Grading each NBA team off season moves. I'll let my fellow bloggers give their grades before I do.
Brent's Take
Winners:
New Orleans Hornets- Last season, the Hornets finished 21-45, good for last place in the Southeast division. When examining last season, we have to take into account that Eric Gordon missed all but 9 games, leaving Jarrett Jack as their next leading scorer at a paltry 15.6 ppg. Hornets management has done an excellent job revamping for next season. Eric Gordon will be returning after signing a max contract good for 4 more years (take note, Barack). The Hornets also added the reigning NBA Most Improved Player, Ryan Anderson, hoping that he can provide the same kind of floor-stretching shooting for rookie Anthony Davis that he did for Dwight Howard. Through the draft, the Hornets added Davis, combo guard Austin Rivers, and Kentucky swingman Darius Miller. The backcourt ought to be secure for the next few years with Gordon, Rivers, and Greivis Vasquez, though having Jack around to mentor Rivers would have been a boon. Expect slow but steady improvement in the Big Easy.
Los Angeles Lakers- Simply enough, the Lake Show turned two first-rounders and two second-rounders into future HOFer Steve Nash to give Kobe the backcourt sidekick he needs to make the push for ‘ship #6. Though it would have been advantageous to hang on to Ramon Sessions to back up Nash, it was overall a good pickup for the Lakers. Add to that the signing of Jordan Hill, the signing of Antawn Jamison, and the possible acquisition of Dwight Howard, and the Lakers may soon play themselves back to the finals. If not, they could be in rebuilding mode within three short years, as all key players besides Bynum are slowing down. The only doubt from my side of the fence is whether or not Mike Brown has the chops to coach them.
Brooklyn Nets- The Nets re-signed Deron Williams to a max contract and also traded for Joe Johnson, giving the newly relocated franchise a formidable backcourt tandem. Paired with high energy Gerald Wallace, these three should be able to do some damage. Taking into account Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries in the frontcourt with Marshon Brooks coming off the bench, suddenly the Knicks aren’t the only viable show in town.
Other winners- Golden State Warriors (+Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green), Utah Jazz (+Mo and Marvin Williams, - Devin Harris), Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves (+Brandon Roy, -Michael Beasley. A+), Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat (+Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis)
Losers:
New York Knicks- If newly re-acquired PG Raymond Felton can return to the level he reached before exiting NYC, then Linsanity will soon become a distant memory in the Big Apple. However, in the realm of public perception and global marketability, the Knicks lost out huge when they let Jeremy Lin skip town to Houston. The attention, marketing bucks and additional ticket sales he would have brought to an otherwise underwhelming franchise would have helped to pay the luxury tax NYK would have owed in the 3rd year of Lin’s deal. Paying the luxury tax is only a big deal when you are losing; if you are winning, such a payment becomes merely a footnote. Perhaps Felton will make no one pine after Linsanity; however if the same level of mediocrity predominates next season on Madison Avenue, perhaps this will be the move culpated for the drop.
Atlanta Hawks- Recipe for a lost offseason:
1. Lose your leading scorer in Iso-Joe (though that was a good move IMHO) to the Nets, contributing to another possible super-team. Cap space is good... but you still have to sign someone. And even if you do, it can still bomb (see New York Knicks). If they land D12 and use cap space to sign an extension, , then they immediately flop to the other side of this list.
2. Bring in Lou Williams and Kyle Korver, leaving your best player as Josh Smith. Let me repeat: Your best player is JOSH SMITH.
3. Trade for over the hill Devin Harris and Deshawn Stevenson
4. Your best player is STILL Josh Smith.
What are you left with? Disappointment. Hopefully these aren’t the only moves the Hawks make.
Other losers- Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers
Wild Card:
Houston Rockets- The Rockets had a very good draft with the addition of SG Jeremy Lamb, PF Royce White, and PF Terrence Jones. These three give the Rockets a good foundation for the future along with assets in the trade market as they attempt to move closer to acquiring Dwight Howard. The signing of Jeremy Lin could turn out to be a huge win given the city’s past with Asian superstars (see Yao Ming). However, with Luis Scola being cut through amnesty, the team is suddenly without one of its best players. If D-12 ends up with any other franchise, the Rockets will find themselves in the midst of a heavy rebuilding project without a major cornerpiece. The Rockets have plenty of youth and potential which could possibly be parlayed into some veteran leaders, hopefully an inside scorer or two (Utah’s Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap?). If nothing else happens, this will be a long season in Houston.
Dallas Mavericks- Mark Cuban let Jason Terry walk to Boston, Jason Kidd to NYC, and have yet to re-sign Delonte West. However, the franchise has signed Elton Brand, Chris Kaman, O.J. Mayo, and acquired Darren Collison and Dahntay Jones from Indiana. If this group gels quickly, Dallas could make some noise in the Western Conference next year.
Desperately need to make a move:
Sacramento Kings- This team is a collection of black holes. Tyreke Evans, the team’s leading assist man, averaged 4.5 APG, good for 26th in the league. Demarcus Cousins has the most potential on the roster to be a franchise player. Marcus Thornton and Evans are both scorers in the mold of Monta Ellis: high-volume shooters who are deathly allergic to defense and quite apt to dribble the air out of the ball. However, there is always a market for big numbers, and Evans and Thornton could draw some interest. Trade them and free up Cousins to become the 25/10 big man that he ought to be.
Justin Reeves' Take
Winners: The Nets, Lamar Odom, The Heat
Are the Nets a huge powerhouse in the NBA now? NO, however, you went from losing D-Will and having absolutely nothing to play with, to keeping D-Will, signing Joe Johnson, and also signing enough of your big men (Lopez and Humphries) to keep you competitive. Smart move keeping D-Will happy.
Lamar Odom is also a winner. Why? Because he gets to play in LA again...only with the Clippers. After last season's tailspin, I'm glad to see him with a play off team. I'll admit it, I trade with my wife every Sunday night. She watches, "Finding Bigfoot" with me, and I watch "The Kardashians" with her. I feel for the guy. He married the most competent Kardashian (he should wear a shirt that says that) and even though I'm not a Laker fan, I've always liked the dude.
The Heat Fresh off of a World Championship...you sign Ray Allen. It was all sorts of fun to hate the Heat in the beginning, but Lebron has made me a fan...of his at least. That was nigh unprecedented what he did in the finals this year. Put the team on his back...for 3 series...and took that ring. They aren't a shoe in for next year, but I don't see anyone else in the East (Maybe the Celtics...good moves) competing while Derek Rose is getting fixed.
Toss Up: The Lakers. I know, I know...BUT THEY GOT STEVE NASH! Well yes they did...and this goes one of two ways. Scenario 1: Nash plays at the level he did last year and makes the Lakers into a smart passing, high scoring, oft winning team that competes for a championship (Lakers Heat would be a great finals). Scenario 2: The ingredients don't mix well. The Lakers start off 5-6 and people start to panic. Blame gets thrown around and pretty soon there is rift city between Nash and Bryant. Lakers make the playoffs but exit in round two...
Losers: The fans who buy Jerseys...and the Knicks. Replica jerseys are very expensive and if you buy one...it kills you when the player leaves. Growing up with Bird, Jordan, Johnson, Malone, it always felt like you were safe buying a jersey cause they'd never go anywhere else right? I see a lot of Deron Williams jerseys around town. I also see a lot of Lebron James Calvs Jerseys...at the second hand store. Fans in Boston with Allen jerseys are sick to their stomachs. They've wasted $100 on a memory.
Also...the Knicks...getting rid of Jeremy Lin? ummmm bad idea. That's like the Broncos getting rid of Tim Teb......oh wait.
Hometown Opinion: The Jazz- The Jazz didn't make any HUGE moves, though I think they got a better guard in Mo Williams over Devin Harris. They have TONS of space next year though, so we'll bide our time and keep Favors and Hayward improving.
Justin Burch's Take:
Winners: Heat, Lakers, Celtics and Nets are the biggest winners. I guess with three of those teams, the rich get richer. Interesting to see how Nash will mesh with Mr. Kobe Bean Bryant. Heat lose no one, and pick up some sharp shooters for cheap. Boston loses Ray Allen, but pick up some good players as well. Still don't understand how the Nets were able to give Wallace and Williams all that money, AND pick up Joe Johnson. But they did it.
Notable Mention: Washington Wizards. They have quietly picked up some solid players and may go to the playoffs this up coming year.
Losers: Magic, Portland and Kings. Don't even get me started on super-man. Portland still has no center in losing out on Hibbert. Kings are well.......the Kings. Still a bunch of ball hogs on the team. They really needed to make a move.
Hometown opinion: Hawks/Jazz- I personally think Utah helped us out in taking back Starvin Marvin. I wasn't too thrilled with getting Harris back when we already have Teague and drafted a PG in the first round. Makes sense why the Hawks made the move to free up some cap for a possible Dwight and/or Paul signing this year. Jazz meanwhile do pick up Mo. Who is barely better than Harris. Picking up Williams for " defense " I guess. Their off season wasn't an absolute fail, but they could have done better. Getting rid of Jefferson aka the black hole could have helped the team out more.
The 49ers probably looked at their division and figured it was a straight shot to the NFC championship game..until the Seahawks showed some guts and the Cardinals started 3-0. That Vikings victory over Frisco was a punch to the gut.
