Triple Option

By Michael Maynard

Published 10/24/19 @4:00 PM CT

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Milwaukee Bucks

DRAFT: NONE

RE-SIGNED: Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, George Hill

ACQUIRED: Wesley Matthews, Robin Lopez, Kyle Korver

LOST: Malcolm Brogdon, Nikola Mirotic

In terms of the overall drama across the NBA offseason, the Bucks were relatively unaffected. Losing Brogdon to the rival Pacers hurts, but the team knew it was likely someone signed Brogdon to a pricey offer sheet, but if they were to bring back all the core pieces from last year (Brogdon, Middleton, and Lopez), they would have to go into the luxury tax, an unappealing option for the smaller market Bucks.  Wesley Matthews at this point in his career will be a good addition wherever he goes.  He’s obviously not as good a defender as Brogdon, but is a better shooter and will help space the floor around Giannis at an affordable cost. I guess Niko decided he’d had enough of the NBA and decided to go back home to Europe. Ersan Ilyasova probably gets more minutes to fill Mirotic’s role as a stretch 4 of the bench, but D.J. Wilson could be a candidate to break out.

The loophole they used to re-sign Hill has not been talked about enough. They bought out his bigger contract he signed way back with the Kings and then re-signed him at a minimum contract so his contract isn’t on the salary cap. That feels like it should be illegal.

The Bucks still enter the year as the favorite in the East. I had a chance to go to a game at the Fiserv Forum last year and it’s absolutely legit, and this is the best era of Bucks history. I don’t think Giannis will leave when he becomes a free agent, but they still need to capitalize in this window.

2. Philadelphia 76ers

DRAFT: Matisse Thybulle

RE-SIGNED: Ben Simmons (extension), Tobias Harris, Mike Scott, James Ennis

ACQUIRED: Al Horford, Josh Richardson, Trey Burke, Kyle O’Quinn, Raul Neto

LOST: Jimmy Butler, J.J. Redick, T.J. McConnell, Boban Marjanovic

This offseason probably went as planned for the Sixers, with the bonus of Horford wanting out of Boston, opening the door for Philly to sign him. Horford is one of the most versatile and durable bigs in the league, which not only makes for a dangerous frontcourt pairing with Joel Embiid. Harris was more of a target than Butler simply because they don’t need another superstar ego in that locker room long-term.  Harris had a career year and got significantly richer this offseason, but his league status is more of a standout role player than low-end superstar.  Him and Richardson–acquired in the Butler sign-and-trade with the Heat–both fit nicely next to the other three pieces.

Once again though, depth is concerning. That starting five can’t play all the time, and the bench on paper is very weak. Scott and Ennis were both important to bring back for this reason, but it would be easier on them if at least two of Thybulle, Zhaire Smith, and Jonah Bolden can be solid options. They can probably get away with lineups keeping one of Embiid or Horford on the floor at all times, but that may be tested in parts of the regular season. Raul Neto is more or less identical to T.J. McConnell in terms of contribution, and Trey Burke is still a mystery as an NBA player.

The Simmons extension was inevitable for both sides, but does signal the franchise’s faith in the 3rd (or 4th) year all-star to take the leap from a top 25 NBA player to a top 10 player.  The difference in the East could become which player learns to shoot a basketball first: Giannis or Simmons.

3. Indiana Pacers

DRAFT: Goga Bitadze

RE-SIGNED: NONE

ACQUIRED: Malcolm Brogdon, TJ Warren, Jeremy Lamb

LOST: Bojan Bogdanovic, Darren Collison, Thaddeus Young, Cory Joseph

Ultimately Indiana got a mulligan for this season after Victor Oladipo got hurt, but ended up playing competitive basketball without their star guard. The ending wasn’t pretty, getting swept by the Celtics.  It’s tough to lose three starters yet somehow get better, which seems to be the case for the Pacers.  While 4yr/$85M might seem pricey for Brogdon, the fit next to Oladipo is perfect. Both are elite defenders and both can play on and off the ball. While Brogdon will be listed as the teams point guard, Oladipo will remain the primary facilitator once he returns from his injury. The Myles Turner-Domatas Sabonis experiment has been oft-discussed, but it appears the Pacers will at least try and run the two of them together. Warren and Lamb are also ideal acquisitions, and wouldn’t be surprising if they end up running small ball lineups with only one of the two bigs. While a lot of new pieces will need to mesh together, the Pacers are the next best team in the East positioned to challenge the two favorites.

4. Orlando Magic

DRAFT: Chuma Okeke

RE-SIGNED: Nikola Vucevic, Terrance Ross, Michael Carter-Williams

ACQUIRED: Al-Farouq Aminu

LOST: NONE

Every year in the East one team takes an unexpected step forward to become a contender. This year it could be the Magic, who quietly had one of the better offseasons in the league. They bring back all their contributing rotation players and add more depth with Al-Farouq Aminu and in a way Markelle Fultz.  While the Vucevic signing comes with criticism as it all but blocks Mo Bamba from emerging as a starting center, no superstars are coming to Orlando anytime soon, so bringing back its first all-star since Dwight Howard was a virtual must. This top-4 seed is largely dependent on if everything goes right, aka Fultz becomes effective as a starting point guard, which of course I believe will happen.  In addition, Evan Fournier has quietly become one of the steadiest and most underrated players in the NBA, but either him or Aaron Gordon need to become a strong secondary option for people to take them seriously. Jonathan Isaac took a big step last year with increased minutes, and needs to take another one season.  As a former top five pick, Orlando will need to decide next year if they want to extend him or let him go, a process in which they don’t have a great history.

The floor for Orlando is pretty much repeat last season, except instead of it being considered a massive step forward, it will be viewed as a significant regression. But this is my sleeper team, and I’m going to have fun with it. I hope they get a few more nationally televised games and more exposure. 

5. Boston Celtics

DRAFT: Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, Carsen Edwards

RE-SIGNED: NONE

ACQUIRED: Kemba Walker, Enes Kanter

LOST: Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Terry Rozier, Aron Baynes

As it became more clear that Irving was leaving for the Nets, the Celtics quietly slid into the Kemba sweepstakes, and as a result filled a void left by a superstar with another one, that might even be a statistical improvement.  That’s not the problem.  The problem was the surprise opt out by Al Horford, and the fact he joined the team the Celtics at some point would have to beat in a postseason run.  And unlike with the Irving situation, there wasn’t another All-Star waiting in their arms. 

Last year was chaos.  The C’s couldn’t get past figuring out who’s team it was, everyone thought they were the guy, and it turned out nobody was.  The Celtics reached the Eastern Conference Finals using plug and play players who had been overlooked and the year after with their two best players injured. Then last year they go out with their most talented roster and beat themselves.  Something has to give this year if they want to be more than just the fifth best team in the East.  I don’t like those odds.

Enes Kanter is an upgrade over Aron Baynes.  Gordon Hayward was an All-Star not too long ago, and even after the injury I don’t think he’s any less talented.  I’ve always joked how Marcus Smart thinks he’s a shooter, but last year he actually started making outside shots.  Great example of a player entering the league as one player, and adapting to survive while keeping what made him initially successful.  Jayson Tatum can become the leading scorer.  Can be become an All-Star level player?  That might be the key factor for how successful the Celtics are this season. 

6. Brooklyn Nets

DRAFT: Nicolas Claxton, Jaylen Hands

RE-SIGNED: Caris LeVert (Extension)

ACQUIRED: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, Taurean Prince, Garrett Temple

LOST: D’Angelo Russell, Jared Dudley, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Ed Davis, Allen Crabbe, Shabazz Napier, Treveon Graham

As for how the Nets project for the 2019-20 season, basically sub in Kyrie for DLo, and that’s their roster as KD is out for the season. Kyrie is definitely an upgrade, but it’s an eerily similar situation to the one he entered in Boston two years ago.  Caris LeVert has a big year coming. He got the extension because he flashed All-Star potential before a gruesome leg injury, The Nets just invested most of their cap space in this past free agency, and it’s very possible with a big enough year, LeVert may be the third superstar that could put this team over the top. The DeAndre Jordan signing was questionable considering Jarrett Allen has been great through his first two years.  Aside from the core, Brooklyn has a lot of great role players like Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie that can contribute in 2020 when Durant is fully healthy, and the Nets can be formidable in the East. For now, the goal of 2019 is to immerse Kyrie with the young Brooklyn pieces and avoid the locker room questions that defined the Celtics last year.

7. Toronto Raptors

DRAFT: Terance Davis

RE-SIGNED: Pascal Siakam (Extension)

ACQUIRED: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Stanley Johnson, Matt Thomas

LOST: Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green

The Raptors finally broke through last season.  An encore seems far-fetched, as the Board Man got paid on the other end of the continent.  But the Raptors extended Pascal Siakam after his breakout campaign, and the max contract suggests their high hopes for him taking the next step and becoming a perennial All-Star.  Kyle Lowry has always been the engine of this team, but last year Fred Van Vleet was the spark plug.  Their production will be interesting to monitor, as along with Norman Powell, the Raptors need to replace the two key starters they picked up in the infamous trade.  I recently re-read Moneyball; When Billy Beane lost Jason Giambi in free agency, he replaced him with three players, because no one of Giambi’s caliber was available to them.  The Raptors have a similar approach in replacing No. 2, with OG Anunoby, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Stanley Johnson.  If even two of those can platoon a portion of Leonard’s production (My guess: Anunoby on Offense, Hollis-Jefferson),  the Raptors can limit the regression and remain a playoff team. 

8. Atlanta Hawks

DRAFT: DeAndre Hunter, Cameron Reddish

RE-SIGNED: NONE

ACQUIRED: Evan Turner, Jabari Parker, Allen Crabbe

LOST: Taurean Prince, Kent Bazemore, Dewayne Dedmon

Here’s a picture: Imagine in three consecutive seasons drafting Anthony Davis, Stephen Curry, and Kawhi Leonard.  That’s an unfair comparison, but in terms of upside, that’s where the Hawks are at with the young nucleus of John Collins, Trae Young, and De’Andre Hunter.  Collins will need to stay healthy and continue rounding out his all-around game, but his interior presence already has him on All-Star watch lists.  My stance on Trae is well known: all around stud, future league MVP.  But teams will adjust to him being the focal point of Lloyd Pierce’s offense, so he will have to make adjustments and continue to find creative ways to thrive.  I think Hunter may be the best player in the past draft; the trade up with New Orleans was a steal.  He will emerge as one of the best defensive wings, and will continue improving on offense.  After all, he hit the big shots with Virginia last year.  

Kevin Huerter and Cam Reddish are both ideal wings purely because they can shoot.  Jabari Parker pissed off every Bulls fan last year; I’m not sure where he fits in here, and I’m even less sure than I was a year ago what his defining characteristic that makes him an NBA player is.  I like Evan Turner here as a veteran presence, but he’s only kind of a point guard, so their PG depth is concerning, especially if Turner and Young are both on the floor.  Alex Len is Alex Len.  He probably has a prove-it year across the NBA, but the Hawks should play Collins at 5 and Hunter at the 4, so he doesn’t fit in with Atlanta. The core needs to grow together, and the supporting staff probably isn’t enough for now.  However, if a lot goes right, the bottom of the East is bad, and I like Atlanta as a candidate to get the 8-seed. 

9. Detroit Pistons

DRAFT: Sekou Doumbouya

RE-SIGNED:

ACQUIRED: Derrick Rose, Markieff Morris, Tim Frazier, Christian Wood

LOST: Jon Leuer, Ish Smith

The Pistons could be a playoff team, but they might be the most boring team in the NBA, so I put the more exciting Hawks in ahead.  There is only one reason I care about Detroit Pistons basketball, especially with Blake Griffin down to start the year.  I’m not sure if he starts over Reggie Jackson, but the DRose redemption tour takes a stop in the Motor City, and I’m anxious to see how he’s involved in the offense.  He proved last year he could still get buckets, and now it’s a matter if he can get back to doing that every night like he used to in Chicago. 

10. Miami Heat

DRAFT: Tyler Herro

RE-SIGNED: NONE

ACQUIRED: Jimmy Butler, Meyers Leonard

LOST: Dwayne Wade, Josh Richardson, Hassan Whiteside

The Heat made a smaller splash by signing JGB.  Now on his fourth team in four seasons, Butler should finally have some stability.  This is his team, regardless how everyone feels.  But Jimmy Butler alone is not enough to make the Heat a contender.  Tyler Herro should start.  He’s annoying to watch or guard but he makes shots and plays hard.  Other guys might feed off that.  Bam Adebayo is a name I’ve heard a lot of for a breakout season, as he no longer has Hassan Whiteside in his way.  Goran Dragic was an All-Star two years ago; now he looks like a cap liability.  Justise Winslow has a prove-it  season.  He’s been tried as both a small forward and a point guard, and neither has really worked so far.  I’m not as hot on the Heat as some, but Erik Spoelstra will keep his guys in the race. 

11. Chicago Bulls

DRAFT: Coby White, Daniel Gafford

RE-SIGNED: Ryan Arcidiacono

ACQUIRED: Thaddeus Young, Tomas Satoransky, Luke Kornet

LOST: NONE

I have absolutely zero idea what to expect this season.  Last year could not have been more of a lost season.  I didn’t see anything from anybody to give me any form of optimism.  Yet I look around and I see the Bulls projected as a playoff team.  LOL.  There is a lot that COULD go right for the Bulls. It boils down to if everyone gets better and stays healthy and plays as a team, hey the East sucks so never know the Bulls might get back to the mediocrity they sought to get out of three years ago. 

It starts with LaVine and Markkanen.  Those are the two players that are supposed to be the stars of this core, and both need to start living up to the hype.  Satoransky has some momentum from the FIBA tournament, and will get the first crack at starting at the point.  Otherwise I want to see what Coby White can do and if Kris Dunn can be effective as a reserve.  

The Bulls first ten games are very soft.  If there isn’t at least a 7-3 start, my rants will start becoming more angry. 

12. New York Knicks

DRAFT: RJ Barrett

RE-SIGNED: NONE

ACQUIRED: Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Marcus Morris, Elfrid Payton, Reggie Bullock, Wayne Ellington

LOST: DeAndre Jordan, Emmanuel Mudiay, Noah Vonleh, Luke Kornet

When I complain about the woes of being a Bulls fan, I guess being a Knicks fan is worse?  I’m not sold there.  RJ Barrett looks pretty legit.  He has the combination of skill and confidence to be the face of the New York Knicks.  Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson had promising rookie years, and likely slot in as the main supporting cast, although the idea is they become centerpieces.  Julius Randle has been overlooked and eventually forgotten everywhere he’s been so far, but all the guy does is put up numbers.  I think he deserves the chance to become a foundational piece that he didn’t get in LA or New Orleans.

I’m not sure of the purpose for stockpiling shooting guards and power forwards that seem very similar to each other, but hey it’s different.  The Knicks are turning to proven veterans instead of fringe D-Leaguers, and the fact that everyone has written them off might make them a candidate to improve in the win column. 

13. Cleveland Cavaliers

DRAFT: Darius Garland, Dylan Windler, Kevin Porter Jr.

RE-SIGNED: NONE

ACQUIRED: Alfonzo McKinnie

LOST: David Nwaba, Channing Frye

Whatever the plan is in Cleveland involves loading up on point guards.  They’ve spent their last two first round picks on Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, and have Brandon Knight, Jordan Clarkson, and Matthew Dellavedova in reserve.  Kevin Love could be the top trade target with the Wizards extending Bradley Beal.  I’m not sure why Golden State cut McKinnie, but the Cavs needed another wing, and the former Windy City Bull is a nice late pickup.  I like the John Beilein hire.  His system brought consistent success at Michigan, and if the young guys buy in, I think they could be back in the playoffs by the time LeBron becomes a free agent again. 

14. Washington Wizards

DRAFT: Rui Hachimura, Admiral Schofield

RE-SIGNED: Bradley Beal (Extension), Thomas Bryant

ACQUIRED: Ish Smith, Isaiah Thomas, Moritz Wagner, CJ Miles, Davis Bertans

LOST: Tomas Satoransky, Bobby Portis, Trevor Ariza, Jabari Parker

Washington is in a bad place for men’s basketball.  Thankfully they have the Mystics and the Nationals.  John Wall takes up their entire cap space and won’t play a minute this year.  Even with Wall, they couldn’t make a run in the playoffs.  The Beal extention merely means they won’t trade him for now.  The talent is just not there for the Wizards to be competitive.  

15. Charlotte Hornets

DRAFT: P.J. Washington, Jalen McDaniels, Martin twins

RE-SIGNED: NONE

ACQUIRED: Terry Rozier

LOST: Kemba Walker, Jeremy Lamb, Tony Parker, Frank Kaminsky,

I’m not sure who the leading scorer on the Hornets is. Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams are both past their prime and at this point are merely effective role players.  Cody Zeller and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist never lived up to the hype, so at this point they are probably bench pieces while the new kids get their run.  Out of those new kids, Malik Monk has the most upside, but has shown little in two seasons with limited minutes.  PJ Washington improved significantly in his Sophomore season, but I do think he will need an adjustment period similar to what Miles Bridges had last season.  Bridges seems to be the focal point for now, but similar to Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon, can he become a dependent scorer?  Right now he’s a flashy all-around athlete but still raw and in need of polishing.  The Knicks gave up on Willy Hernangomez at the first sign of stuggle, but he’s been an effective big man in his career thus far.  He should start at center.  Terry Rozier was the big acquisition–I like it. Last year was an awkward situation with Kyrie, and appeared to lack the confidence he showed when given the opportunity in the 2018 Playoffs.  Then expected to take the reigns again after Irving’s departure, the Celtics instead paid the big bucks for Kemba, leaving Rozier to take the new opening in Charlotte.  There is a lot of uncertainty for how successful he is outside the Stevens system, but I think he puts together a good season.   

Kemba Walker bolting for nothing is a huge kick in the you-know-whats for the Charlotte Hornets franchise.  There will always be a what-if scenario if the Hornets would have moved him at the deadline instead of fighting for an 8-seed, but in fairness they must have liked their chances of resigning Walker.  But as a result, the Hornets are left with a trio of late lottery picks that will try and start a long rebuilding process back to relevance. 

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Denver Nuggets

DRAFT: Bol Bol

RE-SIGNED: Jamal Murray (extension)

ACQUIRED: Jerami Grant

LOST: Trey Lyles, Isaiah Thomas

The hype is there.  By me, by ESPN, by Sports Illustrated, by every NBA analyst, and finally every NBA fan.  No longer are the Nuggets the under-the-radar League Pass team that will entertain in Pac 12 After Dark hours.  The Nuggets are a legit contender, and thus the clock is ticking.  Last year they lost to a hot Blazers team in the Second Round in their first go around.  There’s no more wiggle-room anymore: the Nuggets need to win. 

I still can’t get over the fact the Bulls gave up Gary Harris and Jusef Nurkic to get Doug McDermott.  Harris is an All-Star.  I always thought his shooting would be his key contribution recalling his MSU days, but he could be first-team all defense this year.  Nikola Jokic is my MVP pick.  Jamal Murray broke out last year, and could be even better this season.   The West has ten All-Stars locked in based solely on name, but Murray might get a nod if Denver is the top seed at the break.   Paul Millsap is past his prime, but he’ll still contribute as a rebounder and shooter.  Their bench unit would be the 4-seed in the East.  Jerami Gramt was a great pickup; it wouldn’t shock me if he breaks into the starting lineup in Millsap’s spot, but for now he will provide spark off the bench.  Joining him will be Monte Morris, Mason Plumlee, Malik Beasley, and one of Torrey Craig or Will Barton–whoever doesn’t start.  Michael Porter Jr. might also be a factor.  And while he’s a long term project and won’t see many minutes, Bol Bol is another wild card for the future. 

2. Los Angeles Clippers

DRAFT: Myfiondu Kabengele, Terance Mann

RE-SIGNED: Patrick Beverley, Jamychal Green

ACQUIRED: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Rodney McGruder, Maurice Harkless, Patrick Patterson

LOST: Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Obviously the headline with the other LA team is the big midnight splash they made in July, making Kawhi Leonard and Paul George Clippers.  What I like is how they didn’t sacrifice what made them good last year.  The Clippers were a well coached team, and kept most of those pieces (LouWill, Harrell, Beverley, Shamet).  Veterans like Harkless and Patterson should give quality minutes off the bench.  Patrick Beverley is the only true point guard on the roster, which means we will probably see Leonard and Williams handle the ball more.  Once George comes back, the Clippers have the most firepower in the NBA.  For now, this is the title favorite. 

3. Utah Jazz

DRAFT: Justin Wright-Foreman, Miye Oni

RE-SIGNED: Joe Ingles (Extension)

ACQUIRED: Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, Emmanuel Mudiay, Ed Davis

LOST: Ricky Rubio, Derrick Favors, Jae Crowder, Kyle Korver, Grayson Allen, Ekpe Udoh

Mike Conley was a huge pick up.  Point guard has been their biggest weakness, as when healthy, Ricky Rubio was a below average option on offense.  Conley adds a secondary backcourt option to Donovan Mitchell, and the Jazz should still be good on defense.  Rudy Gobert is the odds on favorite to repeat for DPOY.  However, the Jazz probably don’t win the West if he doesn’t make further strides on his offensive game.   I like the Bogdanovic signing.  The Jazz were best last year when Jae Crowder played the 4, and Bogdanovic is a similar player to Crowder but better.  The depth isn’t as good as Denver or the Clippers, but it’s certainly not a disadvantage.  Mudiay was a really underrated signing.  He wasn’t ready for the high expectations in Denver, but seemed to develop with more minutes in New York.  Between him and (a healthy) Dante Exum, the guard depth could become a stength.  Royce O’Neale has been solid, Georges Niang is due for a more regular role, and Ed Davis is another slight upgrade over Ekpe Udoh.  Making the playoffs isn’t the issue, but Utah’s season (and offseason) will ultimately be defined by how they perform come April.  In addition, the Jazz have a recent history of getting hot in the second half–maybe this year their momentum continues through the playoffs.

4. Golden State Warriors

DRAFT: Jordan Poole, Eric Paschall, Alen Smailagic

RE-SIGNED: Klay Thompson, Kevon Looney

ACQUIRED: D’Angelo Russell, Willie Cauley-Stein, Glenn Robinson III, Alec Burks, Omari Spellman

LOST: Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, DeMarcus Cousins, Quinn Cook, Jordan Bell, Damian Jones, Shaun Livingston, Alfonzo McKinnie

There is a lot of panic speculating a step down for the Warriors after KD bailed and Klay got hurt.  They annexted Iguodala to clear way for the surprise move to sign D’Angelo Russell.  It’s not an ideal fit for either side, but Russell established himself as a dynamic combo guard last year, which at the very minimum supplies firepower the offense could use.  With Durant gone and Thompson injured, Steph Curry and Draymond Green are now the catalysts.  Curry should get back to the scoring levels he reached pre-KD, and Green is still the engine on defense.  The recent dominance coupled with the new stadium give the Warriors enough financial support where they will not hesitate to go deep into the luxury tax to resign Green. The approach is different for the first time in half a decade.  There is a likely chance the Warriors do not win the West, but like LeBron not winning the East, I’ll believe it when I see it. 

5. Los Angeles Lakers

DRAFT: Talen Horton-Tucker

RE-SIGNED: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo, Alex Caruso

ACQUIRED: Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Danny Green, Quinn Cook, Dwight Howard

LOST: Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Moritz Wagner

After a gap year in LA, LeBron has finally found his co-star.  It took almost all the Lakers assets acquired during the “rebuilding” period, but Anthony Davis is now in yellow and purple.  And around those two is a roster of established NBA vets, washed up former All-Stars, and basically everything that doesn’t resemble the Laker teams of the last five seasons.  Amidst all the turnover, Frank Vogel is now the man appearing to run the show for this LeBron team.  He could never get his Pacer teams past the King, and now he will try and help him reach the Finals once again.  This is LeBron’s first season in almost a decade where he isn’t a defending conference champ.  That extra offseason rest might end up benefitting LeBron at this stage of his career. 

While he has always served as the lead ball handler in his career, this is the first year LeBron will actually play the Point Guard position.  There are several options for who fits around him.  AD can play small-ball center, but has expanded his all-around game where McGee or Howard can play at the 5 as well.  Boogie Cousins will also be out likely for the season, but a playoff return is possible.  As with every LeBron team, expect some early losses as the new pieces gel, but they will peak at the right time.  Whether it’s enough in this deep conference is the main question. 

6. Portland Trail Blazers

DRAFT: Nassir Little

RE-SIGNED: Damian Lillard (extension), Rodney Hood

ACQUIRED: Hassan Whiteside, Kent Bazemore, Mario Hezonja, Anthony Tolliver, Pau Gasol

LOST: Al-Farouq Aminu, Maurice Harkless, Seth Curry, Evan Turner, Jake Layman, Meyers Leonard

I’m a big fan of the Dame-CJ duo, but I don’t love the moves the Blazers made this offseason. Given, it was tough with most of their rotation from the stretch run as free agents. That being said, making Rodney Hood the number one priority this offseason was absolutely the right move.  He will probably come off the bench again this season, but should close most games. After struggling to find his way in Utah and Cleveland, Hood established himself as the best third option in the Dame-CJ era by hitting many key shots en route to the WCFs. Keeping Hood meant letting Seth Curry walk, which will leave a large void off the bench. Afernee Simons was dominant garbage time of the regular season, and is probably in line for more minutes.  I also love the addition of Kent Bazemore.  He was fading out in Atlanta as they brought in young guys on the wing, but he is a quality veteran who knows his role and upgrades the defense and spaces. I feel like a broken record using that phrase to describe every wing player in the NBA, but it those qualities matter right now in the league.

I don’t love the Hassan Whiteside trade, but I understand it. When Miami signed him to that huge deal, the expectation was he would continue as an elite shot blocker and rebounder, so the upside is their for a revival with a change in scenery. However, Whiteside’s presence means they likely have to play Zach Collins out off position at the 4, after Collins looked like this would be the year he could emerge as a key starter. They would be better off bringing Whiteside off the bench and starting Hood or even Nassir Little, who slipped to 24. Collins’s development should be prioritized over all else in the frontcourt this season. At the very least, Whiteside is insurance in case Jusef Nurkic doesn’t come back 100% this season, which he probably doesn’t considering his serious leg injury. Whiteside also allowed Portland to unload their bad Meyers Leonard contract.

7. San Antonio Spurs

DRAFT: Luka Samanic, Keldon Johnson

RE-SIGNED: Rudy Gay

ACQUIRED: DeMarre Carroll, Trey Lyles

LOST: NONE

The current pieces in place for San Antonio resemble a mid-tier playoff team, which can’t be taken for granted in the West.  They did force seven games against the Nuggets a season ago, and the roster is basically indentical.  Dejounte Murray returns after missing last year with an ACL, and he and Derrick White are breakout candidates.  DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge are what they are; they’re both fringe All-Stars, but probably won’t lead the team to a title. I’m interested in how their rookies perform, as San Antonio has a history of finding hidden gems later in the draft.  The Spurs will be fun to watch because of how great team basketball they play despite rostering a bunch of no-names, but I don’t see them getting higher than a 6-seed. 

8. Houston Rockets

DRAFT: NONE

RE-SIGNED: Austin Rivers, Gerald Green, Tyson Chandler

ACQUIRED: Russell Westbrook, Ben McLemore, Thabo Sefolosha

LOST: Chris Paul

Well this is going to be interesting.

Putting the two most ball-dominant players in NBA history in the same backcourt can end either one of two ways: It’s going to work or it’s not going to work.  At least Russell Westbrook and James Harden like each other/ . That’s at least the impression the public is getting. That way Harden won’t get personally offended every time Russ tries to initiate the offense? I don’t know. I like the entertainment value of it. I will watch the Rockets this year because I want to see how the Russ-Harden experiment works.

9. Sacramento Kings

DRAFT: Justin James, Kyle Guy

RE-SIGNED: Harrison Barnes

ACQUIRED: Trevor Ariza, Cory Joseph Dewayne Dedmon, Richaun Holmes

LOST: Willie Cauley-Stein, Frank Mason

I really like this Kings team and think they are a playoff level team, especially as De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield continue to improve.  However, I just don’t see a playoff spot open in projecting the seedings, so for the second straight year the Kings are the first team out, and continue the NBA’s longest active losing streak.  

The X-factor is probably Marvin Bagley.  With a breakout season, that might be the third star Sacramento needs to make its move up the standings.  Joseph and Ariza are solid veteran additions, and with Barnes and Bogdan Bogdanovic, the wing depth is there.  Luke Walton taking over is an interesting wrinkle.  His job description changed once LeBron signed with LA, and Sacramento is a less pressured job, though they’ve gone through about a dozen coaches in the past decade.  But there was improvement under Dave Joerger, so hopefully changing systems yet again isn’t a bad thing this time. 

10. New Orleans Pelicans

DRAFT: Zion Williamson, Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker

RE-SIGNED: NONE

ACQUIRED: J.J. Redick, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Derrick Favors, Josh Hart

LOST: Anthony Davis, Julius Randle, Elfrid Payton

What was supposed to be the year of Zion is now on delay for 6-8 weeks, as the #1 pick had surgery for a torn meniscus.  However because of the Anthony Davis trade, New Orleans has the depth to remain competitive until their new centerpiece returns.  Jrue Holiday should continue to score 18 points a game, play good defense, and get talked about by no one.  I’m not sure what role J.J. Redick will have in terms of offensive dependence, but he will help them win games.  A lot will have to bounce the Pelicans way for a playoff appearance, but the young core is set up to be good for the long run. 

11. Dallas Mavericks

DRAFT: NONE

RE-SIGNED: Kristaps Porzingis, Dwight Powell

ACQUIRED: Delon Wright, Seth Curry, Boban Marjanovic

LOST: Dirk Nowitzki

The intrigue here is with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.  Those two will provide electricity and form a talented young core, but the overall roster construction isn’t at a playoff level. They needed to bring in another Point Guard–at a time early in free agency it was going to be Goran Dragic, which I think would have been a good fit, but that fell through as Miami instead dealt Hassan Whiteside.  Wright was an interesting pickup.  He’s going to start off as the starting PG, even though Doncic should be the primary ballhandler.  Wright will get a shot to make his case as an NBA starter, which he didn’t get in Toronto behind Lowry and Van Vleet.  Seth Curry was productive off Portland’s bench last year, but that was with a very talented playoff team.  Dallas is not that.  He will have a similar role this season, but will be one of the main options on offense whenever he’s on the floor.  First year of the post-Dirk era doubles down on European Superstars.  It just might take some time to return to the peak dominance achieved during Dirk’s time in Dallas. 

12. Memphis Grizzlies

DRAFT: Ja Morant, Brandon Clarke

RE-SIGNED: Jonas Valanciunas

ACQUIRED: Jae Crowder, Andre Iguodala, Tyus Jones, Grayson Allen

LOST: Mike Conley, Chandler Parsons, Ivan Rabb

In the latest identity crisis of the Memphis Grizzlies, they traded their greatest player of all time and replaced him with the second overall pick, Ja Morant.  These Grizzlies are still a ways away from competing in this gauntlet conference, but at least now they have a new centerpiece.  Brandon Clarke could be a steal of the draft, but Jonas Valanciunas has his minutes for now.  This is a really big year for Jaren Jackson Jr.  He has the talent and the athleticism to be a key piece,  but will need to consistently contribute.  Dillon Brooks and Kyle Anderson will probably start on the wings.  Allen and Crowder-acquired from Utah-will probably fill off the bench, as will Andre Iguodala, though that partnership might not last long.  The Grizzlies have had no direction for three years, but are now starting to move upward. 

13. Phoenix Suns

DRAFT: Cameron Johnson, Ty Jerome

RE-SIGNED: Kelly Oubre

ACQUIRED: Ricky Rubio, Dario Saric, Frank Kaminsky, Aron Baynes, Jevon Carter

LOST: TJ Warren, Josh Jackson, Richaun Holmes, De’Anthony Melton

Another year, another new head coach for the Phoenix Suns. Monty Williams is a great hire, but the Suns have a way of things not working out well for coaches. Eventually someone has to break through, but that tends to correlate with franchise continuity, something Phoenix has had zero of recently. They have an All-Star caliber player in Devin Booker, but haven’t found any pieces around him to get out of the Western Conference basement.  There is some upside, which is why I have them as only the third worst team in the West. Last year’s #1 pick DeAndre Ayton had a good rookie season, and looks like he can be a franchise piece.  Cam Johnson was widely considered a reach, but shoots well so it’s an understandable pick.  If they targeted him going into the draft it made sense to trade down and pick up an experienced rotation player in Saric. 

The Suns have almost a decade of comical experiments to find Steve Nash’s successor at point guard.  At one point they tried playing three point guards, at one point they tried playing zero point guards. They gave Eric Bledsoe franchise-player money, then not even five games into the 2017 season he tweeted that he didn’t want to be there. They traded away Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas to watch them both become All-Stars. They finally somewhat addressed the point guard situation this offseason. They signed Ricky Rubio for $17M a year, and I’ll postpone judgement. Rubio was decent in Utah but was always injured and below replacement level on offense. Ty Jerome is a solid player and a proven winner–something the Suns could use. Carter is now on his second NBA team in two years after spending eight at West Virginia.  The Suns won’t be good, but they should show some kind of improvement.

14. Minnesota Timberwolves

DRAFT: Jarrett Culver

RE-SIGNED: NONE

ACQUIRED: Jordan Bell, Noah Vonleh, Jake Layman, Shabazz Napier, Treveon Graham

LOST: Dario Saric

The TWolves went all in for one year to get Jimmy Butler, made the playoffs in the last game of the year, then swiftly were taken care of by Houston.  Last year, they punted on contention before the end of October by making Butler a Sixer, fired Tom Thibodeau, and created a whole new list of problems facing this plagued franchise.  Karl-Anthony Towns will be an All-Star for years to come, but there isn’t much around him.  Jeff Teague is on the decline, and the team didn’t do much to add PG depth.  They did add plenty of forward depth, and the hope is either Jordan Bell becomes a steady starter with more minutes, or the fifth team is the charm for Noah Vonleh.  Jarrett Culver was a strange pick considering the franchise’s investment in Andrew Wiggins, but the former top pick has overall been a disappointment, so I would expect him to be on a new team by the start of next season.  Besides, Culver and Josh Okogie is probably the ideal pairing on the wing, with Jake Layman off the bench.  I’d also like to see Covington start at the 4.  The Timberwolves aren’t very exciting aside from Towns, but enough can go right where they avoid fifty losses and get a year closer to contention.

15. Oklahoma City Thunder

DRAFT: Darius Bazley

RE-SIGNED: NONE

ACQUIRED: Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Mike Muscala

LOST: Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Jerami Grant, Patrick Patterson

After enduring every possible scenario in the last decade short of a championship, the Thunder finally decided to mail it in.  After their expensive plan with the Russ-PG13 superteam failed twice to advance to the second round, OKC slashed the payroll and got younger.  For being on the selling end of the two big offseason trades, the Thunder picked up a boatload of picks and a franchise point guard.  

Shai Gilegous-Alexander showed promise last year, and could flourish into an elite combo guard in OKC.  Andre Roberson returns after missing last year, which may cut into Terrance Ferguson’s minutes.  Gallinari could average twenty a night, but he shouldn’t be on the roster by midseason.  Some middle tier playoff team will need a stretch 4 four playoff time and dump some assets onto the OKC stockpile for Gallinari.  Steven Adams was a good fit for the contending Thunder, but will need to be a bigger factor on offense.  Jerami Grant was a very effective player last year; they will need to find more diamonds in the rough like him to get back to contending.  This season likely will be a transition season, but Chris Paul getting a homecoming in OKC is a nice side-story that will keep the diehards in OKC engaged. 

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