Post by TimPig on Sept 2, 2018 23:55:06 GMT
I was planning on doing a different division this season, but the Central, once the laughing stock of TMBSL, looks prepared to take some pretty huge steps this year.
Atlanta Hawks
Key Additions: None
Key Losses: Benji Hammon, Juwanna Mann
The Hawks are one team that I think noticeably worse during the offseason with the retirement of three-time all-star point guard Benji Hammon. JHB had been preparing for this moment for some time with the acquisition of Chris Chiozza in 2003. That’s a long time to be paying a huge contract to a backup point guard, but he really didn’t have to give up much to acquire him. Chiozza can’t score like Benji did, but he’s about twice the rebounder and turns it over a bit less. Much of the volume made up by Benji should be distributed between two very efficient wings in Deng Adel and Kevin Knox. This is definitely still a playoff team with their backcourt, but the bigs prevent this from being any more than a 4-6 seed and out of the playoffs by the second roundl. Mitchell Robinson hasn’t developed since his G League days and none of his other bigs are worth more than a minimum.
Record Prediction: 47-35
Charlotte Hornets
Key Additions: Yao Ming, Shareef O’Neal, Seventh Woods, Jalen Brunson (eventually)
Key Losses: None
You have to hand it to Fecta - being that bad for that long isn’t easy. He lucked his way into two 1.1s that were Collin-Sexton-in-4.0 levels of obvious. Then, with space for two maxes, he signed a pair of guys that aren’t max worthy, but should certainly still be above average players. I think he overpaid for both but a desperate fan base needed something to celebrate. I’m not sure anyone on this team will be putting up more than 10 rebounds per game which is the biggest hole I see, though defense may also be lacking. Unless one or both of Yao and Giannis develop into a true superstar, I still don’t think this team has the makeup of a contender. Five above average to good starters and a few very good depth pieces in Jon Pierce, RJ Barrett, and Jalen Brunson, but I don’t know if I see anyone here becoming truly elite.
Record Prediction: 51-31
Chicago Bulls
Key Additions: Nick King, Tacko Fall
Key Losses: Brad Daugherty
Things got really shaken up last year with the Ayton trade as the Bulls went from a team with tons of depth and a series of above average to good starters (like the Hornets of this year) with lots of draft picks to a team centered around an elite big man and a desire to win now. Lots of cap maneuvering was done to open up max space this offseason prior to Jamison’s inevitable salary bump once his rookie contract ends, and with that, the team added Nick King from Orlando. King is another highly efficient wing who should thrive in an inside-focused offense. It may have been a slight overpay for his services, but Chicago absolutely had to sign someone this offseason due to the aforementioned cap situation. Team-friendly resigns by Herb Jones and Stan Haynes in the offseason prevented the depth from getting totally shot, but it’s still not as great as you’d hope, which sim one demonstrated. Brad Daugherty was a highly-efficient third big but apparently was still upset about getting traded to Charlotte years ago that he took Portland’s MLE offer over Chicago’s. Once healthy, this team should be a title contender.
Record Prediction: 57-25
Cleveland Cavaliers
Key Additions: Marcus Haislip, Ben McLemore
Key Losses: None
Delap takes over this team and...ouch. It’s bad. The best thing I can see about this team is Ben McLemore, a piece the Cavs demanded in order to get the Bucks under the hard cap. I know it’s reaching saying that McLemore is worth much at this point, but he’s probably the most valuable asset this team has had since Sabonis was traded to the Wizards. In that trade, the Cavs received guard Nemanja Nedovic, who actually looks like a decent player as well. Some lab love to his inside should help his efficiency and he doesn’t turn it over, so I consider him a serviceable starter with horrendous rebounding, even for a point guard. Haislip is another unknown at this point, but the small sample size is promising. Outside of three young players who don’t have incredibly high ceilings in my opinion, this is a roster that’ll take years to fix.
Record Prediction: 14-68
Detroit Pistons
Key Additions: None
Key Losses: None
This team has the almost exact same roster as last year, except that rookie Carlos Boozer replaces Austin Wiley up front. Boozer is young so Baller4Ever clearly wants to see what he has in him, but Dump’s inactivity looks to finally be catching up to this roster after a good creation draft. Jackie Moon isn’t the player he once was and Yommy’s lack of defense and free throw shooting prevent him from being worthy anywhere near the max contract he’s being paid. Overall, I think this team has one of the worst situations in the league. Shamorie Ponds needs to be traded for multiple prospects and/or firsts and a total rebuild needs to get underway. I’d probably also use the n00b amnesty on Yommy and then try and use a good chunk of the cap space that opens up this offseason to make a splash in free agency or take on someone else’s bad contract for additional assets.
Record Prediction: 26-56
Indiana Pacers
Key Additions: Chalky Studebaker
Key Losses: Seventh Woods
The Pacers have some really nice young pieces in Oladipo, Donta Hall, and Morris Peterson, as well as arguably the league’s best scorer in Daniel Taurasi. Heebs builds perennial playoff contenders but this team lacks any real depth - Bol Bol is their third big, Chalky is their backup wing, and Speedy Claxton backs up at the point. With Taurasi at 31, I’d probably be looking to trade him for a point guard and lots of other pieces, as Oladipo’s turnovers make me think he’d be better off playing the two. Seventh Woods' departure reduces this team's flexibility quite a bit, but I don't think Heebs wanted to give him anywhere near what he ended up signing for. I really like Peterson and think he’s one of the league’s very good young wings, though lack of defense probably prevents him from ever being the best. Still, his efficiency is getting better and better and he’s a solid rebounder - definitely a guy worthy of a max contract. With all of his picks gone to the Raptors, this team will have trouble adding much else, which is why I think the time is right to deal Taurasi. Shabazz isn’t cutting it at power forward and there’s no real depth to speak of.
Record Prediction: 49-33
Milwaukee Bucks
Key Additions: Malcolm Moore, Jay Williams
Key Losses: Shavon Shields
Sheezy’s legacy will live on forever in 5.0 as the guy who drafted Jay Williams in the lone move he ever made. Williams isn’t great yet but I certainly expect him to reach those levels, and he’ll do so alongside Bamba, Fizer, and Guyton, which gives this team one of the best young cores in the league. Guyton and Williams probably could have turned out to make up a pretty dang good (but undersized) backcourt, but you can’t really fault Druce for paying the low price of three meh draft picks for Moore, who has made multiple all-league, all-star, and all-defensive teams. Champ Godbolt, who still has +25, is a pretty darn good third big, but I don’t think Druce wants to pay a max contract to a third big. Not to mention, he could probably get a pretty significant return for him. I expect the Bucks will contend for titles over the next few seasons, but we can be sure to put asterisks next to each of those since A) Sheezy clearly built this team and B) Druce knew the build of all of the players.
Record Prediction: 54-28
Toronto Raptors
Key Additions: Anfernee Simons, Luka Doncic
Key Losses: Carsen Edwards
Poor luck in the unweighted lotto has really doomed the Raptors, who haven’t been able to add another piece outside of Miles Bridges and Cuttino Mobley, two good wings that can score a ton of points with plus efficiency. Neither Carsen Edwards nor Nick Richards took the next step after signs of promise early on and both are being moved on from. Even if Mobley resigns on a big contract this offseason, the Raptors should still have a good chunk of small cap to spend in free agency and they’re loaded with picks. If they can hit on a good big in the lottery, which they’ll surely be in again this season, that should give them the three pieces they need to build around. I don’t think Zeller will ever be great, but he can definitely be a good third big and maybe even start with a decent training camp and some help in the lab. This is a team that I think could benefit by adding someone like Milwaukee Champ Godbolt. He’s likely got the picks to do it, can certainly pay him, and is in dire need of an upgrade inside.
Record Prediction: 30-52
Atlanta HawksKey Additions: None
Key Losses: Benji Hammon, Juwanna Mann
The Hawks are one team that I think noticeably worse during the offseason with the retirement of three-time all-star point guard Benji Hammon. JHB had been preparing for this moment for some time with the acquisition of Chris Chiozza in 2003. That’s a long time to be paying a huge contract to a backup point guard, but he really didn’t have to give up much to acquire him. Chiozza can’t score like Benji did, but he’s about twice the rebounder and turns it over a bit less. Much of the volume made up by Benji should be distributed between two very efficient wings in Deng Adel and Kevin Knox. This is definitely still a playoff team with their backcourt, but the bigs prevent this from being any more than a 4-6 seed and out of the playoffs by the second roundl. Mitchell Robinson hasn’t developed since his G League days and none of his other bigs are worth more than a minimum.
Record Prediction: 47-35
Charlotte HornetsKey Additions: Yao Ming, Shareef O’Neal, Seventh Woods, Jalen Brunson (eventually)
Key Losses: None
You have to hand it to Fecta - being that bad for that long isn’t easy. He lucked his way into two 1.1s that were Collin-Sexton-in-4.0 levels of obvious. Then, with space for two maxes, he signed a pair of guys that aren’t max worthy, but should certainly still be above average players. I think he overpaid for both but a desperate fan base needed something to celebrate. I’m not sure anyone on this team will be putting up more than 10 rebounds per game which is the biggest hole I see, though defense may also be lacking. Unless one or both of Yao and Giannis develop into a true superstar, I still don’t think this team has the makeup of a contender. Five above average to good starters and a few very good depth pieces in Jon Pierce, RJ Barrett, and Jalen Brunson, but I don’t know if I see anyone here becoming truly elite.
Record Prediction: 51-31
Chicago BullsKey Additions: Nick King, Tacko Fall
Key Losses: Brad Daugherty
Things got really shaken up last year with the Ayton trade as the Bulls went from a team with tons of depth and a series of above average to good starters (like the Hornets of this year) with lots of draft picks to a team centered around an elite big man and a desire to win now. Lots of cap maneuvering was done to open up max space this offseason prior to Jamison’s inevitable salary bump once his rookie contract ends, and with that, the team added Nick King from Orlando. King is another highly efficient wing who should thrive in an inside-focused offense. It may have been a slight overpay for his services, but Chicago absolutely had to sign someone this offseason due to the aforementioned cap situation. Team-friendly resigns by Herb Jones and Stan Haynes in the offseason prevented the depth from getting totally shot, but it’s still not as great as you’d hope, which sim one demonstrated. Brad Daugherty was a highly-efficient third big but apparently was still upset about getting traded to Charlotte years ago that he took Portland’s MLE offer over Chicago’s. Once healthy, this team should be a title contender.
Record Prediction: 57-25
Cleveland CavaliersKey Additions: Marcus Haislip, Ben McLemore
Key Losses: None
Delap takes over this team and...ouch. It’s bad. The best thing I can see about this team is Ben McLemore, a piece the Cavs demanded in order to get the Bucks under the hard cap. I know it’s reaching saying that McLemore is worth much at this point, but he’s probably the most valuable asset this team has had since Sabonis was traded to the Wizards. In that trade, the Cavs received guard Nemanja Nedovic, who actually looks like a decent player as well. Some lab love to his inside should help his efficiency and he doesn’t turn it over, so I consider him a serviceable starter with horrendous rebounding, even for a point guard. Haislip is another unknown at this point, but the small sample size is promising. Outside of three young players who don’t have incredibly high ceilings in my opinion, this is a roster that’ll take years to fix.
Record Prediction: 14-68
Detroit PistonsKey Additions: None
Key Losses: None
This team has the almost exact same roster as last year, except that rookie Carlos Boozer replaces Austin Wiley up front. Boozer is young so Baller4Ever clearly wants to see what he has in him, but Dump’s inactivity looks to finally be catching up to this roster after a good creation draft. Jackie Moon isn’t the player he once was and Yommy’s lack of defense and free throw shooting prevent him from being worthy anywhere near the max contract he’s being paid. Overall, I think this team has one of the worst situations in the league. Shamorie Ponds needs to be traded for multiple prospects and/or firsts and a total rebuild needs to get underway. I’d probably also use the n00b amnesty on Yommy and then try and use a good chunk of the cap space that opens up this offseason to make a splash in free agency or take on someone else’s bad contract for additional assets.
Record Prediction: 26-56
Indiana PacersKey Additions: Chalky Studebaker
Key Losses: Seventh Woods
The Pacers have some really nice young pieces in Oladipo, Donta Hall, and Morris Peterson, as well as arguably the league’s best scorer in Daniel Taurasi. Heebs builds perennial playoff contenders but this team lacks any real depth - Bol Bol is their third big, Chalky is their backup wing, and Speedy Claxton backs up at the point. With Taurasi at 31, I’d probably be looking to trade him for a point guard and lots of other pieces, as Oladipo’s turnovers make me think he’d be better off playing the two. Seventh Woods' departure reduces this team's flexibility quite a bit, but I don't think Heebs wanted to give him anywhere near what he ended up signing for. I really like Peterson and think he’s one of the league’s very good young wings, though lack of defense probably prevents him from ever being the best. Still, his efficiency is getting better and better and he’s a solid rebounder - definitely a guy worthy of a max contract. With all of his picks gone to the Raptors, this team will have trouble adding much else, which is why I think the time is right to deal Taurasi. Shabazz isn’t cutting it at power forward and there’s no real depth to speak of.
Record Prediction: 49-33
Milwaukee BucksKey Additions: Malcolm Moore, Jay Williams
Key Losses: Shavon Shields
Sheezy’s legacy will live on forever in 5.0 as the guy who drafted Jay Williams in the lone move he ever made. Williams isn’t great yet but I certainly expect him to reach those levels, and he’ll do so alongside Bamba, Fizer, and Guyton, which gives this team one of the best young cores in the league. Guyton and Williams probably could have turned out to make up a pretty dang good (but undersized) backcourt, but you can’t really fault Druce for paying the low price of three meh draft picks for Moore, who has made multiple all-league, all-star, and all-defensive teams. Champ Godbolt, who still has +25, is a pretty darn good third big, but I don’t think Druce wants to pay a max contract to a third big. Not to mention, he could probably get a pretty significant return for him. I expect the Bucks will contend for titles over the next few seasons, but we can be sure to put asterisks next to each of those since A) Sheezy clearly built this team and B) Druce knew the build of all of the players.
Record Prediction: 54-28
Toronto RaptorsKey Additions: Anfernee Simons, Luka Doncic
Key Losses: Carsen Edwards
Poor luck in the unweighted lotto has really doomed the Raptors, who haven’t been able to add another piece outside of Miles Bridges and Cuttino Mobley, two good wings that can score a ton of points with plus efficiency. Neither Carsen Edwards nor Nick Richards took the next step after signs of promise early on and both are being moved on from. Even if Mobley resigns on a big contract this offseason, the Raptors should still have a good chunk of small cap to spend in free agency and they’re loaded with picks. If they can hit on a good big in the lottery, which they’ll surely be in again this season, that should give them the three pieces they need to build around. I don’t think Zeller will ever be great, but he can definitely be a good third big and maybe even start with a decent training camp and some help in the lab. This is a team that I think could benefit by adding someone like Milwaukee Champ Godbolt. He’s likely got the picks to do it, can certainly pay him, and is in dire need of an upgrade inside.
Record Prediction: 30-52
