scottspurs
07-24-2009, 12:57 PM
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=OffseasonRankings-09
Updated: July 24, 2009, 10:02 AM ET
Ranking the summer moves
By Chad Ford
ESPN.com
You have to love summer in the NBA, when almost every team in the league can be a winner.
You know the feeling: If my team can just make a big trade or a huge free-agent acquisition or hit a home run in the lottery, maybe next season will be different.
2009-10 PLAYER MOVEMENT
Keep track of which players each team added and lost this offseason. Chart
To that end, we already have seen one of the most active summers in NBA history, with Shaq, Vince Carter, Ron Artest, Hedo Turkoglu, Richard Jefferson, Rasheed Wallace, Trevor Ariza, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph changing addresses and the NBA draft also reshaping rosters -- and we're not done yet.
Here's my first take on how each team in the league has performed so far in remaking its roster, considering the situation it faced and the moves it has made. This isn't a ranking of which are the best teams in the league, just a device to track which teams have improved and which teams haven't.
The teams are ranked 1 to 30, and we'll update the rankings as more signings and trades take place:
Key: (U) = Unrestricted Free Agent; (R) = Restricted Free Agent
1. San Antonio Spurs
Key additions: Richard Jefferson, DeJuan Blair, Antonio McDyess, Theo Ratliff
Key subtractions: Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto, Kurt Thomas
In limbo: Drew Gooden (U), Ime Udoka (U), Jacque Vaughn (U)
The Spurs always seem to find a way to turn a little into a lot. They turned three aging players past their primes into Jefferson, an athletic forward at the peak of his game. They added McDyess to play the 4. McDyess is getting older, but he is still very productive and is a model citizen on and off the court.
And even without a first-round pick in this year's draft, San Antonio still was able to come away with some terrific players in the second round. Specifically, Pittsburgh's Blair, who was the best rebounder in college basketball and is a beast in the paint. If his knees stay sturdy, he'll go down as the steal of the draft. Overall, the Spurs have improved their team dramatically and are, once again, serious contenders for an NBA title.
2. Orlando Magic
Key additions: Vince Carter, Ryan Anderson, Brandon Bass, Matt Barnes
Key subtractions: Hedo Turkoglu, Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston, Tony Battie
In limbo: Adonal Foyle (U), Tyronn Lue (U)
The Magic decided to throw financial caution to the wind this summer and went on a spending spree. The result is one of the deepest teams in the league and one that should challenge for the NBA championship again next season. For starters, they essentially swapped Turkoglu and Lee for Carter and Anderson. The gamble was that Turkoglu wasn't worth the $50 million he was looking for in the free-agent market and that Carter, whose contract has only two years of guaranteed money remaining, can do as good a job (or better) as Turkoglu. The addition of Bass also helps. The Magic desperately needed toughness, rebounding and depth at the 4, and Bass delivers on all accounts. Barnes provides more depth and 3-point shooting at small forward.
But the big move was the Magic's deciding to match Marcin Gortat's huge offer sheet from the Mavs. Without Gortat, the Magic would have had virtually no depth at center. Now, with him back in the mix, they are deep at virtually every position and look like the favorites to win the East.
3. Los Angeles Clippers
Key additions: Blake Griffin, Sebastian Telfair, Mark Madsen, Craig Smith
Key subtractions: Zach Randolph
In limbo: Fred Jones (U), Brian Skinner (U)
For the Clippers faithful looking for a glimmer of hope, this has been your summer. Not only did the Clips beat the lottery odds and land the best pick in the draft -- Blake Griffin -- they also were able to unload Randolph for the expiring contract of Quentin Richardson. Then the Clippers turned around and shipped Richardson to Minnesota for Telfair, Smith and Madsen, which gives the Clips some much-needed depth.
The Clippers now have a nice, young core of Griffin, Eric Gordon and Al Thornton, with seasoned veterans such as Baron Davis, Marcus Camby and Chris Kaman. I'm not ready to declare the Clippers playoff-bound, but they made major strides this summer in improving their talent and chemistry.
4. Detroit Pistons
Key additions: Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers, Chris Wilcox
Key subtractions: Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace, Amir Johnson, Antonio McDyess (U), Arron Afflalo
The Pistons' moves this summer have been a little underwhelming. Since Detroit traded away Chauncey Billups for Iverson and his expiring contract, Pistons fans have patiently watched their team struggle for the first time in years. The silver lining the whole season was "Don't worry, great free agents are coming this summer to upgrade the team."
On one hand, Detroit GM Joe Dumars delivered. He signed Ben Gordon, arguably the best free agent on the market, and quickly followed that up by signing Villanueva, probably the best free-agent power forward he could get with the money he had left. The combination of Gordon and Villanueva is an upgrade over Iverson and Wallace.
On the other hand, the Pistons are far from a lock to return to the Eastern Conference finals. They lost McDyess, whom they wanted to re-sign, and replaced him with Wilcox. Although Wilcox is talented, McDyess was a rock for Detroit. The Pistons have seven forwards and just one center. Their first-round draft pick is 6-foot-11 and weighs 191 pounds -- meaning he's a few years away. And they have a new coach, John Kuester.
I've learned over the years not to second-guess Dumars -- he's usually right whenever everyone else thinks he's wrong -- but does anyone think this Pistons squad, as currently constructed, is good enough to win a title now or even in two or three years? If the answer is no, can Pistons fans live with being just plain old good?
5. Washington Wizards
Key additions: Randy Foye, Mike Miller
Key subtractions: Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila
In limbo: Juan Dixon (U)
The Wizards traded the No. 5 pick in the draft -- along with Thomas, Songaila and Pecherov -- to the Wolves for Foye and Miller two days before the draft. Wanting to be serious contenders in the East next season, they didn't think they'd get a player with their first-round pick who would crack their rotation.
Meanwhile, Foye gives them an athletic, dynamic scorer who can play both backcourt positions. And Miller gives them a shooter with deep range, something the Wizards have been missing. If Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood both come back healthy and motivated, the Wizards could be a serious threat in the East.
6. Boston Celtics
Key additions: Rasheed Wallace
Key subtractions: None
In limbo: Glen Davis (R), Leon Powe (U), Stephon Marbury (U), Mikki Moore (U)
GM Danny Ainge pulled off a coup of sorts by getting Wallace to accept a two-year deal. Sheed can be a pain to deal with at times, but he still has a lot of talent and gives the Celtics some much-needed depth on the front line.
All the talk about trading Rajon Rondo seems to have cooled considerably, and that's probably a good thing for Boston. Rondo was its best player in the playoffs this past season, and I'm not sure how trading him would improve the team.
7. Dallas Mavericks
Key additions: Shawn Marion, Quinton Ross
Key subtractions: Brandon Bass, Jerry Stackhouse, Antoine Wright, Devean George
In limbo: Gerald Green (U)
Re-signing Jason Kidd was huge to the Mavs' effort to stay relevant in the West. So was the addition of Marion. Although his presence means the Mavs will play a pretty unconventional lineup, they clearly have added another terrific rebounder, defender and open-court player in Marion. The price was steep (five years, $39 million), but Marion is still a talent.
The downside is that the Mavs lost some serious frontcourt depth with Orlando shockingly matching their huge offer sheet for Gortat; the Mavs were hoping he would start for them. The Magic signed Brandon Bass away from the Mavs, too. So although you have to love Dallas' depth at the perimeter spots, its front line is looking shaky.
8. Toronto Raptors
Key additions: Hedo Turkoglu, DeMar DeRozan, Reggie Evans, Antoine Wright, Jarrett Jack
Key subtractions: Shawn Marion, Jason Kapono, Anthony Parker (U)
In limbo: Carlos Delfino (R), Joey Graham (U)
The Raptors made a nice free-agent addition in Turkoglu. Although they definitely overpaid to get him, he's a great fit on a Toronto team that values spacing, shooting and skilled forwards.
The Raptors also swung for the fences in the draft, landing DeRozan, who has as much athletic upside as any rookie. By agreeing to the sign-and-trade for Marion, the team freed up more cap space and was able to land Jack (the Pacers aren't expected to match the offer), a very solid backup guard who can play both backcourt positions. Wright also should help the Raptors and could end up being the starting 2-guard until DeRozan is ready to roll.
Although I don't think these moves suddenly make the Raptors a serious contender, I do think they're a playoff team. Given last year's disaster, that's pretty significant.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers
Key additions: Shaquille O'Neal, Anderson Varejao, Anthony Parker
Key subtractions: Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic
In limbo: Joe Smith (U), Wally Szczerbiak (U)
I thought the future was now in Cleveland, but if it is, GM Danny Ferry has his work cut out for him. Trading for Shaq was a good deal and made a big splash in the media, but does anyone really believe Shaq has enough left to put the Cavs over the top?
The Cavs also worked to get their biggest free agent, Varejao, locked up to a six-year, $50 million deal. And the addition of Parker gives them another veteran presence in their backcourt.
However, not everything's rosy in Cleveland. The Cavs have been spurned by a number of free-agent targets, including Charlie Villanueva, Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza. Two of the key players they added are in their mid-30s. And they had a really odd draft, passing on proven college players such as Sam Young and DeJuan Blair for virtual unknown Christian Eyenga. The Cavs will, once again, be among the favorites to win it all in 2010. But I'm not sure they've added enough pieces for the future to convince LeBron James to stay.
10. Atlanta Hawks
Key additions: Jamal Crawford, Jeff Teague
Key subtractions: Speedy Claxton, Acie Law
In limbo: Marvin Williams (R), Ronald Murray (U)
The Hawks are still, by and large, a team in limbo. GM Rick Sund has solidified his backcourt by re-signing free agent Mike Bibby, trading for combo guard Crawford and drafting uber-athletic combo guard Teague. And he has started to address his frontcourt, agreeing to a four-year deal with center Zaza Pachulia. But the frontcourt still has lots of questions.
Williams is still a free agent, and the costs are mounting. The first casualty of that was Josh Childress, who announced he's returning to Greece next season. I doubt Williams will go that route, but taking the one-year qualifying offer isn't out of the question.
11. Utah Jazz
Key additions: Eric Maynor
Key subtractions: None
In limbo: Jarron Collins (U), Morris Almond (U), Brevin Knight (U)
The Jazz have had a very costly summer. Carlos Boozer decided to return to the team for another season at $12.7 million. Then the Jazz extended Mehmet Okur's contract. Finally, they matched Paul Millsap's four-year, $32 million offer sheet from the Blazers, swallowing the hefty $5.6 million signing bonus Portland threw in. Now things get really interesting because the Jazz are set to incur major luxury-tax penalties this season, a big no-no in past years in Utah. That has led GM Kevin O'Connor to actively pursue trades for Boozer. The Jazz have talked deals with the Bulls, Mavs, Heat and Pistons.
The addition of Maynor was the most underrated move of the draft. He'll be a perfect backup for Deron Williams. Overall, the Jazz are on pace to be really good again next season -- just at a much higher price tag.
12. Indiana Pacers
Key additions: Tyler Hansbrough, Dahntay Jones
Key subtractions: Jarrett Jack, Jamaal Tinsley
In limbo: Marquis Daniels (U), Rasho Nesterovic (U), Maceo Baston (U)
I like the strategy Larry Bird and David Morway are employing in Indiana. They aren't swinging for the fences with their transactions. Instead, they are going for singles and doubles, and they've been converting in the past two years. No, Hansbrough isn't a sexy addition, but he should be in the league for 10 years, maybe even as a starter. And he brings the toughness and energy the Pacers need. Adding Jones on the perimeter delivers another tough, no-nonsense player who can guard multiple positions.
The other piece of good news is that the Pacers worked out a long-awaited buyout of Tinsley, removing a big distraction and saving some serious cash in the process. That should free them up to make a couple of smaller deals for players like Earl Watson and Solomon Jones. If Hansbrough plays as well as he did in Summer League and Mike Dunleavy comes back healthy, they could make a run at the playoffs next season. The bad news is that even if all those things happen, the Pacers are still one more star player from being a serious threat in the East. At some point, Bird and Morway are going to have to do something bold if they want to contend like they did before things went downhill after the Palace Brawl.
13. New York Knicks
Key additions: Jordan Hill, Toney Douglas, Darko Milicic
Key subtractions: Quentin Richardson
In limbo: David Lee (R), Nate Robinson (R)
The Knicks didn't get what they wanted in the draft -- a point guard of the future in either Ricky Rubio or Stephen Curry -- but they did draft the best available players with their two first-round picks. Add in the trade of Milicic for Richardson, and the Knicks upgraded their front line.
But the truth is we won't know how to grade the Knicks' summer for a while. Lee and Robinson are still out there as restricted free agents, and we have no idea whether they will get offer sheets and, if they do, whether the Knicks will match. If the Knicks match, they'll have to trade Eddy Curry or Jared Jeffries to clear more cap room in the summer of 2010. But with the cap number likely falling into the $53 million area next summer, will they even have enough cash to lure a top-flight free agent?
Based on what the Knicks have done so far this summer, their roster has gotten a little better. But Knicks fans are expecting more.
14. Golden State Warriors
Key additions: Stephen Curry, Acie Law, Speedy Claxton
Key subtractions: Jamal Crawford
In limbo: Rob Kurz (U)
It's hard to grade the Warriors right now because we're still waiting to see whether they can pull off the rumored Amare Stoudemire trade. The proposed deal on draft night had them sending Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright, Marco Belinelli and the No. 7 pick for Stoudemire. But since then, the Warriors have been balking at including Curry, whom they drafted with the seventh pick, in the deal.
As it turns out, Golden State thinks Curry will be perfect in a backcourt with Monta Ellis. I'm not sure I can argue with that. I thought Curry was a great pick on draft night. If the Warriors find a way to pull off the deal without including Curry or Anthony Randolph, they will rocket up this list. If they do include one of them, they'd be giving up a lot for Stoudemire -- maybe too much for them to be a true contender.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder
Key additions: James Harden, B.J. Mullens
Key subtractions: Earl Watson
In limbo: Desmond Mason (U), Robert Swift (U)
The Thunder are the "it" team among NBA junkies, who have a crush on Sam Presti for quickly turning a bad team into the best young team in the league. Kevin Durant is a superstar in the making. Russell Westbrook could be special. And Harden is a nice addition: a savvy guard with an old-school game who will be fine playing third fiddle to Durant and Westbrook. If you factor in that last year's other draft pick, Serge Ibaka, has been looking pretty good in summer league and that Mullens has enormous potential, the Thunder appear to be bursting at the seams with talent.
However, their reticence to make a play in the free-agent market and their voiding of the Tyson Chandler deal in February mean the Thunder won't be much better than the squad that suited up last season. Eventually, the Thunder will have to take some risks and add some veterans into the mix. I don't blame Presti for being patient, but he's probably going to have to make a big move next year.
16. Sacramento Kings
Key additions: Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi, Sergio Rodriguez, Sean May
Key subtractions: None
In limbo: Bobby Jackson (U), Rashad McCants (U), Ike Diogu (U)
The Kings clearly are in rebuilding mode and aren't spending any money. However, they did make a few nice moves on draft night. Evans is a terrific, physical slasher who knows how to score. Casspi is tough as nails and has a high-energy game.
Put them together with the acquisition of Andres Nocioni in February, and you no longer can call the Kings soft. On the other hand, you also can't call the Kings good. Although the additions of Evans and Casspi help Sacramento's future, it's going to be a long time before you see Sacramento in the playoffs again.
17. Phoenix Suns
Key additions: Channing Frye, Sasha Pavlovic, Earl Clark
Key subtractions: Shaquille O'Neal, Matt Barnes
In limbo: Stromile Swift (U)
Phoenix GM Steve Kerr broke up one of the most enjoyable teams in NBA history to get O'Neal in 2008. But within about a year, the Suns went from title contender to lottery team. Last month, the Suns gave Shaq away for cap relief.
It appeared the team was beginning to embark on a major rebuilding project. However, there have been more recent signs that the Suns are still trying to compete. Talks of an Amare Stoudemire trade have cooled considerably; they signed Grant Hill and Frye; and they agreed to a contract extension with Steve Nash.
Still, do the Suns have enough to make a serious run in the West? With the Lakers still looking dominant, the Nuggets still a threat, and the Spurs and Mavs vastly improved, it's going to be harder than ever.
18. Charlotte Bobcats
Key additions: Gerald Henderson, Derrick Brown
Key subtractions: Sean May
In limbo: Raymond Felton (R)
After Larry Brown traded half his roster last season, one would expect he'd trade the other half this summer, for sure. Although the Bobcats have talent, they aren't the playoff contenders he wants them to be. However, Charlotte has been pretty quiet.
Henderson was a solid addition in the draft and, if the Cats can re-up Felton at a reasonable number, they should be set at guard. But rumors are cropping up again that Gerald Wallace is back on the block, so the Bobcats might not be done reshaping their roster just yet.
19. Portland Trail Blazers
Key additions: None
Key subtractions: Sergio Rodriguez, Channing Frye
In limbo: Raef LaFrentz (U)
Kevin Pritchard is the most active GM in the league. That's why it's such a shock to see him striking out this summer. The Blazers made a huge pitch to Hedo Turkoglu but were left at the altar for the more cosmopolitan Raptors. Then they gave a huge $32 million offer sheet to Paul Millsap, only to see the Jazz match it a few days later. The Blazers' draft was a disappointment, as well. Pritchard tried to move up high in the draft but couldn't. He ended up taking Spanish forward Victor Claver, who won't play in the league for at least the next two years.
The Blazers are saying they'll be patient. They have cap room and could make a run at David Lee. Or they could sit back and try to be a trade partner for a team trying to clear room. But for a team that came out of the gates saying it had the green light to "go for it" and make a major upgrade, the early results are disappointing.
20. Miami Heat
Key additions: None
Key subtractions: None
In limbo: Jamario Moon (R), Luther Head (U)
The Heat have done virtually nothing this summer, much to the chagrin of soon-to-be free agent Dwyane Wade. The team is wisely trying to save its money for next summer, when it should have room to add another great player, such as Chris Bosh, to the roster. But in the meantime, Wade and Heat fans are wont to be a little frustrated.
21. Denver Nuggets
Key additions: Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, Malik Allen
Key subtractions: Dahntay Jones
In limbo: Linas Kleiza (R), Johan Petro (U), Anthony Carter (U)
The Nuggets have some serious cap issues that could cause them to slide even further in these rankings. The pickup of Lawson was a nice draft-night move, and they were quick to re-sign Chris Andersen. But they lost a key starter, Jones, to the Pacers and are in danger of losing a key reserve if Kleiza gets a big offer.
22. New Orleans Hornets
Key additions: Darren Collison
Key subtractions: None
In limbo: Melvin Ely (U), Ryan Bowen (U)
The Hornets are another team with financial problems that might end up having to trade away good players for cap relief. They almost did it at the trade deadline with Tyson Chandler, and his name has surfaced again in trade rumors this summer. With the team unwilling or unable to spend, Hornets fans have to just hold their breath that the damage won't be too bad.
23. Chicago Bulls
Key additions: James Johnson, Taj Gibson, Jannero Pargo
Key subtractions: Ben Gordon, Tim Thomas
In limbo: Aaron Gray (R)
The Bulls made a big, bold move at the trade deadline in February and gave the Celtics all they could handle in the first round of the playoffs. But since then, things haven't gone well. They lost their best scorer, Gordon, to the Pistons. The word is they're shopping their starting power forward, Tyrus Thomas. And I'm still scratching my head a little concerning their draft.
The Bulls still have lots of talent, but losing Gordon means they've taken a step back.
24. Los Angeles Lakers
Key additions: Ron Artest
Key subtractions: Trevor Ariza
In limbo: Lamar Odom (U)
The Lakers ended the season on the ultimate high of winning a championship. But I haven't liked anything they've done since then.
On draft night, they traded away the rights to Toney Douglas and Patrick Beverley for cash and future second-round picks, the argument being they needed to save every penny when trying to re-sign Ariza and Odom. Then they turned around and low-balled Ariza and replaced him with Artest, one of the most unpredictable players in the history of the game. And now the team is struggling to get Odom re-signed.
I know Artest is a talent, but he's unreliable. For the Lakers to pass the torch from Ariza, who was just coming into his own, to Artest is a risk I just don't understand. And if Odom somehow decides to bolt for a team such as Miami for the midlevel exception, the Lakers will have taken a big step backward.
Don't get me wrong: Even with Artest and without Odom, the Lakers would have a shot at winning it all again next year, but they would be much less of a sure thing, given the improvements teams such as the Spurs have made.
25. Houston Rockets
Key additions: Trevor Ariza, David Andersen
Key subtractions: Ron Artest, Dikembe Mutombo
In limbo: Von Wafer (R)
It's tough to be a Houston fan right now. Yao Ming likely will miss the entire season with a foot injury. Tracy McGrady is rehabbing again, but you have to wonder whether he'll ever be healthy. Artest, who did such a great job of harassing Kobe Bryant in the playoffs, decided that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
The good news is the Rockets have dropped the distraction of Artest. For all the talent, he was difficult to manage. They replaced him with Ariza, who isn't as talented but is much younger and coming off of a breakout season. Meanwhile, the Rockets also acquired Andersen, who is a veteran big man from the Euroleague. But it's unclear how his game will translate to the NBA.
Put all that together, and it looks as if the Rockets could be a team in free fall in the West next season. Although the pickup of Ariza is a good long-term move, the loss of Yao and McGrady's uncertain future put them in a tough situation.
26. Philadelphia 76ers
Key additions: Jrue Holiday, Jason Kapono
Key subtractions: Reggie Evans
In limbo: Andre Miller (U), Donyell Marshall (U), Royal Ivey (U), Theo Ratliff (U), Kareem Rush (U)
The 76ers made the first trade of the offseason, swapping Evans for Kapono. Philly needed the shooting, so that works. And I really liked the Sixers' draft pick, Holiday, a great value at No. 17 in the draft.
But Holiday is not ready to be a big contributor at the point, and the Sixers don't seem close to a deal to re-sign incumbent point guard Miller. If they lose him, the Sixers might take a step back next year even if Elton Brand is healthy. Miller was the glue and a driving force for that team, and I don't think a combo of Lou Williams and Holiday can replace him.
27. New Jersey Nets
Key additions: Courtney Lee, Terrence Williams, Rafer Alston, Tony Battie
Key subtractions: Vince Carter, Ryan Anderson
In limbo: Maurice Ager (U)
The Nets' draft day was pretty eventful as, for the second straight year, they made a major trade to cut payroll. Last year, they shipped out Richard Jefferson (for Yi Jianlian and future cap space). This year, it was Carter (for Lee and future cap space).
After the Carter trade, the Nets are going to take a pretty big step backward this season, but they'll take solace in the additions of Lee and Williams, the No. 11 pick. Lee showed a lot of promise as a "Rip Hamilton Jr." in the playoffs, and although he's no Vince Carter, he should be a solid partner in the backcourt with Devin Harris. Williams has the talent of a top-five pick, with great size and athleticism -- he can do just about everything but shoot.
The ultimate success of the Nets' long-range plan won't be known until next summer, when they will have a lot of cap room. If they sign LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, or another star, New Jersey honchos Rod Thorn and Kiki Vandeweghe will look like geniuses. If they don't, their plan suffers a major setback.
28. Milwaukee Bucks
Key additions: Brandon Jennings, Amir Johnson
Key subtractions: Richard Jefferson, Charlie Villanueva
In limbo: Ramon Sessions (R), Keith Bogans (U)
The Bucks took a serious step back when they shipped Jefferson off to the Spurs for nonguaranteed contracts and didn't give Villanueva a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted, instead of a restricted, free agent. That move essentially handed him over to the Pistons for nothing.
In the place of Jefferson, Villanueva and possibly starting point guard Sessions, a restricted free agent Milwaukee might not be willing to pay, the Bucks are banking on young, unproven talents. Their lottery pick, Jennings, is a terrific athlete who can score like crazy. He needs to get stronger, work on his jump shot and settle down a bit, but he has the tools to be great. Last year's lottery pick, Joe Alexander, will step into Jefferson's shoes. He's another super athlete, but he looked lost for most of his rookie campaign. And replacing Villanueva will be Johnson, a long, athletic big man who was a disappointment last season for the Pistons but might benefit from a change of scenery.
29. Minnesota Timberwolves
Key additions: Jonny Flynn, Wayne Ellington, Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila, Quentin Richardson
Key subtractions: Randy Foye, Mike Miller, Sebastian Telfair, Craig Smith, Mark Madsen
In limbo: Ricky Rubio (???), Rodney Carney (U), Shelden Williams (U)
The Timberwolves had one of the weirdest drafts in NBA history, including the selection of point guards with both of their lottery picks. Two weeks later, we keep waiting to hear about a trade that explains where one of the two -- Rubio or Flynn -- is really going to land, but instead we have Minnesota GM David Kahn saying he wants to keep both of them. Meanwhile, Rubio is threatening to sign with a European team for the next two or three years.
So, to recap: The Wolves sent away two key players on their roster, Foye and Miller, in exchange for some undesirable contracts and a player -- Rubio -- who is threatening that he won't play for the Wolves. If Kahn sorts all this out, either via trade or by persuading Rubio to come try his mad experiment, the Wolves will move up in these rankings, and I might even call Kahn a genius.
But for now, the team appears to be in disarray and considerably worse off than it was going into the draft. Not a great start for Kahn.
30. Memphis Grizzlies
Key additions: Zach Randolph, Hasheem Thabeet, DeMarre Carroll, Sam Young
Key subtractions: Darko Milicic, Quinton Ross
In limbo: Hakim Warrick (R)
Although I'm not a huge fan of Thabeet, I understand why the Grizzlies went that way on draft night: Rubio wasn't cooperating, and Thabeet filled a need as an athletic shot-blocker. And I really liked their other two picks, Carroll and Young, who will provide some of the toughness the Grizz have lacked.
So why are they all the way at the bottom of the list? Because I'm still trying to make sense of the acquisition of Randolph.
The Grizzlies had lots of spending room under the salary cap, and it appeared they had free agent David Lee ready to be the tough, athletic rebounder they need to complement scorers such as Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo. Then suddenly, a day into free agency, they passed on Lee and took on the last two years and $33 million of Randolph's contract instead. Randolph is a talented offensive player, but he has a terrible track record of seldom passing the ball and often getting into trouble, making him perhaps the worst possible fit for a franchise trying to build around some talented young players.
I don't blame Memphis GM Chris Wallace, as a number of sources have told me that it was owner Michael Heisley who pushed for Randolph over Lee. But I don't think it's hyperbole to call this move devastating to the franchise.
Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.
Updated: July 24, 2009, 10:02 AM ET
Ranking the summer moves
By Chad Ford
ESPN.com
You have to love summer in the NBA, when almost every team in the league can be a winner.
You know the feeling: If my team can just make a big trade or a huge free-agent acquisition or hit a home run in the lottery, maybe next season will be different.
2009-10 PLAYER MOVEMENT
Keep track of which players each team added and lost this offseason. Chart
To that end, we already have seen one of the most active summers in NBA history, with Shaq, Vince Carter, Ron Artest, Hedo Turkoglu, Richard Jefferson, Rasheed Wallace, Trevor Ariza, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph changing addresses and the NBA draft also reshaping rosters -- and we're not done yet.
Here's my first take on how each team in the league has performed so far in remaking its roster, considering the situation it faced and the moves it has made. This isn't a ranking of which are the best teams in the league, just a device to track which teams have improved and which teams haven't.
The teams are ranked 1 to 30, and we'll update the rankings as more signings and trades take place:
Key: (U) = Unrestricted Free Agent; (R) = Restricted Free Agent
1. San Antonio Spurs
Key additions: Richard Jefferson, DeJuan Blair, Antonio McDyess, Theo Ratliff
Key subtractions: Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto, Kurt Thomas
In limbo: Drew Gooden (U), Ime Udoka (U), Jacque Vaughn (U)
The Spurs always seem to find a way to turn a little into a lot. They turned three aging players past their primes into Jefferson, an athletic forward at the peak of his game. They added McDyess to play the 4. McDyess is getting older, but he is still very productive and is a model citizen on and off the court.
And even without a first-round pick in this year's draft, San Antonio still was able to come away with some terrific players in the second round. Specifically, Pittsburgh's Blair, who was the best rebounder in college basketball and is a beast in the paint. If his knees stay sturdy, he'll go down as the steal of the draft. Overall, the Spurs have improved their team dramatically and are, once again, serious contenders for an NBA title.
2. Orlando Magic
Key additions: Vince Carter, Ryan Anderson, Brandon Bass, Matt Barnes
Key subtractions: Hedo Turkoglu, Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston, Tony Battie
In limbo: Adonal Foyle (U), Tyronn Lue (U)
The Magic decided to throw financial caution to the wind this summer and went on a spending spree. The result is one of the deepest teams in the league and one that should challenge for the NBA championship again next season. For starters, they essentially swapped Turkoglu and Lee for Carter and Anderson. The gamble was that Turkoglu wasn't worth the $50 million he was looking for in the free-agent market and that Carter, whose contract has only two years of guaranteed money remaining, can do as good a job (or better) as Turkoglu. The addition of Bass also helps. The Magic desperately needed toughness, rebounding and depth at the 4, and Bass delivers on all accounts. Barnes provides more depth and 3-point shooting at small forward.
But the big move was the Magic's deciding to match Marcin Gortat's huge offer sheet from the Mavs. Without Gortat, the Magic would have had virtually no depth at center. Now, with him back in the mix, they are deep at virtually every position and look like the favorites to win the East.
3. Los Angeles Clippers
Key additions: Blake Griffin, Sebastian Telfair, Mark Madsen, Craig Smith
Key subtractions: Zach Randolph
In limbo: Fred Jones (U), Brian Skinner (U)
For the Clippers faithful looking for a glimmer of hope, this has been your summer. Not only did the Clips beat the lottery odds and land the best pick in the draft -- Blake Griffin -- they also were able to unload Randolph for the expiring contract of Quentin Richardson. Then the Clippers turned around and shipped Richardson to Minnesota for Telfair, Smith and Madsen, which gives the Clips some much-needed depth.
The Clippers now have a nice, young core of Griffin, Eric Gordon and Al Thornton, with seasoned veterans such as Baron Davis, Marcus Camby and Chris Kaman. I'm not ready to declare the Clippers playoff-bound, but they made major strides this summer in improving their talent and chemistry.
4. Detroit Pistons
Key additions: Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers, Chris Wilcox
Key subtractions: Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace, Amir Johnson, Antonio McDyess (U), Arron Afflalo
The Pistons' moves this summer have been a little underwhelming. Since Detroit traded away Chauncey Billups for Iverson and his expiring contract, Pistons fans have patiently watched their team struggle for the first time in years. The silver lining the whole season was "Don't worry, great free agents are coming this summer to upgrade the team."
On one hand, Detroit GM Joe Dumars delivered. He signed Ben Gordon, arguably the best free agent on the market, and quickly followed that up by signing Villanueva, probably the best free-agent power forward he could get with the money he had left. The combination of Gordon and Villanueva is an upgrade over Iverson and Wallace.
On the other hand, the Pistons are far from a lock to return to the Eastern Conference finals. They lost McDyess, whom they wanted to re-sign, and replaced him with Wilcox. Although Wilcox is talented, McDyess was a rock for Detroit. The Pistons have seven forwards and just one center. Their first-round draft pick is 6-foot-11 and weighs 191 pounds -- meaning he's a few years away. And they have a new coach, John Kuester.
I've learned over the years not to second-guess Dumars -- he's usually right whenever everyone else thinks he's wrong -- but does anyone think this Pistons squad, as currently constructed, is good enough to win a title now or even in two or three years? If the answer is no, can Pistons fans live with being just plain old good?
5. Washington Wizards
Key additions: Randy Foye, Mike Miller
Key subtractions: Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila
In limbo: Juan Dixon (U)
The Wizards traded the No. 5 pick in the draft -- along with Thomas, Songaila and Pecherov -- to the Wolves for Foye and Miller two days before the draft. Wanting to be serious contenders in the East next season, they didn't think they'd get a player with their first-round pick who would crack their rotation.
Meanwhile, Foye gives them an athletic, dynamic scorer who can play both backcourt positions. And Miller gives them a shooter with deep range, something the Wizards have been missing. If Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood both come back healthy and motivated, the Wizards could be a serious threat in the East.
6. Boston Celtics
Key additions: Rasheed Wallace
Key subtractions: None
In limbo: Glen Davis (R), Leon Powe (U), Stephon Marbury (U), Mikki Moore (U)
GM Danny Ainge pulled off a coup of sorts by getting Wallace to accept a two-year deal. Sheed can be a pain to deal with at times, but he still has a lot of talent and gives the Celtics some much-needed depth on the front line.
All the talk about trading Rajon Rondo seems to have cooled considerably, and that's probably a good thing for Boston. Rondo was its best player in the playoffs this past season, and I'm not sure how trading him would improve the team.
7. Dallas Mavericks
Key additions: Shawn Marion, Quinton Ross
Key subtractions: Brandon Bass, Jerry Stackhouse, Antoine Wright, Devean George
In limbo: Gerald Green (U)
Re-signing Jason Kidd was huge to the Mavs' effort to stay relevant in the West. So was the addition of Marion. Although his presence means the Mavs will play a pretty unconventional lineup, they clearly have added another terrific rebounder, defender and open-court player in Marion. The price was steep (five years, $39 million), but Marion is still a talent.
The downside is that the Mavs lost some serious frontcourt depth with Orlando shockingly matching their huge offer sheet for Gortat; the Mavs were hoping he would start for them. The Magic signed Brandon Bass away from the Mavs, too. So although you have to love Dallas' depth at the perimeter spots, its front line is looking shaky.
8. Toronto Raptors
Key additions: Hedo Turkoglu, DeMar DeRozan, Reggie Evans, Antoine Wright, Jarrett Jack
Key subtractions: Shawn Marion, Jason Kapono, Anthony Parker (U)
In limbo: Carlos Delfino (R), Joey Graham (U)
The Raptors made a nice free-agent addition in Turkoglu. Although they definitely overpaid to get him, he's a great fit on a Toronto team that values spacing, shooting and skilled forwards.
The Raptors also swung for the fences in the draft, landing DeRozan, who has as much athletic upside as any rookie. By agreeing to the sign-and-trade for Marion, the team freed up more cap space and was able to land Jack (the Pacers aren't expected to match the offer), a very solid backup guard who can play both backcourt positions. Wright also should help the Raptors and could end up being the starting 2-guard until DeRozan is ready to roll.
Although I don't think these moves suddenly make the Raptors a serious contender, I do think they're a playoff team. Given last year's disaster, that's pretty significant.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers
Key additions: Shaquille O'Neal, Anderson Varejao, Anthony Parker
Key subtractions: Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic
In limbo: Joe Smith (U), Wally Szczerbiak (U)
I thought the future was now in Cleveland, but if it is, GM Danny Ferry has his work cut out for him. Trading for Shaq was a good deal and made a big splash in the media, but does anyone really believe Shaq has enough left to put the Cavs over the top?
The Cavs also worked to get their biggest free agent, Varejao, locked up to a six-year, $50 million deal. And the addition of Parker gives them another veteran presence in their backcourt.
However, not everything's rosy in Cleveland. The Cavs have been spurned by a number of free-agent targets, including Charlie Villanueva, Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza. Two of the key players they added are in their mid-30s. And they had a really odd draft, passing on proven college players such as Sam Young and DeJuan Blair for virtual unknown Christian Eyenga. The Cavs will, once again, be among the favorites to win it all in 2010. But I'm not sure they've added enough pieces for the future to convince LeBron James to stay.
10. Atlanta Hawks
Key additions: Jamal Crawford, Jeff Teague
Key subtractions: Speedy Claxton, Acie Law
In limbo: Marvin Williams (R), Ronald Murray (U)
The Hawks are still, by and large, a team in limbo. GM Rick Sund has solidified his backcourt by re-signing free agent Mike Bibby, trading for combo guard Crawford and drafting uber-athletic combo guard Teague. And he has started to address his frontcourt, agreeing to a four-year deal with center Zaza Pachulia. But the frontcourt still has lots of questions.
Williams is still a free agent, and the costs are mounting. The first casualty of that was Josh Childress, who announced he's returning to Greece next season. I doubt Williams will go that route, but taking the one-year qualifying offer isn't out of the question.
11. Utah Jazz
Key additions: Eric Maynor
Key subtractions: None
In limbo: Jarron Collins (U), Morris Almond (U), Brevin Knight (U)
The Jazz have had a very costly summer. Carlos Boozer decided to return to the team for another season at $12.7 million. Then the Jazz extended Mehmet Okur's contract. Finally, they matched Paul Millsap's four-year, $32 million offer sheet from the Blazers, swallowing the hefty $5.6 million signing bonus Portland threw in. Now things get really interesting because the Jazz are set to incur major luxury-tax penalties this season, a big no-no in past years in Utah. That has led GM Kevin O'Connor to actively pursue trades for Boozer. The Jazz have talked deals with the Bulls, Mavs, Heat and Pistons.
The addition of Maynor was the most underrated move of the draft. He'll be a perfect backup for Deron Williams. Overall, the Jazz are on pace to be really good again next season -- just at a much higher price tag.
12. Indiana Pacers
Key additions: Tyler Hansbrough, Dahntay Jones
Key subtractions: Jarrett Jack, Jamaal Tinsley
In limbo: Marquis Daniels (U), Rasho Nesterovic (U), Maceo Baston (U)
I like the strategy Larry Bird and David Morway are employing in Indiana. They aren't swinging for the fences with their transactions. Instead, they are going for singles and doubles, and they've been converting in the past two years. No, Hansbrough isn't a sexy addition, but he should be in the league for 10 years, maybe even as a starter. And he brings the toughness and energy the Pacers need. Adding Jones on the perimeter delivers another tough, no-nonsense player who can guard multiple positions.
The other piece of good news is that the Pacers worked out a long-awaited buyout of Tinsley, removing a big distraction and saving some serious cash in the process. That should free them up to make a couple of smaller deals for players like Earl Watson and Solomon Jones. If Hansbrough plays as well as he did in Summer League and Mike Dunleavy comes back healthy, they could make a run at the playoffs next season. The bad news is that even if all those things happen, the Pacers are still one more star player from being a serious threat in the East. At some point, Bird and Morway are going to have to do something bold if they want to contend like they did before things went downhill after the Palace Brawl.
13. New York Knicks
Key additions: Jordan Hill, Toney Douglas, Darko Milicic
Key subtractions: Quentin Richardson
In limbo: David Lee (R), Nate Robinson (R)
The Knicks didn't get what they wanted in the draft -- a point guard of the future in either Ricky Rubio or Stephen Curry -- but they did draft the best available players with their two first-round picks. Add in the trade of Milicic for Richardson, and the Knicks upgraded their front line.
But the truth is we won't know how to grade the Knicks' summer for a while. Lee and Robinson are still out there as restricted free agents, and we have no idea whether they will get offer sheets and, if they do, whether the Knicks will match. If the Knicks match, they'll have to trade Eddy Curry or Jared Jeffries to clear more cap room in the summer of 2010. But with the cap number likely falling into the $53 million area next summer, will they even have enough cash to lure a top-flight free agent?
Based on what the Knicks have done so far this summer, their roster has gotten a little better. But Knicks fans are expecting more.
14. Golden State Warriors
Key additions: Stephen Curry, Acie Law, Speedy Claxton
Key subtractions: Jamal Crawford
In limbo: Rob Kurz (U)
It's hard to grade the Warriors right now because we're still waiting to see whether they can pull off the rumored Amare Stoudemire trade. The proposed deal on draft night had them sending Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright, Marco Belinelli and the No. 7 pick for Stoudemire. But since then, the Warriors have been balking at including Curry, whom they drafted with the seventh pick, in the deal.
As it turns out, Golden State thinks Curry will be perfect in a backcourt with Monta Ellis. I'm not sure I can argue with that. I thought Curry was a great pick on draft night. If the Warriors find a way to pull off the deal without including Curry or Anthony Randolph, they will rocket up this list. If they do include one of them, they'd be giving up a lot for Stoudemire -- maybe too much for them to be a true contender.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder
Key additions: James Harden, B.J. Mullens
Key subtractions: Earl Watson
In limbo: Desmond Mason (U), Robert Swift (U)
The Thunder are the "it" team among NBA junkies, who have a crush on Sam Presti for quickly turning a bad team into the best young team in the league. Kevin Durant is a superstar in the making. Russell Westbrook could be special. And Harden is a nice addition: a savvy guard with an old-school game who will be fine playing third fiddle to Durant and Westbrook. If you factor in that last year's other draft pick, Serge Ibaka, has been looking pretty good in summer league and that Mullens has enormous potential, the Thunder appear to be bursting at the seams with talent.
However, their reticence to make a play in the free-agent market and their voiding of the Tyson Chandler deal in February mean the Thunder won't be much better than the squad that suited up last season. Eventually, the Thunder will have to take some risks and add some veterans into the mix. I don't blame Presti for being patient, but he's probably going to have to make a big move next year.
16. Sacramento Kings
Key additions: Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi, Sergio Rodriguez, Sean May
Key subtractions: None
In limbo: Bobby Jackson (U), Rashad McCants (U), Ike Diogu (U)
The Kings clearly are in rebuilding mode and aren't spending any money. However, they did make a few nice moves on draft night. Evans is a terrific, physical slasher who knows how to score. Casspi is tough as nails and has a high-energy game.
Put them together with the acquisition of Andres Nocioni in February, and you no longer can call the Kings soft. On the other hand, you also can't call the Kings good. Although the additions of Evans and Casspi help Sacramento's future, it's going to be a long time before you see Sacramento in the playoffs again.
17. Phoenix Suns
Key additions: Channing Frye, Sasha Pavlovic, Earl Clark
Key subtractions: Shaquille O'Neal, Matt Barnes
In limbo: Stromile Swift (U)
Phoenix GM Steve Kerr broke up one of the most enjoyable teams in NBA history to get O'Neal in 2008. But within about a year, the Suns went from title contender to lottery team. Last month, the Suns gave Shaq away for cap relief.
It appeared the team was beginning to embark on a major rebuilding project. However, there have been more recent signs that the Suns are still trying to compete. Talks of an Amare Stoudemire trade have cooled considerably; they signed Grant Hill and Frye; and they agreed to a contract extension with Steve Nash.
Still, do the Suns have enough to make a serious run in the West? With the Lakers still looking dominant, the Nuggets still a threat, and the Spurs and Mavs vastly improved, it's going to be harder than ever.
18. Charlotte Bobcats
Key additions: Gerald Henderson, Derrick Brown
Key subtractions: Sean May
In limbo: Raymond Felton (R)
After Larry Brown traded half his roster last season, one would expect he'd trade the other half this summer, for sure. Although the Bobcats have talent, they aren't the playoff contenders he wants them to be. However, Charlotte has been pretty quiet.
Henderson was a solid addition in the draft and, if the Cats can re-up Felton at a reasonable number, they should be set at guard. But rumors are cropping up again that Gerald Wallace is back on the block, so the Bobcats might not be done reshaping their roster just yet.
19. Portland Trail Blazers
Key additions: None
Key subtractions: Sergio Rodriguez, Channing Frye
In limbo: Raef LaFrentz (U)
Kevin Pritchard is the most active GM in the league. That's why it's such a shock to see him striking out this summer. The Blazers made a huge pitch to Hedo Turkoglu but were left at the altar for the more cosmopolitan Raptors. Then they gave a huge $32 million offer sheet to Paul Millsap, only to see the Jazz match it a few days later. The Blazers' draft was a disappointment, as well. Pritchard tried to move up high in the draft but couldn't. He ended up taking Spanish forward Victor Claver, who won't play in the league for at least the next two years.
The Blazers are saying they'll be patient. They have cap room and could make a run at David Lee. Or they could sit back and try to be a trade partner for a team trying to clear room. But for a team that came out of the gates saying it had the green light to "go for it" and make a major upgrade, the early results are disappointing.
20. Miami Heat
Key additions: None
Key subtractions: None
In limbo: Jamario Moon (R), Luther Head (U)
The Heat have done virtually nothing this summer, much to the chagrin of soon-to-be free agent Dwyane Wade. The team is wisely trying to save its money for next summer, when it should have room to add another great player, such as Chris Bosh, to the roster. But in the meantime, Wade and Heat fans are wont to be a little frustrated.
21. Denver Nuggets
Key additions: Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, Malik Allen
Key subtractions: Dahntay Jones
In limbo: Linas Kleiza (R), Johan Petro (U), Anthony Carter (U)
The Nuggets have some serious cap issues that could cause them to slide even further in these rankings. The pickup of Lawson was a nice draft-night move, and they were quick to re-sign Chris Andersen. But they lost a key starter, Jones, to the Pacers and are in danger of losing a key reserve if Kleiza gets a big offer.
22. New Orleans Hornets
Key additions: Darren Collison
Key subtractions: None
In limbo: Melvin Ely (U), Ryan Bowen (U)
The Hornets are another team with financial problems that might end up having to trade away good players for cap relief. They almost did it at the trade deadline with Tyson Chandler, and his name has surfaced again in trade rumors this summer. With the team unwilling or unable to spend, Hornets fans have to just hold their breath that the damage won't be too bad.
23. Chicago Bulls
Key additions: James Johnson, Taj Gibson, Jannero Pargo
Key subtractions: Ben Gordon, Tim Thomas
In limbo: Aaron Gray (R)
The Bulls made a big, bold move at the trade deadline in February and gave the Celtics all they could handle in the first round of the playoffs. But since then, things haven't gone well. They lost their best scorer, Gordon, to the Pistons. The word is they're shopping their starting power forward, Tyrus Thomas. And I'm still scratching my head a little concerning their draft.
The Bulls still have lots of talent, but losing Gordon means they've taken a step back.
24. Los Angeles Lakers
Key additions: Ron Artest
Key subtractions: Trevor Ariza
In limbo: Lamar Odom (U)
The Lakers ended the season on the ultimate high of winning a championship. But I haven't liked anything they've done since then.
On draft night, they traded away the rights to Toney Douglas and Patrick Beverley for cash and future second-round picks, the argument being they needed to save every penny when trying to re-sign Ariza and Odom. Then they turned around and low-balled Ariza and replaced him with Artest, one of the most unpredictable players in the history of the game. And now the team is struggling to get Odom re-signed.
I know Artest is a talent, but he's unreliable. For the Lakers to pass the torch from Ariza, who was just coming into his own, to Artest is a risk I just don't understand. And if Odom somehow decides to bolt for a team such as Miami for the midlevel exception, the Lakers will have taken a big step backward.
Don't get me wrong: Even with Artest and without Odom, the Lakers would have a shot at winning it all again next year, but they would be much less of a sure thing, given the improvements teams such as the Spurs have made.
25. Houston Rockets
Key additions: Trevor Ariza, David Andersen
Key subtractions: Ron Artest, Dikembe Mutombo
In limbo: Von Wafer (R)
It's tough to be a Houston fan right now. Yao Ming likely will miss the entire season with a foot injury. Tracy McGrady is rehabbing again, but you have to wonder whether he'll ever be healthy. Artest, who did such a great job of harassing Kobe Bryant in the playoffs, decided that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
The good news is the Rockets have dropped the distraction of Artest. For all the talent, he was difficult to manage. They replaced him with Ariza, who isn't as talented but is much younger and coming off of a breakout season. Meanwhile, the Rockets also acquired Andersen, who is a veteran big man from the Euroleague. But it's unclear how his game will translate to the NBA.
Put all that together, and it looks as if the Rockets could be a team in free fall in the West next season. Although the pickup of Ariza is a good long-term move, the loss of Yao and McGrady's uncertain future put them in a tough situation.
26. Philadelphia 76ers
Key additions: Jrue Holiday, Jason Kapono
Key subtractions: Reggie Evans
In limbo: Andre Miller (U), Donyell Marshall (U), Royal Ivey (U), Theo Ratliff (U), Kareem Rush (U)
The 76ers made the first trade of the offseason, swapping Evans for Kapono. Philly needed the shooting, so that works. And I really liked the Sixers' draft pick, Holiday, a great value at No. 17 in the draft.
But Holiday is not ready to be a big contributor at the point, and the Sixers don't seem close to a deal to re-sign incumbent point guard Miller. If they lose him, the Sixers might take a step back next year even if Elton Brand is healthy. Miller was the glue and a driving force for that team, and I don't think a combo of Lou Williams and Holiday can replace him.
27. New Jersey Nets
Key additions: Courtney Lee, Terrence Williams, Rafer Alston, Tony Battie
Key subtractions: Vince Carter, Ryan Anderson
In limbo: Maurice Ager (U)
The Nets' draft day was pretty eventful as, for the second straight year, they made a major trade to cut payroll. Last year, they shipped out Richard Jefferson (for Yi Jianlian and future cap space). This year, it was Carter (for Lee and future cap space).
After the Carter trade, the Nets are going to take a pretty big step backward this season, but they'll take solace in the additions of Lee and Williams, the No. 11 pick. Lee showed a lot of promise as a "Rip Hamilton Jr." in the playoffs, and although he's no Vince Carter, he should be a solid partner in the backcourt with Devin Harris. Williams has the talent of a top-five pick, with great size and athleticism -- he can do just about everything but shoot.
The ultimate success of the Nets' long-range plan won't be known until next summer, when they will have a lot of cap room. If they sign LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, or another star, New Jersey honchos Rod Thorn and Kiki Vandeweghe will look like geniuses. If they don't, their plan suffers a major setback.
28. Milwaukee Bucks
Key additions: Brandon Jennings, Amir Johnson
Key subtractions: Richard Jefferson, Charlie Villanueva
In limbo: Ramon Sessions (R), Keith Bogans (U)
The Bucks took a serious step back when they shipped Jefferson off to the Spurs for nonguaranteed contracts and didn't give Villanueva a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted, instead of a restricted, free agent. That move essentially handed him over to the Pistons for nothing.
In the place of Jefferson, Villanueva and possibly starting point guard Sessions, a restricted free agent Milwaukee might not be willing to pay, the Bucks are banking on young, unproven talents. Their lottery pick, Jennings, is a terrific athlete who can score like crazy. He needs to get stronger, work on his jump shot and settle down a bit, but he has the tools to be great. Last year's lottery pick, Joe Alexander, will step into Jefferson's shoes. He's another super athlete, but he looked lost for most of his rookie campaign. And replacing Villanueva will be Johnson, a long, athletic big man who was a disappointment last season for the Pistons but might benefit from a change of scenery.
29. Minnesota Timberwolves
Key additions: Jonny Flynn, Wayne Ellington, Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila, Quentin Richardson
Key subtractions: Randy Foye, Mike Miller, Sebastian Telfair, Craig Smith, Mark Madsen
In limbo: Ricky Rubio (???), Rodney Carney (U), Shelden Williams (U)
The Timberwolves had one of the weirdest drafts in NBA history, including the selection of point guards with both of their lottery picks. Two weeks later, we keep waiting to hear about a trade that explains where one of the two -- Rubio or Flynn -- is really going to land, but instead we have Minnesota GM David Kahn saying he wants to keep both of them. Meanwhile, Rubio is threatening to sign with a European team for the next two or three years.
So, to recap: The Wolves sent away two key players on their roster, Foye and Miller, in exchange for some undesirable contracts and a player -- Rubio -- who is threatening that he won't play for the Wolves. If Kahn sorts all this out, either via trade or by persuading Rubio to come try his mad experiment, the Wolves will move up in these rankings, and I might even call Kahn a genius.
But for now, the team appears to be in disarray and considerably worse off than it was going into the draft. Not a great start for Kahn.
30. Memphis Grizzlies
Key additions: Zach Randolph, Hasheem Thabeet, DeMarre Carroll, Sam Young
Key subtractions: Darko Milicic, Quinton Ross
In limbo: Hakim Warrick (R)
Although I'm not a huge fan of Thabeet, I understand why the Grizzlies went that way on draft night: Rubio wasn't cooperating, and Thabeet filled a need as an athletic shot-blocker. And I really liked their other two picks, Carroll and Young, who will provide some of the toughness the Grizz have lacked.
So why are they all the way at the bottom of the list? Because I'm still trying to make sense of the acquisition of Randolph.
The Grizzlies had lots of spending room under the salary cap, and it appeared they had free agent David Lee ready to be the tough, athletic rebounder they need to complement scorers such as Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo. Then suddenly, a day into free agency, they passed on Lee and took on the last two years and $33 million of Randolph's contract instead. Randolph is a talented offensive player, but he has a terrible track record of seldom passing the ball and often getting into trouble, making him perhaps the worst possible fit for a franchise trying to build around some talented young players.
I don't blame Memphis GM Chris Wallace, as a number of sources have told me that it was owner Michael Heisley who pushed for Randolph over Lee. But I don't think it's hyperbole to call this move devastating to the franchise.
Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.