[nbastarParticipant]

Opening up the remaining doors from the NBA’s Let’s Make A Deal weekend:
– Just in case this green-green-grass-of-home thing doesn’t work out, LeBron James can opt out of his Cleveland contract same time next year, and it’s a 2-year deal regardless. The stated reason for his temporary commitment, which will not quite take him to the end of the Obama administration, is that James can then sign a bigger deal with his beloved Cavaliers when the NBA’s TV contracts get renegotiated. No reason to disbelieve the man. But the last two times James was on the market, he changed markets.
– Provided it signs Dwyane Wade, Miami won’t fall off the map. The Heat kept Chris Bosh and signed Luol Deng, who is useful on many fronts. Deng might not be a King, but he did go to Duke.
– Paul Pierce left the Nets after one year and signed with the Wizards, where he can at least tell, if not show, his teammates where a championship lies. After all, if there’s one town that could use some Truth, it’s Washington, D.C.
– Optimists in Lakerland were originally figuring they would welcome James to Staples Center to join Kobe Bryant in a great renewal. These are the same people who think the Lakers will eventually wind up with Kevin Love and Kevin Durant somehow, with Mike Krzyzewski coaching and Magic Johnson as principal owner. Instead the Lakers became the receptacle for Jeremy Lin so that Houston could chase its dreams. Then they lost Pau Gasol, one of Bryant’s best friends. Their money isn’t any good these days and neither, apparently, is their pedigree.
– The Bulls were already the most likeable team in the NBA because of their commando work ethic and their refusal to acknowledge excuses. They just became more likeable with Gasol. Can you recall a better big-man passing combo than Gasol and Joakim Noah, especially since Gasol has always been at home in the low post?
– The Spurs did nothing and appear to have gained on everybody.
– And with all the talk of legends bringing it all back home, will the Wizards be tampering If they gently start reminding Durant where his district is?

Source: http://nbasportupdates.blogspot.com/2014/07/nba-free-agency-notebook-who-got-better.html

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

The Cavs had a GREAT offseason with LeBron coming back and the drafting of Andrew Wiggins.  An all time great offseason there.  They also drafted Joe Harris who should fit in as a shooter on the wing.  The only better all-around offseason that I can think of is 1996 when the Lakers traded for Kobe on draft night, signed Shaq as a free agent, and also drafted Derek Fisher.  Heck, they even traded for the draft rights to Travis Knight, who turned into a serviceable backup center.

The Mavs made the playoffs last season and gave the Spurs fits.  Even though they lost Vince Carter they traded for Tyson Chandler and signed Chandler Parsons to complete their front line with Dirk.  They helped themselves. 

The Grizzlies had a good offseason too, with a solid draft picking up Jordan Adams as a scoring, shooting James Harden type player, and getting Memphis-born Jarnell Stokes who can study his craft with Zach Randolph.  Vince Carter gives the Grizzlies another solid wing player and a possible starter at small forward.  He can get his own shot, play offense AND defense (unlike Mike Miller), and still get up and dunk even at age 37.  For one of the smallest markets in the league, the Grizzlies had a great offseason.

Not many other teams improved themselves that much.  I like what the Clippers did, getting a legit third big man in Spencer Hawes.  He has more range than their other two bigs, so he should help them.

Now, free agency isn’t over yet, so we will still see what happens.  But the Cavs are the clear winners here, and should still add Mike Miler (is this a done deal?), possibly Ray Allen, and others. 

The Bulls found their Carlos Boozer replacement in Pau Gasol.  He gives them a great low post game, solid rebounding, size, and good passing.  Noah, Pau, and Taj look like an ideal 3 big man rotation for the Eastern Conference.  Doug McDermott can shoot and score (and shoot).  If they add a couple more pieces then they could be a favorite to reach the ECF next season.

Honorable mention to the champion Spurs for keeping the guys they have.  That is sometimes very hard to do for a title team.  They also drafted Kyle Anderson who should help, even though they might have been better off with an athletic wing who could shoot like Cleanthony Early. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

The Cavs had a GREAT offseason with LeBron coming back and the drafting of Andrew Wiggins.  An all time great offseason there.  They also drafted Joe Harris who should fit in as a shooter on the wing.  The only better all-around offseason that I can think of is 1996 when the Lakers traded for Kobe on draft night, signed Shaq as a free agent, and also drafted Derek Fisher.  Heck, they even traded for the draft rights to Travis Knight, who turned into a serviceable backup center.

The Mavs made the playoffs last season and gave the Spurs fits.  Even though they lost Vince Carter they traded for Tyson Chandler and signed Chandler Parsons to complete their front line with Dirk.  They helped themselves. 

The Grizzlies had a good offseason too, with a solid draft picking up Jordan Adams as a scoring, shooting James Harden type player, and getting Memphis-born Jarnell Stokes who can study his craft with Zach Randolph.  Vince Carter gives the Grizzlies another solid wing player and a possible starter at small forward.  He can get his own shot, play offense AND defense (unlike Mike Miller), and still get up and dunk even at age 37.  For one of the smallest markets in the league, the Grizzlies had a great offseason.

Not many other teams improved themselves that much.  I like what the Clippers did, getting a legit third big man in Spencer Hawes.  He has more range than their other two bigs, so he should help them.

Now, free agency isn’t over yet, so we will still see what happens.  But the Cavs are the clear winners here, and should still add Mike Miler (is this a done deal?), possibly Ray Allen, and others. 

The Bulls found their Carlos Boozer replacement in Pau Gasol.  He gives them a great low post game, solid rebounding, size, and good passing.  Noah, Pau, and Taj look like an ideal 3 big man rotation for the Eastern Conference.  Doug McDermott can shoot and score (and shoot).  If they add a couple more pieces then they could be a favorite to reach the ECF next season.

Honorable mention to the champion Spurs for keeping the guys they have.  That is sometimes very hard to do for a title team.  They also drafted Kyle Anderson who should help, even though they might have been better off with an athletic wing who could shoot like Cleanthony Early. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

The Spurs could still use another athlete.  Kawhi Leonard is really the only above the rim guy on the team.  I think they could also use a legit stretch four.  A guy who can rebound, defend a bit, then hit the 3 on offense.  Boris Diaw gives them a lot at power forward, but he isn’t known as a 3 point sniper (nor a defender). 

It will be interesting to see how the Spurs fill out their roster.  They are still the top team out West.  The other western powers didn’t add a heck of a lot (although the Grizzlies added some nice pieces and the Mavs did well, too), but the Cavs look like a real power, and the Bulls got a guy they need in Pau Gasol while they are also anticipating a healthy Derrick Rose. 

The Spurs might need an extra rotation guy.  Other than that, they look like they are still the team to beat, and one of the handful of teams with legit title chances.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

The Spurs could still use another athlete.  Kawhi Leonard is really the only above the rim guy on the team.  I think they could also use a legit stretch four.  A guy who can rebound, defend a bit, then hit the 3 on offense.  Boris Diaw gives them a lot at power forward, but he isn’t known as a 3 point sniper (nor a defender). 

It will be interesting to see how the Spurs fill out their roster.  They are still the top team out West.  The other western powers didn’t add a heck of a lot (although the Grizzlies added some nice pieces and the Mavs did well, too), but the Cavs look like a real power, and the Bulls got a guy they need in Pau Gasol while they are also anticipating a healthy Derrick Rose. 

The Spurs might need an extra rotation guy.  Other than that, they look like they are still the team to beat, and one of the handful of teams with legit title chances.

[celtics1982Participant]

Cavs its that easy, they improved the most, short and long term.  Also like what the Bulls, Mavs and Grizzles did, they all improved by a good margin.  Now teams like the Rockets, Nets and Heat all are not as good.  The Rockets moves blow my mind.  Why didn’t they just use Chandlers option for 1 million? They had to know someone was going to throw close to max money at him.  Then they trade Lin before they actually get Bosh, those creating a hole at pg, while giving up a future first round pick.  Sure they got Ariza, but they lost 3 rotation players and only got one back.  I also think Ariza is a downgrade from Parsons.

[celtics1982Participant]

Cavs its that easy, they improved the most, short and long term.  Also like what the Bulls, Mavs and Grizzles did, they all improved by a good margin.  Now teams like the Rockets, Nets and Heat all are not as good.  The Rockets moves blow my mind.  Why didn’t they just use Chandlers option for 1 million? They had to know someone was going to throw close to max money at him.  Then they trade Lin before they actually get Bosh, those creating a hole at pg, while giving up a future first round pick.  Sure they got Ariza, but they lost 3 rotation players and only got one back.  I also think Ariza is a downgrade from Parsons.

[Author]

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