Evaluating the 2008 Draft Class

With the 2008 NBA Draft a week away, it’s hard for fans to avoid wondering how this draft class might turn out. How will it compare to other drafts? Strengths? Weaknesses? Let’s break it down. Big Men (4s and 5s): Everyone knows about Michael Beasley. Coming off a dominant freshman season, Beasley is the only…

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State of the Cap: Sacramento Kings

  By Josh Redetzke 6/20/08 2008/09 Sacramento Kings Payroll: $63 million 2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million (estimate) Roughly: $5 million over cap The Good: It was a rough year for the Sacramento Kings and even their best player, Kevin Martin, had his share of hardships. The lightning quick guard missed 21 games due…

State of the Cap: Seattle Supersonics

2008/09 Seattle Supersonics Payroll: $48.4 million 2008/09 Estimated Salary Cap: $58 million (estimate) Roughly $9.6 million under cap The Good: After a couple of major trades, the Sonics have set themselves up so that the highest paid player on their team next season will be Chris Wilcox at just $6.75 million. For comparison, the Knicks…

Team Needs: Central Division

Milwaukee Bucks 2007-08 Record: 26-56 Head Coach: Scott Skiles The Milwaukee Bucks, another team with plenty of lottery picks and talent on the roster that hasn’t been able to get over the hump. There’s talk that the team is considering an overhaul, beginning with lead two guard Michael Redd, but given Redd’s expensive contract, a…

State of the Cap: Golden State Warriors

2008/09 Golden State Warriors Payroll: $46.7 million 2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million (estimate) Roughly: $11.3 million under cap (includes $17.1 million for the player option on Baron Davis’s contract) The Good: During his first full season in Golden State, Stephen Jackson topped 20 points a game for the first time in his career.…

State of the Cap: New Jersey Nets

By Josh Redetzke 2008/09 New Jersey Nets Payroll: $51.7 million 2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million (estimate) Roughly: $6.3 million under cap The Good: When you trade your franchise player, you had better get something really good in return (are you listening, Memphis?). Not only did the Nets get expiring contracts and draft picks,…

State of the Cap: Milwaukee Bucks

  By Josh Redetzke 6/15/08 2008/09 Milwaukee Bucks Payroll: $62.3 million 2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million (estimate) Roughly: $4.3 million over cap   The Good: Last summer’s biggest transaction, re-signing point guard Mo Williams, is off to a pretty good start. Mo maintained his scoring and assists at 17.2 and 6.4 per game…

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State of the Cap: Los Angleles Clippers

Josh Redetzke 6/14/08 2008/09 Los Angeles Clippers Payroll: $53.2 million 2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million (estimate) Roughly: $4.8 million under cap (includes player options of Elton Brand, $16.4 million, and Corey Maggette, $8.4 million)   The Good: After signing a hefty contract and responding with a terrible season, Chris Kaman took advantage of…

State of the Cap: Atlanta Hawks

By Josh Redetzke 6/13/08 2008/09 Atlanta Hawks Payroll: $51.7 million 2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million (estimate) Roughly: $6.3 million under cap The Good: The Hawks made the playoffs for the first time in eight years and leading the charge was a healthy Joe Johnson. After an injury shortened season a year ago, Johnson…

State of the Cap: Miami Heat

By Josh Redetzke 6/12/08 2008/09 Miami Heat Payroll: $53.3 million 2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million (estimate) Roughly: $4.7 million under cap (Includes Shawn Marion’s player option of $17.2 million.)   The Good: Even though Shaquille O’Neal showed flashes of inspired play in Phoenix, the trade that sent him away has to go down…

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State of the Cap: Indiana Pacers

By Josh Redetzke 6/11/08 2008/09 Indiana Pacers Payroll: $69.5 million 2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million Roughly: $11.5 million over cap   The Good: Selecting Danny Granger with the 17th pick in the 2005 NBA draft is now looking like a stroke of genius (even though it was somewhat obvious that he shouldn’t have…

State of the Cap: Chicago Bulls

By Josh Redetzke 6/10/08 2008/09 Chicage Bulls Payroll: $47.5 million 2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million Roughly: $11.5 million under cap   The Good: What a difference a year makes. The Bulls won 49 games last season and appeared to be easy candidates for a top seed in the playoffs. Instead, they got off…

State of the Cap: Charlotte Bobcats

  By Josh Redetzke 6/9/08 2008/09 Charlotte Bobcats Payroll: $39.8 million 2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million (estimate) Roughly: $18.2 million under cap (Exact terms of Matt Carroll’s deal not known, used contract average of $4.5 million for his cap number) The Good: Re-signing Gerald Wallace was one of the Bobcat’s top priorities last…

2008 Eurocamp: Vitals

 Player Height with Shoes Standing Reach Weight Wingspan Vertical (Standing) Vertical (Free) Half Court Sprint 1984               Ryan Read 6’1 3/4 8’0 187 6’2 3/4 26 31 2.51 1986               Omer Asik 7’0 1/2 9’4 250 7’2 1/4 24.4 29 2.84 Semih Erden…

State of the Cap: Overview

Josh Redetzke Eastern Conference ATLANTIC CENTRAL SOUTHEAST Boston Celtics Chicago Bulls Atlanta Hawks New Jersey Nets Cleveland Cavaliers Charlotte Bobcats New York Knicks Detroit Pistons Miami Heat Philadelphia 76ers Indiana Pacers Orlando Magic Toronto Raptors Milwaukee Bucks Washington Wizards Western Conference SOUTHWEST NORTHWEST PACIFIC Dallas Mavericks Denver Nuggets Golden State Warriors Houston Rockets Minnesota Timberwolves…