Post by Brooklyn on Nov 18, 2016 1:52:04 GMT
1. New York Knicks
- Projection: 58-24
- Last Season: 67-15 (1st, League Champions)
- Key Additions: Hakeem Olajuwon, Jeff Hornacek
- Key Losses: Pau Gasol, Andrew Bogut
Although the Knicks moved Gasol, they’ll still be able to figure out a DC that will land them at the top of the conference. Hakeem is older but should be able to fill in for much of what Gasol brought. Nance, Oden and Kenny still make for an excellent core. They also have some sneaky good fringe players like Brian Winters.
2. Vancouver Grizzlies
- Projection: 53-29
- Last Season: 53-29 (3rd, 1st Round)
- Key Additions: Latrell Sprewell, Tal Brody, Karl Malone, Greg Minor
- Key Losses: Marc Gasol, Terry Dischinger, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Mario Hezonja, Bill McGill, Ronnie Lester
Big changes in Vancouver. Out are Terry D and MKG who have great ratings but don’t produce, which is a good move by Vancouver. Gasol also left in FA which was a big hit up front. Coming back are a solid PG in Tal Brody and Latrell Sprewell – who took a step back in TC. As with most Vancouver teams there is lots of talent which will win them games, but not much thought put in terms of team makeup, so we expect them to win a lot but lose early in the playoffs.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
- Projection: 52-30
- Last Season: 52-30 (4th, 1st Round)
- Key Additions: None
- Key Losses: Andrew Wiggins, Mickael Pietrus
Minnesota lost Wiggins for salary cap reasons, but they should be just as good as last year, since Wiggins has deteriorated recently. Their core is still intact from the JScott days, which is the smartest thing this GM has done (or hasn’t done).
4. Brooklyn Nets
- Projection: 50-32
- Last Season: 49-33 (6th, Conference Finals)
- Key Additions: Lew Alcindor, George Mikan, Kevin Loughery
- Key Losses: Jerry Lucas, Devin Booker
Brooklyn won the lottery again and added Lew, who should give last year’s #2 offence a big boost. George Mikan and Kevin Loughery come in to fill the void left by Jerry Lucas and Devin Booker.
5. Portland Trailblazers
- Projection: 49-33
- Last Season: 39-43 (7th, 1st Round)
- Key Additions: Al Horford, Flynn, Robinson, Brent Barry, Damon Stoudamire, Ronnie Fields
- Key Losses: Gerald Wallace, PJ Brown, Si Green, Bud Olsen
Portland might have had the quietest but biggest offseason of all teams. They made a huge move adding Horford in the offseason, a big impact player. They did lose some quality players in PJ Brown and Si Green, but the addition of Stoudamire was a great move to round things out.
6. Toronto Raptors
- Projection: 46-36
- Last Season: 57-25 (2nd, 2nd Round)
- Key Additions: John Stockton
- Key Losses: George Mikan
Toronto overachieved a bit last year and should take a step back after losing some depth up front. The Stockton contract will hurt them in later years but for now he brings some depth at the guard position. Carmelo’s TC hit will also hurt them this season.
7. San Antonio Spurs
- Projection: 42-40
- Last Season: 38-44 (8th, 1st Round)
- Key Additions: Sam Jones, Andrew Wiggins, James Ray
- Key Losses: Steve Smith, Josh McRoberts, Gerald Green, Lou Williams
Spurs got their laptop fixed and are back this season. Usually that means bad things for the team, but so far the GM has added talent to an already talented roster. Jones and Wiggins will add a little bit of depth to a team that made the playoffs last year.
8. New Orleans Jazz
- Projection: 41-41
- Last Season: 33-49 (11th, Missed Playoffs)
- Key Additions: Mark Price, Monta Ellis, Maurice Stokes, Mario Hezonja, Doug McDermott, Zoran Slavnic
- Key Losses: Channing Frye, Jamal Mashburn, Jamaal Tinsley
Lots of moves in New Orleans this offseason, and they’ve all been in the direction of adding talent. They hardly lost anything while adding a young stud PG Mark Price and an underrated stud SG Monta Ellis. Stokes is a long way away from being productive, but he did grab even more shooters in Hezonja and McDermott. The question will be whether he can add enough talent up front. He did acquire Fran Vazquez but traded him away for next to nothing, which was a big mistake in my opinion.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers
- Projection: 40-42
- Last Season: 37-45 (9th, Missed Playoffs)
- Key Additions: Shaquille O’Neal, Fran Vazquez
- Key Losses: Brandon Roy
Cleveland made a great move trading over-rated SG Brandon Roy for Shaq. This trade alone will improve them by a few wins this year, landing them either in the playoffs or just outside.
10. Chicago Bulls
- Projection: 39-43
- Last Season: 50-32 (5th, 2nd Round)
- Key Additions: Gerald Wallace, Donnie Freeman
- Key Losses: Al Horford, Greg Minor, Emmanuel Mudiay
Chicago could take the biggest step back of any team this year after losing Horford and Mudiay. Embiid also had an awful TC which leaves them with barely anything to look forward to this season. I expect the GM will trade off whatever assets they have left and go into full-rebuild mode, which could see them slip even further in the rankings.
11. Boston Celtics
- Projection: 33-49
- Last Season: 33-49 (12th, Missed Playoffs)
- Key Additions: Andrew Bynum, Kelly Tripucka, Nikola Jokic, Josh McRoberts
- Key Losses: Chris Webber, Cazzie Russell, Tal Brody, Jabari Parker, Zoran Slavnic
At one point this offseason I thought Seer had the winning combination (around the time Sheed was on the team). I think at this point they might actually be less talented then last year. Hard to tell and more moves are coming I'm sure. If they can put it together they could make a playoff run.
12. Los Angeles Lakers
- Projection: 32-50
- Last Season: 26-56 (15th, Missed Playoffs)
- Key Additions: Andre Drummond, Greg Ostertag, Robert Horry, Bobby Jones, Tom Gola
- Key Losses: Alonzo Mourning, Jarrett Jack, Al Wood
Last year was bad for this team, and I’m afraid this year won’t be much better. I don’t think they improved much, but should win a few more games than last year’s disaster.
13. Buenos Aires Boca Juniors
- Projection: 31-51
- Last Season: 27-55 (14th, Missed Playoffs)
- Key Additions: Emmanuel Mudiay, Dennis Rodman, Drazen Petrovic
- Key Losses: Robert Horry, Deron Williams
I really like what this GM has done. They have taken a slow and steady rebuild process, loading the team with talent. The question will be whether they can consolidate some of their assets into more elite players. I’m guessing they’ll coast through this year again and look towards the draft.
14. Seattle Supersonics
- Projection: 30-52
- Last Season: 34-48 (10th, Missed Playoffs
- Key Additions: JoJo White
- Key Losses: Randy Brown, Damon Stoudamire
Not much to say about this team. They didn’t add much talent this year by swapping Damon for JoJo, and we’re still not confident they can figure out a DC/GP.
15. San Francisco Warriors
- Projection: 25-57
- Last Season: 33-49 (13th, Missed Playoffs)
- Key Additions: Al Wood
- Key Losses: Doug McDermott
Lights are on but nobody’s home here. They don’t really have much to work with. Their best path forward is to probably trade Gail and start drafting high for a few seasons.
16. Brazil Franca BC
- Projection: 20-62
- Last Season: 12-70 (10th, Missed Playoffs)
- Key Additions: Ron Harper, Michael Jordan
- Key Losses: Willie Anderson
Ron Harper is just about the only thing going for this team right now. It’ll be another long season in Brazil and a high draft pick.
- Projection: 58-24
- Last Season: 67-15 (1st, League Champions)
- Key Additions: Hakeem Olajuwon, Jeff Hornacek
- Key Losses: Pau Gasol, Andrew Bogut
Although the Knicks moved Gasol, they’ll still be able to figure out a DC that will land them at the top of the conference. Hakeem is older but should be able to fill in for much of what Gasol brought. Nance, Oden and Kenny still make for an excellent core. They also have some sneaky good fringe players like Brian Winters.
2. Vancouver Grizzlies
- Projection: 53-29
- Last Season: 53-29 (3rd, 1st Round)
- Key Additions: Latrell Sprewell, Tal Brody, Karl Malone, Greg Minor
- Key Losses: Marc Gasol, Terry Dischinger, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Mario Hezonja, Bill McGill, Ronnie Lester
Big changes in Vancouver. Out are Terry D and MKG who have great ratings but don’t produce, which is a good move by Vancouver. Gasol also left in FA which was a big hit up front. Coming back are a solid PG in Tal Brody and Latrell Sprewell – who took a step back in TC. As with most Vancouver teams there is lots of talent which will win them games, but not much thought put in terms of team makeup, so we expect them to win a lot but lose early in the playoffs.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
- Projection: 52-30
- Last Season: 52-30 (4th, 1st Round)
- Key Additions: None
- Key Losses: Andrew Wiggins, Mickael Pietrus
Minnesota lost Wiggins for salary cap reasons, but they should be just as good as last year, since Wiggins has deteriorated recently. Their core is still intact from the JScott days, which is the smartest thing this GM has done (or hasn’t done).
4. Brooklyn Nets
- Projection: 50-32
- Last Season: 49-33 (6th, Conference Finals)
- Key Additions: Lew Alcindor, George Mikan, Kevin Loughery
- Key Losses: Jerry Lucas, Devin Booker
Brooklyn won the lottery again and added Lew, who should give last year’s #2 offence a big boost. George Mikan and Kevin Loughery come in to fill the void left by Jerry Lucas and Devin Booker.
5. Portland Trailblazers
- Projection: 49-33
- Last Season: 39-43 (7th, 1st Round)
- Key Additions: Al Horford, Flynn, Robinson, Brent Barry, Damon Stoudamire, Ronnie Fields
- Key Losses: Gerald Wallace, PJ Brown, Si Green, Bud Olsen
Portland might have had the quietest but biggest offseason of all teams. They made a huge move adding Horford in the offseason, a big impact player. They did lose some quality players in PJ Brown and Si Green, but the addition of Stoudamire was a great move to round things out.
6. Toronto Raptors
- Projection: 46-36
- Last Season: 57-25 (2nd, 2nd Round)
- Key Additions: John Stockton
- Key Losses: George Mikan
Toronto overachieved a bit last year and should take a step back after losing some depth up front. The Stockton contract will hurt them in later years but for now he brings some depth at the guard position. Carmelo’s TC hit will also hurt them this season.
7. San Antonio Spurs
- Projection: 42-40
- Last Season: 38-44 (8th, 1st Round)
- Key Additions: Sam Jones, Andrew Wiggins, James Ray
- Key Losses: Steve Smith, Josh McRoberts, Gerald Green, Lou Williams
Spurs got their laptop fixed and are back this season. Usually that means bad things for the team, but so far the GM has added talent to an already talented roster. Jones and Wiggins will add a little bit of depth to a team that made the playoffs last year.
8. New Orleans Jazz
- Projection: 41-41
- Last Season: 33-49 (11th, Missed Playoffs)
- Key Additions: Mark Price, Monta Ellis, Maurice Stokes, Mario Hezonja, Doug McDermott, Zoran Slavnic
- Key Losses: Channing Frye, Jamal Mashburn, Jamaal Tinsley
Lots of moves in New Orleans this offseason, and they’ve all been in the direction of adding talent. They hardly lost anything while adding a young stud PG Mark Price and an underrated stud SG Monta Ellis. Stokes is a long way away from being productive, but he did grab even more shooters in Hezonja and McDermott. The question will be whether he can add enough talent up front. He did acquire Fran Vazquez but traded him away for next to nothing, which was a big mistake in my opinion.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers
- Projection: 40-42
- Last Season: 37-45 (9th, Missed Playoffs)
- Key Additions: Shaquille O’Neal, Fran Vazquez
- Key Losses: Brandon Roy
Cleveland made a great move trading over-rated SG Brandon Roy for Shaq. This trade alone will improve them by a few wins this year, landing them either in the playoffs or just outside.
10. Chicago Bulls
- Projection: 39-43
- Last Season: 50-32 (5th, 2nd Round)
- Key Additions: Gerald Wallace, Donnie Freeman
- Key Losses: Al Horford, Greg Minor, Emmanuel Mudiay
Chicago could take the biggest step back of any team this year after losing Horford and Mudiay. Embiid also had an awful TC which leaves them with barely anything to look forward to this season. I expect the GM will trade off whatever assets they have left and go into full-rebuild mode, which could see them slip even further in the rankings.
11. Boston Celtics
- Projection: 33-49
- Last Season: 33-49 (12th, Missed Playoffs)
- Key Additions: Andrew Bynum, Kelly Tripucka, Nikola Jokic, Josh McRoberts
- Key Losses: Chris Webber, Cazzie Russell, Tal Brody, Jabari Parker, Zoran Slavnic
At one point this offseason I thought Seer had the winning combination (around the time Sheed was on the team). I think at this point they might actually be less talented then last year. Hard to tell and more moves are coming I'm sure. If they can put it together they could make a playoff run.
12. Los Angeles Lakers
- Projection: 32-50
- Last Season: 26-56 (15th, Missed Playoffs)
- Key Additions: Andre Drummond, Greg Ostertag, Robert Horry, Bobby Jones, Tom Gola
- Key Losses: Alonzo Mourning, Jarrett Jack, Al Wood
Last year was bad for this team, and I’m afraid this year won’t be much better. I don’t think they improved much, but should win a few more games than last year’s disaster.
13. Buenos Aires Boca Juniors
- Projection: 31-51
- Last Season: 27-55 (14th, Missed Playoffs)
- Key Additions: Emmanuel Mudiay, Dennis Rodman, Drazen Petrovic
- Key Losses: Robert Horry, Deron Williams
I really like what this GM has done. They have taken a slow and steady rebuild process, loading the team with talent. The question will be whether they can consolidate some of their assets into more elite players. I’m guessing they’ll coast through this year again and look towards the draft.
14. Seattle Supersonics
- Projection: 30-52
- Last Season: 34-48 (10th, Missed Playoffs
- Key Additions: JoJo White
- Key Losses: Randy Brown, Damon Stoudamire
Not much to say about this team. They didn’t add much talent this year by swapping Damon for JoJo, and we’re still not confident they can figure out a DC/GP.
15. San Francisco Warriors
- Projection: 25-57
- Last Season: 33-49 (13th, Missed Playoffs)
- Key Additions: Al Wood
- Key Losses: Doug McDermott
Lights are on but nobody’s home here. They don’t really have much to work with. Their best path forward is to probably trade Gail and start drafting high for a few seasons.
16. Brazil Franca BC
- Projection: 20-62
- Last Season: 12-70 (10th, Missed Playoffs)
- Key Additions: Ron Harper, Michael Jordan
- Key Losses: Willie Anderson
Ron Harper is just about the only thing going for this team right now. It’ll be another long season in Brazil and a high draft pick.
