Grizzlies
Out: Mario Chalmers, Tyreke Evans, Ben McLemore, Deyonta Davis, Myke Henry, Jarrell Martin, Kobi Simmons
The Grizzlies have been grasping at straws for at least the last year and a half, so these straws are out to make room for new straws. Chalmers is a reasonable 2nd/3rd string PG, which is not a high priority for the Grizz right now. Evans was pretty good last year but not a piece going forward (though failing to get value for him at the trade deadline was a whiff). They gave McLemore another shot and learned what we all already knew: helluva athlete, not much a baller. Davis is cheap enough to seem right for this roster but doesn't seem like a big loss (at the moment). Ditto with Henry, Martin and Simmons: they were worth a try at their price points, they may well have earned another shot, but they're probably better off getting that shot with another squad.
In: Jaren Jackson, Kyle Anderson, Omri Casspi, Jevon Carter, Garrett Temple, Yuta Watanabe, (rights to Tyler Harvey), Shelvin Mack, Doral Moore, Markel Crawfod, Brandon Goodwin, DJ Stephens
Jackson is going to be just fine in Memphis, he's got grit, he's got grind, I don't like his ROY chances but I do like his chances to be a firm part of this rotation for years to come (that said, passing on Doncic may look like the biggest mistake of all time and frankly I thought Michael Porter was a good fit for the Grizz--and they could've traded back to get him!). I like Anderson, but I don't see him as a game changer for this roster. Casspi's inability to catch on with the Warriors last year is troubling, makes one wonder if he has anything left. Carter's shooting number in NCAA stayed pretty consistent as his MPG increased, considering that the Grizz need all the scoring they can get, I'd say that's a good sign. Temple is a reasonable vet off the bench (and he allowed them to prune their payroll), he'll get minutes but hard to see him making a huge difference. Mack is another nice vet PG off the bench (the new Chalmers), their desperation for PG's last season suggest he'll get regular minutes and he should be fine in that role. Watanabe, Moore, Crawford, Goodwin and Stephens will fight over the down-the-bench roster spots or the G-League spots and at least a few of them won't last through pre-season (though I have no idea which one).
Re-signed: (none)
All in all
Healthy seasons out of Mike Conley and Marc Gasol will vastly improve this team and a healthy season out of Chandler Parsons would be nice, too. That said, it seems like all three are trade bait...except that this is Memphis, who does that 'loyalty' thing that old people assure us used to happen all the time (I'm dubious). So gotta figure those three are gonna get as many minutes as possible. The rest of the rotation will start with Jaren Jackson and Kyle Anderson, then looks like a patchwork quilt of youth (Brooks, Carter--is Ivan Rabb still on the radar? Or Andrew Harrison?) and vets (Mack, Casspi, Temple) and...uh...MarShon Brooks? (Really? Is that a thing?)
If Conley and Gasol are healthy the Grizzlies will be a lot better. Those guys are good to keep them in games and genuinely savvy enough to win them. If they're not healthy...aw, man....they're gonna wish they had Luka Doncic. (MarShon Brooks looks to actually get minutes, remember that) At best they can hang around the edge of the playoff race but the West looks pretty damn strong, the Grizzlies are gonna struggle to be better than the Wolves or Mavs.
Mavs
Out: Doug McDermott, Aaron Harrison, Nerlens Noel, Kyle Collinsworth, Seth Curry, Yogi Farrell, Johnathon Motley, Renaldas Seibutis, Terry Larrier,
They kinda had Seth Curry and Yogi Farrell stolen out from under them but none of these guys were a focus for the Mavs going forward. McDermott is nice but wasn't gonna get the payday he was looking for in Dallas. Nerlens has talent, but he clearly clashed with Coach Carlisle (and everyone else, according to the buzz) and was never gonna work in Dallas. Harrison, Collinsworth, and Motley weren't part of the future. I don't know Seibutis (well, the rights to him) or Larrier.
In: Deandre Jordan, Luka Doncic, Ryan Broekhoff, Kostas Antetokounpo, Jalen Brunson, Ray Spalding, Daryl Macon, (2020 2nd rd pick swap with Rockets), Devin Harris, Donte Ingram, Rashad Vaughn
All hail the Doncic! This is the new bell cow in town, wouldn't be surprised to see him win ROY and this year is designed to get his feet wet, so they can look to add big time free agents next summer. Deandre is finally a Mav, feels like he could be a good foil for Dennis Smith. Harris is back again with the Mavs. As for the rest, whoever can play gets to stay (Brunson should hang, not sure about any of the rest).
Re-signed: Wesley Matthews (player option), Salah Mejri, Dirk Nowitzki, Jalen Jones
With all the injury problems Matthew has endured lately, gotta figure the Mavs would've been fine with him moving on; but a veteran SF to play lockdown (-ish) D is always a good thing, he should fit in nicely next to Deandre. Mejri was kinda of a fan favorite of the last coupla years, one of those big guys that doesn't overwhelm but works hard and isn't bad. Is this Dirk's final season? (I don't think so, I'm thinking 2 more years--yeah, his defense is abysmal but he's still un-guardable). Jones was a not-bad 3-pt shooter last year and that contract is affordable, not a bad move for the Mavs.
All in all
This is Luka's team now. Not soon, not next year--now! That said, he is a rookie and no one really knows how good he'll be right away (I'm saying ROY, but that doesn't mean he carries the Mavs deep into the playoffs). But make no mistake, he is the center of everything this team will do going forward.
PG Smith, SG Matthews, SF Doncic, PF Barnes, C Jordan with Barrea/Harris, Brunson, Jones, Dirk, Finney-Smith, Powell, Mejri. Lot of unknowns here: how will Smith and Luka hit it off? Is Matthews just playing out his contract or is he back to bad-ass defender level? Can Jordan make a difference down low or is he just taking up cap space? Is Barnes actually gonna be as good as he's supposed to be? Was Powell a fluke or can he be a force off the bench? Will Jalen Brunson give good minutes? Is the Barrea/Harris platoon really good enough to keep the 2nd string effective? Do the Mavs even wanna be good this year or are they looking to all that cap space they'll have next summer?
It'll take time for Smith and Luke to work it out, they're both ball-dominant guys and since success is not imminent, hard feelings could develop in the locker room; but they're both good players, they'll figure it out. I have no idea about Matthews, Barnes, Brunson or Powell; if those guys are all good, the Mavs could vastly improve this year. As for the veterans PG's, well, Barrea is still amazingly efficient (once Brandon Knight's price point comes down, this seems like the spot for him, no?) but I suspect this won't last past next summer--and if the Mavs actually think they can win this year, I would expect to see them upgrade ball handlers off the bench first and foremost.
I dunno, man. I can actually see this team being really good but its hard to imagine that'll happen right away. I think they hang around the 8th spot most all year long--ideally, they'd make a late push and then just miss the playoffs, giving them hope for next year (Dirk's last year) on which they could invest that big ol' knot of cap space they'll have. The Mavs will be good again but I'd be surprised if was this season.
Pelicans
Out: Charles Cooke, Demarcus Cousins, Jordan Crawford, Rajon Rondo, Deandre Liggins, Emeka Okafor
Boogie Cousins was having a great season when he got hurt last year...but the team got better after he was out; tough to lose a great player but Boogie takes up a lot of oxygen, I think they're better without him. Rondo, on the other hand, I thought looked as good as he has in years with the Pelicans and I think it's a mistake for him to leave (ehh, I may be wrong about that, though I'd be surprised if he lasted more than one year in LA). Okafor and Liggins are fine practice player, Crawford and Cooke are not big losses.
In: Elfrid Payton, Julius Randle, Trevon Bluitt, Garlon Green, Kenrich Williams, Troy Williams, Jahlil Okafor, Darius Morris, Jarrett Jack, Brandon McCoy
Payton is a bit frustrating as an old timey pass-first PG but I think there's enough scoring around him to put him in the Rondo role. Randle, too, is frustrating because of his rather unorthodox style (check him out: he's a lefty that refuses to play like a lefty), but his fearlessness is kinda joyous to watch and I think he'll fit in just fine in this rotation. I liked Bluitt in NCAA, a combo guard that looks to score as well as pass, I do not if he'll make it in the League but he's worth a shot. Hey, man, I thought the criticism of Okafor was wildly overblown, kinda soft on D but I think he can be a top flight scorer (I'd aim for him as 6th man here). Jarret Jack....damn, that dude is still around....all right. I don't know Green, Williams, Williams, Morris or McCoy.
Re-signed: Ian Clark
His numbers kinda dropped off last year but the contract is reasonable (I might've preferred a run at Patrick McCaw instead, but okay).
All in all
They blasted the Blazers in the playoffs last year--looked poised to give the Warriors a run (uh, didn't happen). I think they can do that again though with Lakers, Mavs, Grizzlies and Nuggets set to be better next year, there's not much room for the Pelicans, so they better hit the ground running.
PG Holiday, SG Moore, SF Mirotic, PF Okafor, C Davis with Payton/Jackson, Clark/Jack, Miller/Hill, Randle, Ajinca. It'd be nice if Diallo takes a step forward or if Troy Williams gives a little more than expected. That's a nice team, not a great one, and it's up to Anthony Davis to be an MVP to make this work. If Davis is the best he can be and Okafor and Randle have something like a renaissance then the Pelicans can maybe get up to 4th but I think fighting for 8th is probably more likely.
Rockets
Out: Joe Johnson, Luc Mbah a Moute, Tarik Black, Trevor Ariza, Aaron Jackson, Markel Brown, Chinanu Onuaku, Ryan Anderson, RJ Hunter
Ariza did an awful lot for this team over the last few years but I don't think he's irreplaceable. But I found Johnson, Mbah a Moute, and Anderson were more overpaid than useful. Black, Brown, Onuaku and Hunter were youngsters that didn't find much run in Houston because this is a roster based on vets not youngsters.
In: Gary Clark, (rights to Vince Edwards), Michael Carter-Williams, James Ennis, Isaih Hartenstein, Carmelo Anthony, (rights to Maarty Leunen), Marquesse Chriss, Brandon Knight, Bruno Caboclo
Ennis is a good pick up (and the potential replacement for Ariza) and I still like Knight, I think he can maximize their 2nd string. I'm still not a fan of Carmelo and while the price tag is right, we'll see if his game complements the vibe. MCW is a reasonable ball handler but not much of a scorer (I guess he could be paired with Knight off the bench). The brass seems to love Hartenstein and if he can give energy off the bench, that'd be great. Personally I was never much of a fan of Chriss (what is his game? What does he do?) but getting him a a throw-in could turn out to be a masterstroke for this roster. Caboclo, too, might be nothing but maybe he finally he hits his stride. Edwards and Clark may look like 'youth' but 'roster-filler' is probably more accurate.
Re-signed: (Coach D'antoni extended), Gerald Green (1yr/$2.4m), Chris Paul (4yr/$158.7), Clint Capela (5yr/$90m)
D'antoni has served them well so far, seems like a good call to pay the man. I thought Green was surprisingly effective for them in the post-season and that is a very reasonable deal. CP, on the other hand...I dunno, man...he's still good...but 4 years? At that price? This might be the deal that buries them (though letting him go would not have served them well either). Capela dangled most of the summer but they needed him back and they got him.
All in all
James Harden's Barry Bonds-like efficiency is what makes the Rockets a fearsome team. Chris Paul adds to that and the proper use of Clint Capela does, too. After that they're just another squad. So while I think they can win a ton of regular season games, I'm still dubious of their ability to outduel the Warriors (and maybe even the Lakers, who will be featuring a pretty efficient guy themselves). I wouldn't be surprised to see them finish 1st in the West, but I always surprised to see them get bounced in the 2nd round of the playoffs. We'll see.
Spurs
Out: Joffrey Lauvergne, Matt Costello, Tony Parker, Kyle Anderson, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Darrun Hilliard, Manu Ginobli,
Man, no Manu, no Parker, no Kawhi, not even Kyle Anderson or Danny Green! Massive turnover for the Spurs this year, we're gonna find out if that Popovic guy can actually coach, I guess.
In: Marco Belinelli, Lonnie Walker, Dante Cunningham, DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poetl, (2019 Raptors 1st rd pick), Quincy Pondexter, Chimizie Metu, Drew Eubanks, Jarron Blossongame, Nick Johnson, Okaro White
Belinelli is back for his 2nd tour with the Spurs, he'll give them wing scoring off the bench. Walker looks to be a defensive specialist, which should suit Pop's style and get him regular minutes off the bench. Cunningham and Pondexter are a pair 3-and-D vets off the bench. DeRozan is now the man, how he pairs with Aldridge will determine how far the Spurs go this season. Metu had decent numbers at Southern Cal, seems like he'll fall in line behind Pau. Blossongame, Johnson and White were all guys that had draft buzz but fell, seems like exactly what the Spurs are looking for.
Re-signed: Bryn Forbes, Davis Bertans, Rudy Gay, Dejounte Murray (team option), Jakob Poetl (team option), Derrick White (team option)
I thought Gay was gonna bail (wouldn't the Lakers rather have him than, say, Lance Stephenson or JaVale McGee?), but here he is, ready to shore up the bench again. I like Forbes and Bertans, they work hard and do the little things the Spurs like. Picking up the options on Murray, White and Poetl were positive moves, I'd say, good to go ahead and give the confidence vote to the rank and file.
All in all
The Spurs are brand new now and yet strangely similar to last season--but probably better. (Hmmm, that doesn't seem right, does it?) I was ready to predict a Renaissance...but then Murray blew out his knee and, man, that throws a real wrench in their rotation. He was set to take off but even if he was just average that would've been better than what awaits without him.
Starting lineup: PG Mills, SG DeRozan, SF Gay, PF Gasol, C Aldridge with Forbes, Walker, Belinelli, Pondexter, Cunningham, Poetl, Bertans off the bench (with any growth out of Blossongame and Metu being a bonus). That's not bad. This team has been seemingly steadily declining in talent but still manages to breeze into the playoffs every year because they get such good efficiency from the entire roster. And I was expecting that to continue this season. That said, I still like the Spurs to make the playoffs, coming in with a newfound underdog swagger (though I don't see them giving the Warriors much worry in the 1st round).
Showing posts with label divisions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label divisions. Show all posts
Monday, October 15, 2018
2018-19 NBA Pre-season (Northwest)
Blazers
Out: Shabazz Napier, Pat Connaughton, CJ Wilcox, Ed Davis, Georgios Pappagiannis
I kinda liked Ed Davis and unless they're expecting Nurkic to double his game, the Blazers didn't replace his rebounding or defense, I think losing him will be tougher than they think. Connaughton and Wilcox never quite developed, not bad shooters but not ones the Blazers could afford to keep waiting on. Okay I'll admit it: Napier is one of my least favorite players, at best he's a shadow of, say, Terry Rozier. Pappagiannis was a flyer they picked up late last year, gonna file that under easy come/easy go.
In: Anfernee Simmons, Nik Stauskus, Gary Trent Jr, Seth Curry
All shooting Guards? Simmons and Trent look to be an exciting combo guards for the Blazers to develop, on the one hand you don't expect too much out of a rookie, on the other they'll both probably get playing time, if they can score then they'll play. Stauskus was overrated coming out of college, screwed up his draft position and the relative expectations of his game; he's good in int'l play, but he's not the star he was thought to be, a few low pressure off the bench minutes for the Blazers ought to be just fine for him. Is Seth Cutty the poor man's Steph Curry? (No, that's still Jimmer Fredette) But Curry is a 3rd string veteran who will protect the ball and score a few points. I think the Blazers needed to get more to replace Ed Davis, but perhaps overpowering wing scoring could be their thing.
Re-signed: Jusuf Nurkic
I always liked Nurkic (4yr/$48m), toughness down low, sly scorer, I like him with Lillard and McCollum. The Blazers didn't have the money to make a big splash, felt like Nurkic was the guy they had to keep, I think it's a good deal for player and team.
All in all
This team still belongs to Lillard and McCollum, probably the two most over/underrated guys I've ever seen: just when you think they're the shit, their limitations will get put in display, but when you think they can't get it done--shit, that's when they're the most fun to watch! Evan Turner, Mo Harkless and Jusuf Nurkic round out the starting five, got #4 seed last year but I don't quite get how.
Actually I'd start Al-Farouk Aminu and bring Turner off the bench, maybe that's how they run. Letting go of Davis indicates they're expecting jumps out of Meyers Leonard and Zach Collins, thought Collins had a solid if unspectacular rookie season last year and as much as I see the promise of Leonard, I've never actually seen that promise translate to productivity, so we'll see about those two. Curry/Simmons/Stauskus/Trent/Baldwin will give them minutes off the bench, I got no idea which, if any, of them will make a difference. Caleb Swanigan and Jake Layman feel like practice players, hard to imagine big minutes for either of those guys. Blazers finished 4th last year (4th!) but as much as I like watching Lillard and McCollum, I don't see this team as one that's built to go deep in the West.
Jazz
Out: Erik McCree, Jonas Jerebko, David Stockon
Jerebko is a nice random guy off the bench, not great at anything but not bad at anything either, his minutes will go to rookie Grayson Allen, who will probably be about as good as Jerebko, maybe a better scorer, Jerebeko is a nice player (the Warriors will like him) but not irreplaceable by any means. I watched a lot of the Jazz last year and I don't even know who McCree is, I can only assume he is easily replaceable. Stockton has been up/down with them for the last coupla years, this doesn't mean he can't still be a G-League regular for them. The Jazz didn't lose much this summer.
In: Grayson Allen, Jairus Lyles, Tyler Cavanagh, Isaac Haas, Isaiah Cousins
I kinda liked Allen at Duke, decent hardworking 3-and-d guy, kind of an asshole (which is not a bad thing necessarily), his job is to pick up Jerebko's minutes, which I think he'll do nicely, he'll give them a nice 10min/gm, if he knocks down shots he could be a crowd fave, maybe even an ROY longshot (*). I have no idea who Lyles, Cavanagh (2-way), Cousins or Haas are, they may be 2-way guys or be gone by the end of pre-season, I'm sure the Jazz are rooting for all of them. The new guys aren't going to be the difference makers but the Jazz don't have great needs from any of these guys.
Re-signed: Dante Exum, Derrick Favors, Raul Neto, Naz Mitrou-Long, Georges Niang
Salt Lake City is notoriously a tough sell for NBA players, so the Jazz pretty much live on draft picks and resigning their veterans, which is what they did with their money this summer, I figured they would and I think they did right thing. Exum (3yr/$33m) is hard to figure, he's been around a while but he's played so few games that I just have no sense of his game, I think he's good enough to be Donovan Mitchell's backup even if $11m off the bench seems kinda pricey, that said, the Jazz know him better than anyone else does, perhaps they think 3/$33 is a steal, I have to assume this is a good signing (though I'm pretty sure it's not a bad one). Favors (2yrs/$37.6m) is another predictable, safe and smart signing, Favors isn't the bust out down low presence he might've been but with Gobert and Mitchell around he doesn't really need to be, the money is little pricey but a 2yr deal is good for player and team, good signing. I like Neto (2yr/$4.4m), he's a top quality 3rd string PG, he keeps the continuity which means you're winning games in October instead of just futzing around til New Year's like the star-laden teams, the price/years are very reasonable, good signing. Even Niang (3yr/$4.9m) and Mitrou-Long (2-way) are bring-backs and though I don't recall ever seeing either of them, the deals are reasonable and I have to assume that the Jazz have made the right move.
All in all
The Jazz are built for the foreseeable future around Donovan Mitchell handling the ball and Rudy Gobert DPOY-ing down low. Derrick Favors is a weird fit but he's a good player and fan favorite. Ricky Rubio, too, is not a perfect fit with Mitchell but they're both good players and play well enough together. I guess Jae Crowder rounds out the starting five; he was added late last year but seems like a good fit in that rotation.
Dante Exum, Joe Ingles, Thabo Sefolosha off the bench with Raul Neto, Royce O'neal, rookie Grayson Allen getting the deep minutes. As I said, I watched a lot of the Jazz last year and I forgot that Alec Burks was even on the team til they whipped him out against OKC and he was making buckets; I have no idea what they get out of Burks or Sefolosha (who was out most of last season) who are like found money for the Jazz: if one or the other gives them really quality minutes perhaps he gives them the extra piece that gets them deep into the post-season or perhaps they're the expiring contract trade chip that brings in that guy, either way whatever they got out of those guys is pure bonus. Not sure why Ekpe Udoh or Tony Bradley are there, guess they're nice guys.
The continuity suggests that the Jazz will hit the ground running, whereas who knows what we'll get out of the Blazers or Wolves, and you know the Lakers will take a while to get it together. Their ability to start fast should give them an advantage on a top-4 seed and will give them plenty of time to build a deep roster. If they can stay fresh through the season, never know, man, they might could catch the Rockets slippin' or the Lakers still figuring it out or the Spurs shooting poorly, this could be the year that injuries catch up with the Warriors. I think the Jazz are gonna be really good, I think they've got a good squad, deep veteran squad, good coach, good star to lead them, good defense, good fans, I think they're primed to be really good this year. I don't think they beat the Warriors but I think they can hang with most everyone else (are you ready for Jazz-Raptors? Eh, I'm okay with that).
Nuggets
Out: Devin Harris, Richard Jefferson, Wilson Chandler, Darrell Arthur, Kenneth Faried, (2019 1st rd pick), (2020 2nd rd pick), (2021 2nd rd pick), (2022 2nd rd pick swap w/Sixers)
They cleared out the veterans and the future draft picks that would theoretically replace them. Chandler, Arthur and Faried had to go and there was no reason for Harris or Jefferson to stay. The Nuggets have their team of the future already in place, so giving up draft picks to prune the roster is actually a minimal cost.
In: Micheal Porter Jr, Thomas Welsh, Jarred Vanderbilt, Isaiah Thomas, (option to 2022 rd pick swap with Sixers), DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell, Xavier Silas, Donald Sloan
Porter was, I thought, a top 5 talent who dropped on draft day because concerns about his back and his personality (the Grizzlies might be kicking themselves for years), but the Nuggets were well positioned to pick up what could be the steal of the draft, and I suspect we'll know fairly soon, reports are he's healthy to play and I expect he'll play. Isiah Thomas (1yr/$2.m) is arguably the most valuable signing of the summer: if he can harness that natural Denver home court advantage to get him back anywhere near his MVP-ish 2016-17 season, then $2m will be the biggest bargain since Auburn got Cam Newton for "free"; that said, I'm not sure whether he's a starter or a 6th man, not sure he fits with the rest of the squad, not sure he's got that kind of game in him, not sure he doesn't just stifle the maturation of the rest of the youth. We'll see. I have no idea who Welsh, Terry, Akoon-Purcell, Silas and Sloan are, I suspect they'll be G-Leaguers. I did see some of Jarrod Vanderbilt at Kentucky: hell of an athlete, but I wasn't convinced he was a basketball player, not sure if Calapari wanted his roster spot or if he's just better than he looked (or thinks he is), but what I saw was a G-League level talent, a guy that probably go to China and get by on pure athleticism. Porter and Thomas could be diamonds in the rough (actually Welsh and Vanderbilt could be, too) that the Nuggets got at rock bottom prices, if so the Nuggets could be really good this year. And, as for the pick swap, well the Sixers are planning on being good in 2022, so I doubt that swap does the Nuggets much good.
Re-signed: Torrey Craig, Nikola Jokic, Will Barton, Monte Morris
Jokic (5yr/$147.7m) and Barton (4yr/$53m) are good players and Morris (3yr/$4.7m) and Craig (2yr/$4.1m) are reasonable youngsters to fill out the bench. All of these are good moves for the Nuggets.
All in all (**)
Last season, the Nuggets got bounced from the playoffs on the last day of the regular season when they ran out of gas in OT in Minnesota (right as the Wolves were running out of gas, too). This Nuggets roster is kinda weird but there's a lot of talent and a lot of possibility to go with their unique home court advantage. I like the Nuggets to make the playoffs.
I'm guessing they'll start Thomas (though that guy has 6th Man written all over him this year). So the lineup should look like: PG Thomas, SG Murray, SF Lyles/Hernangomez, PF Jokic, C Millsap with Beasley, Harris, Barton, Porter, Lydon, Plumlee off the bench with whatever Craig and Lydon produce being a total bonus. That's a pretty strong man rotation, good depth, and even in the crowded West (Grizzlies and Mavs look to be much better), I think there's enough potential here for the Nuggets to glide into the top 8. And with that home court, I think they'll be a dangerous matchup for the Rockets, Thunder or Spurs (though I kinda doubt they'd give the Warriors, Lakers or Jazz much of a contest).
Thunder
Out: Daniel Hamilton, PJ Dozier, Corey Brewer, Josh Huestis, Dakari Johnson, (2019 2nd rd pick), Carmelo Anthony, (2022 1st rd pick), Devon Hall, Kyle Singler, Donte Grantham
I dunno, I don't see any big losses here. I was never a fan of the Carmelo trade (but they were able to parlay him into Shroeder and Luwawu, so not bad all in all, if you're willing to overlook the year they just wasted with him). Brewer is a nice vet off the bench but hardly irreplaceable. The money/years they gave Singler were kinda mind-boggling at the time, good for the Thunder for finally moving on from him. Hamilton, Huestis, Dozier, Grantham and Dakari were youngsters that just didn't pan out, that happens. Giving up the 1st rounder may come back to bite them but they've got enough youth on the roster right now that they look pretty well built at the moment.
In: Deonte Burton, Nerlens Noel, Abdel Nader, Dennis Shroeder, Timothe Luwawu, Hamidou Diallo, Tyler Davis, Abdul Gaddy, Bryce Alford, KJ McDaniels, Richard Solomon
Nerlens is a guy that has yet to find his footing in the league but this is probably his best (last?) chance to establish himself as the premiere shot blocker/rebounder that he was meant to be. I liked Abdel Nader with the Celtics last year; clearly there was no room in that rotation for him but I think he'll give good energy and a sneaky scoring punch off the bench. I was never a huge fan of Shroeder and I don't think he's the perfect fit here but he is offensively talented and if he can embrace coming off the bench, he could be a secret weapon in the 2nd half for the Thunder all year long. Luwawu is am unknown commodity but he's still young enough to be an exciting prospect. I watched Diallo at Kentucky and he has his moments of being an effective wing-scorer, which suggests to me that the Thunder aren't really a good fit for him; I expect he'll be in the G-League a lot this year (or perhaps snagged in trade by, say, the Pelicans or Sixers?). McDaniels is a high wire athlete, had his moments of looking like a diamond in the rough but hasn't really caught on (I'm guessing he's a great practice player and in that way could be really valuable to team trying to get better).
Re-signed: Paul George (4yr/$136.9m), Jerami Grant (3yr/$27m), Ray Felton (1yr/$2.4m)
Re-signing PG was the "get" of the summer, no? Seemed a foregone conclusion that he was gonna walk but he chose to stay, good for the Thunder. Grant emerged last year as a talented playmaker at the forward spot, this is a reasonable deal for him (wouldn't be surprised to see him get traded, though). Felton is a reliable veteran PG off the bench and that's pretty much a bargain price for him.
All in all
I think they've added a lot of talent and shed a lot of dead wood to get to this point but this is a combustible mix, as well. Nerlens Noel and Dennis Shroeder in the same locker room? Is the fact that neither of them is even remotely close to being the star of the team going to be good for them or bad? Grant, Ferguson, Nader, Luwawu, Patterson and Roberson are basically jockeying for the same playing time, right? Will this be the perfect mix of offense and defense or will we see a mass exodus come the trade deadline? I'm not worried about the top of the lineup: this is Westbrook's team and I think he and George have the necessary respect for each and for Adams, who is clearly the third banana. But, on down that roster is a lot of weird personalities and a lot of grubby competition that could lead to some hard feelings in the locker room.
This is one of those teams that if they come together just right, they could be an offensive machine that plays stingy defense....or they could all fall apart and hate each other by New Year's. We'll see. Last year, I thought adding Carmelo interrupted the flow that Westrbook and PG could attain together, when really what they needed was more depth on the bench than a 3rd banana. Looking back on that...I was right. And the moves they've made this summer give them a lot more flexibility and depth without sacrificing the identity of the team (this is Westbrook's team, for better or worse, this is Westbrook's team). I'm gonna err on the side of good thinking that Coach Donovan has been there long enough to establish his own hold over the locker room. I think the problem with this team, as we saw against the Jazz last year, is that they have a tendency to think the game is won when there is still a long way to go. If this squad develops cohesion and the discipline to run through the finish line, I think they can be really good. Like really really really good. (Yeah, like beating the Warriors in the playoffs good)
Wolves
Out: Jamal Crawford, Marcus Georges-Hunt, Amile Jefferson, Cole Aldrich, Anthony Brown, Aaron Brooks, Nemanja Bjelica, (Jimmy Butler?)
Crawford played much too much for the Wolves last year, his absence is addition by subtraction. Aldrich is a fine backup big man but he didn't play a huge role for the Wolves. Personally, I love Bjelica but he's a luxury that was probably not as useful for the Wolves as for other teams out there (though his new team the Kings would not be on that list either). Georges-Hunt, Jefferson and Brown were youngsters that just got wedged out. I don't even remember Brooks even being there, so not a big loss.
In: Josh Okogie, Jared Terrell, Keita Bates-Diop, Anthony Tolliver, CJ Williams, James Nunnaly, Luol Deng, Darius Johnson-Odom, Jonathon Stark
Okogie and Bates-Diop are promising rookies, we'll see how much run they get in the Thibs rotation. Tolliver is a fine vet off the bench. Deng is the kind of vet trying to get his game back that I would normally like on a young team but with the history with Coach Thibs makes me squeamish. Williams and Nunnaly are vets capable of providing a minimal amount of minutes. Terrell, Johnson-Odom and Stark are unknowns, maybe they are Thibs kinda guys.
Re-signed: Derrick Rose, Karl-Anthony Towns (extension),
Rose doesn't get me too exceited but at this price point, he's a reasonable signing. I'm all in on Towns--and clearly they chose him over Butler (which I would agree with).
All in all
The Jimmy Butler situation is hanging over the start of the season for this team and may well be the event that helps this team get going: the fact that they all seem to hate him might bring this squad together. The Butler trade was a good move at the time but clearly hasn't worked out: even last year's "success" may well have hindered the maturation of these players and Thibs' overuse of him didn't help the team go deep in the playoffs nor did it properly revitalize the team, so what good was the Butler period in Minnesota?
But now we can go ahead and assume that Butler won't play and we can't really nail down the rotation until his replacement appears. As it is the Wolves are a pile of pieces that may or may not fit together and will only work if Wiggins details his game and Towns continues to move forward. Seems like we won't get any more of Justin Patton than we got last year, so hard to project the youth movement. I dunno, man, the Butler thing might be a great thing for this team but we won't know til they actually take the court.
(*) I don't think I'd put Grayson Allen terrribly high for ROY chances but he's in a good situation which could make a massive difference in his performance or our perception of his performance. So while he is far from looking like one of my favorite rookies, I can see him having a ROY-ish type season.
(**) A look ahead to Summer 2019 for the Nuggets. They'll have team options to pick up on Jamal Murray ($4.4m), Paul Millsap ($30m), Juan Hernangomez ($3.3m), Tyler Lydon ($2.1m), Malik Beasley ($2.7m) and Trey Lyles and Isiah Thomas will be expiring. I would suggest they'll keep Murray and likely sign him to an extension regardless of how he plays this year. So the choice is: Millsap or Isiah or some combo of Hernangomez/Lydon/Beasley/Lyles or none of those guys and bringing in someone new. How 2018-19 plays out will determine what they who they want to cling to next summer.
Out: Shabazz Napier, Pat Connaughton, CJ Wilcox, Ed Davis, Georgios Pappagiannis
I kinda liked Ed Davis and unless they're expecting Nurkic to double his game, the Blazers didn't replace his rebounding or defense, I think losing him will be tougher than they think. Connaughton and Wilcox never quite developed, not bad shooters but not ones the Blazers could afford to keep waiting on. Okay I'll admit it: Napier is one of my least favorite players, at best he's a shadow of, say, Terry Rozier. Pappagiannis was a flyer they picked up late last year, gonna file that under easy come/easy go.
In: Anfernee Simmons, Nik Stauskus, Gary Trent Jr, Seth Curry
All shooting Guards? Simmons and Trent look to be an exciting combo guards for the Blazers to develop, on the one hand you don't expect too much out of a rookie, on the other they'll both probably get playing time, if they can score then they'll play. Stauskus was overrated coming out of college, screwed up his draft position and the relative expectations of his game; he's good in int'l play, but he's not the star he was thought to be, a few low pressure off the bench minutes for the Blazers ought to be just fine for him. Is Seth Cutty the poor man's Steph Curry? (No, that's still Jimmer Fredette) But Curry is a 3rd string veteran who will protect the ball and score a few points. I think the Blazers needed to get more to replace Ed Davis, but perhaps overpowering wing scoring could be their thing.
Re-signed: Jusuf Nurkic
I always liked Nurkic (4yr/$48m), toughness down low, sly scorer, I like him with Lillard and McCollum. The Blazers didn't have the money to make a big splash, felt like Nurkic was the guy they had to keep, I think it's a good deal for player and team.
All in all
This team still belongs to Lillard and McCollum, probably the two most over/underrated guys I've ever seen: just when you think they're the shit, their limitations will get put in display, but when you think they can't get it done--shit, that's when they're the most fun to watch! Evan Turner, Mo Harkless and Jusuf Nurkic round out the starting five, got #4 seed last year but I don't quite get how.
Actually I'd start Al-Farouk Aminu and bring Turner off the bench, maybe that's how they run. Letting go of Davis indicates they're expecting jumps out of Meyers Leonard and Zach Collins, thought Collins had a solid if unspectacular rookie season last year and as much as I see the promise of Leonard, I've never actually seen that promise translate to productivity, so we'll see about those two. Curry/Simmons/Stauskus/Trent/Baldwin will give them minutes off the bench, I got no idea which, if any, of them will make a difference. Caleb Swanigan and Jake Layman feel like practice players, hard to imagine big minutes for either of those guys. Blazers finished 4th last year (4th!) but as much as I like watching Lillard and McCollum, I don't see this team as one that's built to go deep in the West.
Jazz
Out: Erik McCree, Jonas Jerebko, David Stockon
Jerebko is a nice random guy off the bench, not great at anything but not bad at anything either, his minutes will go to rookie Grayson Allen, who will probably be about as good as Jerebko, maybe a better scorer, Jerebeko is a nice player (the Warriors will like him) but not irreplaceable by any means. I watched a lot of the Jazz last year and I don't even know who McCree is, I can only assume he is easily replaceable. Stockton has been up/down with them for the last coupla years, this doesn't mean he can't still be a G-League regular for them. The Jazz didn't lose much this summer.
I kinda liked Allen at Duke, decent hardworking 3-and-d guy, kind of an asshole (which is not a bad thing necessarily), his job is to pick up Jerebko's minutes, which I think he'll do nicely, he'll give them a nice 10min/gm, if he knocks down shots he could be a crowd fave, maybe even an ROY longshot (*). I have no idea who Lyles, Cavanagh (2-way), Cousins or Haas are, they may be 2-way guys or be gone by the end of pre-season, I'm sure the Jazz are rooting for all of them. The new guys aren't going to be the difference makers but the Jazz don't have great needs from any of these guys.
Re-signed: Dante Exum, Derrick Favors, Raul Neto, Naz Mitrou-Long, Georges Niang
Salt Lake City is notoriously a tough sell for NBA players, so the Jazz pretty much live on draft picks and resigning their veterans, which is what they did with their money this summer, I figured they would and I think they did right thing. Exum (3yr/$33m) is hard to figure, he's been around a while but he's played so few games that I just have no sense of his game, I think he's good enough to be Donovan Mitchell's backup even if $11m off the bench seems kinda pricey, that said, the Jazz know him better than anyone else does, perhaps they think 3/$33 is a steal, I have to assume this is a good signing (though I'm pretty sure it's not a bad one). Favors (2yrs/$37.6m) is another predictable, safe and smart signing, Favors isn't the bust out down low presence he might've been but with Gobert and Mitchell around he doesn't really need to be, the money is little pricey but a 2yr deal is good for player and team, good signing. I like Neto (2yr/$4.4m), he's a top quality 3rd string PG, he keeps the continuity which means you're winning games in October instead of just futzing around til New Year's like the star-laden teams, the price/years are very reasonable, good signing. Even Niang (3yr/$4.9m) and Mitrou-Long (2-way) are bring-backs and though I don't recall ever seeing either of them, the deals are reasonable and I have to assume that the Jazz have made the right move.
All in all
The Jazz are built for the foreseeable future around Donovan Mitchell handling the ball and Rudy Gobert DPOY-ing down low. Derrick Favors is a weird fit but he's a good player and fan favorite. Ricky Rubio, too, is not a perfect fit with Mitchell but they're both good players and play well enough together. I guess Jae Crowder rounds out the starting five; he was added late last year but seems like a good fit in that rotation.
Dante Exum, Joe Ingles, Thabo Sefolosha off the bench with Raul Neto, Royce O'neal, rookie Grayson Allen getting the deep minutes. As I said, I watched a lot of the Jazz last year and I forgot that Alec Burks was even on the team til they whipped him out against OKC and he was making buckets; I have no idea what they get out of Burks or Sefolosha (who was out most of last season) who are like found money for the Jazz: if one or the other gives them really quality minutes perhaps he gives them the extra piece that gets them deep into the post-season or perhaps they're the expiring contract trade chip that brings in that guy, either way whatever they got out of those guys is pure bonus. Not sure why Ekpe Udoh or Tony Bradley are there, guess they're nice guys.
The continuity suggests that the Jazz will hit the ground running, whereas who knows what we'll get out of the Blazers or Wolves, and you know the Lakers will take a while to get it together. Their ability to start fast should give them an advantage on a top-4 seed and will give them plenty of time to build a deep roster. If they can stay fresh through the season, never know, man, they might could catch the Rockets slippin' or the Lakers still figuring it out or the Spurs shooting poorly, this could be the year that injuries catch up with the Warriors. I think the Jazz are gonna be really good, I think they've got a good squad, deep veteran squad, good coach, good star to lead them, good defense, good fans, I think they're primed to be really good this year. I don't think they beat the Warriors but I think they can hang with most everyone else (are you ready for Jazz-Raptors? Eh, I'm okay with that).
Nuggets
Out: Devin Harris, Richard Jefferson, Wilson Chandler, Darrell Arthur, Kenneth Faried, (2019 1st rd pick), (2020 2nd rd pick), (2021 2nd rd pick), (2022 2nd rd pick swap w/Sixers)
They cleared out the veterans and the future draft picks that would theoretically replace them. Chandler, Arthur and Faried had to go and there was no reason for Harris or Jefferson to stay. The Nuggets have their team of the future already in place, so giving up draft picks to prune the roster is actually a minimal cost.
In: Micheal Porter Jr, Thomas Welsh, Jarred Vanderbilt, Isaiah Thomas, (option to 2022 rd pick swap with Sixers), DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell, Xavier Silas, Donald Sloan
Porter was, I thought, a top 5 talent who dropped on draft day because concerns about his back and his personality (the Grizzlies might be kicking themselves for years), but the Nuggets were well positioned to pick up what could be the steal of the draft, and I suspect we'll know fairly soon, reports are he's healthy to play and I expect he'll play. Isiah Thomas (1yr/$2.m) is arguably the most valuable signing of the summer: if he can harness that natural Denver home court advantage to get him back anywhere near his MVP-ish 2016-17 season, then $2m will be the biggest bargain since Auburn got Cam Newton for "free"; that said, I'm not sure whether he's a starter or a 6th man, not sure he fits with the rest of the squad, not sure he's got that kind of game in him, not sure he doesn't just stifle the maturation of the rest of the youth. We'll see. I have no idea who Welsh, Terry, Akoon-Purcell, Silas and Sloan are, I suspect they'll be G-Leaguers. I did see some of Jarrod Vanderbilt at Kentucky: hell of an athlete, but I wasn't convinced he was a basketball player, not sure if Calapari wanted his roster spot or if he's just better than he looked (or thinks he is), but what I saw was a G-League level talent, a guy that probably go to China and get by on pure athleticism. Porter and Thomas could be diamonds in the rough (actually Welsh and Vanderbilt could be, too) that the Nuggets got at rock bottom prices, if so the Nuggets could be really good this year. And, as for the pick swap, well the Sixers are planning on being good in 2022, so I doubt that swap does the Nuggets much good.
Re-signed: Torrey Craig, Nikola Jokic, Will Barton, Monte Morris
Jokic (5yr/$147.7m) and Barton (4yr/$53m) are good players and Morris (3yr/$4.7m) and Craig (2yr/$4.1m) are reasonable youngsters to fill out the bench. All of these are good moves for the Nuggets.
All in all (**)
Last season, the Nuggets got bounced from the playoffs on the last day of the regular season when they ran out of gas in OT in Minnesota (right as the Wolves were running out of gas, too). This Nuggets roster is kinda weird but there's a lot of talent and a lot of possibility to go with their unique home court advantage. I like the Nuggets to make the playoffs.
I'm guessing they'll start Thomas (though that guy has 6th Man written all over him this year). So the lineup should look like: PG Thomas, SG Murray, SF Lyles/Hernangomez, PF Jokic, C Millsap with Beasley, Harris, Barton, Porter, Lydon, Plumlee off the bench with whatever Craig and Lydon produce being a total bonus. That's a pretty strong man rotation, good depth, and even in the crowded West (Grizzlies and Mavs look to be much better), I think there's enough potential here for the Nuggets to glide into the top 8. And with that home court, I think they'll be a dangerous matchup for the Rockets, Thunder or Spurs (though I kinda doubt they'd give the Warriors, Lakers or Jazz much of a contest).
Thunder
Out: Daniel Hamilton, PJ Dozier, Corey Brewer, Josh Huestis, Dakari Johnson, (2019 2nd rd pick), Carmelo Anthony, (2022 1st rd pick), Devon Hall, Kyle Singler, Donte Grantham
I dunno, I don't see any big losses here. I was never a fan of the Carmelo trade (but they were able to parlay him into Shroeder and Luwawu, so not bad all in all, if you're willing to overlook the year they just wasted with him). Brewer is a nice vet off the bench but hardly irreplaceable. The money/years they gave Singler were kinda mind-boggling at the time, good for the Thunder for finally moving on from him. Hamilton, Huestis, Dozier, Grantham and Dakari were youngsters that just didn't pan out, that happens. Giving up the 1st rounder may come back to bite them but they've got enough youth on the roster right now that they look pretty well built at the moment.
In: Deonte Burton, Nerlens Noel, Abdel Nader, Dennis Shroeder, Timothe Luwawu, Hamidou Diallo, Tyler Davis, Abdul Gaddy, Bryce Alford, KJ McDaniels, Richard Solomon
Nerlens is a guy that has yet to find his footing in the league but this is probably his best (last?) chance to establish himself as the premiere shot blocker/rebounder that he was meant to be. I liked Abdel Nader with the Celtics last year; clearly there was no room in that rotation for him but I think he'll give good energy and a sneaky scoring punch off the bench. I was never a huge fan of Shroeder and I don't think he's the perfect fit here but he is offensively talented and if he can embrace coming off the bench, he could be a secret weapon in the 2nd half for the Thunder all year long. Luwawu is am unknown commodity but he's still young enough to be an exciting prospect. I watched Diallo at Kentucky and he has his moments of being an effective wing-scorer, which suggests to me that the Thunder aren't really a good fit for him; I expect he'll be in the G-League a lot this year (or perhaps snagged in trade by, say, the Pelicans or Sixers?). McDaniels is a high wire athlete, had his moments of looking like a diamond in the rough but hasn't really caught on (I'm guessing he's a great practice player and in that way could be really valuable to team trying to get better).
Re-signed: Paul George (4yr/$136.9m), Jerami Grant (3yr/$27m), Ray Felton (1yr/$2.4m)
Re-signing PG was the "get" of the summer, no? Seemed a foregone conclusion that he was gonna walk but he chose to stay, good for the Thunder. Grant emerged last year as a talented playmaker at the forward spot, this is a reasonable deal for him (wouldn't be surprised to see him get traded, though). Felton is a reliable veteran PG off the bench and that's pretty much a bargain price for him.
All in all
I think they've added a lot of talent and shed a lot of dead wood to get to this point but this is a combustible mix, as well. Nerlens Noel and Dennis Shroeder in the same locker room? Is the fact that neither of them is even remotely close to being the star of the team going to be good for them or bad? Grant, Ferguson, Nader, Luwawu, Patterson and Roberson are basically jockeying for the same playing time, right? Will this be the perfect mix of offense and defense or will we see a mass exodus come the trade deadline? I'm not worried about the top of the lineup: this is Westbrook's team and I think he and George have the necessary respect for each and for Adams, who is clearly the third banana. But, on down that roster is a lot of weird personalities and a lot of grubby competition that could lead to some hard feelings in the locker room.
This is one of those teams that if they come together just right, they could be an offensive machine that plays stingy defense....or they could all fall apart and hate each other by New Year's. We'll see. Last year, I thought adding Carmelo interrupted the flow that Westrbook and PG could attain together, when really what they needed was more depth on the bench than a 3rd banana. Looking back on that...I was right. And the moves they've made this summer give them a lot more flexibility and depth without sacrificing the identity of the team (this is Westbrook's team, for better or worse, this is Westbrook's team). I'm gonna err on the side of good thinking that Coach Donovan has been there long enough to establish his own hold over the locker room. I think the problem with this team, as we saw against the Jazz last year, is that they have a tendency to think the game is won when there is still a long way to go. If this squad develops cohesion and the discipline to run through the finish line, I think they can be really good. Like really really really good. (Yeah, like beating the Warriors in the playoffs good)
Wolves
Out: Jamal Crawford, Marcus Georges-Hunt, Amile Jefferson, Cole Aldrich, Anthony Brown, Aaron Brooks, Nemanja Bjelica, (Jimmy Butler?)
Crawford played much too much for the Wolves last year, his absence is addition by subtraction. Aldrich is a fine backup big man but he didn't play a huge role for the Wolves. Personally, I love Bjelica but he's a luxury that was probably not as useful for the Wolves as for other teams out there (though his new team the Kings would not be on that list either). Georges-Hunt, Jefferson and Brown were youngsters that just got wedged out. I don't even remember Brooks even being there, so not a big loss.
In: Josh Okogie, Jared Terrell, Keita Bates-Diop, Anthony Tolliver, CJ Williams, James Nunnaly, Luol Deng, Darius Johnson-Odom, Jonathon Stark
Okogie and Bates-Diop are promising rookies, we'll see how much run they get in the Thibs rotation. Tolliver is a fine vet off the bench. Deng is the kind of vet trying to get his game back that I would normally like on a young team but with the history with Coach Thibs makes me squeamish. Williams and Nunnaly are vets capable of providing a minimal amount of minutes. Terrell, Johnson-Odom and Stark are unknowns, maybe they are Thibs kinda guys.
Re-signed: Derrick Rose, Karl-Anthony Towns (extension),
Rose doesn't get me too exceited but at this price point, he's a reasonable signing. I'm all in on Towns--and clearly they chose him over Butler (which I would agree with).
All in all
The Jimmy Butler situation is hanging over the start of the season for this team and may well be the event that helps this team get going: the fact that they all seem to hate him might bring this squad together. The Butler trade was a good move at the time but clearly hasn't worked out: even last year's "success" may well have hindered the maturation of these players and Thibs' overuse of him didn't help the team go deep in the playoffs nor did it properly revitalize the team, so what good was the Butler period in Minnesota?
But now we can go ahead and assume that Butler won't play and we can't really nail down the rotation until his replacement appears. As it is the Wolves are a pile of pieces that may or may not fit together and will only work if Wiggins details his game and Towns continues to move forward. Seems like we won't get any more of Justin Patton than we got last year, so hard to project the youth movement. I dunno, man, the Butler thing might be a great thing for this team but we won't know til they actually take the court.
(*) I don't think I'd put Grayson Allen terrribly high for ROY chances but he's in a good situation which could make a massive difference in his performance or our perception of his performance. So while he is far from looking like one of my favorite rookies, I can see him having a ROY-ish type season.
(**) A look ahead to Summer 2019 for the Nuggets. They'll have team options to pick up on Jamal Murray ($4.4m), Paul Millsap ($30m), Juan Hernangomez ($3.3m), Tyler Lydon ($2.1m), Malik Beasley ($2.7m) and Trey Lyles and Isiah Thomas will be expiring. I would suggest they'll keep Murray and likely sign him to an extension regardless of how he plays this year. So the choice is: Millsap or Isiah or some combo of Hernangomez/Lydon/Beasley/Lyles or none of those guys and bringing in someone new. How 2018-19 plays out will determine what they who they want to cling to next summer.
2018-19 NBA Pre-season (Pacific)
Clippers
Out: Austin Rivers, DeAndre Jordan, CJ Williams, Maarty Leunen,
(I kinda thought Coach Doc would be leaving, too, but apparently he's here to stay) Rivers is one of those guys that has gone back and forth between over/under-rated pretty much his whole life; thought he gave them pretty good minutes for a while off the bench but moving him still strikes me as the right thing to do. Seems like they could've kept Jordan if they wanted to...guess they didn't want to. Williams and Leunen are fungible commodities.
In: Marcin Gortat, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jerome Robinson, Angel Delgado, Luc Mbah a Moute, Mike Scott, Johnathon Motley, (the rights to Vladimir Veremeenko), Desi Rodriguez
Re-signed: Milos Teodosic (player option), Avery Bradley, Montrezl Harrell, Tyrone Wallace
I like all these guys, they did well to bring them back. Still curious to see what Teodosic has to offer, never thought the Clippers were the right fit for him (I'd rather see him coming off the bench for the Pelicans, for example). I like Bradley but a newfound journeyman status and injuries make him a bit of an unknown quantity (and with Patrick Beverley, he seems redundant on this roster). I like Harrell and Wallace, think they can be real spark plugs for this team.
All in all
So since this time last year the Clippers have jettisoned Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Austin Rivers? Dang, that's quite a turnover. And though there's no continuity at all from the 'good times', they've managed to retain a pretty good collection of talent. That said, I'm not sure how any of this fits together. We'll see if Coach Doc can make of something of this (although without any obvious superstars on the roster, its not at all clear who he sucks up to).
Starting lineup...uh...Teodosic starts at PG until Gilgeous-Alexander is ready? I mean, Lou Williams invented the 6th Man Award so he comes off the bench meaning they've got a bit of logjam at PG. And at SG: do they start Bradley or Beverley? And where exactly do Wallace, Thornwell and Robinson fit in? And are they expecting Wesley Johnson to score points? Seems like they're well stocked in defenders at that position with Mbah a Moute and Scott and Tobias Harris is a scorer, so Boban and Gortat are more for defense, too, right? There are a million permutations of lineups here, does Doc have the patience/savvy to find the rotation that works? And, oh yeah, they have Gallinari, a good player when he's not hurt (but he's always hurt).
My guess is the Clippers will be really good right away, then suck balls for several months, then get good again right at the end of the year. There's talent here, plenty of depth but the proper mix is not obvious, it'll take time for this team to come together. I think they dig too big a hole to get back to the playoffs.
Kings
Out: Bruno Caboclo, Jack Cooley, Nigel Hayes, Vince Carter, JaKarr Sampson, Garrett Temple
Oh yeah, I forgot they had Caboclo and...now they don't anymore. I always kinda liked Sampson and Temple but they've added enough talent to let those guys go. I suppose there was some benefit to having Vince Carter around for the youngsters but I kinda thought he was a waste of minutes for them. Jack Cooley and Nigel Hayes sound like cartoon pirates, they may well be better off pursuing that rather than coming off the bench for the Hawks or something.
In: Marvin Bagley, Ben McLemore, Nemenja Bjelica, Yogi Ferrell, Wenyen Gabriel, Cameron Reynolds, Kailin Lucas
I liked what I saw in Bagley (struck me as the offensive corollary of Cauley-Stein) but I bet it takes him a year or two to really get going (so, not a favorite for ROY, I'd say). Another run with McLemore, huh? Well, he's a helluva athlete, but was never much of a basketball player, (at least he knows where all the grocery stores and shopping malls are in Sacramento). I love Bjelica, not very athletic but big, smart and a good shooter, gives the Kings good depth. Ferrell, too, is a great 2nd string PG, more quality depth for this squad. I watched Gabriel at UK the last few years (I would've advised him to come back), nice athlete, gets hot every once in a while but I would expect him to be a G-League guy at least for this year. Reynolds and Lucas are likely pre-season cuts, right?
Re-signed: Iman Shumpert (player option)
Ehh, Shumpert is one of those guys that's not as good as his fans think but not as bad as his detractors would have you believe. He can fit in that rotation but feels more like trade bait.
All in all
I love a youth movement and I can tell the Kings will be a regular in my League Pass this year. PG Fox, SG Hield, SF Bogdanovic, PF Cauley-Stein, C Bagley with Ferrell/Mason, Shumpert/McLemore/Justin Jackson/Bjelica, Randolph/Giles off the bench. Lotta depth (and lotta trade bait). Yeah, I'm kinda fascinated by how all those pieces fit together. (Curious detail: the guys not signed for next year are Randolph, Shumpert, Koufos, McLemore and Cauley-Stein. Don't be surprised if any/all of those guys get moved by the deadline)
I expect the Kings to be fun, I can even see them winning some games, but I'd be pretty shocked if they had enough consistency to even compete for the 8th seed.
Lakers
Out: Tyler Ennis, Thomas Bryant, Andre Ingram, Brook Lopez, Channing Frye, Isiah Thomas, Julius Randle, (2019 2nd rd pick), Luol Deng,
Outside of Randle (buckets off the bench) and Lopez (down low defense), is anyone gonna miss any of these guys? No. In Laker-lore they will forever be remembered as guys during that horrible time between Kobe and Lebron.
In: Moritz Wagner, Rajon Rondo, Isaac Bonga, Lebron James, JaVale McGee, Lance Stephenson, Svi Mykhailiuk, Jonathon Williams, Michael Beasley
I was impressed with Wagner and Mykhailiuk last year during their NCAA tourney runs, thought they both were smart players, good ball handlers, with some outside pop; Lakers did well to nab them both. Rondo is fine when he's got players to pass the ball to and he looks to have a few of those. Lebron...I mean he's no Michael Jordan but he'll be able to help this team. Lance Stephenson, on the other hand...why? What is Lance gonna bring? I always kinda liked McGee and Beasley (though didn't Lebron hate him in Miami?), they'll be fine in limited minutes here. Bonga is an intriguing prospect, not sure if the anonymity will allow him to develop or dooms him to fall between the cracks. Williams should get some pre-season looks.
Re-signed: Kentavius Caldwell-Pope, Travis Wear
I like KCP as much as the next guy but I feel like that $12m could've been better spent (wouldn't Tyreke Evans have been a better choice here? Or JJ Reddick?). Wear is a reasonable choice for the end of the roster.
All in all
Yeah, yeah, a lot of turnover. Interestingly, we can already go ahead and assume they'll be a lot more turnover again next summer: I fully expect Caldwell-Pope, Rondo, Beasley, McGee, and Stephenson to move on (and Zubac is 50/50). (Hmm, they got any interest in packaging these expiring contracts for Hassan Whiteside?) So let's stick to the core: PG Lonzo, SG Ingram, SF Kuzma, PF Lebron, with Hart as 6th Man and Wagner, Mykhailiuk and Bonga as wild card 3-and-D guys off the bench. They still need a C but that's not a bad lineup, frankly all of those youngsters should be better than last year (though I kinda think last year will be a level Lebron doesn't reach again).
After bringing in Lebron I didn't understand the next batch of moves (dude, Lance Stephenson has sucked at basketball for a few years now), but the mix of vets and youth is a pretty good supporting cast for Lebron. I dunno, they can be pretty good right away. It'll be tough to beat the Warriors but I think they can be better than the Rockets, Jazz, and Thunder right away. So, yeah, I wouldn't at all be surprised to see the Lakers in the final four in May. That said, I kinda think Lebron is downshifting here, coasting til the post-season and then trying to drag his team past the Warriors, which I don't think he'll be able to do it. The move to LA was to facilitate his post-basketball life, not the rest of his basketball life; I don't mean to suggest that he'll tank but he's a different guy in a different situation now and I just don't see him playing with that fire from beginning to end like last season. We'll see.
Suns
Out: Elfrid Peyton, Tyler Ulis, Alec Peters, Alex Len, Danuel House, Alan Williams, Jared Dudley, (2021 2nd rd pick), Marquisse Chriss, Brandon Knight
So they let go of Peyton, Ulis and Knight...and now they need a PG? Moving on from Peters, Len and Chriss highlights their recent draft woes. And getting rid of Williams and Dudley show a disappointing appropriation of vets (and aren't Chandler and Ariza just trade bait?).
In: Deandre Ayton, George King, Mikal Bridges, Elie Okobo, Trevor Ariza, Darrell Arthur, Richaun Holmes, Isiah Canaan, De'Anthony Melton, Ryan Anderson,
I wasn't a huge Ayton guy and with Luca Doncic just sitting there, I just don't see the upside. I wasn't blown away by Bridges either--and they traded up to get him. King, Okobo and Melton are reasonable prospects, I suppose, but they won't be bringing W's any time soon. And why are they taking back Anderson to help the Rockets? What exactly are they supposed to get out of Ariza, Arthur or Holmes?
Re-signed: Devin Booker (signed extension)
I'm cool with this, except that they could've waited til next summer.
All in all
I get none of these moves. They're tanking, right? Is there any reason to think this roster is better than last year? I reckon they'll be dueling the Hawks for the #1 pick this season. They are a mix of vets that are obviously trade bait and youngsters that are empowered to do their thing but not encouraged to win games. I don't see any way that the Suns are any good at all.
Warriors
Out: Chris Boucher, Zaza Pachulia, David West, JaVale McGee, Nick Young
No big deal, they'll be fine without these guys.
In: Jacob Evans, Demarcus Cousins, Damion Lee, Jonas Jerebko, Kendrick Nunn, Danuel House, Marcus Derrickson, Alfonzo McKinnie, Tyler Ulis, Will Cherry
Bringing in Boogie Cousins was such a brilliant move I didn't even see it coming. The beauty is that Cousins doesn't even have to play and if he does, it's all gravy. He might be great again but it's hard to imagine a down side--if he's being a jackass, they can trade him! Ha! (I think we can expect the Warriors to repeat this next summer: giving an injured or unlucky vet a short term deal to chase a ring while recuperating) Going into the draft Evans was the guy that kept coming back to my eye, don't be surprised if that guy turns out to be awesome (and the rest of the league adds another name that they let slip by them). I like Jerebko, he's a good energy dirty work guy that'll be just fine coming off that bench. I love Ulis, as a Kentucky fan, I assure you when that guy is on, he's a winner, gets buckets, makes plays, makes everyone around him better. He's a bit of a longshot but I can see him as a fine 3rd string PG here. House and McKinney were well-regarded prospects just looking for a second chance. I don't know Derrickson, Lee or Nunn.
Re-signed: Kevin Durant, Kevon Looney, (extended Coach Kerr), (is Patrick McCaw coming back?),
Re-signing Durant was a bold move (ha!). I suspect these next two years (maybe just one) will be the last for him in Golden State, I think he moves on just to challenge himself. Re-upping Coach Kerr was a no-brainer, too, good coach, good guy, as long as his health is good, you keep inviting him back. I kinda liked Looney (and McCaw), the badass teams need those dirty work guys that do just enough to smooth the rough edges.
All in all
The Warriors are still good, dude. I'm not blown away by the Rockets' moves and though the Lakers will be much improved, I still think the Warriors are the team to beat in the West--with or without Cousins. Western Conference Champs...again.
Out: Austin Rivers, DeAndre Jordan, CJ Williams, Maarty Leunen,
(I kinda thought Coach Doc would be leaving, too, but apparently he's here to stay) Rivers is one of those guys that has gone back and forth between over/under-rated pretty much his whole life; thought he gave them pretty good minutes for a while off the bench but moving him still strikes me as the right thing to do. Seems like they could've kept Jordan if they wanted to...guess they didn't want to. Williams and Leunen are fungible commodities.
In: Marcin Gortat, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jerome Robinson, Angel Delgado, Luc Mbah a Moute, Mike Scott, Johnathon Motley, (the rights to Vladimir Veremeenko), Desi Rodriguez
Coupla intriguing youngsters in G-A and Robinson, a trio of tough guy veterans in Gortat, Mbah a Moute and Scott. Not sure what Delgado, Motley or Rodriguez bring to the table.
Re-signed: Milos Teodosic (player option), Avery Bradley, Montrezl Harrell, Tyrone Wallace
I like all these guys, they did well to bring them back. Still curious to see what Teodosic has to offer, never thought the Clippers were the right fit for him (I'd rather see him coming off the bench for the Pelicans, for example). I like Bradley but a newfound journeyman status and injuries make him a bit of an unknown quantity (and with Patrick Beverley, he seems redundant on this roster). I like Harrell and Wallace, think they can be real spark plugs for this team.
All in all
So since this time last year the Clippers have jettisoned Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Austin Rivers? Dang, that's quite a turnover. And though there's no continuity at all from the 'good times', they've managed to retain a pretty good collection of talent. That said, I'm not sure how any of this fits together. We'll see if Coach Doc can make of something of this (although without any obvious superstars on the roster, its not at all clear who he sucks up to).
Starting lineup...uh...Teodosic starts at PG until Gilgeous-Alexander is ready? I mean, Lou Williams invented the 6th Man Award so he comes off the bench meaning they've got a bit of logjam at PG. And at SG: do they start Bradley or Beverley? And where exactly do Wallace, Thornwell and Robinson fit in? And are they expecting Wesley Johnson to score points? Seems like they're well stocked in defenders at that position with Mbah a Moute and Scott and Tobias Harris is a scorer, so Boban and Gortat are more for defense, too, right? There are a million permutations of lineups here, does Doc have the patience/savvy to find the rotation that works? And, oh yeah, they have Gallinari, a good player when he's not hurt (but he's always hurt).
My guess is the Clippers will be really good right away, then suck balls for several months, then get good again right at the end of the year. There's talent here, plenty of depth but the proper mix is not obvious, it'll take time for this team to come together. I think they dig too big a hole to get back to the playoffs.
Kings
Out: Bruno Caboclo, Jack Cooley, Nigel Hayes, Vince Carter, JaKarr Sampson, Garrett Temple
Oh yeah, I forgot they had Caboclo and...now they don't anymore. I always kinda liked Sampson and Temple but they've added enough talent to let those guys go. I suppose there was some benefit to having Vince Carter around for the youngsters but I kinda thought he was a waste of minutes for them. Jack Cooley and Nigel Hayes sound like cartoon pirates, they may well be better off pursuing that rather than coming off the bench for the Hawks or something.
In: Marvin Bagley, Ben McLemore, Nemenja Bjelica, Yogi Ferrell, Wenyen Gabriel, Cameron Reynolds, Kailin Lucas
I liked what I saw in Bagley (struck me as the offensive corollary of Cauley-Stein) but I bet it takes him a year or two to really get going (so, not a favorite for ROY, I'd say). Another run with McLemore, huh? Well, he's a helluva athlete, but was never much of a basketball player, (at least he knows where all the grocery stores and shopping malls are in Sacramento). I love Bjelica, not very athletic but big, smart and a good shooter, gives the Kings good depth. Ferrell, too, is a great 2nd string PG, more quality depth for this squad. I watched Gabriel at UK the last few years (I would've advised him to come back), nice athlete, gets hot every once in a while but I would expect him to be a G-League guy at least for this year. Reynolds and Lucas are likely pre-season cuts, right?
Re-signed: Iman Shumpert (player option)
Ehh, Shumpert is one of those guys that's not as good as his fans think but not as bad as his detractors would have you believe. He can fit in that rotation but feels more like trade bait.
All in all
I love a youth movement and I can tell the Kings will be a regular in my League Pass this year. PG Fox, SG Hield, SF Bogdanovic, PF Cauley-Stein, C Bagley with Ferrell/Mason, Shumpert/McLemore/Justin Jackson/Bjelica, Randolph/Giles off the bench. Lotta depth (and lotta trade bait). Yeah, I'm kinda fascinated by how all those pieces fit together. (Curious detail: the guys not signed for next year are Randolph, Shumpert, Koufos, McLemore and Cauley-Stein. Don't be surprised if any/all of those guys get moved by the deadline)
I expect the Kings to be fun, I can even see them winning some games, but I'd be pretty shocked if they had enough consistency to even compete for the 8th seed.
Lakers
Out: Tyler Ennis, Thomas Bryant, Andre Ingram, Brook Lopez, Channing Frye, Isiah Thomas, Julius Randle, (2019 2nd rd pick), Luol Deng,
Outside of Randle (buckets off the bench) and Lopez (down low defense), is anyone gonna miss any of these guys? No. In Laker-lore they will forever be remembered as guys during that horrible time between Kobe and Lebron.
In: Moritz Wagner, Rajon Rondo, Isaac Bonga, Lebron James, JaVale McGee, Lance Stephenson, Svi Mykhailiuk, Jonathon Williams, Michael Beasley
I was impressed with Wagner and Mykhailiuk last year during their NCAA tourney runs, thought they both were smart players, good ball handlers, with some outside pop; Lakers did well to nab them both. Rondo is fine when he's got players to pass the ball to and he looks to have a few of those. Lebron...I mean he's no Michael Jordan but he'll be able to help this team. Lance Stephenson, on the other hand...why? What is Lance gonna bring? I always kinda liked McGee and Beasley (though didn't Lebron hate him in Miami?), they'll be fine in limited minutes here. Bonga is an intriguing prospect, not sure if the anonymity will allow him to develop or dooms him to fall between the cracks. Williams should get some pre-season looks.
Re-signed: Kentavius Caldwell-Pope, Travis Wear
I like KCP as much as the next guy but I feel like that $12m could've been better spent (wouldn't Tyreke Evans have been a better choice here? Or JJ Reddick?). Wear is a reasonable choice for the end of the roster.
All in all
Yeah, yeah, a lot of turnover. Interestingly, we can already go ahead and assume they'll be a lot more turnover again next summer: I fully expect Caldwell-Pope, Rondo, Beasley, McGee, and Stephenson to move on (and Zubac is 50/50). (Hmm, they got any interest in packaging these expiring contracts for Hassan Whiteside?) So let's stick to the core: PG Lonzo, SG Ingram, SF Kuzma, PF Lebron, with Hart as 6th Man and Wagner, Mykhailiuk and Bonga as wild card 3-and-D guys off the bench. They still need a C but that's not a bad lineup, frankly all of those youngsters should be better than last year (though I kinda think last year will be a level Lebron doesn't reach again).
After bringing in Lebron I didn't understand the next batch of moves (dude, Lance Stephenson has sucked at basketball for a few years now), but the mix of vets and youth is a pretty good supporting cast for Lebron. I dunno, they can be pretty good right away. It'll be tough to beat the Warriors but I think they can be better than the Rockets, Jazz, and Thunder right away. So, yeah, I wouldn't at all be surprised to see the Lakers in the final four in May. That said, I kinda think Lebron is downshifting here, coasting til the post-season and then trying to drag his team past the Warriors, which I don't think he'll be able to do it. The move to LA was to facilitate his post-basketball life, not the rest of his basketball life; I don't mean to suggest that he'll tank but he's a different guy in a different situation now and I just don't see him playing with that fire from beginning to end like last season. We'll see.
Suns
Out: Elfrid Peyton, Tyler Ulis, Alec Peters, Alex Len, Danuel House, Alan Williams, Jared Dudley, (2021 2nd rd pick), Marquisse Chriss, Brandon Knight
So they let go of Peyton, Ulis and Knight...and now they need a PG? Moving on from Peters, Len and Chriss highlights their recent draft woes. And getting rid of Williams and Dudley show a disappointing appropriation of vets (and aren't Chandler and Ariza just trade bait?).
In: Deandre Ayton, George King, Mikal Bridges, Elie Okobo, Trevor Ariza, Darrell Arthur, Richaun Holmes, Isiah Canaan, De'Anthony Melton, Ryan Anderson,
I wasn't a huge Ayton guy and with Luca Doncic just sitting there, I just don't see the upside. I wasn't blown away by Bridges either--and they traded up to get him. King, Okobo and Melton are reasonable prospects, I suppose, but they won't be bringing W's any time soon. And why are they taking back Anderson to help the Rockets? What exactly are they supposed to get out of Ariza, Arthur or Holmes?
Re-signed: Devin Booker (signed extension)
I'm cool with this, except that they could've waited til next summer.
All in all
I get none of these moves. They're tanking, right? Is there any reason to think this roster is better than last year? I reckon they'll be dueling the Hawks for the #1 pick this season. They are a mix of vets that are obviously trade bait and youngsters that are empowered to do their thing but not encouraged to win games. I don't see any way that the Suns are any good at all.
Warriors
Out: Chris Boucher, Zaza Pachulia, David West, JaVale McGee, Nick Young
No big deal, they'll be fine without these guys.
In: Jacob Evans, Demarcus Cousins, Damion Lee, Jonas Jerebko, Kendrick Nunn, Danuel House, Marcus Derrickson, Alfonzo McKinnie, Tyler Ulis, Will Cherry
Bringing in Boogie Cousins was such a brilliant move I didn't even see it coming. The beauty is that Cousins doesn't even have to play and if he does, it's all gravy. He might be great again but it's hard to imagine a down side--if he's being a jackass, they can trade him! Ha! (I think we can expect the Warriors to repeat this next summer: giving an injured or unlucky vet a short term deal to chase a ring while recuperating) Going into the draft Evans was the guy that kept coming back to my eye, don't be surprised if that guy turns out to be awesome (and the rest of the league adds another name that they let slip by them). I like Jerebko, he's a good energy dirty work guy that'll be just fine coming off that bench. I love Ulis, as a Kentucky fan, I assure you when that guy is on, he's a winner, gets buckets, makes plays, makes everyone around him better. He's a bit of a longshot but I can see him as a fine 3rd string PG here. House and McKinney were well-regarded prospects just looking for a second chance. I don't know Derrickson, Lee or Nunn.
Re-signed: Kevin Durant, Kevon Looney, (extended Coach Kerr), (is Patrick McCaw coming back?),
Re-signing Durant was a bold move (ha!). I suspect these next two years (maybe just one) will be the last for him in Golden State, I think he moves on just to challenge himself. Re-upping Coach Kerr was a no-brainer, too, good coach, good guy, as long as his health is good, you keep inviting him back. I kinda liked Looney (and McCaw), the badass teams need those dirty work guys that do just enough to smooth the rough edges.
All in all
The Warriors are still good, dude. I'm not blown away by the Rockets' moves and though the Lakers will be much improved, I still think the Warriors are the team to beat in the West--with or without Cousins. Western Conference Champs...again.
2018-19 NBA Pre-season (Atlantic)
Celtics
Out: Greg Monroe, Shane Larkin, Jonathon Gibson, Kadeem Allen, Abdel Nader
Larkin played a lot of worthwhile minutes off the bench for the Celtics in the last coupla years, I suppose the emergence of Terry Rozier makes Larkin fungible, but Monroe didn't do much in his short stay in Boston and I don't know Gibson or Allen. I like Nader but there isn't enough room in that rotation for him.
In: Brad Wanamaker, Robert Williams III, Walter Lemon, Rodney Purvis. PJ Dozier, Marcus Georges-Hunt
I dunno about Wanamaker, he's been kind of a work horse in the Turkish League, signed a very affordable 1yr deal, I assume he's up against Lemon for the 3rd string PG. Williams (Celtics' 1st rd pick) is already hilarious and with the Baynes re-signing, Williams is a luxury, clearly a project over the next coupla years.
Re-signed: Aron Baynes, Marcus Smart, Jabari Bird
I dig it. I liked Baynes in the playoffs last year, showed real smarts, the kinda guy you want off the bench. Re-upping Smart is a good move for the Celtics: he hustles, the fans love him, he makes mistakes but he makes plays, he's perfect for Coach Stevens, I know he's not perfect but that dude is worth it.
All in all: There's nothing here that makes them wildly better but nothing that makes them worse. They brought back Baynes and Smart, brought in Williams to replace Monroe and Wanamaker/Lemon to replace Larkin. These are end of the roster moves and they seem like good ones. If they stay healthy they have enough depth and variability and the coaching to easily lead the East.
Knicks
Out: Jarret Jack, Michael Beasley, Kyle O'Quinn, Troy Williams.
Oh man, I forgot about Jarret Jack, he does seem pretty Knicks-y, doesn't he? I still think Jack can be a good 2nd/3rd string PG especially for a frisky wannabe playoff squad (hello, Grizzlies!). I like Beasley, never as good as he should've been but he seems to have matured enough to at least be a decent player, (I liked the idea of him in the Raptor bench crew but I kinda like him with the Lakers). I always liked O'Quinn, one of those dudes that always looks reliable out there, but Knicks are going youth-y, so I don't think he's too much of a loss. Williams....seems like a nice guy.
In: Alonzo Trier, Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, Noah Vonleh, Mario Hezonja, Jeff Coby
Keep an eye on Knox: at Kentucky his only drawback was not being more demanding, with NYK he'll have as much ball as he wants and when he goes off he'll be a national hero. Good for him! He's gonna be good and I think a legit pick for ROY. I kinda like Hezonja's chances of having a turnaround with the Knicks, he'll get minutes and chances, if he can score, he'll be just fine. Vonleh is worth another look (though I'd be surprised if he makes much difference to the roster). I liked Trier in the NCAA and I'm intrigued by Robinson, not ready to say they'll be good but not bad flyers for NYK.
Re-signed: Enes Kanter (picked up player option), Isiah Hicks (2 way contract), Luke Kornet (1yr/$1.6m)
I like Kanter, he's a rebound machine, probably exactly what Knox and Porzingis need, not a bad deal, 1 more year (then he heads to Dallas or San Antonio). I don't know Hicks or Kornet.
All in all
Ehhh, they're still a mixed bag. I like Coach Fizdale (thought he probably got a raw deal in Memphis) to add some excitement. But unless Knox wins ROY and Porzingas wins Most Improved, I don't like this team to win too many games. No focus to this team.
Nets
Out: Nik Stauskus, James Webb, Dante Cunningham, Jahlil Okafor, Quincy Acy, Timofey Mozgov, Jeremy Lin, Isiah Whitehead, Milton Doyle, Randy Foye, (2025 2nd rd pick), (2023 2nd rd pick swap w/ Hawks), (2021 2nd rd pick),
They made no effort to keep any of these guys, for better or worse. That alone indicates none of these assets were part of the future.
In: Ed Davis (1yr/$4.5m), Jared Dudley, Kenneth Faried, Shabazz Napier, Dzanan Musa, Rodions Kurucs, Traveon Graham, Theo Pinson, Jordan McLaughlin, Mitchell Creek, Alan Williams, (the rights to Isaia Cordiner), (Hawks 2020 2nd rd pick),
Good player, good signing, very reasonable contract.
All in all
This is a transition year for the Nets. Next summer, they'll be rolling a ton of money off this roster, so next summer is when they begin to get back in the business of being the Nets. I'd say this season is all about deciding whether to keep Russell, Dinwiddie and Hollis-Jefferson (I'd say no matter how good the vets are, they're all gone). So will the Nets be good? No. But they won't be as awful as the last few years. They'll be working on making the most of their two 1st and two 2nd rd picks next summer and auditioning the rest of their roster for a re-up.
Raptors
Out: DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poetl, Lucas Noguiera, Malcolm Miller, Alfonzo McKinnie, Nando deColo
This team has been dying for a shakeup--any kind of shakeup!--for the last two summers and this year it finally happened. Yes, it's only one year of Kawhi but they had to bust up the Lowry-DeRozan-Ibaka trio: too much money, not enough youth. Perhaps when Kawhi skips after a single season they'll be kicking themselves, but at least they'll have money to spend. I like DeRozan but Kawhi is a much more dynamic player on both ends of the court, this was a swing for the fences that had to be taken. I like Poetl, he's not just a throw-in, he's a smart player, passes well, rebounds well, the kind of all-round player every team could use. I watched Noquiera in int'l play and he looks fine out there, not sure why he never adapted to the NBA game, maybe he just needed a change of scenery. Kinda surprised deColo wasn't in the DeRozan-Kawhi deal, it was the Spurs who brought deColo to light, I think he can be a useful PG off the bench for the Raptors. McKinnie played limited time for the Raptors, though as a well-regarded prospect, perhaps he'll get minutes somewhere else.
In: Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, (2019 1st rd pick), Chris Boucher, Jordan Lloyd, Greg Monroe, Kay Felder, Deng Adel, Kyle Collinsworth, Eric Moreland
Re-signed: Fred Van Vleet (2yr/$18.1m), Lorenzo Brown (1yr/$1.6m)
Good move to bring back Van Vleet, one of those guys that keeps working and making plays and keeps everyone around into the game. Not a bad price tag on that deal, too. Not sure what Brown has to offer but he had a pretty good rookie year with the Lakers a while back, maybe he's still got something to offer.
All in all
The Raptors in the Lowry-DeRozan era have been a top notch regular season, gliding into the top spot of the East for the last coupla years. That said, they haven't inspired much fear in the post-season but now that Lebron is gone, their chance has arrived. Bringing in Kawhi was a bold move but one that could propel them into their first Finals.
PG Lowry, SG Anunoby, SF Kawhi, PF Ibaka, C Valenciunas with Van Vleet, Miles, Wright, Green, Siakam, Monroe off the bench. Wow, I don't see how Felder, Richardson, Adel, Powell or Moreland got any playing time at all. That's either a lot of trade filler or more depth than is actually needed. Yes, they've got a new coach and their fan favorite cornerstone is gone, but the vibe is still there, the stars are still there and the depth is still there. The Celtics are stacked but I wouldn't be surprised if the Raptors finish 1st in the East by sheer inertia.
Sixers
Out: Ersan Ilyasova, Marco Belinelli, Justin Anderson, Timothy Luwawu, Richaun Holmes
They let go of 2 vets and 3 young projects. Ilyasova and Belinelli gave the Sixers some spunk down the stretch last year but I don't think either were major pieces that needed to be retained. Luwawu spent most of his time in Philly on injured reserve (as is the norm for Sixer draft picks) and Anderson never really fit into the rotation, though I thought he could be. Holmes was a nice big man off the bench but hardly an irreparable loss.
In: Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, Zhaire Smith, Landry Shamet, Norvel Pelle, (Lakers 2019 2nd rd pick), (GM Elton Brand), (Pistons 2021 & 2023 2nd rd picks), Shake Milton, (Heat 2021 1st rd pick), (2022 2nd rd pick swap w/ Nuggets), Anthony Brown, Emeka Okafor
Re-signed: JJ Reddick (1yr/$12.25m), Amir Johnson (1yr/$2.3m), Demetrius Jackson, TJ McConnell (team option)
Bringing back Reddick and Johnson each for another year is a good move for the Sixers (who are probably looking at 2019-2020 as their real blasting off point). It keeps continuity without busting the payroll and since they didn't have a GM all summer, who were they gonna sign anyway? Jackson is an intriguing G-League level talent, he'll keep the minor league stocked if nothing else. Personally I love McConnell, I think he's the best 2nd string PG in the league and I consider him very much a part of Philly's core--hell, I would've signed him long term this summer with an eye toward grooming him as an asst coach or upstairs in Personnel--telling ya, he was a huge part of their success last season, not the flashy star but the motor guy that keeps the 2nd string humming along when everyone else wants to take a break.
All in all
The Sixers didn't really get better or worse this summer (*), they just shuffled out some people and shuffled in mostly like-for-like replacements. I'm cool with this move--or lack of moves. The next step for this team is the maturation of Simmons, Saric, Embiid, and Fultz. If each of those guys is slightly better than last year--and Fultz almost certainly will be--then this team should get better without any significant free agent upgrades. The roster didn't need an overhail, it just needed maturation. In the mean time they Hinkie-d up another pile of future 2nd round picks, stayed cap flexible and look to have plenty of money for next summer (Klay Thompson, Klay Thompson, Klay Thompson!).
That said, I don't think this team is vastly better than last year, not do I see them going deeper in the post-season. Last year, their success was largely a monster run at the end of the year after a mediocre opening. This season I would expect them to start better but I doubt they finish as well as they did--they rode a soft schedule and low expectations to a mighty charge into the playoffs. I don't think they're as good as the Celtics or Raptors, hard to tell what the Bucks or Pacers will be and while I don't expect the Pistons, Hornets or Heat to be monsters, I would expect them to be in the playoff hunt. I think 3rd is as high as this team could possibly finish but I wouldn't be surprised if the high expectations they avoided last year become something of a burden for them as the season wears on. I think Fultz will shine out, I think Zhaire Smith (if he plays) should have a promising rookie campaign and I'm really curious to see what they get from Bolden, Korkmaz and Milton. This team is nice--good, even--but this isn't the season for them to really start looking like greatness. Next summer (when all the vets disappear and just the creamy core of youth remains) is when they start shopping for the next level.
(*) Well, getting rid of GM Colangelo is an upgrade in my opinion. Let me just take one more moment to rant about this disaster: the NBA basically forced the Sixers to get rid of the shameful Sam Hinkie (who built this playoff roster) to bring in the shining Bryan Colangelo--who did nothing to make this a better team and showed himself (and his wife) to be an embarrassment. I think the Sixers ownership should be at the very least SUPER FUCKING PISSED that the NBA foisted this waste of space on them and, seriously, I'd consider litigation, as this was a highly unprofessional and possibly criminal move on the league's part. Meanwhile the architect of this team is still unemployed solely because the NBA wanted to make an example of him. Seriously, that's fucked up, man.
Out: Greg Monroe, Shane Larkin, Jonathon Gibson, Kadeem Allen, Abdel Nader
Larkin played a lot of worthwhile minutes off the bench for the Celtics in the last coupla years, I suppose the emergence of Terry Rozier makes Larkin fungible, but Monroe didn't do much in his short stay in Boston and I don't know Gibson or Allen. I like Nader but there isn't enough room in that rotation for him.
In: Brad Wanamaker, Robert Williams III, Walter Lemon, Rodney Purvis. PJ Dozier, Marcus Georges-Hunt
I dunno about Wanamaker, he's been kind of a work horse in the Turkish League, signed a very affordable 1yr deal, I assume he's up against Lemon for the 3rd string PG. Williams (Celtics' 1st rd pick) is already hilarious and with the Baynes re-signing, Williams is a luxury, clearly a project over the next coupla years.
Re-signed: Aron Baynes, Marcus Smart, Jabari Bird
I dig it. I liked Baynes in the playoffs last year, showed real smarts, the kinda guy you want off the bench. Re-upping Smart is a good move for the Celtics: he hustles, the fans love him, he makes mistakes but he makes plays, he's perfect for Coach Stevens, I know he's not perfect but that dude is worth it.
Knicks
Out: Jarret Jack, Michael Beasley, Kyle O'Quinn, Troy Williams.
Oh man, I forgot about Jarret Jack, he does seem pretty Knicks-y, doesn't he? I still think Jack can be a good 2nd/3rd string PG especially for a frisky wannabe playoff squad (hello, Grizzlies!). I like Beasley, never as good as he should've been but he seems to have matured enough to at least be a decent player, (I liked the idea of him in the Raptor bench crew but I kinda like him with the Lakers). I always liked O'Quinn, one of those dudes that always looks reliable out there, but Knicks are going youth-y, so I don't think he's too much of a loss. Williams....seems like a nice guy.
In: Alonzo Trier, Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, Noah Vonleh, Mario Hezonja, Jeff Coby
Keep an eye on Knox: at Kentucky his only drawback was not being more demanding, with NYK he'll have as much ball as he wants and when he goes off he'll be a national hero. Good for him! He's gonna be good and I think a legit pick for ROY. I kinda like Hezonja's chances of having a turnaround with the Knicks, he'll get minutes and chances, if he can score, he'll be just fine. Vonleh is worth another look (though I'd be surprised if he makes much difference to the roster). I liked Trier in the NCAA and I'm intrigued by Robinson, not ready to say they'll be good but not bad flyers for NYK.
I like Kanter, he's a rebound machine, probably exactly what Knox and Porzingis need, not a bad deal, 1 more year (then he heads to Dallas or San Antonio). I don't know Hicks or Kornet.
All in all
Ehhh, they're still a mixed bag. I like Coach Fizdale (thought he probably got a raw deal in Memphis) to add some excitement. But unless Knox wins ROY and Porzingas wins Most Improved, I don't like this team to win too many games. No focus to this team.
Nets
Out: Nik Stauskus, James Webb, Dante Cunningham, Jahlil Okafor, Quincy Acy, Timofey Mozgov, Jeremy Lin, Isiah Whitehead, Milton Doyle, Randy Foye, (2025 2nd rd pick), (2023 2nd rd pick swap w/ Hawks), (2021 2nd rd pick),
They made no effort to keep any of these guys, for better or worse. That alone indicates none of these assets were part of the future.
In: Ed Davis (1yr/$4.5m), Jared Dudley, Kenneth Faried, Shabazz Napier, Dzanan Musa, Rodions Kurucs, Traveon Graham, Theo Pinson, Jordan McLaughlin, Mitchell Creek, Alan Williams, (the rights to Isaia Cordiner), (Hawks 2020 2nd rd pick),
I like Davis and I'm curious to see Musa and Kurucs. But the trio of vets (Dudley, Faried, Napier) strike me as guys that will get minutes but won't bring in W's. The rest of roster fillers with a chance to get minutes.
Re-signed: Joe Harris (2yrs/$16m)Good player, good signing, very reasonable contract.
All in all
This is a transition year for the Nets. Next summer, they'll be rolling a ton of money off this roster, so next summer is when they begin to get back in the business of being the Nets. I'd say this season is all about deciding whether to keep Russell, Dinwiddie and Hollis-Jefferson (I'd say no matter how good the vets are, they're all gone). So will the Nets be good? No. But they won't be as awful as the last few years. They'll be working on making the most of their two 1st and two 2nd rd picks next summer and auditioning the rest of their roster for a re-up.
Raptors
Out: DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poetl, Lucas Noguiera, Malcolm Miller, Alfonzo McKinnie, Nando deColo
This team has been dying for a shakeup--any kind of shakeup!--for the last two summers and this year it finally happened. Yes, it's only one year of Kawhi but they had to bust up the Lowry-DeRozan-Ibaka trio: too much money, not enough youth. Perhaps when Kawhi skips after a single season they'll be kicking themselves, but at least they'll have money to spend. I like DeRozan but Kawhi is a much more dynamic player on both ends of the court, this was a swing for the fences that had to be taken. I like Poetl, he's not just a throw-in, he's a smart player, passes well, rebounds well, the kind of all-round player every team could use. I watched Noquiera in int'l play and he looks fine out there, not sure why he never adapted to the NBA game, maybe he just needed a change of scenery. Kinda surprised deColo wasn't in the DeRozan-Kawhi deal, it was the Spurs who brought deColo to light, I think he can be a useful PG off the bench for the Raptors. McKinnie played limited time for the Raptors, though as a well-regarded prospect, perhaps he'll get minutes somewhere else.
In: Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, (2019 1st rd pick), Chris Boucher, Jordan Lloyd, Greg Monroe, Kay Felder, Deng Adel, Kyle Collinsworth, Eric Moreland
Okay, this was the blockbuster trade of the summer (Lebron was a free agent), will it work out? The Raptors needed to make moves and if making those moves gives you a shot at one of the great players of the game, even for just one year, you've gotta do it. If Kawhi is old school Kawhi, he could be in the MVP discussion and I like the Raptors to finish 1st in the East. Green will give them reliable wing scoring, Monroe gives them more size off the bench and Felder, Adel, Boucher could add to that mighty bench the Raptors sported last year.
Good move to bring back Van Vleet, one of those guys that keeps working and making plays and keeps everyone around into the game. Not a bad price tag on that deal, too. Not sure what Brown has to offer but he had a pretty good rookie year with the Lakers a while back, maybe he's still got something to offer.
All in all
The Raptors in the Lowry-DeRozan era have been a top notch regular season, gliding into the top spot of the East for the last coupla years. That said, they haven't inspired much fear in the post-season but now that Lebron is gone, their chance has arrived. Bringing in Kawhi was a bold move but one that could propel them into their first Finals.
PG Lowry, SG Anunoby, SF Kawhi, PF Ibaka, C Valenciunas with Van Vleet, Miles, Wright, Green, Siakam, Monroe off the bench. Wow, I don't see how Felder, Richardson, Adel, Powell or Moreland got any playing time at all. That's either a lot of trade filler or more depth than is actually needed. Yes, they've got a new coach and their fan favorite cornerstone is gone, but the vibe is still there, the stars are still there and the depth is still there. The Celtics are stacked but I wouldn't be surprised if the Raptors finish 1st in the East by sheer inertia.
Sixers
Out: Ersan Ilyasova, Marco Belinelli, Justin Anderson, Timothy Luwawu, Richaun Holmes
They let go of 2 vets and 3 young projects. Ilyasova and Belinelli gave the Sixers some spunk down the stretch last year but I don't think either were major pieces that needed to be retained. Luwawu spent most of his time in Philly on injured reserve (as is the norm for Sixer draft picks) and Anderson never really fit into the rotation, though I thought he could be. Holmes was a nice big man off the bench but hardly an irreparable loss.
In: Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, Zhaire Smith, Landry Shamet, Norvel Pelle, (Lakers 2019 2nd rd pick), (GM Elton Brand), (Pistons 2021 & 2023 2nd rd picks), Shake Milton, (Heat 2021 1st rd pick), (2022 2nd rd pick swap w/ Nuggets), Anthony Brown, Emeka Okafor
Okay, out with some vets and youngsters, in with a new batch of vets and youngsters. Chandler, Okafor and Muscala are professional basketballers, though none come in expecting to have starring roles. Their jobs are to be reliable professionals off the court and occasionally give important minutes off the bench. I reckon they'll all be just fine. Smith and Shamet are promising youngsters--which in Philadelphia means they'll probably be injured by the end of this sentence. Brown had some fun moments with the Lakers a while back and has bounced around a bit, Philly should offer him a few minutes here or there to show himself. I kinda liked what I saw of Milton at SMU, kind of a steal for the Sixers to get him (effectively) so late in the draft; I suspect with Fultz expecting more playing time now, Milton will be seeing more of the G-League than Philly.
Bringing back Reddick and Johnson each for another year is a good move for the Sixers (who are probably looking at 2019-2020 as their real blasting off point). It keeps continuity without busting the payroll and since they didn't have a GM all summer, who were they gonna sign anyway? Jackson is an intriguing G-League level talent, he'll keep the minor league stocked if nothing else. Personally I love McConnell, I think he's the best 2nd string PG in the league and I consider him very much a part of Philly's core--hell, I would've signed him long term this summer with an eye toward grooming him as an asst coach or upstairs in Personnel--telling ya, he was a huge part of their success last season, not the flashy star but the motor guy that keeps the 2nd string humming along when everyone else wants to take a break.
All in all
The Sixers didn't really get better or worse this summer (*), they just shuffled out some people and shuffled in mostly like-for-like replacements. I'm cool with this move--or lack of moves. The next step for this team is the maturation of Simmons, Saric, Embiid, and Fultz. If each of those guys is slightly better than last year--and Fultz almost certainly will be--then this team should get better without any significant free agent upgrades. The roster didn't need an overhail, it just needed maturation. In the mean time they Hinkie-d up another pile of future 2nd round picks, stayed cap flexible and look to have plenty of money for next summer (Klay Thompson, Klay Thompson, Klay Thompson!).
That said, I don't think this team is vastly better than last year, not do I see them going deeper in the post-season. Last year, their success was largely a monster run at the end of the year after a mediocre opening. This season I would expect them to start better but I doubt they finish as well as they did--they rode a soft schedule and low expectations to a mighty charge into the playoffs. I don't think they're as good as the Celtics or Raptors, hard to tell what the Bucks or Pacers will be and while I don't expect the Pistons, Hornets or Heat to be monsters, I would expect them to be in the playoff hunt. I think 3rd is as high as this team could possibly finish but I wouldn't be surprised if the high expectations they avoided last year become something of a burden for them as the season wears on. I think Fultz will shine out, I think Zhaire Smith (if he plays) should have a promising rookie campaign and I'm really curious to see what they get from Bolden, Korkmaz and Milton. This team is nice--good, even--but this isn't the season for them to really start looking like greatness. Next summer (when all the vets disappear and just the creamy core of youth remains) is when they start shopping for the next level.
(*) Well, getting rid of GM Colangelo is an upgrade in my opinion. Let me just take one more moment to rant about this disaster: the NBA basically forced the Sixers to get rid of the shameful Sam Hinkie (who built this playoff roster) to bring in the shining Bryan Colangelo--who did nothing to make this a better team and showed himself (and his wife) to be an embarrassment. I think the Sixers ownership should be at the very least SUPER FUCKING PISSED that the NBA foisted this waste of space on them and, seriously, I'd consider litigation, as this was a highly unprofessional and possibly criminal move on the league's part. Meanwhile the architect of this team is still unemployed solely because the NBA wanted to make an example of him. Seriously, that's fucked up, man.
2018-19 NBA Pre-season (Central)
Bucks
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
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.
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.
2018-19 NBA Pre-season (Southeast)
Hawks
Out: Damion Lee, Josh Magette, Malcolm Delaney, Isiah Taylor, Andrew White, (the rights to Isiah Cordinier), (2020 2nd rd pick), Jaylen Morris, Antonius Cleveland, Dennis Shroeder, Mike Muscala
I was always kinda dubious on Shroeder as a team leader but he was dangerously talented and considering the Hawks are absolutely not trying to win games this year, it was wise to move him out. Muscala is a nice hard working vet, fan favorite, but not part of the future plans. I'm surprised they weren't able to bring back Delaney, thought he had enough promise to try for another low pressure year. Lee, Magette, Taylor, White, Morris, Cleveland and even Cordinier and a 2020 2nd rd pick were not highly prized assets.
In: Jalyen Adams, Kevin Huerter, Trae Young, Omari Spellman, Jeremy Lin, (2023 pick swap w/ Nets), (2025 Nets 2nd rd pick), Alex Len, Alex Poythress, Justin Anderson, (2020 Thunder 1st rd pick), Daniel Hamilton, Vince Carter, Thomas Robinson, RJ Hunter, Cole Aldrich
Okay, the Young-Huerter-Spellman era begins now. The idea is to remake the Warriors...good luck with that. I was not as high as the Hawks on Young in the NCAA, I don't know Hueter at all and Spellman was nice but you'd really have to squint to see Draymond Green, so I don't have high hopes for this formula. Surrounding them with cast off vets (Vince Carter, Lin, Aldrich) and 2nd chance youngsters (Robinson, Len, Hunter) makes them likely to play without much chance of getting W's, which definitely matches this year's goal of getting high draft picks. The Hawks have the #1 pick on their mind and I think they've got a good shot at getting it.
Re-signed: (none)
All in all
This team is not meant to win and I don't think they will. So...mission accomplished. (Still wouldn't be surprised to see them flip the fun and dangerous Kent Bazemore for the staid and unspectacular George Hill--a backup PG that won't bring W's is what they're looking for, right?) They want that #1 pick (and they have the Mavs and Cavs 1st rounders, too, so they're already looking to the 2019 draft.
Heat
Out: Jordan Mickey, Luke Babbit, Derrick Walton Jr
Okay, not much to see here.
In: Duncan Robinson, Yante Maten, Briante Weber, Jarnell Stokes, Charles Cooke, Deandre Liggins
Okay, not much to see here either.
Re-signed: Derrick Jones Jr, Wayne Ellington, Udonis Haslem, Dwayne Wade
Okay, same old-same old here.
All in all
Man, they got a lot of overpaid, old guys here. And they brought back Haslem and Wade! It wasn't long ago that I really loved where this team was going but that time has past, I don't get any of this roster any more. I still like Coach Spoelstra and I've long been a Goran Dragic fan but unless Josh Richardson, Justice Winslow and Bam Adebato really blow up--all of which are possible--then I don't see the Heat being any higher than 8th overall and I don't see how they compete in the playoffs. (These guys are gonna be in on every trade rumor all year long)
Hornets
Out: Marcus Paige, Treveon Graham, Michael Carter-Williams, Dwight Howard, (2021 2nd rd pick), Mangok Mathiang, Arnoldas Kubolka, Julyan Stone
I'd say this is no big deal but getting rid of Dwight Howard is always a big deal--just ask the last 4 teams that got rid of him!
In: JP Macura, Miles Bridges, Tony Parker, Devonte Graham, (2019 Thunder 2nd rd pick), Bismack Biyombo, Isaih Wilkins, Joe Chealey, Jaylen Barford, Zack Smith, (2019 Magic 2nd rd pick), (2020 Magic 2nd rd pick), (2020 Clippers 2nd rd pick), (2021 Clippers 2nd rd pick)
Bridges and Graham are kinda promising rookies but the Hornets' spotty draft record (they have a great eye for so-so players) does not bode well for them going forward. Tony Parker and (Bobcats legend) Bismack Biyombo are not the big guns Hornet fans are hungering for. Macura, Wilkins, Chealey, Barfield, and Smith are probably G-Leaguers or pre-season castoffs.
Re-signed: (none)
All in all
Man, that's a really expensive roster for a mediocre team. And they're still expensive next year and that's before they re-sign Kemba. Ugh. Oh it's cool: they've got a ton of 2nd rd picks, so no worries. I guess this team could compete with the Pistons and Cavs for the 8th spot, but unless Kemba blows up in his walk year or Bridges turns into a ROY candidate, I don't see them any higher than that.
Magic
Out: Jamel Artis, Shelvin Mack, Aaron Aflalo, Mario Hezonja, Marreesse Speights, Bismack Biyombo, (2019 2nd rd pick), (2020 2nd rd pick), Rodney Purvis, (the rights to Tyler Harvey)
The Magic are a team going in the wrong direction for a while now and while it might seem necessary to move on from vets like Mack, Aflalo, Speights and Hezonja, uh, I'm not sure getting rid of them makes this team better.
In: Mo Bamba, Isiah Briscoe, Melvin Frazier, Timofey Mozgov, Jerian Grant, Troy Caupain, Braian Angola-Rhodas, Jarrell Martin, Amile Jefferson, (rights to Justin Jackson), (Nuggets 2019 2nd rd pick), BJ Johnson, Devin Davis
Okay, Bamba has great upside but...what are any of these other moves for?
Re-signed: Aaron Gordon, Jonathon Isaac (team option),
I love Gordon and frankly they had to keep him. We haven't seen much of Isaac yet but I'll trust that the Magic like him (though I don't trust that that means anything).
All in all
I dunno, man, I don't see how this team is better than last year--and they were awful last year! Seriously? DJ Augustin is the starting PG? They just drafted Olapdipo and Peyton and now they have a 10 year vet--that was never particularly noteworthy in that 10 years!--as their guy going forward? Jeez, who's running this team? The Hawks have pretty well staked their claim to the #1 pick but I can see Orlando giving them a run for it. I think Aaron Gordon may finally have that breakout year, I'm curious to see Isaac and Bamba but otherwise this will be a long year for the Magic.
Wizards
Out: Marcin Gortat, Mike Scott, Tim Frazier, Chris McCullough
Gortat clashed with Wall but he still could've been useful for them. Scott and Frazier were pretty good role players in small minutes. I always like what I saw in McCullough but apparently his time in the league is done.
In: Austin Rivers, Dwight Howard, Jeff Green, Thomas Bryant, Troy Brown, Chasson Randle, Isuf Sanon, Chris Chiozza, Jordan McRae, Tiwain Kendley, Lavoy Allen
Rivers gives them a conscious-less combo guard off the bench. Howard gives them rebounding (though if Wall didn't like Gortat, is he gonna like Howard?). Green gives them scoring off the bench (once every five games). The rest are just trying to catch on.
Re-signed: Jodie Meeks (player option)
Meeks used to be a solid filler-upper...but, man, that was a long time ago.
All in all
Are you getting pumped Wizards fans? Howard, Green and Austin Rivers? Oh man, that's a lot of grumpy non-production right there. Wall and Beal are still capable of getting better, Oubre and Porter can both still take big jumps forward. But do Rivers, Green and Howard (and Markieff) form a quality backup crew? I think they limp into the playoffs (again) but I can't see them being dominant in any way.
Out: Damion Lee, Josh Magette, Malcolm Delaney, Isiah Taylor, Andrew White, (the rights to Isiah Cordinier), (2020 2nd rd pick), Jaylen Morris, Antonius Cleveland, Dennis Shroeder, Mike Muscala
I was always kinda dubious on Shroeder as a team leader but he was dangerously talented and considering the Hawks are absolutely not trying to win games this year, it was wise to move him out. Muscala is a nice hard working vet, fan favorite, but not part of the future plans. I'm surprised they weren't able to bring back Delaney, thought he had enough promise to try for another low pressure year. Lee, Magette, Taylor, White, Morris, Cleveland and even Cordinier and a 2020 2nd rd pick were not highly prized assets.
In: Jalyen Adams, Kevin Huerter, Trae Young, Omari Spellman, Jeremy Lin, (2023 pick swap w/ Nets), (2025 Nets 2nd rd pick), Alex Len, Alex Poythress, Justin Anderson, (2020 Thunder 1st rd pick), Daniel Hamilton, Vince Carter, Thomas Robinson, RJ Hunter, Cole Aldrich
Okay, the Young-Huerter-Spellman era begins now. The idea is to remake the Warriors...good luck with that. I was not as high as the Hawks on Young in the NCAA, I don't know Hueter at all and Spellman was nice but you'd really have to squint to see Draymond Green, so I don't have high hopes for this formula. Surrounding them with cast off vets (Vince Carter, Lin, Aldrich) and 2nd chance youngsters (Robinson, Len, Hunter) makes them likely to play without much chance of getting W's, which definitely matches this year's goal of getting high draft picks. The Hawks have the #1 pick on their mind and I think they've got a good shot at getting it.
Re-signed: (none)
All in all
This team is not meant to win and I don't think they will. So...mission accomplished. (Still wouldn't be surprised to see them flip the fun and dangerous Kent Bazemore for the staid and unspectacular George Hill--a backup PG that won't bring W's is what they're looking for, right?) They want that #1 pick (and they have the Mavs and Cavs 1st rounders, too, so they're already looking to the 2019 draft.
Heat
Out: Jordan Mickey, Luke Babbit, Derrick Walton Jr
Okay, not much to see here.
In: Duncan Robinson, Yante Maten, Briante Weber, Jarnell Stokes, Charles Cooke, Deandre Liggins
Okay, not much to see here either.
Re-signed: Derrick Jones Jr, Wayne Ellington, Udonis Haslem, Dwayne Wade
Okay, same old-same old here.
All in all
Man, they got a lot of overpaid, old guys here. And they brought back Haslem and Wade! It wasn't long ago that I really loved where this team was going but that time has past, I don't get any of this roster any more. I still like Coach Spoelstra and I've long been a Goran Dragic fan but unless Josh Richardson, Justice Winslow and Bam Adebato really blow up--all of which are possible--then I don't see the Heat being any higher than 8th overall and I don't see how they compete in the playoffs. (These guys are gonna be in on every trade rumor all year long)
Hornets
Out: Marcus Paige, Treveon Graham, Michael Carter-Williams, Dwight Howard, (2021 2nd rd pick), Mangok Mathiang, Arnoldas Kubolka, Julyan Stone
I'd say this is no big deal but getting rid of Dwight Howard is always a big deal--just ask the last 4 teams that got rid of him!
In: JP Macura, Miles Bridges, Tony Parker, Devonte Graham, (2019 Thunder 2nd rd pick), Bismack Biyombo, Isaih Wilkins, Joe Chealey, Jaylen Barford, Zack Smith, (2019 Magic 2nd rd pick), (2020 Magic 2nd rd pick), (2020 Clippers 2nd rd pick), (2021 Clippers 2nd rd pick)
Bridges and Graham are kinda promising rookies but the Hornets' spotty draft record (they have a great eye for so-so players) does not bode well for them going forward. Tony Parker and (Bobcats legend) Bismack Biyombo are not the big guns Hornet fans are hungering for. Macura, Wilkins, Chealey, Barfield, and Smith are probably G-Leaguers or pre-season castoffs.
Re-signed: (none)
All in all
Man, that's a really expensive roster for a mediocre team. And they're still expensive next year and that's before they re-sign Kemba. Ugh. Oh it's cool: they've got a ton of 2nd rd picks, so no worries. I guess this team could compete with the Pistons and Cavs for the 8th spot, but unless Kemba blows up in his walk year or Bridges turns into a ROY candidate, I don't see them any higher than that.
Magic
Out: Jamel Artis, Shelvin Mack, Aaron Aflalo, Mario Hezonja, Marreesse Speights, Bismack Biyombo, (2019 2nd rd pick), (2020 2nd rd pick), Rodney Purvis, (the rights to Tyler Harvey)
The Magic are a team going in the wrong direction for a while now and while it might seem necessary to move on from vets like Mack, Aflalo, Speights and Hezonja, uh, I'm not sure getting rid of them makes this team better.
In: Mo Bamba, Isiah Briscoe, Melvin Frazier, Timofey Mozgov, Jerian Grant, Troy Caupain, Braian Angola-Rhodas, Jarrell Martin, Amile Jefferson, (rights to Justin Jackson), (Nuggets 2019 2nd rd pick), BJ Johnson, Devin Davis
Okay, Bamba has great upside but...what are any of these other moves for?
Re-signed: Aaron Gordon, Jonathon Isaac (team option),
I love Gordon and frankly they had to keep him. We haven't seen much of Isaac yet but I'll trust that the Magic like him (though I don't trust that that means anything).
All in all
I dunno, man, I don't see how this team is better than last year--and they were awful last year! Seriously? DJ Augustin is the starting PG? They just drafted Olapdipo and Peyton and now they have a 10 year vet--that was never particularly noteworthy in that 10 years!--as their guy going forward? Jeez, who's running this team? The Hawks have pretty well staked their claim to the #1 pick but I can see Orlando giving them a run for it. I think Aaron Gordon may finally have that breakout year, I'm curious to see Isaac and Bamba but otherwise this will be a long year for the Magic.
Wizards
Out: Marcin Gortat, Mike Scott, Tim Frazier, Chris McCullough
Gortat clashed with Wall but he still could've been useful for them. Scott and Frazier were pretty good role players in small minutes. I always like what I saw in McCullough but apparently his time in the league is done.
In: Austin Rivers, Dwight Howard, Jeff Green, Thomas Bryant, Troy Brown, Chasson Randle, Isuf Sanon, Chris Chiozza, Jordan McRae, Tiwain Kendley, Lavoy Allen
Rivers gives them a conscious-less combo guard off the bench. Howard gives them rebounding (though if Wall didn't like Gortat, is he gonna like Howard?). Green gives them scoring off the bench (once every five games). The rest are just trying to catch on.
Re-signed: Jodie Meeks (player option)
Meeks used to be a solid filler-upper...but, man, that was a long time ago.
All in all
Are you getting pumped Wizards fans? Howard, Green and Austin Rivers? Oh man, that's a lot of grumpy non-production right there. Wall and Beal are still capable of getting better, Oubre and Porter can both still take big jumps forward. But do Rivers, Green and Howard (and Markieff) form a quality backup crew? I think they limp into the playoffs (again) but I can't see them being dominant in any way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
