We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.
Who will the Cavaliers go after on the buyout market? — MrNutt34
With Kevin Love injured and Channing Frye traded to the Lakers, Cleveland could use a big man who can shoot from the outside. Among the rumored buyout candidates, the one who best fits that profile is Ersan Ilyasova of the Hawks. The 30-year-old is averaging 10.9 points per game and shooting .359 from 3-point range this season. He has previous playoff experience with Milwaukee and Atlanta and would help the Cavaliers spread the floor. Marreese Speights could be another candidate with a similar skill set if the Magic decide to part with him. Cleveland still has two roster spots open, so expect the Cavs to be among the league’s most active teams when the buyouts resume.
What the heck are the Magic trying to do because it doesn’t look like they are trying to win or get better? Let me be GM. — Donald Raby, via Twitter
It may be hard to accept after so many years of losing, but the Magic are in another transition phase. New GM John Hammond and team president Jeff Weltman took this season to evaluate a roster they inherited from the previous regime. Trading Elfrid Payton to Phoenix last week was the first major move, but more are sure to follow. Aaron Gordon‘s free agency is the next step, with Orlando likely to match any offer. The Magic have a lot of contracts that expire after next season and may have another high lottery pick in June, so don’t be surprised to see them attempt an extreme roster makeover this summer.
Do you think the twin tower version of Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin will make the Pistons a championship contender in the East? — Greg Dizon
The early returns were promising as Detroit won its first four games with Griffin in the lineup, but the team has cooled off, dropping three of four. A good parallel for the Griffin-Drummond partnership would be the Pelicans after acquiring DeMarcus Cousins a year ago to team with Anthony Davis. Expectations were that New Orleans would turn into a playoff team, but it takes time for two big men to figure out how to co-exist. The Pelicans’ duo was much better after working together through the offseason, and that should be true in Detroit as well. The Pistons have too many other needs to be an immediate title contender, but if they both avoid injury, Griffin and Drummond provide a strong foundation to build around.
Speights and Ilyasova rank 20 & 21 in PF +/-. Anthony Tolliver is 23rd and Detroit just got Ennis.