Hot damn, what an offseason so far. And anyone who has even
in passing followed this blog knows that the NBA Draft, trade deadline and free
agency are the holy trinity of my basketball nerdom. That being said I have
analyzed each and every team and the moves they have made thus far. Prepare to
be awed by my nerdiness.
Eastern Conference:
Boston Celtics:
Key Additions:
R.J. Hunter: SG –Drafted
Terry Rozier: PG - Drafted
David Lee: PF- Trade
Key Losses:
Brandon Bass: PF- Signed with LA Lakers.
The Celtics are quite confusing. They drafted a shooter that
they needed in R.J. Hunter, but also drafted Terry Rozier who is essentially
the same player as Avery Bradley. Acquiring David Lee will help but it doesn’t
make them a better team than they were last season. The team as currently
constituted can expect another year as the 7 or 8 seed in a weak Eastern
Conference.
Overall Grade: C
Brooklyn Nets:
Key Additions:
Steve Blake: PG – Trade
Andrea Bargani: PF – Free Agent
Rondae Hollis- Jefferson: SF –Draft
Key Losses:
Deron Williams: PG- Contract Bought Out
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| Life comes at you fast huh? |
It’s kinda hard to describe Deron Williams as a key loss as he has played like hot trash water the last few seasons but he was their starting point guard. They did a pretty good job of getting younger and added Hollis Jefferson who could be an all pro defender, Cliff Alexander could be a very good forward and is extremely cheap as he wasn’t drafted at all. IF they can get someone to take Joe Johnson’s deal they could be in business.
Overall Grade: B
New York Knicks
Key Additions:
Kristaps Porzingas: F –Draft
Jerian Grant: PG- Draft
Robin Lopez: C – Free Agent
Key Losses:
None
For all the jokes that get made at the Knicks expense they
actually had a solid offseason so far. They solidified the center position,
long term Porzingas could be superstar, and Jerian Grant is going to contribute
from day one. I also like the signing of Derrick Williams, a player with
potential to be a sixth man off the bench in the mold of a Mareese Speights for
cheap.
Overall Grade: B
Philadelphia 76ers
Key Additions:
Jahlil Okafor: C- Draft
Nik Stauskas: SG- Trade
Carl Landry: SF- Trade
Key Losses:
Joel Embiid: C – Injury
Man I have absolutely no idea what is going on with the Sixers. All you hear out of their front office is to “trust the process.” What process is that? Tank, fall into the lottery, repeat? They were able to snag the best offensive big man in this year’s draft but he joins the talented Nerlens Noel and the perpetually injured Joel Embiid at the same position. They were able to snag Nik Stauskas and Carl Landry from the Kings but nothing about this team suggests they’ll be anywhere near respectable.
Overall Grade: C-
Toronto Raptors
Key Additions:
Demarre Carroll: SF- Free Agent
Cory Joseph: PG- Free Agent
Delon Wright: PG- Draft
Key Losses:
None
They picked up a solid wing defender and all around good guy
to have on your team in Carroll, the dependable Cory Joseph came over from San
Antonio and Delon Wright fell in their laps after he slipped a little in the
draft. The team as currently constituted is going to have a log jam at point
guard which leads me to believe that Kyle Lowry’s time may be coming to an end
in Toronto. I’d expect a repeat of last season with them locking up a seed in
the 5-6 range.
Overall Grade: C
Chicago Bulls
Key Additions:
Bobby Portis: PF- Draft
Fred Hoiberg: Coach
Key Losses:
Tom Thibodeau: Coach
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| Good night sweet prince. |
This one hurts to write. The Bulls are my favorite team by
far. That being said aside from drafting Bobby Portis who eventually can replace
Taj Gibson, they have not done anything. This team is going be a 3 seed…again.
This team will look unstoppable at stretches during the regular season…again.
And they will lose in 5 to the Cavs…again. I have to hope they have more in the
works but I am quickly losing faith in the management team of Gar Forman and John
Paxson.
Overall Grade: C-
Cleveland Cavaliers
Key Additions:
Mo Williams: PG – Free Agent
Key Losses:
None
Talk about a snake bitten squad when Finals time came
around. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love going down all but ended the series before
it even began. They have to be the presumptive favorites to come out the East
simply because they have LeBron James who as I have stated here before is a
cyborg sent from the future for the sole purpose of playing basketball. David
Blatt can’t be as bad as he was this year as a coach. I wouldn’t be surprised
to see this team win 60 games.
Overall Grade: B+
Detroit Pistons
Key Additions:
Stanley Johnson: SF- Draft
Key Losses:
Greg Monroe: PF- Free Agent
I think the Pistons got a guy in the draft that will step
and contribute meaningful minutes from day one. Stanley Johnson is already an
amazing wing defender with the potential to have a Kawahi Leonard type of game
for the Pistons. Brandon Jennings returns from injury, and while I think Reggie
Jackson is wildly overpaid he will definitely give them a bit of scoring punch.
Overall Grade: B
Indiana Pacers
Key Additions:
Myles Turner: PF – Draft
Monta Ellis: SG- Free Agent
Joseph Young: SG- Draft
Key Losses:
Luis Scola: PF- Free Agent
Roy Hibbert: C- Trade
The Pacers have had a very successful offseason thus far. First
it was essentially addition by subtraction when they traded Roy Hibbert to the
Lakers, then they drafted the wild versatile Myles Turner in the draft and the
cherry on top was signing Monta Ellis who will help a very stagnant offense
that should improve by leaps and bounds with Paul George healthy for an entire
season. I think they should be downgraded a bit just because George changed his
jersey to number 13 last season so his nickname could be PG13.
Overall Grade: B
Milwaukee Bucks
Key Additions:
Greg Monroe: PF- Free Agent
Rashad Vaughn: SG- Draft
Key Losses:
None
Talk about being wrong about a team and a coach. Jason Kidd
was amazing with this team last season even leading them to the playoffs after
losing arguably their best player in Jabari Parker. He appears to be on
schedule to return this season not to mention the addition of Greg Monroe and
the resigning of sharp shooter Khris Middleton. They could potentially have the
lankiest starting 5 in the league and there is no reason to believe that Kidd
won’t keep improving as a coach.
Overall Grade: B+
Atlanta Hawks
Key Additions:
Tiago Splitter: PF - Trade
Key Losses:
Demare Carroll: SF - Free Agent
The Hawks shocked the basketball world last year by basically dominating the Easter Conference until they ran into the buzzsaw that was the Cleveland Cavaliers. That said this is a team that honestly stayed stagnant. Losing Carroll to the Raptors certainly hurts and while the acquisition of Tiago Splitter from the Spurs doesn't hurt it doesn't really help them either. Barring some trade involving Al Horford to get wing help I'd expect a season in the 3 seed range and a second round exit from the playoffs.
Overall Grade: C
Charlotte Hornets
Key Additions:
Jeremy Lin: PG- Free Agent
Frank Kaminsky: C- Draft
Nicholas Batum: SF - Trade
Key Losses:
Lance Stephenson: SG - Trade
Gerald Henderson: SG - Trade
Losing Henderson and Stephenson doesn't really hurt them to be honest. The addition of Batum and Lin are actually quote solid. The wing defense of Michael Kidd Gilchrist and Batum could be on the best defensive duos in the league. The selection of Kaminsky in the draft was an odd one. While I don't think it was a bad pick up, it just is a very blah pick up. They are a better team from last season but barely.
Overall Grade: B-
Miami Heat
Key Additions:
Justise Winslow: SF - Draft
Key Losses:
None
Sweet mercy I gotta say that Pat Riley is the damn devil. How else does he get so lucky to get the guy who potentially can be the best all around player in this year's draft. A healthy Chris Bosh, a full season of Goran Dragic and soldifying the bench with Amare Stoudemire all point to the Heat having a bounceback season as they are greatly improved over last season.
Overall Grade: A
Orlando Magic
Key Additions:
Mario Hezonja : SG- Draft
CJ Watson: PG - Free Agent
Key Losses:
Maurice Harkless: PF - Trade
A very meh offseason for the Magic. Hezonja from Summer League games so far appears to be a highlight reel waiting to happen, the addition of Scott Skiles as coach will greatly help this young squad and resigning Tobias Harris to a fair deal all were positives. While it was positive due to the inexperienced team, they are at least 2 years away from seriously making noise in the playoffs.
Overall Grade: B-
Washington Wizards
Key Additions:
Kelly Oubre Jr: SF- Draft
Gary Neal: PG - Free Agent
Key Losses:
Paul Pierce: SF - Free Agent
While it certainly hurts this team to lose Paul Pierce in the long run making playing time for both Otto Porter and Oubre will definitely yield some positive benefits. They solidified their bench with the additions of Alan Anderson and Gary Neal. I don't think this team will be able to make the next step however because I have very little faith in coach randy Wittman. That said I wouldn't be shocked to see John wall and Bradley Beal become the best backcourt in the NBA.
Overall Grade: B-
Atlanta Hawks
Key Additions:
Tiago Splitter: PF - Trade
Key Losses:
Demare Carroll: SF - Free Agent
The Hawks shocked the basketball world last year by basically dominating the Easter Conference until they ran into the buzzsaw that was the Cleveland Cavaliers. That said this is a team that honestly stayed stagnant. Losing Carroll to the Raptors certainly hurts and while the acquisition of Tiago Splitter from the Spurs doesn't hurt it doesn't really help them either. Barring some trade involving Al Horford to get wing help I'd expect a season in the 3 seed range and a second round exit from the playoffs.
Overall Grade: C
Charlotte Hornets
Key Additions:
Jeremy Lin: PG- Free Agent
Frank Kaminsky: C- Draft
Nicholas Batum: SF - Trade
Key Losses:
Lance Stephenson: SG - Trade
Gerald Henderson: SG - Trade
Losing Henderson and Stephenson doesn't really hurt them to be honest. The addition of Batum and Lin are actually quote solid. The wing defense of Michael Kidd Gilchrist and Batum could be on the best defensive duos in the league. The selection of Kaminsky in the draft was an odd one. While I don't think it was a bad pick up, it just is a very blah pick up. They are a better team from last season but barely.
Overall Grade: B-
Miami Heat
Key Additions:
Justise Winslow: SF - Draft
None
Sweet mercy I gotta say that Pat Riley is the damn devil. How else does he get so lucky to get the guy who potentially can be the best all around player in this year's draft. A healthy Chris Bosh, a full season of Goran Dragic and soldifying the bench with Amare Stoudemire all point to the Heat having a bounceback season as they are greatly improved over last season.
Overall Grade: A
Orlando Magic
Key Additions:
Mario Hezonja : SG- Draft
CJ Watson: PG - Free Agent
Key Losses:
Maurice Harkless: PF - Trade
A very meh offseason for the Magic. Hezonja from Summer League games so far appears to be a highlight reel waiting to happen, the addition of Scott Skiles as coach will greatly help this young squad and resigning Tobias Harris to a fair deal all were positives. While it was positive due to the inexperienced team, they are at least 2 years away from seriously making noise in the playoffs.
Overall Grade: B-
Washington Wizards
Key Additions:
Kelly Oubre Jr: SF- Draft
Gary Neal: PG - Free Agent
Key Losses:
Paul Pierce: SF - Free Agent
While it certainly hurts this team to lose Paul Pierce in the long run making playing time for both Otto Porter and Oubre will definitely yield some positive benefits. They solidified their bench with the additions of Alan Anderson and Gary Neal. I don't think this team will be able to make the next step however because I have very little faith in coach randy Wittman. That said I wouldn't be shocked to see John wall and Bradley Beal become the best backcourt in the NBA.
Overall Grade: B-
Well folks there you have it. All of the moves made by the Eastern Conference teams judged by yours truly. I'm currently working on the Western Conference as to not keep you all waiting.
