Hawks
Out
Kris Dunn (trade to Celtics), Brandon Goodwin (declined to tender qualifying offer), Nathan Knight (declined to tender qualifying offer), Tony Snell (renounced free agent rights), Bruno Fernando (trade to Celtics); (Hawks also briefly held Johnny Hamilton, Ibi Watson, DaQuan Jeffries, Jahlil Okafor, AJ Lawson before the end of pre-season)
Didn't need Dunn, Snell or Fernando. Not relying on Goodwin or Knight or any of those other dudes that passed through this summer. Nothing missed in this pile.
In
#20 pick Jalen Johnson (Duke), #48 pick Sharife Cooper (Auburn/2-way), Gorgui Dieng (1yr/$4m), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (1yr/$1.9m), Delon Wright (trade with Kings),
Dude, I think Johnson could be the steal of this draft. And I think Cooper could be the steal of the 2nd round--and the Hawks didn't even need either of those guys! I think they got younger, deeper, cheaper all at once. I always liked Dieng (not sure he does much here, though), always liked TLC (if Bogdan misses time, TLC could get some minutes), always liked Wright (a reliable vet to guy with the youngsters). I love all of these Ins--I loved all of the Outs!--and the Hawks were already a team ready to take another step. Brilliant off-season, just fuckin' brilliant!
Re-signed
Coach Nate McMillan (no longer 'interim'), Solomon Hill (1yr/$2.4m), John Collins (5yr/$125m), Lou Williams (1yr/$5m), Trae Young (5yr/$172.5m), Clint Capela (2yr/$45.5m), Skylar Mays (2-way)
Coach McMillan came in midway last season and got this team cookin', so giving him the full hire was a no-brainer move. Hill is nice, continuity is a good thing, the deal is cheap. I was impressed with Collins last season, he's ready to get paid, good move. Lou keeps doing his thing, I think he fits the vibe, I think he understands when to go off and when to leave it alone, think bringing him back is the right move. Trae made a believer of me and I (like the Hawks) am all in, give him whatever he wants. A little surprised they re-upped Capela so readily given the other extensions that are in the pipeline, but this is a good deal (and a very tradeable deal), so I think it's the right move.
Rest of the roster
Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De'Andre Hunter, Onyeka Okongwu, Cam Reddish, Kevin Huerter
(Can they flip Gallinari for Gary Harris?) Love Bogdanovic, didn't even really get the full taste of what he can do on this team last year. Love Hunter, think he's gonna take a step forward. Like Okongwu, looks like he can do things down low. Love Reddish, hurt through most of the playoffs, balled out when he could. Love Huerter, all the little things that guy provides are gonna do so much for this team.
Summer '22 free agents
Wright, Williams, Huerter, Dieng, Hill, Luwawu-Cabarrot; Hawks already exercised team options on Hunter, Okongwu and Reddish.
(Huerter got paid) With all the youngsters they gotta pay, the Hawks are gonna be hard pressed to find money for vets next summer, so I figure Wright, Lou, Dieng, Hill and TLC all move on unless they're willing to play for less money (which they might).
Over/Under: 47.5 (Over, 2nd in the East)
I'm in! I never got Trae Young, I didn't see it at Oklahoma, didn't get the pre-draft hype, thought the Hawks were spinning their wheels with him. But last year in the playoffs, they gelled and it all made sense: Trae is Steph outside the three point line and CP inside the free throw line. And that cast around him is pretty good. Last year in the playoffs, they were missing Bogadanovic, Hunter, Okongwu, and Reddish for stretches and still made the final four. Throw in two draft picks that I think were both steals, adding understated reliable vets and anointing Nate MacMillan as coach, and I just think everything about this team is cooking right now. And because they're winning with such youth, they won't take nights off, they won't be load-managing, and well frankly, they're too stupid to not try to win every night. I think they're going to play like unsatisfiable bullies that are gonna club teams night after night. If you wanted a shock pick for most regular season W's, it's the Hawks. And for what it's worth, I see the Eastern Conference playoffs as mostly a rerun of last year
Heat
Out
Andre Iguodala (team declined option), Precious Achiuwa (traded to Raptors), Goran Dragic (traded to Raptors), Nemanja Bjelica (free agent), Trevor Ariza (free agent), Kendrick Nunn (rescinded qualifying offer); (Heat also briefly held DJ Stewart, Dru Smith, Ja'Vonte Smart, Mich Potter before the end of pre-season)
Iguodala, Bjelica and Ariza weren't prefect fits for this team, I think the Heat are better without them. Nunn is a tough loss, though, felt like they had a reliable 2nd string PG but he wanted to play for the Lakers. Achiuwa was a nice young talent, Dragic a nice reliable veteran, but giving up both for a coupla years of Kyle Lowy is probably the right move.
In
Markieff Morris (1yr/$2.6m), Kyle Lowry (trade with Raptors), PJ Tucker (2yr/$14.3m), Marcus Garrett (2-way), Caleb Martin (2-way)
Lowry in gives them a reliable center of their offense that I think should transform the Heat for the better. Markieff and Tucker give them some craziness that should make the Heat crazier.
Re-signed
Dwayne Dedmon (1yr/$2.4m), Duncan Robinson (5yr/$90m), Gabe Vincent (2yr/$3.5m), Max Strus (2yr/$3.5m), Omer Yurstseven (2yr/$3.2m), Jimmy Butler (3yr/$136.4m), Victor Oladipo (1yr/$2.4m), Udonis Haslem (1yr/$2.6m)
The Dedmon deal is reasonable. Robinson had to get paid, it's the right move. Vincent, Strus and Yurtseven are for continuity at the bottom of the roster, probably good moves. Re-upping Butler is the no-brainer of the summer. Bringing back Udonis Haslem....still makes no sense to me (something about 'Heat culture' or something). Oladipo on a bargain basement deal is a move the Heat just have to make, even if it goes nowhere; healthy Oladipo might be more than this team needs--could be a distraction, too, this move could backfire.
Rest of the roster
Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, KZ Okpala
I love Bam, think he's gonna do just fine with Lowry. I love Herro, but he needs to step up his game to get the next big contract. Okpala is a nice player, I think he'll find time in this rotation.
Summer '22 free agents
Haslem, Morris, Dedmon, Oladipo, Okpala; team option on Herro, player option for Tucker
Surely this will be the last season for Haslem, right? Morris and Dedmon will probably be on the move next summer. Okpala could get a Heat deal if he squeezes into this rotation. Oladipo is probably gone, but if he comes back strong this year, it could throw off the Heat's calculations and make for weird moves (we'll see). Herro and Tucker will both be back next year.
Over/Under: 48.5 (Under, 4th in the East)
I'm betting that this is the year that the Heat embrace the regular season and actually contemplate seeding, instead of just thinking of themselves as naturally deserving. We'll see, it's been a while since they've even tried to care about the regular season, but if they get going early on, I think it could be a boon to their playoff hopes. Can this team win a title? Yeah, I think they can. Butler-Bam-Lowry is a formidable trio and the surrounding mix of vets and youngsters make for some worthwhile ingredients for Chef Spoelstra. I think this team is already complete, doesn't need to make moves, just needs to figure out what they've got and go get W's. I could be wrong, but I think the Heat are in it to win it all season long this year.
Hornets
Out
Brad Wanamaker (free agent), Grant Riller (declined to tender qualifying offer), Malik Monk (free agent), Nate Darling (declined to tender qualifying offer), Devonte Graham (sign/trade with Pelicans), Caleb Martin (waived), Bismack Biyombo (free agent), Cody Zeller (free agent); (Hornets also briefly held LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Crutcher, Cameron McGriff, Xavier Sneed, DJ Carton before the end of pre-season)
Too bad they couldn't hold on to Malik Monk, never as good as he could've been with the Hornets, but I think he's about to take his next leap and that could've been in a Hornet uni. Oh well. Graham has basically already been replaced. Martin and Zeller and Biyombo and Wanamaker are just ready to be replaced.
In
#11 pick James Bouknight (Connecticut), #19 pick Kai Jones (Texas), #37 pick JT Thor (Auburn), #56 pick Scottie Lewis (Florida/2-way), Arnoldas Kulboka (2-way), Mason Plumlee (trade with Pistons), Ish Smith (1yr/$4.5m), Kelly Oubre (2yr/$25m), Wesley Iwundu (trade with Pelicans),
Bouknight, Jones and Thor all some tasty highlights in pre-season, eager to see if they can get some run. A Plumlee for a Zeller , Ish for Graham, Oubre for Monk, these are all fine moves.
Re-signed
Coach James Borrego (multi year extension), Terry Rozier (4yr/$96.3m)
I like Borrego, just feels like he's got a good handle on that team. If he can keep LaMelo moving forward, then he's worth it. Re-upping Rozier is not what I would've thought was going to happen, but he's been good for them, so keep it going.
Rest of the roster
Gordon Hayward, LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, PJ Washington, Cody Martin, Jalen McDaniels, Vernon Carey Jr.
If Hayward stays healthy, this team can be really good. LaMelo is going to put his stamp on this team this year. I love PJ Washington and Bridges, too, those two give real spine to this squad. The other guys all should improve, can be nice contributors.
Summer '22 free agents
Bridges, Iwundu, Martin; team options on Ball and Washington
(Bridges got paid) Iwundu and Martin are probably both gone. Ball and Washington will both absolutely be re-upped.
Over/Under: 38.5 (Over, 9th in the East)
The Hornets are gonna be a fun League Pass team this year. LaMelo and PJ and Bridges are fun a trio, I think Bouknight, Jones and Thor are all gonna be good, I think Oubre and Ish Smih are nice pickups, I think Rozier is the right kinda crazy for this squad and if Hayward stays healthy, the Hornets could be really good. Or this could all be fool's gold and none of it goes anywhere....that's also a strong possibility. Either way, the Hornets are gonna be fun to watch.
Wizards
Out
Alex Len (free agent), Isaac Bonga (declined to tender qualifying offer), Ish Smith (free agent), Robin Lopez (free agent), Garrison Matthews (declined to tender qualifying offer), Russel Westbrook (traded to Lakers), Chandler Hutchison (traded to Spurs), Caleb Homesley (waived); (Wizards also briefly held Jay Huff, Jordan Schakel before the end of pre-season)
Well, obviously moving on from Westbrook will bring huge changes to this team....though I strangely don't think the team will be any better or worse than they were with him. Len and Bonga just didn't fit, Ish and Lopez are butterflies that weren't gonna stay, felt like Hutchison could've been given a chance here but oh well.
In
Coach Wes Unseld Jr (4yr contract), #15 pick Corey Kispert (Gonzaga), Kentavius Caldwell-Pope (trade with Lakers), Kyle Kuzma (trade with Lakers), Montrezl Harrell (trade with Lakers), Spencer Dinwiddie (trade with Nets), Aaron Holiday (trade with Pacers), #31 pick Isaiah Todd (USA), Jordan Goodwin (Exhibit 10), Jaime Echenique (Exhibit 10)
New coach! Not sure I see how that changes anything for this squad, but always nice to get a fresh start, I suppose. I'm not that big on Kispert, feel like they could've reached with this pick or traded into next year, rather than just grabbing the consensus guy that just doesn't look like a pro to me; we'll see. KCP, Kuzma and Harrell bring a new look to the side. Dinwiddie is Westrbrook-ish (though with lower highs and higher lows). I like Holiday, should be a solid 2nd string PG. I dunno, out with some old, in with some new, somehow this team doesn't look any different to me even though they drastically overhauled their roster.
Re-signed
Raul Neto (1yr/$2.1m), Cassius Winston (2-way)
Neto is a reliable vet PG off the bench (nice trade bait, too). Winston could see some growth this season.
Rest of the roster
Bradley Beal, Davis Bertans, Thomas Bryant, Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija, Daniel Gafford, Anthony Gill, Devontae Shuler
Beal is awesome but curiously cool with being mediocre. Bertans already seems like a bust, though I think he's actually still reasonably effective (if a little overpaid). Bryant, Hachimura, Avdija, Gafford and Gill are all nice young players that could/should take a step up this season.
Summer '22 free agents
Harrell, Bryant, Holiday, Neto, Gill; team options on Hachimura, and Avdija; player option for Beal
Harrell, Bryant, Holiday, Gill, Hachimure and Avdija are all auditioning for that next contract (whether from the Wizards or someone else). I suspect Neto either moves on or retires. Beal is gonna do whatever he wants to do (seems like staying in DC is what he wants).
Over/Under: 33.5 (Under, 12th in the East)
If all the parts of this team that are capable of improving all blow up together, then this team could be fuckin' amazing! Which seems impossible, which is why I gotta think they're gonna have more disappointments than pleasant surprises. There is a worthwhile core of vets (Beal, Dinwiddie, KCP, Harrell, Kuzma, Bertans) and an intriguing core of prospects (Kispert, Hachimura, Avdjia, Bryant, Gafford) and even a smattering of you-never-knows (Neto, Gill) but somehow I just don't see how it adds up to anything worthwhile. I got them in the Lottery.
Magic
Out
Chasson Randle (declined to tender qualifying offer), Sindarius Thornwell (declined to tender qualifying offer), James Ennis (free agent), Otto Porter (free agent), Dwayne Bacon (waived); (Magic also briefly held Jason Preston, Jon Teske, Jeremiah Tilmon and Devin Cannady before the end of pre-season)
Meh. Otto Porter was never really right for this squad, so he's not a loss. Ennis is ready to move on. What's up with Bacon? I thought that guy had some staying power, maybe not.
In
Head Coach Jamahl Mosley (4yr contract), #5 pick Jalen Suggs (Gonzaga), #8 pick Franz Wagner (Michigan), Robin Lopez (1yr/$5m), E'Twuan Moore (1yr/$2.6m), Admiral Schofield (Exhibit 10), Hassani Gravett (Exhibit 10), BJ Johnson (status?)
Bringing in Mosley to lure Luka away from Dallas? Well, sounds nice but I doubt it, we're just gonna have to see if this guy can actually coach. I love Suggs, my pick for ROY, I think the Magic are blessed to have Suggs fall to them. I feel like Wagner was a reach but he might be a nice pro. Lopez is a fine big man vet. Moore is a fine vet off the bench. I loved Schofield in NCAA, haven't yet seen him make the jump to the pros.
Re-signed
Ignas Brazdekis (2-way), Mo Wagner (2yr/$3.6m), Wendell Carter Jr. (4yr/$?), Jeff Dowtin (Exhibit 10)
Coupla Wagners now. They gave Carter the bag, okay. Dowtin made plays in pre-season (though I doubt he'll make the team). Another shot for Brazdekis.
Rest of the roster
Gary Harris, Jonathon Isaac, Markelle Fultz, Terrence Ross, Mo Bamba, Cole Anthony, Chuma Okeke, Michael Carter-Williams, RJ Hampton
(Harris for Gallinari? Magic interested in that move?) This is a make-or-break year for Isaac, sorry to see him on the wrong side of the media going into this season, seems like a good kid. If Isaac busts out, this Magic team will be really weird. Fultz, too, is a guy that might blow up outta nowhere (or he might not). Ross is trade bait in this roster. I don't think Bamba comes back. I think Anthony will quickly become trade bait. If Okeke can get over injuries, he'll get playing time. MCW is trade bait. Hampton is another wild card on a team full of wild cards: I think there's a good chance that Hampton blows up and either takes over this team or gets traded in splashy fashion.
Summer '22 free agents
Harris, Bamba, Lopez, Carter-Williams, Moore; team already exercised options on Anthony, Okeke, Hampton and Carter
Harris will not be back next year. I don't think Bamba, Moore or MCW will either. You know Lopez is a Disney guy (yes, Disney people are real and they're out there), so paying in Orlando is probably a dream come true for him whereas most NBA guys eschew the Florida scene; I wouldn't be surprised if Lopez becomes a real fixture with the Magic.
Over/Under: 22.5 (Under, 15th in the East)
An intriuing pile of talent--too much so! This team will be trade talk all season long. And when Suggs comes in and takes over the team, it'll just get weirder. Which of these guys will blossom and which will be shipped out? There will be some of both, I'm sure, but on this team success will just create turmoil (and that's how you get a top 5 pick in next year's draft!).
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