nelsonmuntz
Point Center
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Messages
- 44,213
- Reaction Score
- 33,076
Eastern Conference
Early winners:
Celtics - I thought the Celtics were a good, not great team that got some breaks to make the finals. With Brogdan and Gallinari, I think they are one of the best teams in the east. Great work by Brad Stevens.
Hawks - Hawks had a puzzling season that seemed like just a down year after a great 2020-2021, but with Murray, the Hawks are a challenger in the East. Spurs dumping an all-star was just stupid. They will never get a player as good as Dejounte Murray with any of the pieces they got. San Antonio is also not a destination market for free agents. This feels like the true end of an era of Spurs being competitive. They could be bad for a long time.
Pistons - they are still a bad team, but they are stocking up on short contracts and good young players. Who knows if it will work out for them, but they are making the right moves.
Holding steady:
Bucks - a very good team returning plus being way over the cap limits their options. Picking up Ingles could be good, and holding Connaughton and Portis was necessary. Their title window is closing, but they may be the best team in the East next year.
76ers - I really like the team that is returning, but I don't know what to do about Harden. Embiid and Harris are still very good, and I think Maxie is going to have a break out season, which makes the decision on what to do about Harden a lot tougher. Harden wants a big contract, but do the 76ers need a ball hogging, modest defense guard at the back end of his career who has never stayed in the best condition? And do they want to pay Harden $100MM for 3 seasons to be the 4th scoring option?
Heat - their pursuit of Durant will be their focus for the next few days.
Cavaliers - This team could be the big story next year, but I think they should make a run at Durant. I think the Cavs could win 50 games with this roster, but I think this group has a low ceiling in the playoffs without a true superstar. I would make a strong run at Durant if I was Cleveland.
Bulls - had to sign Levine, and they have a good starting lineup, but now they need to work on their bench.
Raptors - Porter is a weird pick up for a defensive focused team, but it seems like the Raptors are fine with Siakum and VanVleet as the two stars. I think this team is at best a 45 win team.
Hornets - This is a team that looks better on paper than they do on the court. Ball is a star, and I saw that Bridges got arrested but I don't know the story with him. Rozier is good, and Hayward is solid in the right role.
Losers:
Knicks - as usual. They blew $164 million on Brunson and Robinson, so the Knicks ceiling is 40ish wins for the next 3 years.
Nets - another team locking in on mediocrity or worse. Kyrie is in the last year of an virtually untradeable contract, and Durant is a back end of his career superstar who is not worth nearly as much as he might have been worth even a year ago. I would take the Kyrie for Westbrook trade if I was the Nets, because at least Westbrook plays hard.
Wizards - Beal signing seems to be an endorsement of below average basketball. I like Porzingis more than most, but Beal/Porzingis/Kuzma with the rest of the detritus on this team is a path to 35 wins.
Orlando - it feels like they are trying to get worse. They are bringing back everyone from a bad team. I don't see how they get any better.
Indiana - all the signs of a team tanking, plus the owner is not in great financial shape, so this team will be bad for a while.
Early winners:
Celtics - I thought the Celtics were a good, not great team that got some breaks to make the finals. With Brogdan and Gallinari, I think they are one of the best teams in the east. Great work by Brad Stevens.
Hawks - Hawks had a puzzling season that seemed like just a down year after a great 2020-2021, but with Murray, the Hawks are a challenger in the East. Spurs dumping an all-star was just stupid. They will never get a player as good as Dejounte Murray with any of the pieces they got. San Antonio is also not a destination market for free agents. This feels like the true end of an era of Spurs being competitive. They could be bad for a long time.
Pistons - they are still a bad team, but they are stocking up on short contracts and good young players. Who knows if it will work out for them, but they are making the right moves.
Holding steady:
Bucks - a very good team returning plus being way over the cap limits their options. Picking up Ingles could be good, and holding Connaughton and Portis was necessary. Their title window is closing, but they may be the best team in the East next year.
76ers - I really like the team that is returning, but I don't know what to do about Harden. Embiid and Harris are still very good, and I think Maxie is going to have a break out season, which makes the decision on what to do about Harden a lot tougher. Harden wants a big contract, but do the 76ers need a ball hogging, modest defense guard at the back end of his career who has never stayed in the best condition? And do they want to pay Harden $100MM for 3 seasons to be the 4th scoring option?
Heat - their pursuit of Durant will be their focus for the next few days.
Cavaliers - This team could be the big story next year, but I think they should make a run at Durant. I think the Cavs could win 50 games with this roster, but I think this group has a low ceiling in the playoffs without a true superstar. I would make a strong run at Durant if I was Cleveland.
Bulls - had to sign Levine, and they have a good starting lineup, but now they need to work on their bench.
Raptors - Porter is a weird pick up for a defensive focused team, but it seems like the Raptors are fine with Siakum and VanVleet as the two stars. I think this team is at best a 45 win team.
Hornets - This is a team that looks better on paper than they do on the court. Ball is a star, and I saw that Bridges got arrested but I don't know the story with him. Rozier is good, and Hayward is solid in the right role.
Losers:
Knicks - as usual. They blew $164 million on Brunson and Robinson, so the Knicks ceiling is 40ish wins for the next 3 years.
Nets - another team locking in on mediocrity or worse. Kyrie is in the last year of an virtually untradeable contract, and Durant is a back end of his career superstar who is not worth nearly as much as he might have been worth even a year ago. I would take the Kyrie for Westbrook trade if I was the Nets, because at least Westbrook plays hard.
Wizards - Beal signing seems to be an endorsement of below average basketball. I like Porzingis more than most, but Beal/Porzingis/Kuzma with the rest of the detritus on this team is a path to 35 wins.
Orlando - it feels like they are trying to get worse. They are bringing back everyone from a bad team. I don't see how they get any better.
Indiana - all the signs of a team tanking, plus the owner is not in great financial shape, so this team will be bad for a while.