2014 NBA Offseason Thread

[UMFan83]

Looking at the East, I see 7 teams that could conceivably win the conference. I'm probably overrating some of them, but with so much shuffling of power, I think the gap between these 7 teams is small.

 

7 teams: Indiana, Miami, Chicago, Cleveland, Charlotte, Washington, Toronto

 

I'd be willing to drop Charlotte, that's a bit of a reach, and maybe Washington, but the other 5 I definitely think are legit.

Edited July 16, 2014 by UMFan83

[Guest]

I think Washington is pretty legit:

 

PG Wall

SG Beal

SF Ariza/Pierce

PF Nene

C Gortat

 

Andre Miller

Martell Webster

Trevor Booker

Drew Gooden

Otto Porter (can he make any sort of jump?)

 

Can they win the East like some writers are reaching at? No way. Will they be a tough out in the playoffs? Yeah, probably.

[RynoRules]

I think Washington is pretty legit:

 

PG Wall

SG Beal

SF Ariza/Pierce

PF Nene

C Gortat

 

Andre Miller

Martell Webster

Trevor Booker

Drew Gooden

Otto Porter (can he make any sort of jump?)

 

Can they win the East like some writers are reaching at? No way. Will they be a tough out in the playoffs? Yeah, probably.

 

If Beal improves they could win the East. Nene is a beast down low and they have a ton of flexibility at the wing positions. If Beal becomes a reliable shooter to pair with Wall they become very difficult to defend.

[Vanilla Ice]

Man I am excited for Charlotte this year. Everything has been handled so well over 12 months or so. The Jefferson signing was great and the rebranding was pretty flawless. It's cool seeing everybody excited over the NBA again.

 

 

Walker

Stephenson/Henderson

MKG/Marvin Williams

Williams/Zeller

Jefferson

 

That's a pretty solid rotation with a lot more depth excluded (Vonleh, PJ Hairston, Jeff Taylor, Brian Roberts, even Biyombo)

 

Charlotte's defense already ranked 6th in the NBA in PPP allowed. It'll be exciting to see the defense with another year under Clifford, Lance and MKG on the wings and an defensive upgrade from McRoberts to Williams at PF.

 

 

Offensively, Charlotte absolutely needs Lance's ball-handling and playmaking to help Kemba (especially after the loss of McRoberts). It will be absolutely necessary for Lance and/or MKG to improve their jumpshooting or else the spacing around Jefferson could be brutal.

 

 

All in all, I really don't know where to set my expectations for this team this year. As a homer, I'm not sure that a top-4 seed in the East is absolutely impossible, but I know it's unlikely. Even just going to the playoffs 2 years in a row would be great. Hopefully we could win a game this time around.

[Guest]

Yeah that roster has come a long way.

 

I like Vonleh a ton, very happy to see him gone from IU. And I really had no clue who NBA Brian Roberts was.

[Ryne Ween]

I think Washington is pretty legit:

 

PG Wall

SG Beal

SF Ariza/Pierce

PF Nene

C Gortat

 

Andre Miller

Martell Webster

Trevor Booker

Drew Gooden

Otto Porter (can he make any sort of jump?)

 

Can they win the East like some writers are reaching at? No way. Will they be a tough out in the playoffs? Yeah, probably.

 

If Beal improves they could win the East. Nene is a beast down low and they have a ton of flexibility at the wing positions. If Beal becomes a reliable shooter to pair with Wall they become very difficult to defend.

 

Ariza is gone to Houston. I don't consider them in the running (not because of Ariza even with him they aren't good enough). They might win 45 games again but that's it.

 

And Charlotte while being decent and potentially a few games over .500 is no where near capable of winning 3 playoff series. Kemba will lose a game by himself every playoff series in Brandon Jennings-like blaze of 2-20 glory. Big Al is still basically the entire team and he was on fumes in the playoffs last year. Stephenson was just an ok offensive player playing alongside a premier offensive wing. Gilchrist is not going attract the attention of a George. An kemba is just looking to get his.

 

Neither of these teams are better than brooklyn or Toronto and would bet neither wins a playoff series next year.

[RynoRules]

I think Washington is pretty legit:

 

PG Wall

SG Beal

SF Ariza/Pierce

PF Nene

C Gortat

 

Andre Miller

Martell Webster

Trevor Booker

Drew Gooden

Otto Porter (can he make any sort of jump?)

 

Can they win the East like some writers are reaching at? No way. Will they be a tough out in the playoffs? Yeah, probably.

 

If Beal improves they could win the East. Nene is a beast down low and they have a ton of flexibility at the wing positions. If Beal becomes a reliable shooter to pair with Wall they become very difficult to defend.

 

Ariza is gone to Houston. I don't consider them in the running (not because of Ariza even with him they aren't good enough). They might win 45 games again but that's it.

 

And Charlotte while being decent and potentially a few games over .500 is no where near capable of winning 3 playoff series. Kemba will lose a game by himself every playoff series in Brandon Jennings-like blaze of 2-20 glory. Big Al is still basically the entire team and he was on fumes in the playoffs last year. Stephenson was just an ok offensive player playing alongside a premier offensive wing. Gilchrist is not going attract the attention of a George. An kemba is just looking to get his.

 

Neither of these teams are better than brooklyn or Toronto and would bet neither wins a playoff series next year.

 

I dunno. I bet Brooklyn is lucky to win 40 games this year.

[WrigleyField 22]

Lance Stephenson to Hornets

 

They have a pretty good looking roster.

 

PG- Jrue Holliday/Austin Rivers/Russ Smith

SG- Lance Stephenson/Eric Gordon

SF- Tyreke Evans/Anthony Morrow

PF- Anthony Davis

C- Omer Asik/Ryan Anderson

Hornets are in Charlotte now. You posted the Pelicans.

 

Hornets have a decent roster too though.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rawaction]

Lance Stephenson to Hornets

 

They have a pretty good looking roster.

 

PG- Jrue Holliday/Austin Rivers/Russ Smith

SG- Lance Stephenson/Eric Gordon

SF- Tyreke Evans/Anthony Morrow

PF- Anthony Davis

C- Omer Asik/Ryan Anderson

Hornets are in Charlotte now. You posted the Pelicans.

 

Hornets have a decent roster too though.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Yeah, we already did this. I googled "Hornets roster" and it sent me to the Pelicans page.

[ConstableRabbit]

Lance Stephenson to Hornets

 

They have a pretty good looking roster.

 

PG- Jrue Holliday/Austin Rivers/Russ Smith

SG- Lance Stephenson/Eric Gordon

SF- Tyreke Evans/Anthony Morrow

PF- Anthony Davis

C- Omer Asik/Ryan Anderson

Hornets are in Charlotte now. You posted the Pelicans.

 

Hornets have a decent roster too though.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Yeah, we already did this. I googled "Hornets roster" and it sent me to the Pelicans page.

Really? It shows the entire Hornets roster at the top of the page for me.

[rawaction]

Lance Stephenson to Hornets

 

They have a pretty good looking roster.

 

PG- Jrue Holliday/Austin Rivers/Russ Smith

SG- Lance Stephenson/Eric Gordon

SF- Tyreke Evans/Anthony Morrow

PF- Anthony Davis

C- Omer Asik/Ryan Anderson

Hornets are in Charlotte now. You posted the Pelicans.

 

Hornets have a decent roster too though.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Yeah, we already did this. I googled "Hornets roster" and it sent me to the Pelicans page.

Really? It shows the entire Hornets roster at the top of the page for me.

 

Must have been fixed. When I did it, I clicked on the ESPN link (2nd one down) and it took me to the Pelicans page.

 

 

Edit: maybe I looked up "Hornets stats".

[WrigleyField 22]

Lance Stephenson to Hornets

 

They have a pretty good looking roster.

 

PG- Jrue Holliday/Austin Rivers/Russ Smith

SG- Lance Stephenson/Eric Gordon

SF- Tyreke Evans/Anthony Morrow

PF- Anthony Davis

C- Omer Asik/Ryan Anderson

Hornets are in Charlotte now. You posted the Pelicans.

 

Hornets have a decent roster too though.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Yeah, we already did this. I googled "Hornets roster" and it sent me to the Pelicans page.

Yea for some reason when I replied I thought I was at the last post already.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Guest]

Charlotte would be:

 

PG- Kemba Walker

SG- Stephenson/

SF- Kidd-Gilchrist

PF- Noah Vonleh

C- Al Jefferson/Cody Zeller

 

Heh, they have Vonleh, Cody Zeller and DJ White. A Who's Who of Hoosiers.

so...who who hoosiers?

[rawaction]

Charlotte would be:

 

PG- Kemba Walker

SG- Stephenson/

SF- Kidd-Gilchrist

PF- Noah Vonleh

C- Al Jefferson/Cody Zeller

 

Heh, they have Vonleh, Cody Zeller and DJ White. A Who's Who of Hoosiers.

so...who who hoosiers?

 

Indeed. FYI, HOO HOO HOO HOOSIERS is a basketball chant they do at Assembly Hall.

[SouthSideRyan]

http://media0.giphy.com/media/aBMXJht9NTiIo/200_s.gif

[Guest]

Charlotte would be:

 

PG- Kemba Walker

SG- Stephenson/

SF- Kidd-Gilchrist

PF- Noah Vonleh

C- Al Jefferson/Cody Zeller

 

Heh, they have Vonleh, Cody Zeller and DJ White. A Who's Who of Hoosiers.

so...who who hoosiers?

 

Indeed. FYI, HOO HOO HOO HOOSIERS is a basketball chant they do at Assembly Hall.

Yes, lamest chant in college sports, which is what I was mocking.

[Exile on Waveland]

Man I am excited for Charlotte this year. Everything has been handled so well over 12 months or so. The Jefferson signing was great and the rebranding was pretty flawless. It's cool seeing everybody excited over the NBA again.

 

 

Walker

Stephenson/Henderson

MKG/Marvin Williams

Williams/Zeller

Jefferson

 

That's a pretty solid rotation with a lot more depth excluded (Vonleh, PJ Hairston, Jeff Taylor, Brian Roberts, even Biyombo)

 

Charlotte's defense already ranked 6th in the NBA in PPP allowed. It'll be exciting to see the defense with another year under Clifford, Lance and MKG on the wings and an defensive upgrade from McRoberts to Williams at PF.

 

 

Offensively, Charlotte absolutely needs Lance's ball-handling and playmaking to help Kemba (especially after the loss of McRoberts). It will be absolutely necessary for Lance and/or MKG to improve their jumpshooting or else the spacing around Jefferson could be brutal.

 

 

All in all, I really don't know where to set my expectations for this team this year. As a homer, I'm not sure that a top-4 seed in the East is absolutely impossible, but I know it's unlikely. Even just going to the playoffs 2 years in a row would be great. Hopefully we could win a game this time around.

 

Yes. As bad as last year's draft of an IU player was, this year's draft of an IU player was excellent. Even in this draft, Vonleh at No. 9 was a coup.

[rawaction]

Charlotte would be:

 

PG- Kemba Walker

SG- Stephenson/

SF- Kidd-Gilchrist

PF- Noah Vonleh

C- Al Jefferson/Cody Zeller

 

Heh, they have Vonleh, Cody Zeller and DJ White. A Who's Who of Hoosiers.

so...who who hoosiers?

 

Indeed. FYI, HOO HOO HOO HOOSIERS is a basketball chant they do at Assembly Hall.

Yes, lamest chant in college sports, which is what I was mocking.

 

Yes, not everybody can be innovative as ILL-INI

[ChiCubsFan]

Charlotte lacks the shooting to really be a contender, but they should have a great regular season and then maybe win a game or 2 in the 1st round. Things are definitely looking up for them.

 

I also wouldn't include Toronto as a legit contender. It's really Cavs or Bulls for me, with Indiana and Miami having an outside chance and Washington sort of being in the discussion.

 

Tier 1: Bulls, Cavs

Tier 2: Pacers, Heat, Wizards

Tier 3: Raptors, Hornets

[Guest]

Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine · 3m

ESPN has learned that the Los Angeles Lakers have won the amnesty auction with the highest bid for Boozer

[snoodmonger]

So the Cavs offered Wiggins and Bennett for Love, and MN still wants more? I feel like they're perhaps already getting more than they should there. Love is gonna walk regardless; they're not negotiating from a position of strength.

[Cubswin11]

It makes no sense for them to not accept a trade that includes Wiggins right now, unless they still feel they can get Thompson+ out of GS. But still with where they are having to pay Thompson big money soon doesn't make a lot of sense. Wiggins+Lavine provides a really nice/intriguing athletic future.

[Derwood]

Evan Turner signs with Boston

 

breathlessly anticipating SSR's hot take

[Banedon]

Dick Bavetta retiring.

[SpongeWorthy]

Holy [expletive] Paul George leg just snapped like a twig