Post by FLCeltsFan on Sept 29, 2009 14:20:48 GMT -5
Updated: September 28, 2009, 11:29 PM ET
Ranking the summer moves
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By Chad Ford
ESPN.com
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Fernando Medina/Getty Images
After losing in the Finals, Orlando has a new look. Will VC help lift the Magic to their first NBA title?
Summer is over and so is the illusion that comes with it -- the idea almost every team in the league can be a winner.
You know the feeling: If my team can just make a big trade or a huge free-agent acquisition or hit a home run in the lottery, maybe next season will be different.
With training camp upon us, fans are settling into either the exciting or harsh realties of what their team did this summer.
2009-10 PLAYER MOVEMENT
Keep track of which players each team added and lost this offseason. Chart
We have seen one of the most active summers in NBA history, with Shaq, Vince Carter, Ron Artest, Hedo Turkoglu, Richard Jefferson, Andre Miller, Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace, Trevor Ariza, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph changing addresses and the NBA draft also reshaping rosters.
We've also seen a fair share of disappointments. The Blazers lost out on a chance to sign Turkoglu at the last second. The Magic surprised the Mavs by matching Marcin Gortat's offer sheet. And a few key free agents are still waiting for new homes.
Over the past two months, I've been ranking how each team in the league has performed so far in remaking its roster, considering the situation it faced and the moves it has made. This isn't a ranking of which are the best teams in the league, just a device to track which teams have improved and which teams haven't.
The teams are ranked 1 to 30, for the final rankings of the summer:
Key: (U) = Unrestricted Free Agent; (R) = Restricted Free Agent
1. San Antonio Spurs
Key additions: Richard Jefferson, DeJuan Blair, Antonio McDyess, Theo Ratliff, Keith Bogans
Key subtractions: Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto, Kurt Thomas, Drew Gooden, Ime Udoka
In limbo: Jacque Vaughn (U)
The Spurs always seem to find a way to turn a little into a lot. They turned three aging players past their primes into Jefferson, an athletic forward at the peak of his game. They added McDyess to play the 4. McDyess is getting older, but he is still very productive and is a model citizen on and off the court.
And even without a first-round pick in this year's draft, San Antonio still was able to come away with some terrific players in the second round. Specifically, Pittsburgh's Blair, who was the best rebounder in college basketball and is a beast in the paint. If his knees stay sturdy, he'll go down as the steal of the draft. Overall, the Spurs have improved their team dramatically and are, once again, serious contenders for an NBA title.
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2. Orlando Magic
Key additions: Vince Carter, Ryan Anderson, Brandon Bass, Matt Barnes, Jason Williams
Key subtractions: Hedo Turkoglu, Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston, Tony Battie
In limbo: Adonal Foyle (U), Tyronn Lue (U)
Orlando decided to throw financial caution to the wind this summer and went on a spending spree. The result is one of the deepest teams in the league and one that should challenge for the NBA championship again next season. For starters, they essentially swapped Turkoglu and Lee for Carter and Anderson. The gamble was that Turkoglu wasn't worth the $50 million he was looking for in the free-agent market and that Carter, whose contract has only two years of guaranteed money remaining, can do as good a job (or better) as Turkoglu. The addition of Bass also helps. The Magic desperately needed toughness, rebounding and depth at the 4, and Bass delivers on all accounts. Barnes provides more depth and 3-point shooting at small forward.
But the big move was the Magic's deciding to match Marcin Gortat's huge offer sheet from the Mavs. Without Gortat, the Magic would have had virtually no depth at center. Now, with him back in the mix, they are deep at virtually every position and look like the favorites to win the East.
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3. Los Angeles Clippers
Key additions: Blake Griffin, Sebastian Telfair, Craig Smith, Rasual Butler
Key subtractions: Zach Randolph, Fred Jones
For the Clippers faithful looking for a glimmer of hope, this has been your summer. Not only did the Clips beat the lottery odds and land the best pick in the draft -- Blake Griffin -- they also were able to unload Randolph for the expiring contract of Quentin Richardson. Then the Clippers turned around and shipped Richardson to Minnesota for Telfair, Smith and Madsen, which gives the Clips some much-needed depth. And the addition of Butler gives them depth at the shooting-guard position.
The Clippers now have a nice, young core of Griffin, Eric Gordon and Al Thornton, with seasoned veterans such as Baron Davis, Marcus Camby and Chris Kaman. I'm not ready to declare the Clippers playoff-bound, but they made major strides this summer in improving their talent and chemistry.
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4. Detroit Pistons
Key additions: Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers, Chris Wilcox, Ben Wallace
Key subtractions: Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace, Amir Johnson, Antonio McDyess, Arron Afflalo
The Pistons' moves this summer have been a little underwhelming. Since Detroit traded away Chauncey Billups for Iverson and his expiring contract, Pistons fans have patiently watched their team struggle for the first time in years. The silver lining the whole season was "Don't worry, great free agents are coming this summer to upgrade the team."
On one hand, Detroit GM Joe Dumars delivered. He signed Ben Gordon, arguably the best free agent on the market, and quickly followed that up by signing Villanueva, probably the best free-agent power forward he could get with the money he had left. The combination of Gordon and Villanueva is an upgrade over Iverson and Rasheed Wallace. The return of Ben Wallace also gives the Pistons some veteran leadership, rebounding and defense off the bench at their thinnest position -- center.
On the other hand, the Pistons are far from a lock to return to the Eastern Conference finals. They lost McDyess, whom they wanted to re-sign, and replaced him with Wilcox. Although Wilcox is talented, McDyess was a rock for Detroit. They have seven forwards and just two mediocre centers. Their first-round draft pick is 6-foot-11 and weighs 191 pounds -- meaning he's a few years away. And they have a new coach, John Kuester.
I've learned over the years not to second-guess Dumars -- he's usually right whenever everyone else thinks he's wrong -- but does anyone think this Pistons squad, as currently constructed, is good enough to win a title now or even in two or three years? If the answer is no, can Pistons fans live with being just plain old good?
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5. Washington Wizards
Key additions: Randy Foye, Mike Miller, Fabricio Oberto
Key subtractions: Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila
The Wizards traded the No. 5 pick in the draft -- along with Thomas, Songaila and Pecherov -- to the Wolves for Foye and Miller two days before the draft. Wanting to be serious contenders in the East next season, they didn't think they'd get a player with their first-round pick who would crack their rotation.
Foye gives them an athletic, dynamic scorer who can play both backcourt positions. And Miller gives them a shooter with deep range, something the Wizards have been missing. Throw in their signing of veteran big man Oberto, and they upgraded their frontline as well. If Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood both come back healthy and motivated, the Wizards could be a serious threat in the East.
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6. Boston Celtics
Key additions: Rasheed Wallace, Marquis Daniels, Shelden Williams
Key subtractions: Leon Powe, Mikki Moore
In limbo: Stephon Marbury (U)
GM Danny Ainge pulled off a coup of sorts by getting Wallace to accept a two-year deal. Sheed can be a pain to deal with at times, but he still has a lot of talent and gives the Celtics some much-needed depth on the front line. Getting Daniels was also a nice move. He's a versatile swingman who can play three positions for Boston, including the point. Look for him and Sheed to be the first two players off the bench for the Celtics this coming season. And re-signing Davis gives them even more depth on the front line. I think the Celtics are as deep as they've ever been in the Big Three era.
All the talk about trading Rajon Rondo seems to have cooled considerably, and that's probably a good thing for Boston. Rondo was its best player in the playoffs this past season, and I'm not sure how trading him would improve the team.
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7. Dallas Mavericks
Key additions: Shawn Marion, Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross, Tim Thomas
Key subtractions: Brandon Bass, Jerry Stackhouse, Antoine Wright, Devean George , Ryan Hollins
In limbo: Gerald Green (U)
Re-signing Jason Kidd was huge to the Mavs' effort to stay relevant in the West. So was the addition of Marion. Although his presence means the Mavs will play a pretty unconventional lineup, they clearly have added another terrific rebounder, defender and open-court player in Marion. The price was steep (five years, $39 million), but Marion is still a talent.
The downside is that the Mavs lost some serious frontcourt depth with Orlando shockingly matching their huge offer sheet for Gortat; the Mavs were hoping he would start for them. The Magic signed Brandon Bass away from the Mavs, too. So although you have to love Dallas' depth at the perimeter spots, its front line is looking shaky. The additions of Gooden and Thomas will shore that up their front line a bit, but neither player is the physical, low-post presence Dallas was looking for.
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8. Toronto Raptors
Key additions: Hedo Turkoglu, DeMar DeRozan, Marco Belinelli, Reggie Evans, Antoine Wright, Jarrett Jack, Rasho Nesterovic, Amir Johnson, Sonny Weems
Key subtractions: Shawn Marion, Jason Kapono, Anthony Parker, Carlos Delfino, Roko Ukic, Joey Graham
The Raptors made a nice free-agent addition in Turkoglu. Although they definitely overpaid to get him, he's a great fit on a Toronto team that values spacing, shooting and skilled forwards.
The Raptors also swung for the fences in the draft, landing DeRozan, who has as much athletic upside as any rookie. By agreeing to the sign-and-trade for Marion, the team freed up more cap space and was able to land Jack (the Pacers aren't expected to match the offer), a very solid backup guard who can play both backcourt positions.
Wright and Belinelli should also help the Raptors, and one of those two could end up being the starting 2-guard until DeRozan is ready to roll. Belinelli is especially intriguing given his ability to shoot the long ball. GM Bryan Colangelo understands European players and may be able to get the best out of him. The addition of Johnson also gives the team another long, athletic forward with upside should Bosh bolt next summer.
Although I don't think these moves suddenly make the Raptors a serious contender, I do think they're a playoff team. Given last year's disaster, that's pretty significant.
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9. Cleveland Cavaliers
Key additions: Shaquille O'Neal, Anderson Varejao, Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon, Leon Powe, Rob Kurz
Key subtractions: Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, Joe Smith
In limbo: Wally Szczerbiak (U)
I thought the future was now in Cleveland, but if it is, GM Danny Ferry has his work cut out for him. Trading for Shaq was a good deal and made a big splash in the media, but does anyone really believe Shaq has enough left to put the Cavs over the top?
The Cavs also worked to get their biggest free agent, Varejao, locked up to a six-year, $50 million deal. Adding Moon gives them some athleticism to back-up LeBron. And the addition of Parker gives them another veteran presence in their backcourt.
However, not everything's rosy in Cleveland. The Cavs have been spurned by a number of free-agent targets, including Charlie Villanueva, Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza. Two of the key players they added are in their mid-30s. And they had a really odd draft, passing on proven college players such as Sam Young and DeJuan Blair for virtual unknown Christian Eyenga. The Cavs will, once again, be among the favorites to win it all in 2010. But I'm not sure they've added enough pieces for the future to convince LeBron James to stay.
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10. Atlanta Hawks
Key additions: Jason Collins, Jamal Crawford, Jeff Teague, Joe Smith
Key subtractions: Speedy Claxton, Acie Law, Solomon Jones, Ronald Murray
GM Rick Sund has had a busy, productive summer. He solidified his backcourt by re-signing free agent Mike Bibby, trading for combo guard Crawford and drafting uber-athletic combo guard Teague. He has also strengthend his front court by locking up two key players -- Marvin Williams and Zaza Pachulia -- to long term deals and signing veteran Joe Smith. And now the word is that the Hawks are trying to get Joe Johnson locked up to a long-term extension.
On one hand, these moves signal that the Hawks had a terrific summer. With the exception of Josh Childress, they were able to re-sign all of their key free agents and added some talent in Crawford and Teague. However, the big question is whether they improved enough to truly compete with the Magic, Cavs and Celtics for an Eastern Conference crown. They will be dangerous, sure, but they're probably still one piece away from being a contender.
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11. Portland Trail Blazers
Key additions: Andre Miller, Ime Udoka
Key subtractions: Sergio Rodriguez, Channing Frye
In limbo: Raef LaFrentz (U)
Kevin Pritchard is the most active GM in the league. That's why it's such a shock to see him striking out this summer. The Blazers made a huge pitch to Hedo Turkoglu but were left at the altar for the more cosmopolitan Raptors. Then they gave a huge $32 million offer sheet to Paul Millsap, only to see the Jazz match it a few days later. They also made a run at a David Lee sign-and-trade, but could not get the Knicks to cooperate.
The Blazers' draft was a disappointment, as well. Pritchard tried to move up high in the draft but couldn't. He ended up taking Spanish forward Victor Claver, who won't play in the league for at least the next two years.
However, on Friday, Pritchard worked out a deal with veteran point guard Andre Miller, who is the calming presence the team was looking for. He won't be the leader of the team, but his steadiness combined with his ability to post up other guards will come in handy. Signing Miller isn't a home run for Pritchard, but it's a solid upgrade over Steve Blake.
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12. New Orleans Hornets
Key additions: Emeka Okafor, Ike Diogu, Darren Collison, Bobby Brown, Darius Songailia
Key subtractions: Tyson Chandler, Rasual Butler, Antonio Daniels, Melvin Ely, Ryan Bowen
In limbo: Melvin Ely (U), Ryan Bowen (U)
The Hornets, mired in financial problems, had been quiet for most of July. But the swap of Tyson Chandler for Emeka Okafor might be just what the Hornets need to re-energize their team. Okafor isn't quite the defender that Chandler is, but he's a much better offensive player and a stronger shot-blocker. Over the course of the past two seasons, Okafor has stayed healthier than Chandler, too.
To top things off, the Hornets actually save a little money with Okafor for the next two years. After that they'll have to pay him for another two years past Chandler's contract, but Okafor will be in his prime by then (he is currently 26). And trading Butler to the Clippers allowed the Hornets to save nearly $8 million, though it cost them a key player in their rotation.
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13. Indiana Pacers
Key additions: Tyler Hansbrough, Dahntay Jones, Earl Watson, Solomon Jones, Luther Head
Key subtractions: Jarrett Jack, Jamaal Tinsley, Rasho Nesterovic, Marquis Daniels, Maceo Baston
I like the strategy Larry Bird and David Morway are employing in Indiana. They aren't swinging for the fences with their transactions. Instead, they are going for singles and doubles, trying to build a solid, young and inexpensive nucleus around Danny Granger and a lot of cap space in the summer of 2011. No, Hansbrough isn't a sexy addition, but he should be in the league for 10 years, maybe even as a starter. And he brings the toughness and energy the Pacers need. Adding Dahntay Jones on the perimeter delivers another tough, no-nonsense player who can guard multiple positions. Watson gives them a veteran point guard to spell T.J. Ford for a year. And Solomon Jones, though very raw, is the young, athletic shot-blocker the team lacks.
The other piece of good news is that the Pacers worked out a long-awaited buyout of Tinsley, removing a big distraction and saving some serious cash in the process. If Hansbrough plays as well as he did in Summer League and Mike Dunleavy comes back healthy, they could make a run at the playoffs next season. The bad news is that even if all those things happen, the Pacers are still one more star player from being a serious threat in the East. At some point, Bird and Morway are going to have to do something bold if they want to be real contenders in the East.
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14. Utah Jazz
Key additions: Eric Maynor
Key subtractions: Jarron Collins, Morris Almond, Brevin Knight
The Jazz have had a very costly summer. Carlos Boozer decided to return to the team for another season at $12.7 million. Then the Jazz extended Mehmet Okur's contract. Finally, they matched Paul Millsap's four-year, $32 million offer sheet from the Blazers, swallowing the hefty $5.6 million signing bonus Portland threw in. Now things get really interesting because the Jazz are set to incur major luxury-tax penalties this season, a big no-no in past years in Utah. That has led GM Kevin O'Connor to actively pursue trades for Boozer. The Jazz have talked deals with the Bulls, Mavs, Heat and Pistons but as of the first day of training camp, Boozer is still with the team. If everyone is healthy, the Jazz should have great depth on their front line and if Boozer plays well, he should have more value as the trade deadline approaches.
The addition of Maynor was the most underrated move of the draft. He'll be a perfect backup for Deron Williams. Overall, the Jazz are on pace to be really good again next season -- just at a much higher price tag.
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15. New York Knicks
Key additions: Jordan Hill, Toney Douglas, Darko Milicic
Key subtractions: Quentin Richardson
GM Donnie Walsh is rolling the dice that the Knicks will come up big in free agency next summer. He held firm in contract negotiations with free agents David Lee and Nate Robinson and after a summer of wrangling, got both players to sign one-year deals. That's nice for this season, but both will be unrestricted free agents next year and there's a good chance the Knicks could lose them both.
The Knicks didn't get what they wanted in the draft -- a point guard of the future in either Ricky Rubio or Stephen Curry -- but they did draft the best available players with their two first-round picks. Add in the trade of Milicic for Richardson, and the Knicks upgraded their front line.
They'll have to trade Eddy Curry or Jared Jeffries to clear more cap room in the summer of 2010. But with the cap number likely falling into the $53 million area next summer, will they even have enough cash to lure a top-flight free agent?
Based on what the Knicks have done so far this summer, their roster has gotten a little better. But Knicks fans are expecting much, much more next season. The pressure is really on.
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16. Golden State Warriors
Key additions: Stephen Curry, Acie Law, Speedy Claxton, Devean George, Mikki Moore
Key subtractions: Jamal Crawford, Marco Belinelli, Rob Kurz
In limbo: None
The Warriors could've gotten a lot higher in the rankings had they pulled off the Amare Stoudemire deal. But as it stands right now, they've gotten marginally better.
Golden State thinks Curry will be perfect in a backcourt with Monta Ellis. I'm not sure I can argue with that. I thought Curry was a great pick on draft night. However, Curry won't be enough to push the Warriors back into the playoffs. The team has a strange mix of veterans and young players who all have talent, but don't fit together incredibly well. If they could find a way to move Corey Maggette or Stephen Jackson, I think they would be a lot better in the long term.
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17. Oklahoma City Thunder
Key additions: James Harden, B.J. Mullens, Etan Thomas, Kevin Ollie
Key subtractions: Earl Watson, Chucky Atkins, Damien Wilkins, Desmond Mason
In limbo: Robert Swift (U)
The Thunder are the "it" team among NBA junkies, who have a crush on Sam Presti for quickly turning a bad team into the best young team in the league. Kevin Durant is a superstar in the making. Russell Westbrook could be special. And Harden is a nice addition: a savvy guard with an old-school game who will be fine playing third fiddle to Durant and Westbrook. If you factor in that last year's other draft pick, Serge Ibaka, has been looking pretty good in summer league and that Mullens has enormous potential, the Thunder appear to be bursting at the seams with talent.
However, their reticence to make a play in the free-agent market and their voiding of the Tyson Chandler deal in February mean the Thunder won't be much better than the squad that suited up last season. Eventually, the Thunder will have to take some risks and add some veterans into the mix. I don't blame Presti for being patient, but he's probably going to have to make a big move next year.
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18. Sacramento Kings
Key additions: Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi, Sergio Rodriguez, Sean May, Desmond Mason
Key subtractions: Ike Diogu, Bobby Jackson, Rashad McCants
The Kings clearly are in rebuilding mode and aren't spending any money. However, they did make a few nice moves on draft night. Evans is a terrific, physical slasher who knows how to score. Casspi is tough as nails and has a high-energy game.
Put them together with the acquisition of Andres Nocioni in February, and you no longer can call the Kings soft. On the other hand, you also can't call the Kings good. Although the additions of Evans and Casspi help Sacramento's future, it's going to be a long time before you see Sacramento in the playoffs again.
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19. Los Angeles Lakers
Key additions: Ron Artest
Key subtractions: Trevor Ariza
The Lakers ended the season on the ultimate high of winning a championship and after a lot of handwringing this summer, look poised, once again, to be the team to beat in the West.
Getting Lamar Odom back at a very reasonable, 4 year, $33 million (with only the first three years guaranteed) was perhaps the best bargain of the summer. The Lakers needed Odom's versatility and familiarity with Phil Jackson's system. More importantly, they needed his unselfishness. It's not easy playing with Kobe Bryant, but Odom has always handled it as well as anyone.
On the downside, I'm not a fan of the Trevor Ariza for Ron Artest swap.
I know Artest is a talent, but he's unreliable, dominates the ball and seems to have lost a step on the defensive end. He's done a good job of staying out of serious trouble the past two seasons, but the Rockets will tell you privately that he was a major handful to control. Now that he's Tweeting 10 times a day, that stuff will be harder to hide.
For the Lakers to pass the torch from Ariza, who was just coming into his own, to Artest is a risk I just don't understand. Ariza was content playing defense and being the fourth option on the floor. Will Artest? And Artest turns 30 in early November ... Ariza was just 24. Had this been a one or two year contract, I'd feel better about for the Lakers. But five years? To me the only question is ... how long will it take for them to regret it?
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20. Charlotte Bobcats
Key additions: Tyson Chandler, Gerald Henderson, Derrick Brown, Flip Murray
Key subtractions: Emeka Okafor, Sean May
With Larry Brown trading half his roster last season, one would expect he'd trade the other half this summer. Right on cue, the Bobcats swapped their cornerstone player, Emeka Okafor, for the Hornets' Tyson Chandler in a deal that's hard to fathom. While Chandler is taller and a little better as a defender, he provides little on offense, isn't much of a shot-blocker and had a number of injury issues last season -- the Thunder rescinded a deal for him at the February trade deadline because of his toe injury. While the Bobcats will save a lot of money with this trade starting in 2011 (assuming they don't re-sign Chandler) I don't think it makes them better. The team also stands to lose point guard Raymond Felton to free agency next summer after he took the team's one-year qualifying offer. The negotiations between the Bobcats and Felton didn't go so well this summer.
On the draft front, Henderson was a solid addition, but he struggled mightily in Summer League (in his defense, he was playing with the Timberwolves' squad). And the Cats have yet to come to terms with last season's starting point guard, Raymond Felton.
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21. Houston Rockets
Key additions: Trevor Ariza, David Andersen, Rashad McCants
Key subtractions: Ron Artest, Dikembe Mutombo, Von Wafer
It's tough to be a Houston fan right now. Yao Ming likely will miss the entire season with a foot injury. Tracy McGrady is rehabbing again, but you have to wonder whether he'll ever be healthy. Artest, who did such a great job of harassing Kobe Bryant in the playoffs, decided that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
The good news is the Rockets have dropped the distraction of Artest. For all the talent, he was difficult to manage. They replaced him with Ariza, who isn't as talented but is much younger and coming off of a breakout season. Meanwhile, the Rockets also acquired Andersen, who is a veteran big man from the Euroleague. But it's unclear how his game will translate to the NBA.
Put all that together, and it looks as if the Rockets could be a team in free fall in the West next season. Although the pickup of Ariza is a good long-term move, the loss of Yao and McGrady's uncertain future put them in a tough situation.
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22. Phoenix Suns
Key additions: Channing Frye, Earl Clark
Key subtractions: Shaquille O'Neal, Matt Barnes
In limbo: Stromile Swift (U)
Phoenix GM Steve Kerr broke up one of the most enjoyable teams in NBA history to get O'Neal in 2008. But within about a year, the Suns went from title contender to lottery team. Last month, the Suns gave Shaq away for cap relief.
It appeared the team was beginning to embark on a major rebuilding project. However, there have been more recent signs that the Suns are still trying to compete. Talks of an Amare Stoudemire trade have cooled considerably; they signed Grant Hill and Frye; and they agreed to a contract extension with Steve Nash.
Still, do the Suns have enough to make a serious run in the West? With the Lakers still looking dominant, the Nuggets still a threat, and the Spurs and Mavs vastly improved, it's going to be harder than ever.
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23. Miami Heat
Key additions: Quentin Richardson
Key subtractions: Jamario Moon, Mark Blount, Luther Head
The Heat have done virtually nothing this summer, much to the chagrin of soon-to-be free agent Dwyane Wade. The team tried to convince Lamar Odom to come and had talked about a deal for Carlos Boozer. But so far the only key addition has been Richardson. He'll help with shooting and veteran leadership, but he is injury prone and won't make a huge difference.
While some may criticize the Heat for standing pat, I think it's a good move. The team is wisely trying to save its money for next summer, when it should have room to add another great player, such as Chris Bosh, to the roster.
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24. Denver Nuggets
Key additions: Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, Malik Allen, Joey Graham
Key subtractions: Dahntay Jones, Linas Kleiza
In limbo: None
The Nuggets have some serious cap issues that has hurt their depth this summer. Kleiza, a key backup, bolted for Greece. Jones, their starter at the 2 and defensive specialist, left for Indiana. The pickup of Lawson was a nice draft-night move, and they were quick to re-sign Chris Andersen. Their key players are all there, but for a team that lacked depth last season, they're even thinner this season.
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25. Chicago Bulls
Key additions: James Johnson, Taj Gibson, Jannero Pargo
Key subtractions: Ben Gordon, Tim Thomas
The Bulls made a big, bold move at the trade deadline in February and gave the Celtics all they could handle in the first round of the playoffs. But since then, things haven't gone well. They lost their best scorer, Gordon, to the Pistons. The word is they're shopping their starting power forward, Tyrus Thomas. And I'm still scratching my head a little concerning their draft.
The Bulls still have lots of talent, but losing Gordon means they've taken a step back.
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26. Philadelphia 76ers
Key additions: Jrue Holiday, Jason Kapono, Primoz Brezec, Rodney Carney
Key subtractions: Andre Miller, Reggie Evans, Theo Ratliff, Donyell Marshall, Kareem Rush
It's been a tough summer for Sixers fans. Last year the Sixers were doing backflips over landing Elton Brand. This year, things are much tougher. Free agent point guard Andre Miller bolted to the Blazers and the team doesn't have the financial wiggle room to make another big splash to pair with Brand. Miller was the glue and a driving force for that team, and I don't think a combo of Lou Williams and rookie Jrue Holiday can replace him.
On a more positive note, the Sixers did land Jason Kapono earlier in the summer. They desperately needed shooting, so he's a good fit. And even though Holiday isn't ready, he was a great pick in the second half of the draft.
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27. New Jersey Nets
Key additions: Courtney Lee, Terrence Williams, Rafer Alston, Tony Battie
Key subtractions: Vince Carter, Ryan Anderson, Maurice Ager
The Nets' draft day was pretty eventful as, for the second straight year, they made a major trade to cut payroll. Last year, they shipped out Richard Jefferson (for Yi Jianlian and future cap space). This year, it was Carter (for Lee and future cap space).
After the Carter trade, the Nets are going to take a pretty big step backward this season, but they'll take solace in the additions of Lee and Williams, the No. 11 pick. Lee showed a lot of promise as a "Rip Hamilton Jr." in the playoffs, and although he's no Vince Carter, he should be a solid partner in the backcourt with Devin Harris. Williams has the talent of a top-five pick, with great size and athleticism -- he can do just about everything but shoot.
The ultimate success of the Nets' long-range plan won't be known until next summer, when they will have a lot of cap room. If they sign LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, or another star, New Jersey honchos Rod Thorn and Kiki Vandeweghe will look like geniuses. If they don't, their plan suffers a major setback.
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28. Minnesota Timberwolves
Key additions: Ramon Sessions, Antonio Daniels, Jonny Flynn, Wayne Ellington, Oleksiy Pecherov, Damien Wilkins, Ryan Hollins, Mark Blount, Sahsa Pavlovic
Key subtractions: Randy Foye, Mike Miller, Sebastian Telfair, Craig Smith, Mark Madsen, Kevin Ollie, Rodney Carney
The Timberwolves had one of the weirdest drafts in NBA history, including the selection of point guards with both of their lottery picks. Two months later, the Wolves struck out when their first selection, Ricky Rubio, announced that he was signing a five-year deal with FC Barcelona. The Wolves badly mishandled the negotions and, in the end, couldn't convince Rubio to come. There's now a serious question about whether Rubio will ever play for the Wolves.
So, to recap: The Wolves sent away two key players on their roster, Foye and Miller, in exchange for some undesirable contracts and a player -- Rubio -- who won't come to the NBA until the 2011 season at the earliest. Kahn quickly tried to remedy the situation by signing the best free agent point guard on the market, Ramon Sessions, to a four-year deal. The Wolves got a good deal financially, but his signing doesn't totally take away the sting of losing Rubio.
While the team appears to be considerably worse off than it was going into the draft and should compete for the worst record in the league next year, there is some good news. I really like that the hire of Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis as the new head coach. He's been mentored by two of the best and has plenty of experience as an assistant. But for the next two years, expect lots of pain Wolves fans.
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29. Memphis Grizzlies
Key additions: Allen Iverson, Zach Randolph, Hasheem Thabeet, DeMarre Carroll, Sam Young
Key subtractions: Darko Milicic, Quinton Ross, Hakim Warrick
In limbo: None
Here's my nomination for the Grizzlies new marketing campaign this year: Gandalf the Grey standing at center court, pounding his staff and screaming "You shall not pass!!!!!"
It's been one of the most bizarre summer's in Grizzlies' history and that's saying something. It was capped in September with the signing of Allen Iverson to a one-year deal. He joins fellow "1 on 5" aficionado Zach Randolph on a team that many of us thought was an up-and-coming group of youngsters.
Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, Mike Conley and young big man Marc Gasol were, we thought, a great young core to build around. Add rookies Hasheem Thabeet, Sam Young and DeMarre Carroll along with second-year forward Darrell Arthur and the Grizzlies were loaded with young talent. But the addition of two veterans known for their selfishness and chemistry killing attitudes seem like a bizarre addition to the mix. Yes, both Iverson and Randolph are talented scorers. But they both do it to the detriment of the other players on the court.
The Grizzlies may actually win a few more games than they did last year, and will probably sell more tickets (the real reason I think owner Michael Heisley signed Iverson) but they will do it at their peril of the development of their youngsters.
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30. Milwaukee Bucks
Key additions: Brandon Jennings, Hakim Warrick, Carlos Delfino, Roko Ukic
Key subtractions: Ramon Sessions, Richard Jefferson, Charlie Villanueva, Keith Bogans
The Bucks took a serious step back when they shipped Jefferson off to the Spurs for nonguaranteed contracts and didn't give Villanueva a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted, instead of a restricted, free agent. That move essentially handed him over to the Pistons for nothing. Then the team put themselves in a position to be unable to sign Ramon Sessions and will likely lose him to the Timberwolves in a few days.
In the place of Jefferson, Villanueva and Sessions the Bucks are banking on young, unproven talents. Their lottery pick, Jennings, is a terrific athlete who can score like crazy. He needs to get stronger, work on his jump shot and settle down a bit, but he has the tools to be great. Last year's lottery pick, Joe Alexander, will step into Jefferson's shoes. He's another super athlete, but he looked lost for most of his rookie campaign. Delfino gives them a solid guard off the bench. And replacing Villanueva will be Warrick and Ersan Ilyasova. Warrick is a good offensive player, but lacks any defensive presence. Ilyasova is a young, up-and-coming Turkish player working on his second stint in the league.
The bottom line is that the Bucks are in major rebuilding mode. The results on the floor won't be pretty, but if Jennings and Alexander in particular start to show returns, the Bucks will have a solid base to build on. If they don't, it's going to be a long time before we see the Bucks in the playoffs again.
Ranking the summer moves
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By Chad Ford
ESPN.com
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Fernando Medina/Getty Images
After losing in the Finals, Orlando has a new look. Will VC help lift the Magic to their first NBA title?
Summer is over and so is the illusion that comes with it -- the idea almost every team in the league can be a winner.
You know the feeling: If my team can just make a big trade or a huge free-agent acquisition or hit a home run in the lottery, maybe next season will be different.
With training camp upon us, fans are settling into either the exciting or harsh realties of what their team did this summer.
2009-10 PLAYER MOVEMENT
Keep track of which players each team added and lost this offseason. Chart
We have seen one of the most active summers in NBA history, with Shaq, Vince Carter, Ron Artest, Hedo Turkoglu, Richard Jefferson, Andre Miller, Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace, Trevor Ariza, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph changing addresses and the NBA draft also reshaping rosters.
We've also seen a fair share of disappointments. The Blazers lost out on a chance to sign Turkoglu at the last second. The Magic surprised the Mavs by matching Marcin Gortat's offer sheet. And a few key free agents are still waiting for new homes.
Over the past two months, I've been ranking how each team in the league has performed so far in remaking its roster, considering the situation it faced and the moves it has made. This isn't a ranking of which are the best teams in the league, just a device to track which teams have improved and which teams haven't.
The teams are ranked 1 to 30, for the final rankings of the summer:
Key: (U) = Unrestricted Free Agent; (R) = Restricted Free Agent
1. San Antonio Spurs
Key additions: Richard Jefferson, DeJuan Blair, Antonio McDyess, Theo Ratliff, Keith Bogans
Key subtractions: Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto, Kurt Thomas, Drew Gooden, Ime Udoka
In limbo: Jacque Vaughn (U)
The Spurs always seem to find a way to turn a little into a lot. They turned three aging players past their primes into Jefferson, an athletic forward at the peak of his game. They added McDyess to play the 4. McDyess is getting older, but he is still very productive and is a model citizen on and off the court.
And even without a first-round pick in this year's draft, San Antonio still was able to come away with some terrific players in the second round. Specifically, Pittsburgh's Blair, who was the best rebounder in college basketball and is a beast in the paint. If his knees stay sturdy, he'll go down as the steal of the draft. Overall, the Spurs have improved their team dramatically and are, once again, serious contenders for an NBA title.
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2. Orlando Magic
Key additions: Vince Carter, Ryan Anderson, Brandon Bass, Matt Barnes, Jason Williams
Key subtractions: Hedo Turkoglu, Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston, Tony Battie
In limbo: Adonal Foyle (U), Tyronn Lue (U)
Orlando decided to throw financial caution to the wind this summer and went on a spending spree. The result is one of the deepest teams in the league and one that should challenge for the NBA championship again next season. For starters, they essentially swapped Turkoglu and Lee for Carter and Anderson. The gamble was that Turkoglu wasn't worth the $50 million he was looking for in the free-agent market and that Carter, whose contract has only two years of guaranteed money remaining, can do as good a job (or better) as Turkoglu. The addition of Bass also helps. The Magic desperately needed toughness, rebounding and depth at the 4, and Bass delivers on all accounts. Barnes provides more depth and 3-point shooting at small forward.
But the big move was the Magic's deciding to match Marcin Gortat's huge offer sheet from the Mavs. Without Gortat, the Magic would have had virtually no depth at center. Now, with him back in the mix, they are deep at virtually every position and look like the favorites to win the East.
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3. Los Angeles Clippers
Key additions: Blake Griffin, Sebastian Telfair, Craig Smith, Rasual Butler
Key subtractions: Zach Randolph, Fred Jones
For the Clippers faithful looking for a glimmer of hope, this has been your summer. Not only did the Clips beat the lottery odds and land the best pick in the draft -- Blake Griffin -- they also were able to unload Randolph for the expiring contract of Quentin Richardson. Then the Clippers turned around and shipped Richardson to Minnesota for Telfair, Smith and Madsen, which gives the Clips some much-needed depth. And the addition of Butler gives them depth at the shooting-guard position.
The Clippers now have a nice, young core of Griffin, Eric Gordon and Al Thornton, with seasoned veterans such as Baron Davis, Marcus Camby and Chris Kaman. I'm not ready to declare the Clippers playoff-bound, but they made major strides this summer in improving their talent and chemistry.
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4. Detroit Pistons
Key additions: Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers, Chris Wilcox, Ben Wallace
Key subtractions: Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace, Amir Johnson, Antonio McDyess, Arron Afflalo
The Pistons' moves this summer have been a little underwhelming. Since Detroit traded away Chauncey Billups for Iverson and his expiring contract, Pistons fans have patiently watched their team struggle for the first time in years. The silver lining the whole season was "Don't worry, great free agents are coming this summer to upgrade the team."
On one hand, Detroit GM Joe Dumars delivered. He signed Ben Gordon, arguably the best free agent on the market, and quickly followed that up by signing Villanueva, probably the best free-agent power forward he could get with the money he had left. The combination of Gordon and Villanueva is an upgrade over Iverson and Rasheed Wallace. The return of Ben Wallace also gives the Pistons some veteran leadership, rebounding and defense off the bench at their thinnest position -- center.
On the other hand, the Pistons are far from a lock to return to the Eastern Conference finals. They lost McDyess, whom they wanted to re-sign, and replaced him with Wilcox. Although Wilcox is talented, McDyess was a rock for Detroit. They have seven forwards and just two mediocre centers. Their first-round draft pick is 6-foot-11 and weighs 191 pounds -- meaning he's a few years away. And they have a new coach, John Kuester.
I've learned over the years not to second-guess Dumars -- he's usually right whenever everyone else thinks he's wrong -- but does anyone think this Pistons squad, as currently constructed, is good enough to win a title now or even in two or three years? If the answer is no, can Pistons fans live with being just plain old good?
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5. Washington Wizards
Key additions: Randy Foye, Mike Miller, Fabricio Oberto
Key subtractions: Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila
The Wizards traded the No. 5 pick in the draft -- along with Thomas, Songaila and Pecherov -- to the Wolves for Foye and Miller two days before the draft. Wanting to be serious contenders in the East next season, they didn't think they'd get a player with their first-round pick who would crack their rotation.
Foye gives them an athletic, dynamic scorer who can play both backcourt positions. And Miller gives them a shooter with deep range, something the Wizards have been missing. Throw in their signing of veteran big man Oberto, and they upgraded their frontline as well. If Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood both come back healthy and motivated, the Wizards could be a serious threat in the East.
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6. Boston Celtics
Key additions: Rasheed Wallace, Marquis Daniels, Shelden Williams
Key subtractions: Leon Powe, Mikki Moore
In limbo: Stephon Marbury (U)
GM Danny Ainge pulled off a coup of sorts by getting Wallace to accept a two-year deal. Sheed can be a pain to deal with at times, but he still has a lot of talent and gives the Celtics some much-needed depth on the front line. Getting Daniels was also a nice move. He's a versatile swingman who can play three positions for Boston, including the point. Look for him and Sheed to be the first two players off the bench for the Celtics this coming season. And re-signing Davis gives them even more depth on the front line. I think the Celtics are as deep as they've ever been in the Big Three era.
All the talk about trading Rajon Rondo seems to have cooled considerably, and that's probably a good thing for Boston. Rondo was its best player in the playoffs this past season, and I'm not sure how trading him would improve the team.
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7. Dallas Mavericks
Key additions: Shawn Marion, Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross, Tim Thomas
Key subtractions: Brandon Bass, Jerry Stackhouse, Antoine Wright, Devean George , Ryan Hollins
In limbo: Gerald Green (U)
Re-signing Jason Kidd was huge to the Mavs' effort to stay relevant in the West. So was the addition of Marion. Although his presence means the Mavs will play a pretty unconventional lineup, they clearly have added another terrific rebounder, defender and open-court player in Marion. The price was steep (five years, $39 million), but Marion is still a talent.
The downside is that the Mavs lost some serious frontcourt depth with Orlando shockingly matching their huge offer sheet for Gortat; the Mavs were hoping he would start for them. The Magic signed Brandon Bass away from the Mavs, too. So although you have to love Dallas' depth at the perimeter spots, its front line is looking shaky. The additions of Gooden and Thomas will shore that up their front line a bit, but neither player is the physical, low-post presence Dallas was looking for.
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8. Toronto Raptors
Key additions: Hedo Turkoglu, DeMar DeRozan, Marco Belinelli, Reggie Evans, Antoine Wright, Jarrett Jack, Rasho Nesterovic, Amir Johnson, Sonny Weems
Key subtractions: Shawn Marion, Jason Kapono, Anthony Parker, Carlos Delfino, Roko Ukic, Joey Graham
The Raptors made a nice free-agent addition in Turkoglu. Although they definitely overpaid to get him, he's a great fit on a Toronto team that values spacing, shooting and skilled forwards.
The Raptors also swung for the fences in the draft, landing DeRozan, who has as much athletic upside as any rookie. By agreeing to the sign-and-trade for Marion, the team freed up more cap space and was able to land Jack (the Pacers aren't expected to match the offer), a very solid backup guard who can play both backcourt positions.
Wright and Belinelli should also help the Raptors, and one of those two could end up being the starting 2-guard until DeRozan is ready to roll. Belinelli is especially intriguing given his ability to shoot the long ball. GM Bryan Colangelo understands European players and may be able to get the best out of him. The addition of Johnson also gives the team another long, athletic forward with upside should Bosh bolt next summer.
Although I don't think these moves suddenly make the Raptors a serious contender, I do think they're a playoff team. Given last year's disaster, that's pretty significant.
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9. Cleveland Cavaliers
Key additions: Shaquille O'Neal, Anderson Varejao, Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon, Leon Powe, Rob Kurz
Key subtractions: Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, Joe Smith
In limbo: Wally Szczerbiak (U)
I thought the future was now in Cleveland, but if it is, GM Danny Ferry has his work cut out for him. Trading for Shaq was a good deal and made a big splash in the media, but does anyone really believe Shaq has enough left to put the Cavs over the top?
The Cavs also worked to get their biggest free agent, Varejao, locked up to a six-year, $50 million deal. Adding Moon gives them some athleticism to back-up LeBron. And the addition of Parker gives them another veteran presence in their backcourt.
However, not everything's rosy in Cleveland. The Cavs have been spurned by a number of free-agent targets, including Charlie Villanueva, Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza. Two of the key players they added are in their mid-30s. And they had a really odd draft, passing on proven college players such as Sam Young and DeJuan Blair for virtual unknown Christian Eyenga. The Cavs will, once again, be among the favorites to win it all in 2010. But I'm not sure they've added enough pieces for the future to convince LeBron James to stay.
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10. Atlanta Hawks
Key additions: Jason Collins, Jamal Crawford, Jeff Teague, Joe Smith
Key subtractions: Speedy Claxton, Acie Law, Solomon Jones, Ronald Murray
GM Rick Sund has had a busy, productive summer. He solidified his backcourt by re-signing free agent Mike Bibby, trading for combo guard Crawford and drafting uber-athletic combo guard Teague. He has also strengthend his front court by locking up two key players -- Marvin Williams and Zaza Pachulia -- to long term deals and signing veteran Joe Smith. And now the word is that the Hawks are trying to get Joe Johnson locked up to a long-term extension.
On one hand, these moves signal that the Hawks had a terrific summer. With the exception of Josh Childress, they were able to re-sign all of their key free agents and added some talent in Crawford and Teague. However, the big question is whether they improved enough to truly compete with the Magic, Cavs and Celtics for an Eastern Conference crown. They will be dangerous, sure, but they're probably still one piece away from being a contender.
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11. Portland Trail Blazers
Key additions: Andre Miller, Ime Udoka
Key subtractions: Sergio Rodriguez, Channing Frye
In limbo: Raef LaFrentz (U)
Kevin Pritchard is the most active GM in the league. That's why it's such a shock to see him striking out this summer. The Blazers made a huge pitch to Hedo Turkoglu but were left at the altar for the more cosmopolitan Raptors. Then they gave a huge $32 million offer sheet to Paul Millsap, only to see the Jazz match it a few days later. They also made a run at a David Lee sign-and-trade, but could not get the Knicks to cooperate.
The Blazers' draft was a disappointment, as well. Pritchard tried to move up high in the draft but couldn't. He ended up taking Spanish forward Victor Claver, who won't play in the league for at least the next two years.
However, on Friday, Pritchard worked out a deal with veteran point guard Andre Miller, who is the calming presence the team was looking for. He won't be the leader of the team, but his steadiness combined with his ability to post up other guards will come in handy. Signing Miller isn't a home run for Pritchard, but it's a solid upgrade over Steve Blake.
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12. New Orleans Hornets
Key additions: Emeka Okafor, Ike Diogu, Darren Collison, Bobby Brown, Darius Songailia
Key subtractions: Tyson Chandler, Rasual Butler, Antonio Daniels, Melvin Ely, Ryan Bowen
In limbo: Melvin Ely (U), Ryan Bowen (U)
The Hornets, mired in financial problems, had been quiet for most of July. But the swap of Tyson Chandler for Emeka Okafor might be just what the Hornets need to re-energize their team. Okafor isn't quite the defender that Chandler is, but he's a much better offensive player and a stronger shot-blocker. Over the course of the past two seasons, Okafor has stayed healthier than Chandler, too.
To top things off, the Hornets actually save a little money with Okafor for the next two years. After that they'll have to pay him for another two years past Chandler's contract, but Okafor will be in his prime by then (he is currently 26). And trading Butler to the Clippers allowed the Hornets to save nearly $8 million, though it cost them a key player in their rotation.
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13. Indiana Pacers
Key additions: Tyler Hansbrough, Dahntay Jones, Earl Watson, Solomon Jones, Luther Head
Key subtractions: Jarrett Jack, Jamaal Tinsley, Rasho Nesterovic, Marquis Daniels, Maceo Baston
I like the strategy Larry Bird and David Morway are employing in Indiana. They aren't swinging for the fences with their transactions. Instead, they are going for singles and doubles, trying to build a solid, young and inexpensive nucleus around Danny Granger and a lot of cap space in the summer of 2011. No, Hansbrough isn't a sexy addition, but he should be in the league for 10 years, maybe even as a starter. And he brings the toughness and energy the Pacers need. Adding Dahntay Jones on the perimeter delivers another tough, no-nonsense player who can guard multiple positions. Watson gives them a veteran point guard to spell T.J. Ford for a year. And Solomon Jones, though very raw, is the young, athletic shot-blocker the team lacks.
The other piece of good news is that the Pacers worked out a long-awaited buyout of Tinsley, removing a big distraction and saving some serious cash in the process. If Hansbrough plays as well as he did in Summer League and Mike Dunleavy comes back healthy, they could make a run at the playoffs next season. The bad news is that even if all those things happen, the Pacers are still one more star player from being a serious threat in the East. At some point, Bird and Morway are going to have to do something bold if they want to be real contenders in the East.
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14. Utah Jazz
Key additions: Eric Maynor
Key subtractions: Jarron Collins, Morris Almond, Brevin Knight
The Jazz have had a very costly summer. Carlos Boozer decided to return to the team for another season at $12.7 million. Then the Jazz extended Mehmet Okur's contract. Finally, they matched Paul Millsap's four-year, $32 million offer sheet from the Blazers, swallowing the hefty $5.6 million signing bonus Portland threw in. Now things get really interesting because the Jazz are set to incur major luxury-tax penalties this season, a big no-no in past years in Utah. That has led GM Kevin O'Connor to actively pursue trades for Boozer. The Jazz have talked deals with the Bulls, Mavs, Heat and Pistons but as of the first day of training camp, Boozer is still with the team. If everyone is healthy, the Jazz should have great depth on their front line and if Boozer plays well, he should have more value as the trade deadline approaches.
The addition of Maynor was the most underrated move of the draft. He'll be a perfect backup for Deron Williams. Overall, the Jazz are on pace to be really good again next season -- just at a much higher price tag.
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15. New York Knicks
Key additions: Jordan Hill, Toney Douglas, Darko Milicic
Key subtractions: Quentin Richardson
GM Donnie Walsh is rolling the dice that the Knicks will come up big in free agency next summer. He held firm in contract negotiations with free agents David Lee and Nate Robinson and after a summer of wrangling, got both players to sign one-year deals. That's nice for this season, but both will be unrestricted free agents next year and there's a good chance the Knicks could lose them both.
The Knicks didn't get what they wanted in the draft -- a point guard of the future in either Ricky Rubio or Stephen Curry -- but they did draft the best available players with their two first-round picks. Add in the trade of Milicic for Richardson, and the Knicks upgraded their front line.
They'll have to trade Eddy Curry or Jared Jeffries to clear more cap room in the summer of 2010. But with the cap number likely falling into the $53 million area next summer, will they even have enough cash to lure a top-flight free agent?
Based on what the Knicks have done so far this summer, their roster has gotten a little better. But Knicks fans are expecting much, much more next season. The pressure is really on.
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16. Golden State Warriors
Key additions: Stephen Curry, Acie Law, Speedy Claxton, Devean George, Mikki Moore
Key subtractions: Jamal Crawford, Marco Belinelli, Rob Kurz
In limbo: None
The Warriors could've gotten a lot higher in the rankings had they pulled off the Amare Stoudemire deal. But as it stands right now, they've gotten marginally better.
Golden State thinks Curry will be perfect in a backcourt with Monta Ellis. I'm not sure I can argue with that. I thought Curry was a great pick on draft night. However, Curry won't be enough to push the Warriors back into the playoffs. The team has a strange mix of veterans and young players who all have talent, but don't fit together incredibly well. If they could find a way to move Corey Maggette or Stephen Jackson, I think they would be a lot better in the long term.
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17. Oklahoma City Thunder
Key additions: James Harden, B.J. Mullens, Etan Thomas, Kevin Ollie
Key subtractions: Earl Watson, Chucky Atkins, Damien Wilkins, Desmond Mason
In limbo: Robert Swift (U)
The Thunder are the "it" team among NBA junkies, who have a crush on Sam Presti for quickly turning a bad team into the best young team in the league. Kevin Durant is a superstar in the making. Russell Westbrook could be special. And Harden is a nice addition: a savvy guard with an old-school game who will be fine playing third fiddle to Durant and Westbrook. If you factor in that last year's other draft pick, Serge Ibaka, has been looking pretty good in summer league and that Mullens has enormous potential, the Thunder appear to be bursting at the seams with talent.
However, their reticence to make a play in the free-agent market and their voiding of the Tyson Chandler deal in February mean the Thunder won't be much better than the squad that suited up last season. Eventually, the Thunder will have to take some risks and add some veterans into the mix. I don't blame Presti for being patient, but he's probably going to have to make a big move next year.
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18. Sacramento Kings
Key additions: Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi, Sergio Rodriguez, Sean May, Desmond Mason
Key subtractions: Ike Diogu, Bobby Jackson, Rashad McCants
The Kings clearly are in rebuilding mode and aren't spending any money. However, they did make a few nice moves on draft night. Evans is a terrific, physical slasher who knows how to score. Casspi is tough as nails and has a high-energy game.
Put them together with the acquisition of Andres Nocioni in February, and you no longer can call the Kings soft. On the other hand, you also can't call the Kings good. Although the additions of Evans and Casspi help Sacramento's future, it's going to be a long time before you see Sacramento in the playoffs again.
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19. Los Angeles Lakers
Key additions: Ron Artest
Key subtractions: Trevor Ariza
The Lakers ended the season on the ultimate high of winning a championship and after a lot of handwringing this summer, look poised, once again, to be the team to beat in the West.
Getting Lamar Odom back at a very reasonable, 4 year, $33 million (with only the first three years guaranteed) was perhaps the best bargain of the summer. The Lakers needed Odom's versatility and familiarity with Phil Jackson's system. More importantly, they needed his unselfishness. It's not easy playing with Kobe Bryant, but Odom has always handled it as well as anyone.
On the downside, I'm not a fan of the Trevor Ariza for Ron Artest swap.
I know Artest is a talent, but he's unreliable, dominates the ball and seems to have lost a step on the defensive end. He's done a good job of staying out of serious trouble the past two seasons, but the Rockets will tell you privately that he was a major handful to control. Now that he's Tweeting 10 times a day, that stuff will be harder to hide.
For the Lakers to pass the torch from Ariza, who was just coming into his own, to Artest is a risk I just don't understand. Ariza was content playing defense and being the fourth option on the floor. Will Artest? And Artest turns 30 in early November ... Ariza was just 24. Had this been a one or two year contract, I'd feel better about for the Lakers. But five years? To me the only question is ... how long will it take for them to regret it?
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20. Charlotte Bobcats
Key additions: Tyson Chandler, Gerald Henderson, Derrick Brown, Flip Murray
Key subtractions: Emeka Okafor, Sean May
With Larry Brown trading half his roster last season, one would expect he'd trade the other half this summer. Right on cue, the Bobcats swapped their cornerstone player, Emeka Okafor, for the Hornets' Tyson Chandler in a deal that's hard to fathom. While Chandler is taller and a little better as a defender, he provides little on offense, isn't much of a shot-blocker and had a number of injury issues last season -- the Thunder rescinded a deal for him at the February trade deadline because of his toe injury. While the Bobcats will save a lot of money with this trade starting in 2011 (assuming they don't re-sign Chandler) I don't think it makes them better. The team also stands to lose point guard Raymond Felton to free agency next summer after he took the team's one-year qualifying offer. The negotiations between the Bobcats and Felton didn't go so well this summer.
On the draft front, Henderson was a solid addition, but he struggled mightily in Summer League (in his defense, he was playing with the Timberwolves' squad). And the Cats have yet to come to terms with last season's starting point guard, Raymond Felton.
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21. Houston Rockets
Key additions: Trevor Ariza, David Andersen, Rashad McCants
Key subtractions: Ron Artest, Dikembe Mutombo, Von Wafer
It's tough to be a Houston fan right now. Yao Ming likely will miss the entire season with a foot injury. Tracy McGrady is rehabbing again, but you have to wonder whether he'll ever be healthy. Artest, who did such a great job of harassing Kobe Bryant in the playoffs, decided that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
The good news is the Rockets have dropped the distraction of Artest. For all the talent, he was difficult to manage. They replaced him with Ariza, who isn't as talented but is much younger and coming off of a breakout season. Meanwhile, the Rockets also acquired Andersen, who is a veteran big man from the Euroleague. But it's unclear how his game will translate to the NBA.
Put all that together, and it looks as if the Rockets could be a team in free fall in the West next season. Although the pickup of Ariza is a good long-term move, the loss of Yao and McGrady's uncertain future put them in a tough situation.
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22. Phoenix Suns
Key additions: Channing Frye, Earl Clark
Key subtractions: Shaquille O'Neal, Matt Barnes
In limbo: Stromile Swift (U)
Phoenix GM Steve Kerr broke up one of the most enjoyable teams in NBA history to get O'Neal in 2008. But within about a year, the Suns went from title contender to lottery team. Last month, the Suns gave Shaq away for cap relief.
It appeared the team was beginning to embark on a major rebuilding project. However, there have been more recent signs that the Suns are still trying to compete. Talks of an Amare Stoudemire trade have cooled considerably; they signed Grant Hill and Frye; and they agreed to a contract extension with Steve Nash.
Still, do the Suns have enough to make a serious run in the West? With the Lakers still looking dominant, the Nuggets still a threat, and the Spurs and Mavs vastly improved, it's going to be harder than ever.
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23. Miami Heat
Key additions: Quentin Richardson
Key subtractions: Jamario Moon, Mark Blount, Luther Head
The Heat have done virtually nothing this summer, much to the chagrin of soon-to-be free agent Dwyane Wade. The team tried to convince Lamar Odom to come and had talked about a deal for Carlos Boozer. But so far the only key addition has been Richardson. He'll help with shooting and veteran leadership, but he is injury prone and won't make a huge difference.
While some may criticize the Heat for standing pat, I think it's a good move. The team is wisely trying to save its money for next summer, when it should have room to add another great player, such as Chris Bosh, to the roster.
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24. Denver Nuggets
Key additions: Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, Malik Allen, Joey Graham
Key subtractions: Dahntay Jones, Linas Kleiza
In limbo: None
The Nuggets have some serious cap issues that has hurt their depth this summer. Kleiza, a key backup, bolted for Greece. Jones, their starter at the 2 and defensive specialist, left for Indiana. The pickup of Lawson was a nice draft-night move, and they were quick to re-sign Chris Andersen. Their key players are all there, but for a team that lacked depth last season, they're even thinner this season.
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25. Chicago Bulls
Key additions: James Johnson, Taj Gibson, Jannero Pargo
Key subtractions: Ben Gordon, Tim Thomas
The Bulls made a big, bold move at the trade deadline in February and gave the Celtics all they could handle in the first round of the playoffs. But since then, things haven't gone well. They lost their best scorer, Gordon, to the Pistons. The word is they're shopping their starting power forward, Tyrus Thomas. And I'm still scratching my head a little concerning their draft.
The Bulls still have lots of talent, but losing Gordon means they've taken a step back.
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26. Philadelphia 76ers
Key additions: Jrue Holiday, Jason Kapono, Primoz Brezec, Rodney Carney
Key subtractions: Andre Miller, Reggie Evans, Theo Ratliff, Donyell Marshall, Kareem Rush
It's been a tough summer for Sixers fans. Last year the Sixers were doing backflips over landing Elton Brand. This year, things are much tougher. Free agent point guard Andre Miller bolted to the Blazers and the team doesn't have the financial wiggle room to make another big splash to pair with Brand. Miller was the glue and a driving force for that team, and I don't think a combo of Lou Williams and rookie Jrue Holiday can replace him.
On a more positive note, the Sixers did land Jason Kapono earlier in the summer. They desperately needed shooting, so he's a good fit. And even though Holiday isn't ready, he was a great pick in the second half of the draft.
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27. New Jersey Nets
Key additions: Courtney Lee, Terrence Williams, Rafer Alston, Tony Battie
Key subtractions: Vince Carter, Ryan Anderson, Maurice Ager
The Nets' draft day was pretty eventful as, for the second straight year, they made a major trade to cut payroll. Last year, they shipped out Richard Jefferson (for Yi Jianlian and future cap space). This year, it was Carter (for Lee and future cap space).
After the Carter trade, the Nets are going to take a pretty big step backward this season, but they'll take solace in the additions of Lee and Williams, the No. 11 pick. Lee showed a lot of promise as a "Rip Hamilton Jr." in the playoffs, and although he's no Vince Carter, he should be a solid partner in the backcourt with Devin Harris. Williams has the talent of a top-five pick, with great size and athleticism -- he can do just about everything but shoot.
The ultimate success of the Nets' long-range plan won't be known until next summer, when they will have a lot of cap room. If they sign LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, or another star, New Jersey honchos Rod Thorn and Kiki Vandeweghe will look like geniuses. If they don't, their plan suffers a major setback.
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28. Minnesota Timberwolves
Key additions: Ramon Sessions, Antonio Daniels, Jonny Flynn, Wayne Ellington, Oleksiy Pecherov, Damien Wilkins, Ryan Hollins, Mark Blount, Sahsa Pavlovic
Key subtractions: Randy Foye, Mike Miller, Sebastian Telfair, Craig Smith, Mark Madsen, Kevin Ollie, Rodney Carney
The Timberwolves had one of the weirdest drafts in NBA history, including the selection of point guards with both of their lottery picks. Two months later, the Wolves struck out when their first selection, Ricky Rubio, announced that he was signing a five-year deal with FC Barcelona. The Wolves badly mishandled the negotions and, in the end, couldn't convince Rubio to come. There's now a serious question about whether Rubio will ever play for the Wolves.
So, to recap: The Wolves sent away two key players on their roster, Foye and Miller, in exchange for some undesirable contracts and a player -- Rubio -- who won't come to the NBA until the 2011 season at the earliest. Kahn quickly tried to remedy the situation by signing the best free agent point guard on the market, Ramon Sessions, to a four-year deal. The Wolves got a good deal financially, but his signing doesn't totally take away the sting of losing Rubio.
While the team appears to be considerably worse off than it was going into the draft and should compete for the worst record in the league next year, there is some good news. I really like that the hire of Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis as the new head coach. He's been mentored by two of the best and has plenty of experience as an assistant. But for the next two years, expect lots of pain Wolves fans.
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29. Memphis Grizzlies
Key additions: Allen Iverson, Zach Randolph, Hasheem Thabeet, DeMarre Carroll, Sam Young
Key subtractions: Darko Milicic, Quinton Ross, Hakim Warrick
In limbo: None
Here's my nomination for the Grizzlies new marketing campaign this year: Gandalf the Grey standing at center court, pounding his staff and screaming "You shall not pass!!!!!"
It's been one of the most bizarre summer's in Grizzlies' history and that's saying something. It was capped in September with the signing of Allen Iverson to a one-year deal. He joins fellow "1 on 5" aficionado Zach Randolph on a team that many of us thought was an up-and-coming group of youngsters.
Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, Mike Conley and young big man Marc Gasol were, we thought, a great young core to build around. Add rookies Hasheem Thabeet, Sam Young and DeMarre Carroll along with second-year forward Darrell Arthur and the Grizzlies were loaded with young talent. But the addition of two veterans known for their selfishness and chemistry killing attitudes seem like a bizarre addition to the mix. Yes, both Iverson and Randolph are talented scorers. But they both do it to the detriment of the other players on the court.
The Grizzlies may actually win a few more games than they did last year, and will probably sell more tickets (the real reason I think owner Michael Heisley signed Iverson) but they will do it at their peril of the development of their youngsters.
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30. Milwaukee Bucks
Key additions: Brandon Jennings, Hakim Warrick, Carlos Delfino, Roko Ukic
Key subtractions: Ramon Sessions, Richard Jefferson, Charlie Villanueva, Keith Bogans
The Bucks took a serious step back when they shipped Jefferson off to the Spurs for nonguaranteed contracts and didn't give Villanueva a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted, instead of a restricted, free agent. That move essentially handed him over to the Pistons for nothing. Then the team put themselves in a position to be unable to sign Ramon Sessions and will likely lose him to the Timberwolves in a few days.
In the place of Jefferson, Villanueva and Sessions the Bucks are banking on young, unproven talents. Their lottery pick, Jennings, is a terrific athlete who can score like crazy. He needs to get stronger, work on his jump shot and settle down a bit, but he has the tools to be great. Last year's lottery pick, Joe Alexander, will step into Jefferson's shoes. He's another super athlete, but he looked lost for most of his rookie campaign. Delfino gives them a solid guard off the bench. And replacing Villanueva will be Warrick and Ersan Ilyasova. Warrick is a good offensive player, but lacks any defensive presence. Ilyasova is a young, up-and-coming Turkish player working on his second stint in the league.
The bottom line is that the Bucks are in major rebuilding mode. The results on the floor won't be pretty, but if Jennings and Alexander in particular start to show returns, the Bucks will have a solid base to build on. If they don't, it's going to be a long time before we see the Bucks in the playoffs again.
