Free Agency Review - Central Division

Alright, it’s time for part 2: the central division. Indiana and Chicago will most likely head this division once again, but Cleveland and even Detroit look to be putting themselves in position to compete for years to come. Here’s an overview of some of the major transactions each team made this summer, and the implications of those on their respective salary cap futures.

Indiana Pacers

Key additions: Luis Scola, C.J. Watson, Chris Copeland, Solomon Hill

Key subtractions: D.J. Augustin, Tyler Hansbrough, Gerald Green

The Pacers had been on track to make a very decent splash in free agency after the initial signings of C.J. Watson and Chris Copeland. In addition to these nifty signings, Indiana exercised the clever decision to let D.J. Augustin and Tyler Hansbrough both walk in the offseason, and were expected to rely on the starting five from last year as well as an upgraded bench of Watson, Copeland, and a returning Granger to carry them past the Heat.

Long story short, this was a team prepared  to make a decent run at the top of the eastern conference, but still may have not had enough of a bench to overcome Miami. Until Larry Bird (team president) pulled the trigger on a move that brought Luis Scola to the current roster, that is. Scola significantly upgrades this team’s second unit, and gives the Pacers a big bench scorer who could give Miami (or any team) fits if they play small lineups against them. The trade sent Miles Plumlee, Gerald Green, and a 2014 first rounder¹ to Phoenix for Scola, and while I’m not exactly sure if giving up Plumlee and a first rounder next year was the best decision, Phoenix GM Ryan McDonough is hoarding as much future talent as possible, and Indiana was very much in need of bench help. The Pacers are a win-now mode and will have to make the best of what they have on this current roster for years to come.

As far as the cap implications, Indiana played free agency nearly perfectly. They are capped out for this season, but still under the luxury tax threshold which is critical for a team not known for big spending. They have some crucial decision making to do next offseason when both Paul George and Danny Granger become free agents (Paul George restricted, Danny Granger unrestricted), but Paul George is expected to receive a max deal sometime given his recent performance² and even if Granger proves to be too expensive to resign next year, Indiana could still survive if Solomon Hill develops into a decent roll player. Lance Stephenson is also on an expiring contract, so Indiana will have to make a decent run at him next offseason, and while they won’t be able to add any big names for the next couple of years due to being capped out, they should at least be able to still keep this current core intact.

Before acquiring Scola, I still would have ranked Miami at the top of the conference by just a hair. However, the current roster with a bench unit of Scola, Granger, and Watson should have enough talent to thrive even when the starters are off the floor. Let’s not forget, nearly everyone on this roster is still getting better, and the Pacers should be in prime position to win for the next few years barring injury.

Grade: A

Chicago Bulls

Key Additions: Tony Snell, Mike Dunleavy

Key Subtractions: Nate Robinson, Marco Belinelli

The Bulls’ roster remains relatively unchanged even after free agency, which is a more than acceptable decision by the Chicago front office after last year’s team made a thrilling playoff run even after being decimated by injuries. Chicago’s future and potential for titles for the next four years will almost completely hinge on Derrick Rose’s health, as his max deal extends through the 2016-17 season. In addition to Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich were just a few players that sustained substantial injuries during at least a part of last season, and it will take a combination of luck and the careful massaging of minutes by Tom Thibodeau during the regular season to fashion a healthy roster and propel Chicago to the top of the conference.

Not much extra talent was required for this roster to be elite, but Chicago added a couple key components to their roster anyway by the way of Mike Dunleavy and Tony Snell, and this could create some interesting floor spacing lineup combinations to pave the way to the rim for Derrick Rose. Chicago finished second to last in the league in 3pt attempts per game in the regular season, and Dunleavy will certainly help in that regard. He shot 43% from behind the arc last year, and is capable of playing either wing position which creates valuable versatility in Thibodeau’s offense. Tony Snell projects to be another solid wing for the Bulls as well, and will add athleticism and good shooting to a roster that will need it if injuries dismantle it once again.

Similar to the Pacers, Chicago has solidified their core for years to come, and while there are reports of action on the trade market involving Luol Deng or amnesty for Carlos Boozer, I don’t expect those moves to happen anytime soon. Thibs reportedly loves Deng, and values Boozer’s offensive contributions as well. Chicago will be an elite team for as long as they are able to keep this core together, however they are currently well above the luxury tax threshold and will eventually need to renounce the rights to some of their roster to avoid being repeat offenders³

Grade: A

Milwaukee Bucks

Key additions: Luke Ridnour, Zaza Pachulia, Carlos Delfino, O.J. Mayo, Gustavo Ayon, Giannis Antetokounmpo  

Key subtractions: JJ Redick, Monta Ellis, Luc Richard Mbah A Moute, Mike Dunleavy, Samuel Dalembert, Marquis Daniel, Drew Gooden

I about lost it when I saw the team slogan on Milwaukee’s ESPN NBA blog “8^th seed or bust”, and they communicated their desire to continue to do just that for the next few years through their poor offseason management. My biggest gripe involving the Bucks was their decision in the handling of JJ Redick. After dealing for Redick for some much needed 3 point shooting last season to sneak into the final playoff spot, GM John Hammond bewilderingly rid him for two crappy second round draft picks a few months later. Remember, they gave Tobias Harris away (a young, budding talent) to receive Redick (and Ayon and Ish Smith) in return, and acquiring second round draft picks isn’t going to get you very far in the NBA.⁴

Okay, so they gave away JJ Redick for nearly nothing, but surely that’s the worst, right? Well... no. Seeing as there were hardly any wing players left on the roster after freeing Marquis Daniels and Luc Richard Mbah A Moute, Milwaukee, desperate for some wing depth, signed O.J. Mayo to a 3 year, $24 million deal. This wouldn’t be so bad if Mayo could split time with other guards, but as of right now he stands as the only shooting guard on this roster. Mayo serves as a decent rotation piece, but one that will barely upgrade this roster at all, especially considering he will play heavy minutes. Monta Ellis is finally gone, but Milwaukee simply let him walk rather than engaging in a sign and trade that could have significantly upgraded their future. And now the Bucks have a seven man logjam rotation of bigs, including Ayon, Sanders, Udoh, Pachulia, Ilyasova, Henson, and Antetokounmpo. This is bad within itself, but new coach Larry Drew must also avoid letting this buildup reduce Larry Sanders’ minutes, as Sanders, the most promising player on this roster, could absolutely develop into a top 5 center in the NBA within the next few years.

And we haven’t even addressed the most crucial decision the Bucks face this offseason: the Brandon Jennings decision. Coach Nick did a terrific breakdown that confirmed my initial perception of his talent (or lack thereof), but I’ll go ahead and give some more of my thoughts here. As of right now, Jennings, due for a contract extension as his rookie deal expires after next year, is reportedly requesting an extension worth $12 million per year for 4 years, while the Bucks will only budge to around $8 or $9 mil. Personally, I would commit neither if I were general manager John Hammond. I like that Milwaukee continues to hold out on this extension, rather than giving into Jennings’ desires. To me, he’s a hot-head, high volume shooter with low efficiency who thinks he is much better than he is (hence asking for $12 million/year). There’s a reason Jennings, a restricted free agent this summer, hasn’t received any attention from other teams, and Milwaukee basically has 3 options here. They could give into Jennings desire for a $12 million/year deal, they could not budge and hope he accepts a multi-year deal worth less money, or, if the sides fail to reach a contractual agreement, they could resort to the one-year qualifying offer of $4.5 million for this season knowing Jennings will most likely leave Milwaukee next offseason through unrestricted free agency.^{5 6}

Even losing Jennings wouldn’t damage Milwaukee much in the future, there are plenty of quality point guards in the NBA, and the Bucks will have plenty of cap room next offseason to make a significant splash. As for right now however, it’s still 8^th seed or bust.

Grade: D (The Jennings decision could make this better or worse)

Detroit Pistons

Key additions: Josh Smith, Chauncey Billups, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Key subtractions: Corey Maggette, Jason Maxiell, Jose Calderon

The Pistons were in a very envious position. Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe, and now Kentavious Caldwell-Pope looked to be a solid, fundamental core to build around for the upcoming years.

And then Josh Smith happened.

Look, I understand the buzz around Smith, he’s everything but a superstar, a player with one major, and easily fixable flaw (shot selection) who encompasses everything you want in a teammate going forward. But the obvious and most intriguing dilemma new coach Maurice Cheeks faces is the issue of spacing, not only because these three sharing the floor can’t shoot, but the Pistons simply have few reliable deep shooters on their entire roster. Smith will enhance the versatility of the rotations being able to play the 3 and 4, which could brace Detroit if the roster suffered significant injuries. He’s a terrific passer and a terrific teammate who brings defensive intensity every night and is a terror in the transition game. There’s no question he’s worth his 4 year $54 million contract.

But for this team, this roster, and this situation? Smith would have been much better suited to sign on with a contender, and while I understand most contenders may have not had the cap room he had requested, I’m not sure Detroit is the right place for him anyway. Drummond, Monroe, Caldwell-Pope, and even Brandon Knight composed a young core with potential to grow into a powerhouse within a few years, and Smith gives them help now when they should probably prefer it later. This move brings Detroit within playoff proximity next season, but by the time Drummond and Monroe reach their primes, Smith will already have reached the back end of his career.

The other situation with this roster regards the point guard position, and I am absolutely certain that Pistons GM Joe Dumars should have used the money spent on Smith to beef up the point guard position. Players such as Luke Ridnour, Jose Calderon, and Eric Maynor all switched teams this offseason, and all of these names would have solved this point guard dilemma as well as saved money. Unfortunately the point guard rotation now consists of Will Bynum, Rodney Stuckey, Brandon Knight, and Chauncey Billups. Billups is the most likely to start, but he’s old, and this could also restrain Brandon Knight from fully developing. However, Knight isn’t qualified to be a starting point guard as of right now anyway, and very well may never be, Will Bynum has been awful unless he’s paired with Drummond, and Stuckey isn’t even a pure point guard.

I could stand completely wrong in a few years if Smith actually integrates smoothly into the operations of this roster, and he could bring a strong leadership presence to the locker room to better effectively develop Drummond and Monroe. But the new CBA favors teams that stay young and under the cap, and I doubt his intangible contributions will outweigh his hindrances of this young core.

Grade: C

Cleveland Cavaliers

Key additions: Anthony Bennett, Andrew Bynum, Jarrett Jack, Earl Clark

Key subtractions: Daniel Gibson, Luke Walton, Marresse Speights, Shaun Livingston

The Cavs made one of the most newsworthy splashes in free agency this offseason, signing Andrew Bynum to a 2 year, $24 million contract. It sounds unfavorable on the surface, but when digging into the details of the contract terms, it is discovered that only $6 million of that money is actually guaranteed, as Bynum has to meet deadlines by avoiding being waved due to his health. It’s an incredible deal for both sides, and considering Bynum’s health reputation it may have been an even bigger steal for him and his destructive knees.

Basically, a completely healthy Cavs team sets up to be a championship contender without a doubt; Kyrie is in full force, Thompson has developed into a multifaceted role player, Andrew Bynum can be a top 10 player when engaged, and Varejao is a defensive stalwart and had a monstrous rebounding season last year before going down with injury.

Unfortunately, however, the word “healthy” doesn’t exist in Cleveland dictionaries. Kyrie has had numerous setbacks over the past few years, Varejao is never ever ever ever healthy, and Bynum missed all of last season. And that has to make the future murky for Cleveland GM Chris Grant. Cleveland has a heap of crucial decisions to make next offseason. Irving and Thompson will both be due for contract extensions, Bynum will either be renounced or signed to the second half of his deal, and Varejao is under a team option worth nearly $10 million which all raise lots of questions. It sounds silly, but does Kyrie acquire a max deal if he again misses significant time this season? How much is Tristan Thompson worth? Are you going to risk $10 million on a fragile Varejao?

Those are all questions for next offseason, but as far as this offseason goes, the Cavs performed very well. There’s only so much you can do with an injury prone roster, but only time will tell if this core can prove healthy enough to make it far. Jarrett Jack and Earl Clark beef up the bench significantly, and we will be closely monitoring the performances and health of Irving, Bynum and the rest of the Cavs this winter. And even if some of these players become restrained by health issues, Cleveland will have loads of cap room as soon as next year, and plenty of team options to rid themselves of injury prone players.

Grade: B+

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1 The 2014 pick from Indiana is protected (to which degree it hasn’t been revealed yet, but that’s unlikely to matter considering Indiana’s pick will most likely be in the high 20s next year anyway. ^↩
2 And all this talk about him going to LA? Forget about it. The new CBA gives a current team substantial leverage to retain their restricted free agents, and if the Pacers want to keep George, which they do, then they will.^↩
3 Repeat offenders of the luxury tax (set at around $70 or $71 million) pay significantly more over time than non-repeat offenders. See here for more.^↩
4 What makes it even worse was that these second rounders are protected, which means they will most likely be at the very end of the draft. Shameful^↩
5 Jennings reportedly wants out of Milwaukee anyway; this could be a win-win.^↩
6 The qualifying offer is absolutely the route I would take if I were Milwaukee. Look, this guy has almost reached his ceiling, he’s not good, and he doesn’t want to be there anyway, why sign him to a multi-year deal? Take Jennings for the cheap $4.5 million this season, let him walk next year, find some way to draft a point guard in the draft, and live with Ridnour as your starting PG the next year while you wait for your draft pick to develop. Some Bucks fans claim the qualifying offer should be the last resort in this scenario because Jennings will bitch about it all season and not play as motivated. WHO CARES?! It’s not like you’re going places this season anyway! Sheesh. ^↩

Free Agency Review – Atlantic Division

Free Agency Review – Atlantic Division

This is the first part of a 6 part series that will grade each team’s performance in this year’s free agency market. The Atlantic Division will be the first to be dissected, and although most teams haven’t filled out their rosters entirely, they will soon enough, especially by the time I finish breaking down all 30 teams. The first is the Atlantic Division, let’s go.

New York Knicks

Key additions: Andrea Bargnani, Metta World Peace, J.R. Smith (resigned), Pablo Prigioni (resigned), Tim Hardaway Jr.

Key subtractions: Chris Copeland, Marcus Camby, Steve Novak

In the first major trade of the offseason, New York bewilderingly tossed in assets such as Steve Novak, Marcus Camby and even 3 picks (1 first round and 2 second round) for Andrea Bargnani, an underwhelming stretch big man with lousy defensive and rebounding skill. Bargnani should improve New York’s offense very marginally, especially since Steve Novak did basically the same thing at a much lower price. However, Bargnani can provide much more offensive output than Novak, while simultaneously relieving the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Raymond Felton and J.R. Smith.

But offense wasn’t really the problem last season. In fact, during the regular season, the Knicks ranked 3^rd in the league in offensive points per 100 possessions, trailing only Miami and Oklahoma City. In fact, when Felton, Chandler, and Anthony shared the floor last season, New York scored at a rate that would have lead the league. Defense was the main problem for the Knicks last year, as they ranked 17^th in the league in defensive points per possession. Part of this was due to Tyson Chandler’s injuries; Chandler played only 65 games last season, and was clearly in pain for a good amount of time he was actually on the floor. In previous years, lineups with Chandler as the defensive Anchor have stymied opposing offenses, but last year Chandler’s on court/off court stats were nearly identical. Presuming Chandler returns to full strength the Knicks should return to a top 10 defensive team. Metta World Peace will aid to the effort to create somewhat of a defensive identity in New York, something that has been missing for quite some time. A lineup of Felton, Shumpert, World Peace, Anthony and Chandler is quite intriguing due to its two-way versatility, and linups with Anthony at the 4 are almost certainly the way to play to maximize his effectiveness.

New York seemed to have solved most of its issues in the backcourt, as Prigioni and Smith will work to provide some depth for Felton and Shumpert. However, there’s somewhat of a logjam in the frontcourt as of right now, as Stoudemire and Bargnani don’t really seem to complement each other well, at least on paper. Working them into small linups with either big at the 5 could work in stretches, but having both of them share the floor would cause problems defensively. Even more concerning for Knicks fans is the outlook of this team going forward; these two players will soak up more than $32 million combined in 2013-2014, and New York will be capped out until at least the summer of 2015. Not to mention they also traded away the maximum number of first round draft picks they were allowed to until 2017, so they won’t be restocking fresh talent anytime soon. ¹ So yeah, way to go Knicks’ management.

Grade: C

Brooklyn Nets

Key additions: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry, Andrei Kirilenko, Shaun Livingston, Mason Plumlee

Key subtractions: Keith Bogans, Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks

With nearly nothing to lose (considering his now +$100 million payroll only scrapes the surface of his overall net worth), Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov signed off on the most newsworthy transaction of the offseason, one that solidifies Boston’s desire to tank and will hopefully give the Nets the edge to win the division and perhaps even the eastern conference. I’ve already written about this here, so I won’t go into full detail, but more news has surfaced around this team regarding Kirilenko and Livingston which I’ll dive into.

The starting five is basically a given with Williams, Johnson, Pierce, Garnett, and Lopez, however, the new additions to this bench makes Brooklyn a potential threat to contend in my mind. Kirilenko was one of the most undervalued free agents in the league this year, and is perhaps one of the most underestimated players in the entire league. He can do nearly everything you ask of him on the floor, and while his outside shot isn’t that great, he more than makes up for it with a great understanding of spacing and ball movement. Andrei is also a lockdown defender who can service as a small ball 4 for some stretches, and this gives Brooklyn incredible versatility with their bench units.

Perhaps just as promising will be Reggie Evans’ reduced role. Remember, Evans started 57 games for Brooklyn last year, WAY too many for a player with only one skill. Evans competes defensively, but should come off the bench for something under 20 minutes per game, a number very appropriate for someone of his skill level. Jason Terry will also provide a nice spark off the bench, and if Shaun Livingston can stay decently healthy, he could serve as a serviceable reserve for the Nets.

Again, I’m hesitant to call them a legitimate contender with a first year coach who was a player just last year, but Brooklyn has made all the right moves to fill out a balanced, deep, two-way roster. The bank may hurt for a couple years, but it’s clear that winning is the first thing on Prokhorov’s mind and he’s willing to overload to do it. ² Dumping future first round picks certainly shrinks this team’s championship window, but the Nets certainly have the talent to win lots of games at least this year.

Grade: B+

Boston WELPtics ³

Key additions: MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, Keith Bogans, Kelly Olynyk

Key subtractions: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry

Danny Ainge’s demolition of Boston’s roster assures the intention to completely rebuild, and given their former age and lack of durability, that seems to be the right idea. Again, I wrote about the implications of this trade for Boston here when I dissected this trade, but I’ll go ahead and give a little bit more detail in my reflection.

Boston will once again top the salary cap, this year by about $7 million. However, they will avoid paying the tax penalty which sets in around $70 million, since their cap figure as of right now is about $65 million. This is about the only good news as of right now for the Celtics, as the highest paid players on their roster are Rajon Rondo, Kris Humphries, and Gerald Wallace. The last two names most likely won’t get too much playing time this season anyway, especially as Danny Ainge waits for their contracts to expire. This will most likely be a test season for Boston, as recent first round draft picks Jared Sullinger, Kelly Olynyk, MarShon Brooks and Fab Melo will go through some growing pains to adjust to the pace of the NBA.

And that’s just fine. Boston will go through a major overhaul with a new roster and a new coach, and after what looks like a 25-or-so-win season, they will try to snag a top draft pick to lead them back to the top of the league.

Grade: B-

Philadelphia 76ers

Key additions: Nerlens Noel, Royce White, Michael Carter-Williams

Key subtractions: Jrue Holiday, Andrew Bynum, Dorell Wright

Philadelphia has a similar idea as Boston, and their approach is even more dramatic. The new CBA has placed a stronger emphasis on the value of having cap space and draft picks, as acquiring cheap, young talent has proved to be the most effective and efficient way to assemble a championship team, even if it takes a few years for said talent to develop.

And this is the exact route Philly’s new GM Sam Hinkie is taking. A draft day exchange of Jrue Holiday for Nerlens Noel the 6^th pick, and New Orleans’ 2014 first rounder depicts Hinkie’s perception that developing a raw, athletic talent such as Noel into what will hopefully become something along the lines of Tyson Chandler brings less risk than holding Jrue Holiday to be the savior of the franchise. The 2014 pick received from New Orleans is top 5 protected, meaning that if New Orleans receives one of the top 5 picks in the draft lottery next year, they will keep the pick rather than trading it to Philadelphia. However, most NBA experts including Hinkie are expecting New Orleans to well outperform a top 5 pick next year, and Philadelphia will take a few years to hoard a bunch of top first round picks (remember they have NOLA’s pick as well as their own pick next year which projects to be very high) and form their core this way.

This projects to be the most intriguing trade going forward: is trading Jrue Holiday, a very good point guard in my mind, for two high first round picks a more effective way to assemble a championship team? Or should Philly have kept Holiday and played the field for the next few years by hiring a coach to build around him? Only time will tell.

As of right now though, Philadelphia will be terrible next season, but they should have plenty of time to develop their young talent, and assess which pieces of the roster they should retain going forward. Nerlens Noel oozes potential as a defensive anchor, and Michael Carter Williams should at the very least become a productive role player, and in the best case an effective replacement of Jrue Holiday. The 76ers’ projected cap is just short of $37 million, which means they will have to add some contracts to reach the salary floor which is around $50 million.

Grade: B

Toronto Raptors

Key additions: Steve Novak, Tyler Hansbrough

Key subtractions: Andrea Bargnani, Linas Kleiza

The new wave of smart spending and overly analytic GMs is upon us, and perhaps one of the brightest young minds in the game is former Denver, now Toronto general manager Masai Ujiri. Ujiri will attempt to renovate a roster loaded with underperforming talent signed to bogus, head-scratching contracts. Rudy Gay ($18 million this season), Demar Derozan ($9.5 million this season), and Landry Fields ($5.225 million this season, $8.5 million the next) are 3 players signed by former GM Bryan Colangelo who unintentionally set this roster up for failure. It now appears that nearly everything on this roster could be expendable, especially the three names listed above. Toronto has already chipped away at their cap by ridding themselves of Andrea Bargnani through trade as well as Linas Kleiza through amnesty.

The Raptors certainly have some promising young talent on the roster, and Ujiri will carefully monitor the performances of Jonas Valanciunas, Terrence Ross, and even Kyle Lowry (a serviceable point guard on a dirt-cheap contract), to determine if they are pieces worth holding on to moving forward.

And after foolishly giving away their first round draft pick this year, Toronto will most likely look to hoard as many picks as possible in the upcoming years to build their roster around. The fate of Rudy Gay projects to be the most intriguing storyline in Toronto next year, as I would suspect that Ujiri would be more than willing to dump his huge contract and underperforming talent to a team with a big spending owner for future draft picks. Gay is a good small forward, but not a great one, and it’s not a coincidence that Memphis had their best year ever after pawning him off on Toronto.

It would be huge if Toronto could somehow dump Gay’s salary simply because it would allot them max cap room as soon as next summer. NBA free agents aren’t exactly clamoring to play basketball for the Raptors, but cap space is very valuable to save organization money while simultaneously giving them opportunity to fine-tune their roster and settle into a position to win. Toronto may not be good anytime soon, but they will slowly slide into a position to win with cap space, draft picks, and Ujiri at the helm.

Grade B

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1 The new CBA allows teams to only trade away their first round draft picks for every other year. For instance, New York has traded its 2014 and 2016 first rounders, and by the CBA rules they cannot trade their 2015 or 2017 picks. ^↩
2 This is terrific news for Nets fans; it’s extremely rare for an owner to prioritize team success over profit margins, and Prokhorov seems to be doing just that. Way to go.^↩
3 Yep, I went there^↩

Draft Analysis

I will admit, I’m not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to draft analysis simply because I don’t know much about college hoops. But I do know a fair amount about team needs as well as the trades that happened on draft night, so I’ll break this down as best I can. I also watched some very detailed draft videos by Mike Schmitz¹, a video analyst for draftexpress.com and writer for valleyofthesuns.com.

Let’s dive in.

Celtics-Nets Trade

Celtics Get: Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, Gerald Wallace, Tornike Shengelia, Keith Bogans, Kris Joseph, and 3 future first round picks.

Nets Get: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry

This was by far the most publicized transaction on draft night and rightfully so; not only did the Celtics² announce their submission into full rebuilding mode, but the departure of Paul Pierce (someone who has worn green since ’98) has to be heartrending for Bostonians. KG and Pierce have propelled the Celtics to a plus-.500 record in each of the last 6 seasons, and this trade probably means Boston will plummet next season to enter the Andrew Wiggins sweepstakes.

Lacking talent is one thing, but even more confusing is Boston’s decision to tack on these expendable players to their salary bill. Humphries will accumulate $12 million next season, and Gerald Wallace signed a 4-year $40 million contract last season, of which he has over $30 million due in the next three years. This is ultimate self-destruction on Boston’s part; there’s no need to pay these players (a very average small forward and a power forward who is best coming off the bench) this much money to be as bad as Boston will be. They should certainly be looking to develop young talent rather than toss a Rondo-Wallace-Humphries lineup on the floor that won’t be able to score more than 15 feet from the basket.

And this means that Danny Ainge (Celtics General Manager) must certainly have some sense of vision involved in moving these pieces for younger talent to develop in return. Humphries would be a valuable asset for a team looking for bench help and/or frontcourt depth (Indiana, Portland), and you could get enough beers in a dumb GM to get 80 or 90 cents on the dollar for Wallace. But it’s not going to be easy to dump that much money and get some good help in return, so it’ll be interesting to see the moves Ainge makes in the next few weeks.

Somehow, among the remnants of this demolition is a small hole of light that will only get bigger through the next few years for Boston. Check out the next 5 years of picks the Celtics acquired through the past couple trades. 2014: 2 firsts (Boston, Brooklyn), 0 second; 2015: 2 firsts (Boston, L.A. Clippers), 2 seconds (Boston, Sacramento); 2016: 2 firsts (Boston, Brooklyn), 1 second (Boston); 2017: 1 first (Boston), 2 seconds (Boston, Sacramento); 2018: 2 first (Boston, Brooklyn), 1 second (Boston).

Ainge played this very well, although not perfectly. The Brooklyn 1^st round pick in 2014 and the L.A. Clippers 1^st rounder in 2015 will most likely be very low first round picks since those teams will be playoff bound. However, these are still first round picks, and although the likelihood of striking gold late in the first round is slim, Boston can still grow its roster significantly. And once Brooklyn has to blow up its roster in 2 years when Pierce and Garnett retire (assuming), the Brooklyn picks in 2016 and 2018 should be a relatively high lottery pick. It’s gotta be enlightening to have such an abundance of picks in Boston’s arsenal, and if they can save money and draft smartly for the next couple years, they could return to legitimate contention in just a couple years.

As for Brooklyn, well, this is quite the experiment. It has already been widely documented that the Nets will be dumping over $80 million on their starting 5 alone, and it’s clear that Mikhail Prokhorov (Nets owner) has no qualms in footing an outrageous salary bill for the next few years. This was already apparent last year after absorbing Joe Johnson’s absurd contract, so what’s the big deal about an extra $27 million next year for Pierce and Garnett anyway?

The problem arises within the back end of the roster; Brooklyn will need at least a decent bench to compete, and a roster with such age will need significant bench minutes throughout the regular season. Both Pierce’s and Garnett’s regular season minutes were compressed to the lowest of their careers last season, and as they continue to age, this minute regulation will occur even more dramatically. Garnett didn’t even exceed the 30-minute/game mark, and Pierce isn’t topping that by much. Jason Terry should help stabilize the bench units, at least on the surface, but after him, names such as Reggie Evans and even Mirza Teletovic provide shaky support underneath. And with absolutely no cap room, Brooklyn may have to scramble to sign a decently productive bench player with one of their cap exceptions that could skyrocket them into the luxury tax even more.

The coaching situation also makes me weary given the circumstances and pressure. Look, I love Jason Kidd, and I think he can and will do a fine job coaching. But can a franchise really expect to hire a coach directly after he retires as a player, and have him lead a team of former all-stars to a championship in his first year? Not only that, but the championship window of this unit is really really small. Most likely, in two more years Billy King (Nets GM) will have to blow up this roster and start over. We all witnessed Miami’s finals collapse in the first year of their assimilation as a superstar unit, where a large portion of the blame was placed upon the shoulders of Erik Spoelstra. In a lot of cases, inexperienced coaches need a grace period to adjust and understand the demands of coaching in the NBA, and I’m afraid Kidd won’t have enough time to get in a “groove” before the window closes.

76ers-Pelicans Trade

76ers get: Nerlens Noel (6^th pick), 2014 1^st round pick (top 3 protected)

Pelicans get: Jrue Holiday

This trade intrigues me as well, due to the implications going forward for each team. Sam Hinkie (76ers GM) has clearly implied that everything on the current roster is expendable, and the team is in full rebuilding mode going forward. This has to be frustrating on the surface, at least for 76ers fans, considering the thought last year at this time was that Andrew Bynum would be the final piece needed to truly compete. But Bynum turned out to be a dud, and apparently Holiday didn’t fulfill Hinkie’s expectations enough to be a cornerstone going forward.

So now Holiday will turn over the reigns to either Royal Ivey or another obscure, cheap floor general who can tread water through the season to enter the Andrew Wiggins sweepstakes. Nerlens Noel will be the first building block to what will almost certainly be a long-term project. What is concerning is the lack of stabilization among this organization, at least right now. Hinkie could pull the trigger on practically any part of his roster at any minute it seems, and there looks to be little to no leadership to help guide Noel. Heck, Philly doesn’t even have a coach yet.

But sometimes this is the most effective way to assemble a powerhouse: an elaborate reconstruction of the entire franchise may be in order for a 76ers team that wildly underperformed last year. Noel, who is only 19 years old, will have plenty of time to grow, and if Hinkie can sign a good coach and make some smart roster moves, it will be interesting to see how far this Philadelphia team can go with Noel as their backbone.

As for New Orleans, I almost love this trade. I say “almost” simply because I don’t think Holiday was worth Noel and a 2014 1^st rounder, but the Pelicans now have a solid core, and I would love to see Greivis Vasquez on the move for some pieces to fill in the remaining roster holes. New Orleans is LOADED with cap space in 2013-2014, and with an abundance of young talent, this team could grow into something serious in the next few years. Eric Gordon, Jrue Holiday, Anthony Davis, and Austin Rivers comprise a very young and talented core that has plenty of potential to grow. If they can sniff out a 3 and D type wing player through free agency, I think the Pelicans can make the playoffs as soon as next year.

The potential for success hinges largely on injuries however, as Eric Gordon has been limited to 50 games in the past two seasons combined. This simply won’t cut it; EG is the most reliable scorer on the Pelicans and has tremendous upside, and he needs to stay healthy for them to have success. Anthony Davis also missed 20 games last year, and while that is common for many rookies, NOLA will need a healthier season from him as well.

I also want to point out that I love Jrue Holiday on this team. Love it love it love it. Jrue has tremendous potential running the pick and roll with Anthony Davis and even Jason Smith, especially with Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon spacing the floor on the wings. He has terrific court vision, is a good shooter and finisher, and even brings it on the defensive end as well, and I am completely convinced that his true potential was masked by Doug Collins’ pitiful offense in Philadelphia. Monty Williams has been labeled as one of the brightest young coaches in the league, and I think this team has a winning group going forward. Put the Pelicans as the team to watch next year.

Timberwolves-Jazz Trade

T-wolves get: No. 14 pick Shabazz Muhammad and No. 21 pick Gorgui Dieng

Jazz get: No. 9 pick Trey Burke

I love love love this trade for both sides. Trey Burke has tremendous potential and plenty of room to grow with a young core in Utah, with players such as Enes Kanter, Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward, and Alec Burks, all of whom are 23 or younger. The Jazz finally snagged a true point guard again, and will turn the reigns over to Burke, a true point guard, from Mo Williams last year. Utah also has plenty of cap space to add some situational talent, and while they’ll probably be lottery bound for the next year or two, I like the way Utah is building for the future: staying cheap and young.

The Timberwolves finally made a smart draft decision, trading their higher lottery pick for two later 1^st round picks to add to the roster more effectively. Gorgui Dieng and Shabazz Muhammad both have terrific talent, and should significantly improve the current roster almost immediately. Muhammad seems to be a decent 3 and D type player at the very least, which will help space the floor for Rubio running the pick and roll. Muhammad has a few red flags involved with his character, but if coach Rick Adelman can manage his flaws, he should develop into a nice piece going forward.

Dieng is very intriguing, simply because he projects to be very NBA ready. He has terrific fundamentals already, and projects to be a steady defender/rebounder/roll man for the Wolves. If he were a tad younger I would say he could develop into something special, something along the lines of Larry Sanders. But Dieng is already 23, which is rather old for a big man, so it will be interesting to see how much his game elevates from what it is now.

---

1 I would totally check him out at draftexpress' youtube channel. His videos are terrific and detailed, and I learned a lot about a lot of these draftees in a few mintues.^↩
2 Can we call them the "WELPtics"? I like that^↩

2012-2013 Season Review

Perhaps it was one of the most thrilling endings in NBA Finals’ history, including an epic game 6 finish and one of the wildest comebacks ever. Perhaps it was our sudden glimpse of Miami’s vulnerability in the playoffs, sending a smug fan base formerly assured of absolute domination after a 27 game win streak into uncertainty and unwarranted desperation. Perhaps it was six first round series’ extending 6 games or beyond, revealing the sudden emergences of the super splash brothers (Klay Thompson and Steph Curry), Paul George, Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard. Or perhaps it was simply a culmination of all of the above, supplemented by a regular season full of highlights such as this or this that tied together to produce an unforgettable postseason and a somehow inevitable second straight championship for Miami.

Last year’s NBA season supplied its viewers with constant entertainment and a reminiscent souvenir as to why life is so awesome as a sports fan.   

It was littered with entertaining storylines both good and bad. There was LeBron’s continued dominance that included the 6th best player efficiency rating EVER. Chris Paul and Kevin Durant were both sabotaged by a cohesive Memphis defense when their star teammates were sidelined with injuries. Speaking of Memphis, the Grizzlies, as well as Indiana’s scrappy defensive unit, replicated months of scouting and strategizing to on-court perfection, practically revolutionizing the new age NBA defensive system by packing the paint and stifling pick-and-rolls. Similarly, teams such as Houston and Miami followed by dominating offensively through tactics such as stuffing the floor with 3-point snipers, attacking the rim, and continuous ball movement that bewildered opposing defenses and destroyed help schemes. Tim Duncan struck gold at the fountain of youth, and coupled with Tony Parker’s best season of his career, the duo escorted the “boring” Spurs to the NBA Finals for the 3^rd time. Marc Gasol and Joakim Noah gained some much needed recognition as defensive aces in the bloodbaths that were their playoff series’, and the league again facepalmed by failing to name the defensive player of the year (Gasol) to the first team all-defense.

There was also plenty of bad. Star players went down with injuries left and right, some of them arguably costing their respective team playoff success or even a playoff spot. Players such as Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, Andrew Bogut, Anderson Varejao, Kyrie Irving, Danilo Gallinari, Danny Granger, Pau Gasol, Eric Gordon, John Wall, and even the superhuman Kobe took a fall for at least part of the season, and in some cases the whole thing. This year’s draft class looks pitiful, and barring some bright moves over the offseason, the Bobcats will once again be locked in the cellar. David Stern has announced he will step down as commissioner, and the league has still done very little to erase its name from a few Oscar ballots. 

But all in all, it was a terrific year, so here are a few things to look back on and look forward to:

It’s a League of Point Guards:

Okay, here’s a fun game. Rank these point guards in order from best to worst with absolutely no error whatsoever: Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, John Wall, Tony Parker, Jrue Holiday, Stephen Curry, Mike Conley, Deron Williams, and Ty Lawson. It’s impossible; I promise you can’t do it. Each point guard has their own unique strengths and weaknesses, style of play, and amount of offense run through them specifically. Nearly every one of these players led their respective team to the playoffs and gained some well-deserved recognition in each of their playoff performances. Even John Wall and Jrue Holiday nearly singlehandedly pushed their respective organization to a low playoff seed, with the Wiz netting a 24-25 record in games that Wall played after his early season injury.¹ No other position in the league has as much parity at the top of the rankings, and all of these relatively young guards should continue to take the league by storm for the next few years. Perhaps the most interesting trend to recognize going forward is how the next few drafts play out; no remarkable point guards were drafted in last year’s draft (save an argument for Damian Lillard which I broke down here), and the same should be said for this year’s draft as well unless Trey Burke develops into something special.

Let’s talk about LeBron

Look I don’t want to sit here and beat a dead horse; everyone knows he is the best player in the game, and quite frankly, it’s not that close. But sometimes it seems that we (myself included), see his dominance as something normal or natural given his style of play and consistent performance over the last few years, particularly during the regular season.

So let’s go through some of his statistics and dissect his style of play to really comprehend his value.

LeBron ranked 

• - First in player efficiency rating, setting the 6^th highest mark ever and exceeding Durant’s mark (the second best) by exactly 3.5 points
• - Second in usage rate only to Carmelo Anthony, yet exceeded Melo’s true shooting percentage mark by 9%
• - First in FG% at the rim at a spectacular 76%, shooting better from there than most players do at the FREE THROW LINE
• - Shot over 56% from the field on 17 attempts per game, the former the highest of his career
• - Shot over 40% on three point attempts, transforming that shot from what was formerly a bail-out shot to something that enhanced his game to the point that he was practically unguardable
• - Oh, and he had a turnover rate less than 10%, a number that would rank among the likes of Tony Parker and other elite ball handlers²

So yeah, you could say he’s pretty good. But do we actually realize how great he actually is? In a culture defined by Sportscenter highlights that feature clutch three pointers, wild blocks, and players that can singlehandedly take the game over with 5 minutes left, it seemed that LeBron’s greatness was relatively marginalized during the regular season in comparison to the Lakers’ struggles and the Western Conference’s internal battles for playoff seeding.³

Ironically though, this was simply because the Heat flat out dominated through the entire regular season. In fact, during the 27 game win streak, the Heat outscored opponents so greatly that only 6 of those games were decided within 5 points or less. LeBron never really had to take games over in the last few minutes this year (save for a few contests) simply because Miami’s dominance overpowered opponents through the first three quarters. Of course I’m not saying the Heat’s supremacy goes unnoticed, but perhaps LeBron’s dominance is considered almost expected considering his consistency over the last few years.

It shouldn’t be; this is greatness, and even more remarkable has been his year-by-year improvement. He’s now absolutely lethal from anywhere on the floor, and while he can be criticized for not having “Kobe’s killing instinct”, he doesn’t always need it to win games. No matter where you rank him in the GOAT discussion, it’s clear that he’s the best player in the game today, and with his health and IQ, he should assert his dominance for years to come. Two consecutive titles speak for themselves. 

The revolutionizing of NBA defense

Only a few teams can clearly claim the spotlight for this one, but give it a few years and most teams should switch to a pack-the-paint/ICE pick-and-rolls defensive style. Tom Thibodeau is the original mind behind these genius ideas, with Frank Vogel, Lionel Hollins, and a few others trailing behind. The idea of these defenses is simple: clog the paint as often as possible using the 2.9 theorem (stay in the paint for as long as possible while simultaneously avoiding a defensive 3 second violation), and force as many side pick-and-rolls to the baseline to use the out of bounds zone as a 6^th defender. Chicago, Indiana, and Memphis ranked 5^th, 1^st, and 2^nd respectively in defensive efficiency, and offenses will be hard pressed to develop diverse strategies to disrupt these fine-tuned defensive systems over the next few years.

The key to these systems starts with having a defensive ace at center; Joakim Noah, Marc Gasol, and Roy Hibbert orchestrate these stingy units through their stout rim protection and mobility all around the floor. In fact, they are so good at deterring opposing offenses from scoring in the paint that sub-par defensive teammates’ deficiencies are somewhat masked when they can share the court with these aces. David West’s and Zach Randolph’s defensive performance on-court/off-court was relatively unaffected because of the big men looming behind them protecting the rim. This is a tremendous aid to either team, as it allows these types of players to focus more on the offensive end where they can truly shine. 

I’m also a huge fan of playing ICE on pick and rolls, a strategy being used by more and more teams today. This is simply deterring the ball handler from using the screen on a pick and roll by shading him to the opposite side. The defender of the roll man then stands far behind the action to clog the paint and force the ball handler to pull up for a long 2. This strategy is mostly utilized on side pick-and-rolls to force the primary ball handler towards the baseline as opposed to letting him penetrate the middle and pick apart the defense. 

The Irony of the Dwight Howard trade

It originally appeared to be another sad tale of a defenseless small market organization being simultaneously abused by a big market giant and an immature franchise big man who wanted nothing to do with such a pathetic organization. Orlando looked as if it had traded Dwight Howard to LA for pennies on the dollar, while all the other organizations involved in the trade seemed to have landed the big fish they needed to complete their next plan to compete for a championship. Ironically, despite John Hollinger’s break down of the trade here⁴ , Orlando arguably came out of this trade the winner even though NO ONE saw it that way at the time. Dwight Howard was a shell of his former self last season, declining from the League’s best defensive player to moving laterally about as well as the average giraffe. Not only was last year bad, but this also has to be concerning for his next franchise’s front office going forward (they should enroll him at the local pre-k while they're at it). Howard’s health has been in rapid decline in the past two seasons (remember he missed the 2012 postseason), and you’ve gotta wonder how much left he has in the tank. 

Bynum was no good either, after a spectacular and relatively injury-free season in 2011-2012, L.A. pulled the trigger on him at the perfect time. In fact, Bynum played the most minutes of his career that season, and scratched out a nice 60 games that year (well above his average). It was certainly his best season ever, and Philadelphia took on much more risk than they had bargained for. Certainly the city of brotherly love had expected at least half a season from this hothead, who reportedly re-tweaked his knee while bowling. Any team that gets more than half of a season from Bynum is banking at this point. Apparently I could use his barber’s number, though. 

Denver came out of this trade the most immediate beneficiary, as Iguodala perfectly complimented Ty Lawson in Denver’s fast-paced offense, driving them to 5^th in the league in offensive efficiency. Andre aided in bandaging Denver’s formerly porous defense as well, as the Nuggets were 4.8 points per 100 possessions better defensively while Iguodala was on the floor. However, it’s concerning here going forward, although in no fault to Andre. Denver recently and bewilderingly fired its GM and George freaking Karl: the guy who hasn’t had a losing season since ’88. Iguodala now faces a huge decision between signing with an organization that may be going downhill fast, or testing free agency in hopes of landing with a more likely contender. Remember, due to Bird rights, Denver is the only team that can sign Iggy to 5 years instead of 4. 

Orlando suddenly looks like it game out of this deal decently, if not well. First off, the biggest surprise here is Nikola Vucevic, your typical amiable European big man. Vucevic was the league’s 5^th best overall rebounder, shot over 50% from the floor, showed a terrific mid-range jumper, and is only 22 years old in his second season. Oh, and did I mention he made $17.5 MILLION FREAKING DOLLARS LESS than Dwight Howard did last season? Look, this guy could turn out to be just another run of the mill center, but in a league with very few great big men under $2 million is a steal, and his youth and potential to be healthy (gulp)⁵ make him a promising asset for years to come.⁶  

So Orlando is now ironically sitting pretty. The Magic got rid of Jason Richardson in the D12 trade to clear some cap room, and if they decline Hakim Warrick’s team option and can indeed cut Al Harrington from their salary cap (both moves should be expected), they could have a substantial amount of cap room to build around; roughly $10 million or so. Tobias Harris tore it up late in the season after the J.J. Redick trade from Milwaukee, and if Orlando plays the draft lottery well for the next couple years, they could boost their success faster than expected. 

Teams of the future

Houston, Indiana, and Cleveland seem to be the most promising teams when looking ahead to the future; all three have tremendous cap space assuming they hit the free agency pool hard enough, and barring injuries all three should see some playoff action as soon as next year and for years to come. 

Houston seems like a good place to start this topic; they already have a legitimate superstar capable of nearly everything offensively, a couple of multi-dimensional role players, and plenty of aforementioned cap space. The James Harden trade might have been partially overshadowed by the Dwight Howard trade, but it seems to have more implications going forward considering D12 is likely on the move again anyway. Harden is a terrific slasher, passer, scorer, finisher, shooter, and basically everything else on offense. He can score in the half court and in transition, and is almost unstoppable in pick-and-rolls. Houston has him on the books for the next four years, and will look to load their roster with plenty of talent to accompany him.

And they are already half way there. Chandler parsons may have been the steal of the 2011 draft; he’s on Houston’s payroll under a team option that will pay him less than $2 million for the next two years combined. Omer Asik provides a foundation for a defense that desperately needs it; Houston’s defensive efficiency ranked a solid 10^th when Asik was on the floor, compared to a pitiful 26^th when he rode the pine. The defense simply needs to improve, though it’s no fault to Asik that it was so terrible for a playoff team. Harden, Parsons, and Lin need to develop into at least mediocre ball stoppers on the perimeter or else Houston may not reach their full potential.

But the good news is they have plenty of time. Everyone on Houston’s roster last year is 26 years or younger save for Aaron Brooks, Carlos Delfino, and Francisco Garcia.⁷ Even if the Rockets can’t land a big fish like Howard or Paul, they should be able to snag some decent two-way players in free agency for a strong playoff run in 2014.  

Indiana is another team that I think can make noise for seasons to come, although after the 7 game series in the Eastern Conference Semifinals this past season, it seems as if they have already been widely recognized. Paul George (I wrote about him here) and Roy Hibbert are obviously the two names everyone has been talking about, and they should continue to coordinate this league-leading defense. Indiana will have plenty of cap space this summer, which will mostly be forwarded to the David West resigning effort. 

Hopefully, though, they can scratch some dollars off the top of the leftovers and funnel that toward improving their bench. Thankfully D.J. Augustin and Sam Young are both free agents; ironically they were two role players that could have cost Indiana a trip to the finals last year. Danny Granger will most likely be healthy again next year to either head a bench unit or replace Lance Stephenson⁸ in the starting lineup, and if the Pacers can get a capable two-way guard off the bench, they could have a real shot at contending next year. 

Cleveland is the most indeterminate of the three in regards to its future, simply because of Kyrie Irving’s random nagging injuries, however I do expect them to make a playoff run within the next few years if they continue to play their cards right. Check out this draft fortune: 2011 Draft: Picks 1,4,32,54 2012 Draft: Picks 4,24,33,34 2013 Draft: Picks 1, 19, 31, 33. 

And these favorable draft positions are exactly why their future is so difficult to predict. Early second round draft picks can turn out to be studs (Chase Budinger, Chandler Parsons, Danny Green), or absolute duds that force the organization to splash a huge chunk of their capital in free agency to stay afloat. 

The potential of their former lottery picks are still currently being evaluated as well: I’m a huge fan of Tristan Thompson, and I think Waiters has potential to be a killer off the bench. Thompson actually displayed some skill in addition to his athleticism on the rebounding end, ranking 4^th in total rebounding among power forwards with at least 15 mpg. Nearly every other component of his game showed promise through improving as well: he cut his turnover rate, improved his field goal percentage and added some strength to finish around the rim. Oh, and he’s only 22. 

Waiters proves to be much harder to read considering he has only accumulated one season of play. However, Dion played very well after the all-star break, showing aggression in getting to the line. He should succeed in a bench role, but forcing him to play starters minutes was and will be a mistake, especially as a rookie. 

None of the above really matters, though, if Kyrie Irving continues to play shortened seasons. It’s a shame, really; Kyrie’s game includes a spectacular blend of watchability and on-court success simultaneously, as his combination of three-point shooting and finishing ability is unrivaled for a point guard. But Cleveland’s success going forward directly hinges on his ability to simply play basketball games; Kyrie has played 107 total NBA games in two seasons: a less than ideal number especially for a point guard. There was the foot injury at Duke, and then the finger, shoulder, concussion, hand, and jaw injuries of the past two seasons. This is alarming for Cleveland fans; Kyrie has appeared to be fragile after two seasons of scouting, and while it is possible to take some precautionary measures, sometimes all you can do is keep your fingers crossed.

So that’s all I really have for y’all, at least for the moment. I hope you enjoyed this 3,500 word novel, and that it instilled a new excitement or passion for the NBA if you didn’t already have it. Sorry for the delay in the articles; I’ve been working about 50 hours a week and going to class, but I’d love some feedback in the comments. 

I love the NBA

1 Yes, despite a sub-.500 record, the Wizards actually fared MUCH better with Wall playing, as they sputtered to a 5-28 record to kick off the season. Remember, this is the eastern conference.^↩
2 All stats per-NBA.com/stats^↩
3 However, I don’t watch much Sportscenter too often so maybe I’m misguided^↩
4 Sorry for the lousy link, I had read this column a while ago and really liked it, but I’m not paying for ESPN insider for a bunch of aged Hollinger columns^↩
5 While writing this piece, I for some reason had a pre-conceived notion that European big men were less injury-prone than American-born centers (Thinking of the Gasols, Nowitzki and a few others). WRONG: Bargnani, Bogut, Varejao, Kaman, Biedrins, and Pekovic are just a few among many who have suffered alarming injuries in multiple seasons. Yikes^↩
6 Seriously, Philly has to be KICKING themselves for letting Vucevic go. Doug Collins and his stubbornness to give Nik justified minutes arguably kept Philly from uncapping his full potential. And now after the Bynum injury they’re stuck with Spencer Hawes. Ouch.^↩
7 Also: Watch out for Thomas Robinson. He doesn’t exactly click with Houston’s spread the floor and attack the basket system simply because he doesn’t have a reliable jump shot and it creates a spacing issue. However, he should pull his weight in small-ball lineups by crashing the boards at the 5. What the heck was Sacramento thinking giving their lottery pick away half way through his first season?^↩
8 I like either option here. Danny Granger coming off the bench is obviously appealing simply because of his defensive performance and scoring ability. However, given the history of his contributions in Indiana, it’s unlikely that Vogel would confine him to bench minutes even if that were the right decision. This is a good problem to have though; Stephenson and Granger are both capable of providing a terrific spark off the bench through their quality two-way play, and anything is an upgrade from this year’s bench. ^↩