From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Team Preview: Celtics
By Sam Gray



The Celtics made it further than anyone expected after the disastrous start to the Gordon Hayward era, taking it to Game 7 to a healthier, younger 76ers team in the ECF. Winning 48 games without Hayward and then, later, Irving is impressive — getting to the final game of the ECF is just as impressive.

But the goal of the Celtics is title or bust and this summer the Celtics improved minimally, but the people they’re getting back is enough. With the addition of Javalle McGee, the return of Irving and Hayward, and the continued development of the Boston youth, the Celtics had a highly successful summer.

This year could mark the last for this version of the Celtics; Marcus Smart signed his QO, making himself a unrestricted free agent next summer (and one likely to leave as he’s soon to be supplanted) and Irving could leave for new pastures next summer, but all indications are he’s pleased with being the alpha in Boston. Still, the Celtics would love to add a title and have Irving to thank for it — and that’s the goal of the Celtics this year.

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Team Preview: Clippers
By Sam Gray



The Clippers somehow made the playoffs despite not having Blake Griffin (traded) and not having the star power of Chris Paul; a first-round beatdown of the Blazers seemed to confirm that the Clippers still had the power to get past the first round, but they were destroyed as against the Warriors in Round 2.

Over the offseason, the Clippers let DeAndre Jordan go, re-signed Avery Bradley, and brought in young players in Osman (formerly of the Cavs, then the Suns), and Okafor (formerly of the 76ers and Nets); Okafor is an interesting addition as he lacks the defensive chops of Jordan, vut at only 22 his low-post game is ahead of Jordan’s.

The goal for the Clippers this season is a moving one: either they compete for a playoff spot or, it they’re out of it by the deadline, they blow it up. The Clippers draft picks (SF Bank, C Briggs) would likely see playing time in the “blow it up” scenario but that would be a scenario owner Steve Ballmer would rather not see — Ballmer wants a team that competes, not tanks, but in seeing how stacked the West is, they may not have a choice.

[georgiafan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

I had fallen way to behind reading this to comment on everything and the trades so I'll just say keep up the good work and good job with the team previews.

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Team Preview: Grizzlies
By Sam Gray



The Grizzlies did not have a good year last season, primarily derailed by injuries to Conley and Gasol, and while they were injured the rest of the West got better.

During the summer Memphis had two choices: blow it up or run it back and Memphis has chosen, at least for now, to run it back. Gasol and Conley are back at it, and Memphis brought back Tyreke Evans after a lukewarm free agent market. The rest of the roster is largely the same, minus the return of the Grindfather Tony Allen and young-pup Blakeney (whom Memphis is high on).

The goal for the Grizzlies is to compete for one of the late playoff spots but if it looks unlikely by the trade deadline, expect Memphis to pursue trades for either Conley or Gasol.

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Team Preview: Hawks
By Sam Gray



The Hawks were awful last season and their captain of the tank, Schroder, has moved on to the Spurs but the fruit of their labors netted them the third overall pick — which they then used to trade up to number two to select Reynolds, a shoot-first, shoot-later playmaker that many in the league believe can be Atlanta’s Steph Curry.

During the summer the Hawks added former Laker Juluis Randle to play small-ball center (a very Draymond Green-like role) and the Hawks otherwise kept their cap-sheet clean to absorb more bad contracts down the line.

The Hawks goal this year will be similar to last season — improve the youth, develop a culture of winning, and grab a high draft pick. With new HC Larry Drew leading the team, expect the Hawks to be more competitive than last season but they won’t be likely to win more than 30 games.

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Team Preview: Heat
By Sam Gray



The Miami Heat spent last season trying their best to make the playoffs and failing, falling a few games short of getting there. Their draft pick wasn’t their own, however, thanks to the trade for Dragic a few years ago and Phoenix used it.

This summer the Heat gave into their fate as a team that’s not going anywhere and traded Whiteside and Waiters away for Carmelo Anthony and his massive (expiring) contract. Melo and Wade have joined forces in South Beach and the Heat are likely to pursue another trade near the deadline to get themselves out of the luxury tax.

The goal of Miami is to do what Pat Riley hates: lose. A lot. With ownership of their first rounders for only 2019 and 2020 (before the Suns get the 2021 pick unprotected), the Heat have a window to grab high assets now before that unprotected 2021 pick conveys. Expect the Heat to give Melo and Wade as many shots as possible as the two banana boat members ride out this season in the beautiful (and income tax free) locale of Miami.

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Team Preview: Hornets
By Sam Gray



The Charlotte Hornets barely made the playoffs last season and took LeBron and Co. To seven games before bowing out in round one. So ended the Kemba Walker era, as Walker informed the Hornets front office that he was leaving next summer; Charlotte blew it up.

This summer the Hornets traded away Walker and MKG, waved goodbye to Jeremy Lamb, and shipped off Dwight Howard to the Bulls; the team is well-positioned to bottom out as Enes Kanter leads the Hornets and their rag-tag crew of mismatching players. Charlotte’s youth — Frankie Smokes, 2018 1st rounder Noah Bradford, and SG Westrbook (acquired in Lamb trade from Lakers) will be expected to develop under new coach Ime Udoka, formerly of the Spurs.

The goal of the Hornets this season will be to tank and tank hard; a high-draft pick in a solid (and potentially deep) 2019 draft will net them a potential franchise star. Charlotte’s next era will star someone … but who or what is a mystery.

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Team Preview: Jazz
By Sam Gray



The Jazz just barely missed the playoffs last season and had to watch as the Spurs and Nuggets got in over them; the fact they were as close as they were was impressive and their future looked bright with the emergence of Donovan Mitchell.

Over the summer, the Jazz made minor improvements to their squad, mostly by bringing back everyone and adding exciting rookie Omar Cardonam, who projects to take the starting job from Derrick Favors (re-signed to a very friendly contract on both sides) sooner rather than later.

The goal for the Jazz will be to make the playoffs; if Utah can do that and prove they’re a threat in the West, the Jazz will have money to burn next summer to pursue a trade or free agent.

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Team Preview: Kings
By Sam Gray



The Kings did what they’ve done over the last decade plus — lose. A lot. Last season Sacramento had reasons to be excited with all their youth, but the team overall was kicked around by the more experienced squads and the Kings took another big man (Flanders, a center) with their eighth overall pick.

This summer, Sacramento used their massive amount of cap space to absorb the contract of Whiteside — another center — and the Kings strategy is, as per usual, a mystery to the league. Whiteside is a big star, a former King, but is he enough to really make a difference? Will the Kings move on from Cauley-Stein, up for a new contract?

The goal of this season for the Kings should be to develop their youth and clear out the logjam of big men they have, but the Kings tend to zig when the league expects them to zag — without control of their 2019 first rounder, Sacramento has no incentive to lose but has a long way to go to win.

[RMJH4]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Kings and their bigs!! Lot of teams only made a move or two. Hornets seem to be assembling a nice young core, especially there backcourt. Looking forward to seeing Knicks preview!!

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Team Preview: Knicks
By Sam Gray



The Knicks last season suffered through another rebuilding year as Porzingis went out with an injury and the Knicks fell apart without him. The lack of winning netted them a good prospect in Garrison, but another year of losing had finally worn out the patience of James Dolan: He proclaimed this summer that the Knicks “would be contenders” again and the Knicks’ front office certainly made him seem like a prophet.

With LeBron leaving the East, the Knicks pounced on unhappy players in Kemba Walker and Jimmy Butler, trading relative peanuts for the players due to their expiring contracts. Walker and Butler were both very pleased to be in New York, under the lights of MSG, and both are likely to be retained next summer barring a disaster of a season (a possibility with the Knicks). With the additions of MKG, McGruder, and the return of Michael Beasley (on a generous contract for at least a year), the Knicks put their money where their mouth is.

The objective for this season in New York: Playoffs and title contention. Anything less than a second round showing would be a disappointment for a Knicks team that’s gone all-in on this season, and New York is banking on new HC David Fizdale to figure out how it all works.

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Team Preview: Lakers
By Sam Gray



The Lakers suffered through another losing season and conveyed their draft pick to Philly, rendering any payoff for all the losing moot; but none of that mattered once free agency hit because the Lakers grabbed the biggest fish of all in LeBron James.

Once James joined the Lakers, LA was back and managed to swing a trade for Kawhi Leonard — whom was seriously displeased with the Spurs — and then traded for Jeremy Lamb. With a starting five of Ball, Leonard, James, Kuzma, and either Zubac or Papa G, the Lakers have a starting five that looks good on paper. Depth is an issue, but if their veterans can stay healthy, the Lakers should be able to snag a top-four seed out West.

The goal for the Lakers — winning at least one playoff series and putting a scare into one of the title contenders out West (the Warriors, Rockets, or Thunder). If they can do that and prove to the rest of the league that they’re ready to go, the Lakers could snag another high-profile free agent next summer that puts them into title contention.

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Team Preview: Magic
By Sam Gray



The Magic had another awful year and had another high draft pick; the Magic drafted Jared Parks sixth overall and he’s their likely starter next season. Other than that, the Magic’s year of losing has all but assured them that Vucevic will be leaving in free agency next summer.

For this summer, the Magic drafted well in their first rounder Parks and second round big man Barea, then signed Johnathan Motley (formerly of the Mavericks) as their dedicated bench big, and then hired Steve Clifford as HC.

The Magic’s objective for this year: win more than 35 games. Orlando has seemingly been stuck losing (and not losing enough for the first pick) for the better part of a decade. If the Magic want any chance of building a winning culture and trying to climb out of the bottom of the conference, they will have to start this season.

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Team Preview: Mavericks
By Sam Gray



The Mavs had another bad season and netted a talented prospect in Miles, a SF who can play 1-3 and has the passing chops of someone like LeBron; with that high a prospect, the Mavericks went out and grabbed DeAndre Jordan to be their starting center.

This summer, Dallas made multiple moves to attempt to contend for a playoff spot in what is likely Dirk’s swan song — Mark Cuban has declared the tank “officially over” and the moves of the Dallas front office backed that up.

The goal of the Mavericks this season: make the playoffs. It doesn’t matter where or how, Dallas wants to give Dirk one more shot in the postseason before he hangs it up. With the talent Dallas has, they have an outside shot, but one injury to any of their veteran players will likely end their hopes of the postseason.

[trekfan]

Re: From the Ashes: A Phoenix Tale

Team Preview: Nets
By Sam Gray



The Nets had a better year than expected last season and that was due in no small part to the play of Russell, who excelled in Brooklyn like never before in LA.

Over the summer, the Nets largely brought back the same crew with the addition of veteran Brook Lopez, who’s returned to Brooklyn to finish out his career. Lopez will be the veteran starter who will guide this next generation of Nets into the playoffs.

The goal for Brooklyn: make the playoffs. With the development of their youth and the return of Mr. Net himself in Lopez, expect the Nets to compete hard for the seventh and eighth seeds — whether they get there or not depends entirely on how far the other teams in the East get.