Team Needs: Southwest Division
By Brian_Cerone
Tue, 06/23/2009 - 5:13pm
Southwest Division - 2009/10 Outlook
The Southwest Division was the most competitive division in the NBA this year with four of the five teams advancing to the playoffs. This summer is going to be crucial for the Mavericks and Rockets as they need to re-sign certain players who were integral to their success. The Spurs and Hornets will need to add some parts after being exposed during the playoffs. With the Grizzlies possessing some of the most exciting young talent in the league, the division should provide plenty of fireworks in the 2009-10 season.
San Antonio Spurs
2008-2009 Record (54-28, 3rd in Western Conference)
Returning Payroll - $71.3 mil
Guaranteed Contracts: PF/C Tim Duncan ($22.2 mil), PG Tony Parker ($12.6 mil), SG Manu Ginobili ($10.7 mil), SF Richard Jefferson ($14.2 mil), SG/SF Roger Mason ($3.8 mil), PF Matt Bonner ($3.3 mil), SG/SF Michael Finley ($2.5 mil), SG George Hill ($1.1 mil)
Restricted Free Agents:
Player Options or Early Termination Options:
Expiring Contracts: PG Jacque Vaughn ($1.3 mil), SF Ime Udoka ($1.1 mil), PF Drew Gooden ($405,882)
Team Needs:
Draft Picks: 37th pick, 51st pick, 53rd pick
Analysis:
The San Antonio Spurs were having a typical year. They finished with 54 wins and ended up the 3rd seed out in the west. The playoffs were a different story, as the Spurs were knocked out in the 1st round of the playoffs for the first time since 2000.
The addition of Richard Jefferson (traded to the Spurs on Tuesday for Kurt Thomas, Fabricio Oberto, and Bruce Bowen) gives this team a real chance to make a final championship push. The Spurs showed last year that their team was in transition. Point guard Tony Parker is in his prime and a top 5 point guard in the league. Tim Duncan is slowing a bit, but he still averaged a double-double (19.3 ppg, 10.7 rpg) and shot over 50% for the year. Manu Ginobili is still a top player in the league when he is healthy, but he was limited to 41 games last year, and was greatly missed in the playoffs.
With Jefferson trade, the Spurs now have a facelift as Bowen was quickly losing his ability to be effective in his role of lock down defender. Jefferson is a different player, but gives them a big shot in the arm. Guard Roger Mason was a surprise last year. He played great in the absence of Ginobili, and was rewarded by starting 70 games. Rookie guard George Hill was a spark in some games but faltered in others. He should be more consistent next year. The future of the Spurs is going to be a lot more with Mason and Hill rather than Bowen and Finley, even though the latter two have accomplished more.
Success for the Spurs is still going to depend on the health of Ginobili. If he is injured, they can only get so far even with the addition of Jefferson. Duncan and Parker got virtually no help during the playoffs and the other players (both old and young) were exposed, so a fourth option will be huge.
The Spurs do not have a 1st round pick this year. But they have done more damage in the 2nd round than lots of teams have in the 1st round over the past years. Three 2nd-round picks for the Spurs are valued highly within the organization. They are most likely going to look for a couple of guys that they can stash overseas for a few years and wait for them to develop. The draft may not help them much immediately, but the addition of Richard Jefferson two days before the draft makes this team dangerous once again.
Houston Rockets
2008-2009 Record (53-29, 5th in Western Conference)
Returning Payroll - $57.9 mil
Guaranteed Contracts: SF Tracy McGrady ($20.9 mil), C Yao Ming ($16.4 mil), SF Shane Battier ($ 6.9 mil), PF Luis Scola ($3.4 mil), PF Carl Landry ($3.0 mil), F Chuck Hayes ($2.1 mil), SG Brent Barry ($2.1 mil), PG Kyle Lowry ($2.0 mil), PG Aaron Brooks ($1.1 mil)
Restricted Free Agents: None
Player Options or Early Termination Options: PF Brian Cook ($3.5 mil)
Expiring Contracts: SF Ron Artest ($7.4 mil), SG Von Wafer ($797,581), C Dikembe Mutumbo ($787,066)
Team Needs: Back up center
Draft Picks: None
Analysis:
This year cleared up a few issues for the Houston Rockets. First, it's certain that Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady cannot get through a full season without getting injured. Second, the rest of the team is pretty good.
After a 53 win season and a 5th seed in the Western Conference, the Rockets gave the eventually champion LA Lakers their toughest series, taking them to 7 games. Point guard Aaron Brooks used the series as a coming out party, exploding for 34 points in a game 4 win, and 26 points in a game 6 win. Shane Battier reaffirmed that he's one of the better defenders in the league, making Kobe work for all his points in the series.
Yao almost got through the season before his foot failed on him again. He played in 77 games, most since 2004-2005. He also played in the first 9 playoff games, but missed the last 4. Yao could have been the difference in getting the Rockets over the hump and by the Lakers (even though the Rockets dropped 2 of the first 3 with Yao). Coach Rick Adelman cut down on Yao's minutes (33.6 mpg) this year from last year (37.2 mpg). He will have to cut them down even more next year, to under 30 minutes per game. Adelman knows he needs the big guy for next year's playoffs, and it'll be a complete season of managing his workload in order to get him there healthy.
McGrady is more of a concern for Rockets fans. He only played in 35 games this year. After 5 years with the Rockets he only averages 59 games per year. He is already expected to miss the first month of next season's games. If the Rockets do not trade McGrady, which is very possible, they certainly will not depend on him. If he comes back, Adelman will ease him into the lineup, keeping his minutes down. The days of seeing McGrady score 25 a night are probably over. But, if McGrady wants to play in the playoffs and win a series, this is the only way it is going to happen.
The Rockets were successful in the playoffs because of a balanced effort. After the big contributions from Brooks, Ron Artest, and Shane Battier (defensively), other guys were effective as well. Forward Carl Landry was impressive in short minutes vs. the Lakers. Guard Von Wafer, who is a free agent, had his minutes reduced in the playoffs, but was a spark plug when he was on the court (8.2 points in just 13.9 minutes during the playoffs). Forward Chuck Hayes seemed to be the only guy on the Rockets who could slow down Pau Gasol from scoring in the Western Semis. These are three guys who's role should increase next year, easing the minutes of both Yao and McGrady when he returns.
The last question for the Rockets this offseason is how to deal with Ron Artest. He is a free agent, and averaged 17.1 ppg in over 35 minutes a game this year. Along with Shane Battier, Artest gives the Rockets a type of toughness that they would miss if he left for another team. He is 29 years old, so this may be his last shot at a big contract. Artest has another good 3 or 4 years of good basketball left in the tank, and for the Rockets to capitalize off of their successful playoff run, the Rockets should make it a priority to bring him back.
Dallas Mavericks
2008-2009 Record (50-32, 6th in Western Conference)
Returning Payroll - $72.1 mil
Guaranteed Contracts: PF Dirk Nowitzki ($19.8 mil), C Erick Dampier ($12.1 mil), SG Josh Howard ($10.9 mil), G Jason Terry ($9.6 mil), SG/SF Jerry Stackhouse ($7.3 mil), SG Matt Carroll ($4.7 mil), SF Shawne Williams ($2.4 mil), SG/SF Antoine Wright ($1.9 mil), SG/SF Devean George ($1.8 mil), PG Jose Juan Barea ($1.6 mil)
Restricted Free Agents: PF/C Ryan Hollins ($972,581)
Player Options or Early Termination Options: None
Expiring Contracts: PG Jason Kidd ($21.4 mil), PF Brandon Bass ($826,269), SG Gerald Green ($826,269), PF James Singleton ($711,517)
Team Needs: Back up PG
Draft Picks: 22nd pick
Analysis:
The Dallas Mavericks made the playoffs for the 9th consecutive year and upset the 3rd seeded San Antonio Spurs in the first round. Then fell to the Denver Nuggets in the 2nd round (although a missed call in game 3 could have changed the whole landscape of the series). Either way, the Mavs had a progressive year and looks like they could be a team to compete for the Western Conference title again.
Trading away Devin Harris for the older Jason Kidd was a mistake back in February of 2008. It set the Mavs back as Kidd's style of play proved to be difficult to adjust to. This year was different, especially during the 2nd half of the season and in the playoffs. The Kidd trade is finally making sense in Dallas, and the team was very dangerous towards the end of the season. Also, Kidd is shooting the ball better than he ever has in his career. He led the team in three-point shooting percentage (40.6 %), something that he has always been criticized for.
Now that the team is finally gelling together, Kidd's contract has expired. It is bad timing for Dallas. It would be a big mistake to let Kidd go now. He started 80 games last year. Mark Cuban will most likely bring him back for another year or two because of the direction the team was headed in at the end of the season.
Drafting at 22 will be the only selection Dallas makes this year, barring a trade. The Mavs have a logjam going on at the wing. Jason Terry and Josh Howard each logged over 30 minutes a game last year. Antoine Wright started 53 games. Devean George started 17 games. Jerry Stackhouse will be back from injury next year and demand minutes. Drafting another wing player would not make much sense.
Where the Mavs do have a glaring hole is with their big men. Dirk Nowitzki plays almost all the power forward minutes, and is the focal point of the team. With his inside-outside style of play, he needs a banger next to him. Erick Dampier is coming back and will start at the center position, but after that it's up in the air. Brandon Bass was the first big-men off the bench and played in 81 games, but he's a free agent and he's only 24 years old so he should be getting some solid offers. The Mavs need to re-sign him. They should also be looking at big-men with the 22nd pick. North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough could be available, and would fit the need.
Other than Hansbrough, no other big-men are worthy of the 22nd pick unless someone slips. If the Mavs feel the same, they could draft a point guard like VCU's Eric Maynor and try and groom him to take over for Kidd eventually, whether or not Kidd is re-signed or not.
New Orleans Hornets
2008-2009 Record (49-33, 7th in Western Conference)
Returning Payroll - $76.8 mil
Guaranteed Contracts: PG Chris Paul ($13.7 mil), SF Peja Stojakovic ($13.4 mil), C Tyson Chandler ($12.3 mil), PF David West ($9.1 mil), G Antonio Daniels ($6.6 mil), SF James Posey ($6.0 mil), SG Morris Peterson ($5.8 mil), SG Rasual Butler ($3.9 mil), PF/C Hilton Armstrong ($2.8 mil), F Julian Wright ($2.0 mil), G Devin Brown ($1.1 mil)
Restricted Free Agents: None
Player Options or Early Termination Options: None
Expiring Contracts: PF/C Sean Marks ($1.1 mil)
Team Needs: Power forward
Draft Picks: 21st pick
Analysis:
The Hornets lost their 1st round series in 5 games to the Denver Nuggets. Along the way, a few things were exposed. First, other than Chris Paul and maybe David West, the team is built on a lot of specialists. Rasual Butler is a good shooter, but not much more. Same goes for Peja Stojakovic at this point in his career. Tyson Chandler blocks shots and James Posey is a defensive stud. But, as a team, they are lacking playmakers after Chris Paul.
The position most in need for improvement is shooting guard. Rasual Butler started 73 games and averaged 11.2 ppg. He did a decent job all year, but asking him to play nearly 32 minutes a game is asking too much. He is more suited for a bench role because he is a specialist, a good shooter, but he got up 4.4 three's per game last year and only got to the stripe 1.3 per contest. The Hornets need a shooting guard along side Paul who doesn't have to depend on his penetration and can create his own shot. Florida State's Toney Douglas was a big time scorer in college and should be available at 21. Arizona's Chase Budinger or North Carolina's Wayne Ellington would also be upgrades over their current situation.
If the Hornets do not feel there is a two guard out there that would be worth taking with the 21st pick, a big-man could be an option. In the playoff series vs. the Nuggets they were very thin with their post players. When Tyson Chandler didn't play in game 5, they had no shot at winning the game. Hilton Armstrong may wind up being a good player, but he wasn't ready. He and reserve Sean Marks were forced to play big minutes vs. the Nuggets. Coach Byron Scott doesn't want to be in that situation again, and if it's not something that they address with the 21st pick in the draft, they will be taking care of it via free agency.
Memphis Grizzlies
2008-2009 Record (24-58, 12th in Western Conference)
Returning Payroll - $36.6 mil
Guaranteed Contracts: PF/C Darko Milicic ($7.5 mil), G Marko Jaric ($7.1 mil), SG O.J. Mayo ($4.6 mil), G Greg Buckner ($4.1 mil), PG Mike Conley ($3.9 mil), C Marc Gasol ($3.3 mil), SG/SF Rudy Gay ($3.3 mil), C Hamed Haddadi ($1.7 mil), PF Darrell Arthur ($1.1 .mil),
Restricted Free Agents: PF Hakim Warrick ($3.0 mil)
Player Options or Early Termination Options:
Expiring Contracts: C Chris Mihm ($2.5 mil), G Mike Wilks ($1.0 mil)
Team Needs: Center, PF, PG
Draft Picks: 2nd pick, 27th pick, 36th pick
Analysis:
The Memphis Grizzlies won only 24 games last year which is not impressive by any means, but they did establish one of the most young and exciting wing players in the NBA. Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo both averaged over 18 points a game this year. Both are under the age of 23 years old and super athletic. Keeping both of these guys around is going to make Memphis competitive. Other positions are somewhat in question.
There is a lot of talk about Memphis taking Spain's Ricky Rubio with the 2nd pick overall instead of big-man Hasheem Thabeet. If this is the way in which Memphis decides to go, that would mean that they are giving up on point guard Michael Conley Jr. It would at least mean that they are not too confident that he is the point guard of their future. Conley was the 4th overall pick just two years ago. He put up respectable numbers last year (10.9 ppg, 4.3 apg, 40.6 3pt%) at the young age of 21 years old. The Grizzlies would be making a foolish mistake if they chose to go this route, especially with the 7-3 Thabeet available. Thabeet gives them a shot blocking presence that they lack. Rookie Marc Gasol started 74 games at center last year and blocked 1.1 shots in 30.7 minutes per game. Even if Thabeet's offense takes a long time to develop, his shot blocking and rebounding would have an impact for the Memphis Grizzlies immediately.
One position that the Grizzlies lacked last year was at power forward. Rookie Darrell Arthur started 63 games, but was not very productive (5.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg). Darko Milicic started 15 games but also didn't have much success (5.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg). The Grizzlies were searching for production out of the four-spot all year and never got it. Drafting Thabeet would allow Gasol to move to the power forward spot at times. Also, the Grizzlies are drafting at 27 and 36 as well. For a team in transition like the Grizzlies, both picks could result in rotation players. Last year, the Grizzlies got nothing from their bench other than forward Hakim Warrick (11.6 ppg in 24.7 minutes). So, guys like Taj Gibson from USC and big forwards like Dajuan Summers would be types of players that could step in and earn minutes for the Grizzlies immediately.
The Grizzlies are not expected to be competitive next year, but if they make the right selections in the draft, Memphis could be the East coast version of the Portland Trailblazers in a few years.
The Southwest Division was the most competitive division in the NBA this year with four of the five teams advancing to the playoffs. This summer is going to be crucial for the Mavericks and Rockets as they need to re-sign certain players who were integral to their success. The Spurs and Hornets will need to add some parts after being exposed during the playoffs. With the Grizzlies possessing some of the most exciting young talent in the league, the division should provide plenty of fireworks in the 2009-10 season.
San Antonio Spurs
2008-2009 Record (54-28, 3rd in Western Conference)
Returning Payroll - $71.3 mil
Guaranteed Contracts: PF/C Tim Duncan ($22.2 mil), PG Tony Parker ($12.6 mil), SG Manu Ginobili ($10.7 mil), SF Richard Jefferson ($14.2 mil), SG/SF Roger Mason ($3.8 mil), PF Matt Bonner ($3.3 mil), SG/SF Michael Finley ($2.5 mil), SG George Hill ($1.1 mil)
Restricted Free Agents:
Player Options or Early Termination Options:
Expiring Contracts: PG Jacque Vaughn ($1.3 mil), SF Ime Udoka ($1.1 mil), PF Drew Gooden ($405,882)
Team Needs:
Draft Picks: 37th pick, 51st pick, 53rd pick
Analysis:
The San Antonio Spurs were having a typical year. They finished with 54 wins and ended up the 3rd seed out in the west. The playoffs were a different story, as the Spurs were knocked out in the 1st round of the playoffs for the first time since 2000.
The addition of Richard Jefferson (traded to the Spurs on Tuesday for Kurt Thomas, Fabricio Oberto, and Bruce Bowen) gives this team a real chance to make a final championship push. The Spurs showed last year that their team was in transition. Point guard Tony Parker is in his prime and a top 5 point guard in the league. Tim Duncan is slowing a bit, but he still averaged a double-double (19.3 ppg, 10.7 rpg) and shot over 50% for the year. Manu Ginobili is still a top player in the league when he is healthy, but he was limited to 41 games last year, and was greatly missed in the playoffs.
With Jefferson trade, the Spurs now have a facelift as Bowen was quickly losing his ability to be effective in his role of lock down defender. Jefferson is a different player, but gives them a big shot in the arm. Guard Roger Mason was a surprise last year. He played great in the absence of Ginobili, and was rewarded by starting 70 games. Rookie guard George Hill was a spark in some games but faltered in others. He should be more consistent next year. The future of the Spurs is going to be a lot more with Mason and Hill rather than Bowen and Finley, even though the latter two have accomplished more.
Success for the Spurs is still going to depend on the health of Ginobili. If he is injured, they can only get so far even with the addition of Jefferson. Duncan and Parker got virtually no help during the playoffs and the other players (both old and young) were exposed, so a fourth option will be huge.
The Spurs do not have a 1st round pick this year. But they have done more damage in the 2nd round than lots of teams have in the 1st round over the past years. Three 2nd-round picks for the Spurs are valued highly within the organization. They are most likely going to look for a couple of guys that they can stash overseas for a few years and wait for them to develop. The draft may not help them much immediately, but the addition of Richard Jefferson two days before the draft makes this team dangerous once again.
Houston Rockets
2008-2009 Record (53-29, 5th in Western Conference)
Returning Payroll - $57.9 mil
Guaranteed Contracts: SF Tracy McGrady ($20.9 mil), C Yao Ming ($16.4 mil), SF Shane Battier ($ 6.9 mil), PF Luis Scola ($3.4 mil), PF Carl Landry ($3.0 mil), F Chuck Hayes ($2.1 mil), SG Brent Barry ($2.1 mil), PG Kyle Lowry ($2.0 mil), PG Aaron Brooks ($1.1 mil)
Restricted Free Agents: None
Player Options or Early Termination Options: PF Brian Cook ($3.5 mil)
Expiring Contracts: SF Ron Artest ($7.4 mil), SG Von Wafer ($797,581), C Dikembe Mutumbo ($787,066)
Team Needs: Back up center
Draft Picks: None
Analysis:
This year cleared up a few issues for the Houston Rockets. First, it's certain that Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady cannot get through a full season without getting injured. Second, the rest of the team is pretty good.
After a 53 win season and a 5th seed in the Western Conference, the Rockets gave the eventually champion LA Lakers their toughest series, taking them to 7 games. Point guard Aaron Brooks used the series as a coming out party, exploding for 34 points in a game 4 win, and 26 points in a game 6 win. Shane Battier reaffirmed that he's one of the better defenders in the league, making Kobe work for all his points in the series.
Yao almost got through the season before his foot failed on him again. He played in 77 games, most since 2004-2005. He also played in the first 9 playoff games, but missed the last 4. Yao could have been the difference in getting the Rockets over the hump and by the Lakers (even though the Rockets dropped 2 of the first 3 with Yao). Coach Rick Adelman cut down on Yao's minutes (33.6 mpg) this year from last year (37.2 mpg). He will have to cut them down even more next year, to under 30 minutes per game. Adelman knows he needs the big guy for next year's playoffs, and it'll be a complete season of managing his workload in order to get him there healthy.
McGrady is more of a concern for Rockets fans. He only played in 35 games this year. After 5 years with the Rockets he only averages 59 games per year. He is already expected to miss the first month of next season's games. If the Rockets do not trade McGrady, which is very possible, they certainly will not depend on him. If he comes back, Adelman will ease him into the lineup, keeping his minutes down. The days of seeing McGrady score 25 a night are probably over. But, if McGrady wants to play in the playoffs and win a series, this is the only way it is going to happen.
The Rockets were successful in the playoffs because of a balanced effort. After the big contributions from Brooks, Ron Artest, and Shane Battier (defensively), other guys were effective as well. Forward Carl Landry was impressive in short minutes vs. the Lakers. Guard Von Wafer, who is a free agent, had his minutes reduced in the playoffs, but was a spark plug when he was on the court (8.2 points in just 13.9 minutes during the playoffs). Forward Chuck Hayes seemed to be the only guy on the Rockets who could slow down Pau Gasol from scoring in the Western Semis. These are three guys who's role should increase next year, easing the minutes of both Yao and McGrady when he returns.
The last question for the Rockets this offseason is how to deal with Ron Artest. He is a free agent, and averaged 17.1 ppg in over 35 minutes a game this year. Along with Shane Battier, Artest gives the Rockets a type of toughness that they would miss if he left for another team. He is 29 years old, so this may be his last shot at a big contract. Artest has another good 3 or 4 years of good basketball left in the tank, and for the Rockets to capitalize off of their successful playoff run, the Rockets should make it a priority to bring him back.
Dallas Mavericks
2008-2009 Record (50-32, 6th in Western Conference)
Returning Payroll - $72.1 mil
Guaranteed Contracts: PF Dirk Nowitzki ($19.8 mil), C Erick Dampier ($12.1 mil), SG Josh Howard ($10.9 mil), G Jason Terry ($9.6 mil), SG/SF Jerry Stackhouse ($7.3 mil), SG Matt Carroll ($4.7 mil), SF Shawne Williams ($2.4 mil), SG/SF Antoine Wright ($1.9 mil), SG/SF Devean George ($1.8 mil), PG Jose Juan Barea ($1.6 mil)
Restricted Free Agents: PF/C Ryan Hollins ($972,581)
Player Options or Early Termination Options: None
Expiring Contracts: PG Jason Kidd ($21.4 mil), PF Brandon Bass ($826,269), SG Gerald Green ($826,269), PF James Singleton ($711,517)
Team Needs: Back up PG
Draft Picks: 22nd pick
Analysis:
The Dallas Mavericks made the playoffs for the 9th consecutive year and upset the 3rd seeded San Antonio Spurs in the first round. Then fell to the Denver Nuggets in the 2nd round (although a missed call in game 3 could have changed the whole landscape of the series). Either way, the Mavs had a progressive year and looks like they could be a team to compete for the Western Conference title again.
Trading away Devin Harris for the older Jason Kidd was a mistake back in February of 2008. It set the Mavs back as Kidd's style of play proved to be difficult to adjust to. This year was different, especially during the 2nd half of the season and in the playoffs. The Kidd trade is finally making sense in Dallas, and the team was very dangerous towards the end of the season. Also, Kidd is shooting the ball better than he ever has in his career. He led the team in three-point shooting percentage (40.6 %), something that he has always been criticized for.
Now that the team is finally gelling together, Kidd's contract has expired. It is bad timing for Dallas. It would be a big mistake to let Kidd go now. He started 80 games last year. Mark Cuban will most likely bring him back for another year or two because of the direction the team was headed in at the end of the season.
Drafting at 22 will be the only selection Dallas makes this year, barring a trade. The Mavs have a logjam going on at the wing. Jason Terry and Josh Howard each logged over 30 minutes a game last year. Antoine Wright started 53 games. Devean George started 17 games. Jerry Stackhouse will be back from injury next year and demand minutes. Drafting another wing player would not make much sense.
Where the Mavs do have a glaring hole is with their big men. Dirk Nowitzki plays almost all the power forward minutes, and is the focal point of the team. With his inside-outside style of play, he needs a banger next to him. Erick Dampier is coming back and will start at the center position, but after that it's up in the air. Brandon Bass was the first big-men off the bench and played in 81 games, but he's a free agent and he's only 24 years old so he should be getting some solid offers. The Mavs need to re-sign him. They should also be looking at big-men with the 22nd pick. North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough could be available, and would fit the need.
Other than Hansbrough, no other big-men are worthy of the 22nd pick unless someone slips. If the Mavs feel the same, they could draft a point guard like VCU's Eric Maynor and try and groom him to take over for Kidd eventually, whether or not Kidd is re-signed or not.
New Orleans Hornets
2008-2009 Record (49-33, 7th in Western Conference)
Returning Payroll - $76.8 mil
Guaranteed Contracts: PG Chris Paul ($13.7 mil), SF Peja Stojakovic ($13.4 mil), C Tyson Chandler ($12.3 mil), PF David West ($9.1 mil), G Antonio Daniels ($6.6 mil), SF James Posey ($6.0 mil), SG Morris Peterson ($5.8 mil), SG Rasual Butler ($3.9 mil), PF/C Hilton Armstrong ($2.8 mil), F Julian Wright ($2.0 mil), G Devin Brown ($1.1 mil)
Restricted Free Agents: None
Player Options or Early Termination Options: None
Expiring Contracts: PF/C Sean Marks ($1.1 mil)
Team Needs: Power forward
Draft Picks: 21st pick
Analysis:
The Hornets lost their 1st round series in 5 games to the Denver Nuggets. Along the way, a few things were exposed. First, other than Chris Paul and maybe David West, the team is built on a lot of specialists. Rasual Butler is a good shooter, but not much more. Same goes for Peja Stojakovic at this point in his career. Tyson Chandler blocks shots and James Posey is a defensive stud. But, as a team, they are lacking playmakers after Chris Paul.
The position most in need for improvement is shooting guard. Rasual Butler started 73 games and averaged 11.2 ppg. He did a decent job all year, but asking him to play nearly 32 minutes a game is asking too much. He is more suited for a bench role because he is a specialist, a good shooter, but he got up 4.4 three's per game last year and only got to the stripe 1.3 per contest. The Hornets need a shooting guard along side Paul who doesn't have to depend on his penetration and can create his own shot. Florida State's Toney Douglas was a big time scorer in college and should be available at 21. Arizona's Chase Budinger or North Carolina's Wayne Ellington would also be upgrades over their current situation.
If the Hornets do not feel there is a two guard out there that would be worth taking with the 21st pick, a big-man could be an option. In the playoff series vs. the Nuggets they were very thin with their post players. When Tyson Chandler didn't play in game 5, they had no shot at winning the game. Hilton Armstrong may wind up being a good player, but he wasn't ready. He and reserve Sean Marks were forced to play big minutes vs. the Nuggets. Coach Byron Scott doesn't want to be in that situation again, and if it's not something that they address with the 21st pick in the draft, they will be taking care of it via free agency.
Memphis Grizzlies
2008-2009 Record (24-58, 12th in Western Conference)
Returning Payroll - $36.6 mil
Guaranteed Contracts: PF/C Darko Milicic ($7.5 mil), G Marko Jaric ($7.1 mil), SG O.J. Mayo ($4.6 mil), G Greg Buckner ($4.1 mil), PG Mike Conley ($3.9 mil), C Marc Gasol ($3.3 mil), SG/SF Rudy Gay ($3.3 mil), C Hamed Haddadi ($1.7 mil), PF Darrell Arthur ($1.1 .mil),
Restricted Free Agents: PF Hakim Warrick ($3.0 mil)
Player Options or Early Termination Options:
Expiring Contracts: C Chris Mihm ($2.5 mil), G Mike Wilks ($1.0 mil)
Team Needs: Center, PF, PG
Draft Picks: 2nd pick, 27th pick, 36th pick
Analysis:
The Memphis Grizzlies won only 24 games last year which is not impressive by any means, but they did establish one of the most young and exciting wing players in the NBA. Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo both averaged over 18 points a game this year. Both are under the age of 23 years old and super athletic. Keeping both of these guys around is going to make Memphis competitive. Other positions are somewhat in question.
There is a lot of talk about Memphis taking Spain's Ricky Rubio with the 2nd pick overall instead of big-man Hasheem Thabeet. If this is the way in which Memphis decides to go, that would mean that they are giving up on point guard Michael Conley Jr. It would at least mean that they are not too confident that he is the point guard of their future. Conley was the 4th overall pick just two years ago. He put up respectable numbers last year (10.9 ppg, 4.3 apg, 40.6 3pt%) at the young age of 21 years old. The Grizzlies would be making a foolish mistake if they chose to go this route, especially with the 7-3 Thabeet available. Thabeet gives them a shot blocking presence that they lack. Rookie Marc Gasol started 74 games at center last year and blocked 1.1 shots in 30.7 minutes per game. Even if Thabeet's offense takes a long time to develop, his shot blocking and rebounding would have an impact for the Memphis Grizzlies immediately.
One position that the Grizzlies lacked last year was at power forward. Rookie Darrell Arthur started 63 games, but was not very productive (5.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg). Darko Milicic started 15 games but also didn't have much success (5.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg). The Grizzlies were searching for production out of the four-spot all year and never got it. Drafting Thabeet would allow Gasol to move to the power forward spot at times. Also, the Grizzlies are drafting at 27 and 36 as well. For a team in transition like the Grizzlies, both picks could result in rotation players. Last year, the Grizzlies got nothing from their bench other than forward Hakim Warrick (11.6 ppg in 24.7 minutes). So, guys like Taj Gibson from USC and big forwards like Dajuan Summers would be types of players that could step in and earn minutes for the Grizzlies immediately.
The Grizzlies are not expected to be competitive next year, but if they make the right selections in the draft, Memphis could be the East coast version of the Portland Trailblazers in a few years.
Posted on: Wed, 06/24/2009 - 10:03am
spurs
crafty moves yesterday, nice 3 for 1 deal. this should make the race out west interesting. draft night is going to be a roller coaster....
Posted on: Wed, 11/25/2009 - 8:15am
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On paper you'd have to argue that the Spurs now have more talent than the Lakers.
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