Off Season NBA Grades
Central Division
With the NBA off-season winding down and the pre and regular seasons right around the corner, it is time to take a look at how each team fared during the draft and free agency period.
I will break down each division team-by-team. I will give an overview of the players that were added and subtracted by each team and the other players that are still under contract by the team. After that, I will go a little more in-depth with impact of the moves, things needed to still improve, a quick prediction and finally an overall grade of their whole off-season.
The second division we will take a look at is the Eastern Conference’s Central Division.
I will break down each division team-by-team. I will give an overview of the players that were added and subtracted by each team and the other players that are still under contract by the team. After that, I will go a little more in-depth with impact of the moves, things needed to still improve, a quick prediction and finally an overall grade of their whole off-season.
The second division we will take a look at is the Eastern Conference’s Central Division.
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Under Contract: G Derrick Rose, F Carlos Boozer, F Luol Deng, C Joakim Noah, G Richard Hamilton, G Kirk Hinrich (Free Agent), F Taj Gibson, G Jimmy Butler, F Vladimir Radmonovic (Free Agent), C Nazr Mohammed (Free Agent), G Marco Belinelli (Free Agent), G Nate Robinson (Free Agent)
Drafted: G Marquis Teague
Players Lost: C Omer Asik, G Ronnie Brewer, G Kyle Korver, G C.J. Watson, G Jerry Lucas III
Free Agents Remaining: G Mike James, F Brian Scalabrine
For the first time in franchise history, the Bulls are going to have to pay the luxury tax and really have nothing to show for it. The Bulls let Omer Asik walk after signing a three-year $25 million contract with the Houston Rockets, in which he will receive $14.1 million on the last year. That season, the Bulls already have $50 million guaranteed to Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah alone.
Asik is not the only member of last season’s bench that will not be returning, as the Bulls tried hard to get under the luxury tax, losing both Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver for virtually nothing. They also did not bring back C.J. Watson, who signed for the minimum with the Brooklyn Nets.
In addition to Watson, the Bulls did not retain Jerry Lucas III or Mike James, meaning they let go every point guard who filled in admirably for Rose when he went down with injuries.
Rose will be out until January at the earliest and the Bulls will count on Hinrich and rookie Teague to fill the void until then. General Manager Gar Forman tried to re-build his bench on a limited budget, but is a far cry from the unit they had last season. It can be argued that every player brought in this off-season is a downgrade from the players they let go. |  Do the Bulls have a viable PG to start the year? |
The to-do list for the Bulls is more of a future venture. By allowing Asik walk, Forman was able to keep his flexibility in the future to re-sign players such as Gibson. Also, 2014 looks to be a summer the Bulls can be players when Deng’s contract expires and they can amnesty Boozer to free up more space.
The Bulls be have a whole new look next season with Rose being injured and the bench being re-built all together. The huge turnover is rare for a team that had the NBA’s best record the last two seasons. The Bulls can expect a drop from the upper echelon of teams, but should still contend for the playoffs. The title aspirations are put on delay for at least a season. The Bulls off-season grade is a D+
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Under Contract: F-C Anderson Varejao, F Luke Walton, G Kyrie Irving, G Daniel Gibson, F Tristan Thompson, F Omri Casspi, F Luke Harangody (Re-Sign), G-F C.J. Miles (Free Agent), G Kelenna Azubuike (Trade), F Jon Leuer (waivers), G Jeremy Pargo (Trade), C Michael Eric (Free Agent)
Drafted: G Dion Waiters, C Tyler Zeller
Players Lost: F Antawn Jamison, G Anthony Parker (retirement), G Manny Harris, C Semih Erden
Free Agents Remaining: F Alonzo Gee (Restricted) G Anthony Parker
So Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert should not change his day job to a psychic after wrongly predicting that Lebron James wouldn’t win a championship before the Cavaliers did. He could not have really believed that could he have? Either way, the Cavaliers were a quiet team in free agency this season as they were involved in on-going Dwight Howard talks before he landed in Los Angeles and Cleveland is not a destination many free agents want to end up.
General Manager Chris Grant was smart to not get dragged into the Howard deal, as his return would have yielded not much in value because the Cavaliers were unable to get assurance that Andrew Bynum would sign with them long term. Getting Miles was a nice pickup, as he gives the Cavaliers a reliable veteran backup to rookie Dion Waiters.
The Cavaliers moves this off-season were all minor, but not for the lack of trying. They were in the chase for Brandon Roy before he chose the Minnesota Timberwolves and are still interested in bringing Anthony Tolliver on board.
Waiters is thought to have the most upside in this draft outside of Anthony Davis, but the pick is not without risk as Waiters had his trouble with the Syracuse coaching staff and is slightly undersized as an NBA shooting guard. But he will be toughness and competitiveness right off the bat and is ready to play right away. Zeller projects as a career backup, but a good one who will run the floor well. |  What can we expect from the Cavs in the 2012-2013 season? |
The Cavaliers missed out on trading for Andrew Bynum, which would have given them a quick fix rebuilding pairing Bynum with Irving . GM Grant should look to add a veteran to the mix, as the Cavaliers are one of the youngest teams in the NBA having nine players 24 years old or younger in the roster. Saving precious cap space should also be a priority, as Irving has the looks to be a superstar PG that can convince talent to come to Cleveland .
This will be a tough year for Cavalier fans again because of how young the team is. There are players to get you excited for a bright future, but the playoffs seem out of reach for a third consecutive season and Cleveland will be a bottom feeder once again. For their off-season grade, they will get a B- for not giving away their future, but not improving much in the present.
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Under Contract: F Corey Maggette (Trade), G Rodney Stuckey, F Charlie Villanueva, F Tayshaun Prince, F Jason Maxiell, F Jonas Jerebko, G Will Bynum, F-C Greg Monroe, G Brandon Knight, F Austin Daye, F-C Vyacheslav Kravtsov (Free Agent)
Drafted: F Kyle Singler (2011), C Andre Drummond, F Khris Middleton, G Kim English
Players Lost: G Ben Gordon
Free Agents Remaining: F Vernon Macklin, G Walker Russell, C Ben Wallace, G Damien Wilkins
Prior to the draft this year, the Pistons made a move that was driven more by finances that basketball or on-court results. They traded Ben Gordon and a first round pick to the Bobcats for Corey Maggette. From a basketball standpoint the move makes no sense, as the Pistons lack competent options in the backcourt and are full of capable wing players. But taking a look at the contracts, the deal makes more sense. Gordon has two years left on his contract while Maggette has one. The Pistons will enter next off-season with considerable salary cap space and flexibility to make some moves. The Pistons were able to also add the big man they have been waiting for; they just have no idea if he is the second coming of Dwight Howard or Kwame Brown. |  Detroit is still a few years away but the talent has officially arrived. |
Drummond has all the potential and tools to become the next NBA Superstar. He is huge and super athletic for someone of his size and has the look to being a perfect complement to Monroe in the front court. This is the type of move that can put a team over the top, the Pistons just need to show patience with Drummond as he is still very raw as a basketball player.
The Pistons are in a similar position to their division rival Cavaliers. There is youth that needs time to grow as players and salary cap relief on the horizon. The Pistons can make even more room if they choose to amnesty Villanueva or Prince, both with absurd contracts. Maggette, Maxiell and Bynum all are playing on expiring contracts this season.
The outlook in Detroit looks positive, as the blocks are being put in place for a foundation around Knight, Drummond and Monroe. Head coach Lawrence Frank needs to stick to the plan of developing these young players, as the playoffs are a pipe dream for the Pistons. They are positioned to make their jump in 2013-14 and need to remain patient. The Pistons off-season grade is a B, as they are currently sticking to their game plan of patience.
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Under Contract: F Danny Granger, C Roy Hibbert (Re-Signed), F David West, G George Hill (Re-Signed), F Tyler Hansbrough, G-F Paul George, F Gerald Green (Free Agent), C Ian Mahinmi (Free Agent), G D.J. Augustin (Free Agent), G Lance Stephenson, F Jeff Pendergraph
Also added Donnie Walsh as team president and Kevin Pritchard as general manager
Drafted: F Miles Plumlee, G Orlando Johnson
Players Lost: G Darren Collison, G Dahntay Jones
Also lost Larry Bird as team president and David Morway as general manager.
Free Agents Remaining: F Louis Amundson, G Leandro Barbosa, C Kyrylo Fesenko
 Hibbert averaged a double-double in the playoffs last year. | The Pacers were the surprise of the NBA this past season, making it to the second round of the playoffs and giving the Heat everything they could handle. So coming into the off-season, the Pacers had a very simple plan of bringing back their starting five and improving their bench unit. The first part of that plan went well, the second part not as much. The Pacers had two of the more desirable restricted free agents on the market in Hill and Hibbert. They were quick to act with Hill, giving him a five year $40 million contract, probably a little above his market value. They got rocked by a max offer from the Portland Trail Blazers for Hibbert, but wisely matched as Hibbert is an up-and-coming NBA Center. |
The bench unit got a boost from Mahinmi, but the cost for him was steep. The Pacers had to ship Collison and Jones to Dallas for him, making the Pacer bench unit weaker in the backcourt but improving the front court. The move makes even less sense since Mahinmi was an unrestricted free agent and no one else was offering him more than two years and $8 million. Could the Pacers wanted to move Jones’ contract that badly?
The quick fixes in Augustin and Green were good pickups by the Pacers, but the draft left a little something to be desired. The Pacers already employ an overachiever in the frontcourt in Hansbrough and adding Plumlee seems a little off. Plumlee's wowed in workouts, but rarely showed that freakish workout ability during his tenure at Duke.
The Pacers salary skyrocketed after Hill and Hibbert were paid $7 million last season and will see that number increase to $20 million this time around. This means Barbosa will be able to walk and the Pacers will let his $7 million come off the books. They should be able to bring Amundson back on the cheap and should look to add another shooter such as Michael Redd. |  The Pacers had the Heat on "Upset Alert" |
This could quite possibly be the second best team in the Eastern Conference with the Bulls losing Rose and the Nets and Knicks needing to still figure some things out. They Pacers are still behind Miami , but should present a challenge to the Heat. Their off-season grade is a B-
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Under Contract: G Monta Ellis, F Ersan Ilyasova (Re-Signed), G Beno Udrih, C Samuel Dalembert (Trade), F Drew Gooden, F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, F Mike Dunleavy, F-C Ekpe Udoh, G Brandon Jennings, F-C Larry Sanders, F Tobias Harris, C Joel Przybilla (Free Agent)
Drafted: F John Henson, G Doron Lamb
Players Lost: F Carlos Delfino, G Shaun Livingston, C Kwame Brown, F Jon Leuer, F Jon Brockman
Free Agents Remaining: None
The Bucks suffered through a second straight disappointing season that was derailed thanks to injuries. Since trading Andrew Bogut for Ellis, the Bucks have lacked a center but got one on draft night.
Moving spare pieces and swapping first round picks netted the Bucks Dalembert. He is not the most exciting pick-up of the off-season, but will provide the Bucks with rebounding and defense in the middle. Also, seeing some of the contracts being handed out to other big men, Dalembert’s contract is a bargain. Adding Przybilla on the veterans’ minimum gives the Bucks a second legitimate center.
Re-signing Ilyasova was a good move, as the Bucks held firm with their offer and watched his market dry up and come back at a price they were comfortable with. The five year $45 million contract is market value for Ilyasova and a good deal for both parties. The drafting of Henson is yet another move for the Bucks adding long and athletic big men who are pain-stackingly thin. How the Bucks will work Henson, Udoh and Sanders into the rotation is a mystery, but Henson has the most upside of the three according to scouts. Adding Lamb in the second round was a steal. He provides perimeter shooting, something the Bucks were in desperate need of. General Manager John Hammond has built a roster worthy of watching while still retaining flexibility he can use this off-season or save for next year. The Bucks could still use a veteran shooting guard behind Ellis, even though he is a stalwart at the top of the minutes played list every season. With one roster spot remaining, Hammond can get creative in adding a player this off-season while not ruining his team’s future. |  Ilyasova shot 45.5% from behind the arc last season. |
The Bucks will benefit from a full training camp like many teams in the NBA to incorporate players picked up last season at the trade deadline and this off-season. The playoff picture in the Eastern Conference is congested right now, with the Magic looking like the only team to regress much who made the playoff last season. Other lower teams like the Nets and 76ers made big strides this off-season, have the Bucks done enough to help their cause? Their off-season grade is a B.
Kenneth Teape
August 23rd, 2012
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Kenneth Teape
August 23rd, 2012
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