The times, they are a-changin' (looking to the next season)
Apr 26, 2014 12:22:32 GMT
BoshtrichBurger likes this
Post by malice on Apr 26, 2014 12:22:32 GMT
I guess we’ve been playing this game long enough that there are “traditions”, as far as teams tendencies go. And one that I’ve noticed is how keen GMs – for the most part – are to walk the “let’s-make-a-deal” path. Teams change personnel on an almost weekly basis, looking for the next steal. I kinda fall on the opposite end of the spectrum – I tend to stand pat on my team. Just different strategies, I guess. It does make the premise of this article MORE difficult tho’ – because the general health of a franchise can change in a heartbeat if they DO land “The Deal”… the deal that will inevitably spawn a discussion thread whence all interested parties (aka active GMs) will decry the trade and hit virtual tables with virtual shoes in simulated outrage.
But I’ll try anyway…
The New York Knickerbockers have done quite well turning the franchise around from having suffered the ignominy of a CY, and turning the franchise around to be one of the premier teams in the East. A good starting rotation and solid depth has been the key… but can they keep going?
The Knicks currently have two of their starting line-up on the final year of deals, and a lot of bench depth in the same position. Jamaal Tinsley and Eddy Curry finish up… and Joe Smith, Chris Andersen, Jerry Stackhouse and Tony Allen all do as well. This is a significant loss in talent, and whilst NY should be able to bring some back, nothing’s a guarantee (just ask Ron Artest). It’ll be interesting to see how GM themouth deals with this issue – he’s going to be one busy guy during the Free Agency period: trying to cover his bases yet again.
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Chicago have been a perennial powerhouse in the East, but they’re going to need to get creative this coming season. Nine players will be under contract come the beginning of next season, and those nine will receive $80,651,856 in salary. That leaves them with some very interesting accounting by the front office, needing to add another 3 players with very little $$$ to do so. No major players are departing, but the phenomenal depth of the Bulls – with players such as Dwight Howard, Amare Stoudemire, Josh Smith, Jay Williams and Gilbert Arenas – but that renowned depth will tip the monetary balance dangerously close to the hard cap. What will GM bloop do is the question…
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Toronto can still make the playoffs. They are currently on the outside looking in, but they’re only half a game behind 8th placed Miami. Add to that, Toronto are going to have significant cap space next year. HOWEVER, part of their push to playoffs has included acquiring the services of one Kobe Bryant, who recently took his talents to the shores of Lake Ontario. Retaining the Mamba’s services as jeweler supreme (no player gives out rings like Kobe) will eat a significant portion of the cap space that the Rap pack have accumulated. Will GM tyfreak go that path and look to put cheaper complimentary pieces around Bryant? Or will he opt to test the murky waters of FA…
One thing’s for sure: a lot of the *depth* that Toronto now has will be wearing a different uniform next season.
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The Bobcats should get a decent pick in what’s considered to be a completely loaded draft, and they also have the Atlanta Hawks pick – which whilst not great, should be decent enough. Additionally - at times they’ve played well this season – a 21/35 record notwithstanding.
But they’ve got something everyone wants: significant cap space. GM itnas123 has assembled a good, young roster that’s cheap and has room to grow. Blake Griffin, DaJuan Summers, Darren Collison… put an elite FA alongside these guys and Charlotte could well be contending before they have to change their name to the Hornets. itnas123 should get himself some good sunglasses, because the future’s bright in the Crown Town.
WEST
The West is interesting… interesting in that most teams are going to pretty much look like they were this season – with a few exceptions. Some teams are going to look radically different.
One of those teams is the Utah Jazz. The second best team in the West (but 3rd ranked due by virtue of being in the same division as Minnesota), they will only have Yao Ming’s $15.3 million, and Rudy Fernandez’s nearly-2.5-million on the books next season. Obviously they’ll retain the services of RFA-to-be LaMarcus Aldridge, and I’d hazard a guess that they’d be enthusiastic about Kirilenko – but retaining those two alone will leave very little space to fill out the rest of the roster – and this is a roster that won’t benefit from a good draft pick. What GM gmgreggor’s team looks like next season will be an interesting story to follow as it unfolds…
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The Nuggets are in a similar position. Melo is under contract. So’s Gerald Henderson and Devin Harris… but beyond that 26 million, there’s naught else, and nothing that the 4th placed Denver will be particular attached to. They’ll be a player in the free agent market, and will be looking to add an elite big to play alongside those three. If new-comer GM zjd plays the off-season game wisely, he could elevate Denver considerably via Free Agency. With the three young guns (Melo/Harris/Henderson), time’s on his side.
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The Dallas Mavericks are going to hit the FA market, and hard. The current most-likely-to-get-the-first-pick team, the Mavs also have the Magic’s pick (which will land them a slot in the mid-to-late 20s). stan’s likely to be a big player in Free Agency, as salary for the coming season is only a hair above $8.2 million – tied up in center Hasheem Thabeet and point man Sebastian Telfair. That’s a lot of space to play with, but it’s also a lot of bodies to put into slots. It won’t be the free-spending free-for-all you might think. After landing a few key pieces, stan’s going to have to show some frugality, and a keen eye for talent. Dallas’s future depends on it.
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The powerhouse Timberwolves are – in all likelihood - going to look different. The effervescent Tim Duncan – at a spry 33 – will be seeking a new contract, and SOMEONE’S gonna throw money at him. He’s still one of the most effective bigs in the game. Both Rudy Gay and Brandon Roy are going to attract elite-level money… rival GMs are going to roll the dice on where Minnesota GM rookieoftheyear is going to put his backing. My money’d be on him letting Timmy walk, and handing over the reins to up-and-coming big Marc Gasol. Gasol Jr would have to be champing at the bit to get an opportunity, and I think the time’s ripe. rookieoftheyear’ll focus on re-signing Roy/Gay, and then putting the pieces around a young core.
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BrazilianDude will be the biggest player this coming off-season. The Grizzlies have only 5 million on the books in the bodies of DeMarcus Cousins, Jonathon Davies and DJ Augustin, the roster needs filling out and Memphis are sure to put some very nice pieces around DMC & DJ. Caution needs to be applied tho’, for as exciting as landing a few big names may be, making sure you end up with a good team is not as simple as just putting names on a paycheck – Memphis could go from being a middle of the pack playoff team, to a serious contender in a heartbeat… but this is where we’re going to see how much of a keen eye for players BrazilianDude has.
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And there ‘tis. For sure: there’ll be other managers who change the look of their teams vastly over the next while between now and the next season. It’s the nature of this league. To finish with tho’, I’ll mention two teams that are unlikely to look much different at all next season: the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers. Both have their core, and the successes each has enjoyed this season would be indicative of the rosters remaining – by and large – the same.
But then again… who knows what’ll happen?
But I’ll try anyway…
(or Teams that are going to look different)
EASTThe New York Knickerbockers have done quite well turning the franchise around from having suffered the ignominy of a CY, and turning the franchise around to be one of the premier teams in the East. A good starting rotation and solid depth has been the key… but can they keep going?
The Knicks currently have two of their starting line-up on the final year of deals, and a lot of bench depth in the same position. Jamaal Tinsley and Eddy Curry finish up… and Joe Smith, Chris Andersen, Jerry Stackhouse and Tony Allen all do as well. This is a significant loss in talent, and whilst NY should be able to bring some back, nothing’s a guarantee (just ask Ron Artest). It’ll be interesting to see how GM themouth deals with this issue – he’s going to be one busy guy during the Free Agency period: trying to cover his bases yet again.
-----------------
Chicago have been a perennial powerhouse in the East, but they’re going to need to get creative this coming season. Nine players will be under contract come the beginning of next season, and those nine will receive $80,651,856 in salary. That leaves them with some very interesting accounting by the front office, needing to add another 3 players with very little $$$ to do so. No major players are departing, but the phenomenal depth of the Bulls – with players such as Dwight Howard, Amare Stoudemire, Josh Smith, Jay Williams and Gilbert Arenas – but that renowned depth will tip the monetary balance dangerously close to the hard cap. What will GM bloop do is the question…
-----------------
Toronto can still make the playoffs. They are currently on the outside looking in, but they’re only half a game behind 8th placed Miami. Add to that, Toronto are going to have significant cap space next year. HOWEVER, part of their push to playoffs has included acquiring the services of one Kobe Bryant, who recently took his talents to the shores of Lake Ontario. Retaining the Mamba’s services as jeweler supreme (no player gives out rings like Kobe) will eat a significant portion of the cap space that the Rap pack have accumulated. Will GM tyfreak go that path and look to put cheaper complimentary pieces around Bryant? Or will he opt to test the murky waters of FA…
One thing’s for sure: a lot of the *depth* that Toronto now has will be wearing a different uniform next season.
-----------------
The Bobcats should get a decent pick in what’s considered to be a completely loaded draft, and they also have the Atlanta Hawks pick – which whilst not great, should be decent enough. Additionally - at times they’ve played well this season – a 21/35 record notwithstanding.
But they’ve got something everyone wants: significant cap space. GM itnas123 has assembled a good, young roster that’s cheap and has room to grow. Blake Griffin, DaJuan Summers, Darren Collison… put an elite FA alongside these guys and Charlotte could well be contending before they have to change their name to the Hornets. itnas123 should get himself some good sunglasses, because the future’s bright in the Crown Town.
WEST
The West is interesting… interesting in that most teams are going to pretty much look like they were this season – with a few exceptions. Some teams are going to look radically different.
One of those teams is the Utah Jazz. The second best team in the West (but 3rd ranked due by virtue of being in the same division as Minnesota), they will only have Yao Ming’s $15.3 million, and Rudy Fernandez’s nearly-2.5-million on the books next season. Obviously they’ll retain the services of RFA-to-be LaMarcus Aldridge, and I’d hazard a guess that they’d be enthusiastic about Kirilenko – but retaining those two alone will leave very little space to fill out the rest of the roster – and this is a roster that won’t benefit from a good draft pick. What GM gmgreggor’s team looks like next season will be an interesting story to follow as it unfolds…
-----------------
The Nuggets are in a similar position. Melo is under contract. So’s Gerald Henderson and Devin Harris… but beyond that 26 million, there’s naught else, and nothing that the 4th placed Denver will be particular attached to. They’ll be a player in the free agent market, and will be looking to add an elite big to play alongside those three. If new-comer GM zjd plays the off-season game wisely, he could elevate Denver considerably via Free Agency. With the three young guns (Melo/Harris/Henderson), time’s on his side.
-----------------
The Dallas Mavericks are going to hit the FA market, and hard. The current most-likely-to-get-the-first-pick team, the Mavs also have the Magic’s pick (which will land them a slot in the mid-to-late 20s). stan’s likely to be a big player in Free Agency, as salary for the coming season is only a hair above $8.2 million – tied up in center Hasheem Thabeet and point man Sebastian Telfair. That’s a lot of space to play with, but it’s also a lot of bodies to put into slots. It won’t be the free-spending free-for-all you might think. After landing a few key pieces, stan’s going to have to show some frugality, and a keen eye for talent. Dallas’s future depends on it.
-----------------
The powerhouse Timberwolves are – in all likelihood - going to look different. The effervescent Tim Duncan – at a spry 33 – will be seeking a new contract, and SOMEONE’S gonna throw money at him. He’s still one of the most effective bigs in the game. Both Rudy Gay and Brandon Roy are going to attract elite-level money… rival GMs are going to roll the dice on where Minnesota GM rookieoftheyear is going to put his backing. My money’d be on him letting Timmy walk, and handing over the reins to up-and-coming big Marc Gasol. Gasol Jr would have to be champing at the bit to get an opportunity, and I think the time’s ripe. rookieoftheyear’ll focus on re-signing Roy/Gay, and then putting the pieces around a young core.
-----------------
BrazilianDude will be the biggest player this coming off-season. The Grizzlies have only 5 million on the books in the bodies of DeMarcus Cousins, Jonathon Davies and DJ Augustin, the roster needs filling out and Memphis are sure to put some very nice pieces around DMC & DJ. Caution needs to be applied tho’, for as exciting as landing a few big names may be, making sure you end up with a good team is not as simple as just putting names on a paycheck – Memphis could go from being a middle of the pack playoff team, to a serious contender in a heartbeat… but this is where we’re going to see how much of a keen eye for players BrazilianDude has.
-----------------
And there ‘tis. For sure: there’ll be other managers who change the look of their teams vastly over the next while between now and the next season. It’s the nature of this league. To finish with tho’, I’ll mention two teams that are unlikely to look much different at all next season: the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers. Both have their core, and the successes each has enjoyed this season would be indicative of the rosters remaining – by and large – the same.
But then again… who knows what’ll happen?
