Current Roster
PG: Frank Jackson/Quinn Cook
SG: E'Twaun Moore/Jordan Crawford
SF: Solomon Hill/Axel Toupane/Quiny Pondexter
PF: Anthony Davis/Cheick Diallo
C: DeMarcus Cousins/Alexis Ajinca/Omer Asik
2017 Free Agents
Unrestricted
G Jrue Holiday
F Dante Cunningham
C Donantas Motiejunas
Restricted
None
Who They Drafted
2-31 Frank Jackson, PG/SG Duke
The Pelicans traded up to the first pick of the second round to draft Frank Jackson, a combo guard that many believed could be a first round pick due to his age and athletic testing results. Just barely tuned 19, Jackson is young for a first year player and has good size and length for a combo guard, in addition to registering a 42-inch max vertical at the combine as well as other great testing numbers. The problem is that Jackson doesn't utilize that athletic ability very well. He can finish well above the rim and is explosive in a straight line, but doesn't have the wiggle and shake you'd want from a lead ball-handling guard, a fact that is exacerbated by his handle, which lacks advanced moves and breaks down when pressured. He is more of a scoring threat than passer, but he isn't myopic as an offensive player. Where he will likely provide the most value in the NBA is as a shooter, after canning .392% of 130 three-pointers his one season at Duke. That ability to space the floor will be extra important in New Orleans, where spacing will be at a premium around big men Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. That will be Jackson's role, plus be opportunistic fast breaking and getting the ball to the Pelicans' stars.
What They Need Going Forward
Bringing back Jrue Holiday or replacing him with a competent player to play point guard, as well as whatever they can find on the wing with the space they have. This is a make or break season for the Pelicans (and presumably their front office and coaching staff) and going into the season without an above-average player at point guard and on the wing could spell doom for a lot of people and DeMarcus Cousins' time in New Orleans.
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Showing posts with label Pelicans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pelicans. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
2016 NBA Draft: Mock Draft
I have no sources or inside information, just some (kinda) educated speculation:
The Sixers are taking Simmons, that is 99% of a lock at this point, the only intrigue left is what Philadelphia does with their logjam of big men and if they acquire another lottery pick.
02. Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram, SF Duke (6-9, 196) Age: 18
Ingram is basically a lock here as well, though they have been making noise looking at some other players, I think that is just due diligence in case some team blows away with an offer for the #2 overall pick.
03. Boston Celtics (from Brooklyn): Jaylen Brown, SF/PF California (6-7, 223) Age: 19
I still don't think the Celtics are taking Dragan Bender, and will most likely trade this pick, but if they use it they will try to sell that they are taking a star, but go with a player like Jaylen Brown, with a higher floor than say Marquese Chriss, but also has some upside as well.
04. Phoenix Suns: Marquese Chriss, PF Washington (6-10, 233) Age: 18
Dragan Bender would literally be the perfect fit for the Suns, but I am not sure Robert Sarver will stand for a top 5 pick that won't player right away. Ironically, Chriss isn't going to help much starting out either and has a significantly higher bust factor and not any more upside.
05. Minnesota Timberwolves: Kris Dunn, PG Providence (6-4, 205) Age: 22
I don't know if Ricky Rubio gets traded (it would be a mistake, in my opinion) but Dunn is the type of player that can play a role for Minnesota early on, especially playing with a guard like Zach LaVine. Most importantly, Dunn can defend his tail off, which will appeal to Tom Thibodeau.
06. New Orleans Pelicans: Jamal Murray, SG Kentucky (6-4, 207) Age: 19
The Pelicans need to find more scoring and shot creation, which in theory is what Murray provides. Especially with Eric Gordon most likely departing in free agency, Murray could fill a similar role as a shooter and sometimes creator,
07. Denver Nuggets (from New York): Dragan Bender, PF Maccabi Tel Aviv (7-1, 225) Age: 18
This is obviously a no-brainer for Denver, who not only could really use a player like Bender but also have patience with and an affinity for International prospects.
08. Sacramento Kings: Buddy Hield, SG Oklahoma (6-5, 212) Age: 22
This is another no-brainer. There are major questions about just how good Hield can be in the NBA, but he is unlikely to bust completely and is a high character player that can help transform the Kings dysfunction. There are likely to be better players drafted after Hield, but with Sacramento I get swinging for a double, at this point they just need talent.
09. Toronto Raptors (from Denver): Jakob Poeltl, C Utah (7-1, 239) Age: 20
With Bismack Biyombo departing, Toronto can look to beef up their big man depth and draft a solid, well-rounded big man in Poeltl, though the Raptors are talented enough to go in pretty much any direction, minus point guard most likely.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Dejounte Murray, PG Washington (6-5, 170) Age: 19
Last year the Bucks drafted Rashad Vaughn way earlier than expected and you could defintely see them do that again with Murray, a raw prospect with upside but a looooong way to go,
11. Orlando Magic: Deyonta Davis, PF/C Michigan State (6-11, 237) Age: 19
Point guard is the main need for Orlando, but they don't seem to think so after they parted ways with their coach partially over Elfrid Payton. Davis has upside and a solid floor, but most of all he projects to compliment Orlando's current big men.
12. Atlanta Hawks (from Utah): Domantas Sabonis, PF/C Gonzaga (6-11, 231) Age: 20
After trading Jeff Teague for this pick, the Hawks (who may yet trade up further) can look to address their need for big man depth. The Hawks were really bad on the glass last season, an area Sabonis excels at. Even better his high IQ and skill fits the Hawks system.
13. Phoenix Suns (from Washington): Timothe Luwawu, SF Mega Leks (6-7, 205) Age: 21
After power forward, a low-usage defensive wing/shooting wing is the Suns biggest need, so it would not be a shock for them to use one of their two lottery picks on a player like Timothe Luwawu.
14. Chicago Bulls: Wade Baldwin IV, PG Vanderbilt (6-4, 202) Age: 20
The Bulls finally pulled the plug on Derrick Rose and now have a Jerian Grant/Jose Calderon combo at point guard. While Grant has some value (his fit with Fred Hoiberg is as good as his fit in the triangle was bad) but neither he nor Calderon has the upside of Wade Baldwin, who would fit well with Jimmy Butler.
15. Denver Nuggets (from Houston): Henry Ellenson, PF/C Marquette (7-0, 242) Age: 19
If Dragan Bender isn't able to come over and play right away, Denver could look to get a more immediate contributor in Ellenson or the like.
16. Boston Celtics (from Dallas): Malachi Richardson, SG Syracuse (6-6, 200) Age: 20
Someone is taking Richardson in the first round, likely in the top 20 and Boston (or whomever they trade with) seem like as likely a destination as any.
17. Memphis Grizzlies: Taurean Prince, SF/PF Baylor (6-8, 220) Age: 21
The Grizzlies are forever in a search for shooting and have built their team around tough defense in recent times. Prince projects to provide some of both.
18. Detroit Pistons: Denzel Valentine, SG Michigan State (6-6, 210) Age: 22
Valentine slides due to concerns about his knee. The local connection and Valentines fit in Stan Van Gundy's system make him too good to pass on.
19. Denver Nuggets (from Portland): Demetrius Jackson, PG Notre Dame (6-2, 194) Age: 21
Even with the strides that Emmanuel Mudiay took last season, the Nuggets still need to find him a back up and Jackson is great value here and an ideal fit as a backup point guard.
20. Brooklyn Nets (from Indiana): Tyler Ulis, PG Kentucky (5-10, 149) Age: 20
The Nets have the worst point guard situation in the league and desperately need something, anything there. Tyler Ulis is likely a backup but at least he can play point guard and has some tremendous intangibles.
21. Atlanta Hawks: Juan Hernangomez, PF Estudiantes (6-9, 220) Age: 20
With Paul Millsap entering the last year of his deal (most likely) and Al Horford a free agent to-be, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Hawks double on big men, especially if one with the potential of Hernangomez falling to them.
22. Sacramento Kings (from Charlotte): Malik Beasley, SG Florida State (6-5, 190) Age: 19
After trading Marco Bellineli to Charlotte for this pick, making there need for wings that can shoot and defend even more dire.
23. Boston Celtics: Damian Jones, C Vanderbilt (7-0, 244) Age: 20
Again, who knows if the Celtics actually use this pick but if they do, an athletic big man like Jones makes sense because he is significantly more physically talented than the rest of his team.
24. Philadelphia 76ers (from Miami): Patrick McCaw, SG UNLV (6-7, 185) Age: 20
The Sixers need wings that can shoot and defend, which is what McCaw projects to do, with some real upside as well.
25. Los Angeles Clippers: Malcolm Brogdon, SG Virginia (6-5, 223) Age: 23
Does it really matter who the Clippers draft here? He'll never play for Doc Rivers anyway. Still, if he did get to okay Malcolm Brogdon could help the Clippers in the backcourt with shooting, defense, and passing.
26. Philadelphia 76ers (from Oklahoma City): Furkan Korkmaz, SG Anadolu Efes (6-7, 185) Age: 18
The Sixers are unlikely to bring in three rookies from this draft, so unless they trade the pick they will likely look to stash an international. Korkmaz could go much higher in the draft, but also might fall do to the rise of other prospects.
27. Toronto Raptors: Ante Zizc, C Cibona Zagreb (7-0, 249) Age: 19
Zizic is another prospect but could go higher but also might fall. He has been extremely productive in Europe at a young age and has the skills and motor to be a backup center at least.
28. Phoenix Suns (from Cleveland): Ivica Zubac, C Mega Leks (7-1, 265) Age: 19
Yet another international guy that could go higher, Zubax is huge and has some idea what he is doing, which is more rare than you might think.
29. San Antonio Spurs: Cheick Diallo, C Kansas (6-9, 219) Age: 19
The Spurs' lack of athleticism was glaring in their playoff series loss to the Thunder, they need to find some big bodies that can move, especially as Tim Duncan's career comes to a close.
30. Golden State Warriors: DeAndre Bembry, SF Saint Joseph's (6-6, 207) Age: 21
The Warriors lack of depth was exposed somewhat against the Cavaliers, so they would be wise to continue to add and develop real contributors, not just projects or players who fall due to injury. DeAndre Bembry is a really good fit there with his offensive and defensive versatility.
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Tuesday, March 1, 2016
2016 NBA Mock Lottery (4/16)
Mock drafts prior to the reveling of the actual lottery and draft order are pretty silly, but since usually the changes are minor, we can at least gain a little insight into what things will look like on draft night and what teams may be thinking. This is what I believe, without any inside information, is most likely to happen at this exact moment subject to massive changes before draft night.
Prior to Sam Hinkie's resignation, Brandon Ingram would have been the obvious choice here, however with Bryan Collangelo now in charge with presumably a mandate to make the Sixers competitive and marketable fast, it seems highly likely they will look to draft a more hyped, popular player who may be more ready to contribute from day one. Simmons is a poor fit, in my opinion, but with conventional wisdom now reigning once again in Philadelphia, Simmons seems likely to be the guy.
02. Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram, SF Duke
While they may be more interested in landing a quote star un-quote in the draft, Ingram is a much more obvious fit in LA, where the Lakers are severely lacking in both defensive players and shooters. Ingram also doesn't overlap positionaly with Julius Randle like Simmons would. If the lottery holds true and it goes Sixers #1 and Lakers #2, I would expect LA to draft whomever Philadephia doesn't draft between Ingram and Simmons and be completely happy with that.
03. Boston Celtics (from Brooklyn): Jaylen Brown, SF California
This is the toughest pick to project, based on currant draft standing, because Boston is playoff team without a ton of obvious needs (excluding a true super-star, which you most likely aren't finding in this draft) so where do they go? Dragan Bender is the best prosper available (and the best in the draft, in my opinion) but he isn't a player likely to have an immediate impact and might not even come to the NBA right away. Add to that, the Celtics are sort of piled up in the frontcourt. Jaylen Brown, on the other hand, is also somewhat of a project but fits into the Celtics multiple offense and would be an intruiging 1-2 forward punch with Jae Crowder which would allow Boston to switch everything and be and even more threatening transition team. They could also trade the pick and throw everything off.
04. Phoenix Suns: Dragan Bender, PF Maccabi Tel Aviv
A couple of wins late in the season dropped the Suns from the third best odds to the fourth, which could be the difference between getting one of the top tier of three prospects and not. In this scenario, if Boston is unwilling to take a project in Dragan Bender, the Suns could still luck out. After trading Markeiff Morris and now potentially losing Mirza Teletovic and Jon Leuer (backups at best) power forward is an area of longterm weakness in Phoenix. Bender is a stupendous prospect with special potential as a defender and the tools to become a versatile offensive player, just what Phoenix needs.
05. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jamal Murray, SG Kentucky
Aside from power forward, the Timberwolves have their starting five set (barring a Ricky Rubio trade) and with no power forward that really fits this draft range, they can look to something else they need: shooting and shot creation. Murray is an excellent shooter and while the jury may be out on his ability to consistently create at the next level, he has a good offensive feel and may fit better in the NBA where more space is available. If they trade Ricky Rubio, Kris Dunn could be and option, and if they believe a power forward is necessary, a versatile offensive player like Henry Ellenson could be an interesting fit with Karl-Anthony Towns.
06. New Orleans Pelicans: Kris Dunn, PG Providence
While Jrue Holiday, point guard, is one of New Orleans' two actually good players under contract, both he and Kris Dunn are big enough and have the defensive chops to defend shooting guards (in fact, Dunn is actually bigger than Eric Gordon) and Holiday can shoot well enough to make this pair work. Dunn is a great defenive prospect, a killer in transition, and a willing half-court player that should flourish as a third option in the more spacious NBA. Buddy Hield, as a more traditional shooting guard, is another option, as is a potential Ryan Anderson replacement in Henry Ellenson.
07. Denver Nuggets (from New York): Henry Ellenson, PF Marquette
The Nuggets have a ton of big men, but none of their power forwards are particularly skilled offensively (unless you include Danillo Gallinari who is injured often and possibly trade-bait). Henry Ellenson is a versatile offensive player with potential as a three-point shooter. He is a project defensively, but Mike Malone is known to get the best out of such players. They have depth in most spots on their roster and could go in many ways but Ellenson makes a lot of sense as a compliment to Kenneth Faried at power forward.
08. Sacramento Kings: Buddy Hield, SG Oklahoma
This is a marriage of player and team that just needs to happen. Hield could (foolishly) go earlier but if he is there, or if the Kings can acquire him by trade, it is something that would be perfect for them both on and off the court. Hield is exactly the type of player Sacramento needs, a knockdown three point shooter that is terrific moving off the ball. He is also a high character individual and tireless worker, the type of leader that the Kings desperately need. Make it happen, Vlade Divac (but don't give up too much)
09. Toronto Raptors (from Denver): Marquese Chriss, PF Washington
The Raptors love taking high-upside projects, and while their thinking may change this picking this high, I doubt it. Marquese Chriss, with work, could seriously be their starting power forward of the future, something they aren't particularly set up with at this point. Chriss has the potential to be a dynamite offensive player that can shoot and drive. He is a raw player that very much needs to learn the game, but the tools are off the charts.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Jakob Poeltl, C Utah
Another perfect marriage of player/team. Since they made the change from Zaza Pachulia to Greg Monroe, the Bucks haven't been the same team. The need someone who an excell on the defensive glass, protect the rim, and set good screens, which are all areas that Poeltl could excel at. Monroe, if he isn't traded, could still be gone after next season, which would open the door for Poeltl full time. Last season, Milwaukee brought Monroe of the bench and started Miles Plumlee. Poeltl could do the same, and be much better than Plumlee.
11. Orlando Magic: Ivan Rabb, PF California
The Magic have big plans when it comes to adding free agents this summer, so they could trade this pick to save space or draft a stash prospect, however if they do go with a prospect that could play this year for them, power forward is an area they could address. Aaron Gordon is already blossoming into a star, but Jason Smith also played heavy minutes last season as his backup, which translates to you need another backup power forward, particularly since Smith is a free agent this summer. Ivan Rabb is a very solid player, smart and skilled. He is limit in some ways, but should be a good option for rebounding, defense, and some inside-out scoring off the bench.
12. Utah Jazz: Demetrius Jackson, PG Norte Dame
Even if Dante Exum returns to full strength next season, Utah will still need a point guard because the poo-poo platter of Shelvin Mack, Raul Neto, and Trey Burke just isn't going to cut it for a playoff team, especially if Exum (who has a ways to go himself) isn't back to full-strength. Demetrius Jackson is better than all those other options, a dynamic athlete that has a long track record of excellent outside shooting and tough defense. He could backup Exum or play alongside him, due to Exum's excellent size. Utah needs a point guard that can create, defend, and shoot, not just one of those things.
13. Phoenix Suns (from Washington): Timothe Luwawu, SF Mega Leks
With their second first round pick in the draft, the Suns can look to shore up another area of need, small forward (or power forward if they draft, say, Jaylen Brown with their earlier pick). With what appears to be three high-usage guards on the roster, the Suns need players to go with them that don't need the ball to be valueable. Timothe Luwawu looks to be that type of player, a versatile defensive wing with potential in that area as well as shooting the ball, where he has made great strides of late, however his low release is still somewhat of a question mark.
14. Chicago Bulls: Denzel Valentine, SG Michigan State
This seems like the kind of pick the Bulls seem to like. A decorated four year college player that can probably play very soon in his young career. Denzel Valentine is not without his faults (defense) but he seems like an ideal fit in Fred Hoiberg's offense because he is a knockdown shooter with tremendous vision and passing ability. Another option is fellow Spartan Deyonta Davis, who could be the first step in rebuilding the beleaguered Bulls frontcourt, once a source of so much depth, not possibly losing both Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah. The same could be said about Domantas Sabonis, who is the kind of skilled player that could excel under Hoiberg.
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Tuesday, July 1, 2014
New Orleans Pelicans Draft Review
The Pelicans traded last year's second round pick, Pierre Jackson, back to the team they traded for him from in the first place, Philadelphia, for a second round pick this year. Whew. With that pick they selected Russ Smith, who is very similar to Jackson. Both are quick, diminutive combo guards who can play some at point guard and are streaky shooters. Jackson is the better player in my eyes because he is a better distributor and has less history of terrible shot selection like Smith has. The difference is probably negligible though, what is important is that the Palicans need Smith to contribute because they have so much money locked up in a few players, they'll need cheap contributors. Have concerns a 160 pound guard can really be effective or efficient in the NBA, both Smith does have a lot to like.
Projected Lineup
PG: Jrue Holliday/Russ Smith
SG: Eric Gordon/Austin Rivers
SF: Tyreke Evans/Luke Babbitt
PF: Anthony Davis/Ryan Anderson
C: Omer Asik/Jeff Withey
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Sunday, November 3, 2013
Ready to Take Off: Anthony Davis
In the Pelicans Saturday night win over the Charlotte Bobcats, Anthony Davis scored 25 points (9/13 FG, 7/8 FT), with 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 6 steals and 6 blocks. This remarkable performance is becoming par-for-the-course for Davis who is averaging 23.7 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 2.7 steals on the young season. It's not just that the 2012 number 1 overall pick is putting up big numbers, he looks like his game has grown considerably since last season. We all know about the terrific hands, length, and athleticism that give Davis the ability to block shots and throw down outrageous alley-oops, but now the skill is starting to catch up to the elite physical ability. Part of his big improvement offensively has been his jumper, he hit 4-of-5 outside the paint from against Charlotte, and is shooting 50% from there this season. His stroke in general is improved, as demonstrated by his terrific 95% shooting from the free throw line so far this season. If his jumper continues to fall, it will open up his offense even more, allowing him to use his explosive first step to take slower bigs off the dribble from the high post. This quickness, along with more aggressiveness, strength, and seeking of contact this year, also allows Davis to draw more fouls, nearly doubling his total from 3.5 last year to 6.7 this. There is no reason that he shouldn't average 8+ free throws a game in time. Add to that his improved shooting, plus buckets of put-backs and of course alley-oops and you have a recipe for a very efficient and reliable offensive game. Defensively, we know Davis can block shots and has very active hands, but his ability to guard on the perimeter and switch, as well as guard in ISO situations are also becoming elite skills. That is why I think Davis fits better at power forward than center, because he causes so much havoc all over the floor when he plays there, but is limited when he plays center, not to mention the wear and tear having to check bigger players. What is even more amazing is that Davis is only 20 years old and has a ton of room for growth in both physically and in his abilities, despite being playing at an All-NBA caliber right now. If this level of growth continues, Davis could be a top 5-10 player in this league. The Pelicans have playoff asspirations and the talent to get there, but they need to be careful that ball-dominant players like Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans, and Eric Gordon don't neglect Davis, because he is their best player.
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Thursday, October 31, 2013
Hot and Slow Starts
Three teams that are expected to compete for a title got off to slow starts in their first game, with the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Clippers all lost their opening games. However, there isn't any reason for these teams to panic, as each one is incorporating new elements into their rotations. The Nets have five new rotation players while the Bulls and Clippers have three a piece, plus Brooklyn and L.A. have new coaches. Chicago struggled during the second quarter in which they were out scored by the Heat by 19, in large part because Jimmy Butler and Luol Deng got in foul trouble and new Bulls Mike Dunleavy and Tony Snell weren't quite on point with their rotations, particularly to the corners. Also Derrick Rose was clearly a little rusty, neither of these issues should last. The Nets on the other hand were tentative offensively, still figuring out how to play together together on that end. The absence of key reserve Andrei Kirilenko didn't help either. For the Clippers, there are signs that are a little more concerning but not dire, they were killed on the boards, including 18 offensive rebounds, and looked lackadaisical at times on both ends. Also, they were beaten by a Lakers team that was lost to Golden State by 31 the next night. However, I would be very surprised if they don't make a move for a big before the playoffs (Emeka Okafor when healthy?) and Doc Rivers should be able to instill some discipline in his young team. Bottom line is these are all very good teams and I see no reason why they shouldn't end up in the top 4 seeds in their respective conferences.
It was great to see the Kings still in Sacramento, with rowdy fans showing up en-masse to support their team on their way to an opening night win, thanks in large part to DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins registered 30 points (13-26 from the field, 4-7 from the line) 14 rebounds, a pair of steals and blocks, and an assist. Cousins has put up big numbers before, but he has rarely looked this good, showing off the whole repertoire on the block with hooks, drives, turnaround bank-shots, and one thunderous throwdown off his own miss. More importantly, he cut out bad jump shots, only shooting when he was wide open, and going 2-of-4 in that case. Perhaps most impressively, he played 39 minutes and still (mostly) brought effort on both ends. Cousins is supremely talented and if he can continue to play this way, Sacramento will be going in the right direction. I think it really helps having Greivis Vasquez playing alongside him. Vasquez played great and fit really well on the team, especially playing alongside Isaiah Thomas, the two combined for 33 points (on 11-18 from the field, 7-9 from the line, 4-6 from deep), and 9 assists to 4 turnovers, but most importantly they played good team basketball. Unfortunately, Marcus Thornton still had the blinders on and jacked up terrible shots, which was the norm in Sacramento in previous seasons, but really stood out against when, at least for one night, the Kings looked like a different team. Also, while he struggled offensively, I liked the way the Ben McLemore competed on the defensive end, which was an issue for him at Kansas. Once he is able to get going on offense, I would expect McLemore to move into the starting lineup with Thornton in a more logical bench role.
Michael Carter-Williams had a tremendous debut in the 76ers victory over the Heat, scoring 22 points (6-10 FG, 4-6 three point, 6-8 FT) with 7 rebounds, 12 assists, 1 turnover, and 9 steals. The boards, assists, and steals shouldn't be too big of a surprise (though nine is a lot, obviously), at 6-6 he can really see the floor and make things happen on defense. However, the offense and lack of turnovers are huge, if he can keep protecting the ball and continue to score somewhat efficiently, the future is very bright, because the rest of his game is there.
The Detroit Pistons are going to make things very difficult for teams in the paint when they play Andre Drummond, Josh Smith, and Greg Monroe together. If they can keep a consistent offense and not foul too much, their defense could be really disruptive.
Like the Bulls, Nets, and Clippers, the Pelicans are incorporating a lot of new pieces and while the talent and potential is evident, they need to work on their consistency and figure out how the 3 guard lineups are going to be working together.
The Pacers, who beat New Orleans, who got big bench contributions in their first game, only mustered 10 points of the pine in this game, which will be something to monitor throughout the season, because the bench will be crucial for them in the playoffs after killing them last year. If Danny Granger returns to form, moving Lance Stephenson to the bench should help a lot.
The Thunder scored 101 points, but they only had 9 assists, including only one by Kevin Durant, who was really passing well in the pre-season. This offense is really going to struggle if they don't move the ball more. Russell Westbrook's return will help this immensely, but he is still out for a couple weeks. I would like to see Durant create a little more for his teammates, because without Westbrook they are really lacking ball movers. Note: shooting 33 free throws doesn't help assist totals, but the point still remains.
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Sunday, July 7, 2013
Free Agency + Trade Reviews
Sacramento receives Greivis Vasquez and two second round picks
Portland receives Robin Lopez and Terrel Harris
Charlotte signs Al Jefferson for 3 years, $41 Million
Utah receives Richard Jefferson, Andris Biedrins, Brandon Rush, a 2014 and 2017 1st Round Picks and several 2nd round picks
Golden State signs Andre Iguodala for 4 years, $48 Million
Detroit signs Josh Smith for 4 years, $56 Million
Milwaukee signs O.J. Mayo for 3 years, $24 Million
Milwaukee signs Zaza Pachulia for 3 years, $16 Millions
Atlanta signs Paul Millsap for 2 years, $19 Million
Atlanta signs DeMarre Carroll for 2 years, $5 Million
Atlanta re-signs Kyle Korver for 4 years, $24 Million
Dallas signs Devin Harris for 3 years, $9 Million
New York re-signs J.R. Smith for 4 years, $24.7 Million
Cleveland signs Jarrett Jack for 4 years, $25 Million
Sacramento signs Carl Landry for 4 years, $26 Million
New York re-sign Pablo Prigioni for 3 years, $1.5 Million
As much as I dislike the Smith deal, I like this one for New York. When you put two ball-stoppers like Smith and Carmelo on the floor, it's important to have ball movers on the floor, which is exactly what Prigioni provides. He is already 36 years old, so I doubt he plays out the length of this contract, while the threat of decline is minimal due to the style of Prigioni's game and his current age. The other think Prigioni brings to the table is three point shooting, when you can actually get him to shoot, he shot 40% from 3. This will be important for floor spacing, especially since Steve Novak was traded.
Houston re-signs Francisco Garcia for 2 years, $2.6 Million
Indiana signs Chris Copeland for 2 years, $6.2 Million
New Orleans re-signs Al-Farouq Aminu for 1 year, $3.74 Million
Los Angeles Clippers re-signs Matt Barnes for 3 years, $11 Million
Los Angeles Clippers sign Darren Collison for 2 years, $2.8 Million
Philadelphia receives Royce White and the rights to Furkan Aldemir
San Antonio signs Marco Belinelli for 2 years, $5.6 Million
Cleveland signs Earl Clark for 2 years, $9 Million
This trade works out for all sides, with each team acquiring talent that fits their needs. For New Orleans, they get the best player in the deal in Evans, who finally got his game back on track last season. Evans is still a dynamic scorer who can play three positions, but he also needs to learn to play well with others. As a super-sixth man, Evans fits nicely on this roster and the five man group of Evans, Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson, and Anthony Davis has a lot of versatility and potential. The money is a lot, but New Orleans had to overpay a little so Sacramento didn't match, and they are paying a little for potential as well, but if Evans reverts to his year 2 and 3 performance, this deal could look ugly down the line. Not to be overlooked in this deal is Jeff Withey, who is a better rim protector than Lopez and should be able to basically replace his production at a cheaper price tag, though in a lesser role. The Kings, who needed to move on from Evans anyway, did a good job getting something out of the deal. Not only that, Sacramento got a player perfect for their team and one who should help them rebuild their culture. Greivis Vasquez is a pass first point guard that plays with tremendous passion and leadership, exactly the kind of player Sacramento needs to get the ball to DeMarcus Cousins and Ben McLemore. Also, he is in the last year of his deal, so if things don't work out, there is no long term investment. Also, the second round picks shouldn't be under-estimated in value, it's the best way to get ultra-cheap talent. For Portland, they were able to fill arguably their biggest need by landing a solid, if unspectacular starting center in Robin Lopez, who still has two years left on his deal. Lopez is important because it gives Meyers Leonard more time to develop without the pressure of being a starting player and playing a lot of minutes. All in all, this deal makes every team better, with only New Orleans taking on any kind of a risk.
This is one of the weirder signings so far in free agency, but in a lot of ways it makes sense. Charlotte has been unwatchable for quite a while and continue to get worse. If they keep on this path, stinking and taking lottery picks that may or may not pan put, what few fans that still go to games will be fed up. Charlotte needs to put a semi-watchable team on the floor or else they'll risk losing fans and maybe the franchise. However, I'm not sure overpaying Al Jefferson was the way to go. Jefferson is the best low-post scorer in the league, something Charlotte could certainly use, but they're giving a ton of money to a player that isn't a very good defender and who's upside makes you slightly better but not enough sniff the playoffs. Charlotte risks moving into the territory of missing out on top draft picks, but not making the playoffs, somewhere you don't want to be. Jefferson actually fits pretty well on Charlotte however, especially of Cody Zeller can become a perimeter 4 to space the floor for Jefferson in the low post. Bismack Biyombo, as limited offensively as he is, should help some with Jefferson's defensive issues.
Golden State receives Kevin Murphy
This is purely a salary dump for Golden State, to clear room so they can sign Andre Igoudala. Brandon Rush was a big part of the Warriors 2011-2012 season, but was out all of last season with a knee injury and didn't figure into their long term plans. The Jazz need another 2 guard, and if Rush is healthy will be a solid compliment to Alec Burks, particularly if he keeps up his 41% career 3-point shooting. Biedrins and Jefferson have no on court value and I doubt that either gets any playing time in Utah. All three total $24 Million in expiring contracts, which is the incentive for Utah taking them on. These contracts can be used as trade chips, or kept so Utah can have a ton of cap space next summer. However, this also means that Utah is pretty much punting on this season, building around the core of Derrick Favors, Trey Burke, Gordon Heyward, Enes Kanter and their two draft picks in next years loaded draft, one of which may be very high.
After clearing up all that cap space, the Warriors signed Andre Iguodala with the new space. Iguodala is a good fit on this team, as he won't have to be primary offensive player, but can focus on what he does best and really just be a third or fourth scoring option. Iguodala is an elite perimeter defender, capable of guard 1s, 2s, and 3s while also rebounding well for his position. Offensively, Iguodala is an elite finisher, especially in transition, who also has the ability to play point forward do to his ball handling and exceptional court vision. I love the idea of Iguodala with elite shooters in Klay Thompson and Steph Curry because he will be able to create shots for them. When he is on the floor, Iguodala should immediately upgrade the Warriors defense, and if used properly, their offense as well. The biggest issue with this signing is that it means neither Jarrett Jack or Carl Landry will be brought back, leaving them with essential a bench of second year forwards Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes, along with rookie guard Nemanja Nedovic. Andrew Bogut and Curry, two very injury prone players, are without any kind of proven backup. Filling out a solid bench, while also finding a backup point guard and center that can step in and start when needed will be challenging but necessary. One option is trading David Lee for pieces and moving Harrison Barnes into the starting lineup at power forward.
Though it will recieve a lot of criticism, the deal works if it is Detroit's intention is to bring Andre Drummond off the bench, starting Smith at power forward and playing a shooter like Kyle Singler at small forward. That would give them a deadly three man rotation in the frontcourt, and while they couldn't close games with those three on the court, Drummond's free throw problems make it difficult for him to play then regardless. If that's the case, this is still an over pay, but not the worst move in the world. If they intend to play significant minutes of Smith, Drummond, and Greg Monroe on the floor however, I really question it. Playing those three together will cause serious spacing issues and would force Smith, who's biggest problem is he is a bad jump shooter who loves to shoot, into taking jumpers. The risk on this deal isn't as big as when they signed Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon, who ended up being unplayable due to on court deficiencies because Smith is still a good player and should remain on for the who length of the contract. The risk is that the pieces won't fit and Detroit won't get the most out of a significant investment.
The Bucks are continuing their frustrating trend of being stuck in the middle of bottoming out to re-build and being any kind of serious contender. In the past 5 years, Milwaukee has won 38, 31, 35, 46, and 34 games and actually done a good job drafting, but never getting a real franchise changer because they always pick in the late lottery/mid-first round. Signing O.J. Mayo seems to be putting them into a holding pattern once again. I actually really like Mayo as a player, provided he is put in the right role, but what is the upside here? Mayo isn't going to make them go enough to contend, but will likely help them be too good to get a top pick. Mayo is a better player than Monta Ellis and it isn't close, so Bucks fans can take solace in that. I could be wrong about all this, but the Bucks have been throwing money at players like Mayo, Drew Gooden, John Salmons, and Ersan Ilyasova without much to show for it.
I really hope there is a trade coming, or else this deal makes so little sense. Zaza Pachulia is a solid backup center, but so are Gustavo Ayon and Ekpe Udoh, and for much cheaper. Even if both are traded, this is a lot of money to pay an offensively limited 29 year-old that plays the same position as your best player. I'd say that I don't know what the Bucks are doing, but they have shown a consistent trend of questionable moves and mediocre results.
Probably the best signing this offseason, the Hawks get one of the most underrated players in the league for a good price that doesn't lock them in too deep. Paul Millsap and Al Horford will comprise a very skilled and tough pair of bigs who can both score inside and out, rebound, and play above average defense. Millsap will only be 30 when this deal expires, so he's got another big contract in him. I like the direction the Hawks are going, and am a believer in their new coaching staff. My concern with this team is that they struggled last season to draw fouls, fourth worst in the league, and Millsap will only help some with that. They also could use another wing and have the cap space to go get one, I like Andrei Kirilenko here, or Corey Brewer on a lesser deal.
Another solid move by Atlanta here, getting a good backup wing who plays very hard for a cheap deal. DeMarre Carroll isn't particularly skilled offensively, but he's got a great motor and is a good rebounder and defender. Carroll isn't going to light up the scoreboard or even get much recognition, but his drive and hustle is a good addition to any team. Carroll has overcome liver disease and fought his way into the NBA, and that kind of drive is inspiring to teammates, not to mention the on court benefits of his defense and energy.
This may seem like a lot of money and years to give to a 32 year-old three point specialist, but this deal isn't as risky as it appears. First of all, Korver is a valuable player who is one of the best shooters in the league but was misused last season, a mistake that the new Hawks coaching staff is unlikely to make. While his one-on-one defense isn't the best, Korver has made himself into a good team defender as well as a good passer. Atlanta's roster still has a lot of remodeling left to be done, but if they want to build around Al Horford and Paul Millsap, shooting will be crucial. The reason this deal isn't as risky as it appears is that Korver is likely to retain all of his skills for most, if not all of his deal. Shooting, passing, and team defense don't rely as much on athleticism, which Korver lacks already anyways, so even at 36 he should be an effective, if slightly over-payed, shooting specialist.
Dallas signs Jose Calderon for 4 years, $29 Million
I don't think this is what Mark Cuban had in mind when he blew up a Championship team with hopes of landing a superstar in subsequent years. After whiffing on both Deron Williams and Dwight Howard, the Mavericks are left with Dirk Nowitzki and a bunch of ageing parts. What makes this signing so weird is that Jose Calderon is just another ageing piece. The Mavs have two options: trade Nowitzki and bottom out in a very good draft year with a big free agent class next or go after the rest of this free agent class, the likes of Andrew Bynum, Monta Ellis, Corey Brewer, Jarrett Jack, or try to get a restricted free agent like Nikola Pekovic. This signing seems to point in the direction of the latter, as the Calderon alone isn't enough to make Dallas a contender, but also unnecessary for a team attempting to blow it up and rebuild. With Calderon turning 32 before the season, this deal is risky for Dallas, but like Korver in Atlanta, Calderon should be able to keep around the same level of performance. Calderon isn't a good perpetrator or defensive player anyways, so it's not like he'll lose that with age. What he does bring to the table is tremendous shooting, passing, and an extremely low amount of turnovers. Calderon and Nowitzki should be deadly running pick and pop, and on the court this deal makes sense, just not for the overall direction of the franchise.
I don't think this is what Mark Cuban had in mind when he blew up a Championship team with hopes of landing a superstar in subsequent years. After whiffing on both Deron Williams and Dwight Howard, the Mavericks are left with Dirk Nowitzki and a bunch of ageing parts. What makes this signing so weird is that Jose Calderon is just another ageing piece. The Mavs have two options: trade Nowitzki and bottom out in a very good draft year with a big free agent class next or go after the rest of this free agent class, the likes of Andrew Bynum, Monta Ellis, Corey Brewer, Jarrett Jack, or try to get a restricted free agent like Nikola Pekovic. This signing seems to point in the direction of the latter, as the Calderon alone isn't enough to make Dallas a contender, but also unnecessary for a team attempting to blow it up and rebuild. With Calderon turning 32 before the season, this deal is risky for Dallas, but like Korver in Atlanta, Calderon should be able to keep around the same level of performance. Calderon isn't a good perpetrator or defensive player anyways, so it's not like he'll lose that with age. What he does bring to the table is tremendous shooting, passing, and an extremely low amount of turnovers. Calderon and Nowitzki should be deadly running pick and pop, and on the court this deal makes sense, just not for the overall direction of the franchise.
Dallas appears to be attempting to fill out their roster to at least be competitive this season. Devin Harris, once a promising star, has really fallen off in recent years and isn't a starting caliber player anymore. I do like his fit as a slashing two guard off the bench, and should be a good change of pace to the steady Jose Calderon, who isn't much of a penetrator. I think Dallas should blow it up, but if they want to go in another direction, this is a solid value signing.
After flirting with the Bucks and others, J.R. Smith the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, re-signed with the Knicks. I don't hate J.R. Smith as a player, nor do I think this is an unreasonable contract for what Smith provides. However, I hate his fit on the Knicks and I don't like the direction they are going with this roster. Giving prominent minutes to two ISO-heavy offensive players who don't play defense isn't how you win in today's NBA. New York is making themselves into a middle of the pack Eastern Conference team that maybe gets past the first round in the playoffs, but will be exposed by the top teams in the league on both ends of the floor.
This is an interesting deal because it is pretty big money for a team to give player who is best with the ball in his hands and plays the same position as the team's best player, who also is best with the ball in hands. I understand the rational behind the signing though, putting Jack in that super sixth man role who can backup either guard spots, on both ends of the floor. Also, and perhaps most importantly, it gives Cleveland a starting caliber point guard who can step in when the often injured Kyrie Irving has to miss time, much the same way Golden State used Jack to backup Steph Curry. Misguided or not, Cleveland wants to make a run at the playoffs, something which Jack will certainly help with. One other concern, Jack will be 30 at the start of the season, so this deal could go south towards the end.
With a new lease on life in the city of Sacramento as well as finally having new ownership and management, the Kings are ready to change their image and turn the franchise around. Drafting Ben McLemore and Ray McCallum, then trading for Greivis Vasquez was the first step, now they have brought in an underrated forward who has played for the organization before. Carl Landry is a hard working, high quality big man who is comfortable coming off the bench or starting. When ever he comes on the floor, Landry brings efficient offense, rebounding, toughness, and leadership, all things that the Kings can use. It might take a couple years to establish a new culture in Sacramento, but this is a good start.
As much as I dislike the Smith deal, I like this one for New York. When you put two ball-stoppers like Smith and Carmelo on the floor, it's important to have ball movers on the floor, which is exactly what Prigioni provides. He is already 36 years old, so I doubt he plays out the length of this contract, while the threat of decline is minimal due to the style of Prigioni's game and his current age. The other think Prigioni brings to the table is three point shooting, when you can actually get him to shoot, he shot 40% from 3. This will be important for floor spacing, especially since Steve Novak was traded.
There was some market for Francisco Garcia, so the Rockets did well to him bring back. Garcia is a veteran, do-it-all forward with some good shooting ability, which will be crucial with Dwight Howard on the floor. What might have appealed most to Rockets about Garcia was his performance in the playoffs last season, where he defended Kevin Durant better than any other Rocket and shot a blistering 46% from 3. This signing was important because Houston was unable to re-sign Carlos Delfino, so Garcia will serve as the primary backup wing, barring another move by Houston.
The Pacers get one of the best, sneaky good signings of the off season by bringing in Chris Copeland to continue to bolster the bench. The bench for Indiana last season was abysmal, but now with the addition of Copeland, C.J. Watson, and the return of Danny Granger, this has become a strength. Copeland is a terrific offensive player who can play either forward position and really light it up, averaging a 8.7 points in just 15.4 minutes a game. I imagine he'll serve as David West's primary backup, bringing an added dimension of 3-point shooting to the team when he is one the floor: Copeland shot 42% from 3 last season.
I am suprised that Al-Farouq Aminu, who is coming off his best season as a pro and is only 22 years old, didn't have more of a market this offseason. As long as you know Aminu's limits as a player, he can be very useful. Aminu is not a skilled offensive player, he struggles shooting and dribbling, but is a very good finisher, particularly in transition. Where Aminu adds value is on defense and the glass, he is huge for a wing player and with terrific length and athleticism while learning more and more how to play NBA defense. With all the creators New Orleans has on the perimeter, plus Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson inside, Aminu won't have much pressure to produce offensively, other than what is created for him.
Portland signs Dorell Wright for 2 years, $6 Million
Like the Pacers, the Blazers continue to bolster their bench, which was a significant weakness for them last season. The Thunder also were reported to be after Dorell Wright, so I am surprised Portland were able to get him for such a good value deal. Wright is a classic 3-and-D wing player who's value is based on his shooting and defense, both of which are above average. Wright doesn't do a whole lot else, and isn't super efficient scoring in between the arc and the rim, but as a back up who can spread the floor and has the size at 6-9 to defend bigger wings, Wright has value.
The Clippers have done a great job finding shooters and wing players, but the still need to find some bigs and grit players. Matt Barnes is a combo forward who may end up being Blake Griffin's primary backup. Barnes is a decent shooter, but where he provides his real value is defensively, on the boards, and working off the ball. He is a good defender who can guard 3s and more 4s, while offensively he's one of the best cutters in the league. The Clippers are putting together a solid, deep roster for a title run, however they still need a couple more bigs.
What a great deal for the Clippers, reuniting Darren Collison with former teammate Chris Paul and giving L.A. their backup. Collison had his best season coming off the bench as a change-of-pace guard, which seems to be his best role in the NBA. With the second year a player option, this is basically a rehab deal for Collison to improve his stock after a disastrous season in Dallas, in which he was benched for Mike James and lost the trust of his coach. If Collison does well, he can opt out and seek a better deal, if not he will opt in and give it another shot.
Houston receives future draft considerations
In another attempt to clear mor cap space, the Rockets have parted ways with the very talented and unique Royce White. White, drafted 16th overall last draft by Houston, has yet to play a minute of NBA basketball, but is better known for his public clashes with Rocket's management. White is a huge point forward with tremendous court vision and passing skills. He can also score in the high and low post and rebound. Philadelphia is a second, and perhaps last chance for White, who needs to prove he's valuable enough as an NBA player for teams to deal with the other issues. Furkan Aldemir may never play in the NBA but is noteworthy because of the high level of motor and intensity he plays with as an undersized power forward.
Any time the Spurs sign a player it requires a second look due to their success rate with free agents and Greg Popovich's ability to get the most out of players. Marco Belinelli is up and down, seemingly from game to game, where he'll be on fire one night and missing wide open shots the next. This is a low risk deal for the Spurs, as Belinelli will be their third strong shooting guard. However the upside is that he plays well enough for Manu Ginobili to get plenty of rest during the regular season, in preperation for the playoffs.
This is basically a one year "show me" deal, as the second year is a team option. Earl Clark had a lot of offensive potential coming out of college, but hasn't ever really been able to put it all together on that end of the floor. However, as a 6-10, 225 with long arms he has the ability to be a very good wing defender, which will presumably be the role Cleveland has envisioned for him. If he delivers on that end or improves his offense, they can pick up the option, if not, they won't have lost much.
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