Starting Center:
Kosta Koufos is not a starting center. JaVale McGee is not getting the chance to start. No other center on the roster has the capability to start. Koufos was in contention for worst starting center in the league down the stretch. He has no offensive game and is only moderately good on defense. He should not be starting on any team, but alas, the Nuggets seemed to think he was good enough last season. Spoiler Alert: He was not. McGee received only 18 minutes per game and could not do much with those minutes. His offensive game has not improved and he lacks in low post defense and rebounding. Timofey Mozgov is a free agent and will likely leave due to the lack of minutes he has received in Denver. The Nuggets can try to draft a center, but Lucas Noguiera will likely be the only center available in the draft at that point and he may not even be there. Their best luck to find a starting center would be in free agency, but that would only be a short term solution to a long term problem. Chris Kamen could a possibility, unlike the other Nuggets centers, he has some sort of offensive game. Other than that, there is not much else available. I thin JaVale should end up being the starting center, he is not the best, but he is the best on his team.
Resign Andre Iguodala:
Andre Iguodala was the main reason why the Nuggets defense was much improved last season. He was a rock on the wing and, although his offense was lacking, he needs to stick around. The Nuggets need him in order to keep improving on defense as a team. I am not always fond of his shot selection, but I can live with it if he is a top defensive player in the league. During the season I was not quite sold on him, but when he was injured for a couple of games in March, it was obvious how badly the team needed him. I think he will sign for around 12 million a year for 4 years, that is a fair deal for both sides.
Trade Andre Miller:
Andre Miller may be the worst backup point guard in the league, who gets regular minutes. He is a ball hog who takes terrible shots. He turns over the ball in unnecessary situations and does not know how to run the offense as effectively as Ty Lawson. No team will likely take a chance on Miller because of his age, but I am hoping some team in need of short term point guard help will jump on him. Without Miller, Evan Fournier could play point guard while Lawson is on the bench, but he can scoot over to shooting guard when he comes back in. When Miller and Lawson play together, Lawson is usually forced to play the two guard, a position he should never be playing. Miller is not a good fit for the Nuggets because he takes point guard minutes from the actual starting point guard.
The Nuggets have enough depth that they don't have much use for a late first round draft pick. They need a starting center, but that likely wont be solved for another season. JaVale should start because he is the most talented center and because Koufos is really inept. They need to resign Iguodala, quickly. He is the rock of this team on the defensive end and he runs the offense pretty well when he is not taking inefficient shots. Andre Miller cannot be getting minutes on this team any longer. He is taking minutes away from younger, better players. If the team does these things, they should be good again next season. I suspect they will get the fourth seed and finally get past the first round of the playoffs.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Memphis Grizzlies Offseason Needs
Small Forward:
They traded away Rudy Gay during the season, which was the right move, but they still need a small forward to replace him. Tayshaun Prince played OK last season, but he will turn 34 next season and can be upgraded. The Grizzlies lack a first round draft pick, but they have three picks in the second round, but two of them are very late. There won't be many small forwards left when they finally pick. CJ Leslie is a possibility, but would they draft him? It does not seem as if he fits their mentality. He has the capability of playing defense, but often times it seems as if he does not want to. DeShaun Thomas could be there at their pick with some luck. If they could snag him, he would bring a good three point shot. He could come off of the bench right away and contribute. James Southerland is a more realistic option. He would likely be on the board for their pick. Southerland is a great three point shooter, but he needs to work on his ball handing. He is also an unknown in terms of defense, he played zone in Syracuse and it is unknown how well he plays man to man defense. If he plays well enough, the Grizzlies will take a serious look at him.
Resign Tony Allen:
Tony Allen was a key reason why this defense was so dominant. He is one of the best wing defensive players in league, which is why he made first team all defense. He will likely demand a little bit more than what he made last season, but that is the price you have to pay in order to have a dominant defensive team. He does not do much on offense besides run the break, but he did take a career high shots per game last season. He needs to shoot less however, because he only scored 9 points on 8 shots. The Grizzlies should bring him back for 3 years 18 million. That seems fair to me and I think Tony Allen would happily accept.
Point Guard Depth:
Mike Conley has improved every season and should continue to be the starter for a log time. Jerryd Bayless has a player option and it is likely he declines it. It remains to be seen if the Grizzlies even want him back. He is an inefficient shooter and his defense is so-so. Bayless would likely go to a team where he has an opportunity for more minutes, or even a starting job. The Mavericks could be one of those places. The Grizzlies may also think Tony Wroten is ready to get more minutes, but that is a long shot, considering Hollins barely gave him any playing time last season. I would not be surprised of the Grizzlies picked up either AJ Price or Shevin Mack in free agency.
The Grizzlies made it all the way to the conference finals, before getting swept by the Spurs, in their best season in franchise history. That is why it is important to keep this team mostly together. Resigning Tony Allen is a must, if they let him go, they are not going to have a great year next season. They should let Bayless walk since he is an inefficient shooter, but they will need to fill the hole left by him in free agency. They have three second round draft picks, but two of them are very late. Maybe they can trade all of them for a higher second round draft pick. They will need to draft a small forward in the draft, preferably one that can shoot a three pointer. If they get that, their team will be even better next year. I expect them to snag the third seed in the western conference and a second trip to the western conference finals.
They traded away Rudy Gay during the season, which was the right move, but they still need a small forward to replace him. Tayshaun Prince played OK last season, but he will turn 34 next season and can be upgraded. The Grizzlies lack a first round draft pick, but they have three picks in the second round, but two of them are very late. There won't be many small forwards left when they finally pick. CJ Leslie is a possibility, but would they draft him? It does not seem as if he fits their mentality. He has the capability of playing defense, but often times it seems as if he does not want to. DeShaun Thomas could be there at their pick with some luck. If they could snag him, he would bring a good three point shot. He could come off of the bench right away and contribute. James Southerland is a more realistic option. He would likely be on the board for their pick. Southerland is a great three point shooter, but he needs to work on his ball handing. He is also an unknown in terms of defense, he played zone in Syracuse and it is unknown how well he plays man to man defense. If he plays well enough, the Grizzlies will take a serious look at him.
Resign Tony Allen:
Tony Allen was a key reason why this defense was so dominant. He is one of the best wing defensive players in league, which is why he made first team all defense. He will likely demand a little bit more than what he made last season, but that is the price you have to pay in order to have a dominant defensive team. He does not do much on offense besides run the break, but he did take a career high shots per game last season. He needs to shoot less however, because he only scored 9 points on 8 shots. The Grizzlies should bring him back for 3 years 18 million. That seems fair to me and I think Tony Allen would happily accept.
Point Guard Depth:
Mike Conley has improved every season and should continue to be the starter for a log time. Jerryd Bayless has a player option and it is likely he declines it. It remains to be seen if the Grizzlies even want him back. He is an inefficient shooter and his defense is so-so. Bayless would likely go to a team where he has an opportunity for more minutes, or even a starting job. The Mavericks could be one of those places. The Grizzlies may also think Tony Wroten is ready to get more minutes, but that is a long shot, considering Hollins barely gave him any playing time last season. I would not be surprised of the Grizzlies picked up either AJ Price or Shevin Mack in free agency.
The Grizzlies made it all the way to the conference finals, before getting swept by the Spurs, in their best season in franchise history. That is why it is important to keep this team mostly together. Resigning Tony Allen is a must, if they let him go, they are not going to have a great year next season. They should let Bayless walk since he is an inefficient shooter, but they will need to fill the hole left by him in free agency. They have three second round draft picks, but two of them are very late. Maybe they can trade all of them for a higher second round draft pick. They will need to draft a small forward in the draft, preferably one that can shoot a three pointer. If they get that, their team will be even better next year. I expect them to snag the third seed in the western conference and a second trip to the western conference finals.
Masai Ujiri Leaves Denver
The man who built this current Denver Nuggets team left for Toronto. Masai Ujiri signed a 5 year 15 million dollar deal with the Toronto Raptors and it seemed like the Nuggets did not even try to match it. Ujiri is fresh off winning NBA Executive of the Year, due to the great job he did of putting together the current Nuggets team.
Kroenke, the Nuggets owner, is far too cheap for his own good. How does one not match any offer for the reigning executive of the year? This could be one of the worst decisions in Nuggets history. Ujiri was a salary cap duo and knew a lot of work arounds, which would have really helped the Nuggets in the offseason.
This could do a lot of damage to the Nuggets in the future. Iguadala is a free agent and he may not come back next season because of this. I have a feeling this team will look much different than it does not, in the near future.
All in all, I wish Ujiri the best of luck in Toronto. I am not mad at him for leaving, I am mad at the owners for not shelling out enough money to keep one of the best execs in the league.
Kroenke, the Nuggets owner, is far too cheap for his own good. How does one not match any offer for the reigning executive of the year? This could be one of the worst decisions in Nuggets history. Ujiri was a salary cap duo and knew a lot of work arounds, which would have really helped the Nuggets in the offseason.
This could do a lot of damage to the Nuggets in the future. Iguadala is a free agent and he may not come back next season because of this. I have a feeling this team will look much different than it does not, in the near future.
All in all, I wish Ujiri the best of luck in Toronto. I am not mad at him for leaving, I am mad at the owners for not shelling out enough money to keep one of the best execs in the league.
San Antonio Spurs Offseason Needs
Resign Manu to One Year Deal, Draft Shooting Guard:
Manu has been injured for the better part of the last two seasons and he has not been himself this year. This year he did not shoot well and has been even worse in the playoffs. They should not let him go completely because he is an important part of the team, but they cannot afford to sign him to more than a one year deal because of injury concerns and age. They will likely only get one more productive year out of him anyways. Danny Green has become a pretty big part of the Spurs offense over the past two seasons. He shoots the ball very efficiently from three point range where he takes most of his shots. He is likely the starter for the foreseeable future, but when Manu departs, they will need someone to fill his void. There are some shooting guards worth taking a look at, even at their draft position. Jamaal Franklin and Reggie Bullock should be their first two options. Both should fit in right away, especially Bullock since he is a good shooter. If those two are off of the board and they need to dig deeper, Archie Goodwin could be a good pick. He struggle with his outside shot, but Kawhi Leonard also did when he went to San Antonio and now he is a good shooter.
Resign Tiago Splitter:
Splitter has improved every season he has been in the NBA and he finally got the chance to consistently start this season. His offensive game has finally developed to the point where the Spurs feel comfortable giving him the ball down low. He is also a pretty good player on the defensive end of the ball. He will be an essential part of this Spurs team when Duncan finally retires. They will need his reliability on the post. I think they should give him a 5 year deal worth around 8 to 10 million a year. He would be worth it.
Small Forward Depth:
As of now, the Spurs do not have a legitimate small forward behind Leonard. They signed Tracy McGrady, but I highly doubt he is on the team next season. This kind of ties in with the shooting guard need. If they drafted Reggie Bullock, he could play both shooting guard and small forward. That would be the best case scenario for the Spurs. However, that may not be the case, if not, they will probably have to wait until next season in order to fill the small forward need. They do not have a draft pick until very late in the second round, where you will likely not find a player who will play right away. I do not peg the Spurs as a team to pickup someone in free agency to fill this need.
The Spurs, even though they are in the Finals, have some minor issues that they have to deal with. How to deal with Manu is one of them. They need to resign him to a one year deal and draft a shooting guard to play behind him when he is injured. Tiago Splitter should be their main focus point in free agency. He will continue to improve and should be ready to take over the low post when Duncan retires. They also need small forward depth, but that wont be resolved until next season unless they draft Reggie Bullock in the first round. The Spurs should finish with the one or two seed in the Western Conference next season, Duncan will still be around to produce and they have the best point guard in the league. Even if Manu is declining, they should be just fine.
Manu has been injured for the better part of the last two seasons and he has not been himself this year. This year he did not shoot well and has been even worse in the playoffs. They should not let him go completely because he is an important part of the team, but they cannot afford to sign him to more than a one year deal because of injury concerns and age. They will likely only get one more productive year out of him anyways. Danny Green has become a pretty big part of the Spurs offense over the past two seasons. He shoots the ball very efficiently from three point range where he takes most of his shots. He is likely the starter for the foreseeable future, but when Manu departs, they will need someone to fill his void. There are some shooting guards worth taking a look at, even at their draft position. Jamaal Franklin and Reggie Bullock should be their first two options. Both should fit in right away, especially Bullock since he is a good shooter. If those two are off of the board and they need to dig deeper, Archie Goodwin could be a good pick. He struggle with his outside shot, but Kawhi Leonard also did when he went to San Antonio and now he is a good shooter.
Resign Tiago Splitter:
Splitter has improved every season he has been in the NBA and he finally got the chance to consistently start this season. His offensive game has finally developed to the point where the Spurs feel comfortable giving him the ball down low. He is also a pretty good player on the defensive end of the ball. He will be an essential part of this Spurs team when Duncan finally retires. They will need his reliability on the post. I think they should give him a 5 year deal worth around 8 to 10 million a year. He would be worth it.
Small Forward Depth:
As of now, the Spurs do not have a legitimate small forward behind Leonard. They signed Tracy McGrady, but I highly doubt he is on the team next season. This kind of ties in with the shooting guard need. If they drafted Reggie Bullock, he could play both shooting guard and small forward. That would be the best case scenario for the Spurs. However, that may not be the case, if not, they will probably have to wait until next season in order to fill the small forward need. They do not have a draft pick until very late in the second round, where you will likely not find a player who will play right away. I do not peg the Spurs as a team to pickup someone in free agency to fill this need.
The Spurs, even though they are in the Finals, have some minor issues that they have to deal with. How to deal with Manu is one of them. They need to resign him to a one year deal and draft a shooting guard to play behind him when he is injured. Tiago Splitter should be their main focus point in free agency. He will continue to improve and should be ready to take over the low post when Duncan retires. They also need small forward depth, but that wont be resolved until next season unless they draft Reggie Bullock in the first round. The Spurs should finish with the one or two seed in the Western Conference next season, Duncan will still be around to produce and they have the best point guard in the league. Even if Manu is declining, they should be just fine.
Oklahoma City Thunder Offseason Needs
Starting Center:
Kendrick Perkins has played terrible ever since he got to OKC. It is not like he was that great in the first place, but he has regressed. He had a negative PER in the playoffs, yes you read that correctly, a negative! I did not even know that was possible. Luckily for the Thunder, they are in an ideal position position to take a center in the draft because they own the 12th overall pick via the James Harden trade. There will be a couple of centers that may be available around their pick, but it is almost a sure thing that the 76ers, a pick ahead of them, also take a center so they might be left with the scraps. As I see it, they can get one of three centers that are likely to fall to them, Cody Zeller, Rudy Gobert or Kelly Olynyk. Zeller has a more refined game, but Gobert has a lot more potential because of his size. Olynyk proved himself worthy of a lottery pick because of his showing at the combine. All three of these guys would be great picks, but I think Olynyk is the most likely player to fall to them. He would probably start right away because he is skilled enough to do so and Kendrick Perkins is not fit to start.
Shooting Guard:
Kevin Martin is going to be a free agent and I do not know if OKC wants him back. He played well during the season, providing some scoring off of the bench, but he was terrible in the playoffs. At this point in his career, he is mostly a three point shooter. He had trouble creating his own shot in OKC, which could hurt the chances that he is brought back next season. They traded for Jeremy Lamb last season and they may think it is time to give him some run. Even if they do, they could still use some competition. They have a second first round pick, late in the first round. They could use that pick to snag a guard/forward type. Jamaal Franklin should be available with their pick, he is not a shooter like Martin, but he can do much more than him in other areas. Ricky Ledo should also be available when they pick. He has loads of potential, but I think the Thunder take a pass on him due to another forward they have with loads of potential, in Perry Jones.
Small Forward Depth:
Kevin Durant is the second best player in basketball, but he cannot be playing 44 minutes per game, even if it is the playoffs. You could tell he was very fatigued at the end of the Memphis series. They drafted Perry Jones last season, but he did not play unless it was garbage time. I dont know if he will ever reach his potential, but the Thunder might want to draft some insurance just in case he does not. Ledo can play small forward, but he is in the same situation as Jones. If Sergey Keresev fall this far, which is a possibility, considering he is European, but he is a very good scorer and could get minutes right away.
First and foremost, the Thunder need to replace Kendrick Perkins. He is not a starting quality center and if the Thunder want to win a championship, they need a starting quality center. If they are able to grab Olynyk, they will have a nice offensive option inside to go along with Serge Ibaka. They need to let Kevin Martin go in free agency and develop Jeremy Lamb. If they don't think he is good enough to get consistent minutes, they need to draft someone else. If they do, they need to make sure that player can play a little bit of small forward in order to backup Durant. The Thunder will likely be the number one pr number two seed in the western conference again. They are simply too good for the rest of the conference, but they need to take care of their business in the playoffs.
Kendrick Perkins has played terrible ever since he got to OKC. It is not like he was that great in the first place, but he has regressed. He had a negative PER in the playoffs, yes you read that correctly, a negative! I did not even know that was possible. Luckily for the Thunder, they are in an ideal position position to take a center in the draft because they own the 12th overall pick via the James Harden trade. There will be a couple of centers that may be available around their pick, but it is almost a sure thing that the 76ers, a pick ahead of them, also take a center so they might be left with the scraps. As I see it, they can get one of three centers that are likely to fall to them, Cody Zeller, Rudy Gobert or Kelly Olynyk. Zeller has a more refined game, but Gobert has a lot more potential because of his size. Olynyk proved himself worthy of a lottery pick because of his showing at the combine. All three of these guys would be great picks, but I think Olynyk is the most likely player to fall to them. He would probably start right away because he is skilled enough to do so and Kendrick Perkins is not fit to start.
Shooting Guard:
Kevin Martin is going to be a free agent and I do not know if OKC wants him back. He played well during the season, providing some scoring off of the bench, but he was terrible in the playoffs. At this point in his career, he is mostly a three point shooter. He had trouble creating his own shot in OKC, which could hurt the chances that he is brought back next season. They traded for Jeremy Lamb last season and they may think it is time to give him some run. Even if they do, they could still use some competition. They have a second first round pick, late in the first round. They could use that pick to snag a guard/forward type. Jamaal Franklin should be available with their pick, he is not a shooter like Martin, but he can do much more than him in other areas. Ricky Ledo should also be available when they pick. He has loads of potential, but I think the Thunder take a pass on him due to another forward they have with loads of potential, in Perry Jones.
Small Forward Depth:
Kevin Durant is the second best player in basketball, but he cannot be playing 44 minutes per game, even if it is the playoffs. You could tell he was very fatigued at the end of the Memphis series. They drafted Perry Jones last season, but he did not play unless it was garbage time. I dont know if he will ever reach his potential, but the Thunder might want to draft some insurance just in case he does not. Ledo can play small forward, but he is in the same situation as Jones. If Sergey Keresev fall this far, which is a possibility, considering he is European, but he is a very good scorer and could get minutes right away.
First and foremost, the Thunder need to replace Kendrick Perkins. He is not a starting quality center and if the Thunder want to win a championship, they need a starting quality center. If they are able to grab Olynyk, they will have a nice offensive option inside to go along with Serge Ibaka. They need to let Kevin Martin go in free agency and develop Jeremy Lamb. If they don't think he is good enough to get consistent minutes, they need to draft someone else. If they do, they need to make sure that player can play a little bit of small forward in order to backup Durant. The Thunder will likely be the number one pr number two seed in the western conference again. They are simply too good for the rest of the conference, but they need to take care of their business in the playoffs.
Miami Heat Offseason Needs
Resign Birdman:
This is obvious, the Heat went on their 27 game win streak, only after Birdman was signed. They have only lost 6 games since then as well. He is no spring chicken though, he will be 35 next season, but as we have seen, he still has some hop in his step. He is their best bench player, he brings a spark that no one else on the team can. They should resign him for 2 years 3 million a year. He will likely be done after that, but during those years he would be a defensive presence off of the bench.
Shooting Guard:
Dwyane Wade has not been particularly effective during the playoffs and many have raised concerns about him getting too old. I think he is just injured and is not playing well because of it. At any rate, the Heat still need a shooting guard for the future. Ray Allen turn 38 next season and he will be a free agent the year after next, which probably means he wont be around much longer. They should be looking to pick up a shooting guard in the near future. Unfortunately for them, they do not have a draft pick at all in this draft. They will likely have to wait until next season to fulfill this need. They likely wont touch the free agent market either. They should be fine for next season, but if they wait any longer they will be in trouble.
Center:
The Heat could use a good starting center. Bosh is playing there now, but that is not his natural position. He would be much more effective if he was playing power forward. He does not match up well with most centers in the league and is especially having trouble with Roy Hibbert in the playoffs. Again, they do not have a draft pick so they will not be able to pick a center up in the draft, but I think they could find some help in Timofey Mozgov. He could start and would provide the Heat with a big presence inside. He would also have a contract that is favorable to the MLE. His presence would allow Bosh to move to power forward where he would be far more effective.
The Heat will have a hard time adding onto what they have now. They have Lebron James so they will continue to be one of the best teams in the league. They should find themselves in, at least, the conference finals again next season and for a couple of seasons afterwards. However, if they want to improve in the long haul, they will need to address the shooting guard and center positions.
This is obvious, the Heat went on their 27 game win streak, only after Birdman was signed. They have only lost 6 games since then as well. He is no spring chicken though, he will be 35 next season, but as we have seen, he still has some hop in his step. He is their best bench player, he brings a spark that no one else on the team can. They should resign him for 2 years 3 million a year. He will likely be done after that, but during those years he would be a defensive presence off of the bench.
Shooting Guard:
Dwyane Wade has not been particularly effective during the playoffs and many have raised concerns about him getting too old. I think he is just injured and is not playing well because of it. At any rate, the Heat still need a shooting guard for the future. Ray Allen turn 38 next season and he will be a free agent the year after next, which probably means he wont be around much longer. They should be looking to pick up a shooting guard in the near future. Unfortunately for them, they do not have a draft pick at all in this draft. They will likely have to wait until next season to fulfill this need. They likely wont touch the free agent market either. They should be fine for next season, but if they wait any longer they will be in trouble.
Center:
The Heat could use a good starting center. Bosh is playing there now, but that is not his natural position. He would be much more effective if he was playing power forward. He does not match up well with most centers in the league and is especially having trouble with Roy Hibbert in the playoffs. Again, they do not have a draft pick so they will not be able to pick a center up in the draft, but I think they could find some help in Timofey Mozgov. He could start and would provide the Heat with a big presence inside. He would also have a contract that is favorable to the MLE. His presence would allow Bosh to move to power forward where he would be far more effective.
The Heat will have a hard time adding onto what they have now. They have Lebron James so they will continue to be one of the best teams in the league. They should find themselves in, at least, the conference finals again next season and for a couple of seasons afterwards. However, if they want to improve in the long haul, they will need to address the shooting guard and center positions.
Danilo Gallinari Out Until February?
Danilo Gallinari still has not had surgery on his torn ACL and will not for another two weeks. According to the 8-10 month timetable, that could put him out until February. I have no idea why he has not had surgery yet, but he did recently have surgery on his meniscus. Even if he comes back in February, he could take him a month or two to even get back into his normal basketball shape.
If Gallo is out for a long time, Wilson Chandler would likely start in his place. He is a good player and I am glad that he would get a good amount of minutes. Evan Fournier would be one of the first players off of the bench. He showed that he could handle big minutes last season and I am hoping that carries over next season. Fournier might even get a chance to start if Karl decides that Chandler would be a better player to come off of the bench.
I hope Gallo will make a quick and speedy recovery, but that is looking bleak. The Nuggets may lose an entire season from him because of this.
The Nuggets should not lose much, because of Gallo's injury, as long as they acquire a good three point shooter in the offseason.
If Gallo is out for a long time, Wilson Chandler would likely start in his place. He is a good player and I am glad that he would get a good amount of minutes. Evan Fournier would be one of the first players off of the bench. He showed that he could handle big minutes last season and I am hoping that carries over next season. Fournier might even get a chance to start if Karl decides that Chandler would be a better player to come off of the bench.
I hope Gallo will make a quick and speedy recovery, but that is looking bleak. The Nuggets may lose an entire season from him because of this.
The Nuggets should not lose much, because of Gallo's injury, as long as they acquire a good three point shooter in the offseason.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
New York Knicks Offseason Needs
Shooting Guard:
They need to let JR Smith go. Smith is an inefficient shooter who showed how badly he can kill a team in the playoffs. He won 6th man of the year, but it was the best season of his career which is not saying much considering he only shot 42% from the field. That type of shooting should not be acceptable from your second leading scorer. There is also a big possibility that Smith leaves in free agency for more money. If that happens they will need another guy off of the bench to score. Reggie Bullock should be their number one target in the draft. He is a good shooter and should fill in for Smith just fine. He should be able to shoot at a better rate than him and he should be a better long term option. There is nothing to go after in free agency at the shooting guard position. All-in-all they need to let Smith walk and replace in him in the draft, in order to improve.
Center:
Tyson Chandler will be 31 next season and he showed his age in the playoffs. I think he will bounce back next season from his terrible playoff performance, but it did show that nothing is certain and there always needs to be a backup plan. The Knicks don't have a real center behind him, Marcus Camby is no spring chicken and he could retire this offseason. Even if he doesn't retire, he is no longer effective enough to play a lot of minutes. If they decide to keep JR Smith, they should go after a center in the draft. Lucas Noguiera is a very athletic center to have coming off of the bench. There is not much else at this point in the draft at the center position, unless they want a very raw player. Free agency is another issue. They will likely use their MLE elsewhere, which means that they would have to find a good backup center for cheap and that is very tough to do. I do not expect them to pick up a center in free agency.
Point Guard:
Raymond Felton is the only legitimate starting point guard on this team. Jason Kidd will likely retire in the offseason. Pablo Prigioni was a rookie, but he is 35 years old, he will not last long. Felton is a decent starter, but he is not that great, he will need a legitimate backup for the future. They do not have a second round pick which hurts them in their pursuit for a point guard. Prigioni should be around for at least another year, so they can put this need off until next season.
Melo had one of the best seasons of his career last season, but he did not have any help. Amare Stoudemire was hurt for most of the season and did not make a single start. He and Melo have not meshed well as of yet and I think if Amare is back for next season, the Knicks will be worse off. Iman Shumpert should continue to improve, if he can continue to develop his jump shot, the Knicks will be in a good spot. They need to let JR Smith go, he loses more games than he wins for a team. I think this was a fluke season for the Knicks, when Amare comes back, he and Melo will not mesh and it will mess up the whole offense. They will not be able to trade him because of recent performances. Melo had a great month to end the season, but I am highly doubtful that he will be able to continue it for an entire season. I think the Knicks will finish around fourth or fifth in the conference because the Bulls and Pacers should jump them.
Center:
Tyson Chandler will be 31 next season and he showed his age in the playoffs. I think he will bounce back next season from his terrible playoff performance, but it did show that nothing is certain and there always needs to be a backup plan. The Knicks don't have a real center behind him, Marcus Camby is no spring chicken and he could retire this offseason. Even if he doesn't retire, he is no longer effective enough to play a lot of minutes. If they decide to keep JR Smith, they should go after a center in the draft. Lucas Noguiera is a very athletic center to have coming off of the bench. There is not much else at this point in the draft at the center position, unless they want a very raw player. Free agency is another issue. They will likely use their MLE elsewhere, which means that they would have to find a good backup center for cheap and that is very tough to do. I do not expect them to pick up a center in free agency.
Point Guard:
Raymond Felton is the only legitimate starting point guard on this team. Jason Kidd will likely retire in the offseason. Pablo Prigioni was a rookie, but he is 35 years old, he will not last long. Felton is a decent starter, but he is not that great, he will need a legitimate backup for the future. They do not have a second round pick which hurts them in their pursuit for a point guard. Prigioni should be around for at least another year, so they can put this need off until next season.
Melo had one of the best seasons of his career last season, but he did not have any help. Amare Stoudemire was hurt for most of the season and did not make a single start. He and Melo have not meshed well as of yet and I think if Amare is back for next season, the Knicks will be worse off. Iman Shumpert should continue to improve, if he can continue to develop his jump shot, the Knicks will be in a good spot. They need to let JR Smith go, he loses more games than he wins for a team. I think this was a fluke season for the Knicks, when Amare comes back, he and Melo will not mesh and it will mess up the whole offense. They will not be able to trade him because of recent performances. Melo had a great month to end the season, but I am highly doubtful that he will be able to continue it for an entire season. I think the Knicks will finish around fourth or fifth in the conference because the Bulls and Pacers should jump them.
Denver Broncos Returner Preview
Trindon Holliday is the obvious starter for both punt and kick returner. The Broncos picked him up after the Houston Texans let him go because of fumbling issues. That issue continued when he was signed by the Broncos, but it became less and less of a problem as the season went on. He had one punt return and one kick return for a touchdown last season, but he is the best weapon the Broncos have had returning the football in a very long time. He also took one to the house against the Ravens in the playoffs. He averaged 32 yards per return last season with the Broncos which is pretty exceptional.
The Broncos still need guys behind him just in case he gets hurt. Lance Ball will likely be one of the top guys behind him. The Bronco coaches have shown that they are not afraid to trust him. Omar Bolden is also one of the top kick returners on the team. He made some mistakes last season, but he should continue to grow. Luckily he will not need to return kicks, as long as Holliday is healthy and ready to play.
Holliday is one of the best returners in the league. He is very fast and as long as he shores up his fumbling issues, he will be in the league and hopefully on the Broncos for a very long time.
The Broncos still need guys behind him just in case he gets hurt. Lance Ball will likely be one of the top guys behind him. The Bronco coaches have shown that they are not afraid to trust him. Omar Bolden is also one of the top kick returners on the team. He made some mistakes last season, but he should continue to grow. Luckily he will not need to return kicks, as long as Holliday is healthy and ready to play.
Holliday is one of the best returners in the league. He is very fast and as long as he shores up his fumbling issues, he will be in the league and hopefully on the Broncos for a very long time.
Cleveland Cavaliers to Trade Pick?
There have been rumors that the Cavs want to trade their number one draft pick. They should, but they might have trouble finding a trade partner. Nerlens Noel is a good player with a lot of potential, but are teams willing to take a chance on him because of his surgically repaired ACL.
The Cavs should not take a chance on Noel, if they are stuck with the number one pick they should take Otto Porter. They have no use for Noel on their team at this moment. They do have a need for Porter as a starting small forward. As I see it, if the Cavs draft Noel, they will be out of the playoffs for another couple of years.
Their one and only trading partner, in my mind, is Washington. Washington could use Noel as a starting big man and as a tradeoff, the Cavs would still be able to draft Porter. The Cavs would obviously be able to bring in either another player or pick. The Cavs have a good amount of cap space so they could ask to take Emeka Okafor off of the Wizard's hands in return for a future first round draft pick. This ensures that the Wizards get a guy that they want and need and the Cavs get a first round pick, along with the guy they want, only a couple of picks later.
The Cavs cannot go any lower than the Wizards because they will likely take Porter if he is on the board. However the Wizards likely want Noel, but they cannot risk either the Cavs taking him or a team swooping into the Magic's spot to take him.
The Wizards cannot risk staying put because they could end up without both Noel or Porter, which is something they cannot afford to happen.
Cleveland cannot afford to go with Noel who would be a luxury pick at this point. They need Porter to complete this team. If they were able to trade down and still get Porter it would be a win-win for the Cavs.
The Cavs should not take a chance on Noel, if they are stuck with the number one pick they should take Otto Porter. They have no use for Noel on their team at this moment. They do have a need for Porter as a starting small forward. As I see it, if the Cavs draft Noel, they will be out of the playoffs for another couple of years.
Their one and only trading partner, in my mind, is Washington. Washington could use Noel as a starting big man and as a tradeoff, the Cavs would still be able to draft Porter. The Cavs would obviously be able to bring in either another player or pick. The Cavs have a good amount of cap space so they could ask to take Emeka Okafor off of the Wizard's hands in return for a future first round draft pick. This ensures that the Wizards get a guy that they want and need and the Cavs get a first round pick, along with the guy they want, only a couple of picks later.
The Cavs cannot go any lower than the Wizards because they will likely take Porter if he is on the board. However the Wizards likely want Noel, but they cannot risk either the Cavs taking him or a team swooping into the Magic's spot to take him.
The Wizards cannot risk staying put because they could end up without both Noel or Porter, which is something they cannot afford to happen.
Cleveland cannot afford to go with Noel who would be a luxury pick at this point. They need Porter to complete this team. If they were able to trade down and still get Porter it would be a win-win for the Cavs.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Indiana Pacers Offseason Needs
Trade Danny Granger:
Paul George is now the star of the team. He and this team have proven that they do not need Granger. Luckily for them, Granger is still a goof player. He is much like Rudy Gay, an inefficient shooter, but he can score. Teams will want to trade for him because of the big points he is capable of putting up. If they could get a late draft pick for him, that would be ideal. They could also package a deal in which they get a couple of good role players to help them out. They do not need Granger so they might as well get something out of him while they can.
Resign David West:
David West has been very important to Indiana's recent success. He is a solid player to have down low. He is a good rebounded and he can hit a mid range shot with consistency. He is an important part of the tough duo inside with Roy Hibbert. The Pacers need their tough mentality inside in order to succeed. If they let West leave, there would be no way to replace him in free agency or through the draft. He is a little older, he will be 32 next season, but he is still worth a three year contract. He would be effective for the entirety of the contact which is something you are always looking for when signing a player.
Guard:
DJ Augustine is likely to leave after this season because he was upset with his playing time. They also do not have much behind Lance Stevenson at shooing guard and Stevenson should not be a starter anyhow. Tim Hardaway JR, Reggie Bullock and Jamaal Franklin could all be available at their pick. Hardaway and Bullock are really good shooters which is what the Pacers can dearly use. I think a more likely pick would be Dennis Schroeder out of Germany. He is a good shooing guard. He would replace Augustine as the backup point guard. He could also log a lot of minutes in the future since George Hill can play some shooting guard. They just need some type of guard to add depth behind George Hill and Lance Stevenson.
The Pacers have a had a great season this year. They improved immensely from last season and they should be a force in the playoffs for years to come, as long as they keep their team together. They can do without Danny Granger since they did fine without him this season. If they can get a draft pick or some role players for him, that would be a good haul. They need to keep David West in order to be competitive, he is their rock. They need to use their first round pick on some type of guard. They just need general guard depth. I expect the Pacers to be able to catapult the Knicks in the standings, but they should be in third place again because of the return of Rose.
Paul George is now the star of the team. He and this team have proven that they do not need Granger. Luckily for them, Granger is still a goof player. He is much like Rudy Gay, an inefficient shooter, but he can score. Teams will want to trade for him because of the big points he is capable of putting up. If they could get a late draft pick for him, that would be ideal. They could also package a deal in which they get a couple of good role players to help them out. They do not need Granger so they might as well get something out of him while they can.
Resign David West:
David West has been very important to Indiana's recent success. He is a solid player to have down low. He is a good rebounded and he can hit a mid range shot with consistency. He is an important part of the tough duo inside with Roy Hibbert. The Pacers need their tough mentality inside in order to succeed. If they let West leave, there would be no way to replace him in free agency or through the draft. He is a little older, he will be 32 next season, but he is still worth a three year contract. He would be effective for the entirety of the contact which is something you are always looking for when signing a player.
Guard:
DJ Augustine is likely to leave after this season because he was upset with his playing time. They also do not have much behind Lance Stevenson at shooing guard and Stevenson should not be a starter anyhow. Tim Hardaway JR, Reggie Bullock and Jamaal Franklin could all be available at their pick. Hardaway and Bullock are really good shooters which is what the Pacers can dearly use. I think a more likely pick would be Dennis Schroeder out of Germany. He is a good shooing guard. He would replace Augustine as the backup point guard. He could also log a lot of minutes in the future since George Hill can play some shooting guard. They just need some type of guard to add depth behind George Hill and Lance Stevenson.
The Pacers have a had a great season this year. They improved immensely from last season and they should be a force in the playoffs for years to come, as long as they keep their team together. They can do without Danny Granger since they did fine without him this season. If they can get a draft pick or some role players for him, that would be a good haul. They need to keep David West in order to be competitive, he is their rock. They need to use their first round pick on some type of guard. They just need general guard depth. I expect the Pacers to be able to catapult the Knicks in the standings, but they should be in third place again because of the return of Rose.
Brooklyn Nets Offseason Needs
Small Forward:
Gerald Wallace is past his prime and it really showed this season. He is no longer "Crash," rather he is just a really mediocre player. He played better in the playoffs, but I don't think it was enough to make up for his terrible performance during the season. Their backup is Jerry Stackouse who is around 50 years old. He is also a free agent and will not be back. The Nets have a decent draft position, but they are limited in free agency because they are paying Joe Johnson an insane amount of money. Sergey Karasev, from Russia, would be a great pick for them. He is a good scorer, who could provide much more on offense than Wallace did last season. Another option would be Tony Mitchell out of North Texas, he plays like a young Gerald Wallace. He is very athletic, but not very physical inside. Since Joe Johnson is not scoring as much as he used to, the Nets should go after Karasev to make up for lost scoring.
Power Forward:
Reggie Evans played great last season, it seemed as if he could not be stopped during the second half of the season. I never thought of his as a starter before this season. He really tore up the league. However great he was on the boards, he is still terrible on offense. He cannot score or be relied on, in any capacity. Kris Humphries was considered the starter before the season, but he fell out of favor with the coaches. He was not seen until the playoffs when he got some playing time, but not much. He is going into the last year of his contract so he could be a moveable asset. If they use their first round pick in a small forward, like they should, they should go after one in free agency. I think they should go hard after Tyler Hansbrough. He would be a good pickup. He would be a great starter. but he could also find himself in a backup role, either way he would get a lot of playing time. If that falls through, there is not much else at power forward.
Center:
They also need a center behind Brook Lopez. They had Andray Blatch, but he is a free agent and they should be able to find another center. Again, they are laking a draft pick after the first round, so they will need to fill this void in free agency. Timofey Mozgov would be a great guy to fill that hole. He is a good defensive player and would not be a bad offensive player to replace Brook Lopez with. They do not have a lot of cap space so it would be hard to sign a guy better than him.
The Nets put themselves in a bad spot with the Joe Johnson contract. The only way that they can really build is through the draft. They need a small forward the most so that is who they should take with their pick. If they drafted Karasev, they would add a nice scorer next to Lopez and Williams. Adding another scorer is a must since Joe Johnson is old and nobody else on the team can score consistently. I think the Nets had a fluke season and will regress into next season. Joe Johnson will continue to regress, he is getting too old and has the security in his contract for upcoming seasons. They should still make the playoffs, but they will not have home court advantage and will likely be bounced in the first round again
Power Forward:
Reggie Evans played great last season, it seemed as if he could not be stopped during the second half of the season. I never thought of his as a starter before this season. He really tore up the league. However great he was on the boards, he is still terrible on offense. He cannot score or be relied on, in any capacity. Kris Humphries was considered the starter before the season, but he fell out of favor with the coaches. He was not seen until the playoffs when he got some playing time, but not much. He is going into the last year of his contract so he could be a moveable asset. If they use their first round pick in a small forward, like they should, they should go after one in free agency. I think they should go hard after Tyler Hansbrough. He would be a good pickup. He would be a great starter. but he could also find himself in a backup role, either way he would get a lot of playing time. If that falls through, there is not much else at power forward.
Center:
They also need a center behind Brook Lopez. They had Andray Blatch, but he is a free agent and they should be able to find another center. Again, they are laking a draft pick after the first round, so they will need to fill this void in free agency. Timofey Mozgov would be a great guy to fill that hole. He is a good defensive player and would not be a bad offensive player to replace Brook Lopez with. They do not have a lot of cap space so it would be hard to sign a guy better than him.
The Nets put themselves in a bad spot with the Joe Johnson contract. The only way that they can really build is through the draft. They need a small forward the most so that is who they should take with their pick. If they drafted Karasev, they would add a nice scorer next to Lopez and Williams. Adding another scorer is a must since Joe Johnson is old and nobody else on the team can score consistently. I think the Nets had a fluke season and will regress into next season. Joe Johnson will continue to regress, he is getting too old and has the security in his contract for upcoming seasons. They should still make the playoffs, but they will not have home court advantage and will likely be bounced in the first round again
Denver Broncos Punter Preview
The Broncos brought in Ryan Doerr as an undrafted free agent, but it is highly unlikely that he surpasses Britton Colquitt as the starter. Doerr was only brought in so he could improve and hopefully land on a team after training camp.
Colquitt had a very good season last year. He is an expert at putting balls inside the 20 yard line. He is an excellent punter and should be signed to a long term deal before the season starts. With him and Prater, the Broncos have one of the best kicking duos in the league. Coulquitt has a very strong leg and his average would be better if the offense did not stall near mid field a lot of the time. I wish their was a stat for punting distance from beyond the 30 yard line, that would better gauge the kicking distance ability of punters.
I hope Doerr lands on a team this season. I think he can be a really good punter, but as of now, he is not better than Coulquitt and will likely not make the team, unless, the coaches try to get cute with the roster.
Colquitt had a very good season last year. He is an expert at putting balls inside the 20 yard line. He is an excellent punter and should be signed to a long term deal before the season starts. With him and Prater, the Broncos have one of the best kicking duos in the league. Coulquitt has a very strong leg and his average would be better if the offense did not stall near mid field a lot of the time. I wish their was a stat for punting distance from beyond the 30 yard line, that would better gauge the kicking distance ability of punters.
I hope Doerr lands on a team this season. I think he can be a really good punter, but as of now, he is not better than Coulquitt and will likely not make the team, unless, the coaches try to get cute with the roster.
Denver Broncos Sign Quentin Jammer
The Broncos signed Quentin Jammer. I do not know the the details of the deal, but I presume it is either a one or two year deal for 2 or 3 million dollars. Jammer will likely play safety for the Broncos. He is getting old and probably cannot play corner very effective anymore. He will be a nice fit in Denver at safety.
He will most likely be behind Moore on the depth chart. I do not see him crawling into the starting lineup. I see him playing a role similar to what Jim Leonard played last season. He will likely come in during dime packages to add a ball hawking presence.
Overall this is a very good signing, he will likely be cheap and not on a long term deal. Look for him to make some plays when he does see the field.
The Broncos have him on a one year deal worth $940,000. That is pretty cheap for a player who will, presumably, get a decent amount of playing time.
He will most likely be behind Moore on the depth chart. I do not see him crawling into the starting lineup. I see him playing a role similar to what Jim Leonard played last season. He will likely come in during dime packages to add a ball hawking presence.
Overall this is a very good signing, he will likely be cheap and not on a long term deal. Look for him to make some plays when he does see the field.
The Broncos have him on a one year deal worth $940,000. That is pretty cheap for a player who will, presumably, get a decent amount of playing time.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Golden State Warriors Offseason Needs
Resign Carl Landry:
Carl Landry was a rock for the Warriors in the playoffs when David Lee went down. Lee should be back in full health next season, but that does not mean that the Warriors will not need him next season. He is a great big to have coming off of the bench, he can shoot the ball and grab rebounds. He has a player option for next season and there is a good chance that he opts out after his great playoff run. He will likely command around 8 million a year. He is getting older so I would only sign him for around three yeas, but he would give them a great three years. If he does not opt out of his deal they should be looking to resign him before the deadline so he does not hit the free market.
Guard Depth:
Jarret Jack might leave in free agency to find a starting point guard position. If they have the opportunity to resign him they should try, but if he is asking for too much they should avoid him. They do not have any draft picks so their only salvation is in free agency. There is not much in the way of free agent point guards, but Devin Harris would be a good option. Harris would come on the cheap due to some disappointing seasons in Utah and Atlanta. He would make for a perfect backup point guard. He has not shot well from the field in the last couple of seasons, but he would not have to shoot so much if he were surrounded by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Harris is the only viable option in free agency besides Jack. The Warriors are in a tough spot here, they may end up having to over pay for Jack.
Center Depth:
Andrew Bogut played very well last season when he was finally healthy. However, there is no telling if he will be completely healthy next season. Therefore they need to add some quality depth behind Ezeli, not named Biedrins. Again, they do not have a draft pick so they have to do all of their shopping in free agency. Nazr Muhammad would be a good pickup for them. Muhammad played very well in the playoffs and showed great toughness and grits. Ronnie Turiaf would also be another good option. Both of these guys would not play much if Bogut was healthy, but if he gets injured, they would make better role players than Biedrins.
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are two of the best long distance shooting duos in the league. However, they cannot overpay for Jarret Jack who takes crucial shots away from both Curry and Thompson. Harris would be a better option, but if they miss out on both Harris and Jack, they will be in some major trouble. Resigning Landry is a major no brainer. He is one of the best backup bigs in the league and the Warriors need him back in the worst way. They also need to add center depth because Bogut is injured often. If they can get either Muhammad or Turiaf, they will be in a very food place, even if Bogut is injured. I think the Warriors got lucky this season. I think they will still make the playoffs, but they will not be as successful this upcoming season.
Carl Landry was a rock for the Warriors in the playoffs when David Lee went down. Lee should be back in full health next season, but that does not mean that the Warriors will not need him next season. He is a great big to have coming off of the bench, he can shoot the ball and grab rebounds. He has a player option for next season and there is a good chance that he opts out after his great playoff run. He will likely command around 8 million a year. He is getting older so I would only sign him for around three yeas, but he would give them a great three years. If he does not opt out of his deal they should be looking to resign him before the deadline so he does not hit the free market.
Guard Depth:
Jarret Jack might leave in free agency to find a starting point guard position. If they have the opportunity to resign him they should try, but if he is asking for too much they should avoid him. They do not have any draft picks so their only salvation is in free agency. There is not much in the way of free agent point guards, but Devin Harris would be a good option. Harris would come on the cheap due to some disappointing seasons in Utah and Atlanta. He would make for a perfect backup point guard. He has not shot well from the field in the last couple of seasons, but he would not have to shoot so much if he were surrounded by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Harris is the only viable option in free agency besides Jack. The Warriors are in a tough spot here, they may end up having to over pay for Jack.
Center Depth:
Andrew Bogut played very well last season when he was finally healthy. However, there is no telling if he will be completely healthy next season. Therefore they need to add some quality depth behind Ezeli, not named Biedrins. Again, they do not have a draft pick so they have to do all of their shopping in free agency. Nazr Muhammad would be a good pickup for them. Muhammad played very well in the playoffs and showed great toughness and grits. Ronnie Turiaf would also be another good option. Both of these guys would not play much if Bogut was healthy, but if he gets injured, they would make better role players than Biedrins.
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are two of the best long distance shooting duos in the league. However, they cannot overpay for Jarret Jack who takes crucial shots away from both Curry and Thompson. Harris would be a better option, but if they miss out on both Harris and Jack, they will be in some major trouble. Resigning Landry is a major no brainer. He is one of the best backup bigs in the league and the Warriors need him back in the worst way. They also need to add center depth because Bogut is injured often. If they can get either Muhammad or Turiaf, they will be in a very food place, even if Bogut is injured. I think the Warriors got lucky this season. I think they will still make the playoffs, but they will not be as successful this upcoming season.
Denver Broncos Kicker Preview
Matt Prater is the only kicker on the roster. He just signed a long term contract so he should be on the team for a long time. He is probably one of the best young kickers in the league, but he is still inconsistent from 40-49 yards out. He was only 5-9 from that range last season, but he only missed two field goals from anywhere else on the field last season. He has very good range, he can hit a field goal from 70 yards out a Mile High. However, Fox seems reluctant to use him from 60+ unless the team really need him to.
Prater is also a very good kick of specialist too. Unless the wind is against him or he is facing a kick returner with a lot of courage, his kick will be a touchback. That makes more of a difference than most people would like to think. It eliminates the chance that a team will score on special teams and they will have to face the Broncos stout defense.
A good kicker is very underrated, but not to this particular blogger. Prater does wonders for this team and I am glad the front office finally came to their sense and signed him to a long term contract last season.
Prater is also a very good kick of specialist too. Unless the wind is against him or he is facing a kick returner with a lot of courage, his kick will be a touchback. That makes more of a difference than most people would like to think. It eliminates the chance that a team will score on special teams and they will have to face the Broncos stout defense.
A good kicker is very underrated, but not to this particular blogger. Prater does wonders for this team and I am glad the front office finally came to their sense and signed him to a long term contract last season.
Chicago Bulls Offseason Needs
Starting Shooting Guard:
The Bulls have needed a starting shooting guard for the longest time. They got Rip Hamilton two years ago, but he has not panned out. They need to start young. Jimmy Butler is more of a small forward, but he has shown his ability as a starter in the playoffs. I just do not know if he would be able to handle the shooting guard position for the long term. Marco Belinelli has been a good player as well, but e is no starter. The Bulls have the 20th pick in the draft and unfortunately for them, there is not much of a selection of shooting guards at that point in the draft. Their only option at this point is Tim Hardaway JR. Hardaway has some issues with his game, but he would be a decent pick at this point. He is a good shooter, but he settles for three pointers too often when he should try to get into the lane. There is not much that the Bulls would want in free agency either. This has been a weak position for the Bulls for years and that may continue into next season unless someone drops to them in the draft.
Center Depth:
Joakim Noah showed how great he can be as he had his best season yet. He averaged 12 points 11 boards 4 assists and 2 blocks per game. However, they need some depth behind him. Nazr Muhammad played well when Noah went to the bench, but they could do better. Luckily for them, there are some pretty good centers in the draft. Jeff Withey should be their number one target. He fits their style. He is a solid defensive player who excels at blocking shots. He would be an excellent backup to Noah and could get a decent amount of minutes in his first season. They could also choose to go after Steven Adams. He is a project big man, but has an NBA ready body. He is soft at times and his defense can be iffy, but when and if he reaches his full potential he could be a really good player.
Dump Boozer:
Carlos Boozer had his worst offensive season of his career last season. He shot 47% from the field which is the worst percentage of his career. If Boozer's offensive game is on the downturn, that is not good for his career. He is already a very bad defensive player and if he is not getting it done on the offensive side of the court, he is practically useless. He also has a very big contract which does not help his cause. The Bulls can still use their amnesty, but they should explore trade options before they let him go. Taj Gibson is good enough to take over as the starter. He has a decent on offense, but he is much better on defense than Boozer. Dumping Boozer would improve the team and it would give them some wiggle room to pick up someone in free agency if they wanted to.
Derrick Rose should be back next season which should put them in one of the top two spots in the Eastern Conference. However, they do need to make changes in order to compete for the NBA Finals. Getting a good shooting guard should help, but if they amnesty Boozer, they will need some big man depth. Jeff Withey would be their best option at that point. If they decide not to amnesty Boozer, shooting guard will be their biggest need. When Rose comes back, they will automatically be better, but they need the pieces in order to get to the Finals. I believe they will at least make it to the conference finals, but it is tough to see if they go any further.
The Bulls have needed a starting shooting guard for the longest time. They got Rip Hamilton two years ago, but he has not panned out. They need to start young. Jimmy Butler is more of a small forward, but he has shown his ability as a starter in the playoffs. I just do not know if he would be able to handle the shooting guard position for the long term. Marco Belinelli has been a good player as well, but e is no starter. The Bulls have the 20th pick in the draft and unfortunately for them, there is not much of a selection of shooting guards at that point in the draft. Their only option at this point is Tim Hardaway JR. Hardaway has some issues with his game, but he would be a decent pick at this point. He is a good shooter, but he settles for three pointers too often when he should try to get into the lane. There is not much that the Bulls would want in free agency either. This has been a weak position for the Bulls for years and that may continue into next season unless someone drops to them in the draft.
Center Depth:
Joakim Noah showed how great he can be as he had his best season yet. He averaged 12 points 11 boards 4 assists and 2 blocks per game. However, they need some depth behind him. Nazr Muhammad played well when Noah went to the bench, but they could do better. Luckily for them, there are some pretty good centers in the draft. Jeff Withey should be their number one target. He fits their style. He is a solid defensive player who excels at blocking shots. He would be an excellent backup to Noah and could get a decent amount of minutes in his first season. They could also choose to go after Steven Adams. He is a project big man, but has an NBA ready body. He is soft at times and his defense can be iffy, but when and if he reaches his full potential he could be a really good player.
Dump Boozer:
Carlos Boozer had his worst offensive season of his career last season. He shot 47% from the field which is the worst percentage of his career. If Boozer's offensive game is on the downturn, that is not good for his career. He is already a very bad defensive player and if he is not getting it done on the offensive side of the court, he is practically useless. He also has a very big contract which does not help his cause. The Bulls can still use their amnesty, but they should explore trade options before they let him go. Taj Gibson is good enough to take over as the starter. He has a decent on offense, but he is much better on defense than Boozer. Dumping Boozer would improve the team and it would give them some wiggle room to pick up someone in free agency if they wanted to.
Derrick Rose should be back next season which should put them in one of the top two spots in the Eastern Conference. However, they do need to make changes in order to compete for the NBA Finals. Getting a good shooting guard should help, but if they amnesty Boozer, they will need some big man depth. Jeff Withey would be their best option at that point. If they decide not to amnesty Boozer, shooting guard will be their biggest need. When Rose comes back, they will automatically be better, but they need the pieces in order to get to the Finals. I believe they will at least make it to the conference finals, but it is tough to see if they go any further.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Houston Rockets Offseason Needs
Use Cap Space to Sign Big Name Big:
Obviously Dwight Howard is a possibility and could be their number one target, but they need a power forward. Asik played better than most thought he would, but even though they have stacked up on power forwards, they do not have one capable of starting. They traded for Thomas Robinson before the deadline, but he looks like he will be a bust. He was not given a lot of minutes in either Houston or Sacramento because he was not a guy who should have been drafted with the 5th pick. Donatas Motiejunas played well when given the chance last season. However, he is not a “bang it out” guy down low and is more of an outside player, which hurts him on defense. They do not have a draft pick in the first round so they have to go after a free agent. I think Paul Millsap would a be a good pickup. He had a tough season, but I think he would produce more on Houston. He would likely be the second option on offense. He would be very productive in Houston and would add something that they were missing last season down low.
Draft Guard Depth:
The Rockets don’t have much depth behind Jeremy Lin and James Harden. Lin might not be around much longer because his contract is up in two season and in the last season, his salary is high. Patrick Beverly played well off the bench during the season and even better in playoffs when he got a chance to start. However, they do not have much behind James Harden. Francisco Garcia played well, but they can get better and younger. They have a fairly high second round draft pick to use on a guard. Nate Wolters would be their best option with that pick. He played point guard in college, but he has the size to both guard positions. If he is off of the board, they can try to get Brandon Paul. He is small, but is a natural shooting guard.
Center Depth:
Omer Asik played very well this season, he even averaged a double double. However, he does not have a good offensive game and is a terrible free throw shooter. Also, every time I watch him, it seems like he gets winded very easily. Chris Kaman could be a good pickup if they could snag him and if he would agree to be a good backup. I also think Timofey Mozgov would be a great pickup too. He is used to being the backup. He also adds a good offensive game inside and a decent mid-range game.
If they can snag Paul Millsap, grab some guard depth in the draft and get a backup center, this team can put together a good western conference run. James Harden is already a star and will be the main scorer on the team. Chandler Parsons played very well last season. He is blossoming into a great role player. He does everything well which makes him a very well rounded player. If they can put another scorer next to Harden and Parsons, like Millsap, they will contend and I will not be surprised if they win 50 games next season. I think they will land the 5th seed in the conference and they will advance into the second round.
Denver Broncos Free Safety Competition
Rahim Moore made a very bad and very stupid play that destroyed the Denver Broncos season, but that should not negate all of the good plays that he made throughout the season that made him a better player. He was a sure tackler last season, he improved leaps and bounds in his tackling effectiveness. His pass defense still needs a little help, but he has enough raw talent to keep up. He needs to improve his pass defense, but I think he will be very motivated to do so, considering how last season ended.
Behind him the Broncos do not have anyone who can challenge him for his starting spot. Duke Ihenacho will likely be the second string, he is talented for a backup, but he has no chance of supplanting Moore as the starter. Gideon and Rasner have a chance of taking over Ihenacho in his backup role, but it is far fetched.
They will likely only keep five safeties and only two of them will be free safeties. Moore and Ihenacho will be the players to make the team. However, I think Gideon has a decent chance to make the practice squad. Mike Adams can play some free safety, so if anything really catastrophic happens, he can fill in.
Sorry this one was so short, but there is not so much action going on at this position.
Atlanta Hawks Offseason Needs
Let Josh Smith Walk:
Let him walk, he is not a superstar, but he will want superstar money. He takes terrible shots and scores at an inefficient rate for a power forward. In my opinion, he is not even the best big man on the team, that distinction goes to Al Horford. Smith will likely get a big deal with some team, but I would not sign him if I were part of any front office. They should not lose a step considering they have two first round draft picks to fill the hole left by him.
Starting Big Man:
With Josh Smith gone, they will need another starting big man next to Horford. Since Horford can play both power forward and center, they can draft or sign anyone that they want to. I would recommend pursuing Al Jefferson. He would be available because Smith's contract should be off of the books. He and Horford are both offensively minded and crafty scorers. They could also draft a big man. Gorgui Dieng comes to mind. He is a defensively minded player who blocks shots at a high rate. He is also developing a nice mid range game. He would likely start at center right away, while Horford moves to power forward. They could also go after Steven Adams who is a very raw player, but has the body and the skills to be a big time player in the NBA. I would like to see them go after Mason Plumlee in the draft. He would add a nice scoring option next to Horford. He is probably the best offensive player they could draft at this point. However, he would be soft on defense, but he is very energetic and almost never takes a play off.
Starting Small Forward:
They need help at both positions. It is a good thing that they have back-to-back draft picks in the first round. At Small forward I see to options, Giannas Anetetokounmpo or Tony Mitchell. Giannas has risen up some draft boards, but it is unknown where he will be drafted since a lot of GM's are weary of European players. He has a point forward type of skill set and is very athletic so he could be taken earlier. He would be a great snag of Atlanta at this point in the draft. If Giannas is off of the board, they could go after Tony Mitchell who is also very athletic. He is no point forward, but he do a lot of other things, including going to grab rebounds. He is not very physical inside, but he can score at a decent rate. They also need a shooting guard, but Small forward is more of an urgent need as of now.
The Hawks need to take a step back and look at Josh Smith objectively. If he would get his head on straight he could be a great player, but he too often settles for ill-advised jump shots. I think he is too old to correct that now. They can save 12 million dollars a year by letting him go, and that is assuming that he wont demand more in free agency. To replace him, they need to draft a big man. Since Horford can play both positions, they can draft whomever they want to. They have also a needed a small forward for a very long time. Hopefully Giannas or Mitchell will not underachieve, if they are drafted by the Hawks, like Marvin Williams did in Atlanta. They might not make the playoffs next season, but that does not mean that they are not improving. Horford will get a bigger role next season and he should prove he is one of the top centers in the league. I expect them to be playoff contenders again in two or three years.
Let him walk, he is not a superstar, but he will want superstar money. He takes terrible shots and scores at an inefficient rate for a power forward. In my opinion, he is not even the best big man on the team, that distinction goes to Al Horford. Smith will likely get a big deal with some team, but I would not sign him if I were part of any front office. They should not lose a step considering they have two first round draft picks to fill the hole left by him.
Starting Big Man:
With Josh Smith gone, they will need another starting big man next to Horford. Since Horford can play both power forward and center, they can draft or sign anyone that they want to. I would recommend pursuing Al Jefferson. He would be available because Smith's contract should be off of the books. He and Horford are both offensively minded and crafty scorers. They could also draft a big man. Gorgui Dieng comes to mind. He is a defensively minded player who blocks shots at a high rate. He is also developing a nice mid range game. He would likely start at center right away, while Horford moves to power forward. They could also go after Steven Adams who is a very raw player, but has the body and the skills to be a big time player in the NBA. I would like to see them go after Mason Plumlee in the draft. He would add a nice scoring option next to Horford. He is probably the best offensive player they could draft at this point. However, he would be soft on defense, but he is very energetic and almost never takes a play off.
Starting Small Forward:
They need help at both positions. It is a good thing that they have back-to-back draft picks in the first round. At Small forward I see to options, Giannas Anetetokounmpo or Tony Mitchell. Giannas has risen up some draft boards, but it is unknown where he will be drafted since a lot of GM's are weary of European players. He has a point forward type of skill set and is very athletic so he could be taken earlier. He would be a great snag of Atlanta at this point in the draft. If Giannas is off of the board, they could go after Tony Mitchell who is also very athletic. He is no point forward, but he do a lot of other things, including going to grab rebounds. He is not very physical inside, but he can score at a decent rate. They also need a shooting guard, but Small forward is more of an urgent need as of now.
The Hawks need to take a step back and look at Josh Smith objectively. If he would get his head on straight he could be a great player, but he too often settles for ill-advised jump shots. I think he is too old to correct that now. They can save 12 million dollars a year by letting him go, and that is assuming that he wont demand more in free agency. To replace him, they need to draft a big man. Since Horford can play both positions, they can draft whomever they want to. They have also a needed a small forward for a very long time. Hopefully Giannas or Mitchell will not underachieve, if they are drafted by the Hawks, like Marvin Williams did in Atlanta. They might not make the playoffs next season, but that does not mean that they are not improving. Horford will get a bigger role next season and he should prove he is one of the top centers in the league. I expect them to be playoff contenders again in two or three years.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
LA Lakers Offseason Needs
Resign Dwight Howard:
Many do not like Howard, but he is still one of the best centers in the league. He is a very good defensive player who should improve from last season since he should be healthy. The Lakers do not have a draft pick in the next two draft because of the Howard trade which means they need to keep him. Howard needs to stay on the team, he an Gasol will make a good frontline in the future. Howard is very underrated after a very bad season, but I believe he will bounce back in a big way next season. The Lakers can offer Howard more money than any other team which should help him make his decision.
Small Forward:
Again the Lakers don't have a draft pick so they are not in a good situation. Ron Artest is no longer any good as an offensive player. His defense has also taken a step back from recent years. They should take a look at Corey Brewer in the offseason. He will not cost much and he is a really good defensive player who knows his place on the offense. The Lakers cannot afford much in free agency, but that is the price you pay when you try to build a super team.
Point Guard:
Nash will not last forever and this could be his final year. They do not have a draft pick so they cannot get one in the draft. There is also not much in the way of free agency at the point guard position. There is nothing they can do about it this offseason, but it is something to think about in the future when Nash's contract is no longer on the books.
The only major thing they can do this season is resign Dwight. They need to do this in the worst way. He has to be the future of the team after Kobe leaves. Kobe should be OK before the new year since he is such a hard worker. I think the Lakers will improve immensely from last season. They should be able to win about 50 games next season.
Many do not like Howard, but he is still one of the best centers in the league. He is a very good defensive player who should improve from last season since he should be healthy. The Lakers do not have a draft pick in the next two draft because of the Howard trade which means they need to keep him. Howard needs to stay on the team, he an Gasol will make a good frontline in the future. Howard is very underrated after a very bad season, but I believe he will bounce back in a big way next season. The Lakers can offer Howard more money than any other team which should help him make his decision.
Small Forward:
Again the Lakers don't have a draft pick so they are not in a good situation. Ron Artest is no longer any good as an offensive player. His defense has also taken a step back from recent years. They should take a look at Corey Brewer in the offseason. He will not cost much and he is a really good defensive player who knows his place on the offense. The Lakers cannot afford much in free agency, but that is the price you pay when you try to build a super team.
Point Guard:
Nash will not last forever and this could be his final year. They do not have a draft pick so they cannot get one in the draft. There is also not much in the way of free agency at the point guard position. There is nothing they can do about it this offseason, but it is something to think about in the future when Nash's contract is no longer on the books.
The only major thing they can do this season is resign Dwight. They need to do this in the worst way. He has to be the future of the team after Kobe leaves. Kobe should be OK before the new year since he is such a hard worker. I think the Lakers will improve immensely from last season. They should be able to win about 50 games next season.
Denver Broncos Strong Safety Competition
The Broncos really missed Brian Dawkins last season. He would have really helped in the all around defense. Mike Adams took over for him last season and it was abysmal. He needs to be replaced as soon as possible. He could not tackle and could not cover anyone on the field. He was too slow and looked absolutely awful at some points. He should have been benched, but he never was. That was probably because there was nobody behind him that could also start.
Quenton Carter was on injured reserve all of last season, but he should be back to full speed this season. He was arrested for cheating in craps in a casino in Las Vegas, but the charges have been dropped and he was present at OTA's. Carter is talented, but he has battled injuries throughout his career. Hopefully he will be fully healthy Carter is good in run defense, but so-so in pass coverage. At any rate, he is a lot more talented than Adams.
David Bruton is a good backup who is very adept at special teams play. That is where he makes his paycheck. Bruton plays on almost all special teams packages. He is a sure tackler and a good blocker in on the punt team. He will not see the field a lot as a safety, but he is one of the best special teams players in the league.
I expect Carter to secure the starting spot during training camp. Adams is not good and he does not deserve to start. He would be OK in a reserve role though. Carter is just much more talented than him and he should be a good starter, but I think the team could improve from him and I expect them to go after a safety in next years draft.
Quenton Carter was on injured reserve all of last season, but he should be back to full speed this season. He was arrested for cheating in craps in a casino in Las Vegas, but the charges have been dropped and he was present at OTA's. Carter is talented, but he has battled injuries throughout his career. Hopefully he will be fully healthy Carter is good in run defense, but so-so in pass coverage. At any rate, he is a lot more talented than Adams.
David Bruton is a good backup who is very adept at special teams play. That is where he makes his paycheck. Bruton plays on almost all special teams packages. He is a sure tackler and a good blocker in on the punt team. He will not see the field a lot as a safety, but he is one of the best special teams players in the league.
I expect Carter to secure the starting spot during training camp. Adams is not good and he does not deserve to start. He would be OK in a reserve role though. Carter is just much more talented than him and he should be a good starter, but I think the team could improve from him and I expect them to go after a safety in next years draft.
Boston Celtics Offseason Needs
Starting Center:
Kevin Garnett is not getting any younger and center is not his natural position anyhow. Kelly Olynyk should be their number one target on draft day. He impressed scouts at the combine with his ability to hit outside shots. Couple that with his decent low post game and he could make for a very good center. He is not physical like Garnett, but he is a good rebounder. They could decide to go after Gorgui Dieng who is a physical big. He is developing a decent mid range game and he is a good shot blocker. Dieng might be a little bit of a reach from where they are drafting, but if Olynyk is off of the board they may have to take him. As of now, they cannot afford anyone in free agency due to some massive contracts. This hurts since they could go after someone like Al Jefferson who would provide a nice offensive presence inside.
Shooting Guard:
Paul Pierce move to shooting guard when Jeff Green was playing so well that he could not be held on the bench any longer. However, there is quite the possibility that Pierce has played his last game in a Celtic uniform. That is very sad for a lot of people, including me, but his time has come for him to move on. Especially since Jeff Green took his starting spot at small forward. Avery Bradley is a decent player, he is not good offensively, but he is a shut down defender. He can score a little, but that is not his forte. There is nobody worth taking in the first round at this position unless someone slides. They could go after OJ Mayo in free agency, but I doubt he is someone that Doc would want on the team. This position can be delegate to next season if need be since they do not have a second round pick.
Get Younger:
The Celtics simply need to get younger. Pierce and Garnett are simply too old. I know people have been saying it for years, but I think it finally showed this season. They will likely get rid of Pierce this offseason which will help the development of Jeff Green. Garnett will retire in a year or two which will help them develop young bigs like Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo. Not to mention Pierce and Garnett's salaries take up a lot of cap space and not having them on the team will give them much more wiggle room in free agency.
The Boston Celtics need to get younger all around. They are a very old team. Drafting a starting center will help kick-start that process. They need a shooting guard, but without a second round pick or much cap space it will be hard for them to get one. Maybe if or when they trade Pierce, he will be able to net them a decent shooting guard or some draft picks, both of which are very valuable. Getting younger is the main hurdle that they have to get over. If they do that, they can accomplish the rest of their goals. They will likely not make the playoffs next season, but that should be OK after a 6 year run of being in contention and a championship ring.
Kevin Garnett is not getting any younger and center is not his natural position anyhow. Kelly Olynyk should be their number one target on draft day. He impressed scouts at the combine with his ability to hit outside shots. Couple that with his decent low post game and he could make for a very good center. He is not physical like Garnett, but he is a good rebounder. They could decide to go after Gorgui Dieng who is a physical big. He is developing a decent mid range game and he is a good shot blocker. Dieng might be a little bit of a reach from where they are drafting, but if Olynyk is off of the board they may have to take him. As of now, they cannot afford anyone in free agency due to some massive contracts. This hurts since they could go after someone like Al Jefferson who would provide a nice offensive presence inside.
Shooting Guard:
Paul Pierce move to shooting guard when Jeff Green was playing so well that he could not be held on the bench any longer. However, there is quite the possibility that Pierce has played his last game in a Celtic uniform. That is very sad for a lot of people, including me, but his time has come for him to move on. Especially since Jeff Green took his starting spot at small forward. Avery Bradley is a decent player, he is not good offensively, but he is a shut down defender. He can score a little, but that is not his forte. There is nobody worth taking in the first round at this position unless someone slides. They could go after OJ Mayo in free agency, but I doubt he is someone that Doc would want on the team. This position can be delegate to next season if need be since they do not have a second round pick.
Get Younger:
The Celtics simply need to get younger. Pierce and Garnett are simply too old. I know people have been saying it for years, but I think it finally showed this season. They will likely get rid of Pierce this offseason which will help the development of Jeff Green. Garnett will retire in a year or two which will help them develop young bigs like Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo. Not to mention Pierce and Garnett's salaries take up a lot of cap space and not having them on the team will give them much more wiggle room in free agency.
The Boston Celtics need to get younger all around. They are a very old team. Drafting a starting center will help kick-start that process. They need a shooting guard, but without a second round pick or much cap space it will be hard for them to get one. Maybe if or when they trade Pierce, he will be able to net them a decent shooting guard or some draft picks, both of which are very valuable. Getting younger is the main hurdle that they have to get over. If they do that, they can accomplish the rest of their goals. They will likely not make the playoffs next season, but that should be OK after a 6 year run of being in contention and a championship ring.
Denver Broncos Cornerback Competition
Champ Bailey is the obvious starter. He is one of the all time greats at his position. He is still very good and a top flight corner. He had a bad game against Baltimore, but that was probably the only one of the season. I would not be surprised if he plays some safety on third downs in order to maximize his ball hawking skills.
Chris Harris, who surprised everyone two years ago, starter to start when Tracy Porter went down with an injury. When Porter came back, Harris held onto the starting spot. He is very talented, he stays on top of his man and is a very good tackler. He was thought of as a guy who could only play nickel corner, but that notion was stomped when he played the outside very well when he starter. However, when they went into the nickel package, he slid back into the 3rd corner spot because that is where he is best. He is likely to start again, but I expect him to slide back to the nickel spot when the package comes in.
In free agency, the Broncos picked up Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie. I think he will play a big role in the defense. He has a lot of talent, but has not been able to put it all together yet. He has blinding speed, but he needs to learn how to cover better one on one. He will have to battle for playing time, but I think his raw talent will be enough for him. If he could develop a little more and learn from Champ Bailey, then the entire league should be on the lookout for him. I think the best part about him is that he is on a one year "prove it" deal. That should bring the best out of him.
Tony Carter immediately took over for Tracy Porter when he was injured and he had a couple of really good games, the first San Diego game comes to mind. He then did not play so well and was replaced in the starting lineup by Chris Harris. He still came in and played outside corner in nickel situations, which was quite a lot. He is skinny and fast, but not a good tackler. He is a decent ball hawk. Overall, I don't think he is starter quality, but he could be great in the right spot.
Omar Bolden was drafted in the 4th round of the 2012 draft, but it does not seem like the front office or coaching staff was enamored with him because they drafted Kayvon Webster in the 3rd round of this years draft. Bolden did not get a lot of playing time and I was not particularly impressed with what he brought in the pre season. He seemed slow and did not have good ball skills. Webster is very fast and Elway, in particular, was impressed with his coverage skills. These two will be fighting for a roster spot come training camp.
Mario Butler and Aaron Hester are likely not to make the team this season. Butler was on the practice squad last season and that is probably the best he can hope for this season. The same goes with Hester. They both might also not make the team at all. They are very raw and are likely not going to develop in tome for the season.
Champ and Harris are locks to make the team. Almost, any combination of players can make up the other three on the roster. I am guessing it will be Carter, Rodgers-Cromartie and Webster. There is a reason the Broncos drafted Webster right after they drafted Bolden the year before, they must see something in him that they do not like. However, he could land on the practice squad if he cleared waivers. Don't be surprised if Rodgers-Cromartie is one of the final cuts. The Broncos did it to Drayton Florence last season. If he does not show up to play and his work ethic is not up to snuff, Fox and Elway will not blink an eye before they cut him. I think the Broncos have one of the best corner crews in the league. Champ is one of the best ever, while Harris might be one of the most underrated corners in the league. Carter can play well at times and Webster has loads of potential. It will be fun to watch this group work next season. Although they kept five corners last season, it is a real possibility that they keep six this season in order to be able to hang onto Omar Boldin
Chris Harris, who surprised everyone two years ago, starter to start when Tracy Porter went down with an injury. When Porter came back, Harris held onto the starting spot. He is very talented, he stays on top of his man and is a very good tackler. He was thought of as a guy who could only play nickel corner, but that notion was stomped when he played the outside very well when he starter. However, when they went into the nickel package, he slid back into the 3rd corner spot because that is where he is best. He is likely to start again, but I expect him to slide back to the nickel spot when the package comes in.
In free agency, the Broncos picked up Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie. I think he will play a big role in the defense. He has a lot of talent, but has not been able to put it all together yet. He has blinding speed, but he needs to learn how to cover better one on one. He will have to battle for playing time, but I think his raw talent will be enough for him. If he could develop a little more and learn from Champ Bailey, then the entire league should be on the lookout for him. I think the best part about him is that he is on a one year "prove it" deal. That should bring the best out of him.
Tony Carter immediately took over for Tracy Porter when he was injured and he had a couple of really good games, the first San Diego game comes to mind. He then did not play so well and was replaced in the starting lineup by Chris Harris. He still came in and played outside corner in nickel situations, which was quite a lot. He is skinny and fast, but not a good tackler. He is a decent ball hawk. Overall, I don't think he is starter quality, but he could be great in the right spot.
Omar Bolden was drafted in the 4th round of the 2012 draft, but it does not seem like the front office or coaching staff was enamored with him because they drafted Kayvon Webster in the 3rd round of this years draft. Bolden did not get a lot of playing time and I was not particularly impressed with what he brought in the pre season. He seemed slow and did not have good ball skills. Webster is very fast and Elway, in particular, was impressed with his coverage skills. These two will be fighting for a roster spot come training camp.
Mario Butler and Aaron Hester are likely not to make the team this season. Butler was on the practice squad last season and that is probably the best he can hope for this season. The same goes with Hester. They both might also not make the team at all. They are very raw and are likely not going to develop in tome for the season.
Champ and Harris are locks to make the team. Almost, any combination of players can make up the other three on the roster. I am guessing it will be Carter, Rodgers-Cromartie and Webster. There is a reason the Broncos drafted Webster right after they drafted Bolden the year before, they must see something in him that they do not like. However, he could land on the practice squad if he cleared waivers. Don't be surprised if Rodgers-Cromartie is one of the final cuts. The Broncos did it to Drayton Florence last season. If he does not show up to play and his work ethic is not up to snuff, Fox and Elway will not blink an eye before they cut him. I think the Broncos have one of the best corner crews in the league. Champ is one of the best ever, while Harris might be one of the most underrated corners in the league. Carter can play well at times and Webster has loads of potential. It will be fun to watch this group work next season. Although they kept five corners last season, it is a real possibility that they keep six this season in order to be able to hang onto Omar Boldin
Milwaukee Bucks Offseason Needs
Let Jennings and Ellis Walk:
I know that they invested a lot of time and money into these two players, but they are both very inefficient scorers. They both shot less than 42% from the field last season, that is not going to cut it. I know the Bucks want them to be franchise players, but by the looks of it they aren't. The Bucks need to rebuild their backcourt with more efficient players.
Starting Guard:
Now that they would have let Jennings and Ellis go, they need to rebuild their back court. They need to resign JJ Redick, but I am highly doubtful that he stays. They have a decent pick since they were the worst playoff team. They should go after Allen Crabbe. Crabbe is a very good three point shooter, but he does not play well with the ball in his hands. He is better off of the ball which means they need a good point guard who can find him. Crabbe would be the last best shooting guard in the first half of the first round. It is also highly doubtful Carter-Williams makes his way through Utah and he is the last good point guard. In the second round they should have their eye on Isaiah Canaan and Erik Green. They would likely start right away even though they would be second round picks. They need anything they get and if the top player on their draft board has a PG or SG next to their name, they should take him.
Small Forward:
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is a good player, but not a starter. He should be coming off of the bench as a defensive starter. Alas, there is nobody in the draft that would likely fall to him in the first round, but in the second round they could go after CJ Leslie who is very athletic, but reportedly lacks work ethic which pushes him to the second round.
If I were the Bucks, I would go after Crabbe in the first round and snag Canaan in the second round. Canaan likely would not be the starter of the future, like Crabbe, but he could hold down the fort for a few years while the Bucks cover other needs. They should be rebuilding at every position besides center where Larry Sanders resides. They could be one of the worst teams in the league this season even though they made the playoffs. They were still very much under .500. They should be in full rebuilding mode and they can hope that they can be in a position to draft Wiggins or Parker next off season.
I know that they invested a lot of time and money into these two players, but they are both very inefficient scorers. They both shot less than 42% from the field last season, that is not going to cut it. I know the Bucks want them to be franchise players, but by the looks of it they aren't. The Bucks need to rebuild their backcourt with more efficient players.
Starting Guard:
Now that they would have let Jennings and Ellis go, they need to rebuild their back court. They need to resign JJ Redick, but I am highly doubtful that he stays. They have a decent pick since they were the worst playoff team. They should go after Allen Crabbe. Crabbe is a very good three point shooter, but he does not play well with the ball in his hands. He is better off of the ball which means they need a good point guard who can find him. Crabbe would be the last best shooting guard in the first half of the first round. It is also highly doubtful Carter-Williams makes his way through Utah and he is the last good point guard. In the second round they should have their eye on Isaiah Canaan and Erik Green. They would likely start right away even though they would be second round picks. They need anything they get and if the top player on their draft board has a PG or SG next to their name, they should take him.
Small Forward:
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is a good player, but not a starter. He should be coming off of the bench as a defensive starter. Alas, there is nobody in the draft that would likely fall to him in the first round, but in the second round they could go after CJ Leslie who is very athletic, but reportedly lacks work ethic which pushes him to the second round.
If I were the Bucks, I would go after Crabbe in the first round and snag Canaan in the second round. Canaan likely would not be the starter of the future, like Crabbe, but he could hold down the fort for a few years while the Bucks cover other needs. They should be rebuilding at every position besides center where Larry Sanders resides. They could be one of the worst teams in the league this season even though they made the playoffs. They were still very much under .500. They should be in full rebuilding mode and they can hope that they can be in a position to draft Wiggins or Parker next off season.
Utah Jazz Offseason Needs
Starting Point Guard:
The Jazz have needed a starting point guard ever since Deron Williams was traded. They have had Devin Harris and Mo Williams, neither of which have worked out. Williams was more effective, but I believe he would make a better 6th man. Michael Carter-Williams should be their primary target with their first round pick. Carter-Williams would provide them with a distributing point guard who can score inside. He does not have much of an outside shot, but that is not needed, right now they need a starting caliber point guard. However, if Carter-Williams has already been picked, they are in a lot of trouble. There is not another point guard worth taking with their first pick. There is also not much worth taking in free agency. If they miss on Carter-Williams, they will probably have to stick with Mo Williams as their starter through next season.
Resign Jefferson and Let Millsap Walk:
Jefferson is needed on the Jazz, Millsap not so much. Jefferson's presence and Miillsap's absence would allow Derrick Favors to take over the starting power forward spot and it would allow Enes Kanter to be the first big off of the bench. The Jazz missed an amazing opportunity when they decided not to trade Millsap before the trade deadline, now he leaves for free. Favors played great last season, especially when he was able to start. He is a good rebounder and shot blocker and in a starting role he could put up around 15 points per game. Kanter did not get a lot of playing time last season because he was the second big off of the bench in a crowded front court. Kanter averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds in only 15 minutes of play per game. He and Favors both had double doubles in their per 36 stat. If the Jazz think Kanter is ready for the starting role, they could choose not to resign Jefferson and go after a backup center. I would suggest going after Robin Lopez or Chris Kamen. The Jazz have loads of talent in their big men, they just have to make the decision on how they want to utilize them.
Shooting Guard:
Alec Burks played wonderful when he finally got the chance during the second half of the season. He proved he could be a quality starter so the Jazz should not be chasing a starter for this position, but they should be getting some depth for him. They could also use some depth behind Gordon Hayward at small forward so someone who can play both would be great for them. Will Clyburn would be a great add in the second round. He is a good player who can hit it from deep. However, there is not much else in the second round of the draft. Corey Brewer would be a good addition in free agency. He is primarily a bench player so he would know his place.They likely will not fill this need during this offseason, but it is something to keep in mind for the future.
The Jazz have loads of talent in their front court and they will continue to for years if they they keep both Favors and Kanter. That should not be a problem, but they really need a starting point guard. If they are able to snag Carter-Williams in the draft, they should have a team that is worthy of playoff contention. They should resign Jefferson then trade him when they feel Kanter is ready for the starting job. If they feel he is ready now, then they should not try to resign him. They can put off getting a shooting guard for a little longer since they have bigger needs. They can compete for a playoff spot next season and there is a strong possibility that they make the playoffs.
Denver Broncos Middle Linebacker Competition
The Broncos really struggled with finding a middle linebacker last season. Joe Mays was the starter for the beginning of the year until he got benched and then Keith Brooking took over. Brooking was OK, he was smart, but he was not fast enough to keep up with other players, especially in pass defense. John Fox has stated that 2011 third round pick, Nate Irving will get the first shot at starting middle linebacker in the offseason. Irving has not got much playing time in his first two seasons, but he got a decent amount at the end of last season and I liked what I saw. He is quick and always makes sure he brings down the running back. He could keep his starting job throughout training camp and into the season, but there is another player who is nipping at his heels.
Stewart Bradley was brought in during free agency. He has not been particularly stellar in his first five seasons in the NFL, but he is a solid player with starting experience, something that Irving has not had. He is a solid run defender who is also decent in pass coverage, although the Broncos don't use their starting middle linebackers in coverage all that often. Even if he does not get the starting job, I suspect he will still be used in the rotation pretty often.
Joe Mays was the starter to begin last season, but he was benched for his ineptness. He always goes for the kill shot when going after the ball carrier, which results in a lot of missed tackles. He is also vert bad in pass coverage. He cannot stay with a receiver to save his life. If he stays on the team, it will most likely be in a special teams role. However, he is making way to much money to be in a special teams role only. He will make 4 million dollars this season. I expect the Broncos to try and trade him before the season starts. Maybe to a team that has suffered an injury at the middle linebacker spot.
Steven Johnson was an undrafted rookie out of Kansas that made the team last season. He played very well in the pre season and really impressed the coaches. He is a very good all-around player. I would not be surprised if he made a run for the starting job, considering that the middle linebacker spot is basically an open competition. He likely wont win the competition, but there is no doubt that he should make the team.
I think Nate Irving will end up winning the competition, but not by much. Bradley and Johnson will not be far behind him and if he slips up in the regular season. He will need to be playing at a top level in order to keep his starting position. Mays is not in contention for the starting job and will likely be delegated to the special teams, if he is not traded. There is also a possibility that the coaching staff might say that there is no room on the roster for an expensive special teams player and outright cut him.
This is not the strongest position on the team and they should make it a priority to try and find a better middle linebacker in next years draft. Irving or whoever starts should be good enough for now since the Broncos don't use a middle linebacker very often since they are in nickel or dime for most of their plays.
Stewart Bradley was brought in during free agency. He has not been particularly stellar in his first five seasons in the NFL, but he is a solid player with starting experience, something that Irving has not had. He is a solid run defender who is also decent in pass coverage, although the Broncos don't use their starting middle linebackers in coverage all that often. Even if he does not get the starting job, I suspect he will still be used in the rotation pretty often.
Joe Mays was the starter to begin last season, but he was benched for his ineptness. He always goes for the kill shot when going after the ball carrier, which results in a lot of missed tackles. He is also vert bad in pass coverage. He cannot stay with a receiver to save his life. If he stays on the team, it will most likely be in a special teams role. However, he is making way to much money to be in a special teams role only. He will make 4 million dollars this season. I expect the Broncos to try and trade him before the season starts. Maybe to a team that has suffered an injury at the middle linebacker spot.
Steven Johnson was an undrafted rookie out of Kansas that made the team last season. He played very well in the pre season and really impressed the coaches. He is a very good all-around player. I would not be surprised if he made a run for the starting job, considering that the middle linebacker spot is basically an open competition. He likely wont win the competition, but there is no doubt that he should make the team.
I think Nate Irving will end up winning the competition, but not by much. Bradley and Johnson will not be far behind him and if he slips up in the regular season. He will need to be playing at a top level in order to keep his starting position. Mays is not in contention for the starting job and will likely be delegated to the special teams, if he is not traded. There is also a possibility that the coaching staff might say that there is no room on the roster for an expensive special teams player and outright cut him.
This is not the strongest position on the team and they should make it a priority to try and find a better middle linebacker in next years draft. Irving or whoever starts should be good enough for now since the Broncos don't use a middle linebacker very often since they are in nickel or dime for most of their plays.
Dallas Mavericks Offseason Needs
Starting Shooting Guard:
It is weird that the Mavericks just won a championship two years ago. When they won their roster was ancient, now they are facing the consequences. Vince Carter is old and OJ Mayo is very likely to leave in free agency. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the most likely selection with their first round draft pick. He would add a shooter to the lineup to replace OJ Mayo. Maybe he can be like Mayo was supposed to be when he went to Dallas. If Pope is gone, they could go with Allen Crabbe who is also a good shooter who plays well off of the ball. There is nothing in free agency. They need to build on this position through the draft/
Starting Point Guard:
Darren Collison will likely leave in free agency which will leave a hole in the starting lineup. Mike James was good last season, but he is better suited to be coming off of the bench. I still think they should draft Caldwell-Pope if he is there, but if he is not and Michael Carter-Williams is still on the board they should snag him fast. Carter-Williams would be a good distributor who could find Dirk for open shots. If they end up getting Caldwell-Pope, they should go after Pierre Jackson or Isaiah Canaan. Both could be bench players behind Mike James for a year or two and then take over. Point guard could be less of a need if they resign Darren Collison. Collison is still not really good, but he can be serviceable for a year or two.
Starting Center:
Another direction they could go with the first pick is a center. This is less of a possibility because there are plenty of teams in front of them that need a center too. They could also resign Kaman who is a decent starter. However, Mark Cuban likes to spend money so I would not be surprised if he went after Pekovic or Jefferson. Pek would give them a nice defensive stopper inside while Jefferson is a good offensive player. I think Pek would be a better fit because Dirk is not much of a defensive player and neither is Jefferson. They cannot afford to have two defensively inept players on the inside.
Dirk is still a really good player so the Mavericks should still focus on building around him. They need help at just about every position, but both guard positions are the most urgent needs. If they got Caldwell-Pope in the draft and picked up Pek, they could put off getting a point guard for another year, but putting that off any longer would be a bad idea. I think they will make the playoffs again next season. They had bad luck this year because Dirk was injured for a lot of the season. If they got just a little bit younger and solidified the middle they could be a dangerous team come next May.
It is weird that the Mavericks just won a championship two years ago. When they won their roster was ancient, now they are facing the consequences. Vince Carter is old and OJ Mayo is very likely to leave in free agency. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the most likely selection with their first round draft pick. He would add a shooter to the lineup to replace OJ Mayo. Maybe he can be like Mayo was supposed to be when he went to Dallas. If Pope is gone, they could go with Allen Crabbe who is also a good shooter who plays well off of the ball. There is nothing in free agency. They need to build on this position through the draft/
Starting Point Guard:
Darren Collison will likely leave in free agency which will leave a hole in the starting lineup. Mike James was good last season, but he is better suited to be coming off of the bench. I still think they should draft Caldwell-Pope if he is there, but if he is not and Michael Carter-Williams is still on the board they should snag him fast. Carter-Williams would be a good distributor who could find Dirk for open shots. If they end up getting Caldwell-Pope, they should go after Pierre Jackson or Isaiah Canaan. Both could be bench players behind Mike James for a year or two and then take over. Point guard could be less of a need if they resign Darren Collison. Collison is still not really good, but he can be serviceable for a year or two.
Starting Center:
Another direction they could go with the first pick is a center. This is less of a possibility because there are plenty of teams in front of them that need a center too. They could also resign Kaman who is a decent starter. However, Mark Cuban likes to spend money so I would not be surprised if he went after Pekovic or Jefferson. Pek would give them a nice defensive stopper inside while Jefferson is a good offensive player. I think Pek would be a better fit because Dirk is not much of a defensive player and neither is Jefferson. They cannot afford to have two defensively inept players on the inside.
Dirk is still a really good player so the Mavericks should still focus on building around him. They need help at just about every position, but both guard positions are the most urgent needs. If they got Caldwell-Pope in the draft and picked up Pek, they could put off getting a point guard for another year, but putting that off any longer would be a bad idea. I think they will make the playoffs again next season. They had bad luck this year because Dirk was injured for a lot of the season. If they got just a little bit younger and solidified the middle they could be a dangerous team come next May.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Toronto Raptors Offseason Needs
Power Forward:
The Raptors do not have a pick in the first round of the draft which will really hurt their search for a starting power forward. Amir Johnson was really good last season, but he is not starting material. He would be better utilized if he were coming off of the bench. Their best chance to nab someone would be in free agency. If i were the Raptors, I would go hard after Paul Millsap. Millsap can make plays on offense and would be a good compliment for Rudy Gay. He would also be an efficient shooter for the Raptors. Right now they do not have one, Gay and Derozen do not fit that bill. JJ Hickson could also be a good target in free agency. He would kill the glass.
Point Guard:
Kyle Lowry is decent, but there is a reason he has bounced from team to team. He wants to be a star, but he simply is not one. He can be a starter for another year and he will have to be because they do not have a draft pick and there is not a starter they can afford. There is no point in picking up a backup because John Lucas is pretty good. They should try to trade Lowry before the draft for a draft pick and if they cant they should try to trade him during the regular season in order to let the rebuilding process continue.
Center:
I think Jonas Valanciunas is going to be a good player. However, they can improve from Aaron Gray at backup center. They could pickup Timofey Mozgov in free agency. He is a good backup center and is still pretty young. Whoever they decide to pickup should be better than Gray.
The Raptors are in quite a conundrum. They traded for Rudy Gay who is not as good as some claim. He is way overrated and over payed. Rudy Gay will almost be impossible to trade. They do not have a draft pick this season. They cannot get a starter unless Millsap decides to sign with them. They might be the worst team in the league next season. They are going to be unable to acquire quality players this year. They are in very bad position.
The Raptors do not have a pick in the first round of the draft which will really hurt their search for a starting power forward. Amir Johnson was really good last season, but he is not starting material. He would be better utilized if he were coming off of the bench. Their best chance to nab someone would be in free agency. If i were the Raptors, I would go hard after Paul Millsap. Millsap can make plays on offense and would be a good compliment for Rudy Gay. He would also be an efficient shooter for the Raptors. Right now they do not have one, Gay and Derozen do not fit that bill. JJ Hickson could also be a good target in free agency. He would kill the glass.
Point Guard:
Kyle Lowry is decent, but there is a reason he has bounced from team to team. He wants to be a star, but he simply is not one. He can be a starter for another year and he will have to be because they do not have a draft pick and there is not a starter they can afford. There is no point in picking up a backup because John Lucas is pretty good. They should try to trade Lowry before the draft for a draft pick and if they cant they should try to trade him during the regular season in order to let the rebuilding process continue.
Center:
I think Jonas Valanciunas is going to be a good player. However, they can improve from Aaron Gray at backup center. They could pickup Timofey Mozgov in free agency. He is a good backup center and is still pretty young. Whoever they decide to pickup should be better than Gray.
The Raptors are in quite a conundrum. They traded for Rudy Gay who is not as good as some claim. He is way overrated and over payed. Rudy Gay will almost be impossible to trade. They do not have a draft pick this season. They cannot get a starter unless Millsap decides to sign with them. They might be the worst team in the league next season. They are going to be unable to acquire quality players this year. They are in very bad position.
Denver Broncos Outside Linebacker Competition
Von Miller has revolutionized how the strong side linebacker position can be played. He has been a great pass rusher from that position. He was the best pass rusher in the league last season, that is not just my subjective opinion, check out profootballfocus.com. He did the most on the least amount of pass rushing attempts. Think about this, he only had a couple of sacks less than Watt and Smith, but they get to rush the passer every down. Miller is so much more than a pass rusher, he can stop the run too. He had 58 total tackles last season, 14 of those were for a loss. He is one of the most versatile players in the league. He will continue to be the Broncos starter until the day he retires.
Wesley Woodyard has an All-Pro season last, but was not recognized. I have no idea why players and coaches were so naive about Woodyards season, he had one of the best seasons for an outside linebacker in this decade. He finished the year with 117 total tackles, 5.5 sacks and 3 interceptions, those are numbers few have ever put up in a single season as a 4-3 outside linebacker. Woodyard put himself in the conversation as a top five , maybe top three 4-3 outside linebacker. He took over for DJ Williams who was suspended for most of the season. Many thought Williams would reclaim his starting linebacker role rather easily when he came back, but Woodyard never relinquished it. He will continue to be the starting weak side linebacker for the foreseeable future.
Danny Trevathan was drafted late last season and many thought he would not get any playing time, but he cracked the lineup in the nickel package. He played very well last season and he should see a lot of playing time in the nickel package. I like him a lot and I think he will continue to develop into a very good player.
Shaun Phillips will play both outside linebacker and defensive end. He will likely be listed as an outside linebacker, but he will come in on obvious passing downs to rush the passer as a defensive end. This is the same with Lerentee McCray. However, McCray can play some spot outside linebacker. McCray is a good pass rusher, but is also pretty stout against the run.
Woodyard and Miller will be the starter without a doubt. They are both very dominant in their own ways and I hope they can continue to be in the same linebacking core. Trevathan will make a very good backup, but he will play a lot for a backup since he can come in in nickel situations. Phillips will be mostly a pass rusher. As will McCray, but McCray can do more in a traditional outside linebacker role.
Philadelphia 76ers Offseason Needs
Starting Center:
The Sixers trade for Andrew Bynum last season which was the mistakes of mistakes. He never played one minute for the entire season and it is likely that he leaves via free agency. Spencer Hawes is a good player, but he is not a starter. Luckily for the Sixers, there should be some centers available with their first round pick. Cody Zeller comes to mind when looking at where they pick. Zeller would likely start right away. He is not a dominant rebounder, but he can score in a variety of ways. The Sixers need someone inside to take the scoring pressure off of Jrue Holliday and Zeller would accomplish just that. In the event that Zeller is not available at their pick, they could got after Rudy Gobert. Gobert is very raw, but he is athletic. He does not have much of an offensive game yet, but that will likely develop after a year or two. They could decide to pass up a center in the draft and go hard after Al Jefferson in free agency. Jefferson does not play much defense, but he would put up around 20 and 10 every night.
Starting Shooting Guard:
If they decide to forgo drafting a center, they need to draft a shooting guard. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a viable option with their first pick. He is a good shooter which is something Jrue Holliday needs next to him. Other than Pope, there are no other shooting guards worth taking with their first pick. If they take a center with their first pick, OJ Mayo is an option in free agency. He would add a shooter to the lineup. A shooter would do so much for Holliday's continued development. I have another idea of what the Sixers could do in free agency. They could sign Andre Iguodala who was with the team for 8 years before being traded to Denver. However, Iguodala might be bitter about being traded from the only franchise he knew. If they did get him back, it would be like the Bynum trade never happened.
Small Forward:
Evan Turner is a good player, not worth the number two pick, but he is a good player. However, they need someone to back him up. I would recommend DeShaun Thomas from Ohio State in the second round. He has a good inside outside game and could eventually take over the starting spot from Turner, but as of now he would be a quality bench player. Another option in the second round would be Tony Snell out of New Mexico. Snell has the ability to shoot it from deep and he has great athleticism. Either of these guys would be great second round picks.
I think the Sixers should go hard after Al Jefferson in free agency. He would be the perfect player down low for them. If they decide to go hard after a center in free agency, Pope should be their first round pick. Pope would add be a nice shooting threat and he could develop into a good all around scorer. With their second pick they should draft Thomas who would add a nice shooting threat from inside and out since Dorrell Wright might be leaving. If they did this they could contend for a playoff spot next season.
The Sixers trade for Andrew Bynum last season which was the mistakes of mistakes. He never played one minute for the entire season and it is likely that he leaves via free agency. Spencer Hawes is a good player, but he is not a starter. Luckily for the Sixers, there should be some centers available with their first round pick. Cody Zeller comes to mind when looking at where they pick. Zeller would likely start right away. He is not a dominant rebounder, but he can score in a variety of ways. The Sixers need someone inside to take the scoring pressure off of Jrue Holliday and Zeller would accomplish just that. In the event that Zeller is not available at their pick, they could got after Rudy Gobert. Gobert is very raw, but he is athletic. He does not have much of an offensive game yet, but that will likely develop after a year or two. They could decide to pass up a center in the draft and go hard after Al Jefferson in free agency. Jefferson does not play much defense, but he would put up around 20 and 10 every night.
Starting Shooting Guard:
If they decide to forgo drafting a center, they need to draft a shooting guard. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a viable option with their first pick. He is a good shooter which is something Jrue Holliday needs next to him. Other than Pope, there are no other shooting guards worth taking with their first pick. If they take a center with their first pick, OJ Mayo is an option in free agency. He would add a shooter to the lineup. A shooter would do so much for Holliday's continued development. I have another idea of what the Sixers could do in free agency. They could sign Andre Iguodala who was with the team for 8 years before being traded to Denver. However, Iguodala might be bitter about being traded from the only franchise he knew. If they did get him back, it would be like the Bynum trade never happened.
Small Forward:
Evan Turner is a good player, not worth the number two pick, but he is a good player. However, they need someone to back him up. I would recommend DeShaun Thomas from Ohio State in the second round. He has a good inside outside game and could eventually take over the starting spot from Turner, but as of now he would be a quality bench player. Another option in the second round would be Tony Snell out of New Mexico. Snell has the ability to shoot it from deep and he has great athleticism. Either of these guys would be great second round picks.
I think the Sixers should go hard after Al Jefferson in free agency. He would be the perfect player down low for them. If they decide to go hard after a center in free agency, Pope should be their first round pick. Pope would add be a nice shooting threat and he could develop into a good all around scorer. With their second pick they should draft Thomas who would add a nice shooting threat from inside and out since Dorrell Wright might be leaving. If they did this they could contend for a playoff spot next season.
Portland Trailblazers Offseason Needs
Big Man Depth:
The Blazers had probably the worst bench in the league last season so they could use depth across the board. However, there is a good chance JJ Hickson leaves in free agency, which makes a big man a big need. Dario Saric is a prototypical European, he can shoot and is very versatile. He would give Portland a scoring option off of the bench which is something they dearly need. Cody Zeller is another option. Zeller is also a scoring option and he could possibly start. That would move Meyers Leonard back to the bench, where I think he can be a better player. They have two draft picks in the second round and they could use one of them on Kenny Kadji. Kadji had a breakout year in Miami and has solidified himself as someone who can do a little of everything. He would be a great option to have coming off of the bench.
Shooting Guard Depth:
Wesley Matthews is a good starter, but as with every other position on this team, there is no depth behind the starter. CJ McCollum is a top shooting guard in the draft, but I don't think Portland will consider him since he plays similar to Damian Lillard. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would be a good scoring and shooting option off of the bench. Portland does not have good shooters so he could make since at their pick. In the second round, they could look at Brandon Paul or Vander Blue. Both are two of the best second round prospects at shooting guard. They would not start right away, but they would be great threats to have off of the bench. There is nothing in the free agent market besides OJ Mayo, but I don't think he would make sense in Portland.
Small Forward Depth:
Nicolas Batum is probably the most underrated small forward in the NBA. He does everything very well. However, there is nobody behind him in order to give him relief. Livio Jean Charles from France could be an option in the first round. He plays with great energy which is essential in order to be a good bench player. CJ Leslie will probably be available in the second round. Questions have been raised about his work ethic, but he is an excellent athlete who would be good coming off of the bench. Corey Brewer is a possible option in free agency. He is a proven bench player who will not ask to be anything more.
Damian Lillard was the rookie of the year last season and will likely be in Portland for a very long time. Lamarcus Aldridge is a proven post player who can dominate most other bigs offensively. Them and Batum are likely their core for the future. They need to add some depth and they will do that if they draft Cody Zeller. I don't think that is their first choice, but I think it is their best. If they do that and pickup Brandon Paul and Leslie in the second round, they will be on their way to the playoffs in the western conference. Lillard is going to be a superstar, so as long as they build more around him, they should be a contender in the playoffs in the near future.
The Blazers had probably the worst bench in the league last season so they could use depth across the board. However, there is a good chance JJ Hickson leaves in free agency, which makes a big man a big need. Dario Saric is a prototypical European, he can shoot and is very versatile. He would give Portland a scoring option off of the bench which is something they dearly need. Cody Zeller is another option. Zeller is also a scoring option and he could possibly start. That would move Meyers Leonard back to the bench, where I think he can be a better player. They have two draft picks in the second round and they could use one of them on Kenny Kadji. Kadji had a breakout year in Miami and has solidified himself as someone who can do a little of everything. He would be a great option to have coming off of the bench.
Shooting Guard Depth:
Wesley Matthews is a good starter, but as with every other position on this team, there is no depth behind the starter. CJ McCollum is a top shooting guard in the draft, but I don't think Portland will consider him since he plays similar to Damian Lillard. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would be a good scoring and shooting option off of the bench. Portland does not have good shooters so he could make since at their pick. In the second round, they could look at Brandon Paul or Vander Blue. Both are two of the best second round prospects at shooting guard. They would not start right away, but they would be great threats to have off of the bench. There is nothing in the free agent market besides OJ Mayo, but I don't think he would make sense in Portland.
Small Forward Depth:
Nicolas Batum is probably the most underrated small forward in the NBA. He does everything very well. However, there is nobody behind him in order to give him relief. Livio Jean Charles from France could be an option in the first round. He plays with great energy which is essential in order to be a good bench player. CJ Leslie will probably be available in the second round. Questions have been raised about his work ethic, but he is an excellent athlete who would be good coming off of the bench. Corey Brewer is a possible option in free agency. He is a proven bench player who will not ask to be anything more.
Damian Lillard was the rookie of the year last season and will likely be in Portland for a very long time. Lamarcus Aldridge is a proven post player who can dominate most other bigs offensively. Them and Batum are likely their core for the future. They need to add some depth and they will do that if they draft Cody Zeller. I don't think that is their first choice, but I think it is their best. If they do that and pickup Brandon Paul and Leslie in the second round, they will be on their way to the playoffs in the western conference. Lillard is going to be a superstar, so as long as they build more around him, they should be a contender in the playoffs in the near future.
Denver Broncos Defensive Tackle Competition
The defensive tackle position, for the Broncos, has needed to be upgraded for quite some time. They finally upgraded in the draft by getting Sylvester Williams and in free agency by picking up Terrance Knighton.
Williams is a very talented player. In his senior season, he suffered a nagging ankle injury, but he played through it. He is a good pass rusher, but he is a better run stopper. The Broncos run defense was really good last season, but the interior pass rush was really lacking. Williams is a better pass rusher than any other defensive tackle on the roster. He will add to an already formidable pass rush, QB's wont be able to step up in the pocket anymore in order to avoid Von Miller. Williams should be on this team for a very long time and I could see him having a Trevor Pryce like impact on this defense.
Knighton is not much of a pass rusher, but he run stopping ability is invaluable. He had a couple of bad seasons in Jacksonville, but reuniting with Jack Del Rio should do him wonders. Knighton will have to fight for the starting job, but I think he should be able to obtain it. He will clog up running lanes on first and second down, but likely wont be on the field during passing downs.
Kevin Vickerson, Mitch Unrein and Sealver Silga will be fighting for the last two spots on the team. Vickerson and Unrein were starters last season and one of them could very well pass up Knighton. They are both talented, but they are not on the level of Williams. Even if a player doesn't start they will still get a lot of playing time because defensive tackles are subbed in and out a lot during a game in order to keep them fresh. Silga is a long shot to make the team, but he will likely be placed on the practice squad.
I am 99% sure that Williams will start from day one. He is too balanced as a run stopper and pass rusher not to start. I think Knighton will start, but I am less sure. He needs to show the coaches that he wants to play and I think he will since he his back with Jack Del Rio. Vickerson could easily pass up Knighton on the depth chart. He played very well last season and if that continues, look out for him. I like Unrein a lot, but I dont think he will start. He is a good rotation player and that is needed very much since the line is substituted a lot. Silga's best chance is on the practice squad.
The defensive tackles have been improved since last season and should provide good run stopping and better pass rushing.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Minnesota Timberwolves Offseason Needs
Trade for Eric Gordon or Draft a Shooting Guard:
This is a must. Gordon is often injured, but when he isn't he is a top notch scorer. The font office needs to prove to Kevin Love that they are trying to improve the team around him. The Timberwolves do not have a viable option at shooting guard so I would not be surprised if they traded their first round pick for him. If they don't trade for him, CJ McCollum should be their draft pick. He is a combo guard, but he could play next to Rubio as a scorer. He can score from inside and out which is something the Wolves need. Outside of Love, there is no one on the team who can create their own shot. They need someone like that.
Sign Nikola Pekovic:
If they don't go after Pek they can kill Love goodbye. They literally have nobody behind him. It would prove to Love that they have no interest in surrounding him with talent. If they lose Pek, they could go after Cody Zeller or Rudy Gobert. Gobert is raw, but has loads of potential. Zeller on the other hand does not have much potential, but he is a well rounded player.
Small Forward:
I think the Brewers should look to go after Corey Brewer. He already played for them once, but he could be more successful this time because he has grown as a player since they traded him. They will not likely find a small forward that can start either with their draft pick or in free agency. Small forward is not their biggest need though. Andrei Kirilenko is a solid starter and Mickael Gelabale is a good backup. His shooting helped the Wolves down the stretch. This is something they should try to address next season.
If the Wolves don't retain Pekovic and don't trade for Eric Gordon or draft CJ McCullom they are likely in trouble. They will likely either trade for Gordon or draft McCullom, but retaining Pek is the main thing they have to do. If they aren't willing to pay him, I am willing to bet Love is a goner sooner than later. Small forward can wait, but there is no doubt it is still a need on this team, but shooting guard and center are bigger issues.
This is a must. Gordon is often injured, but when he isn't he is a top notch scorer. The font office needs to prove to Kevin Love that they are trying to improve the team around him. The Timberwolves do not have a viable option at shooting guard so I would not be surprised if they traded their first round pick for him. If they don't trade for him, CJ McCollum should be their draft pick. He is a combo guard, but he could play next to Rubio as a scorer. He can score from inside and out which is something the Wolves need. Outside of Love, there is no one on the team who can create their own shot. They need someone like that.
Sign Nikola Pekovic:
If they don't go after Pek they can kill Love goodbye. They literally have nobody behind him. It would prove to Love that they have no interest in surrounding him with talent. If they lose Pek, they could go after Cody Zeller or Rudy Gobert. Gobert is raw, but has loads of potential. Zeller on the other hand does not have much potential, but he is a well rounded player.
Small Forward:
I think the Brewers should look to go after Corey Brewer. He already played for them once, but he could be more successful this time because he has grown as a player since they traded him. They will not likely find a small forward that can start either with their draft pick or in free agency. Small forward is not their biggest need though. Andrei Kirilenko is a solid starter and Mickael Gelabale is a good backup. His shooting helped the Wolves down the stretch. This is something they should try to address next season.
If the Wolves don't retain Pekovic and don't trade for Eric Gordon or draft CJ McCullom they are likely in trouble. They will likely either trade for Gordon or draft McCullom, but retaining Pek is the main thing they have to do. If they aren't willing to pay him, I am willing to bet Love is a goner sooner than later. Small forward can wait, but there is no doubt it is still a need on this team, but shooting guard and center are bigger issues.
Denver Broncos Defensive End Competition
With Elvis Dumervil leaving during free agency with a contract snafu, the Broncos defensive end situation has become cloudy. Derek Wolfe started last season and will likely keep his starting spot. He was a good run defender, but could use some work on his pass rush. He had five sacks last season, but some of them were either coverage sacks or the QB just simply ran into him. He needs to diversify his pass rushing moves also. He seemed to only have power rushing moves. If he does not change that, he will have a really hard time gathering up sacks in the future.
Robert Ayers seemed to improve during his limited playing time last season. He, like Wolfe, is more of a run stopper, rather than a pass rusher. He has a better pass rushing repertoire than Wolfe, but he has not gotten the opportunities that Wolfe has. I think Ayers will show his worth during the season. Much like Moreno, he is nowhere near worth where he was drafted, but that does not mean that he is not worth something.
Malik Jackson showed he could be a really good player last season. He is mostly a pass rusher, but he showed strides in his run blocking. He is talented, but I think he would have a hard time cracking the starting lineup. He will be a instrumental role player, especially if anyone above him goes down to injury.
Shaun Phillips was brought in for pass rushing only. He had 9.5 sacks last season and he should be able to get around the same amount since he will have Von Miller coming from the other end. He will not be a starter and might not even be listed as a DE, but that is where he will spend most of his time on the defense.
Quanterus Smith was drafted as a pass rush specialist in the 5ht round of the draft. He was dominant last season until he suffered a season ending ACL tear in November. I would like it if the Broncos stuck him on IR for the year. That way they can see if they want to bring back Ayers or Phillips. If not Smith would be a likely candidate to take their spots.
Wolfe and Ayers would likely start, but when it comes to passing downs, Wolfe will likely slide inside while Phiilps and Miller man the end positions. Jackson makes a very good backup. He will continue to make strides this year. Look for him to get more and more snaps as the season goes on. Smith will likely at least land on the PUP list, if not the IR. If he is stashed, it would be the best for him as it gives him time to develop. Without Dumervil, the defensive end group got more competitive. It will show this season when there could be a name or two that pop up that we have never heard of. They will miss his pass rushing abilities, but the run stopping should improve.
Robert Ayers seemed to improve during his limited playing time last season. He, like Wolfe, is more of a run stopper, rather than a pass rusher. He has a better pass rushing repertoire than Wolfe, but he has not gotten the opportunities that Wolfe has. I think Ayers will show his worth during the season. Much like Moreno, he is nowhere near worth where he was drafted, but that does not mean that he is not worth something.
Malik Jackson showed he could be a really good player last season. He is mostly a pass rusher, but he showed strides in his run blocking. He is talented, but I think he would have a hard time cracking the starting lineup. He will be a instrumental role player, especially if anyone above him goes down to injury.
Shaun Phillips was brought in for pass rushing only. He had 9.5 sacks last season and he should be able to get around the same amount since he will have Von Miller coming from the other end. He will not be a starter and might not even be listed as a DE, but that is where he will spend most of his time on the defense.
Quanterus Smith was drafted as a pass rush specialist in the 5ht round of the draft. He was dominant last season until he suffered a season ending ACL tear in November. I would like it if the Broncos stuck him on IR for the year. That way they can see if they want to bring back Ayers or Phillips. If not Smith would be a likely candidate to take their spots.
Wolfe and Ayers would likely start, but when it comes to passing downs, Wolfe will likely slide inside while Phiilps and Miller man the end positions. Jackson makes a very good backup. He will continue to make strides this year. Look for him to get more and more snaps as the season goes on. Smith will likely at least land on the PUP list, if not the IR. If he is stashed, it would be the best for him as it gives him time to develop. Without Dumervil, the defensive end group got more competitive. It will show this season when there could be a name or two that pop up that we have never heard of. They will miss his pass rushing abilities, but the run stopping should improve.
Detroit Pistons Offseason Needs
Starting Small Forward:
Kyle Singler is their starting small forward as of now. While Singler is a quality player, he is nowhere near starting material. They need to go after Shabazz Muhammad in order to get a scorer on the wing. Muhammad would start immediately and would become their go to offensive option on the outside. The Pistons have not had a scoring threat on the outside for quite sometime and it is just about time that they change that. Muhammad needs to work on his shot selection, but when he fixes that he could become a really good, really efficient scorer.
Starting Shooting Guard:
Brandon Knight has not been getting it does as the starter. He has had two years without competition and has squandered both of those years. He would be better suited for a backup role. They could go with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope out of Georgia, but he would be a reach. CJ McCollum would be a decent pick, but I think Detroit passes on him because he is a combo guard and Detoriot has had some bad luck with combo guards. I think the most likely scenario is going after OJ Mayo in free agency. Mayo would be an immediate starter. He and Muhammad, assuming they get him, would make a nice outside scoring duo.
Point Guard:
Jose Calderon is a good starter for now, but he is older and likely wont stay after this season. If Trey Burke falls to them, they should snatch him up right away, but I doubt he gets that far. They could use their early second round pick to snatch up a point guard. Lorenozo Brown from NC State could be an option. He is a bigger guy, standing at 6-5, but he is very skilled. Isaiah Canaan would also be an intriguing pick. He could easily sit behind Calderon for a year and become the starter next season.
If the Pistons snag Muhammad in the draft and Mayo in free agency, they may be able to contend for a playoff spot next season. They have Greg Monroe down low who is a very good scorer, rebounder and defender. Andre Drummond surprised many around the league with his stellar play because many thought he would be a 3-4 year project. A starting lineup of Calderon, Mayo, Muhammad, Drummond and Monroe would give some teams fits. Expect the Pistons to do much better than last season.
Kyle Singler is their starting small forward as of now. While Singler is a quality player, he is nowhere near starting material. They need to go after Shabazz Muhammad in order to get a scorer on the wing. Muhammad would start immediately and would become their go to offensive option on the outside. The Pistons have not had a scoring threat on the outside for quite sometime and it is just about time that they change that. Muhammad needs to work on his shot selection, but when he fixes that he could become a really good, really efficient scorer.
Starting Shooting Guard:
Brandon Knight has not been getting it does as the starter. He has had two years without competition and has squandered both of those years. He would be better suited for a backup role. They could go with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope out of Georgia, but he would be a reach. CJ McCollum would be a decent pick, but I think Detroit passes on him because he is a combo guard and Detoriot has had some bad luck with combo guards. I think the most likely scenario is going after OJ Mayo in free agency. Mayo would be an immediate starter. He and Muhammad, assuming they get him, would make a nice outside scoring duo.
Point Guard:
Jose Calderon is a good starter for now, but he is older and likely wont stay after this season. If Trey Burke falls to them, they should snatch him up right away, but I doubt he gets that far. They could use their early second round pick to snatch up a point guard. Lorenozo Brown from NC State could be an option. He is a bigger guy, standing at 6-5, but he is very skilled. Isaiah Canaan would also be an intriguing pick. He could easily sit behind Calderon for a year and become the starter next season.
If the Pistons snag Muhammad in the draft and Mayo in free agency, they may be able to contend for a playoff spot next season. They have Greg Monroe down low who is a very good scorer, rebounder and defender. Andre Drummond surprised many around the league with his stellar play because many thought he would be a 3-4 year project. A starting lineup of Calderon, Mayo, Muhammad, Drummond and Monroe would give some teams fits. Expect the Pistons to do much better than last season.
New Orleans Pelicans Offseason Needs
Starting Center:
Robin Lopez is a good defensive center, but he is offensively challenged. They drafted Anthony Davis last season, but it is clear that they want him at power forward. I have the Pelicans taking Alex Len with their first pick in the draft. He would be the most logical choice since he is defensively sound. However, he needs to work on his offensive game more, but he is probably further along than Lopez in that category. They could also take a look at Cody Zeller, but I doubt they pick him since he has the same offensive game as Davis, but it worse on defense. Also, don't be surprised if they make a run at Al Jefferson or Nikola Pekovic, but they would have to get rid of Eric Gordon before they could sign either of them.
Starting Small Forward:
Al-Farouq Aminu is a good player and deserves good minutes off the bench, but he is not a starter. He is a solid defender, but not so great on offense. They could take a look at Shabazz Muhammad with their first pick. He would provide a scoring presence, which is something the Pelicans don't have since Gordon is out a lot of the time. Other than Muhammad, there are no small forwards worth grabbing in the first round or in free agency. They may have to let this hole continue to grow for another year and fill it with a lottery pick next season.
Trade Eric Gordon:
This is a serious need for the Pelicans. Gordon provides nothing for them and he has voiced that he does not want to be in New Orleans. I would try to trade him to the Suns because they are in dire need of a shooting guard. However, there are other teams that need a shooting guard too, such as Dallas, Milwaukee and Minnesota. I would try to get a first rounder for him because when he is healthy he has proven that he can produce at a very high level.
The Hornets need to retool a little before they even think of contending for the playoffs. Anthony Davis played well last season when he was finally healthy. He will be the face of the franchise for many years to come. Last season, Grevis Vasquez came out of nowhere and impressed as the starting point guard. He average 14 points and 9 assists per game and showed he could be the point guard of the future for this team. Even if his is not, point guard is not a priority on their laundry list of needs. If they can get Len, they will be on their way to having a formidable front court, which will lead to much success down the road.
Robin Lopez is a good defensive center, but he is offensively challenged. They drafted Anthony Davis last season, but it is clear that they want him at power forward. I have the Pelicans taking Alex Len with their first pick in the draft. He would be the most logical choice since he is defensively sound. However, he needs to work on his offensive game more, but he is probably further along than Lopez in that category. They could also take a look at Cody Zeller, but I doubt they pick him since he has the same offensive game as Davis, but it worse on defense. Also, don't be surprised if they make a run at Al Jefferson or Nikola Pekovic, but they would have to get rid of Eric Gordon before they could sign either of them.
Starting Small Forward:
Al-Farouq Aminu is a good player and deserves good minutes off the bench, but he is not a starter. He is a solid defender, but not so great on offense. They could take a look at Shabazz Muhammad with their first pick. He would provide a scoring presence, which is something the Pelicans don't have since Gordon is out a lot of the time. Other than Muhammad, there are no small forwards worth grabbing in the first round or in free agency. They may have to let this hole continue to grow for another year and fill it with a lottery pick next season.
Trade Eric Gordon:
This is a serious need for the Pelicans. Gordon provides nothing for them and he has voiced that he does not want to be in New Orleans. I would try to trade him to the Suns because they are in dire need of a shooting guard. However, there are other teams that need a shooting guard too, such as Dallas, Milwaukee and Minnesota. I would try to get a first rounder for him because when he is healthy he has proven that he can produce at a very high level.
The Hornets need to retool a little before they even think of contending for the playoffs. Anthony Davis played well last season when he was finally healthy. He will be the face of the franchise for many years to come. Last season, Grevis Vasquez came out of nowhere and impressed as the starting point guard. He average 14 points and 9 assists per game and showed he could be the point guard of the future for this team. Even if his is not, point guard is not a priority on their laundry list of needs. If they can get Len, they will be on their way to having a formidable front court, which will lead to much success down the road.
Phoenix Suns Offseason Needs
Starting Shooting Guard:
As of now Wesley Johnson is the starting shooting guard for the Suns, he is not a starter and really dragged down the team last season. He is also a free agent and likely will not be back next season. The Suns have needed a quality starter here for a long time and they are in a position to draft a starter. Victor Oladipo is the best option for them in the draft. If McLemore somehow falls to their pick he should be the pick. Oladipo is also a good choice if McLemore is not there. He is small for a shooting guard, but he is very athletic and has a developing outside game. He is much like Dwyane Wade, when he was entering the draft. He would fit in right away and would likely be the go to option on offense which they desperately need. If I were the Suns I would explore a trade for Eric Gordon. Yes, he is often injured, but when he isn't he is a heck of a player.
Starting Small Forward:
Jared Dudley is a good player, but he is better off of the bench than he is in the starting lineup. They could decide to pass up a shooting guard such as Oladipo in order to go after someone like Shabazz Muhammad. However, I think their best corse of action would be to draft one at their second first round pick, which is likely to be the last pick in the draft. They could go after Sergey Karasev, who is a good scorer, but it is unlikely he would fall that far. Reggie Bullock could be another late pick option, he is a good shooter and it is more likely he would be available at their pick. In free agency, they could go after someone like Corey Brewer in free agency. Brewer is not a starter, but he would be a spark off of the bench. In this scenario, Dudley would remain the starter where he is decent.
Big Man Depth:
Luis Scola is a quality starter, as is Marcin Gortat, but they don't have good players behind them. They could go after someone like Earl Clark who would get more minutes in Phoenix than he would in LA. However, there is not much else in terms of depth in the free agent market. They also do not have a second round pick, which hurts them. There is some possibility that Lucas Noguiera falls to their late first round pick. In this case, they should pick him up.
The Suns need help in a lot of places. Scola and Gortat are not stars, but they are serviceable for now. Right now, they need a starting shooting guard along with a starting small forward. They are nowhere near being a playoff team, let alone actually contending to be in the playoffs. They need to focus on getting stars in the next couple of drafts and if they do, then they might be able to make the playoffs.
As of now Wesley Johnson is the starting shooting guard for the Suns, he is not a starter and really dragged down the team last season. He is also a free agent and likely will not be back next season. The Suns have needed a quality starter here for a long time and they are in a position to draft a starter. Victor Oladipo is the best option for them in the draft. If McLemore somehow falls to their pick he should be the pick. Oladipo is also a good choice if McLemore is not there. He is small for a shooting guard, but he is very athletic and has a developing outside game. He is much like Dwyane Wade, when he was entering the draft. He would fit in right away and would likely be the go to option on offense which they desperately need. If I were the Suns I would explore a trade for Eric Gordon. Yes, he is often injured, but when he isn't he is a heck of a player.
Starting Small Forward:
Jared Dudley is a good player, but he is better off of the bench than he is in the starting lineup. They could decide to pass up a shooting guard such as Oladipo in order to go after someone like Shabazz Muhammad. However, I think their best corse of action would be to draft one at their second first round pick, which is likely to be the last pick in the draft. They could go after Sergey Karasev, who is a good scorer, but it is unlikely he would fall that far. Reggie Bullock could be another late pick option, he is a good shooter and it is more likely he would be available at their pick. In free agency, they could go after someone like Corey Brewer in free agency. Brewer is not a starter, but he would be a spark off of the bench. In this scenario, Dudley would remain the starter where he is decent.
Big Man Depth:
Luis Scola is a quality starter, as is Marcin Gortat, but they don't have good players behind them. They could go after someone like Earl Clark who would get more minutes in Phoenix than he would in LA. However, there is not much else in terms of depth in the free agent market. They also do not have a second round pick, which hurts them. There is some possibility that Lucas Noguiera falls to their late first round pick. In this case, they should pick him up.
The Suns need help in a lot of places. Scola and Gortat are not stars, but they are serviceable for now. Right now, they need a starting shooting guard along with a starting small forward. They are nowhere near being a playoff team, let alone actually contending to be in the playoffs. They need to focus on getting stars in the next couple of drafts and if they do, then they might be able to make the playoffs.
Sacramento Kings Offseason Needs
Starting Power Forward:
Anthony Bennett is the one prospect that the Kings should have their eye on. They need a power forward of starting caliber. Bennett is very athletic and should fill a scoring void that will be left when Tyreke Evans leaves. They could also choose to go after Paul Millsap in free agency. He would get to start and would get a lot of looks on offense which would be a draw. They need someone who can scoop up rebounds next to Demarcus Cousins. If Bennett is not available, they could always go with Cody Zeller.
Starting Small Forward:
If Bennett is not available, they could choose to go after Shabazz Muhammad who would provide a scoring threat on the wing. Unfortunately for the Kings, there is nothing in free agency at the small forward position. However there is a strong possibility Bennett could be gone by their pick. This means they would likely pick up Muhammad. Muhammad would give them an actual scoring threat unlike Evans or Thorton.
Let Evans Walk:
Just let him go. He had a fantastic rookie year and has regressed ever since. He is not a good distributer or scorer. He has a good all around game, but does not do anything great. He wants to dominate the ball when he really shouldn't. He should not be part of the rebuilding process for this team. I would sign Corey Brewer in his place. Brewer knows his place on the offense and does not have to control the ball in order to be effective.
If Demarcus Cousins can get is act together, he and Anthony Bennett would be a killer front court duo. He needs to not explode at every little thing. If the Kings can get Bennett then all they need to focus on is getting someone who can score on the wing. If they end up with Muhammad then they would have their wing scorer, but would still need someone inside. Isaiah Thomas showed growth last season and I think he has the potential to be their starting point guard of the near future. It is likely that the Kings have another really bad season, even with their new additions which puts them in prime position to get either Parker or Wiggins in the 2014 draft. If that happens then they would be set.
Anthony Bennett is the one prospect that the Kings should have their eye on. They need a power forward of starting caliber. Bennett is very athletic and should fill a scoring void that will be left when Tyreke Evans leaves. They could also choose to go after Paul Millsap in free agency. He would get to start and would get a lot of looks on offense which would be a draw. They need someone who can scoop up rebounds next to Demarcus Cousins. If Bennett is not available, they could always go with Cody Zeller.
Starting Small Forward:
If Bennett is not available, they could choose to go after Shabazz Muhammad who would provide a scoring threat on the wing. Unfortunately for the Kings, there is nothing in free agency at the small forward position. However there is a strong possibility Bennett could be gone by their pick. This means they would likely pick up Muhammad. Muhammad would give them an actual scoring threat unlike Evans or Thorton.
Let Evans Walk:
Just let him go. He had a fantastic rookie year and has regressed ever since. He is not a good distributer or scorer. He has a good all around game, but does not do anything great. He wants to dominate the ball when he really shouldn't. He should not be part of the rebuilding process for this team. I would sign Corey Brewer in his place. Brewer knows his place on the offense and does not have to control the ball in order to be effective.
If Demarcus Cousins can get is act together, he and Anthony Bennett would be a killer front court duo. He needs to not explode at every little thing. If the Kings can get Bennett then all they need to focus on is getting someone who can score on the wing. If they end up with Muhammad then they would have their wing scorer, but would still need someone inside. Isaiah Thomas showed growth last season and I think he has the potential to be their starting point guard of the near future. It is likely that the Kings have another really bad season, even with their new additions which puts them in prime position to get either Parker or Wiggins in the 2014 draft. If that happens then they would be set.
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