirvydis (waived); (Pistons also briefly held Deandre Jordan (waived), the rights to JT Thor (traded to Hornets) before the end of pre-season)
How bad is Doumbouya to have been straight dumped like a prom night dumpster baby by three teams in one off-season? The Rockets aren't even paying him anything and they let him walk. Dang! Plumlees come and Plumlees go, not bad to have them but nor do you feel bad when they leave. Okafor is still hanging around, as is Ellington, looks like Smith is gonna be a flying Dutchman, too. I don't think they're going to regret waiving Jordan but JT Thor is gonna have some moments to keep an eye on.
In
#1 pick Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma), #42 pick Isaiah Livers (USA), Kelly Olynyk (3yr/$37m), Trey Lyles (2yr/$5m), #52 pick Luka Garza (Iowa), Chris Smith (2-way), Jamorko Pickett (2-way), Derrick Walton Jr (Exhibit 10), Cassius Stanley (Exhibit 10), Jared Cunningham (Exhibit 10)
If Cunningham is all that he can be, then the Pistons won't need any more than that. But even though I love Olynyk and think he's a perfect addition for the Pistons youth movement, it does feel like there was more out than in for the Pistons this summer. Maybe that's a good thing, maybe I'm overrating what's going out--and, again, if Cade plays like a #1, then no worries--but the Detroit youth movement needs to be exciting this year or this summer will look like a major bust. I dunno, not sure what they see in Garza just yet; I like him, I'm rooting for the guy, but he'll need to be letter perfect to play significant minutes in the NBA (seems to me like he was more of a candidate for a 2-way deal).
Re-Signed
Saben Lee (3yr/$5.1m), Rodney McGruder (1yr/$1.9m), Frank Jackson (2yr/$6.1m), Cory Joseph (2yr/$10m), Hamidou Diallo (2yr/$10.4m)
I think Diallo is arguably the most underrated player in the league and the Pistons did well to pick him up for a bag of balls and re-sign him to a very affordable contract. Also, I'm still in on Bey and Hayes and the vet contracts for McGruder, Jackson and Joseph are very team friendly. These all feel like good moves.
Rest of the roster
Jerami Grant, Josh Jackson
Oh yeah, Grant is actually their main scorer, I still kinda forget that that's the role he has grown into. Jackson: great athlete, still haven't seen a lick of basketball skill from him in all these years.
Summer '22 free agents
Jackson, McGruder, Jared Cunningham
Doesn't feel like the Pistons will be sweating next summer--unless their youth movement is an unmitigated disaster (which I don't think it will be).
Over/Under: 24.5 (Under, 14th in the East)
24.5 wins would put them in line for a top-5 pick, which is probably not a bad outcome for the Pistons (their 1st rounder is top-16 protected, I think they'll easily cover that). This is a really young team that's gonna be led by a #1 pick that has to learn the ropes. Grant and Olynyk will keep the youngsters in form and Diallo will show the kids how to shine out, but really it's youngsters in all positions, so you can't expect this team to win many games. But I do expect them be a fun watch, the Pistons are going to the top of my League Pass rankings (I like youth movements I cannot lie). I've got to pick the under here just because there's no real incentive to be good, this team obviously needs at least another year to round into shape and another top-5 pick might be a delicious bonus next summer.
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