I've totally not been keeping up with other WC teams' moves this summer. Which teams have done well for themselves? Which teams have declined?
Lakers definitely declined, clippers improved, golden state meh, Denver lost a step, Nola made some good moves, Houston improved greatly, okc regressed, sas stayed the same, sac queens are still stupid, and Seattle still doesn't have a team/
Lakers won't win the title, but if Kobe is ready to go by training camp, they're still a "threat" to win 45 games.
I doubt the Lakers are going to head into training camp with that roster. I feel like they're sort of waiting for the dust to settle on the initial Free Agency panic, then they'll become the same ol' manipulative Lakers we've come to learn to hate. Andrew Bynum's starting to stick out to me as a guy without a home, and I know I've brought this up before, but how fitting would it be for them to bring him and maybe even Phil Jackson back to Los Angeles, ship out some of their expiring contracts for instant value, and actually position themselves for another run at it?
If I had to break it down from my perspective, I've got to look at it like this - The Oklahoma City Thunder, in my opinion, have really taken a step backwards. The Harden trade has basically materialized into Steven Adams with Kevin Martin leaving to Minnesota. Their "Big Three" is still in tact, but they'll have to replace the scoring off the bench. I heard OKC's color commentator talking about how they expect Reggie Jackson to be that guy during the summer league game today, but they're really going to be hurting when it comes to scoring on the wing with their backup rotation. Unless they make another move this summer, it looks like they're placing a lot of faith in Jeremy Lamb. The San Antonio Spurs brought Ginobili and Splitter back, and they signed Marco Belinelli as well. Gary Neal is a free agent, and Belinelli is likely his replacement. Other than that, they're pretty much the same team they were last season, just like the Grizzlies are. The Denver Nuggets completely restructured management and brought in a new coach (Brian Shaw), but it's hard to say how they'll be next season. They lost Iguodala and seem even more log-jammed in the frontcourt with Darrell Arthur and J.J. Hickson now on the squad, but it's pretty hard to tell how it'll all shake out, given that we don't know what sort of system Shaw is going to run. The Los Angeles Clippers might have had the best offseason, on paper, of any team in the NBA. They lost Grant Hill, Caron Butler, and Eric Bledsoe, but they retained Matt Barnes and Ryan Hollins, while bringing in J.J. Redick, Jared Dudley, and Darren Collison. Some posters have said they get worse defensively, but damn, that firepower on the wings has me worried as Grizzlies fan, and Darren Collison is not exactly a bad fix for having to lose Eric Bledsoe in the process. My Memphis Grizzlies are pretty much the same team we were at the end of last season, except now we have a better coach and a legitimate back-up center, Kosta Koufos, but we still don't have anyone who can shoot worth a damn. We drafted well, getting a second rounder who was projected in the top-20, but he can't shoot. We have about one or two open roster spots, and hopefully they'll fill them with shooters, otherwise you're looking at the same exact team from last season that works inside-out yet can't hit the broad-side of a barn from distance. The Golden State Warriors brought in Andre Iguodala, but they had to let Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry go in the process. The move was speculated to be an incentive for Dwight Howard to come in, but now that he's in Houston, they're faced with a (little bit) overpaid Iguodala at the 3, taking up Harrison Barnes minutes, and likely bringing him off the bench. Really though, if you want to know about the Warriors' offseason, check out the offseason thread and search "Run BJM." He's done a great job of breaking the whole shitshow down for ya... The Los Angeles Lakers are back at square one, but like I said, I'd be surprised if they didn't try to make a bold move the further we get into the offseason. They're no spring chicken at free agency, and it seems like they're just waiting like a spider to pounce on a game-changer. If you want to know about the Houston Rockets moves, just turn on Sportscenter. The Utah Jazz have gone into FULL tank mode. They not only let Jefferson and Millsap walk with no compensation, but they also traded with Golden State to acquire bunch of nobody expiring contracts. It looks like they'll spend next season developing Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, and Trey Burke, while looking forward to a high draft pick in the '14 draft and a lot of cap space in the '14 free agency. Not a bad strategy, really. As for the Dallas Mavericks, they seem to be the big losers in the Dwight Howard situation. There's still a possibility that they're in play for Andrew Bynum, but well... I'll just quote a post from the offseason thread where I posted their 2014 depth chart, and you can get a feel for the difficult situation they're in - The Portland Trail Blazers renewed superstar Greg Oden's contract through the 2018 season, ensuring yet another title run next season... too soon?
So the only improved teams are Houston, Clippers, and Portland. So we'll be 3rd in the West. Just wanted to condense that a little. And give the story a happy ending. P.S. What is this Laker miracle move you predict? Management has been incompetent since Phil Jackson forced out Jerry West.
Jerry West was a great player, but he's a very overrated talent evaluator. Still, all I know is that the stars seem to always align with the Lakers, just as they do with the Yankees. This is reminiscent of the last time they were dead in the water, in the mid-2000's, and then they got bailed out by the Grizzlies sending Pau Gasol their way for cap room. I don't have any reliable sources or anything that makes me think that they're 100% going to make a splash here, but it just seems very unLakers-like, un-Kobelike to accept a net loss in the offseason and tank for 2014. They have a lot of tradeable contracts for the teams that truly need to rebuild, given their markets, and really Dwight Howard never really fit in with the franchise in the first place. Andrew Bynum's still floating out there without a suitor, and with Philly in full rebuilding mold, wouldn't it make sense for both teams to swap LA's expiring contracts for Andrew Bynum?
Um... Brooklyn? I guess if you count Doc Rivers, then maybe, although we don't know if Jason Kidd is going to be a coaching savant (not on the evidence of his first Summer League game, where he basically just watched while Lawrence Frank drew up plays) but that team won't need much coaching anyway. As people have been talking about bringing him back, I'd say it was too late.
I agree that the Lakers won't be as awful as people hope. It may be another battle between them and us for the 8th spot. Pau Gasol will have a bounce-back year, and people will remember that he's actually very good. D'Antoni really only starts to coach when he has less talent (think the Suns without Stoudemire, the Knicks with Lin). I also think that the Clippers player moves are being a little overrated. I think they'll really miss Bledsoe (and Clippers fans are going to scream when he blows up in Phoenix) just for his intensity. Collison is pretty meh. That team is still awfully reliant on Blake Griffin, who is just not that great. And anyone suspect that DeAndre Jordan is going to feel a smidge unloved?
I don't get the Laker talk? They won't be that bad, and have put themselves in a spectacular position for 2014
I wonder, though, if they'll end up being disappointed. Their target is supposed to be Carmelo, but he's already The Man in NY. Lakerland might be a step down. Staples Center can't compare to "The Garden". And can you really see LeBron teaming up with Kobe? If he moves, he's heading back to Cleveland. For one thing, Irving is now better than Kobe, they've got a nice young core, and the wave of adulation that would crash over him if he went back to Cleveland would be all-time massive. I see them ending up with Chris Bosh.
People neglecting the Pelicans. They've got a sick starting 5 building if healthy. Could be better than us.
Not this year. Lillard = Holiday Matthews = Evans (Gordon will be hurt) Batum > Aminu Aldridge > Anderson Lopez < Davis
Didn't say they will be forever bad. Just next season. I've made it clear; they probably tank, get a high draft pick and have a shit ton of free agent money to pry stars. I think they have one bad year.
Unless the Lakers purposly tank, I dont think the League lets them miss the playoffs. Too much LA bias. Stern will probably force a trade on someone before he leaves.
It would make more sense if stern rigged the draft so lakers get #1. They would have a future of dynasty when the lakers get wiggins and lbj
