Post by Majic on Sept 5, 2018 14:17:03 GMT
Welcome to the first ever Majic and Druce Prognostication Special. In today's article we are going to take a look at the Eastern Conference and grade each team based on where where we see them over the next 5 years. You will notice that we have come up with a list of Notable Players as well as Future Assets to help in our decisions. Each of us weighed things a little differently, but on the whole we didn't have anything we greatly disagreed on.
Grading is on a scale of 0-10: 10 being the most prepared to be a title contender in 5 years, 0 being a lottery team in purgatory.
Keep in mind, while most of the Notable Players listed will be the teams best players, it may not always. We wanted to look at both talent and cap when making our determinations. Some players listed are not the best, but carry large salaries for a number of years and could potentially be a problem.
Asterisks notate a player that is in the last year of his contract.
We will be posting the Western Conference later this week.
So without further ado, here is the Eastern Conference:
Boston Celtics
Notable Players: Sekou Doumbouya (24), Mark Price (27), Meadowlark Lemon (30), Wendell Carter Jr. (25)
Future Assets:
Celtics 07 1st
Celtics 08 1st
Celtics 09 1st
Celtics 10 1st
Celtics 11 1st
Majic Grade: 5
Druce Grade: 2
Comments:
Majic: This team just doesn't have a lot of excitement around it. Sekou is an elite player that is both young and signed long term. Price is not good and that contract is going to hurt this team over the next couple year, same can be said for Carter JR. The Schroder pick looked bad immediately and nothing has proven that to be wrong. The best thing the Celtics have going for them over the next couple years is the fact they have all of their picks and a GM that will actually pay attention. Hopefully they can hit on a pick or two, ride out the bad contracts and turn things around.
Druce: I think Ank’s really got his work cut out for himself here. Outside of Sekou there is nothing. With unweighted lotto this team could just continue floating in the abyss. The Price and Carter deals kill their cap, no flexibility.
Harlem Globetrotters
Notable Players: Dolph Schayes (31), Elvis Delle Donne* (31), Dazon Ingram (27), Dillon Chambers* (26)
Future Assets:
Globetrotters 09 1st
Globetrotters 11 1st
Majic Grade: 6
Druce Grade:5.5
Comments:
Druce: I think Ward might be approaching no man's land here with what he’s got vs. assets he has to acquire more talent. Schayes, DD and Ingram are a very good core, but outside of that there isn’t a whole lot there, and not a ton left to acquire more players. If I’m Ward I’m trying to sell Schayes and Delle Donne to the highest bidder and build around Ingram.
Majic: Have to say I agree with pretty much all of what Druce mentioned. Donne is going to need a new contract this next offseason, and Schayes will be right behind the year after, cap situation could get really tricky. Ingram is signed long term at a great contract so that helps lesson things. I like the idea of selling off Schayes and Donne and recouping some assets to help with a retooling. Going to take some smart maneuvering from Ward to remain competitive in 5 years.
Miami Heat
Notable Players: Zion Williamson (24), Ray McCallum Jr. (23), Benji Wilson (30), DerMarr Johnson (22)
Future Assets:
Heat 08 1st
Heat 09 1st
Heat 10 1st
Heat 11 1st
Majic Grade: 9.5
Druce Grade: 9.3
Comments:
Majic: This is one of the better situations in the league right now. Zion, McCallum and DerMarr are all young stars already performing at a high level. Add in the veteran steady presence of Benji and this team should not only compete for a high seed now, but in the years to come. I like the fact that they have all but their 07 pick, so the ability to build depth through the draft is there. Only thing I might look into if I was the GM would be to flip Benji for some future assets.
Druce: Probably one of if not the best team Yawn has put together. DerMarr, Ray, and Zion all being within a few years of each other is a really nice thing to have going for you. Majic pretty much nailed it. I like this team to contend for titles through their big 3’s prime.
New York Knicks
Notable Players: Firsto Picko (29), Neon Boudeaux (35), Quincy McCall (35), Whitey Von Nieda (29)
Future Assets:
Knicks 11 2nd
Majic Grade: 4.5
Druce Grade: 6.8
Comments:
Druce: The Knicks are title favorites in the now with Firsto and Neon, the trouble lies with them having exhausted basically all future assets. At some point they’ll have to rebuild as Neon and McCall are 35. Firsto probably keeps them in the playoffs alone for the next few years, but if he starts falling off then that could mean trouble for the Knicks fast. It’ll be interesting to see what eric does with this aging team.
Majic: I am a lot lower than Druce on this one, mainly because this team is so devoid of any real assets. Neon and Quincy are likely to be out of the league within 1-2 year, and even if they are still around how good will they be? On top of that, Eric doesn't have a pick to trade until next offseason when he gets 1 first back. He will likely have a lot of cap flexibility once Neon and Quincy are gone, but he will then be relying on a lot of FA luck. The only thing that kept me from putting this grade lower was the fact that Eric is an above average GM, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him put something competitive together.
Orlando Magic
Notable Players: Cam Parker (31), Brandon Griner (32), Jake Shuttlesworth (36), Thomas Wilder (31)
Future Assets:
Magic 10 1st
Magic 11 1st
Majic Grade: 5.5
Druce Grade: 5.0
Comments:
Majic: This reminds me a lot of the situation that the Globetrotters are currently in. Short term this team is a title contender and should be for another year or two. Beyond that it looks like this could be a total rebuild. The core of this team is all old and on expensive contracts. As soon as one or more of them starts falling off, this team could take a downward turn quickly. Could see a situation where Skrouse sells off, but given the size and length of some of the contracts I am not sure what the return will be.
Druce: Losing King really hurts Skrouse. I think his teams peak was their playoff performance last season. I don’t see them going any further with this core, but they should be able to find a trade partner for Griner and Parker. Smart money sells high on both those players before their decline starts, but I also historically sell players in their early 30s.
Washington Bullets
Notable Players: Simisola Shittu (24), Barry Obama (33), Charles Barkley* (25), Ricardo Strong* (20)
Future Assets:
Bullets 07 1st
Bullets 08 1st
Bullets 09 1st
Bullets 10 1st
Bullets 11 1st
Majic Grade: 5.5
Druce Grade: 6
Comments:
Druce: Shittu is young, Barkley is young, Ricardo is young good start there. Need to add a couple pieces but also have all their picks. I have faith that kn can make the necessary moves to bring the Bullets some success, but that would also require him paying a bit more attention to the league. As they stand the Bullets need to hope for some development out of Chuck and a couple picks to hit and they could be in a pretty solid spot.
Majic: I echo a lot of what Druce said, but overall I am a lot more pessimistic about this team. Kn has not been the most active GM in 5.0 and I think this team needs some TLC to push it into a contender. Shittu is great, but he's already halfway through his first max and that next contract will get expensive. For this team to make a jump it's going to take a keen eye and finding a stud in the draft.
Washington Wizards
Notable Players: Collin Sexton (25), Troy Brown (26), Jontay Porter (25), Arvydas Sabonis (26)
Future Assets:
Wizards 10 1st
Wizards 11 1st
Majic Grade: 7.5
Druce Grade: 8.0
Comments:
Majic: This score is mostly a reflection of what this team has as its core. This is a really strong core, all entering their prime and signed long term. In addition they added a guy like Bennett to the mix via the draft 2 off-seasons ago. They might need some more depth, but it wouldn't shock me to see them win a title. I also like the fact that they still have 2 future firsts to play with. They can use those as trade bait or count on those to infuse some younger talent into the roster in a few years. Only fear is regression in any of these guys, but I doubt that happens.
Druce: Jordan McLaughlin could be just what the doctor ordered for HT and the Wiz. Sexton and Brown are studs and the more shots you can feed them the better, unlike Majic who becomes a sloppy racist after a bunch of shots. Core is within 1 year of each other. I really like what HT has put together, they may need some front court depth, but aside from that they’ve got a real stew going in Washington.
Atlanta Hawks
Notable Players: Kevin Knox (25), Mitchell Robinson (25), Deng Adel (28), Chris Chiozza* (29)
Future Assets:
Hawks 07 1st
Hawks 10 1st
Hawks 11 1st
Majic Grade: 5.2
Druce Grade: 5.7
Comments:
Druce: Lacking a real elite player to hang their hat on. Knox is a solid piece and still young, Deng is a solid piece and getting a bit older. Robinson I thought would progress a lot better than he has. There just isn’t a ton to get excited about in when answering the question “can this team make noise in the playoffs moving forward” if they can find an alpha dog to go with their complimentary pieces the grade goes up 2 full points for me.
Majic: JHB has done a great job at keeping his team in the hunt every season. He has seen a number of players get larger deals elsewhere, but has continued to make appearances in the playoffs. While I dont think that stops, I do think this team is closer to lottery than they are a title. Knox, Deng and Chiozza are nice pieces but they're not winning you a title as your core 3. I could see JHB recognizing his position and selling off for some assets to rebuild.
Charlotte Hornets
Notable Players: Giannis Antetokounmpo (20), Vince Carter* (24), Seventh Woods (25), Shareef O’Neal (24), Yao Ming (22)
Future Assets:
Hornets 07 1st
Hornets 09 1st
Hornets 10 1st
Hornets 11 st
Mavericks 09 1st
Mavericks 10 1st
Suns 09 1st
Majic Grade: 9.8
Druce Grade:10
Comments:
Majic: If there was a better situation in the league right now I can't think of one. Having a foundation built around Yao and Giannis is a damn good place to start. It also helps that you have above average players like Vince and Shareef playing as complimentary pieces. I didn't like the Seventh Woods contract but he's off to a hot start this season. Finally Fecte recently added Brunson for the cost of a future first, and while Brunson isn't that great of a player he is a nice boost off the bench. Only concern long term will be keeping all of these guys and finding a way to make all the contracts work. Not the worst problem to have.
Druce: When fecta was kicking around trading Yao I just kept laughing to myself. What can be said about fecta that hasn’t already been said about the real life Knicks front office. I think this team is in a perfect position to a dynastic run, so we’ll see how fecta fucks it up.
Chicago Bulls
Notable Players: DeAndre Ayton (26), Antawn Jamison* (25), Nick King (31), Stan Haynes* (37) **editors note: Desmond Mason and Herb Jones are also on the bulls roster**
Future Assets:
Bulls 07 2nd
Bulls 08 2nd
Knicks 08 2nd
Knicks 09 2nd
Majic Grade: 7.5
Druce Grade: 7.8
Comments:
Druce: Ayton is a stud, Jamison is a stud. Nick King on the deal he’s on is a very good piece. Haynes is up there in age. Majic didn’t note their PG above, but he’s pretty solid as well. The Bulls should be around the top of the east for the next few seasons and I can see them winning a title or two. They also don’t have any picks left so they’ll have to find someone in FA to fill their frontcourt after Haynes retires and hope for Desmond Mason to keep filling the backup wing role and not leave in FA.
Majic: I really like the team that Tim has built and alot of his future success will be based on Jamison resigning. As long as that happens this team will continually be in the mix in the East. As druce said, all the pieces are there, Tim is just going to have to be smart about his FA signings. This grade could change drastically if a couple guys decide to sign elsewhere in the next 2 offseason cycles.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Notable Players: Udoka Azubuike (28), , Ken Nielsen (23), Ben McLemore (21)
Future Assets:
Bulls 08 1st
Jazz 10 1st
Cavaliers 07 1st
Cavaliers 08 1st
Cavaliers 09 1st
Cavaliers 10 1st
Cavaliers 11 1st
Majic Grade: 2.8
Druce Grade: 0
Comments:
Majic: This situation is the complete opposite of what the Hornets have as there is literally nothing on this roster to be excited about. 2 of their better players were just traded for a couple of future firsts with really only 1 of them having any chance at being any good. The only thing going for the Cavs at this point is the fact they have a GM that cares. I think Delap will put some time into them, something they have badly needed as this roster is rough. Just have to hope for some Lotto luck and hitting on a couple guys.
Druce: I’ll give them what I gave the Celtics minus 2 points for not having Sekou. Their only hope is that delap gives enough of a shit to try and build this team. Their future picks outside their own are pretty crap, and they need unweighted luck.
Detroit Pistons
Notable Players: Yommy Sangodeyi (29), Shamorie Ponds (27), Jackie Moon* (34), Braxton Key* (27)
Future Assets:
Pistons 07 1st
Pistons 08 1st
Pistons 09 1st
Pistons 10 1st
Pistons 11 1st
Majic Grade: 3.4
Druce Grade: 4.2
Comments:
Druce: Just not a lot here. Lost Luke Maye a few years back, Moon is old. Yommy is dominant and Ponds is above average, but those two alone aren’t going to bring any sustained success. I believe Dump knew this when he quit and it’s why he left when he did. Yommy and Ponds probably keep this pick out of the lotto, so they’ll have to find a sleeper or two to do any damage before Yommy ages, and I just don’t see it happening.
Majic: Another instance where me and Druce share the same thoughts. This team is in wasteland in terms of talent. Yommy is great but likely reaching the end of his prime years. That contract will get rough at the end. Beyond that there is no young talent on the team that can contribute and help long term. Ponds is OK but not with that massive contract. Have to hope for some Lotto luck to infuse some talent.
Indiana Pacers
Notable Players: Daniel Taurasi (31), Victor Oladipo (22), Karim Shabazz* (33), Donte Hall (27), Morris Peterson (25)
Future Assets:
Magic 08 1st
Pacers 09 1st
Pacers 10 1st
Pacers 11 1st
Majic Grade: 6.5
Druce Grade: 7.7
Comments:
Majic: Heebs has done a remarkable job of keeping his team in the mix while also retooling it as he went along. The reason I am giving them this grade has a lot to do with the fact I think they are just good enough to be a middle seed, but not quite a title contender. Dipo has taken a massive jump in his second season so you have to hope that continues. Taurasi is aging nicely, so hopefully you can get another 2-3 years out of him. Peterson is a great 3rd option, but I don't think the rest of the roster is enough. I don't doubt that Heebs can swing a trade or two and get some depth.
Druce: I like building around Dipo and Mo Pete moving forward. Yes there are aging pieces on the roster but I feel confident in Heebs’ ability to find players to fill positions. I don’t think this team is a title contender without a few moves so it’ll be interesting to see what Heebs does to put himself in that position.
Milwaukee Bucks
Notable Players: Mohamed Bamba (26), Champ Godbolt (23), Malcolm Moore* (31), Jim Halpert (27)
Future Assets:
Bucks 07 1st
Bucks 10 1st
Bucks 11 1st
Bulls 10 1st
Knicks 09 1st
Knicks 10 1st
Majic Grade: 6.9
Druce Grade:7.9
Comments:
Druce: A lot of depth here, and quite a few picks to work with. Probably need a lead dog to be 1b and compliment Jason Williams at the 2 or 3. I imagine I’ll try to move Moore or Halpert with picks to find that piece. I really like Bamba, Williams, and quite a few others on this team. Record right now is a head scratcher to me.
Majic: There is a big mix of older and younger talent on this team. Druce also has a number of picks he can use to improve the edges of this roster. As Druce mentioned, its a bit shocking their current record is as bad as it is. Halperts start to the year is extremely concerning when factoring in the amount of money owed. Moore is expiring so Druce will have to be smart on how he approaches things. I thought this might be Druces best year at a title, but I would never count him out for the future with this team.
Toronto Raptors
Notable Players: Miles Bridges (26), Luka Doncic* (25), Anfernee Simons* (25), Nick Richards* (26)
Future Assets:
Knicks 07 1st
Magic 07 1st
Pacers 07 1st
Pacers 08 1st
Raptors 07 1st
Raptors 08 1st
Raptors 09 1st
Raptors 10 1st
Raptors 11 1st
Majic Grade: 5.5
Druce Grade: 4.0
Comments:
Majic: There not doubt that Bridges and Mobley are great players, the problem is with everything else. This team is sort of stuck and it doesn't appear as though the younger talent on the team will be turning into a 3rd star. The silver lining however is the amount of picks this team currently holds. Would not shock me to see a large portion of these picks be flipped for another All-Star level player. However, I think the more likely scenario is Breaux stays on the same path and takes quantity over quality and hold onto the picks. Given the amount of mid-late round gems teams have found, I cant say its a bad strategy.
Druce: We’ve yet to see Breaux make a big move, so I’m hesitant to place any faith into this franchise. Bridges is good and the team is young but they’re at least 2-3 players away from a significant playoff run. Would like to see Breaux move some picks for a player or two and see what he can do. Like Majic said though, I see it more likely that he stands pat and hopes to land more talent via the draft.
Grading is on a scale of 0-10: 10 being the most prepared to be a title contender in 5 years, 0 being a lottery team in purgatory.
Keep in mind, while most of the Notable Players listed will be the teams best players, it may not always. We wanted to look at both talent and cap when making our determinations. Some players listed are not the best, but carry large salaries for a number of years and could potentially be a problem.
Asterisks notate a player that is in the last year of his contract.
We will be posting the Western Conference later this week.
So without further ado, here is the Eastern Conference:
Boston Celtics
Notable Players: Sekou Doumbouya (24), Mark Price (27), Meadowlark Lemon (30), Wendell Carter Jr. (25)
Future Assets:
Celtics 07 1st
Celtics 08 1st
Celtics 09 1st
Celtics 10 1st
Celtics 11 1st
Majic Grade: 5
Druce Grade: 2
Comments:
Majic: This team just doesn't have a lot of excitement around it. Sekou is an elite player that is both young and signed long term. Price is not good and that contract is going to hurt this team over the next couple year, same can be said for Carter JR. The Schroder pick looked bad immediately and nothing has proven that to be wrong. The best thing the Celtics have going for them over the next couple years is the fact they have all of their picks and a GM that will actually pay attention. Hopefully they can hit on a pick or two, ride out the bad contracts and turn things around.
Druce: I think Ank’s really got his work cut out for himself here. Outside of Sekou there is nothing. With unweighted lotto this team could just continue floating in the abyss. The Price and Carter deals kill their cap, no flexibility.
Harlem Globetrotters
Notable Players: Dolph Schayes (31), Elvis Delle Donne* (31), Dazon Ingram (27), Dillon Chambers* (26)
Future Assets:
Globetrotters 09 1st
Globetrotters 11 1st
Majic Grade: 6
Druce Grade:5.5
Comments:
Druce: I think Ward might be approaching no man's land here with what he’s got vs. assets he has to acquire more talent. Schayes, DD and Ingram are a very good core, but outside of that there isn’t a whole lot there, and not a ton left to acquire more players. If I’m Ward I’m trying to sell Schayes and Delle Donne to the highest bidder and build around Ingram.
Majic: Have to say I agree with pretty much all of what Druce mentioned. Donne is going to need a new contract this next offseason, and Schayes will be right behind the year after, cap situation could get really tricky. Ingram is signed long term at a great contract so that helps lesson things. I like the idea of selling off Schayes and Donne and recouping some assets to help with a retooling. Going to take some smart maneuvering from Ward to remain competitive in 5 years.
Miami Heat
Notable Players: Zion Williamson (24), Ray McCallum Jr. (23), Benji Wilson (30), DerMarr Johnson (22)
Future Assets:
Heat 08 1st
Heat 09 1st
Heat 10 1st
Heat 11 1st
Majic Grade: 9.5
Druce Grade: 9.3
Comments:
Majic: This is one of the better situations in the league right now. Zion, McCallum and DerMarr are all young stars already performing at a high level. Add in the veteran steady presence of Benji and this team should not only compete for a high seed now, but in the years to come. I like the fact that they have all but their 07 pick, so the ability to build depth through the draft is there. Only thing I might look into if I was the GM would be to flip Benji for some future assets.
Druce: Probably one of if not the best team Yawn has put together. DerMarr, Ray, and Zion all being within a few years of each other is a really nice thing to have going for you. Majic pretty much nailed it. I like this team to contend for titles through their big 3’s prime.
New York Knicks
Notable Players: Firsto Picko (29), Neon Boudeaux (35), Quincy McCall (35), Whitey Von Nieda (29)
Future Assets:
Knicks 11 2nd
Majic Grade: 4.5
Druce Grade: 6.8
Comments:
Druce: The Knicks are title favorites in the now with Firsto and Neon, the trouble lies with them having exhausted basically all future assets. At some point they’ll have to rebuild as Neon and McCall are 35. Firsto probably keeps them in the playoffs alone for the next few years, but if he starts falling off then that could mean trouble for the Knicks fast. It’ll be interesting to see what eric does with this aging team.
Majic: I am a lot lower than Druce on this one, mainly because this team is so devoid of any real assets. Neon and Quincy are likely to be out of the league within 1-2 year, and even if they are still around how good will they be? On top of that, Eric doesn't have a pick to trade until next offseason when he gets 1 first back. He will likely have a lot of cap flexibility once Neon and Quincy are gone, but he will then be relying on a lot of FA luck. The only thing that kept me from putting this grade lower was the fact that Eric is an above average GM, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him put something competitive together.
Orlando Magic
Notable Players: Cam Parker (31), Brandon Griner (32), Jake Shuttlesworth (36), Thomas Wilder (31)
Future Assets:
Magic 10 1st
Magic 11 1st
Majic Grade: 5.5
Druce Grade: 5.0
Comments:
Majic: This reminds me a lot of the situation that the Globetrotters are currently in. Short term this team is a title contender and should be for another year or two. Beyond that it looks like this could be a total rebuild. The core of this team is all old and on expensive contracts. As soon as one or more of them starts falling off, this team could take a downward turn quickly. Could see a situation where Skrouse sells off, but given the size and length of some of the contracts I am not sure what the return will be.
Druce: Losing King really hurts Skrouse. I think his teams peak was their playoff performance last season. I don’t see them going any further with this core, but they should be able to find a trade partner for Griner and Parker. Smart money sells high on both those players before their decline starts, but I also historically sell players in their early 30s.
Washington Bullets
Notable Players: Simisola Shittu (24), Barry Obama (33), Charles Barkley* (25), Ricardo Strong* (20)
Future Assets:
Bullets 07 1st
Bullets 08 1st
Bullets 09 1st
Bullets 10 1st
Bullets 11 1st
Majic Grade: 5.5
Druce Grade: 6
Comments:
Druce: Shittu is young, Barkley is young, Ricardo is young good start there. Need to add a couple pieces but also have all their picks. I have faith that kn can make the necessary moves to bring the Bullets some success, but that would also require him paying a bit more attention to the league. As they stand the Bullets need to hope for some development out of Chuck and a couple picks to hit and they could be in a pretty solid spot.
Majic: I echo a lot of what Druce said, but overall I am a lot more pessimistic about this team. Kn has not been the most active GM in 5.0 and I think this team needs some TLC to push it into a contender. Shittu is great, but he's already halfway through his first max and that next contract will get expensive. For this team to make a jump it's going to take a keen eye and finding a stud in the draft.
Washington Wizards
Notable Players: Collin Sexton (25), Troy Brown (26), Jontay Porter (25), Arvydas Sabonis (26)
Future Assets:
Wizards 10 1st
Wizards 11 1st
Majic Grade: 7.5
Druce Grade: 8.0
Comments:
Majic: This score is mostly a reflection of what this team has as its core. This is a really strong core, all entering their prime and signed long term. In addition they added a guy like Bennett to the mix via the draft 2 off-seasons ago. They might need some more depth, but it wouldn't shock me to see them win a title. I also like the fact that they still have 2 future firsts to play with. They can use those as trade bait or count on those to infuse some younger talent into the roster in a few years. Only fear is regression in any of these guys, but I doubt that happens.
Druce: Jordan McLaughlin could be just what the doctor ordered for HT and the Wiz. Sexton and Brown are studs and the more shots you can feed them the better, unlike Majic who becomes a sloppy racist after a bunch of shots. Core is within 1 year of each other. I really like what HT has put together, they may need some front court depth, but aside from that they’ve got a real stew going in Washington.
Atlanta Hawks
Notable Players: Kevin Knox (25), Mitchell Robinson (25), Deng Adel (28), Chris Chiozza* (29)
Future Assets:
Hawks 07 1st
Hawks 10 1st
Hawks 11 1st
Majic Grade: 5.2
Druce Grade: 5.7
Comments:
Druce: Lacking a real elite player to hang their hat on. Knox is a solid piece and still young, Deng is a solid piece and getting a bit older. Robinson I thought would progress a lot better than he has. There just isn’t a ton to get excited about in when answering the question “can this team make noise in the playoffs moving forward” if they can find an alpha dog to go with their complimentary pieces the grade goes up 2 full points for me.
Majic: JHB has done a great job at keeping his team in the hunt every season. He has seen a number of players get larger deals elsewhere, but has continued to make appearances in the playoffs. While I dont think that stops, I do think this team is closer to lottery than they are a title. Knox, Deng and Chiozza are nice pieces but they're not winning you a title as your core 3. I could see JHB recognizing his position and selling off for some assets to rebuild.
Charlotte Hornets
Notable Players: Giannis Antetokounmpo (20), Vince Carter* (24), Seventh Woods (25), Shareef O’Neal (24), Yao Ming (22)
Future Assets:
Hornets 07 1st
Hornets 09 1st
Hornets 10 1st
Hornets 11 st
Mavericks 09 1st
Mavericks 10 1st
Suns 09 1st
Majic Grade: 9.8
Druce Grade:10
Comments:
Majic: If there was a better situation in the league right now I can't think of one. Having a foundation built around Yao and Giannis is a damn good place to start. It also helps that you have above average players like Vince and Shareef playing as complimentary pieces. I didn't like the Seventh Woods contract but he's off to a hot start this season. Finally Fecte recently added Brunson for the cost of a future first, and while Brunson isn't that great of a player he is a nice boost off the bench. Only concern long term will be keeping all of these guys and finding a way to make all the contracts work. Not the worst problem to have.
Druce: When fecta was kicking around trading Yao I just kept laughing to myself. What can be said about fecta that hasn’t already been said about the real life Knicks front office. I think this team is in a perfect position to a dynastic run, so we’ll see how fecta fucks it up.
Chicago Bulls
Notable Players: DeAndre Ayton (26), Antawn Jamison* (25), Nick King (31), Stan Haynes* (37) **editors note: Desmond Mason and Herb Jones are also on the bulls roster**
Future Assets:
Bulls 07 2nd
Bulls 08 2nd
Knicks 08 2nd
Knicks 09 2nd
Majic Grade: 7.5
Druce Grade: 7.8
Comments:
Druce: Ayton is a stud, Jamison is a stud. Nick King on the deal he’s on is a very good piece. Haynes is up there in age. Majic didn’t note their PG above, but he’s pretty solid as well. The Bulls should be around the top of the east for the next few seasons and I can see them winning a title or two. They also don’t have any picks left so they’ll have to find someone in FA to fill their frontcourt after Haynes retires and hope for Desmond Mason to keep filling the backup wing role and not leave in FA.
Majic: I really like the team that Tim has built and alot of his future success will be based on Jamison resigning. As long as that happens this team will continually be in the mix in the East. As druce said, all the pieces are there, Tim is just going to have to be smart about his FA signings. This grade could change drastically if a couple guys decide to sign elsewhere in the next 2 offseason cycles.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Notable Players: Udoka Azubuike (28), , Ken Nielsen (23), Ben McLemore (21)
Future Assets:
Bulls 08 1st
Jazz 10 1st
Cavaliers 07 1st
Cavaliers 08 1st
Cavaliers 09 1st
Cavaliers 10 1st
Cavaliers 11 1st
Majic Grade: 2.8
Druce Grade: 0
Comments:
Majic: This situation is the complete opposite of what the Hornets have as there is literally nothing on this roster to be excited about. 2 of their better players were just traded for a couple of future firsts with really only 1 of them having any chance at being any good. The only thing going for the Cavs at this point is the fact they have a GM that cares. I think Delap will put some time into them, something they have badly needed as this roster is rough. Just have to hope for some Lotto luck and hitting on a couple guys.
Druce: I’ll give them what I gave the Celtics minus 2 points for not having Sekou. Their only hope is that delap gives enough of a shit to try and build this team. Their future picks outside their own are pretty crap, and they need unweighted luck.
Detroit Pistons
Notable Players: Yommy Sangodeyi (29), Shamorie Ponds (27), Jackie Moon* (34), Braxton Key* (27)
Future Assets:
Pistons 07 1st
Pistons 08 1st
Pistons 09 1st
Pistons 10 1st
Pistons 11 1st
Majic Grade: 3.4
Druce Grade: 4.2
Comments:
Druce: Just not a lot here. Lost Luke Maye a few years back, Moon is old. Yommy is dominant and Ponds is above average, but those two alone aren’t going to bring any sustained success. I believe Dump knew this when he quit and it’s why he left when he did. Yommy and Ponds probably keep this pick out of the lotto, so they’ll have to find a sleeper or two to do any damage before Yommy ages, and I just don’t see it happening.
Majic: Another instance where me and Druce share the same thoughts. This team is in wasteland in terms of talent. Yommy is great but likely reaching the end of his prime years. That contract will get rough at the end. Beyond that there is no young talent on the team that can contribute and help long term. Ponds is OK but not with that massive contract. Have to hope for some Lotto luck to infuse some talent.
Indiana Pacers
Notable Players: Daniel Taurasi (31), Victor Oladipo (22), Karim Shabazz* (33), Donte Hall (27), Morris Peterson (25)
Future Assets:
Magic 08 1st
Pacers 09 1st
Pacers 10 1st
Pacers 11 1st
Majic Grade: 6.5
Druce Grade: 7.7
Comments:
Majic: Heebs has done a remarkable job of keeping his team in the mix while also retooling it as he went along. The reason I am giving them this grade has a lot to do with the fact I think they are just good enough to be a middle seed, but not quite a title contender. Dipo has taken a massive jump in his second season so you have to hope that continues. Taurasi is aging nicely, so hopefully you can get another 2-3 years out of him. Peterson is a great 3rd option, but I don't think the rest of the roster is enough. I don't doubt that Heebs can swing a trade or two and get some depth.
Druce: I like building around Dipo and Mo Pete moving forward. Yes there are aging pieces on the roster but I feel confident in Heebs’ ability to find players to fill positions. I don’t think this team is a title contender without a few moves so it’ll be interesting to see what Heebs does to put himself in that position.
Milwaukee Bucks
Notable Players: Mohamed Bamba (26), Champ Godbolt (23), Malcolm Moore* (31), Jim Halpert (27)
Future Assets:
Bucks 07 1st
Bucks 10 1st
Bucks 11 1st
Bulls 10 1st
Knicks 09 1st
Knicks 10 1st
Majic Grade: 6.9
Druce Grade:7.9
Comments:
Druce: A lot of depth here, and quite a few picks to work with. Probably need a lead dog to be 1b and compliment Jason Williams at the 2 or 3. I imagine I’ll try to move Moore or Halpert with picks to find that piece. I really like Bamba, Williams, and quite a few others on this team. Record right now is a head scratcher to me.
Majic: There is a big mix of older and younger talent on this team. Druce also has a number of picks he can use to improve the edges of this roster. As Druce mentioned, its a bit shocking their current record is as bad as it is. Halperts start to the year is extremely concerning when factoring in the amount of money owed. Moore is expiring so Druce will have to be smart on how he approaches things. I thought this might be Druces best year at a title, but I would never count him out for the future with this team.
Toronto Raptors
Notable Players: Miles Bridges (26), Luka Doncic* (25), Anfernee Simons* (25), Nick Richards* (26)
Future Assets:
Knicks 07 1st
Magic 07 1st
Pacers 07 1st
Pacers 08 1st
Raptors 07 1st
Raptors 08 1st
Raptors 09 1st
Raptors 10 1st
Raptors 11 1st
Majic Grade: 5.5
Druce Grade: 4.0
Comments:
Majic: There not doubt that Bridges and Mobley are great players, the problem is with everything else. This team is sort of stuck and it doesn't appear as though the younger talent on the team will be turning into a 3rd star. The silver lining however is the amount of picks this team currently holds. Would not shock me to see a large portion of these picks be flipped for another All-Star level player. However, I think the more likely scenario is Breaux stays on the same path and takes quantity over quality and hold onto the picks. Given the amount of mid-late round gems teams have found, I cant say its a bad strategy.
Druce: We’ve yet to see Breaux make a big move, so I’m hesitant to place any faith into this franchise. Bridges is good and the team is young but they’re at least 2-3 players away from a significant playoff run. Would like to see Breaux move some picks for a player or two and see what he can do. Like Majic said though, I see it more likely that he stands pat and hopes to land more talent via the draft.
