Thursday, June 7, 2012

Team Needs for Lottery Teams in the West

New Orleans Hornets


Team Needs:SF, PG, PF


Its is imperative for the Hornets to match any offer that Eric Gordon receives. He was hurt for most of last season, but he is a young scorer who could develop into a super star. His potential is too high for the Hornets to let him go. Their obvious pick will be Anthony Davis to fill their need at Power Forward. Other than that they could use help at SF and PG. Trevor Ariza has never developed as they thought he would when they signed him after he has a big post season. They could possibly use their second first round pick to draft a Forward. I think two forwards have the possibility of falling to the 10th pick in the draft, Perry Jones because most think he will bust and Harrison Barnes because teams look at his consistency problems. Jarrett Jack played well this year, but with the 10th pick in the draft they could do better. If they thin Austin Rivers can play the point then they will draft him. They can also get Damian Lillard who was a great PG from Weber State, but the knock against him is will he be able to pay against better talent? If they want to look for a pass first PG they can draft Kendall Marshall. Whichever direction they go they have a lot of options with cap space and 2 top-10 picks.

Sacramento Kings


Team Needs: SF,C


The kings are a very young team and they don't have a lot of holes to fill. They need for their current players to get better. Tyreke Evans needs to play like it is his rookie season again. Isaiah Thomas was a pleasant surprise last year since he became a starter last year after being the last pick in the draft. Jimmer Fredette is a bust so far, he needs to work on his defense and playing against NBA defenses. They could take a chance on Andre Drummond. Drummond needs to work on his offensive game and if he can improve he has the upside to be an Andrew Bynum or Dwight Howard. They could also choose to draft a SF, Harrison Barnes will be available, but they already have enough players looking to score. Although, it is unlikely if Michael Kidd-Gilchrist falls them he must be the pick.

Golden State Warriors


Team Needs: SF,PF/C


The Warriors took a risk to trade their best scorer for a good center in Andrew Bogut. Bogut was injured for most of the year, but when healthy he is a top center in the league, he is by no means great, but he is a good player. Klay Thompson played great once he had playing time. He was the reason the Warriors were able to take the risk on Bogut. Dorrell Wright is a decent starter, but the Warriors could do better, they have the 7th pick in the draft and may choose Perry Jones. He has high bust potential, but he also could turn into a super star and the Warriors cannot afford to pass him up although I have a feeling they might. They also need a big man to come in for Bogut and David Lee, so they can choose Arnett Moultrie who has the ability to score and rebound. Andris Biedrins has a crazy contract and isn't that good anyways so if they can replace him in the rotation they can look to trade him to a team that desperately needs a center.

Minnesota Timberwolves


Team Needs:SG,SF


Ricky Rubio was a pleasant surprise for the Timberwolves this season until he was injured. He was a legitimate candidate for rookie of the year and he was on the NBA all rookie first team. Nikola Pekovic filled their need at center later in the season and it seems that he and Kevin Love will form a formidable Power Forward and Center combination that could change the face of the Western Conference. Derrick Williams did not play as good as some thought he would be. He can play at Power and Small forward which makes him valuable. Michael Beasley fell out of favor with the team last year, but he will be bought to move, he will not be happy when he receives less minutes than he did last year. They do not have a draft pick this year and they don't have a lot of cap space to work with if they don't want to pay tax. They really need a shooting guard so they can look at Rudy Fernandez, JR Smith, or Courtney Lee to  fill the void they have at shooting guard.

Portland Trail Blazers


Team Needs: PG,C,SG,SF


The Trail Blazers need to retain SF Nic Batum, he took major strides in his game last season. He won't be that expensive and it will be one less need in the draft. Raymond Felton was a huge disappointment after the trade Andre Miller for him. He was terrible all season and needs to be replaced. They drafted Nolan Smith last year, but that won't be enough. They need a center after they gave up on Oden, they need someone to to pair up with Aldridge. They also need a SG who can score and play defense, they picked up Jamal Crawford, but he wasn't the spark off the bench that he was in Atlanta. They have the 6th pick and 11th picks in the draft. If they lose Batum they may elect to pick Harrison Barnes with the 6th pick to help with scoring. If they keep Batum they can choose to get Andre Drummond if Sacramento passes on him. Dion Walter could help fill their need at Shooting Guard. With the 11th pick they can get Austin Rivers if the Hornets pass on him. They can also fill their PG needs with Damian Lillard who would be an upgrade over who they have now. Also Kendall Marshall will be on the board if they want a pass first PG. They are in good position, with 2 lottery picks, to improve the team and fill the holes at guard and center.

Phoenix Suns 


Team Needs: PG,SF,SG


The Suns have a lot of money coming off the books especially if Steve Nash leaves for a contending team. However if Nash leaves they have a gaping hole at the point. They can easily retain Brooks if they want him back since he didn't play much last season. At Small Forward they have Jared Dudley, but they can do much better than him in the draft. Shannon Brown hasn't worked out quite the way that the Suns envisioned when he came over from the Lakers. The Suns can fill their Point Guard need if they retain Brook and they can sign either Gordon Dragic, who has played for the Suns before, or they can sign Kyle Lowry. That will ultimately come down to who the Rockets choose, but the Suns probably favor Dragic at this point. If Austin Rivers falls to them they should take him since Brown hasn't worked out the way they have planned. They can also choose Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Jones, or Terrence Ross to fill their remaining needs.

Houston Rockets


Team Needs: C,SG


The Rockets narrowly missed the playoffs this year and they don't have a lot of needs. Their biggest dilemma will be choosing between Kyle Lowry and Gordon Dragic. Dragic filled in admirably last year for Lowry and when Lowry came back Dragic held onto the starting spot. The Rockets don't have a center that can score and Marcus Camby is a Free Agent now. They also need somebody to back up Martin since he is entering the last year of his contract and he is always injured. The Rockets have 2 first round picks, at 14 and 16. They should select Tyler Zeller with their first pick he can score and is taller than his NC counter part John Henson. Zeller can score and play decent defense and might be a starter from day one. With their second pick they can go with Jeremy Lamb or Terrance Ross who will fill the need of Shooting Guard and could allow Houston to trade Martin and his expiring contract later in the year.

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