Atlanta Hawks
Grade: C-
Re-signed: Kyle Korver, Jeff Teague
Major ins: DeMarre Carroll (Utah), Jared Cunningham (Dallas), Paul Millsap (Utah), Lucas Nogueira (Draft), Dennis Schroeder (Draft)
Major outs: Devin Harris (Dallas), Zaza Pachulia (Milwaukee), Josh Smith (Detroit)
Still on the market: Ivan Johnson, Dahntay Jones, Johan Petro, Anthony Tolliver
The Atlanta Hawks had plenty of cap room to play with but in the NBA it is all about location, location, location.
While they did pick up Paul Millsap and retain Jeff Teague on very reasonable contracts, they also lost Josh Smith and were unable to reel in hometown hero Dwight Howard.
It’s hard to see how this team will be improved over last season at this point, but at the same time, they will likely still be a playoff team next year.
Boston Celtics
Grade: B-
Major ins: Keith Bogans (Brooklyn), MarShon Brooks (Brooklyn), Kris Humphries (Brooklyn), Kelly Olynyk (Draft), Phil Pressey (Undrafted free agent), Gerald Wallace (Brooklyn)
Major Outs: Kevin Garnett (Brooklyn), Paul Pierce (Brooklyn), Jason Terry (Brooklyn).
Still on the market: Chris Wilcox, Terrence Williams
While the Celtics decided it was time for a rebuild they were forced to take on the Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries contracts in order to move Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry and Paul Pierce.
The addition of the three first round picks will certainly help the team rebuild, they will be a decidedly mediocre bunch next season. Essentially they should get credit
for cashing in but blame for how quickly we will be forced to turn the channel when they are on next season.
Oddly enough, if Rajon Rondo can return early, there may be enough talent on this roster to compete for an eight seed, exactly what the team doesn’t want to do.
Brooklyn Nets
Grade: B+
Re-signed: Andray Blatche
Major ins: Kevin Garnett (Boston), Shaun Livingston (Cleveland), Paul Pierce (Boston), Mason Plumlee (Draft), Jason Terry (Boston)
Major outs: Keith Bogans (Boston), MarShon Brooks (Boston), Kris Humphries (Boston), Andrei Kirilenko (Minnesota), Gerald Wallace (Boston), C.J. Watson (Indiana), D.J. White (Waived)
Still on the market: Jerry Stackhouse
I wasn’t sold on the Nets summer until they reeled in Andrei Kirilenko at a bargain price.
Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett will add a much-needed boost of leadership and allow the Nets to get extrememly deep but Brooklyn paid a steep price to get the deal done, sacrificing three first-rounders for three vets at the end of their run. If it weren’t for an owner with deep pockets, this grade would be much lower.
Looking long-term, Brooklyn will likely be able to spend their way out of the issue they will have once the newcomers are finished although the lack of picks in the war chest will make that even more difficult.
Charlotte Bobcats
Grade: B-
Re-signed: Josh McRoberts
Major ins: Al Jefferson (Utah), Cody Zeller (Draft)
Major outs: Byron Mullens (L.A. Clippers), Tyrus Thomas (Amnestied), Reggie Williams (Houston)
Still on the market: DeSagana Diop, Gerald Henderson, Jannero Pargo
While the Bobcats still need to lock up Gerald Henderson, they appear to be a team on the rise. They had to overpay (by far) to add Big Al Jefferson up front but they finally have a proven scorer who will draw consistent double teams.
The decision to take Cody Zeller ahead of players with more potential seems curious but he should be able to contribute immediately.
Finally getting Tyrus Thomas out of town was a smart play for a team with a host of young talent.
They aren’t a playoff team yet but they may finally be on the road to respectability.
Chicago Bulls
Grade: B-
Re-signed: Nazr Mohammed
Major ins: Mike Dunleavy (Milwaukee), Tony Snell (Draft)
Major outs: Marco Belinelli (San Antonio)
Still on the market: Daequan Cook, Vladimir Radmanovic, Nate Robinson
The Bulls didn’t have much wiggle room this summer but the addition of Mike Dunleavy was solid as he and rookie Tony Snell will be asked to play perimeter defence and provide shooting on the wing.
The return of Derek Rose from injury will be the biggest acquisition anyone could have made this summer as the Bulls are set to return to contender status.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Grade: A
Major ins: Anthony Bennett (Draft), Andrew Bynum (Philadelphia), Earl Clark (Cleveland), Jarrett Jack (Golden State), Sergey Karasev (Draft)
Major outs: Omri Casspi (Houston), Wayne Ellington (Dallas), Shaun Livingston (Brooklyn)
Still on the market: Daniel Gibson, Samardo Samuels, Josh Selby, Marreese Speights, Luke Walton
Pretty hard to screw things up when you have the No. 1 overall pick and a ton of cap space to play with but crazier things have happened in the NBA and, more succinctly in Cleveland — do a Google search on the Ted Stepien era for details.
While adding Bynum and Bennett to help out their frontcourt was nice, the addition of Jarrett Jack to add some veteran leadership was a top-notch move. He wuill be a solid mentor for Kyrie Irving.
The only major hole they failed to address was on the wing, where this team is in dire need of some shooting. With the additions of Bennett and Bynum to go along with Andreson Varejao, Tristan Thompson and Tyler Zeller, they have a body to move.
Detroit Pistons
Grade: B
Re-signed: Will Bynum
Major ins: Chauncey Billups (L.A. Clippers), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Draft), Gigi Datome (Italy), Josh Smith (Detroit)
Major outs: Jose Calderon (Dallas), Jason Maxiell (Orlando)
Still on the market: Corey Maggette
It was a pretty intriguing summer for the Pistons as they had plenty of cap space to pair with a nice collection of remianing talent but the problem as always was: Joe Dumars is making the decisions in Detroit.
Kudos to the Pistons for signing one of the top-five talents on the board in Josh Smith but it has left them with more questions than answers on their roster.
Will the team go big and start Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe and Smith together? (Probably not). Is Brandon Knight the answer at point guard? (Probably not). Who will provide shooting on the outside beyond Knight to spread the floor? (To be answered.)
The easy answer would be too ship Monroe out for a point guard (Rajon Rondo, Brandon Jennings) and a shooter but Dumars has denied reports they are in any such sort of talks.
Indiana Pacers
Grade: B+
Re-signed: David West
Major ins: Solomon Hill (Draft), Donald Sloan (China), C.J. Watson (Brooklyn)
Major outs: D.J. Augustin (Toronto), Tyler Hansbrough (Toronto), Jeff Pendergraph (San Antonio)
Still on the market: Ben Hansbrough, Sam Young
Hard to fault the Pacers on their soummer plans. They acted quickly and decisively in locking up David West and adding C.J. Watson to upgrade their second unit.
If Danny Granger can get anywhere close to his old form they will be dangerous next season.
Miami Heat
Grade: D
Re-signed: Chris Andersen
Major ins: None
Major outs: Mike Miller (Amnestied)
Still on the market: Juwan Howard
It has been a pretty quiet offseason down in Miami save for the ouster of Mike Miller and re-signing the Birdman. He was just a luxury this team couldn’t afford anymore. They are still the favourites to repeat but given his penchant for showing up in the playoffs, Miller may be missed.
There is still time to add a big body this summer but they missed out on a ll of the available shooters.
Milwaukee Bucks
Grade: C-
Major ins: Giannis Adetokoubo (Draft), Carlos Delfino (Milwaukee), O.J. Mayo (Dallas), Luke Ridnour (Minnesota), Zaza Pachulia (Atlanta),
Major outs: Samuel Dalembert (Dallas), Monta Ellis (Dallas), Drew Gooden (Amnestied), J.J. Redick (Los Angeles Clippers)
Still on the market: Marquis Daniels, Brandon Jennings, Joel Przybilla
Unless the Bucks can leverage Brandon Jennings into something special, they appear to have done enough to maintain the status quo which isn’t a great place to be. Good enough to contend for a plyoff spot but not good enough to contend for a title.
Losing Monta Ellis and JJ Redick is really not a big deal but replacing them with Carlos Delfino and O.J. Mayo does not represent an upgrade either.
New York Knicks
Grade: C+
Re-signed: J.R. Smith, Pablo Prigioni
Major ins: Andrea Bargnani (Toronto), Tim Hardaway Jr (Draft), Metta World Peace (L.A. Lakers)
Major outs: Marcus Camby (Toronto), Jason Kidd (Retired), Steve Novak (Toronto), Quentin Richardson (Toronto),
Still on the market: Earl Barron, Kenyon Martin
People are quick to kill the Knicks for taking on Andrea Bargnani but if he can rediscover his shooting form he actual could be a nice fit on a frontline with Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler. He made some noises about rebounding during his introductory press conference but seeing is believing.
They still need some help in the backcourt behind Ray Felton but this team has gotten slightly younger than they were a year ago, which isn’t saying much as they were the oldest NBA team in history which punished them at playoff time.
Orlando Magic
Grade: D
Major ins: Victor Oladipo (Draft), Jason Maxiell (Detroit), Ronnie Price (Portland)
Major outs: None
Still on the market: DeQuan Jones, Beno Udrih, Hakim Warrick
Having trouble getting excited by the addition of Ronnie Price? Me too.
That said, the Magic are slowly rebuilding and have a few pieces in which to acco0mplish that. They will try Oladipo at point guard but he is likely too find a home at the two.
Look for the Magic to add another piece to build around at next year’s draft before they attempt to take any serious steps forward.
Philadelphia 76ers
Grade: C
Major ins: Michael Carter-Williams (Draft), Nerlens Noel (Draft)
Major outs: Andrew Bynum (Cleveland), Jrue Holliday (New Orleans), Dorell Wright (Portland), Nick Young (Los Angeles Lakers)
Still on the market: Royal Ivey, Charles Jenkins, Damien Wilkin
If you are excited by watching the worst team in basketball next season you are welcome to visit Philadelphia.
Sure they made their lives easier by adding an extra pick by dealing Jrue Holiday but he was a top-10 point guard on a reasonable salary as well. New-school NBA analysts nodded their heads in approval at the deal but Philly fans will have to wait a few years before it pays off. Even Charlotte looks better on paper and that’s saying something.
Toronto Raptors
Grade: B-
Major ins: D.J. Augustin (Toronto), Dwight Buycks (France), Tyler Hansbrough (Indiana), Steve Novak (New York), Quentin Richardson (New York),
Major outs: Andrea Bargnani (New York), Linas Kleiza (Amnestied), John Lucas (Utah)
Still on the market: Alan Anderson, Mickael Pietrus, Sebastian Telfair
We almost want to give the Raptors an incomplete grade here as they dumped two bodies (Andrea Bargnani, Linas Kleiza) but you still feel as though there will be another major move to make before we see something close too a finished product.
Adding Hansbrough was a nice play as it gave them a reliable backup power forward. Novak also fills a need as the Raptors were sorely lacking some outside shooting as well.
The Pacers bench was atrocious last season and with Augustin and Hansbrough coming on board it is hard to see how the Raptors second unit will not have issues scoring. I was prepared to give the Raps a much higher grade until the Augustin news leaked.
Washington Wizards
Grade: C
Re-signed: Garrett Temple, Martell Webster
Major ins: Eric Maynor (Portland), Otto Porter (Draft)
Major outs: None
Still on the market: Leandro Barbosa, Jason Collins, Cartier Martin, A.J. Price
The Wizards picked up an underrated piece by grabbing Otto Porter from Georgetown. He will be a nice fit with John Wall and Bradley Beal as Washington builds toward the future.
They held onto Martell Webster and added an upgrade behind John Wall in signing Eric Maynor to replace A.J. Price.
This team’s fate will rest on whether Ball and Beal can remain healthy or not as they have been pretty quiet this summer.
