Top 10: http://www.nba.com/2013/news/features/david_aldridge/08/05/morning-tip-offseason-grades-2013-the-top-10/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt3a

Mid 10: http://www.nba.com/2013/news/features/david_aldridge/08/05/morning-tip-offseason-grades-2013-the-middle-10/index.html

Bottom 10: http://www.nba.com/2013/news/features/david_aldridge/08/05/morning-tip-offseason-grades-2013-the-bottom-10/index.html

• Rule No. 2: This is as much art as science, weighing the impact both of the Draft and free agency, but also assessing whether teams got value in their free-agent signings. Overpaying the right player is as much a sin as signing the wrong player. New coaches, new GMs, new owners and new arenas are also significant factors in judging a team's summer success, for a good coach can coax some more wins out of a roster, and a new building can generate the kind of revenue necessary to let a team be aggressive in pursuing free agents and trades -- if not this season, then in future seasons. Also, teams that are rebuilding obviously have different priorities than teams making a championship push. That's factored in.

• Rule No. 3: Continuity matters here as well. The most successful teams identify a core group of players and keep them together several seasons; teams that re-sign their own players (at reasonable amounts) get good marks from me. The bottom line, though, is how much better is a team after its offseason moves than it was before? That is what is being ranked here: improvement.

• Rule No. 4: With more and more teams terrified of paying luxury tax, a team that stands pat much be viewed in the context of preserving cap space and/or flexibility in order to be able to make unbalanced trades down the road. Was Atlanta wrong not to blow all its cap space this summer, once it was clear that neither Dwight Howard nor Chris Paul would go there? I had to make a judgment on that. Same with Dallas, which obviously had other, bigger plans than what the Mavericks wound up doing.

The Top 10

Rockets, Nets, Pacers, Cavs, Clippers, Warriors, Hawks, Bobcats, Wolves, Kings

The Middle 10

Pistons, Grizzlies, Mavs, Spurs, Pelicans, Bucks, Wizards, Blazers, Lakers, Nuggets

The Bottom 10

Suns, Bulls, Knicks, Celtics, Raptors, Heat, Thunder, Magic, Jazz, Sixers

All seriousness David Alridge is a scumbag. What were his predictions last year. I'm sure they weren't anything close to what they actually turned out to be. Pistons pelicans bucks kings and cave ahead of the Knicks. Give me a break. Typical espn douche bag

I think people are over rating the Wariors offseason- Jared Jack and landry were really important pieces, and helped get them a lot of wins. They are forever at risk of injury to Bogut and Curry. I'm not sure that Iggy will be as good of a fit as everyone is making out.

Also I'm not sold on the Nets- I'm hoping that they are this years Lakers!

I also think people are over rating the Pacers offseason- Scola and Cope are not gods, and I'm sorry but CJ Watson is not the PG star that pundits are making out! Plus it's going to be awkward fitting Granger back in to the rotation (if this wre happening on the Knicks there would be endless stories about whether Granger and George could mesh etc). They may have upgraded their offense, but their defense takes a step back.

Just judging the moves he is spot on

smackeddog wrote:Our offseason has been okay- nothing special, nothing disasterous. We re-signed sixth man of the year to a good contract (likely to opt out in 2015), we re-signed Prigs (an effective back up PG), we signed MWP, and we turned non-playing Camby and Novak into Bargs (who will hopefully be a better, more versatile Novak). We also shaved off an important $5mil from 2015, which no writer acknowledges. We drafted Hardaway Jr and look like we might have a prospect in Tyler. I'd say that's a middling offseason, and we still have 3 slots to fill. Not sure why Cope has become a god in the eyes of writers since he left the Knicks, but then again they are also singing the praises of Toney Douglas!

I think people are over rating the Wariors offseason- Jared Jack and landry were really important pieces, and helped get them a lot of wins. They are forever at risk of injury to Bogut and Curry. I'm not sure that Iggy will be as good of a fit as everyone is making out.

Also I'm not sold on the Nets- I'm hoping that they are this years Lakers!

I also think people are over rating the Pacers offseason- Scola and Cope are not gods, and I'm sorry but CJ Watson is not the PG star that pundits are making out! Plus it's going to be awkward fitting Granger back in to the rotation (if this wre happening on the Knicks there would be endless stories about whether Granger and George could mesh etc). They may have upgraded their offense, but their defense takes a step back.

Houstans wins because they got Dwight without a trade! Cavs invest little in Bynum but have big upside, plus they had no. 1 pick.

Nets have an interesting weave of players familiar with each other. KG and Pierce obvious celts but assistnt coach Lawrence frank under Doc was there too! Jason Terry also a celtic was back court mate of Kidd. Ak47 and Deron former mates in Utah. Bropez rookie year under Frank. Bropez, Deron and Johnson have a full season together with success and failure to build on. The Chemistry could be amazing with such strong personalities. KG can also be huge for Blatch as a role model!

Houstan still has Asik which I don't know if they keep or trade. The kid has value now! Lin has a full off season and should be more then healthy. This is a big year for him! Its big boy time now! Parsons has to get thru the sophmore jinx and Harden needs to scale it back a bit now he has other options with Dwight.

I too don't get Pacer off season but CJ is a better player than DJ but I think the big buzz is Hibberts return to form in the playoffs and emerged even "bigger"! How granger fits back in is anyone's guess but it should be ok. Nate McMillion is new assistant coach replacing Brian Shaw.

Iggy as a warrior? Full season with a healthy Bogut? I think Warriors with Iggy as back court mate to Curry is really big. Where it leaves Barnes and Thompson I don't know. Thompson to the bench? Curry might be able to log less minutes. I think they trade DLee as he crowds Bogut which was one reason Warriors did so good after Lee went down.

Whatever. This is just entertainment before the season starts...

CrushAlot wrote:

Nalod wrote:

smackeddog wrote:Our offseason has been okay- nothing special, nothing disasterous. We re-signed sixth man of the year to a good contract (likely to opt out in 2015), we re-signed Prigs (an effective back up PG), we signed MWP, and we turned non-playing Camby and Novak into Bargs (who will hopefully be a better, more versatile Novak). We also shaved off an important $5mil from 2015, which no writer acknowledges. We drafted Hardaway Jr and look like we might have a prospect in Tyler. I'd say that's a middling offseason, and we still have 3 slots to fill. Not sure why Cope has become a god in the eyes of writers since he left the Knicks, but then again they are also singing the praises of Toney Douglas!

I think people are over rating the Wariors offseason- Jared Jack and landry were really important pieces, and helped get them a lot of wins. They are forever at risk of injury to Bogut and Curry. I'm not sure that Iggy will be as good of a fit as everyone is making out.

Also I'm not sold on the Nets- I'm hoping that they are this years Lakers!

I also think people are over rating the Pacers offseason- Scola and Cope are not gods, and I'm sorry but CJ Watson is not the PG star that pundits are making out! Plus it's going to be awkward fitting Granger back in to the rotation (if this wre happening on the Knicks there would be endless stories about whether Granger and George could mesh etc). They may have upgraded their offense, but their defense takes a step back.

Houstans wins because they got Dwight without a trade! Cavs invest little in Bynum but have big upside, plus they had no. 1 pick.

Nets have an interesting weave of players familiar with each other. KG and Pierce obvious celts but assistnt coach Lawrence frank under Doc was there too! Jason Terry also a celtic was back court mate of Kidd. Ak47 and Deron former mates in Utah. Bropez rookie year under Frank. Bropez, Deron and Johnson have a full season together with success and failure to build on. The Chemistry could be amazing with such strong personalities. KG can also be huge for Blatch as a role model!

Houstan still has Asik which I don't know if they keep or trade. The kid has value now! Lin has a full off season and should be more then healthy. This is a big year for him! Its big boy time now! Parsons has to get thru the sophmore jinx and Harden needs to scale it back a bit now he has other options with Dwight.

I too don't get Pacer off season but CJ is a better player than DJ but I think the big buzz is Hibberts return to form in the playoffs and emerged even "bigger"! How granger fits back in is anyone's guess but it should be ok. Nate McMillion is new assistant coach replacing Brian Shaw.

Iggy as a warrior? Full season with a healthy Bogut? I think Warriors with Iggy as back court mate to Curry is really big. Where it leaves Barnes and Thompson I don't know. Thompson to the bench? Curry might be able to log less minutes. I think they trade DLee as he crowds Bogut which was one reason Warriors did so good after Lee went down.

The Rockets will be really interesting this year. If they can keep Asik that will be a tremendous frontline and the defense should be really good. I believe Parsons is going into his third year. I remember the Rockets moving Budinger because they had Chandler and I was surprised because I think Chase is a really good player. Parsons has been much better. I like that they brought Garcia back as well. I could see Morey trying to move Lin's contract with Asik in a package. I am not sure if Houston is the best fit for Lin and I don't know if he is the best fit for them.

I feel the same way about the Rockets. I really see Morey moving Lin with the expense of Asik. They will use these 2 to get their PF. Assuming they think Beverley or Cannan can be plugged in as starting point.

CrushAlot wrote:

Nalod wrote:

smackeddog wrote:Our offseason has been okay- nothing special, nothing disasterous. We re-signed sixth man of the year to a good contract (likely to opt out in 2015), we re-signed Prigs (an effective back up PG), we signed MWP, and we turned non-playing Camby and Novak into Bargs (who will hopefully be a better, more versatile Novak). We also shaved off an important $5mil from 2015, which no writer acknowledges. We drafted Hardaway Jr and look like we might have a prospect in Tyler. I'd say that's a middling offseason, and we still have 3 slots to fill. Not sure why Cope has become a god in the eyes of writers since he left the Knicks, but then again they are also singing the praises of Toney Douglas!

I think people are over rating the Wariors offseason- Jared Jack and landry were really important pieces, and helped get them a lot of wins. They are forever at risk of injury to Bogut and Curry. I'm not sure that Iggy will be as good of a fit as everyone is making out.

Also I'm not sold on the Nets- I'm hoping that they are this years Lakers!

I also think people are over rating the Pacers offseason- Scola and Cope are not gods, and I'm sorry but CJ Watson is not the PG star that pundits are making out! Plus it's going to be awkward fitting Granger back in to the rotation (if this wre happening on the Knicks there would be endless stories about whether Granger and George could mesh etc). They may have upgraded their offense, but their defense takes a step back.

Houstans wins because they got Dwight without a trade! Cavs invest little in Bynum but have big upside, plus they had no. 1 pick.

Nets have an interesting weave of players familiar with each other. KG and Pierce obvious celts but assistnt coach Lawrence frank under Doc was there too! Jason Terry also a celtic was back court mate of Kidd. Ak47 and Deron former mates in Utah. Bropez rookie year under Frank. Bropez, Deron and Johnson have a full season together with success and failure to build on. The Chemistry could be amazing with such strong personalities. KG can also be huge for Blatch as a role model!

Houstan still has Asik which I don't know if they keep or trade. The kid has value now! Lin has a full off season and should be more then healthy. This is a big year for him! Its big boy time now! Parsons has to get thru the sophmore jinx and Harden needs to scale it back a bit now he has other options with Dwight.

I too don't get Pacer off season but CJ is a better player than DJ but I think the big buzz is Hibberts return to form in the playoffs and emerged even "bigger"! How granger fits back in is anyone's guess but it should be ok. Nate McMillion is new assistant coach replacing Brian Shaw.

Iggy as a warrior? Full season with a healthy Bogut? I think Warriors with Iggy as back court mate to Curry is really big. Where it leaves Barnes and Thompson I don't know. Thompson to the bench? Curry might be able to log less minutes. I think they trade DLee as he crowds Bogut which was one reason Warriors did so good after Lee went down.

The Rockets will be really interesting this year. If they can keep Asik that will be a tremendous frontline and the defense should be really good. I believe Parsons is going into his third year. I remember the Rockets moving Budinger because they had Chandler and I was surprised because I think Chase is a really good player. Parsons has been much better. I like that they brought Garcia back as well. I could see Morey trying to move Lin's contract with Asik in a package. I am not sure if Houston is the best fit for Lin and I don't know if he is the best fit for them.

Obviously we don't know what is Lin's fate. The trade was about potential and his first full season last year had its ups and downs. With Dwight the team makes a big shift. I hope he is working on foul shots!!!

your right about Parsons.

Morey is a tricky one!

I can see rockets giving Lin this season to grow up a big and see how he does. I don't see them holding Asik as he can be a good trade chip.

I don't see any rocket as having champion ship quality at the PG but I know they pulled Lin out at times last year, but like I said, his signing was about potential and It will be an interesting development.

NYKBocker wrote:

yellowboy90 wrote:if they continue to use Harden as the lead PnR guard do the really need a classic point? Also, who could use Lin. Milwaukee is the only team that doesn't have a pg. NY is probably out of the question due to Dolan, so who else?

Utah, Orlando, Sixers

Bonn1997 wrote:For trade purposes, does Lin's salary count as $5 mil or the $8 mil annual average?

My understanding was that after we declined matching, all subsequent transactions would be based on the $8M/year, not the 5/5/15.