NBA offseason grades - Chad Ford on Eastern Conference
Read
Markdown
HTML
NBA offseason grades - Chad Ford on Eastern Conference
by Chad Ford on 2016-09-20 01:05:04 UTC (original: http://insider.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/17429740/nba-offseason-grades-chad-ford-eastern-conference)Who had the best and worst offseasons in the Eastern Conference? Here are my grades for all 15 teams.
These grades take into account how each team in the league has performed in remaking itself, considering both the opportunities it had and the moves it made. This includes the draft, free agency, trades, front-office and coaching moves, and positioning for future drafts and free-agent opportunities.
The grades are not a ranking of the league's best teams, but rather a device to track which teams have improved or have placed themselves on the fast track to improvement and which teams haven't -- both for the upcoming season and beyond.
Atlanta Hawks: C-
Key additions: Dwight Howard (FA); Kent Bazemore (re-sign); Taurean Prince (draft); DeAndre Bembry (draft); Kris Humphries (re-sign); Jarrett Jack (re-sign)
Key subtractions: Al Horford; Jeff Teague
The Hawks lost their starting point guard and center from last season. That's rarely a good thing. They had been eyeing Dennis Schroder as a replacement for Teague at point guard for a while, and landing a late lottery pick for Teague was a terrific return. The player they selected, Baylor's Taurean Prince, seemed like a stretch with the No. 14 pick.
The Hawks replace Horford with Dwight Howard. While Howard won't fill Horford's shoes offensively, he's an upgrade as a defensive rebounder and, given the other potential free agents out there, he was probably as good as they were going to get to replace Horford.
Bazemore's $70 million contract appears to borderline on absurd at first glance, but given some of the other deals that went down this summer, I'm not sure he even qualifies for the list of 10 most overpaid free agents.
Bembry was one of my draft sleepers, and I love his long-term fit in Atlanta.
Overall, it looks like the Hawks took a step back this summer and will likely be fighting for their playoff lives in April.
Boston Celtics: A-
Key additions: Al Horford (FA); Jaylen Brown (draft); Tyler Zeller (re-sign); Gerald Green (FA); Demetrius Jackson (draft); 2019 lottery protected 1st-round pick (via Clippers)
Key subtractions: Jared Sullinger; Evan Turner
Expectations were high for the Celtics this summer -- perhaps unrealistically high. This was the summer that general manager Danny Ainge was going to turn a plethora of draft picks and young players into his next Big Three -- sort of like he did in the summer of 2007, when he swapped a bunch of assets for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to join forces with Paul Pierce.
Ainge fell short of that mark. Kevin Durant went to Golden State, and the Celtics still lack that Garnett-esque superstar to build around. However, the offseason was still a resounding success. Boston landed a major free-agent coup in Horford, who should be a major upgrade to its front court and immediately make the Celtics more dangerous. Our ESPN Forecast crew has them up to 51 wins this season, and I think that may undersell them a bit.
Boston also continued to stockpile assets. Jaylen Brown may be raw, but his elite physical tools give him a very high ceiling. I think Kris Dunn or Jamal Murray -- maybe even Dragan Bender or Marquese Chriss -- may have been better options, but I understand why Ainge was attracted to Brown's huge potential and toughness. And the two international prospects the Celtics landed in the draft -- Guerschon Yabusele and Ante Zizic -- have legit NBA potential. They even added another first-rounder in 2019 from the Clippers.
The Celtics got better now without sacrificing any assets to do it. They still retain significant flexibility to make a major trade at the trade deadline or next summer. Short of scoring the next Garnett-Allen combo, this was about as much as you could ask for.
Brooklyn Nets: B-
Key additions: Sean Marks (GM); Kenny Atkinson (coach); Jeremy Lin (FA); Caris LeVert (draft); Anthony Bennett (FA); Trevor Booker (FA); Luis Scola (FA); Randy Foye (FA); Justin Hamilton (FA); Joe Harris (FA); Isaiah Whitehead (draft)
Key subtractions: Billy King (GM); Thaddeus Young; Wayne Ellington
The Nets' biggest move happened off the court. Replacing King, arguably the worst NBA general manager of the past decade, with Marks, a protégé of Spurs general manager R.C. Buford, was a major upgrade. Marks won't be able to undo the damage King did to the franchise for several years, but he's already left a mark in Brooklyn. Marks completely overhauled the front office and scouting staffs and added a level of Spurs culture and professionalism that has drawn immediate and universal praise internally.
On the court, there wasn't a lot that Marks could do. Stripped of assets for the next few years, he just tried to hit a series of singles. I'm not sure any of them will do much to keep the Nets from being one of the worst teams in the NBA next year, but I especially liked the risk of taking LeVert with a pick acquired from the Pacers for Thaddeus Young. Had he not struggled with injuries this year, I think LeVert would have been a lottery pick. His versatility is exactly what coaches beg for in a wing.
The results may not show for several more years, but for the first time in a while, the Nets are on the right track.
Charlotte Hornets: C+
Key additions: Nicolas Batum (re-sign); Marvin Williams (re-sign); Roy Hibbert (FA); Marco Belinelli (trade); Ramon Sessions (FA)
Key subtractions: Al Jefferson; Courtney Lee; Jeremy Lin
The Hornets gave the Heat all they could handle in the first round of the playoffs last year and did their best to retain and shore up a squad that tied for fourth in the East in the regular season, ranking in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
The Batum contract was expensive, but it was fair given the market. The Williams signing, on the other hand, was a bargain. Still, the losses of Jefferson, Lee and Lin will take a toll. The combo of Hibbert, Sessions and Belinelli were certainly cheaper options, but on the court, I think they're a downgrade.
While I don't think the Hornets necessarily got better, they still look poised to be a playoff team in the East, though finishing in the top four again may be a bit of a stretch unless Michael Kidd-Gilchrist can stay healthy all year.
Chicago Bulls: D
Key additions: Dwyane Wade (FA); Rajon Rondo (FA); Robin Lopez (trade); Jerian Grant (trade); Denzel Valentine (draft); Paul Zipser (draft); Spencer Dinwiddie (trade)
Key subtractions: Joakim Noah; Derrick Rose; Pau Gasol; Mike Dunleavy; Aaron Brooks; E'Twaun Moore; Cameron Bairstow
The Bulls gutted their roster this summer after a disastrous first year for coach Fred Hoiberg that saw the Bulls miss the playoffs. The thinking seemed sound. The team was getting old. Rose hasn't been the same since his knee injuries. Noah was ailing. Gasol is 36. Dunleavy is 35. It was a time for a change, and a total rebuild looked to be on the horizon.
But the Bulls just couldn't go all in with a rebuild. Instead, Chicago tried to put a veteran band-aid on the roster instead. That almost never works out. The Bulls' refusal to swap Jimmy Butler for a combo of Minnesota's Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine on draft night was a major opportunity missed. Both Dunn and LaVine have some star potential and could've been the cornerstone of a rebuild.
Instead, the Bulls signed a 34-year-old Wade and a fading Rondo. While the rest of the league is moving toward backcourts that can shoot the lights out, the Bulls now field one of the worst shooting backcourts in NBA history.
The rest of their additions are solid. Lopez is a good center, Valentine was one of the most versatile players in the draft and Grant showed some promise as a rookie. If the Bulls are unable to make waves in the playoffs (or even make them for that matter) this summer will be viewed as a disaster.
Cleveland Cavaliers: B+
Key additions: LeBron James (re-sign); Richard Jefferson (re-sign); Mike Dunleavy (trade); Kay Felder (draft); James Jones (re-sign); Chris Andersen (FA)
Key subtractions: Matthew Dellavedova; Timofey Mozgov
The defending champs resisted the urge to tamper with what was working. Assuming the Cavs agree to a deal with J.R. Smith at some point (he's currently unsigned), they'll bring back the team that defeated the winningest regular-season team in NBA history in the Finals. Locking up James to a three-year contract should put Cavs fans at ease, too. And don't underestimate second-rounder Kay Felder. There's some Isaiah Thomas in him.
The losses of Dellavedova and Mozgov will hurt a bit, but ultimately, if James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love all stay healthy, the Cavs are exactly where they were last year -- the favorites to win the East and a dangerous NBA Finals opponent.
Detroit Pistons: B-
Key additions: Andre Drummond (re-sign); Jon Leuer (re-sign); Boban Marjanovic (FA); Ish Smith (FA); Henry Ellenson (draft); Michael Gbinije (draft); Cameron Bairstow (trade)
Key subtractions: Jodie Meeks; Anthony Tolliver; Spencer Dinwiddie
It looks like team president and coach Stan Van Gundy has Detroit pointed in the right direction. While the team doesn't feel like a dangerous contender, the Pistons are firmly in the mix again this year as a playoff team.
The re-signing of Drummond was the top priority for the Pistons, and he's probably worth any price. He can be a monster in the paint and is still getting better.
The Marjanovic and Smith signings give Detroit key upgrades off the bench that should help now. Landing Ellenson in the draft should help down the road. However, I don't see anything that suggests the Pistons will be significantly better than last year; the Leuer deal, in particular, looks like the Pistons once again are guilty of significantly overpaying, given the market.
Indiana Pacers: B-
Key additions: Jeff Teague (trade); Thaddeus Young (trade); Nate McMillan (coach); Al Jefferson (FA); Aaron Brooks (FA); Jeremy Evans (trade); Georges Niang (draft)
Key subtractions: George Hill; Frank Vogel (coach); Jordan Hill; Solomon Hill; Ian Mahinmi
Team president Larry Bird had been wanting a team that was smaller, more athletic and versatile. This summer, he took several significant steps to put the right sort of players on the floor to play the style he wants.
From a small-ball perspective, Teague and Young are upgrades over George Hill and Jordan Hill. Young seems like an especially good value, given the cost (the draft rights to Caris LeVert), his contract and the opportunity to move Paul George back to the 3. Evans is also a super athletic 4 who could help defensively.
Scraped at insider2text.xyz, brought to you by HeheStreams — No Bull****
However, I'm not as convinced that Teague is an upgrade over George Hill overall. The decision to have McMillan replace Vogel was a curious one. While I've always been a fan of him as a coach, up-tempo small ball isn't what he's been known for in the past. And Jefferson, while still a somewhat effective low-post scorer, struggles both defensively and in up-tempo lineups.
Having George and an emerging low-post player like Myles Turner make them dangerous, but I'm not convinced Bird solved the puzzle of this team's supporting cast. They'll play a more exciting brand of basketball. I'm not sure it will translate into many more wins.
Miami Heat: D
Key additions: Hassan Whiteside (re-sign); Tyler Johnson (re-sign); Derrick Williams (FA); Dion Waiters (FA); Wayne Ellington (FA); James Johnson (FA); Udonis Haslem (re-sign); Beno Udrih (FA); Willie Reed (FA)
Key subtractions: Dwyane Wade; Luol Deng; Joe Johnson; Gerald Green
The Heat have had two brutal summers in a row. They lost LeBron James in 2015, and now Wade and Deng are gone. Two of the Big Three have left, and Miami wasn't able to get anything significant in return. With Chris Bosh's health in question, the Heat are in danger of missing the playoffs. Losing Wade, specifically, seems to have caught the Heat by surprise. They weren't ready to lose him and seemed a little unprepared to emerge as top free-agent suitors.
Their replacement plan certainly doesn't inspire confidence. The market was seriously inflated, but $98 million for Whiteside and $50 million for Johnson were both breathtakingly expensive. In fairness to the Heat, they were matching an offer sheet for Johnson, but I'm not sure they should've paid it -- especially given the special provisions in the contract that backload the salary to $19 million per year in the last two seasons.
Williams, Waiters, Ellington and Johnson all seem like filler that shouldn't have a significant impact.
Milwaukee Bucks: B-
Key additions: Miles Plumlee (re-sign); Mirza Teletovic (FA); Matthew Dellavedova (FA); Thon Maker (draft); Malcolm Brogdon (draft); Jason Terry (FA)
Key subtractions: Jerryd Bayless
After a surprise season in 2014-15, the Bucks came plummeting down to Earth last year. Their additions on the court don't appear to be major difference-makers. Plumlee is overpaid, but that wasn't unique this summer. Teletovic gives them a decent stretch-4 at a fairly reasonable price.
I think the key will be Dellavedova. Coach Jason Kidd has been unhappy with his point guard play since he got to Milwaukee. He's burned through Brandon Knight, Michael Carter-Williams, Greivis Vasquez and Jerryd Bayless. Last season, he figured out Giannis Antetokounmpo could fill that spot and the hope is that Dellavedova can thrive playing next to him off the ball.
The drafting of Maker turned a lot of heads The upside is clearly there. He's a skilled 7-footer who, while inexperienced, plays very hard. If he puts in the work, he could be a significant addition for them down the road. But some teams didn't have him ranked as a first-rounder, and he's unlikely to help for the next couple of years. Given the other players on the table, it may have been worth the risk to swing for the fences.
With a fully healthy Jabari Parker and the natural evolution of Antetokounmpo, the Bucks should be better next year. But, again, I'm not sure this summer will move the needle much in either direction.
,
New York Knicks: B-
Key additions: Joakim Noah (FA); Derrick Rose (trade); Jeff Hornacek (coach); Courtney Lee (FA); Lance Thomas (re-sign); Brandon Jennings (FA); Guillermo Hernangomez (draft); Mindaugas Kuzminskas (FA ); Justin Holiday (trade); Sasha Vujacic (re-sign); Maurice Ndour (FA); Marshall Plumlee (FA)
Key subtractions: Robin Lopez; Jose Calderon; Jerian Grant; Derrick Williams; Kurt Rambis (coach); Langston Galloway
Team president Phil Jackson clearly has an aversion to rebuilding. While logic seemed to point toward trading Carmelo Anthony and building around rookie Kristaps Porzingis, Jackson went the other direction by adding three veteran starters to shore up the Knicks' playoff hopes.
In a perfect world, the Knicks got major upgrades at point guard and center in Rose and Noah. However, both have been shadows of their former selves because of injuries, and it's unclear whether either player will ever be able to get back to what they once were. The risk on Rose is significantly smaller. They didn't give up much in the trade, and he only has one year left on his contract. Noah, however, has four guaranteed years. If they play like they did in their prime, the Knicks will be a playoff contender again. But that's a huge, huge if.
Lee was safer addition, though at the age of 30, giving him four years may have been a stretch. Nevertheless, he was an upgrade over Arron Afflalo, and there weren't many other options on the market. The rest of the signings should help the Knicks bench a bit but are unlikely to make a major impact.
The net result, if everyone stays healthy, should be the playoffs next year. I'm sure Knicks fans will deeply appreciate fielding a winner again. However, if Rose and Noah can't bounce back, this summer may end up looking like a major missed opportunity. And even if they do, what's the long-term end game in New York? This team tops out at 45 or 47 wins? Rebuilding around Porzingis seemed like a better path to real contention down the road.
Orlando Magic: C-
Key additions: Serge Ibaka (trade); Frank Vogel (coach); Evan Fournier (re-sign); Bismack Biyombo (FA); Jeff Green (FA); D.J. Augustin (FA); Jodie Meeks (trade)
Key subtractions: Victor Oladipo; Scott Skiles (coach); Brandon Jennings; Andrew Nicholson; Dewayne Dedmon; Jason Smith; Ersan Ilyasova; Shabazz Napier
The Magic have clearly had their fill of rebuilding, and they made a major effort this summer to get out of the lottery rut. I'm just not sure they didn't do more damage.
Adding Frank Vogel was a big win: He's a better coaching fit for this club than Scott Skiles in virtually every way. After Vogel, things get messier.
Ibaka was their big player acquisition over the summer. He's clearly an upgrade for the team at the 4 and provides exactly what they need in a stretch big who can also protect the rim. But the cost was high -- Oladipo and the draft rights to Domantas Sabonis. Furthermore, it's unclear whether Ibaka's time table really meshes with the rest of this young team.
Biyombo's deal is remarkable, considering it's based primarily off a strong playoff performance this year, and $15 million for Green and $29 million for Augustin make little sense for players who should be coming off the bench.
Furthermore, you begin to wonder how the addition of these veterans will affect the long-term development of players like Aaron Gordon, Mario Hezonja and Elfrid Payton. Given the push for the playoffs, will Vogel be allowed to keep letting them develop at the expense of more costly veterans? Is an eighth seed in the playoffs worth stifling their growth?
I don't think it is. And given the depth in the East, I'm not sure the playoffs are even a realistic option either. Real plus-minus projections have them at just 36 wins next year.
Philadelphia 76ers: A-
Key additions: Ben Simmons (draft); Dario Saric (draft); Bryan Colangelo (GM); Jerryd Bayless (FA); Gerald Henderson (FA); Sergio Rodriguez (FA); Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (draft); Tibor Pleiss (trade)
Key subtractions: Sam Hinkie (GM); Ish Smith
Sam Hinkie's rebuilding plan was based primarily on landing a potential superstar either at the top of the draft or through a collection of assets. Just weeks after he left the team, the 76ers won the lottery and the right to select Ben Simmons. Mission accomplished -- just a little too late.
Simmons is really what this summer was all about. The Sixers got the most talented player in the draft -- a player who has superstar potential as an athletic, 6-foot-10 passing savant if he hits his ceiling.
The rest of the additions will help the Sixers win more games than last year, but the net result should still be one of the two or three worst records in the league. Saric, Bayless, Henderson, Rodriguez and Luwawu aren't necessarily long-term pieces. Still, at least the Sixers have hope now. And if Joel Embiid can finally step on the court, stay healthy and play up to his potential, the Sixers suddenly have two major building blocks while retaining tons of assets and flexibility.
It's going to be a while before fans see the results on the court, but the Sixers are finally moving in the right direction.
Toronto Raptors: C+
Key additions: DeMar DeRozan (re-sign); Jakob Poeltl (draft); Jared Sullinger (FA); Pascal Siakam (draft)
Key subtractions: Bismack Biyombo; Luis Scola; James Johnson; Anthony Bennett
The Raptors keep overperforming our projections each year, so it's with a bit of humility that I grade their offseason.
The nearly $140 million for DeRozan was necessary to keep him, and the Raptors really had to keep him. Poeltl wasn't my favorite choice at No. 9, but he's a safe pick who will be in the league for a long time.
My only issue with the Raptors is their inability to solve their ongoing woes at power forward. They've needed an upgrade for the past two years, and I'm not sold that Sullinger is the long-term answer there. The price was right, but until Toronto figures that puzzle out, it feels like the Raptors will keep coming up short to Cleveland in the playoffs.
Washington Wizards: B-
Key additions: Bradley Beal (re-sign); Scott Brooks (coach); Ian Mahinmi (FA); Andrew Nicholson (FA); Trey Burke (trade); Jason Smith (FA); Tomas Satoransky (FA); Marcus Thornton (FA)
Key subtractions: Nene Hilario; Randy Wittman (coach); Jared Dudley; Ramon Sessions; Garrett Temple; Alan Anderson
The Wizards did the right thing in locking up Beal to an extension. If they didn't give it to him, someone else would've. When he's healthy, he's worth the money in this market.
Adding Brooks to the mix was also a positive development. The Wizards have needed a coaching change for the past several years, and if Brooks can find ways to get his two stars to stay on the same page the way he did at Oklahoma City, he'll be worth the investment.
The rest of the summer was a mixed bag. The team came close to landing Al Horford. Had they done that, they would've earned an A. Instead, they gave much of that money to Mahinmi -- the poor man's versoin of a poor man's Al Horford. Nicholson was a stronger signing as a backup stretch-4, and I really think Satoransky can play some valuable minutes for them at both guard positions off the bench.
Scraped at insider2text.xyz, brought to you by HeheStreams — No Bull****
NBA offseason grades - Chad Ford on Eastern Conference
Read
Markdown
HTML
NBA offseason grades - Chad Ford on Eastern Conference
by Chad Ford on 2016-09-20 01:05:04 UTC (original: http://insider.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/17429740/nba-offseason-grades-chad-ford-eastern-conference)
Who had the best and worst offseasons in the Eastern Conference? Here are my grades for all 15 teams.
These grades take into account how each team in the league has performed in remaking itself, considering both the opportunities it had and the moves it made. This includes the draft, free agency, trades, front-office and coaching moves, and positioning for future drafts and free-agent opportunities.
The grades are not a ranking of the league's best teams, but rather a device to track which teams have improved or have placed themselves on the fast track to improvement and which teams haven't -- both for the upcoming season and beyond.
Atlanta Hawks: C-
Key additions: Dwight Howard (FA); Kent Bazemore (re-sign); Taurean Prince (draft); DeAndre Bembry (draft); Kris Humphries (re-sign); Jarrett Jack (re-sign)
Key subtractions: Al Horford; Jeff Teague
The Hawks lost their starting point guard and center from last season. That's rarely a good thing. They had been eyeing Dennis Schroder as a replacement for Teague at point guard for a while, and landing a late lottery pick for Teague was a terrific return. The player they selected, Baylor's Taurean Prince, seemed like a stretch with the No. 14 pick.
The Hawks replace Horford with Dwight Howard. While Howard won't fill Horford's shoes offensively, he's an upgrade as a defensive rebounder and, given the other potential free agents out there, he was probably as good as they were going to get to replace Horford.
Bazemore's $70 million contract appears to borderline on absurd at first glance, but given some of the other deals that went down this summer, I'm not sure he even qualifies for the list of 10 most overpaid free agents.
Bembry was one of my draft sleepers, and I love his long-term fit in Atlanta.
Overall, it looks like the Hawks took a step back this summer and will likely be fighting for their playoff lives in April.
Boston Celtics: A-
Key additions: Al Horford (FA); Jaylen Brown (draft); Tyler Zeller (re-sign); Gerald Green (FA); Demetrius Jackson (draft); 2019 lottery protected 1st-round pick (via Clippers)
Key subtractions: Jared Sullinger; Evan Turner
Expectations were high for the Celtics this summer -- perhaps unrealistically high. This was the summer that general manager Danny Ainge was going to turn a plethora of draft picks and young players into his next Big Three -- sort of like he did in the summer of 2007, when he swapped a bunch of assets for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to join forces with Paul Pierce.
Ainge fell short of that mark. Kevin Durant went to Golden State, and the Celtics still lack that Garnett-esque superstar to build around. However, the offseason was still a resounding success. Boston landed a major free-agent coup in Horford, who should be a major upgrade to its front court and immediately make the Celtics more dangerous. Our ESPN Forecast crew has them up to 51 wins this season, and I think that may undersell them a bit.
Boston also continued to stockpile assets. Jaylen Brown may be raw, but his elite physical tools give him a very high ceiling. I think Kris Dunn or Jamal Murray -- maybe even Dragan Bender or Marquese Chriss -- may have been better options, but I understand why Ainge was attracted to Brown's huge potential and toughness. And the two international prospects the Celtics landed in the draft -- Guerschon Yabusele and Ante Zizic -- have legit NBA potential. They even added another first-rounder in 2019 from the Clippers.
The Celtics got better now without sacrificing any assets to do it. They still retain significant flexibility to make a major trade at the trade deadline or next summer. Short of scoring the next Garnett-Allen combo, this was about as much as you could ask for.
Brooklyn Nets: B-
Key additions: Sean Marks (GM); Kenny Atkinson (coach); Jeremy Lin (FA); Caris LeVert (draft); Anthony Bennett (FA); Trevor Booker (FA); Luis Scola (FA); Randy Foye (FA); Justin Hamilton (FA); Joe Harris (FA); Isaiah Whitehead (draft)
Key subtractions: Billy King (GM); Thaddeus Young; Wayne Ellington
The Nets' biggest move happened off the court. Replacing King, arguably the worst NBA general manager of the past decade, with Marks, a protégé of Spurs general manager R.C. Buford, was a major upgrade. Marks won't be able to undo the damage King did to the franchise for several years, but he's already left a mark in Brooklyn. Marks completely overhauled the front office and scouting staffs and added a level of Spurs culture and professionalism that has drawn immediate and universal praise internally.
On the court, there wasn't a lot that Marks could do. Stripped of assets for the next few years, he just tried to hit a series of singles. I'm not sure any of them will do much to keep the Nets from being one of the worst teams in the NBA next year, but I especially liked the risk of taking LeVert with a pick acquired from the Pacers for Thaddeus Young. Had he not struggled with injuries this year, I think LeVert would have been a lottery pick. His versatility is exactly what coaches beg for in a wing.
The results may not show for several more years, but for the first time in a while, the Nets are on the right track.
Charlotte Hornets: C+
Key additions: Nicolas Batum (re-sign); Marvin Williams (re-sign); Roy Hibbert (FA); Marco Belinelli (trade); Ramon Sessions (FA)
Key subtractions: Al Jefferson; Courtney Lee; Jeremy Lin
The Hornets gave the Heat all they could handle in the first round of the playoffs last year and did their best to retain and shore up a squad that tied for fourth in the East in the regular season, ranking in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
The Batum contract was expensive, but it was fair given the market. The Williams signing, on the other hand, was a bargain. Still, the losses of Jefferson, Lee and Lin will take a toll. The combo of Hibbert, Sessions and Belinelli were certainly cheaper options, but on the court, I think they're a downgrade.
While I don't think the Hornets necessarily got better, they still look poised to be a playoff team in the East, though finishing in the top four again may be a bit of a stretch unless Michael Kidd-Gilchrist can stay healthy all year.
Chicago Bulls: D
Key additions: Dwyane Wade (FA); Rajon Rondo (FA); Robin Lopez (trade); Jerian Grant (trade); Denzel Valentine (draft); Paul Zipser (draft); Spencer Dinwiddie (trade)
Key subtractions: Joakim Noah; Derrick Rose; Pau Gasol; Mike Dunleavy; Aaron Brooks; E'Twaun Moore; Cameron Bairstow
The Bulls gutted their roster this summer after a disastrous first year for coach Fred Hoiberg that saw the Bulls miss the playoffs. The thinking seemed sound. The team was getting old. Rose hasn't been the same since his knee injuries. Noah was ailing. Gasol is 36. Dunleavy is 35. It was a time for a change, and a total rebuild looked to be on the horizon.
But the Bulls just couldn't go all in with a rebuild. Instead, Chicago tried to put a veteran band-aid on the roster instead. That almost never works out. The Bulls' refusal to swap Jimmy Butler for a combo of Minnesota's Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine on draft night was a major opportunity missed. Both Dunn and LaVine have some star potential and could've been the cornerstone of a rebuild.
Instead, the Bulls signed a 34-year-old Wade and a fading Rondo. While the rest of the league is moving toward backcourts that can shoot the lights out, the Bulls now field one of the worst shooting backcourts in NBA history.
The rest of their additions are solid. Lopez is a good center, Valentine was one of the most versatile players in the draft and Grant showed some promise as a rookie. If the Bulls are unable to make waves in the playoffs (or even make them for that matter) this summer will be viewed as a disaster.
Cleveland Cavaliers: B+
Key additions: LeBron James (re-sign); Richard Jefferson (re-sign); Mike Dunleavy (trade); Kay Felder (draft); James Jones (re-sign); Chris Andersen (FA)
Key subtractions: Matthew Dellavedova; Timofey Mozgov
The defending champs resisted the urge to tamper with what was working. Assuming the Cavs agree to a deal with J.R. Smith at some point (he's currently unsigned), they'll bring back the team that defeated the winningest regular-season team in NBA history in the Finals. Locking up James to a three-year contract should put Cavs fans at ease, too. And don't underestimate second-rounder Kay Felder. There's some Isaiah Thomas in him.
The losses of Dellavedova and Mozgov will hurt a bit, but ultimately, if James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love all stay healthy, the Cavs are exactly where they were last year -- the favorites to win the East and a dangerous NBA Finals opponent.
Detroit Pistons: B-
Key additions: Andre Drummond (re-sign); Jon Leuer (re-sign); Boban Marjanovic (FA); Ish Smith (FA); Henry Ellenson (draft); Michael Gbinije (draft); Cameron Bairstow (trade)
Key subtractions: Jodie Meeks; Anthony Tolliver; Spencer Dinwiddie
It looks like team president and coach Stan Van Gundy has Detroit pointed in the right direction. While the team doesn't feel like a dangerous contender, the Pistons are firmly in the mix again this year as a playoff team.
The re-signing of Drummond was the top priority for the Pistons, and he's probably worth any price. He can be a monster in the paint and is still getting better.
The Marjanovic and Smith signings give Detroit key upgrades off the bench that should help now. Landing Ellenson in the draft should help down the road. However, I don't see anything that suggests the Pistons will be significantly better than last year; the Leuer deal, in particular, looks like the Pistons once again are guilty of significantly overpaying, given the market.
Indiana Pacers: B-
Key additions: Jeff Teague (trade); Thaddeus Young (trade); Nate McMillan (coach); Al Jefferson (FA); Aaron Brooks (FA); Jeremy Evans (trade); Georges Niang (draft)
Key subtractions: George Hill; Frank Vogel (coach); Jordan Hill; Solomon Hill; Ian Mahinmi
Team president Larry Bird had been wanting a team that was smaller, more athletic and versatile. This summer, he took several significant steps to put the right sort of players on the floor to play the style he wants.
From a small-ball perspective, Teague and Young are upgrades over George Hill and Jordan Hill. Young seems like an especially good value, given the cost (the draft rights to Caris LeVert), his contract and the opportunity to move Paul George back to the 3. Evans is also a super athletic 4 who could help defensively.
Scraped at insider2text.xyz, brought to you by HeheStreams — No Bull****
However, I'm not as convinced that Teague is an upgrade over George Hill overall. The decision to have McMillan replace Vogel was a curious one. While I've always been a fan of him as a coach, up-tempo small ball isn't what he's been known for in the past. And Jefferson, while still a somewhat effective low-post scorer, struggles both defensively and in up-tempo lineups.
Having George and an emerging low-post player like Myles Turner make them dangerous, but I'm not convinced Bird solved the puzzle of this team's supporting cast. They'll play a more exciting brand of basketball. I'm not sure it will translate into many more wins.
Miami Heat: D
Key additions: Hassan Whiteside (re-sign); Tyler Johnson (re-sign); Derrick Williams (FA); Dion Waiters (FA); Wayne Ellington (FA); James Johnson (FA); Udonis Haslem (re-sign); Beno Udrih (FA); Willie Reed (FA)
Key subtractions: Dwyane Wade; Luol Deng; Joe Johnson; Gerald Green
The Heat have had two brutal summers in a row. They lost LeBron James in 2015, and now Wade and Deng are gone. Two of the Big Three have left, and Miami wasn't able to get anything significant in return. With Chris Bosh's health in question, the Heat are in danger of missing the playoffs. Losing Wade, specifically, seems to have caught the Heat by surprise. They weren't ready to lose him and seemed a little unprepared to emerge as top free-agent suitors.
Their replacement plan certainly doesn't inspire confidence. The market was seriously inflated, but $98 million for Whiteside and $50 million for Johnson were both breathtakingly expensive. In fairness to the Heat, they were matching an offer sheet for Johnson, but I'm not sure they should've paid it -- especially given the special provisions in the contract that backload the salary to $19 million per year in the last two seasons.
Williams, Waiters, Ellington and Johnson all seem like filler that shouldn't have a significant impact.
Milwaukee Bucks: B-
Key additions: Miles Plumlee (re-sign); Mirza Teletovic (FA); Matthew Dellavedova (FA); Thon Maker (draft); Malcolm Brogdon (draft); Jason Terry (FA)
Key subtractions: Jerryd Bayless
After a surprise season in 2014-15, the Bucks came plummeting down to Earth last year. Their additions on the court don't appear to be major difference-makers. Plumlee is overpaid, but that wasn't unique this summer. Teletovic gives them a decent stretch-4 at a fairly reasonable price.
I think the key will be Dellavedova. Coach Jason Kidd has been unhappy with his point guard play since he got to Milwaukee. He's burned through Brandon Knight, Michael Carter-Williams, Greivis Vasquez and Jerryd Bayless. Last season, he figured out Giannis Antetokounmpo could fill that spot and the hope is that Dellavedova can thrive playing next to him off the ball.
The drafting of Maker turned a lot of heads The upside is clearly there. He's a skilled 7-footer who, while inexperienced, plays very hard. If he puts in the work, he could be a significant addition for them down the road. But some teams didn't have him ranked as a first-rounder, and he's unlikely to help for the next couple of years. Given the other players on the table, it may have been worth the risk to swing for the fences.
With a fully healthy Jabari Parker and the natural evolution of Antetokounmpo, the Bucks should be better next year. But, again, I'm not sure this summer will move the needle much in either direction.
,
New York Knicks: B-
Key additions: Joakim Noah (FA); Derrick Rose (trade); Jeff Hornacek (coach); Courtney Lee (FA); Lance Thomas (re-sign); Brandon Jennings (FA); Guillermo Hernangomez (draft); Mindaugas Kuzminskas (FA ); Justin Holiday (trade); Sasha Vujacic (re-sign); Maurice Ndour (FA); Marshall Plumlee (FA)
Key subtractions: Robin Lopez; Jose Calderon; Jerian Grant; Derrick Williams; Kurt Rambis (coach); Langston Galloway
Team president Phil Jackson clearly has an aversion to rebuilding. While logic seemed to point toward trading Carmelo Anthony and building around rookie Kristaps Porzingis, Jackson went the other direction by adding three veteran starters to shore up the Knicks' playoff hopes.
In a perfect world, the Knicks got major upgrades at point guard and center in Rose and Noah. However, both have been shadows of their former selves because of injuries, and it's unclear whether either player will ever be able to get back to what they once were. The risk on Rose is significantly smaller. They didn't give up much in the trade, and he only has one year left on his contract. Noah, however, has four guaranteed years. If they play like they did in their prime, the Knicks will be a playoff contender again. But that's a huge, huge if.
Lee was safer addition, though at the age of 30, giving him four years may have been a stretch. Nevertheless, he was an upgrade over Arron Afflalo, and there weren't many other options on the market. The rest of the signings should help the Knicks bench a bit but are unlikely to make a major impact.
The net result, if everyone stays healthy, should be the playoffs next year. I'm sure Knicks fans will deeply appreciate fielding a winner again. However, if Rose and Noah can't bounce back, this summer may end up looking like a major missed opportunity. And even if they do, what's the long-term end game in New York? This team tops out at 45 or 47 wins? Rebuilding around Porzingis seemed like a better path to real contention down the road.
Orlando Magic: C-
Key additions: Serge Ibaka (trade); Frank Vogel (coach); Evan Fournier (re-sign); Bismack Biyombo (FA); Jeff Green (FA); D.J. Augustin (FA); Jodie Meeks (trade)
Key subtractions: Victor Oladipo; Scott Skiles (coach); Brandon Jennings; Andrew Nicholson; Dewayne Dedmon; Jason Smith; Ersan Ilyasova; Shabazz Napier
The Magic have clearly had their fill of rebuilding, and they made a major effort this summer to get out of the lottery rut. I'm just not sure they didn't do more damage.
Adding Frank Vogel was a big win: He's a better coaching fit for this club than Scott Skiles in virtually every way. After Vogel, things get messier.
Ibaka was their big player acquisition over the summer. He's clearly an upgrade for the team at the 4 and provides exactly what they need in a stretch big who can also protect the rim. But the cost was high -- Oladipo and the draft rights to Domantas Sabonis. Furthermore, it's unclear whether Ibaka's time table really meshes with the rest of this young team.
Biyombo's deal is remarkable, considering it's based primarily off a strong playoff performance this year, and $15 million for Green and $29 million for Augustin make little sense for players who should be coming off the bench.
Furthermore, you begin to wonder how the addition of these veterans will affect the long-term development of players like Aaron Gordon, Mario Hezonja and Elfrid Payton. Given the push for the playoffs, will Vogel be allowed to keep letting them develop at the expense of more costly veterans? Is an eighth seed in the playoffs worth stifling their growth?
I don't think it is. And given the depth in the East, I'm not sure the playoffs are even a realistic option either. Real plus-minus projections have them at just 36 wins next year.
Philadelphia 76ers: A-
Key additions: Ben Simmons (draft); Dario Saric (draft); Bryan Colangelo (GM); Jerryd Bayless (FA); Gerald Henderson (FA); Sergio Rodriguez (FA); Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (draft); Tibor Pleiss (trade)
Key subtractions: Sam Hinkie (GM); Ish Smith
Sam Hinkie's rebuilding plan was based primarily on landing a potential superstar either at the top of the draft or through a collection of assets. Just weeks after he left the team, the 76ers won the lottery and the right to select Ben Simmons. Mission accomplished -- just a little too late.
Simmons is really what this summer was all about. The Sixers got the most talented player in the draft -- a player who has superstar potential as an athletic, 6-foot-10 passing savant if he hits his ceiling.
The rest of the additions will help the Sixers win more games than last year, but the net result should still be one of the two or three worst records in the league. Saric, Bayless, Henderson, Rodriguez and Luwawu aren't necessarily long-term pieces. Still, at least the Sixers have hope now. And if Joel Embiid can finally step on the court, stay healthy and play up to his potential, the Sixers suddenly have two major building blocks while retaining tons of assets and flexibility.
It's going to be a while before fans see the results on the court, but the Sixers are finally moving in the right direction.
Toronto Raptors: C+
Key additions: DeMar DeRozan (re-sign); Jakob Poeltl (draft); Jared Sullinger (FA); Pascal Siakam (draft)
Key subtractions: Bismack Biyombo; Luis Scola; James Johnson; Anthony Bennett
The Raptors keep overperforming our projections each year, so it's with a bit of humility that I grade their offseason.
The nearly $140 million for DeRozan was necessary to keep him, and the Raptors really had to keep him. Poeltl wasn't my favorite choice at No. 9, but he's a safe pick who will be in the league for a long time.
My only issue with the Raptors is their inability to solve their ongoing woes at power forward. They've needed an upgrade for the past two years, and I'm not sold that Sullinger is the long-term answer there. The price was right, but until Toronto figures that puzzle out, it feels like the Raptors will keep coming up short to Cleveland in the playoffs.
Washington Wizards: B-
Key additions: Bradley Beal (re-sign); Scott Brooks (coach); Ian Mahinmi (FA); Andrew Nicholson (FA); Trey Burke (trade); Jason Smith (FA); Tomas Satoransky (FA); Marcus Thornton (FA)
Key subtractions: Nene Hilario; Randy Wittman (coach); Jared Dudley; Ramon Sessions; Garrett Temple; Alan Anderson
The Wizards did the right thing in locking up Beal to an extension. If they didn't give it to him, someone else would've. When he's healthy, he's worth the money in this market.
Adding Brooks to the mix was also a positive development. The Wizards have needed a coaching change for the past several years, and if Brooks can find ways to get his two stars to stay on the same page the way he did at Oklahoma City, he'll be worth the investment.
The rest of the summer was a mixed bag. The team came close to landing Al Horford. Had they done that, they would've earned an A. Instead, they gave much of that money to Mahinmi -- the poor man's versoin of a poor man's Al Horford. Nicholson was a stronger signing as a backup stretch-4, and I really think Satoransky can play some valuable minutes for them at both guard positions off the bench.
http://insider.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/17429740/nba-offseason-grades-chad-ford-eastern-conference
9/2/2016 12:53 PM
j/k