Here is my team by team analysis the only ones put in order in terms of projected success are the first 5. Everyone else after that is just mentioned to see how they all did. Enjoy
Indiana has to be tops because they add their best if not 2nd best player in Artest. Who is better then either of the two big players the Heat got. Don't go by their record of last season Jo missed around 30+ Jax missed around 30+ Tinsley missed some due to injury and Reggie Miller had a broken hand. This offseason they added a top 7 pick projected in Granger, and the sweet shooting Sarunas Jasikevicius to backup Tinsley.
Miami was a contender in the Eastern Conference finals and swung a trade to dump the aging Eddie Jones for the Flashy Jwill the never shy about hoisting Antoine Walker and the talented James Posey. Wade's 3rd year should be impressive as was last years, If Shaq doesn't get one of those "nagging injuries" like a messed up toe or something doesn't sideline him. Haslem re-ups my gut feeling says Damon Jones is gone after being supplanted by J-Will.
Cleveland made the biggest splash this free agency by acquiring Larry Hughes and adding his 22 points 7 boards and league leading steals. Donyell Marshall's 42% from 3 point land and being the only player to be top 25 in 3 pt% and rebounds per game. And the resigning of Zydrunas Ilgauskas a top 5 center in the game. New coach Mike Brown who spent the past few seasons as Rick Carlisle's assistant is going to be bringing his defensive specialty to the Cavaliers.
Detroit has basically sat idle all offseason. Their only acquisition was Jason Maxiel from Cincinnati who was selected first round when he was projected between 40-50. This has to be a shot in the arm for Darko who under Flip is hoping for more playing time but with Rasheed, McDyess and now Maxiel it looks like he will again be riding the pine pony this year. Remember how badly they struggled early in the season? As we led the division they were basically playing .400 or .500. That was due in large part to Larry Brown's absence due to hip surgery, beleive me you don't lose a top 5 coach in NBA history and improve.
New Jersey Nets have have had a decent offseason with the acquisition of Shareef Abdur Rahim. 1 question though has Shareef ever been happy with the team he is on? He has wanted out everywhere he goes every season. Vince Carter is still there but if the team struggles will he pack it in like in Toronto? Can he stay healthy? he has had some serious questions himself as to whether he can holdup..I think those two plus Jeff McInnis equals a lazy team. Shareef and Jeff wouldn't know what defense was if you pointed to it in Websters Dictionary. How will Jason Kidd holdup? He has had some serious knee problems and isn't getting younger, don't be surprised to see him miss 10-20 games and watch the Nets fistfight over who gets the shots without the main distributor. They really don't have much of a bench either, where is the toughness/rebounding/dirty work player on this team? If you find anyone let me know.
After 5 it is basically a tossup, the 76ers are a team to watch with AI and CWebb having more time to gel and for him to heal up. Any team with Iverson is a team that can win on any given night. Dally and Korver received fat new extensions, but the question remains is Samuel Dalembert going to blossom offensively? Most of his points are on broken scramble plays and lobs from AI. He has yet to develop a jump shot or any low post moves. Do they have much of a bench? Marc Jackson is all I can think of, they have postponed the signing to Willie Greene after a serious knee injury which WILL require surgery to repair..
Washington Wizards made a decent attempt at recover from the loss of Larry Hughes and Juan Dixon. They added Antonio Daniels and dealt Kwame Brown for Caron Butler and I think Chucky Atkins. I don't think they have a real legit low post threat, Etan Thomas is overpaid and Brendad Haywood hasn't really gotten much better in the last few years. Gilbert and Jamison are still there though.
The Bulls normally would be a higher mention but being that Chris Duhon, Tyson Chandler, and Eddy Curry are all still unsigned. Those are 3 very important players that you can't dismiss. If they lose Curry or Chandler with no compensation you can basically write them off this season as they will have only the declining Antonio Davis as the only real big man. Chris Duhon brought the heat defensively off the bench for them also and would be a tough loss. So before I give the Bulls their just due, I'm going to wait for Chicago to make ANY moves as they drafted no one signed no one or anything.
The Orlando Magic haven't done much besides the signing of Keyon Dooling who I guess is a good signing but If you ask me Jameer Nelson should be the starting point guard. Dwight Howard will have another great season as he maybe underachieved a bit in the first half of the season in terms of offense last year but as he got some more minutes under his belt you saw why he was drafted 1st showing great post moves a body built for rebounding and an incredible understanding of the game. Question is will the stevie francis trade rumors subside? or will they ultimately frustrate the frachise to the point where he pulls a tmac and asks to be out. Another thing to mention is the fact that 1st round selection 11th overall forward Fran Vazquez has decided to sign with Spain for a few years as he said " I am not ready for the type of game played there I need a few years still" Correct me if I'm wrong...but why draft a player so high without knowing whether he wants to make an impact on your team now. This isn't like the 50th pick saying I'm staying over there for a year or two, this is a lottery pick wasted for the Magic.
The Celtics had a nice draft catching prepstar Gerald Green in free fall at the 18th pick. This pick raises a question though, with Green's high billing and lofty draft projection (top 5) will this be the beginning of the end for Paul Pierce? They also have a bit of a logjam with Banks West Allen Pierce and Davis all all at the Guard positions. Their youth bodes well for the future my personal favorites Green and Jefferson should be a pair to watch in a few years.
The Knicks added Larry Brown this offseason but will he co-exist with the hard headed Marbury and Crawford? He and AI clashed because neither would admit they were wrong so how will he handle two players like that? Basically every player on the team without a rookie contract is being massively overpaid for. They signed Jerome James after dealing Kurt Thomas for guess who another score first pass 2nd player. They have around 6 powerforwards as they draft 1 if not 2 every single season. They dealt the only Center who produced for them last year in Nazr Mohammed for the overpaid underachieving Malik Rose. This roster is horrible like 6 or 7 players at the SG and PF spot each makes me not even open the door to possibly thinking of maybe contending this season. Larry Brown wants "his" type of players so look for a possible roster overhaul.
Everyone else is basically not there yet or rebuilding. The Bucks overspent for Redd and Simmons badly, their weren't many suitors for Simmons who only got 16 ppg last season. He is overrated in my opinion, he had 1 alright year where his other 3 or 4 seasons he got like 5 ppg or so. You don't give 10 million per to a player who has only had 1 ok not even great season. 150 million is too much for these two. Bogut I'm not sure about either his ego seems like it may not fit the liking of the rest of the team. His temper is another thing to watch for as he was tossed from a summer league game after only getting 6 points against the backups of the Indiana Pacers. My question is how will he fair against the big time big men Shaq Ben Brad Z Magloire Okafor and Howard? TJ Ford's return is a plus I guess, I dont see him being a huge piece for them as he has missed around a year and a half of action and had a very very serious injury.
The Hawks are trying to complete a sign and trade for Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams went to them in the draft along with my pick for steal of the draft in sharp shooter Salim Stoudamire. They have no big men besides Obinna Ekezie or something who I don't even know of and I'm sure you havent heard of him either. They may have a nice back court but their front court will get it handed to them on a nightly basis.
The Bobcats had a nice draft as they are just trying to build a respectable roster. They added two more lottery pieces in Felton and May. The thing I like about them is that all of their lottery selections have won NCAA titles, Felton May and Okafor have all won on the previous level. They know how to win and it should only be another 2 seasons until they are knocking on the door to the post season.
My pick for worst team in the East has to be the Toronto Raptors. They have failed on the past 3 lottery selections. Araujo is a big stiff and didnt produce when he did play. Charlie Villenueva was projected picks 12 and beyond not 7th. And why draft at the position where your best young player plays at? They selected Graham when Granger should have been off the board at their pick at 7. They had a terrible draft and the only player picked at the right selection in my opinion Roko Ukic won't even be coming over this season.
