NBA Atlantic Division Off-Season Grades
By Anonymous
Tue, 07/27/2010 - 11:41pm
By Mike Misek
Boston Celtics:
Draft Picks: Avery Bradley, Luke Harangody
Additions: Semih Erden, Jermaine O’Neal (Heat, 2 years and $12 million)
Subtractions: Tony Allen (Grizzlies), Brian Scalabrine, and possibly Rasheed Wallace (contemplating retirement)
Boston took a page out of the San Antonio playbook for having a very measured and lax approach to the regular season, and came within one game of a championship. Kevin Garnett answered concern about whether he had anything left to give. Ray Allen guarded Kobe Bryant as well as anyone could possibly have hoped. For all the criticism heaped onto Rasheed Wallace, he showed up for them in the playoffs, and Game 7 in particular. Now, the carrot put in front of them is three superstar combo in Miami trying to replicate what they have done. The difficulty for Boston this offseason comes Danny Ainge having to deal with from Miami’s “Three Kings” being 25, 26, and 28 years old whereas Allen is 35, Garnett is an overaged 34, Pierce is 32, O’Neal is a hard 31, and if Wallace returns he is 35. With those contracts being guaranteed, he is lacking cap flexibility to add young legs for the regular season. To the credit of the Celtics, they have the infrastructure to beat the Heat if they stay healthy. Boston has beaten LeBron James in the playoffs in two of the last three playoffs. They have the physical team defense that limits James from getting into the paint whenever he wants. Rajon Rondo is long enough and quick enough to give Dwyane Wade fits. Chris Bosh will not be able to have his way with the Celtic big men. The question of 2010-11 is whether Boston can once again get into May and June with all their pieces in place.
The Celtics will need to lean heavily on their youth during the regular season to keep their 30-somethings healthy, but that is going to be difficult with Kendrick Perkins to miss half the season. Rajon Rondo will have to earn that new extension by carrying the 82-game slate. A newly re-signed Marquis Daniels has bring more to the table than he did last year. He will need to absorb the minutes previously given to Tony Allen. While he is a more skilled player than Allen, he has lacked the same commitment to defensive intensity. First round pick Avery Bradley can offer energy and athleticism, but his freshman year at Texas would indicate that is about as much as can be expected. Nate Robinson will likely see his role grow now that he is familiar with the Celtic system. Glen Davis and Luke Harangody will be their undersized, try hard power forwards. Davis will do so quite aptly, we will see about Harangody. If he cannot be the third power forward for them, then Tony Gaffney probably will. Semih Erden might struggle to offer much to the Celtics this season. He will need to adjust to the NBA game, but that task might be made more difficult his need to become better adept at the English language. This would mean that Boston should consider adding one more center to fill out their roster. They might also continue to scour the free agent scrap heap and trading block for another wing defender to throw at LeBron in a playoff series. The team might need to wait for a final word on what Wallace will do. If he chooses to retire, then use his disappearing contract in a trade. The additional body will not be of great importance until the playoffs, and could be an acquisition that will be made in mid-season.
Final Grade: C
New Jersey Nets:
Derrick Favors
Draft Picks: Derrick Favors, Damion James
Additions: Jordan Farmar (Lakers, 3 years and $12 million), Anthony Morrow (Warriors, 3 years and $12 million), Travis Outlaw (Clippers, 5 years and $35 million), Johan Petro (Nuggets, 3 years and $10 million), Quinton Ross (Wizards), Ben Uzoh (undrafted rookie), Ben Zoubek (undrafted rookie)
Subtractions: Tony Battie (76ers), Josh Boone, Trenton Hassell, Jarvis Hayes, Chris Quinn, Bobby Simmons
For the moment, the Blueprint for Greatness looks more like a Blueprint for 25 wins. For all of the free agent hoopla surrounding new owner Mikhail Prokhorov, Jay-Z, and the appeal of a new arena in Brooklyn, the Nets came away with Travis Outlaw, Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow, and Johan Petro. New Jersey might not be 12-wins bad, but they certainly have not had the kind of off-season to justify tanking last year in such spectacular fashion. To the credit of the Nets, while the current roster looks weak, they are still very young and rather inexpensive. While the contracts of Outlaw, Farmar, Morrow, and Petro seem like wasteful spending for average at best talent, they are rotation-caliber players in the NBA. Morrow and Outlaw might be misplaced if they end up in starting roles this year, but they will not be albatross contracts when they take their rightful place off the bench in the future. New Jersey may very well in contention for the most lottery balls again in 2011, but that might be the plan. While Nets management had the dream scenario of all teams stockpiling cap space of LeBron and Wade, they appear to have chosen a very measured, long-term approach as their Plan B.
Derrick Favors is an incredibly talented, but also very young, power forward. He is going to be the youngest rookie in the NBA. It took him until February of last season for him to come into his own in the ACC, which would suggest he is going to at least that much time to adjust to the NBA. Down the road, however, he should be a formidable partner with Brook Lopez in the front court. He really only needs time and coaching in order to become a very good player. Now, it appears to be what the Nets have to offer. What the team lacks are prototypical scoring wings. Morrow and Lee can shoot, but aren’t creators. Williams can create, but can’t shoot. Outlaw has length and athleticism, but is missing overall offensive polish. By saving a good deal of their cap space and not having any expiring deals, the Nets should be considered strong candidates for Carmelo Anthony should he leave Denver. Andre Iguodala could end up being made available by Philadelphia in a trade if they don’t show improvement. Even if they miss on their primary targets, the early returns on the draft class of 2011suggest that there is going to be quite a bit of talent at the wing spots. UNC-bound Harrison Barnes, Baylor-bound Perry Jones, Kentucky-bound Terrence Jones, and Illinois-bound Jereme Richmond have the body and skills of “one-and-done” prospects. Elias Harris is returning to Gonzaga for his sophomore years, and can solidify his NBA profile quickly with a strong showing at the World Championships. Kris Joseph and Jordan Hamilton might skyrocket up draft boards with more minutes and opportunities this coming year. Maintaining their salary cap flexibility and adding another high lottery pick can make the Nets an exciting team by 2011-12, and a possible contender by the time they move to Brooklyn in the fall of 2012.
Final Grade: C
New York Knicks
Draft Picks: Andy Rautins, Landry Fields, Jerome Jordan
Additions: Kelenna Azubuike (Warriors), Raymond Felton (Bobcats, 3 years and $25 million- two years are guaranteed), Timofey Mozgov (3 years and $9.7 million), Anthony Randolph (Warriors), Amare Stoudemire (Suns, 5 years and $100 million), Ronny Turiaf (Warriors)
Subtractions: Earl Barron, Jonathan Bender, Chris Duhon (Magic), Al Harrington (Nuggets), Eddie House, David Lee (Warriors), Tracy McGrady, Sergio Rodriguez (Real Madrid)
$32 million in cap room! The Mecca of basketball! The Knicks are back! The week June 1 through June 7 was the best seven days of Knicks basketball in close to a decade, but it came crashing down when Wade, Bosh, and LeBron went elsewhere. Enter an uninsurable $100 million contract for Amare Stoudemire, $8 million per year for Raymond Felton, and not to be forgotten almost $10 million for THE Timofey Mozgov. Talk about a big three! Does this sound too pessimistic? Probably, the team is better than the 29-win team of last year. So long as he stays healthy, Amare Stoudemire is more of an offensive force than David Lee and equally inept defensively. Raymond Felton is clearly better than Chris Duhon and Sergio Rodriguez. Eddy Curry and Amare Stoudemire are the oldest players on their roster, and neither of those two have turned 28 years old. The average age of the roster is 24. While Anthony Randolph’s development stagnated last year prior to getting injured, he is 21-years old and at minimum the equal, in terms of future prospects, of any first round pick outside this year’s top ten. He needs to coaching as well as mental and physical maturity to achieve success, but has the raw tools to have the same success Boris Diaw had under D’Antoni. They are better, but better than 29-53 was not the plan. It is possible that the Knicks could battle for the seventh or eighth seed in the East, but that was not the goal when the past two years were tanked for cap space. Amare Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, and Anthony Randolph were not what Donnie Walsh had in mind when he gave away Jordan Hill, a 2012 first round pick, and the right to swap picks in 2011 to rid himself of Jared Jeffries.
Soon after the Knicks were spurned by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Joe Johnson, the corporate spin out of MSG became Carmelo Anthony, Tony Parker, and later Chris Paul. The Kevin Durant rumors could not even see the light of ESPN because he signed his extension so quickly, though it is inevitable that the Mecca would believe it was his dream to play at Madison Square Garden and follow in the footsteps of Knick greats like Maurice Taylor, Shandon Anderson, and Frank Williams. It was not to be. It probably will not be for the other three as well. Not knowing how the next collective bargaining agreement will look, it is impossible to know whether the Knicks will have the salary cap room to sign Anthony or Parker. The Knicks will have $42 million committed to seven players next season, but what that could mean if the rumored systematic changes are implemented are unknown. The increased likelihood of a hard cap works to the detriment of the big market teams like the Knicks, and could force them to build from within. To add further holes into the Knicks dream is that the rumored Chris Paul trade demand took place after they overpaid Raymond Felton. Now, the new free agent signings cannot be dealt until the winter, and the best the Knicks could put together in a trade would be the remnants of their 29 win mess. They do not even have the ability to deal their first round pick to New Orleans until 2014. Seven role players from a bad team does not equal one superstar, so that dream is equally unlikely. After six straight years of missing the playoffs, Knick fans will likely be content with playoff spot and a first round shellacking at the hands of Miami or Orlando for this season, but that will not last long and any collective bargaining agreement that brings about changes that limit the systematic advantages for big market teams will further inhibit the decade long rebuilding project of the Knicks.
Final Grade: D +
Philadelphia 76ers
Draft Picks: Evan Turner
Evan Turner
Additions: Tony Battie (76ers), Spencer Hawes (Kings), Andres Nocioni (Kings)
Subtractions: Rodney Carney, Samuel Dalembert (Kings), Francisco Elson, Allen Iverson
Hamstrung by a bloated payroll, the Sixers had little flexibility to improve their roster when the off-season began. With a little luck in the lottery, they moved up to a spot where they were able to come away with the Naismith College Player of the Year, Evan Turner. The team was then able to be the soon-to-be-expiring contract of an ever frustrating Samuel Dalembert for the longer deal of Doug Collins favorite Andres Nocioni and Spencer Hawes, who will be the same age as many rookies this coming season. The team was even given a financial reprieve when the salary cap came in higher than expected allowing them a bit of breathing room from the luxury tax threshold. Given how things appeared in April, the Sixers came away better than expected, but still not that well.
The Sixers still appear to be an incredibly mismatched team. Elton Brand has always been a low post presence who needs the floor to be well spaced to be effective, but the Sixers still lack consistent perimeter shooting. The acquisition of Jason Kapono helped them improve on a league worst number from 2009, but they were 21st in three pointers made, and 22nd in three point shooting percentage. While the decision to draft Evan Turner goes without much rebuke, his ability to create might be limited by the lack of respect teams will have for the shooting range of Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, Louis Williams, Jrue Holiday, and Marreese Speights. Putting the ball in Turner’s hands also might take away from Iguodala’s offensive value. While Iguodala will continue to be a defensive gem who can be electric in transition, his value in a half court offense is diminished when he is off the ball. It accentuates the one glaring weakness in his game, that being his streaky jump shot. What Philadelphia has going for it is that Doug Collins will be the man to try to fit the square peg into a round hole. Collins is in many ways a mini-Larry Brown. He is a terrific basketball mind who has a reputation for getting his teams to overachieve before driving himself crazy. The difference is that Collins goes into the television booth while Brown takes a new job. While it would take an impressive coaching effort for Philadelphia to get close enough to .500 to make the playoffs, give Philadelphia credit for luring one of the coaches with the capability of making that possible.
Final Grade: B
Toronto Raptors
Draft Picks: Ed Davis, Solomon Alabi
Additions: Leandro Barbosa (Suns), Dwayne Jones (Suns), Linas Kleiza (Olympiacos, 4 years and $18.8 million)
Subtractions: Chris Bosh (Heat), Patrick O’Bryant, Rasho Nesterovic, Hedo Turkoglu (Suns), Antoine Wright (Kings)
The summer seemed bound for historic folly when the Raptors first appeared opposed to facilitating a sign-and-trade for a Miami-bound Chris Bosh and following it up by giving $34 million to Amir Johnson. The team came to its senses, however, and got a pair of first round picks from Miami- including the one they sent to Miami in the Shawn Marion-Jermaine O’Neal trade- and a big trade exception that they still have not used. Linas Kleiza was then signed for a very reasonable four years and $18.8 million. Before he left Denver for Olympiacos, Kleiza was a highly regarded scoring forward who was stuck behind Carmelo Anthony. He should have all the shots he desires in Toronto. The team then was then able to unload last season’s free agent bust Hedo Turkoglu for former Bryan Colangelo draft pick Leandro Barbosa.
While it is impossible to argue that the Raptors have as much pure talent as their 2009-10 squad, they do appear to fit better. With reports of a divided locker room, changing the mix is probably for the best. This year’s team should have better defined roles. Andrea Bargnani will have an army of unskilled effort big men to protect him up front. Amir Johnson, Ed Davis, Solomon Alabi, Reggie Evans, Joey Dorsey, and Dwayne Jones are better suited to play off the ball, rebound, and protect the hoop than Chris Bosh. They are not anywhere near the talent of Chris Bosh, but the failure of the Raptors to stop anyone last year was largely a result of having no one in their very expensive front court having any interest in playing defense. The platoon the Raptors will put forth can only improve them. Linas Kleiza cannot be any less motivated or interested than Hedo Turkoglu. While nobody has forgotten how good Hedo can be when he wants to and is in a system that fits him, it was not happening in Toronto. Kleiza left Denver for Athens not only because he wanted the big paycheck but also due to the frustration that stemmed from being stuck in a lesser role. He will be in a position to be a major force for Toronto’s offense. Leandro Barbosa saw his role diminish in Phoenix as a result of injuries and the emergence of Goran Dragic, but should be in a position to have a career revival in a system he has played in for his entire career. While the point guard spot is incredibly expensive for less than star quality performance, it was still the most consistent position on the team last year. In a season where the final two spots in the East appear to be wide open, it should not be surprising if Toronto is in that mix. Given where they were when Bosh left and Amir Johnson got $34 million, it might be saving face.
Final Grade: C -
RELATED ARTICLES:
NBA Southwest Division Off-Season Grades
NBA Southeast Division Off-Season Grades
NBA Northwest Division Off-Season Grades
NBA Central Division Off-Season Grades
Boston Celtics:
Draft Picks: Avery Bradley, Luke Harangody
Additions: Semih Erden, Jermaine O’Neal (Heat, 2 years and $12 million)
Subtractions: Tony Allen (Grizzlies), Brian Scalabrine, and possibly Rasheed Wallace (contemplating retirement)
Boston took a page out of the San Antonio playbook for having a very measured and lax approach to the regular season, and came within one game of a championship. Kevin Garnett answered concern about whether he had anything left to give. Ray Allen guarded Kobe Bryant as well as anyone could possibly have hoped. For all the criticism heaped onto Rasheed Wallace, he showed up for them in the playoffs, and Game 7 in particular. Now, the carrot put in front of them is three superstar combo in Miami trying to replicate what they have done. The difficulty for Boston this offseason comes Danny Ainge having to deal with from Miami’s “Three Kings” being 25, 26, and 28 years old whereas Allen is 35, Garnett is an overaged 34, Pierce is 32, O’Neal is a hard 31, and if Wallace returns he is 35. With those contracts being guaranteed, he is lacking cap flexibility to add young legs for the regular season. To the credit of the Celtics, they have the infrastructure to beat the Heat if they stay healthy. Boston has beaten LeBron James in the playoffs in two of the last three playoffs. They have the physical team defense that limits James from getting into the paint whenever he wants. Rajon Rondo is long enough and quick enough to give Dwyane Wade fits. Chris Bosh will not be able to have his way with the Celtic big men. The question of 2010-11 is whether Boston can once again get into May and June with all their pieces in place.
The Celtics will need to lean heavily on their youth during the regular season to keep their 30-somethings healthy, but that is going to be difficult with Kendrick Perkins to miss half the season. Rajon Rondo will have to earn that new extension by carrying the 82-game slate. A newly re-signed Marquis Daniels has bring more to the table than he did last year. He will need to absorb the minutes previously given to Tony Allen. While he is a more skilled player than Allen, he has lacked the same commitment to defensive intensity. First round pick Avery Bradley can offer energy and athleticism, but his freshman year at Texas would indicate that is about as much as can be expected. Nate Robinson will likely see his role grow now that he is familiar with the Celtic system. Glen Davis and Luke Harangody will be their undersized, try hard power forwards. Davis will do so quite aptly, we will see about Harangody. If he cannot be the third power forward for them, then Tony Gaffney probably will. Semih Erden might struggle to offer much to the Celtics this season. He will need to adjust to the NBA game, but that task might be made more difficult his need to become better adept at the English language. This would mean that Boston should consider adding one more center to fill out their roster. They might also continue to scour the free agent scrap heap and trading block for another wing defender to throw at LeBron in a playoff series. The team might need to wait for a final word on what Wallace will do. If he chooses to retire, then use his disappearing contract in a trade. The additional body will not be of great importance until the playoffs, and could be an acquisition that will be made in mid-season.
Final Grade: C
New Jersey Nets:
Derrick FavorsDraft Picks: Derrick Favors, Damion James
Additions: Jordan Farmar (Lakers, 3 years and $12 million), Anthony Morrow (Warriors, 3 years and $12 million), Travis Outlaw (Clippers, 5 years and $35 million), Johan Petro (Nuggets, 3 years and $10 million), Quinton Ross (Wizards), Ben Uzoh (undrafted rookie), Ben Zoubek (undrafted rookie)
Subtractions: Tony Battie (76ers), Josh Boone, Trenton Hassell, Jarvis Hayes, Chris Quinn, Bobby Simmons
For the moment, the Blueprint for Greatness looks more like a Blueprint for 25 wins. For all of the free agent hoopla surrounding new owner Mikhail Prokhorov, Jay-Z, and the appeal of a new arena in Brooklyn, the Nets came away with Travis Outlaw, Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow, and Johan Petro. New Jersey might not be 12-wins bad, but they certainly have not had the kind of off-season to justify tanking last year in such spectacular fashion. To the credit of the Nets, while the current roster looks weak, they are still very young and rather inexpensive. While the contracts of Outlaw, Farmar, Morrow, and Petro seem like wasteful spending for average at best talent, they are rotation-caliber players in the NBA. Morrow and Outlaw might be misplaced if they end up in starting roles this year, but they will not be albatross contracts when they take their rightful place off the bench in the future. New Jersey may very well in contention for the most lottery balls again in 2011, but that might be the plan. While Nets management had the dream scenario of all teams stockpiling cap space of LeBron and Wade, they appear to have chosen a very measured, long-term approach as their Plan B.
Derrick Favors is an incredibly talented, but also very young, power forward. He is going to be the youngest rookie in the NBA. It took him until February of last season for him to come into his own in the ACC, which would suggest he is going to at least that much time to adjust to the NBA. Down the road, however, he should be a formidable partner with Brook Lopez in the front court. He really only needs time and coaching in order to become a very good player. Now, it appears to be what the Nets have to offer. What the team lacks are prototypical scoring wings. Morrow and Lee can shoot, but aren’t creators. Williams can create, but can’t shoot. Outlaw has length and athleticism, but is missing overall offensive polish. By saving a good deal of their cap space and not having any expiring deals, the Nets should be considered strong candidates for Carmelo Anthony should he leave Denver. Andre Iguodala could end up being made available by Philadelphia in a trade if they don’t show improvement. Even if they miss on their primary targets, the early returns on the draft class of 2011suggest that there is going to be quite a bit of talent at the wing spots. UNC-bound Harrison Barnes, Baylor-bound Perry Jones, Kentucky-bound Terrence Jones, and Illinois-bound Jereme Richmond have the body and skills of “one-and-done” prospects. Elias Harris is returning to Gonzaga for his sophomore years, and can solidify his NBA profile quickly with a strong showing at the World Championships. Kris Joseph and Jordan Hamilton might skyrocket up draft boards with more minutes and opportunities this coming year. Maintaining their salary cap flexibility and adding another high lottery pick can make the Nets an exciting team by 2011-12, and a possible contender by the time they move to Brooklyn in the fall of 2012.
Final Grade: C
New York Knicks
Draft Picks: Andy Rautins, Landry Fields, Jerome Jordan
Additions: Kelenna Azubuike (Warriors), Raymond Felton (Bobcats, 3 years and $25 million- two years are guaranteed), Timofey Mozgov (3 years and $9.7 million), Anthony Randolph (Warriors), Amare Stoudemire (Suns, 5 years and $100 million), Ronny Turiaf (Warriors)
Subtractions: Earl Barron, Jonathan Bender, Chris Duhon (Magic), Al Harrington (Nuggets), Eddie House, David Lee (Warriors), Tracy McGrady, Sergio Rodriguez (Real Madrid)
$32 million in cap room! The Mecca of basketball! The Knicks are back! The week June 1 through June 7 was the best seven days of Knicks basketball in close to a decade, but it came crashing down when Wade, Bosh, and LeBron went elsewhere. Enter an uninsurable $100 million contract for Amare Stoudemire, $8 million per year for Raymond Felton, and not to be forgotten almost $10 million for THE Timofey Mozgov. Talk about a big three! Does this sound too pessimistic? Probably, the team is better than the 29-win team of last year. So long as he stays healthy, Amare Stoudemire is more of an offensive force than David Lee and equally inept defensively. Raymond Felton is clearly better than Chris Duhon and Sergio Rodriguez. Eddy Curry and Amare Stoudemire are the oldest players on their roster, and neither of those two have turned 28 years old. The average age of the roster is 24. While Anthony Randolph’s development stagnated last year prior to getting injured, he is 21-years old and at minimum the equal, in terms of future prospects, of any first round pick outside this year’s top ten. He needs to coaching as well as mental and physical maturity to achieve success, but has the raw tools to have the same success Boris Diaw had under D’Antoni. They are better, but better than 29-53 was not the plan. It is possible that the Knicks could battle for the seventh or eighth seed in the East, but that was not the goal when the past two years were tanked for cap space. Amare Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, and Anthony Randolph were not what Donnie Walsh had in mind when he gave away Jordan Hill, a 2012 first round pick, and the right to swap picks in 2011 to rid himself of Jared Jeffries.
Soon after the Knicks were spurned by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Joe Johnson, the corporate spin out of MSG became Carmelo Anthony, Tony Parker, and later Chris Paul. The Kevin Durant rumors could not even see the light of ESPN because he signed his extension so quickly, though it is inevitable that the Mecca would believe it was his dream to play at Madison Square Garden and follow in the footsteps of Knick greats like Maurice Taylor, Shandon Anderson, and Frank Williams. It was not to be. It probably will not be for the other three as well. Not knowing how the next collective bargaining agreement will look, it is impossible to know whether the Knicks will have the salary cap room to sign Anthony or Parker. The Knicks will have $42 million committed to seven players next season, but what that could mean if the rumored systematic changes are implemented are unknown. The increased likelihood of a hard cap works to the detriment of the big market teams like the Knicks, and could force them to build from within. To add further holes into the Knicks dream is that the rumored Chris Paul trade demand took place after they overpaid Raymond Felton. Now, the new free agent signings cannot be dealt until the winter, and the best the Knicks could put together in a trade would be the remnants of their 29 win mess. They do not even have the ability to deal their first round pick to New Orleans until 2014. Seven role players from a bad team does not equal one superstar, so that dream is equally unlikely. After six straight years of missing the playoffs, Knick fans will likely be content with playoff spot and a first round shellacking at the hands of Miami or Orlando for this season, but that will not last long and any collective bargaining agreement that brings about changes that limit the systematic advantages for big market teams will further inhibit the decade long rebuilding project of the Knicks.
Final Grade: D +
Philadelphia 76ers
Draft Picks: Evan Turner
Evan TurnerAdditions: Tony Battie (76ers), Spencer Hawes (Kings), Andres Nocioni (Kings)
Subtractions: Rodney Carney, Samuel Dalembert (Kings), Francisco Elson, Allen Iverson
Hamstrung by a bloated payroll, the Sixers had little flexibility to improve their roster when the off-season began. With a little luck in the lottery, they moved up to a spot where they were able to come away with the Naismith College Player of the Year, Evan Turner. The team was then able to be the soon-to-be-expiring contract of an ever frustrating Samuel Dalembert for the longer deal of Doug Collins favorite Andres Nocioni and Spencer Hawes, who will be the same age as many rookies this coming season. The team was even given a financial reprieve when the salary cap came in higher than expected allowing them a bit of breathing room from the luxury tax threshold. Given how things appeared in April, the Sixers came away better than expected, but still not that well.
The Sixers still appear to be an incredibly mismatched team. Elton Brand has always been a low post presence who needs the floor to be well spaced to be effective, but the Sixers still lack consistent perimeter shooting. The acquisition of Jason Kapono helped them improve on a league worst number from 2009, but they were 21st in three pointers made, and 22nd in three point shooting percentage. While the decision to draft Evan Turner goes without much rebuke, his ability to create might be limited by the lack of respect teams will have for the shooting range of Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, Louis Williams, Jrue Holiday, and Marreese Speights. Putting the ball in Turner’s hands also might take away from Iguodala’s offensive value. While Iguodala will continue to be a defensive gem who can be electric in transition, his value in a half court offense is diminished when he is off the ball. It accentuates the one glaring weakness in his game, that being his streaky jump shot. What Philadelphia has going for it is that Doug Collins will be the man to try to fit the square peg into a round hole. Collins is in many ways a mini-Larry Brown. He is a terrific basketball mind who has a reputation for getting his teams to overachieve before driving himself crazy. The difference is that Collins goes into the television booth while Brown takes a new job. While it would take an impressive coaching effort for Philadelphia to get close enough to .500 to make the playoffs, give Philadelphia credit for luring one of the coaches with the capability of making that possible.
Final Grade: B
Toronto Raptors
Draft Picks: Ed Davis, Solomon Alabi
Additions: Leandro Barbosa (Suns), Dwayne Jones (Suns), Linas Kleiza (Olympiacos, 4 years and $18.8 million)
Subtractions: Chris Bosh (Heat), Patrick O’Bryant, Rasho Nesterovic, Hedo Turkoglu (Suns), Antoine Wright (Kings)
The summer seemed bound for historic folly when the Raptors first appeared opposed to facilitating a sign-and-trade for a Miami-bound Chris Bosh and following it up by giving $34 million to Amir Johnson. The team came to its senses, however, and got a pair of first round picks from Miami- including the one they sent to Miami in the Shawn Marion-Jermaine O’Neal trade- and a big trade exception that they still have not used. Linas Kleiza was then signed for a very reasonable four years and $18.8 million. Before he left Denver for Olympiacos, Kleiza was a highly regarded scoring forward who was stuck behind Carmelo Anthony. He should have all the shots he desires in Toronto. The team then was then able to unload last season’s free agent bust Hedo Turkoglu for former Bryan Colangelo draft pick Leandro Barbosa.
While it is impossible to argue that the Raptors have as much pure talent as their 2009-10 squad, they do appear to fit better. With reports of a divided locker room, changing the mix is probably for the best. This year’s team should have better defined roles. Andrea Bargnani will have an army of unskilled effort big men to protect him up front. Amir Johnson, Ed Davis, Solomon Alabi, Reggie Evans, Joey Dorsey, and Dwayne Jones are better suited to play off the ball, rebound, and protect the hoop than Chris Bosh. They are not anywhere near the talent of Chris Bosh, but the failure of the Raptors to stop anyone last year was largely a result of having no one in their very expensive front court having any interest in playing defense. The platoon the Raptors will put forth can only improve them. Linas Kleiza cannot be any less motivated or interested than Hedo Turkoglu. While nobody has forgotten how good Hedo can be when he wants to and is in a system that fits him, it was not happening in Toronto. Kleiza left Denver for Athens not only because he wanted the big paycheck but also due to the frustration that stemmed from being stuck in a lesser role. He will be in a position to be a major force for Toronto’s offense. Leandro Barbosa saw his role diminish in Phoenix as a result of injuries and the emergence of Goran Dragic, but should be in a position to have a career revival in a system he has played in for his entire career. While the point guard spot is incredibly expensive for less than star quality performance, it was still the most consistent position on the team last year. In a season where the final two spots in the East appear to be wide open, it should not be surprising if Toronto is in that mix. Given where they were when Bosh left and Amir Johnson got $34 million, it might be saving face.
Final Grade: C -
RELATED ARTICLES:
NBA Southwest Division Off-Season Grades
NBA Southeast Division Off-Season Grades
NBA Northwest Division Off-Season Grades
NBA Central Division Off-Season Grades
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