Post by 2019 Champs on Sept 16, 2010 13:46:17 GMT -5
Basically I am taking a look at all the teams in each conference with 3 or less years on their contract year remaining, since if they didn't make the playoffs last year you can basically assume they are rebuilding, unless their GM just stinks. Basically just taking a look at the rebuilding teams and who is best positioned to make their contract year when it comes up. There aren't too many teams in the East who really have to be thinking about the CY at the moment, especially since the Hornets and Celtics, two other rebuilding teams, just recently hired a couple of new GM's who get a fresh start at 4 years.
Miami Heat*
Years Left: 2
What they sucked for:
Shabazz Muhammad SG 23 6'6'' 210 B- A- C+ C+ C B
Nigel Williams-Goss PG 22 6'4'' 185 B- C B B C B
The Heat have spent the last 2 seasons in the shitter, but in the process they have nabbed two really solid looking players. Shabazz is obviously the future cornerstone of the franchise with pretty sick ratings just as a sophomore. The Heat used their 8th pick in the latest draft to pick up Nigel Williams-Goss, and while he is still a major work in progress he has really good ratings for a rookie.
The Heat's prizes possession out of this rebuild.
Other Key Pieces
DeAndre Jordan C 28 6'11'' 253 B D D+ A- B+ C
Chase Budinger SF 29 6'7'' 218 B- A- C B+ C C
Derrick Williams C 25 6'9'' 230 B+ D+ F+ B B C
The Heat spent this past off-season acquiring solid players to put around Shabazz in hopes to continue to work towards the playoffs. They are wise to take a shot this year because if they still miss they can still take a shot next year. They might be forced to send some of their other young pieces/picks to acquire another starter/quality player to ensure a 42 win season or playoffs.
CY ODDS:
[/u] 87%Miami Heat*
Years Left: 2
What they sucked for:
Shabazz Muhammad SG 23 6'6'' 210 B- A- C+ C+ C B
Nigel Williams-Goss PG 22 6'4'' 185 B- C B B C B
The Heat have spent the last 2 seasons in the shitter, but in the process they have nabbed two really solid looking players. Shabazz is obviously the future cornerstone of the franchise with pretty sick ratings just as a sophomore. The Heat used their 8th pick in the latest draft to pick up Nigel Williams-Goss, and while he is still a major work in progress he has really good ratings for a rookie.
The Heat's prizes possession out of this rebuild.
Other Key Pieces
DeAndre Jordan C 28 6'11'' 253 B D D+ A- B+ C
Chase Budinger SF 29 6'7'' 218 B- A- C B+ C C
Derrick Williams C 25 6'9'' 230 B+ D+ F+ B B C
The Heat spent this past off-season acquiring solid players to put around Shabazz in hopes to continue to work towards the playoffs. They are wise to take a shot this year because if they still miss they can still take a shot next year. They might be forced to send some of their other young pieces/picks to acquire another starter/quality player to ensure a 42 win season or playoffs.
CY ODDS:
I think the Heat are a really safe bet to make the playoffs in one of the coming 2 seaosns, because even if they miss this year they still have enough assets to improve, and with Shabazz a year older next year you have to figure they are pretty much safe.
New Jersey Nets**
Years Left: 2
What they sucked for:
Nerlens Noels C 22 6'11'' 220 B- C- C- B B A
Khem Birch SF 23 6'9'' 220 B- C C- B B- B
Austin Charles Patch PG 20 6'0'' 175 C B+ B A- D+ B
Ulysse Adjagba PG 24 6'0'' 190 B C B- A- D+ C
The Nets have spent the last 2-3 seasons racking up really good young assets, and while they might have wasted a lotto pick on Khem Birch (Calhoun was still on the board), they still have a ton of pieces to make a playoff push. Austin Charles Patch is the Nets key piece moving forward and is probably the closest piece they have to being untouchable, though you have to imagine in the right deal they would send him out to make the team ensured of a playoff spot.
Other Key Pieces
Tobias Harris SF 25 6'10'' 234 B C+ C B A- B
James McAdoo SF 24 6'8'' 205 B+ C- C A- B+ B
Gary Harris SG 23 6'4'' 205 B- B C A- C B
Tons of firsts
Not only have the Nets done a good job losing, and picking up good young prospects, they have also done a really solid job the past few years picking up future first rounders and solid players through trades and FA. James McAdoo is looking really solid for the Nets. The Nets are a team right now that might even have enough pieces where they don't even have to make a trade to make their CY. They are making it known they are trying to win this year and get their 42, but you have to imagine they will be really reluctant to give up the pieces they spent these past 2 years losing for.
Jigga and the Nets are hoping the pieces in place will be able to help them win long-term after this rebuild.
CY ODDS:[/u] 92%
Like the Heat I really think the Nets are in a great position, they have a lot of pieces they can use to either flip, or just sit on and probably win 42 next year. Broph would probably like to get his CY done this year, to avoid going into it for the first time in his career next season, either way you have to like the chances of the Nets winning 42 in one of the next 2 years.
Orlando Magic*
Years Left: 1
What they sucked for:
Nothing
Other Key Pieces
David Lee C 34 6'9'' 255 B+ C C- C A- C
Josh Smith PF 31 6'10'' 226 B+ C C A- A- B
DeShawn Stevenson SG 35 6'6'' 217 C+ A+ A A- C D
The Magic basically did the worst thing you could the past 3 years, they sucked without their picks, so this means they were forced to sit on the players they had since they couldn't afford to tank. The Magic will need an 8 win improvement over last year to win 42 games, and while adding Stevenson definitely makes them better, is that really going to make an 8 win difference for them? As it stands, early in the season, the Magic are 3-5 and are not looking good, and the worst part is they have no assets to flip for players to help them win now, outside of future firsts which suck to deal with the team in the position they are in now.
CY ODDS[/u] 50%
This is going to be really close, as close as a coin toss in my opinion, their team is really similar to last year's that won 34 games, except they added Stevenson. Josh Smith is picking the worst time to come out of the gates with shitty stats, they need him to pick it up asap. The Magic are just in a really tough spot right now, the improvements are going to need to come from within because this team doesn't really have anything to trade. Unless a big trade comes out of nowhere, this team is going to be scratching and clawing for a playoff berth all year in my opinion.
Will Stevenson be enough to lead the Magic to a playoff spot and save their GM's job?
Atlanta Hawks
Years Left: 3
What they sucked for
Akoy Agau C 22 6'11'' 230 C- D F+ A- A- C
Jean-Charles Livio SF 22 6'7'' 235 C+ B- C A- C+ A
The Hawks are still really early in their rebuild, but in the first draft they managed to pluck out a couple really solid prospects. Agau looks like a really solid defensive C with A- A- def/reb in just his rookie year which is sick. Jean-Charles is still extremely raw offensively but is already a terrific defender, the Hawks are going to count on him to be a really solid starter in a few years.
Other Key Pieces
Tony Mitchell PF 25 6'8'' 221 A C D+ A- C+ B
Jordan Price SG 22 6'6'' 215 A- C C B- C+ C
Terrence Ross SG 25 6'5'' 195 C+ A C B- D+ B
The Hawks have done an outstanding job putting together pieces just outside what they are tanking for. Tony Mitchell is in his 3rd year on the Hawks and looks like an offensive stud, A inside is sick. In the off-season the Hawks plucked Jordan Price off the Clippers roster, and while I myself am not a huge fan of his, there is no arguing with the stats, the kid puts the ball in the hole at an effecient rate.
You have to figure the picking up of Jordan Price in FA has sped up this Hawks retooling considerably.
CY ODDS:[/u] 90%
It is hard to gauge this sort of thing on a team so early in their rebuild but the Hawks are headed in the right direction very quickly. They already have a bevy of really solid, young, players who are only going to get better moving forward. And even if things get dicey and they are pressed to win they could flip Livio for a really really good player. It would probably be in the Hawks best interest to add another stud in the lotto this year but if they wanted they probably could make a couple moves to push for a late playoff seed. The Hawks have a lot of options right now and you have to feel confident in their chances of winning 42 games once in the next 3 years.
Indiana Pacers**
Years Left: 3
What they sucked for
Tommy Hamilton Jr. C 22 7'3'' 260 B- C C B- B A
Alvar Del Cerro SG 19 6'2'' 195 C A- C+ B+ C A
V.J. Beachem SF 22 6'7'' 210 B- B D+ C+ C+ B
Similar to the Hawks, the Pacers are still very early into their rebuild, and in the first draft they picked up 3 really solid looking prospects. Alvar was extremely intriguing but but now the 19 year old out of Temple is having teams kick themselves for passing on him, and he looks like a favourite to make a run at the ROTY this season. The Pacers used their 5th pick to draft Tommy Hamilton Jr., the C out of Indiana got drafted by his hometown team the Pacers. Tommy is still very raw but is off to a really solid start rating-wise after his first TC. Beachem is looking like a big time steal as the last pick in the first round, B- B scoring for a rookie is pretty sick, especially a rookie picked so late.
Tommy Hamilton Jr. and Alvar are going to be expected to lead this Pacers team moving forward, both first year players, it appears Alvar is more ready to take on pros while Tommy will be brought along slowly.
Other Key Pieces
Tyson Chandler C 34 7'1'' 236 B- C C A B+ C
D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera PG 23 6'4'' 215 C+ B+ B+ B- D+ B
D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera is another late round pick the Pacers nabbed, he is looking really solid kicking off his 3rd professional season in SLR. The Pacers also signed Tyson Chandler to a 1 year 15M deal which was kind of random, the Pacers definitely don't have the pieces right now to make a run at 42 wins, but with the number of solid looking pieces they already have you have to figure they have a great shot at winning 42 in at least one of the next 3 years, either by grooming the guys they have now or just flipping them for guys to help them win.
CY ODDS:[/u] 85%
While it feels like they lack a surefire franchise player, they have a ton of good young players, and another top lotto pick this year could only help. Whether it is with the guys they have now, or players they trade for, you have to feel like the Pacers have a great shot at building a winner within the next 3 seasons.
Overall the rebuilding teams in the East are all off to a great start it seems, they all have an assortment of solid and valuable young players. Every team outside of the Magic looks poised to make their contract year with the talent they have now or just by flipping it for older guys to help them win immediately.
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