From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

[trekfan]

Quote: Originally Posted by georgiafan

Hawks are my real life team so I like the fit of Randal with them. I am higher on schroder then most but I understand the trade. just need to take on a bad contract with all that cap space and dedman should have a little value also. The faried trade to Atlanta is just such a perfect fit for both side as it gets Denver under the tax. Parks in magic will get thrown into the fire with all those big men Lakers will be fascinating they are top heavy so will need to go bargain shopping Noah and Lee’s contracts just kills the knicks cap sheet

Faried may end up getting to the Hawks -- I did that in my last dynasty but might repeat it here as Denver needs cap relief and might dump Faried/Plumlee for it depending on where they sit at the deadline. I liked Randle a lot and thought about getting him myself, but I think he's got a good shot to be a Draymond-lite in the ATL.



The Lakers are top-heavy for sure, and the Magic need to get something going and hope Parks can do it.



The Knicks Phil Jackson era (or error) continues to haunt them, but those contracts of Noah and Lee are massive -- Noah will at least be useful, but Lee is definitely not at this stage. New York could use another draft pick to unload them, but I imagine they'll just suck it up for this season and next -- they'll need the cheap labor to replace them down the line.

[trekfan]

Team Preview: Pacers
By Sam Gray



The Pacers had one of the surprise seasons in the league last year, getting to the playoffs and making a show of it against the Bucks. But Indiana was swept and had questions to address in the offseason … and now those questions have answers.

Over the summer, the Pacers went out and added two big pieces who have seen their market value take a ht in recent years. Isiah Thomas was added in to be another big-time scorer next to Oladipo, while Greg Monroe was brought in to assume the starter/bench big role.

With the added firepower and the usual understated Indiana improvement, the Pacers expect to get back to the playoffs and advance to second round with their new players. With a starter five of Thomas, Oladipo, Young, Turner, and Monroe — along with the deepest bench in the NBA — Indiana has a good shot at accomplishing its task.

[trekfan]

Team Preview: Pelicans
By Sam Gray



The Pelicans nearly upset the favored Thunder in the playoff, but simply didn’t have the firepower to get by Westbrook and Co. That proved to be the first — and only — playoff experience of Boogie and the Brow as Cousins wanted out; insulted by the front office not offering him the full max, he found another suitor … in the Wizards.

One big trade later and the Pelicans had turned a dissatisfied Cousins into Bradley Beal, Kelly Oubre, and Marcin Gortat — a few players who solve a few problems for NOLA. Beal will become the dedicated shooter of the squad as Oubre assumes the starting wing role and Gortat will be a spot starter (and away from Wall, who was very displeased with him).

The goal of the Pelicans — keep Davis happy (goal accomplished, as he was very pleased with the summer moves) and make the playoffs again. Making the playoffs for a second-straight year, especially in the gauntlet that is the West, would be another sign to Davis that staying long-term with NOLA would be right career choice.

[trekfan]

Team Preview: Pistons
By Sam Gray



The Pistons made a giant trade at last year’s deadline for Blake Griffin and seemed to get the bad end of the deal; they didn’t make the playoffs, Stan Van Gundy was fired (and replaced by Dwayne Casey), and Blake Griffin is still there — making a ton of money as the “Clipper for Life.”

In the summer, capped out and with only the MLE available, the Pistons went out and signed Seth Curry to shoot, shoot, and shoot; meanwhile, they added Tarik Black as a backup and otherwise the Pistons stood pat.

The goal for the Pistons: make the playoffs in a (theoretically) weaker East. With the giant contracts of Blake Griffin, Reggie Jackson, and Andre Drummond, the Pistons are locked into this core until someone else takes one of those large contracts off their hands.

[trekfan]

Team Preview: Raptors
By Sam Gray



The Raptors made the biggest move they have in years after their failure in the playoffs, being swept by the 76ers.

During the summer, they fired Dwayne Casey, traded DeRozan, and have reassembled their team around a core of Lowry, Valanciunas, and Andrew Wiggins — the Raptors big catch from the DeRozan trade. Toronto hired Nick Nurse as their HC and brought back some of their elite bench.

The goal of the Raptors: reboot the franchise on the fly into a title contender around Wiggins and whomever lasts. Kyle Lowry might not last the season in a Toronto uniform if a good trade presents itself.

[trekfan]

Team Preview: Rockets
By Sam Gray



The Rockets made it all the way to the WCF before an untimely Chris Paul injury ended their chances. Houston was close — closer than it’s been in years — to getting back to the Finals.

With little cap room, the Rockets managed to bring CP3 back for less than the max (just a little less), re-signed Clint Capela to big deal, signed Mike Scott to start at the four, signed Norman Powell to start at the three, signed Yogi Ferrell to be CP3’s backup, and brought back Ariza for a minimum deal.

The goal of Houston: title or bust. With the arms race in the West, Houston still remains a heavy favorite to contend for the Finals, but will need to stay injury free and get some better play from their bench to have a chance.

[trekfan]

Team Preview: Spurs
By Sam Gray



The Spurs managed to make it into the playoffs as the eighth seed without Leonard, who sat out the season with an injury … and the recovery process from that injury soured him on the Spurs. That drama spilled over into the summer.

And that resulted in a massive three-team trade that sent Leonard to the Lakers as the Spurs got back youth and talent in Ingram, Hart, and Schroder. San Antonio isn’t rebuilding, so much as refreshing and with their youth and the experience of Popovich, they feel they can compete.

The goal of the Spurs: bounce back fast without Leonard and make the playoffs. With Ingram and Hart, the Spurs feel they have two cornerstones of their future — cornerstones with an ax to grind against the hated Lakers (a bonus).

[trekfan]

Team Preview: Suns
By Sam Gray



Last season’s Suns suffered through another losing year before suffering the greatest loss of all: The loss of human life. Despite that loss and tragedy, the business of basketball had to go on.

During the summer, Phoenix had the first overall pick and took the highly rated player in Omar Pope, the best basketball player in this draft and in many drafts according to multiple experts. Pope is joined by an interesting cast of young players who were given up on and veterans with expensive contracts. Add in the hiring of Jason Kidd as an HC and this Phoenix team will be one of the most fascinating in the league.

The goal of the Suns: compete every night, develop the youth, and rebuild the organization into a winning culture. It won’t be an easy path, but with Pope leading the way the future looks considerably brighter than it did only a few months ago.