We Know What They Did This Summer
The Cavaliers emergence and the overall rise of the Eastern Conference has forced some young squads to accelerate the growth process and some older clubs to cut some excess fat.
In a relatively slow off-season, here are some teams in the East that have done everything from major renovations to minor tweaking in order to keep up with the Joneses. (Or the Jameses, depending on which Division you're in.)
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MILWAUKEE BUCKS
The Central Division is arguably the best in all of basketball, with each of the five teams qualifying for the postseason in 2006. The Bucks finished fifth in the Central and, because of the Division’s overall strength, might wind up there again. But that doesn’t mean that they haven’t made a major leap forward. They have.
The emergence of Mo Williams last season made diminutive point guard, T.J. Ford, expendable. That allowed the Bucks to get bigger and tougher in the frontcourt. Milwaukee GM Larry Harris pulled the trigger earlier this summer on a deal that brought last year’s Rookie of the Year runner-up, Charlie Villanueva, from Toronto in exchange for Ford. The move helps both clubs, but now the Bucks have a frontcourt that features Villanueva, Bobby Simmons and Andrew Bogut.
But the move that affects the Cavaliers more is the acquisition of Cleveland native, Ruben Patterson. He’s lost a step or two from his “Kobe-Stopper” days back in Portland, but the 6-5 swingman still manages to give LeBron James a harder time than most. An entire game of LBJ being hounded by Patterson and Simmons could take its toll on James.
PLAYERS ADDED
NBA Draft: David Noel (No. 39), Damir Markota (59)
Free Agents: Lynn Greer (Italy)
Trades: Steve Blake (Portland), Ha Seung-Jin (Portland), Brian Skinner (Portland), Charlie Villanueva (Toronto), Ruben Patterson (Denver)
PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: Jiri Welsch (Europe)
Trades: T.J. Ford (Toronto), Jamaal Magliore (Portland), Joe Smith (Denver)
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INDIANA PACERS
For the second straight year, based on pre-season predictions, the Pacers had a disappointing end to their season. They put up a good fight against the Nets in the postseason, but again it was a Ron Artest fiasco that cost them a run at the title.
Well after last year’s ouster, the Pacers threw the baby out with the bathwater. Peja Stojakovic, Fred Jones and Scot Pollard left via free agency. Austin Croshere and last year’s playoff hero, Anthony Johnson, got shipped to the Big D for Marquis Daniels.
But what the Pacers did do was solidify their frontcourt in a major way with the shrewd acquisition of Al Harrington from the Atlanta Hawks. Harrington will do battle with the Cavaliers three-headed monster at power forward and will match up with LeBron as well.
Indy also picked athletic forward, Shawne Williams, in the Draft. Williams isn’t quite NBA-ready yet – he failed to bench 185 one time in pre-Draft workouts – but he’s got big-time potential, and working under the tutelage of Rick Carlisle and Larry Bird can only speed the process.
The Pacers have reloaded.
PLAYERS ADDED
Draft: Shawne Williams (No. 17), James White (31)
Free Agents: Maceo Baston (Europe)
Trades: Andrew Betts (NO/OK), Marquis Daniels (Dallas), Darrell Armstrong (Dallas), John Edwards (Atlanta), Al Harrington (Atlanta), Rawle Marshall (Dallas), Josh Powell (Dallas)
PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: Fred Jones (Toronto), Scot Pollard (Cleveland)
Trades: Austin Croshere (Dallas), Peja Stojakovic (NO/OK), Anthony Johnson (Dallas)
Waived: Jonathan Bender
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TORONTO RAPTORS
OK, the Raptors aren’t going to win 50 games this year. But Brian Colangelo has them moving swiftly in the right direction.
Toronto already has a soon-to-be superstar in Chris Bosh and Morris Peterson is a solid veteran. Jose Calderon showed great promise as a rookie. Gone from last year’s squad are Mike James, Matt Bonner, Rafael Araujo and the aforementioned Villanueva.
In the facelift, Toronto tabbed Italian star, Andrea Bargnani, with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 Draft. They picked up lightning-quick point guard, T.J. Ford and effective big man, Rasho Nesterovic. Fred Jones came over from Indiana via free agency and Euroleague sensation, Anthony Parker, joins the internationally-flavored Raptors.
Toronto won’t challenge for the East this year. But depending on Bargnani’s progress and Bosh’s continued growth, they could make some noise in the weak Atlantic Division.
PLAYERS ADDED
Draft: Andrea Bargnani (No. 1), P.J. Tucker (35), Uros Slokar (58) in 2005
Free Agents: Anthony Parker, Jorge Garbajosa, Fred Jones (Indiana)
Trades: T.J. Ford (Milwaukee), Kris Humphries (Utah), Rasho Nesterovic (San Antonio), Robert Whaley (Utah)
PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: Mike James (Minnesota), Loren Woods (Sacramento)
Trades: Rafael Araujo (Utah), Matt Bonner (San Antonio), Charlie Villanueva (Milwaukee), Eric Williams (San Antonio)
Waived: Andre Barrett, Alvin Williams
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CHICAGO BULLS
No team made as much noise in the off-season than the emerging Bulls. John Paxson and Coach Scott Skiles had a successful Draft, an efficient trading spree and landed the crown jewel of this off-season’s free agent pool, Ben Wallace. Chicago even brought in John’s brother, Jim, to help out.
Chicago lost Tyson Chandler and peripheral players like Eric Piatkowski, Jannero Pargo and Darius Songaila. In return, the Bulls added solid veterans like Wallace, P.J. Brown, Adrian Griffin and Howard Eisley. The Bulls added a pair of thoroughbreds – Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha – in the Draft and acquired former Cavalier project, center Martynas Andriuskevicius.
The Bulls already boasted an explosive backcourt of Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Chris Duhon. They were long (Luol Deng) and tough (Andres Nocioni) last season. Now Chicago gets a little longer (Thomas, Andriuskevicius) and a lot tougher (Wallace).
Chemistry and coaching are the only two variables that can keep the Bulls from making a monstrous leap in the East a probability.
PLAYERS ADDED
Draft: Tyrus Thomas (No. 4), Thabo Sefolosha (13)
Free Agents: Adrian Griffin (Dallas), Ben Wallace (Detroit)
Trades: Viktor Khryapa (Portland), P.J. Brown (NO/OK), Howard Eisley (Denver), J.R. Smith (NO/OK)
PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: Eric Piatkowski (Phoenix), Jannero Pargo (NO/OK), Darius Songaila (Washington)
Trades: Eddie Basden (Cleveland), J.R. Smith (Denver)
Waived: Othella Harrington
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BOSTON CELTICS
Like the Raptors, the Celtics aren’t poised for a 50-win season in 2006-07. But GM Danny Ainge does have Boston moving at a furious pace. Whether they’re moving forward or not will be determined 82 games from now.
Boston had a busy Draft night both with their picks and through trades. In the Draft itself, the Celts tabbed Kentucky point guard, Rajon Rondo and Cal’s Leon Powe, who, at No. 49 overall, was considered one of the steals of the evening.
Ainge added Sebastian Telfair to his already-crowded backcourt that includes incumbent Delonte West and Rondo. (The point guard glut only added fuel to the Allen Iverson rumor mill involving the Celtics.)
Up front, Boston re-signed Paul Pierce and has some good young talent with Al Jefferson and Ryan Gomes. Gerald Green should continue to blossom and if Wally Szczerbiak returns to form, Boston could be dangerous in a weak Division.
PLAYERS ADDED
Draft: Rajon Rondo (No. 21), Leon Powe (49)
Free Agents: Kevin Pittsnogle (undrafted), Allan Ray (undrafted)
Trades: Sebastian Telfair (Portland), Theo Ratliff (Portland), Brian Grant (Phoenix)
PLAYERS LOST
Trades: Dan Dickau (Portland), Raef LaFrentz (Portland)
Waived: Orien Greene
CAVS.COM
The Cavaliers emergence and the overall rise of the Eastern Conference has forced some young squads to accelerate the growth process and some older clubs to cut some excess fat.
In a relatively slow off-season, here are some teams in the East that have done everything from major renovations to minor tweaking in order to keep up with the Joneses. (Or the Jameses, depending on which Division you're in.)
----------------------------------------------------------------
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
The Central Division is arguably the best in all of basketball, with each of the five teams qualifying for the postseason in 2006. The Bucks finished fifth in the Central and, because of the Division’s overall strength, might wind up there again. But that doesn’t mean that they haven’t made a major leap forward. They have.
The emergence of Mo Williams last season made diminutive point guard, T.J. Ford, expendable. That allowed the Bucks to get bigger and tougher in the frontcourt. Milwaukee GM Larry Harris pulled the trigger earlier this summer on a deal that brought last year’s Rookie of the Year runner-up, Charlie Villanueva, from Toronto in exchange for Ford. The move helps both clubs, but now the Bucks have a frontcourt that features Villanueva, Bobby Simmons and Andrew Bogut.
But the move that affects the Cavaliers more is the acquisition of Cleveland native, Ruben Patterson. He’s lost a step or two from his “Kobe-Stopper” days back in Portland, but the 6-5 swingman still manages to give LeBron James a harder time than most. An entire game of LBJ being hounded by Patterson and Simmons could take its toll on James.
PLAYERS ADDED
NBA Draft: David Noel (No. 39), Damir Markota (59)
Free Agents: Lynn Greer (Italy)
Trades: Steve Blake (Portland), Ha Seung-Jin (Portland), Brian Skinner (Portland), Charlie Villanueva (Toronto), Ruben Patterson (Denver)
PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: Jiri Welsch (Europe)
Trades: T.J. Ford (Toronto), Jamaal Magliore (Portland), Joe Smith (Denver)
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INDIANA PACERS
For the second straight year, based on pre-season predictions, the Pacers had a disappointing end to their season. They put up a good fight against the Nets in the postseason, but again it was a Ron Artest fiasco that cost them a run at the title.
Well after last year’s ouster, the Pacers threw the baby out with the bathwater. Peja Stojakovic, Fred Jones and Scot Pollard left via free agency. Austin Croshere and last year’s playoff hero, Anthony Johnson, got shipped to the Big D for Marquis Daniels.
But what the Pacers did do was solidify their frontcourt in a major way with the shrewd acquisition of Al Harrington from the Atlanta Hawks. Harrington will do battle with the Cavaliers three-headed monster at power forward and will match up with LeBron as well.
Indy also picked athletic forward, Shawne Williams, in the Draft. Williams isn’t quite NBA-ready yet – he failed to bench 185 one time in pre-Draft workouts – but he’s got big-time potential, and working under the tutelage of Rick Carlisle and Larry Bird can only speed the process.
The Pacers have reloaded.
PLAYERS ADDED
Draft: Shawne Williams (No. 17), James White (31)
Free Agents: Maceo Baston (Europe)
Trades: Andrew Betts (NO/OK), Marquis Daniels (Dallas), Darrell Armstrong (Dallas), John Edwards (Atlanta), Al Harrington (Atlanta), Rawle Marshall (Dallas), Josh Powell (Dallas)
PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: Fred Jones (Toronto), Scot Pollard (Cleveland)
Trades: Austin Croshere (Dallas), Peja Stojakovic (NO/OK), Anthony Johnson (Dallas)
Waived: Jonathan Bender
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TORONTO RAPTORS
OK, the Raptors aren’t going to win 50 games this year. But Brian Colangelo has them moving swiftly in the right direction.
Toronto already has a soon-to-be superstar in Chris Bosh and Morris Peterson is a solid veteran. Jose Calderon showed great promise as a rookie. Gone from last year’s squad are Mike James, Matt Bonner, Rafael Araujo and the aforementioned Villanueva.
In the facelift, Toronto tabbed Italian star, Andrea Bargnani, with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 Draft. They picked up lightning-quick point guard, T.J. Ford and effective big man, Rasho Nesterovic. Fred Jones came over from Indiana via free agency and Euroleague sensation, Anthony Parker, joins the internationally-flavored Raptors.
Toronto won’t challenge for the East this year. But depending on Bargnani’s progress and Bosh’s continued growth, they could make some noise in the weak Atlantic Division.
PLAYERS ADDED
Draft: Andrea Bargnani (No. 1), P.J. Tucker (35), Uros Slokar (58) in 2005
Free Agents: Anthony Parker, Jorge Garbajosa, Fred Jones (Indiana)
Trades: T.J. Ford (Milwaukee), Kris Humphries (Utah), Rasho Nesterovic (San Antonio), Robert Whaley (Utah)
PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: Mike James (Minnesota), Loren Woods (Sacramento)
Trades: Rafael Araujo (Utah), Matt Bonner (San Antonio), Charlie Villanueva (Milwaukee), Eric Williams (San Antonio)
Waived: Andre Barrett, Alvin Williams
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CHICAGO BULLS
No team made as much noise in the off-season than the emerging Bulls. John Paxson and Coach Scott Skiles had a successful Draft, an efficient trading spree and landed the crown jewel of this off-season’s free agent pool, Ben Wallace. Chicago even brought in John’s brother, Jim, to help out.
Chicago lost Tyson Chandler and peripheral players like Eric Piatkowski, Jannero Pargo and Darius Songaila. In return, the Bulls added solid veterans like Wallace, P.J. Brown, Adrian Griffin and Howard Eisley. The Bulls added a pair of thoroughbreds – Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha – in the Draft and acquired former Cavalier project, center Martynas Andriuskevicius.
The Bulls already boasted an explosive backcourt of Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Chris Duhon. They were long (Luol Deng) and tough (Andres Nocioni) last season. Now Chicago gets a little longer (Thomas, Andriuskevicius) and a lot tougher (Wallace).
Chemistry and coaching are the only two variables that can keep the Bulls from making a monstrous leap in the East a probability.
PLAYERS ADDED
Draft: Tyrus Thomas (No. 4), Thabo Sefolosha (13)
Free Agents: Adrian Griffin (Dallas), Ben Wallace (Detroit)
Trades: Viktor Khryapa (Portland), P.J. Brown (NO/OK), Howard Eisley (Denver), J.R. Smith (NO/OK)
PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: Eric Piatkowski (Phoenix), Jannero Pargo (NO/OK), Darius Songaila (Washington)
Trades: Eddie Basden (Cleveland), J.R. Smith (Denver)
Waived: Othella Harrington
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BOSTON CELTICS
Like the Raptors, the Celtics aren’t poised for a 50-win season in 2006-07. But GM Danny Ainge does have Boston moving at a furious pace. Whether they’re moving forward or not will be determined 82 games from now.
Boston had a busy Draft night both with their picks and through trades. In the Draft itself, the Celts tabbed Kentucky point guard, Rajon Rondo and Cal’s Leon Powe, who, at No. 49 overall, was considered one of the steals of the evening.
Ainge added Sebastian Telfair to his already-crowded backcourt that includes incumbent Delonte West and Rondo. (The point guard glut only added fuel to the Allen Iverson rumor mill involving the Celtics.)
Up front, Boston re-signed Paul Pierce and has some good young talent with Al Jefferson and Ryan Gomes. Gerald Green should continue to blossom and if Wally Szczerbiak returns to form, Boston could be dangerous in a weak Division.
PLAYERS ADDED
Draft: Rajon Rondo (No. 21), Leon Powe (49)
Free Agents: Kevin Pittsnogle (undrafted), Allan Ray (undrafted)
Trades: Sebastian Telfair (Portland), Theo Ratliff (Portland), Brian Grant (Phoenix)
PLAYERS LOST
Trades: Dan Dickau (Portland), Raef LaFrentz (Portland)
Waived: Orien Greene
CAVS.COM
