Mavs
Out
Nicolo Melli (signed with Olimpia Milano), Josh Richardson (to the Celtics), Tyler Bey (declined to tender qualifying offer), Nate Hinton (waived)
No big losses. I kinda liked Melli but if he didn't fit, then he didn't fit. Richardson seems washed but he may have just had lingering injuries, not necessarily done, just not the right fit with the Mavs. I don't know Bey.
In
Moses Brown (trade with the Celtics), Reggie Bullock (3yr/$30.5m), Sterling Brown (2yr/$6.2m), Frank Ntilikina (2yr/$3.8m), JaQuori McLaughlin (2-way), Eugene Omoruyi (2-way), Carlik Jones (Exhibit 10), EJ Onu (Exhibit 10), Feron Hunt (Exhibit 10),
Moses Brown seems like an exciting young player, Bullock is a good shooter, Sterling Brown is a good all-round hustle guy, Ntilikina should be a reliable 2nd string PG (good on-ball defender if nothing else) and none of these contracts are particularly expensive. Not a huge upgrade but does seem like money well allocated to shoring up the 2nd string.
Re-Signed
Boban Marjanovic (2yr/$7m), Tim Hardaway Jr (4yr/$74m), Luka Doncic (5yr/$207m),
Luka and Hardaway are a good combo and they are the core for the foreseeable future, I'm a big fan of both signings. Boban had some promising moments offensively last year, if he can improve his footwork, he's an intriguing prospect for the middle of their offense.
Rest of the roster
Kristaps Porzingis, Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber, Willie Caluey-Stein, Dorain Finney-Smith, Trey Burke, Jalen Brunson, Josh Green, Tyrell Terry,
I'm in on Porzingis because, well, there's no upside in being down on him; either KP can be an exciting filler upper and worthwhile second banana or he can't, we'll find out this season. I like Powell and Kleber and Cauley-Stein and Finney-Smith and Brunson, a solid backup crew for Coach Kidd to work with. (I never saw much in Trey Burke, apparently the Mavs are eager to trade him)
Summer '22 free agents
Cauley-Stein, Finney-Smith, Brunson; team option on Green, player option for Burke
50-50 for all those guys: if they shine out, then give 'em a raise, if not then ship 'em out. I don't know about Green, seems like Burke is not gonna be back next year.
Over/Under: 48.5 (Over, 3rd in the West)
I like the Mavs, don't love them, but I think as they round into shape around Luka, they'll be a consistent scoring and rebounding machine that should pile up W's in the regular season. Not ready to say they'll be money in the playoffs (indeed, I kinda think they won't be for at least another year), but this is where they launch into a night in/night out juggernaut. Luka will get major MVP consideration as the core around him gels. I like Porzingis to be at least decent and frankly that's probably all they need. I'm not a huge fan of Kidd as a coach, but the Mavs have their culture in place, Luka is the centerpiece and the roster is good enough to be good enough. I like the Mavs to take a step forward this year.
Grizzlies
Out
Justise Winslow (team declined option), Johntay Porter (waived), Tim Frazier (team renounced free rights), Tyler Dorsey (renounced rights), Jonas Valanciunas (to the Pelicans), Grayson Allen (traded to the Bucks), Wang Zhelin (traded to the Lakers), Sean McDermott (waived); (Grizzlies also briefly held Rajon Rondo, Eric Bledsoe, Patrick Beverley, Marc Gasol, Carsen Edwards, Daniel Oturu, Juan Hernangomez, Trey Murphy, Jared Butler, and BJ Boston before the end of pre-season)
Winslow never became the player they hoped he'd be, Valanciunas gave them a coupla nice years but was never a centerpiece for the future, Allen seemed to fit but he made good trade bait, too, and Frazier has been around, may well be back around. Porter, Dorsey and Zhelin I don't know. Seems like they didn't lose too much (and used their roster turnover to facilitate moves around the league).
In
Steven Adams (trade with the Pelicans), Jarrett Culver (trade with the Wolves), #30 pick Santi Aldama (Loyola), Sam Merrill (trade with the Bucks), #10 pick Ziaire Williams (Stanford), Kris Dunn (trade with the Celtics), Yves Pons (2-way), Romeo Weems (pre-season), Shaq Buchanon (pre-season),
Frankly, I like Adams, the onerous part of his contract has past and he's pretty Grizzly, I think he fits nicely in Memphis and gives them a coupla good years. We'll see about Culver, still waiting for him to blossom (this Grizzly front court might be too crowded for him, can he be traded again?). I feel like Williams was a little hyped to be a #10 pick (Williams' non-year at Stanford is forgivable, but Boston's non-year at Kentucky almost gets him undrafted? I don't get it) and, again, seems like the Grizz front court is already stocked, so either he's gonna be a badass right away or he's not gonna see much of the floor this season. Dunn off the bench might be a good thing for them, he's a settle-down guy, good defender, could be a good fit for this squad. I have no idea about Aldama or Merrill, seems like they'll have trouble making the rotation.
Re-Signed
Killian Tillie (2-way)
Another year, another chance for a young prospect.
Rest of the roster
Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson, Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., De'Anthony Melton, Tyus Jones, Brandon Clarke, John Konchar, Desmond Bane, Xavier Tillman Sr, Sean McDermott
I love Brooks, in the discussion for most underappreciated player in the league, a dirty work guy, a gamer, irrational confidence without being an idiot, he's very Grizzly. Anderson has always been a reliable guy, if not exciting, either he anchors the 2nd string or he's trade bait. Morant is one of the most gifted players in the league, he can get do anything he wants to do...this is his year to figure out what he wants to do; I think he blows up because if not, this could become a disappointing setback year. Jackson is getting more reliable on both ends, still getting better. Melton is still a pleasant surprise off the bench as is Jones. Clarke and Bane and Tillman should all take steps up this season. I think there's a lot of improvement ahead for the Grizz, but they go as far as Morant drags them, if he blows up the Grizzlies could be really good.
Summer '22 free agents
Anderson, Jackson, Jones, Dunn; team options on Morant, Culver, Clarke, and Bane
(Jackson has already been re-upped) I think Anderson will not be back next year. Jones and Dunn, too, are probably battling for the same spot and I can see them both playing elsewhere next year. Well, Morant is obviously getting picked up, I'd say Clarke and Bane are almost no-brainers, as well. Culver is auditioning for his next contract already, hope he has a big year.
Over/Under: 41.5 (Over, 8th in the West)
If you're looking for an under the radar, crazy upside team that no one is talking about, it's the Grizzlies. If Ja Morant blows up next year and he can hold the crew around him together, then they could be crazy good right away. They've got a lot of youth but a lot of depth and a lot of athleticism, if Ja buds early into the star he's capable of and he taps into the natural athleticism on this team, then they could be in the top 6. I kinda doubt that will happen, hard to imagine a youth movement that crowded yields enough growth for everyone to shine out, but it wouldn't shock me. Morant is good, gonna be great, just a matter of when.
Spurs
Out
DeMar DeRozan (sign/trade to the Bulls), DaQuan Jeffries (declined to tender qualifying offer), Quinndary Witherspoon (declined to tender qualifying offer), Gorgiu Dieng (free agent), Patty Mills (free agent), Rudy Gay (free agent), Trey Lyles (free agent), Ben Moore (renounced rights), Dante Cunnigham (renounced rights), Darrun Hilliard (renounced rights), David Lee (renounced rights), Donatas Motiejunas (renounced rights), Joffrey Lauvergne (renounced rights), Marco Belinelli (renounced rights), Quincy Pondexter (renounced rights), Luka Samanic (waived)
The Spurs rebuild is already well underway, losing DeRozan, Mills and Gay just saves money and gives more playing time to the youngsters. (What's up the mass renouncing? Lauvergne? Motiejunas? I don't even remember those guys with the Spurs)
In
Thaddeus Young (trade with the Bulls), Al-Farouq Aminu (trade with the Bulls), Zach Collins (3yr/$22m), Jock Landale (2yr/$2.5m), #12 pick Josh Primo (Alabama), Doug McDermott (from the Pacers), #41 pick Joe Wieskamp (Iowa/ 2-way), Damyean Dotson (1yr/$1.8m)
But they still need some vets, so Young is a nice addition (I can see him moving on to a playoff team come trade deadline time) and Collins and McDermott are minutes-eaters. I can see Aminu getting waived/bought out. Curious to see what they've got in Primo, probably the most shocking selection of the 2021 draft.
Re-Signed
Bryn Forbes (1yr/$4.5m), Keita Bates-Diop (2yr/$3.6m)
Short term reunion with Forbes, he's a solid backup PG. Bates-Diop is one of those you hear that everybody likes but then never makes it into a rotation, so he seems like a practice player.
Rest of the roster
Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Jakob Poeltl, Lonnie Walker, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Drew Eubanks, Tre Jones, Jaylen Morris, Jordan Burns, Denzel Mahoney
They've got a nice collection of intriguing talent. Murray, White, Poeltl, Walker, Vassell and Johnson should all still be getting better, so if they gel and mature together...nah, they're still not gonna win games. But the Spurs could be a more exciting League Pass option than they've been in a while. Youth movements are always fun because they either blossom or self-destruct, either way it's a good show.
Summer '22 free agents
Young, Aminu, Forbes, Walker, Dotson; with team options on Vassell and Johnson
I expect them to re-up Vassell and Johnson. Young and Aminu are probably trade bait and maybe Walker, too.
Over/Under: 28.5 (Over, 12th in the West)
The Spurs have a lot of nice pieces and I expect them to play hard every night. But I don't expect them to close out a lot of W's or really even come close to sniffing the playoffs. They're just too young to excel right now and while I can see them making some trades, I don't see the 'big one' that nets them a for-real star (in case you're wondering, I do not consider Ben Simmons to be a 'for-real star', as in trading for him wouldn't make the Spurs a playoff team). I like youth movements, I'll probably watch a lot of the Spurs and my guess is they will make for a lot of interesting 4th quarters where they make good teams sweat it out.
Pelicans
Out
Lonzo Ball (sign/trade to the Bulls), Steven Adams (traded to Grizzlies), Eric Bledsoe (traded to Grizzlies), Wesley Iwundu (traded to Grizzlies), James Nunnally (declined to tender qualifying offer), James Johnson (free agent), Wenyen Gabriel (waived); (Pelicans also briefly held the #10 pick (Ziaire Williams (Stanford)), the #40 pick (Jared Butler (Baylor)), the #43 pick (Greg Brown (Texas)), the #51 pick (BJ Boston (Kentucky)), and the #53 pick (Charles Bassey (Western Kentucky)) during the off-season)
Seems to me they kinda dropped the ball (no pun intended): moving on from Adams and Bledsoe is worth giving up the #10 pick--if they had re-signed Lonzo--that was the whole point of that move. Giving up the #10 pick and still not getting Lonzo seems like a waste now. Also, I think Boston is the steal of the draft and they let him slip right through their fingers for nothing. I'm actually less excited about Williams than I am about Bassey and Brown, but Pelican fingerprints are all over what looks to be a pretty deep draft and they have little to show for it, which is just plain weird. Moving on from Iwundu, Nunnally and Johnson is fine and moving on from Bledsoe needed to be done; I'm agnostic on Adams because while I think he's underappreciated I also think he doesn't fit all that well with Zion.
In
Coach Willie Green (poached from the Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns), the #17 pick Trey Murphy (Virginia), the #35 pick Herb Jones (Alabama), Garrett Temple (trade with the Bulls), Tomas Satoransky (trade with the Bulls), Jonas Valanciunas (trade with the Grizzlies), Devonte Graham (trade with the Grizzlies), John Petty Jr (pre-season), Daulton Holmes (2-way), Jose Alvarado (2-way),
Never know about a coach, either he'll work out or he won't; everyone seems to love Green, seems like its his time, so we'll see. I always liked Valanciunas (but I'm not sure he fits with Zion) and Satoransky (should give meaningful minutes off the bench), but Temple is little more than a roster filler at this point and though I like Graham, the idea that he is their big off-season acquisition can't be too exciting for Pelican fans. I think Murphy can be nice, I have no idea bout Williams. In short, I'd rather have Lonzo and BJ Boston than all of these guys.
Re-Signed
Josh Hart (3yr/$38m, weirdly structured deal: 2nd year is non-guaranteed but 3rd year is a player option, never seen that before, will this wrinkle catch on?), Willy Hernangomez (3yr/$7.3m), Didi Louzada (4yr/$7.7m)
Okay. I'm so-so on Hart but they had to sign somebody and maintaining continuity is probably for the best. Likewise with Hernangomez, not some kinda no-brainer move but not a bad one. I don't know Louzada.
Rest of the roster
Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Kira Lewis Jr., Naji Marshall
I'm still not psyched about pairing Ingram with Zion, feels like moving one to focus on the other is a more natural move. Hayes, NAW and Lewis have had nice moments, feels like there's some good hustle in those guys and each should mature a bit more this season. (I have no idea who Naji Marshall is)
Summer '22 free agents
Valanciunas, Satoransky; team options on Williamson, Hayes, Alexader-Walker and Lewis
Valanciunas and Satoransky are getting to that age where they could probably still be effective badasses in Europe, wouldn't be surprised to see those guys head back next summer. My guess is they'll pick up all four of the team options.
Over/Under: 39.5 (Under, 13th in the West)
I'd love to see Zion blow up and the Pelicans take the league by storm, but I just don't see it. This team is not well constructed at all and did nothing this off-season to shore up any part of their game (or even just to look busy!). Don't get where this franchise is going or this team and I feel like a crazy Zion panic move could happen by next summer. Until then, a lot of nice young pieces probably going to waste in New Orleans.
Rockets
Out
Avery Bradley (declined team option), DJ Wilson (declined to tender qualifying offer), Kelly Olynyk (free agent), Sterling Brown (free agent), Khyri Thomas (waived)
Olynyk is anpother one of those free agent vets that would actually be perfect for what the Rockets are planning for next year, unfortunately he got there a year early and both sides were eager to part. Too bad, I like Olynyk and I think being the big brother on a young team is actually a great role for him (he'll be doing that for the Pistons instead). Bradley is not suited for a rebuild, I expect to see Bradley on a playoff team by year's end. Wilson and Brown were probably expendable considering all the bodies they're bringing in. (Rockets also briefly had Sekou Doumbouya (dang, how toxic is this kid if the Pistons, Nets and Rockets all gave him away within a span of weeks?))
In
Daniel Theis (trade with the Bulls), #2 pick (Jalen Green (USA)), #16 Alperen Sengun (Turkey), #23 pick Usman Garuba (Spain), #24 pick (Josh Christopher (Arizona State), Daishen Nix (Exhibit 10), Tyler Bey (2-way), Anthony Lamb (2-way)
I like Theis as a contributor for a good team, don't think he fits with the Rockets, though, I expect they'll look to move him at the deadline (kinda doubt there will be any takers, but I bet he'll be out there). Green is gunning for ROY. Sengun is gunning for ROY. Garuba should be a rotation guy by Xmas, right? Don't know Christopher, he may as well be gunning for ROY. No idea about Nix, Bey or Lamb but this is a full-on youth movement rebuild team, don't be surprised if those dudes get some run.
Re-Signed
David Nwaba (3yr/$15m), Dante Exum (3yr/$8.1m), Armoni Brooks (2-way)
(I believe Rockets waived Exum) I like Nwaba and Brooks is a dude that certainly has his admirers.
Rest of the roster
John Wall, Eric Gordon, Christian Wood, DJ Augustin, Danuel House, Kevin Porter Jr., Jae'sean Tate, Kenyon Martin Jr, Daishen Nix
(Can they trade Wall for Kyrie?) (Can they trade Gordon for a pick?) (Do they really want to keep Wood?) (How can they get rid of Augustin?) (House is barely a minutes-eater) Porter and Tate (and the rookies) are the players to watch.
Summer '22 free agents
House, Nix; with team options on Porter and Tate; player option for Wall
I kinda doubt House or Nix will be back next year. I'd be amazed if Porter and Tate are not back next year. I fully expect Wall to pick up that option (even if it's for another team).
Over/Under: 27.5 (Under, 14th in the West)
This team does not have what it takes (re: veterans) to win any games in the NBA, nor do they want to. In fact, I think the Thunder out-losing them, is the only thing that keeps the Rockets from being the worst team in the league. But don't worry Rockets fans, I think they'll be back in deal mode by next summer and I think Green, Porter (a Most Improved candidate, I'd say), Sengun and Garuba will all be plus players (and will get traded for Ben Simmons or somebody, probably). I think the Rocket turnaround will be quicker than you think but it won't be this year.
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