Mobile Menu
HEADLINES

Offseason Preview

Offseason Outlook: Minnesota Timberwolves

May 15th, 2012 at 10:08am CST by Luke Adams

Guaranteed Contracts

Options

  • None

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Free Agents (Cap Holds)

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (18th overall)
  • 2nd Round (58th overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary: $48,610,707
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary, Cap Holds: $31,835,772
  • Total (not including draft picks): $80,446,479

On the surface, the Timberwolves' 26-40 record suggests the 2011/12 campaign wasn't an overwhelming success. However, there were many encouraging signs for T-Wolves fans to take away from the season. The .394 winning percentage was actually Minnesota's best since 2005/06, and prior to Ricky Rubio's season-ending injury, the team was playing even better basketball, on the verge of contending for a playoff spot.

Rubio and Kevin Love are locked up for at least another three years, so now it's a matter of finding a supporting cast to surround the Timberwolves' two young stars. Having traded their lottery pick away, the Wolves aren't in position to add another young star to their core, but with some potential cap space and trade assets, the team has a few options heading into the summer.

The T-Wolves have a pair of players coming off rookie contracts in Michael Beasley and Anthony Randolph, and will need to submit qualifying offers of $8.17MM and $4.05MM, respectively, to make them restricted free agents. I have my doubts about the team re-signing either player, so perhaps those qualifying offers won't even be made, though that's just my speculation. Either way, the club's decisions on Beasley and Randolph are crucial — with the qualifying offers or cap holds on the books for those guys, Minnesota won't be in position to make use of cap space, and will be limited to the $5MM mid-level exception when pursuing free agents.

The pursuit of free agents will be important for the Wolves, since it seems like their best chance at acquiring a shooting guard, which has been the team's most glaring hole in recent years. This year's free agent class is strong, with Ray Allen, Nick Young, Jamal Crawford, Jason Terry, and Leandro Barbosa among the players expected to be unrestricted FAs. For a couple of those guys, the mid-level exception should be enough, but if the T-Wolves want to make a strong play for someone like Allen or Terry, they could renounce their free agents and gain about $8MM in cap room.

While free agency is one avenue the T-Wolves will explore, the draft won't necessarily be a lost cause. Though they don't have their own pick, the Wolves acquired Utah's first-rounder, which will be 18th overall. Given this year's deep draft class, there should be some fairly appealing shooting guards or small forwards available for the Wolves at that spot — perhaps Terrence Ross, Dion Waiters, Moe Harkless, or Quincy Miller.

If the T-Wolves feel like they're close enough to contention that they prefer to bring in veteran talent rather than continuing to develop young players, a trade could be the best route. Besides their first-round pick, the Wolves also have a couple trade chips in Luke Ridnour and last year's lottery pick, Derrick Williams. I expect the team to keep Ridnour around at least until Rubio proves he's 100% healthy, and Williams' value isn't at its peak at the moment. But both players are assets the Wolves could use to fill other holes on their roster, if they can find the right deal.

At first glance, the Timberwolves' guaranteed commitments for 2012/13 – 10 players and $48MM+ – suggest there won't be much roster turnover this offseason, but Minnesota is definitely in position to make a few moves. I'm guessing the club won't find a trade offer it likes for Williams, and will look to the free agent market for a backcourt upgrade. A scenario in which the team re-signs Beasley, signs Crawford using its mid-level exception, and drafts a prospect like Miller or Ross isn't out of the question, and would make the T-Wolves a team to watch in 2012/13.

Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Offseason Outlook: Detroit Pistons

May 14th, 2012 at 1:29pm CST by Luke Adams

Guaranteed Contracts

Options

Non-Guaranteed Contracts 

  • None

Free Agents (Cap Holds)

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (Pending lottery; 1.7% chance at first overall pick)
  • 2nd Round (39th overall)
  • 2nd Round (44th overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary (including options): $63,398,209
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary, Cap Holds: $6,142,550
  • Total (not including draft picks): $69,540,759

On February 1st, the Pistons were a 4-20 team, a mere half-game ahead of the lowly Bobcats and seemingly headed for a high lottery pick. The squad that played .500 ball (21-21) over the rest of the season is closer to what GM Joe Dumars and the front office expects to see from the Pistons in 2012/13.

With nine players on guaranteed deals, and Jason Maxiell a decent bet to pick up his $5MM player option and return, the Pistons' roster for next season figures to look similar to 2011/12's team. And if the Pistons of the second half show up, a mostly-unchanged roster isn't necessarily a bad thing. Young players like Brandon Knight and Greg Monroe continue to develop into strong NBA regulars, and the Pistons figure to add another lottery pick to the roster this summer.

Even with a free agent splash unlikely, the Pistons will face decisions on whether to be active on the trade market or use their amnesty provision. Dumars figures to explore every possible trade avenue, with Rodney Stuckey, Jonas Jerebko, Will Bynum, and Austin Daye among the players that could be discussed. Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva won't have trade value, but are candidates to be amnestied if the Pistons want to clear some cap room.

Of course, teams generally only make use of the amnesty provision for extremely unpalatable contracts or if they need to clear room to make another move. With Richard Hamilton's buyout still on their books, Maxiell potentially opting in, and a ninth overall pick adding another $2MM or so to the payroll, the Pistons' 2012/13 salary will likely exceed $65MM even before the team fills out its last few roster spots. Amnestying Gordon or Villanueva wouldn't create the necessary cap space to affect the team's free agent plans, so I wouldn't expect either player to be released unless Detroit is worried about hitting the luxury tax threshold.

All but assured a top-ten draft pick, the Pistons are in a good position to add size in June. Power forward is the draft's deepest position and the Pistons' greatest need. Even if Detroit stays put in the lottery and picks ninth, intriguing big men like Perry Jones III, Terrence Jones, Jared Sullinger, Tyler Zeller, and John Henson could be available. While Dumars has indicated the team may just select the best available player, there's a good chance that player could be a big man anyway.

With limited cap flexibility, the Pistons won't be a player for major free agents this summer, but they have enough trade assets to still have an eventful offseason. Expecting a playoff berth for Detroit next season may be a little too optimistic, unless the team can find a significant upgrade in the draft or on the trade market. But the squad that started 2011/12 by losing 20 of 24 games should be a distant memory when next season gets underway.

Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Offseason Outlook: Toronto Raptors

May 11th, 2012 at 1:53pm CST by Luke Adams

Guaranteed Contracts

Options

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Free Agents (Cap Holds)

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (Pending lottery; 3.5% chance at first overall pick)
  • 2nd Round (37th overall)
  • 2nd Round (56th overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary: $43,887,478
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary, Cap Holds: $30,271,632
  • Total (not including draft picks): $74,159,110

While most teams head into the offseason not entirely sure whether or not they'll land an impact player, the Raptors are assured of adding at least one such player to their rotation. Last year's fifth overall pick Jonas Valanciunas is expected to arrive in North America for the 2012/13 season, and he could be just the first of many interesting new faces in Toronto.

Even after adding Valanciunas to their books, the Raptors have an enviable cap situation. With just under $44MM in guaranteed salary committed to nine players, the Raps are in good position to renounce their cap holds and gain some cap space this summer. Although the team missed out on a potential offseason target when Wilson Chandler signed a long-term extension with the Nuggets, there are still a number of free agents that could interest Toronto, including Andrei Kirilenko and new Team Canada GM Steve Nash.

With Valanciunas, Andrea Bargnani, and DeMar DeRozan expected to be building blocks for the franchise going forward, the Raptors will be seeking a long-term solution at point guard and small forward. Jose Calderon ($10.56MM) and James Johnson ($2.81MM) are the incumbents, but both players will face free agency after next season. Johnson is certainly a player worth keeping around, but he may be better served coming off the bench, making Kirilenko an intriguing possibility for the starting lineup.

Calderon, meanwhile, was efficient on the offensive end, but isn't strong defensively. Even at age 38, Nash is the superior player, albeit with a similar skill set. Taking into account the appeal a Canadian star could have in Toronto, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Raptors make Nash a competitive multiyear offer. However, if the two-time MVP's top priority is a championship ring, he may turn down the Raps' money for a chance to win elsewhere.

With Calderon under contract for next season, the Raptors may not pursue a non-Nash point guard in free agency, though it's an area they could target in the draft. Given this year's underwhelming class of point guards, the Raps would likely have their pick of the litter at eighth overall, and could nab Weber State's Damian Lillard. The club could also use its lottery pick on a scorer like Austin Rivers or Dion Waiters to replace Jerryd Bayless if the combo guard departs in free agency.

If the cap space, lottery pick, and new arrival from overseas weren't enough, the Raptors also have a handful of interesting trade chips at their disposal. Ed Davis could be expendable in a frontcourt that includes Valanciunas, Bargnani, and Amir Johnson, and his affordable contract should draw plenty of interest. If they want to get adventurous, the Raptors could even explore trades for Bargnani, though I doubt they'd go in that direction unless they repeated Cleveland's 2011 feat — landing the first overall pick with the eighth-best odds. Pairing Valanciunas with Anthony Davis would give the team a tremendous foundation and would provide the opportunity to shop Bargnani for wing or backcourt help.

General manager Bryan Colangelo and other members of the Raptors have strongly suggested the team expects to contend for the playoffs next season. Considering the progress made under coach Dwane Casey in his first year in Toronto, it's not an unrealistic goal. Adding Valanciunas this summer is a near certainty, but the club's postseason chances may depend on the rest of its offseason moves. Armed with a lottery pick, trade chips, and cap room, the Raps have a great opportunity to take a big step forward.

Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Offseason Outlook: Golden State Warriors

May 10th, 2012 at 2:46pm CST by Luke Adams

Guaranteed Contracts

Options

  • None

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Free Agents (Cap Holds)

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (Top-seven protected; pending lottery; 3.6% chance at first overall pick; 72.5% chance of keeping pick)
  • 1st Round (30th overall)
  • 2nd Round (35th overall)
  • 2nd Round (52nd overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary (including likely options): $55,957,097
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary, Cap Holds: $12,416,397
  • Total (not including draft picks): $68,373,494

The Warriors' offseason didn't technically begin until after the team played its final regular season game on April 26th, but unofficially it was well underway by that point. With the Warriors out of playoff contention, the offseason was underway when the club promoted Bob Myers to general manager earlier in April, and it was even underway when the team completed a blockbuster deal in March, swapping Monta Ellis for Andrew Bogut in a five-player trade.

Because Golden State got an early headstart on the offseason, the summer itself doesn't figure to be all that eventful. The Warriors will be looking forward to seeing how a healthy Bogut plays with the current nucleus, so they won't be shaking up the roster with any sort of major trades. The amnesty clause was used last December (Charlie Bell, anyone?), and with nearly $56MM in guaranteed contracts on the books, Golden State doesn't exactly have much cap flexibility.

The Warriors will have a few assets in play as they head into the summer. They hold four draft picks, though there's about a one-in-four chance their lottery selection will head to Utah if the ping-pong balls are unkind later this month. The team will also have the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to spend in free agency.

With Bogut, David Lee, Klay Thompson, and Stephen Curry penciled in as four of the club's five starters, the small forward position represents the biggest hole on the roster. Richard Jefferson and Dorell Wright can play the position, but probably shouldn't be relied upon for heavy minutes, so the Warriors figure to target the three-spot in the draft or free agency.

If Golden State keeps its top-seven-protected pick in the draft, the team should be targeting Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Harrison Barnes. Those two players are easily the top small forwards in this year's draft class, and either would be a terrific addition for the Warriors. If neither player is on the board when the Warriors draft at #7, perhaps Golden State could consider trading the pick, along with a contract or two, to obtain a veteran small forward.

While free agency is another route the team could go in its search for a small forward, the pickings will be slim. Gerald Green, Carlos Delfino, Boris Diaw, and Steve Novak are among the uninspiring names that highlight the list of threes available in unrestricted free agency. Nicolas Batum headlines the restricted free agents, but will command a larger contract than the Warriors can afford.

Perhaps the most intriguing candidates for the Warriors are Lamar Odom and Landry Fields. Odom is expected to be waived by the Mavericks, making him a free agent, and while there's no guarantee he'd be interested in Golden State, his value has dropped enough this season that the $5MM mid-level could be enough to land him. Fields, meanwhile, is a restricted free agent and will likely be re-signed by the Knicks, but a competitive mid-level type offer would make it tough on New York, who also want to re-sign Jeremy Lin and have major money committed to Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, and Tyson Chandler.

2012/13 will be an important season for the Warriors, as they determine whether a squad led by Bogut can contend in the West, and decide whether to extend Curry's contract, which will expire in 2013. The team likely won't be too active this summer, simply looking to land a small forward and filling out the rest of its roster with rookies and veterans on minimum salaries. Those decisions aren't insignficant, but the team's major acquisition of 2012 (Bogut) has already been made.

Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Offseason Outlook: Brooklyn Nets

May 8th, 2012 at 4:47pm CST by Luke Adams

Guaranteed Contracts

Options

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Free Agents (Cap Holds)

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (Top-three protected; pending lottery; 7.5% chance at first overall pick; 25.3% chance of keeping pick)
  • 2nd Round (57th overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary (including likely options): $13,672,235
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary, Cap Holds: $53,595,203+
  • Total (not including draft picks): $67,267,438+

The Nets will begin their first season in Brooklyn this fall, but it's not yet clear which players will be wearing those black-and-white uniforms when the team takes the floor. The Nets have only four players under contract, for less than $10MM in total guaranteed salary. Even if Jordan Farmar exercises his player option as expected, the team's guaranteed contracts amount to just $13.67MM.

Even with the opportunity to gain an incredible amount of cap space, the Nets don't plan to be overly active in signing other teams' free agents until they figure out where they stand with their own. Deron Williams sits atop not only Brooklyn's wishlist, but the list of any team with cap space this summer — and even some without it. With Dwight Howard locked into his contract for another year and Williams expected to opt out to explore free agency, the point guard is the clear-cut top free agent available.

It's impossible to say yet whether Williams, or the team's other big-name free agents like Gerald Wallace and Brook Lopez, will end up re-signing with the Nets, but let's assume all three players are interested in returning. What might it cost the Nets to lock up their core players, and how much money would they have left over to spend on outside help?

As I outlined earlier today, a max offer for Williams would have a first-year salary of $17.18MM. Let's say Wallace agreed to a multiyear deal that started at about $8-9MM and that the Nets were forced to match an offer sheet for Lopez at around the same price. That would put the price tag for those three players at somewhere in the neighborhood of $35MM for 2012/13. Renouncing all of their non-Gerald Green free agents and taking into account minimum cap holds for empty roster spots would put the Nets' team salary at about $51MM — $7MM+ below the cap.

Of course, to take advantage of that $7MM+ in cap room, the Nets would have to renounce their bi-annual exception, traded player exceptions, and full mid-level exception. It would probably only make sense to do so if there's a desirable free agent out there who will choose the Nets' $7MM over another team's $5MM mid-level. Would $7MM be enough to land a big-name power forward like Kevin Garnett or Ersan Ilyasova? Maybe, but I doubt it. It makes more sense to attempt to re-sign Kris Humphries by taking advantage of his Bird rights, allowing the team to hang onto those cap exceptions.

There are a lot of moving parts involved in the Nets' offseason. I haven't even mentioned the team's first-round pick, which it has about a 25% chance of keeping. Lucking into Anthony Davis would sure provide a massive boost to the franchise as it moves to Brooklyn, but it's an extreme long shot.

It appears the Nets' likely best-case scenario involves re-signing its major free agents, and heading into Brooklyn led by Williams, Wallace, Lopez, Brooks, Morrow, Green, and perhaps a second-tier free agent or two. Would that nucleus be enough to contend in the East? The Nets would certainly need to stay healthier than they did in 2011/12, and even then, they don't match up favorably with rosters like Miami's and Chicago's.

Brooklyn's new team faces an uphill battle this summer, its offseason hinging on Williams' final decision and some good fortune. The best-case scenario could lead to a promising squad that makes a strong first impression in its new home. But if the Nets don't luck out in the lottery and Williams bolts for greener pastures, things could get ugly in Brooklyn in a hurry.

Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Offseason Outlook: Sacramento Kings

May 7th, 2012 at 5:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Guaranteed Contracts

Options

  • None

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Free Agents (Cap Holds)

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (Pending lottery; 7.6% chance at first overall pick)
  • 2nd Round (36th overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary (including likely options): $42,475,790
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary, Cap Holds: $14,379,699
  • Total (not including draft picks): $56,855,489

It was an ugly season for Sacramento both on the court, where the team only managed 22 wins, and off the court, where a handshake agreement on a new arena gradually fell apart. The Kings will play the 2012/13 season in Sacramento, but the franchise's long-term future is very much up in the air.

For all the uncertainty surrounding the Kings' arena, the roster itself appears unlikely to be overhauled significantly this summer. Of Sacramento's current 14 players, nine have guaranteed contracts for next year, two are on non-guaranteed deals, and three are restricted free agents — if they chose to, the Kings could bring all 14 players back, along with their lottery pick.

Of course, after finishing with the league's fifth-worst record, it's more likely that the Kings make at least a few small changes. Isaiah Thomas will certainly have his deal guaranteed, and Jason Thompson and Terrence Williams seem like decent bets to re-sign with the club, but it wouldn't be surprising if the team parted ways with Donte Greene and Hassan Whiteside.

Even if they re-sign Thompson and Williams and lock up their lottery pick, the Kings would have a little room to bring aboard a free agent or two. However, given the on- and off-court situation in Sacramento, the team will likely have to overpay to bring aboard a decent player. When the Kings had cap room last summer, Chuck Hayes and Travis Outlaw were their major additions, and now represent two of their most undesirable contracts.

Sacramento's best chance to make a splash this summer involves two of its wing scorers, John Salmons and Tyreke Evans. Salmons is the only real amnesty candidate on the roster, since only pre-lockout contracts are eligible under the provision. After coming over from Milwaukee, Salmons had a tremendously disappointing 2011/12 campaign, hampered by injuries and averaging just 7.5 points per game. He's under contract for nearly $16MM over the next two seasons, and has a partially-guaranteed year for 2014/15. If the Kings are able to draft a player like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Bradley Beal to replace him, it could make sense to amnesty Salmons, their highest-paid player.

Evans, meanwhile, is entering the final season of his rookie contract and will be eligible for a contract extension, but a trade seems at least as likely as an extension. Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee suggested recently that the Kings would "entertain offers" for Evans this summer, and it would definitely make some sense to deal him and move forward by building around DeMarcus Cousins, Marcus Thornton, and this year's first-round pick.

With free agents unlikely to sign in Sacramento and the team's owners unlikely to spend big on outside talent anyway, the Kings' best chance at improving their roster will come via trades and the draft. If Sacramento can find a reasonable offer for Evans and make it through the lottery with a top-five pick, that could be enough to consider the offseason a success.

Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Offseason Outlook: New Orleans Hornets

May 4th, 2012 at 3:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Guaranteed Contracts

Options

  • None

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Free Agents (Cap Holds)

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (Pending lottery; 13.7% chance at first overall pick)
  • 1st Round (Pending lottery; 1.1% chance at first overall pick)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary (including likely options): $35,261,200
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary, Cap Holds: $59,363,489
  • Total (not including draft picks): $94,624,689

The best news for Hornets fans this year came in the form of an April announcement that New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson would be purchasing the city's NBA franchise. As the team heads into the offseason, GM Dell Demps and his staff can make draft preparations, talk trades, and pursue free agents without worrying that NBA commissioner David Stern might decide a move isn't in the organization's best interest. With Benson in place as the owner, making the club look attractive to potential bidders is no longer a concern.

Of course, making the club look attractive to fans is still the long-term goal — Demps and Benson will be looking to build a perennial contender worthy of the new owner's investment, and this offseason represents a important step in that process. The three crucial decisions for the Hornets this summer figure to revolve around the draft, Eric Gordon, and Emeka Okafor.

With two lottery picks in a deep draft, the Hornets are well-positioned to land a pair of talented young players next month. Jumping into the top three would be a bonus, but even at #4 and #10, they could end up doing very well. ESPN.com's David Thorpe recently identified Andre Drummond and John Henson as the two perfect fits for the Hornets' respective picks, and I can't argue with him, especially on Drummond. More than any other team in the lottery, New Orleans is in a good spot to roll the dice on the UConn big man, who's a high-risk choice. The Hornets aren't close to contending, so it makes sense to go for a player with star upside rather than merely a solid contributor, particularly with a second lottery pick to fall back on.

The Hornets will also face a number of free agent decisions, as Gordon, Chris Kaman, Carl Landry, and Marco Belinelli all represent sizable cap holds. Of those players, Gordon is the top priority by far, as the centerpiece of the deal that sent Chris Paul to Los Angeles. Even with questions surrounding Gordon's health and uncertainty about how new ownership values him, I can't imagine the Hornets letting the restricted free agent sign elsewhere. I expect the 23-year-old to sign a long-term deal to remain in New Orleans, even if the club has to slightly overpay to do it.

Assuming they sign Gordon, bring back Ayon, and add a pair of first-round picks, the Hornets won't have much cap room left to pursue free agents. That might not be an issue for a team that isn't exactly a veteran or two from contention and may not feel any pressure to be aggressive on the free agent market. There's a good chance a few small signings using the mid-level or minimum-salary exceptions will be the extent of the Hornets' free agent activity.

If the Hornets do want to clear cap space this summer, there's one obvious way to do it: amnesty Emeka Okafor. Okafor is owed $28MM+ over two more years, and had a disappointing 2011/12 campaign, missing over half the season with injuries while his PPG and RPG averages declined. Still, I'm not sure amnestying him is necessary. With no pressing need for the cap space and a chance to still trade Okafor for something of use, the Hornets would be better off pocketing their amnesty clause for another year, perhaps using it on the center next summer if they have to.

Unlike two of the teams ahead of them in the lottery, the Hornets don't have a John Wall or Kyrie Irving-type star to anchor their roster, but there's some reason to believe they have an outside chance at landing that player in the draft, or, in the case of Gordon, locking him up via free agency. It's unlikely that the Hornets can make the necessary moves to become a playoff contender next season, but drafting well and re-signing Gordon would at least give the team a solid nucleus to build around for the next four or five years.

Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Offseason Outlook: Cleveland Cavaliers

May 2nd, 2012 at 12:25pm CST by Luke Adams

Guaranteed Contracts

Options

  • None

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Free Agents (Cap Holds)

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (Pending lottery; 13.8% chance at first overall pick)
  • 1st Round (24th overall)
  • 2nd Round (33rd overall)
  • 2nd Round (34th overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary: $28,495,747
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary, Cap Holds: $32,653,408
  • Total (not including draft picks): $61,149,155

For the first few weeks of this season, the Cavaliers were playing well enough to be part of the Eastern Conference playoff conversation, led by first overall pick Kyrie Irving and veteran big men Antawn Jamison and Anderson Varejao. However, Irving and Varejao suffered injuries and the Cavs eventually finished the season by losing 27 of their final 35 games.

Although the team tied for the NBA's third-worst record, it wasn't a lost year in Cleveland. The Cavs appear to have landed a future All-Star in Irving, and Tristan Thompson showed flashes of the promise that made him a top-five draft pick in 2011. Cleveland also landed a first-round pick in exchange for free-agent-to-be Ramon Sessions, and now head into June armed with a pair of first-rounders in a deep draft.

Assuming the Cavaliers don't land the first overall pick, they seem like a good bet to draft a player like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Harrison Barnes, or Bradley Beal. Adding one of those guys to a core that includes Irving, Thompson, Varejao, and maybe restricted free agent Alonzo Gee would bode well for the team's long-term prospects.

If Cleveland hopes to contend for the postseason in the short term though, the club will need to replace Jamison's production, since the veteran forward has indicated that he won't re-sign. Jamison may have been overpaid at $15MM+, but he also averaged more than 17 points per game for the Cavs, scoring that won't be easy to find elsewhere.

The good news? Renouncing Jamison will immediately remove an $18MM+ cap hold off Cleveland's books, giving the team room to pursue free agents. The Cavaliers won't be players for the top free agents on the market, but kicking the tires on guys like O.J. Mayo, Leandro Barbosa, Nicolas Batum, and Ryan Anderson could pay off.

The Cavs have a lot of options when it comes to filling out their roster for 2012/13. I expect them to use at least a couple of their draft picks, and to bring back some of their own low-cost free agents or players on non-guaranteed deals. Even so, they should have room to take advantage of their cap space to bring in a free agent or two.

Heading into this offseason, Irving, Thompson, and Varejao are the only Cavs under contract past 2012/13, so the team is in great shape when it comes to cap flexibility. With another lottery pick on the way, the team shouldn't feel any pressure to deal Varejao to get even younger. If the team explores a trade, I think it would involve moving one or two of their draft picks for a veteran.

With the LeBron James era a little further in the rear-view mirror, the Cavaliers seem to be rebuilding the right way. A few smart moves this summer and some better luck with injuries could make Cleveland a playoff contender again as soon as next season.

Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Offseason Outlook: Washington Wizards

May 1st, 2012 at 3:16pm CST by Luke Adams

Guaranteed Contracts

Options

  • None

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Free Agents (Cap Holds)

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (Pending lottery; 19.9% chance at first overall pick)
  • 2nd Round (32nd overall)
  • 2nd Round (46th overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary: $48,870,253
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary, Cap Holds: $14,445,602
  • Total (not including draft picks): $63,315,855

2011/12 was a tale of two seasons for the Washington Wizards, who took an ugly 9-33 record into the trade deadline. On March 15th, the Wizards traded away two veterans in JaVale McGee and Nick Young; a few days later the team shut down Andray Blatche for the remainder of the season. Washington went on to post an 11-13 post-deadline record, including a 7-4 mark in games that new Wizard Nene played.

While calling the Wizards a .500 team going forward may be a little optimistic, there are certainly reasons to be optimistic. The arrival of Nene seemed to have a positive impact on the team both on and off the court, and the disappointing and out-of-shape Blatche may have played his last game as a Wizard. And while Washington hasn't quite reached the end of Rashard Lewis' bloated contract, the team has the option of riding it out for one more season or buying him out and saving $9MM.

Besides Nene, Blatche, and Lewis, every Wizards player with a guaranteed contract next season is still on his rookie contract. John Wall, Kevin Seraphin, Jordan Crawford, and Trevor Booker are entering their third years, while Jan Vesely and Chris Singleton will be second-year players. The Wizards are a young team and figure to get a little younger in June, with three draft picks, including a top-five selection.

The primary goal of 2012/13 for the Wizards should be figuring out which of those young players are long-term core pieces and which are expendable. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean the kids should get all the playing time — I think Washington's young core would benefit from some veteran leadership, and a healthy Nene is a good start. But the Wizards' focus this summer should be on continuing to surround their young talent with the right kind of veteran presence. That means deciding whether to bring back Blatche or Lewis, or to simply cut their losses.

There's not much chance the Wizards find a trade they like for Blatche, so the amnesty clause seems like the obvious solution to wipe the remaining three years on his contract off the books. Lewis represents a trickier case, since he'll count for nearly $14MM against the cap whether or not he's on the team, but I think it makes sense to let him go. If he's a Wizard next season, Lewis will likely just be playing out the string, looking ahead to eventually joining a contender. Adding a veteran free agent that genuinely wants to be in Washington will have a more positive effect on Wall and the young core — it's just a matter of finding a veteran willing to choose a team coming off a 20-46 season.

March's blockbuster Nene trade was the Wizards' first step in shedding the team's old reputation and building a new-look roster. Parting ways with Blatche and Lewis this summer should be the second step. Washington also has a one-in-five chance of landing Anthony Davis to really fast-track the rebuilding process, but even if the draft lottery isn't kind to them, the Wizards are on the right track with Wall, Nene, and a young nucleus of players that won't get too expensive for a few more years.

Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Offseason Outlook: Charlotte Bobcats

April 30th, 2012 at 11:13am CST by Luke Adams

Guaranteed Contracts

Options

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Free Agents (Cap Holds)

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (Pending lottery; 25% chance at first overall pick)
  • 2nd Round (31st overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary (including likely options): $43,149,547
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary, Cap Holds: $26,786,055
  • Total (not including draft picks): $69,935,602

To say that the 2011/12 season was a horror show for the Charlotte Bobcats would be putting it lightly. Needing only one win in its final 23 games to avoid setting an NBA record for futility, the team lost 23 straight to finish the season with the league's worst-ever winning percentage (.106, 7-59).

While the Bobcats may have been better off had the lockout simply wiped out the season, you have to think the worst is behind them. Things can only get better from here. Right?

Heading into 2012/13, the Bobcats still have a number of undesirable contracts on their books, but many of them will expire at the end of next season. Assuming DeSagana Diop and Matt Carroll opt in for 2012/13, their contracts, along with Corey Maggette's and a few others, will be in their final year. The team's remaining bad contract, Tyrus Thomas', runs through 2014/15, but Charlotte will have the option of using its amnesty clause to wipe out the remaining three years and $26MM+ owed to the underachieving big man.

With some room to work with next season and increasing cap flexibility in the long-term, the Bobcats will have the means to match any offers for restricted free agent D.J. Augustin. However, considering the promising rookie season from Kemba Walker, who posted a 14.9 PER compared to Augustin's 14.1 mark, Charlotte shouldn't feel obligated to overpay for Augustin if a team signs him to a huge offer sheet.

The Bobcats will also have a top-four pick to add to its core of Walker and Bismack Biyombo, and while Anthony Davis is far and away their prospect of choice, losing the lottery and ending up with a consolation prize like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Thomas Robinson wouldn't be the end of the world. Still, a frontcourt of Davis and Biyombo is one worth salivating over, and would give Charlotte the young potential star it badly needs.

While the Bobcats will head into 2012/13 wanting to put the embarrassment of this season behind them, it's hard to imagine a huge roster overhaul happening quite yet. Charlotte won't exactly be a top destination for free agents, so even though the Bobcats could use help at a number of positions, including on the wing, it's hard to imagine them luring free agent help.

Based on their current salaries and cap holds, the Bobcats figure to be an over-the-cap team for one more season, meaning their only hope of attracting a major free agent is the mid-level exception. Amnestying Thomas and renouncing some cap holds could create a little room to spend, but I don't think that would necessarily help the team in the long-term.

Making a splash in free agency this summer probably isn't the best plan of action for the Bobcats anyway. While no one in Charlotte wants a repeat of the historically bad 2011/12, attempting to move forward by making drastic changes is more likely to set back the rebuilding effort than to advance it. With a handful of bad contracts entering their final year, Charlotte simply needs to stay the course, adding another young player to its core and preparing for the summer of 2013, when the team figures to have another lottery pick and a ton of cap space.

Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0