2013 NBA Offseason Maintenance Report

It’s been a long week since the Miami Heat found a way to win the 2013 NBA championship in a Game 7 that was nothing short of thrilling. Of course, some of that thrill was either deflated or heightened depending on how you feel about me pretty much telling you how the Finals was going to go down earlier this month => http://1skillz-networksunited.net/2013-nba-finals-heat-vs-spurs-the-1skillz-gameplan

The Networks United is in negotiations to bring Negrodamus on the squad

But I digress. That Game 7 performance by LeBron James (37 points, 12-of-23 from the field, 5-of-10 from three, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, only 2 turnovers) was the BEST Game 7 performance since James Worthy hit the Pistons with a 36-16-10 triple double out of nowhere in 1988. And even then, LeBron had a 32-10-11 triple double in Game 6, most of it with no headband.

Of course, it’s not like we’ve seen LeBron without a headband … or a hairline (Jokes!)

And none of that matters without Ray Allen’s three, Chris Bosh’s clutch play without scoring, or Dwyane Wade’s timely (RE: selective) production. And we don’t get to this point without the Spurs, who I’ve grown to appreciate so much since they haven’t won a title since 2007, scaring the crap out of Miami with Tony Parker’s theatrics, Danny Green’s record-breaking shooting, Manu Ginobili’s (temporary) resurgence, and Tim Duncan’s timeless fundamental prominence.

And of course, Kawhi Leonard, who, unlike already broken out stars Steph Curry and Paul George, truly broke out from household anonymity in the Finals

In fact, the Spurs win the title if enough of their guys get off the bus and make it to Miami for Game 6 and 7. Alas, Tony Parker shot 9-for-35 in Game 6 and 7 (26%), Danny Green won the John Starks award for going from “unlikely Finals MVP” to “shooting his team right out the game” (2-for-19 from the field, 2-for-11 from downtown in Game 6 and 7), and Manu Ginobili had more turnovers (12) than field goals (8) in Game 6 and 7.

Even Timmy couldn’t come through with the Spurs’ last chance to tie in Game 7.

Offense wins games, and the Heat had the second best offense in the league. But defense wins championships, and the Heat were still ranked 9th despite grabbing the fewest rebounds in the league.  The Heat won because they had the best player in the game channeling into a Game 7 death machine, taking the talents of Magic (1988), Kobe (2010), Bird (1984), Duncan (2005), and Hakeem (1994) and rolling into a game Jordan might’ve had if he was forced into a Game 7 in the Finals. But they also won because their defense was just good enough to stop the breaks on the Spurs when it mattered most.

Yes, Dwyane Wade has one more title

So now, shifting gears. The NBA Crapshoot, er, 2013 Draft is upon us. And next month, free agency shall smite us all. I’m not even going to go in on prospects like that. I’m just looking at what teams’ biggest single weaknesses are, understanding the draft is just a setup for what really matters: free agent spending.

The last #1 pick to lead the team that drafted him to a title was Tim Duncan in 1997. In fact, the Spurs, with Duncan and Robinson (#1 pick in 1987), are the only NBA team since the start of the lottery in 1985 to win a title at all after having the first overall pick (the Bulls won six championships without the help of the first overall pick, but none since getting Elton Brand first overall in 1999 or Derrick Rose first overall in 2008). The last #1 pick to actually win a title at all is LeBron James, drafted in 2003. And since the 2004 NBA Draft, the only top-ten picks to win championships are Andrew Bynum, Adam Morrison, and Corey Brewer.  Bynum (10th pick by the Lakers in 2005) won two titles with the Lakers, but didn’t play at all this past season in Philadelphia and is now a free agent. Morrison (3rd pick by the Bobcats in 2006) was the 12th man on those Lakers teams and has been out of the league since 2010. Brewer (7th pick by the Timberwolves in 2007) was the 12th man on the 2011 Dallas Mavericks and is a free agent after two years in Denver.  No player drafted in the top ten since 2008 have won a championship.

But at least we have this!

Alright, enough wallpaper. Let’s put a target on fixing all 30 NBA teams. Yes, including the one that just won back-to-back titles.

TEAMS DRAFTING IN THE TOP TEN

Cleveland Cavaliers (#1, #19, #31, #33): The Cavaliers have a hole at small forward with Alonzo Gee, but just getting a better player there won’t help them alone. The injuries to Anderson Varejao (only 25 games this year, 81 games total since The Decision) have really hurt Cleveland defensively, as they have been ranked in the bottom five the past three seasons. Center Tyler Zeller was a sacrificial lamb last year, and the Cavs ranked dead last in field goal defense (48%) and 29th in blocked shots.  Even when LeBron James was there, he was leading the team in blocked shots. New/old head coach Mike Brown needs a center who can block shots more than they need a rookie small forward, which is why they’ll take either Nerlens Noel or Alex Len (and pray they hold up and develop their games before Kyrie Irving gets mad).

Orlando Magic (#2, #51): The Magic were the only team this past season to not have a single player drafted in the top-ten on their roster. Trading Dwight Howard will do that. By the end of the year, they were the only team not to have a single lottery pick on the roster after trading J.J. Redick. The Magic set an NBA record for fewest free throw attempts this past season, and they forced the fewest turnovers in the league.  Small forward Moe Harkless is a nice prospect defensively, but they could use a player who can get to the line. They’ll certainly take either Otto Porter or Ben McLemore.

Washington Wizards (#3, #38, #54): The Wizards were the only team in the league to miss the playoffs with a top-ten defense (ranked 5th), and I would call center Emeka Okafor their most valuable defender. That said, John Wall’s knee injury greased the skids for the Wizards to start 4-28 and take home the worst offense in the league. Wall has said that he prefers a pick and pop power forward, and though power forward Nene is serviceable, the Wizards are still being burned by Jan Vesely (6th pick in 2011).  The Wizards also were poor on the offensive boards. Getting a player like Anthony Bennett will endanger their unheralded defense, but it would help. Porter could be an option if he’s still here, though Martell Webster shot well and Trevor Ariza is a defender who is under contract.

Charlotte Bobcats (#4): The Bobkittens will enter their tenth year in the league having only one winning season that ended in a sweep to division rival Orlando in 2010. They had the NBA’s best defense that season and an All-Star in Gerald Wallace. They have won 28 total games the last two seasons combined, and have had the league’s worst defense both seasons. Charlotte has the worst bigs in the league, and while center Bismack Biyombo might get one more year under new coach Steve Clifford to develop something, I can’t watch power forward Byron Mullens anymore. In a league that is shooting more threes than ever, the Bobcats allowed the most made threes in the league. Yet, I feel like the Bobcats could be a better shooting team as well, since point guard Kemba Walker and small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist have defensive value but can’t shoot a lick. Shooting guard Gerald Henderson is a restricted free agent, and though the Bobcats have Ramon Sessions and Ben Gordon off the bench, they could draft a shooter like Ben McLemore and let some team compensate them for taking Henderson. 

Phoenix Suns (#5, #30, #57): The Suns have the highest pick in the Western Conference, a small reward for having their worst season since their expansion season in 1968-1969. The Suns were never a good defensive team, and they were expected to take a hit offensively with Steve Nash leaving.  They pretty much reached the basement offensively, as they had the second worst offense in the league. Signing small forward Michael Beasley to a long-term contract was terrible, as he was so bad that the Suns had to start P.J. Tucker just to keep Beasley off the floor. Point guard Goran Dragic was their best player (he led the team with 14.7 points a game and 7.4 assists), and point guard Kendall Marshall was their lottery pick last year, yet the Suns were 29th in the league in turnovers. Dragic and Marshall were the only players on the team to average at least three assists a game, and neither Dragic or Marshall shot well (Marshall’s shooting and defense might keep him from ever being a starter). The Suns keep getting linked to Victor Oladipo, and there’s no way they’re considering Trey Burke, but if there’s a team that needs Otto Porter’s all-around game, it’s Phoenix.

New Orleans Pelicans (#6): The artists formerly known as the Hornets have a situation similar to the Suns in that their best player (shooting guard Eric Gordon) and lottery pick (Austin Rivers) contributed to the plight of the team a season before. Rivers had quite possibly the worst rookie season of any top-ten player getting major minutes in NBA history, and he only played so much because Gordon (the key asset from the Chris Paul #BasketballReasons trade) has played a grand total of 51 games in New Orleans, complete with poor shooting, nonexistant rebounding, lazy defense, and feuds with management and head coach Monty Williams.  The Pelicans’ defense ranked 28th, and their three-point defense ranked 27th. Anthony Davis is a KG clone (check the rookie year numbers), but he needs another defender on the team. Victor Oladipo almost certainly isn’t falling to them, and he would be of help to them with his shooting, athleticism, and defense, while opening up the team to trade Gordon for Al-Farouq Aminu’s replacement at small forward. I doubt that Trey Burke falls past this spot, as he would allow point guard Greivis Vasquez to shift to shooting guard, clearing a path for a Gordon trade.

Sacramento Kings (#7, #36): The Kings have a new owner, a new general manager (Pete D’Allessandro from Denver) and a new head coach (Mike Malone from Golden State). Now, they need a new defense, as they have had the worst defense in the West the past two seasons. For some reason, the Kings drafted power forward Thomas Robinson with the fifth pick in the draft (over Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard), didn’t play him despite the Kings being 29th in defensive rebounds, then traded him for former lottery picks Patrick Patterson and Cole Aldrich. The Kings also can’t block shots with Cousins and power forward Jason Thompson starting. Shooting guard Tyreke Evans is a restricted free agent, shooting guard Jimmer Fredette has no role despite being a top-ten pick in 2011, small forward John Salmons is too old to rebound or defend as a starter, and point guard Isaiah Thomas is a defensive liability. The Kings can’t go wrong with their pick, but I gave them Alex Len if he’s available. His selection would move Cousins to the 4 and give the Kings a lot of size to work with.

Detroit Pistons (#8, #37, #56): The Pistons just hired Maurice Cheeks to be their head coach, and to me, this video is the reason why.  The team is fully committing to the Greg Monroe-Andre Drummond twin towers, but they traded small forward Tayshaun Prince for point guard Jose Calderon because, well, 2011 top-ten pick Brandon Knight has had an unfortunate career so far. Calderon’s a free agent, and if he stays, it would force Brandon Knight into combo guard hell (a place he can talk to Rodney Stuckey about), and I’m not sure if Knight shoots or scores well enough to make up for his lack of size at the 2. If Knight gets another year at point guard, he has to show that his poor assist-to-turnover ratio will improve and that he won’t continue to be a defensive liability. Neither Calderon or Knight force turnovers, as the Pistons were 26th in the league in steals. The Pistons should just draft C.J. McCollum and figure it out from there.

Minnesota Timberwolves (#9, #26, #52, #59): The Timberwolves bought back Flip Saunders to replace the insane David Khan as general manager. Khan drafted Johnny Flynn over Steph Curry in 2009, drafted Wesley Johnson over Paul George in 2010, drafted Derrick Williams #2 overall in 2011, and signed Brandon Roy (specifically, Brandon Roy’s knees) in 2012 to be the starting shooting guard. The Timberwolves were pretty much done by time power forward Kevin Love needed surgery to fix his hand (which explains his 35% shooting in 18 games), and point guard Ricky Rubio spent the first half of the season recovering from a torn ACL; he would come back and shoot 36% from the field. Shooting guard Luke Ridnour showed that he should be a point guard only, as he shot 31% from downtown. Russian rookie Alexey Shved shot 30% from downtown on a team-high 288 attempts. The Timberwolves were dead last in three-point accuracy. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would give them a shooter who doesn’t have to carry the offense with Love and Rubio around.

Portland Trail Blazers (#10, #39, #40, #45): Portland now has the longest playoff success drought in the league, failing to get out of the first round every year since blowing Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals. The Trail Blazers have an All-Star power forward (for now) in LaMarcus Aldridge, but I want to shine in on point guard Damian Lillard, the reigning Rookie of the Year. Lillard won the award with his outstanding shooting (185 threes at 37%), scoring (19 per game), and distribution skills (6.5 assists a game). But Lillard’s defense has plenty of room for improvement, and the Blazers (26th in defensive efficiency in 2013) were 28th in forcing turnovers. The Blazers might look for a center with J.J. Hickson (a power forward who can rebound like a center but can’t block shots) testing free agency and 2012 lottery pick Meyers Leonard looking like he could still use another year to develop.  Portland should take the best two-way player available at this spot, although I’d be intrigued at what Michael Carter-Williams could do off the bench for them as a defender and setup man to let Lillard shoot and score (even though MCW doesn’t want to go there).

Now to breakup the 2,000+ words:

THE OTHERS (check out the Bandwagon Report for the playoff teams)

Philadelphia 76ers (#11, #35, #42): This is the part of the draft where I just give up trying to project players to every team, although I reserve to right to give them players to consider. The Sixers’ season was ruined by the fact that they gave up Olympic Gold Medalist Andre Iguodala, Nikola Vucevic, and the draft rights to Maurice Harkless in order to receive zero games from center Andrew Bynum and career-threatening knee surgery from shooting guard Jason Richardson. On the floor, point guard Jrue Holiday is an All-Star but the Sixers set an NBA record for fewest free throws made in a season. Small forward Evan Turner is talented, but it doesn’t appear he’ll be anything close to a go-to scorer after three years in the league.  I doubt the Sixers would consider players like Shabazz Muhammad or Kelly Olynyk, and Steven Adams would be a thoroughly uninspiring selection. Cody Zeller would be  a solid fit, especially if the Sixers think Thaddeus Young should play small forward and Evan Turner can play shooting guard.

Toronto Raptors (no picks): Well, the Raptors don’t have a draft pick at all, a small consequence of ensuring that Kyle Lowry would be their point guard (Oklahoma City has their pick). Toronto traded Jose Calderon and received small forward Rudy Gay, and it’ll be interesting to see whether a starting lineup of Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay, Amir Johnson, and Jonas Valanciunas can defend without fouling. The Raptors led the league in fouls, and they gave up the most free throws in the league. The Raptors hired Executive of the Year Masai Ujiri away from Denver, and he has some interesting decisions to make, especially considering the fact that Terrence Ross (8th pick in 2011), Landry Fields, and Andrea Bargnani (#1 pick in 2006) are still under contract. Any trade the Raptors make needs to bring back defensive minded players who can shoot, something that doesn’t accurately describe any of the Raptors wings right now.

Dallas Mavericks (#13, #44): The Mavericks went from winning the 2011 title to missing the playoffs for the first time since 2000. Like the Raptors, they couldn’t keep teams off the free throw line, finishing 29th in free throws allowed. The Mavericks probably don’t want to keep their draft pick, as they intend to be major players in free agency, but they need to get younger. Their best player is still power forward Dirk Nowitzki, and the only rotation player still on the team from 2011 is small forward Shawn Marion, who they are shopping hard. Vince Carter was effective as their sixth man, but he turns 37 next year and he led the team in fouls. They also don’t have a point guard under contract. The Mavs should draft the best available player and hope Dwight Howard’s decision is in their favor.

Utah Jazz (#14, #21, #46): The Jazz were the only team to miss the playoffs with a winning record, a consequence of their midseason swoon and general indecision as to what to do with their unbalanced roster. While the Jazz had a top-ten offense (due to their rebounding prowess), they were 21st in the league defensively. Utah finished third in the league in fouls, and generally couldn’t defend the perimeter with shooting guard Randy Foye and small forward Marvin Williams offering next to nothing on that end of the floor. The Jazz have recent lottery picks Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, Gordon Hayward, and Alec Burks chilling on the bench, and they don’t have a single point guard under contract (and with Mo Williams’ uneven play and injuries, they shouldn’t stress over re-signing one). Marvin Williams is also getting paid while recovering from Achilles’ surgery, while center Al Jefferson and power forward Paul Millsap are free agents. The Jazz are going to make some interesting moves, and could look to add an impact defender on the wing and at point guard before deciding what to make of their assets in July.

Milwaukee Bucks (#15, #43): The Bucks were the anti-Jazz, making the playoffs with a losing record and getting swept by the Heat for their efforts.  Point guard Brandon Jennings (restricted), shooting guard Monta Ellis, and trade acquisition J.J. Redick are all free agents who would not mind leaving Milwaukee. Their best player is probably center Larry Sanders, who blocked 200+ shots while averaging close to a double-double. The Bucks led the league in shot attempts but were only 22nd in free throw attempts, a terrible ratio. They could also use a better starter at the 3, as small forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is probably better suited for a reserve role considering the Bucks’ poor offense. Barring a surprise in free agency, the Bucks are going to get worse before they get better.

Boston Celtics (#16): The Celtics are reeling from the loss of head coach Doc Rivers to Los Angeles, and with All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo recovering from a torn ACL, the Celtics might just blow the 2008 championship team up. That means small forward Paul Pierce and center Kevin Garnett could join Ray Allen on the way out of Boston. The Celtics had a top-ten defense again, but they were awful offensively (24th), and the New York Knicks eliminated them in six games. The biggest issue for the Celtics in the playoffs were turnovers, but they were dead last in offensive rebounds. Power forward Brandon Bass is a below average rebounder, and though the team drafted Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo in the first round last year, they could draft the best big man available this time around.

Atlanta Hawks (#17, #18, #47, #50): After losing to the Pacers in the first round, the Hawks are another team in the unlikely “Steal a Star from LA” campaign, as it doesn’t appear that the Hawks are going to get a fair shot at Chris Paul or Dwight Howard. They also have significant free agents from the 10th-best defense in the league (power forward Josh Smith, point guard Jeff Teague, small forward Kyle Korver, shooting guard Devin Harris). The only starter returning is center Al Horford. The Hawks should consider letting Smith walk; he takes too many threes at 30% instead of helping Horford on the offensive boards (Hawks were 27th in the league on the offensive glass). The Hawks might shave one of their first-round picks, but they literally have six rotation spots to fill via the draft and free agency, and that doesn’t factor in Lou Williams’ recovery from a torn ACL. A center is necessary even with Dwight Howard so that Horford can play more at the 4. I like Gorgui Dieng for them.

Houston Rockets (#34): The Rockets actually had this pick, then they traded it away to acquire Terrence Williams from the Nets. The Nets proceded to trade the pick to Atlanta as part of the Joe Johnson deal. The Rockets aren’t complaining about not having this pick or the Raptors lottery pick that went to OKC since they have shooting guard James Harden AND a real shot at acquiring Dwight Howard. As for the Rockets now? They lost to the Thunder in round one, which was an accomplishment after three years out of the playoffs with a winning record. The Rockets (6th best offense, 1st in pace) were defined by Harden’s offensive onslaught, but they could use a wing defender  for their bench in Round 2. Houston allowed the third most three-pointers in the league.

Los Angeles Lakers (#48): The Cleveland Cavaliers have the Lakers’ first-round pick after the Ramon Sessions trade, but the Lakers have always had bigger fish to fry than the NBA Draft. The Lakers were swept by the eventual Western Conference champion Spurs in the first round, and just about every player they had fell apart physically this past season. All-Star shooting guard Kobe Bryant turns 35 in August and is recovering from a torn Achilles going into his 18th season and final year of his contract. The other Lakers’ All-Star, center Dwight Howard, is a free agent and is no lock to return to head coach Mike D’Antoni’s offense. Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace aged rapidly this past season and have uncertain futures with the amnesty clause looming, but the biggest disappointment for the Lakers was two-time MVP point guard Steve Nash, who turns 40 next year. The Lakers were 29th in forced turnovers, and Nash wasn’t a good defender at 20 years old or 30 years old. Whether Howard stays or goes, the Lakers won’t have a chance without some youth and defense in the backcourt.

Chicago Bulls (#20, #49): The Bulls found a way to beat the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in Game 7 before losing to the Heat in 5, and they still have a top-ten defense anchored by All-Stars center Joakim Noah and small forward Luol Deng. But the Bulls had the 23rd ranked offense in the league without MVP point guard Derrick Rose, and as a team they were 25th in the league in FG%. Noah (48%) and power forward Carlos Boozer (48%) set career lows in FG%, and while Rose’s return could help that, the Bulls need to consider Noah’s injury concerns and Boozer’s mileage. The Bulls have Taj Gibson, but Nazr Mohammed was their backup center. They could use a better option there in case Noah, Boozer, or Gibson don’t hold up.

Golden State Warriors (no picks): The Warriors don’t have their first overall pick after trading for Marcus D. Williams in 2008. Luckily, the Jazz have the pick this year instead of last year, where if it dropped too low, the Warriors would have lost the pick. Instead, the Warriors tank job (RE: trading Monta Ellis for an injured Andrew Bogut) was rewarded with the selection of small forward Harrison Barnes. The Warriors upset the Nuggets in round one and excited the masses even as they lost to the Spurs in 6. Point guard Stephen Curry set an NBA record for most threes in a season, and he was able to get a lot of off the ball time due to the presence of Jarrett Jack. Jack is a free agent, as is Carl Landry, and though Jack played a major role off the bench offensively for the Warriors, he is a liability defensively. The Warriors finished 27th in the league in steals, and they need to find a backup guard who can defend no matter what happens with Jack.

Brooklyn Nets (#22): The Nets are trying to make moves with the Celtics, possibly going out and trading for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry. The Nets made the playoffs for the first time since 2007, then put together an uninspiring effort in losing to the undermanned Bulls. New head coach Jason Kidd wants the Nets to run (the Nets were 28th in pace), and he was hired to jump start point guard Deron Williams. Williams and shooting guard Joe Johnson can be potent offensively, but they were one of the worst defensive backcourts in the league as the Nets were 25th in turnovers forced. The only player who had a great season was All-Star center Brook Lopez, and small forward Gerald Wallace looked like he could be done as an effective starter. Power forward Kris Humphries lost time to starter Reggie Evans and free agent Andray Blatche. A deal to get the Celtics stars would be exciting, but the Nets need a player like Jamaal Franklin on the wing.

Indiana Pacers (#23, #53): The Pacers took a step back offensively without small forward Danny Granger, but All-Star small forward Paul George helped the Pacers become the best defense in the league. The Pacers upset the Knicks in round two and pushed the Heat to 7 games, but that that Game 7 loss in the Eastern Conference Finals highlighted the fact that the Pacers lack playmakers. Point guard George Hill is solid, but he could be supplemented with a better backup than D.J. Augustin. The Pacers were 28th in the league in assists, and Augustin is a free agent. The Pacers need to re-sign David West, integrate Granger, and find another point guard who can handle the basketball.

New York Knicks (#24): The Knicks won the Atlantic Division for the first time since 1994, and got out of the first round for the first time since 2000. The Knicks set an NBA record for three-pointers made in a season, led by scoring champ Carmelo Anthony. But their jumpshots failed them in the playoffs, and now they are stuck with Amaré Stoudemire’s knees and a tough decision on Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith. The Knicks had the 18th best defense in the league, and while a full season with small forward Iman Shumpert would help, they need to figure out whether or not Carmelo Anthony should play power forward again.  Anthony and Smith fouled a lot as both were relatively undersized playing forward all year. With Jason Kidd’s retirement, Shumpert could slide to the 2, Anthony back to the 3, and the Knicks can figure out what to do with Smith, Stoudemire, and the chances of adding an impact player on the wing who can defend better than Chris Copeland or James White.

Los Angeles Clippers (#25): The Clippers had a top-ten offense and defense, won a franchise record 56 games (first time with at least 50 wins in franchise history, starting in 1970) and won the Pacific Division for the first time, though you wouldn’t have known it by watching the Clippers lose to the Grizzlies in the first round. The signing of new head coach Doc Rivers pretty much ensures that the Clippers will re-sign All-Star point guard Chris Paul, who is probably a 60-win season away from winning an MVP award.  All-Star power forward Blake Griffin has to get over losing his battle with Zach Randolph, but he’s an asset. The Clippers need another guy, and small forward Caron Butler is not it anymore. The only thing Butler does well at this point of his career is shoot threes, and the Clippers have a need for a wing who can do that and defend better than Butler. Matt Barnes was key for them last season, but he’s a free agent and 33 years old.

Memphis Grizzlies (#41, #55, #60): The Grizzlies don’t have a first round pick due to the Grizzlies needing to convince the Rockets to take Hasheem Thabeet so they could acquire Shane Battier for half a season. That didn’t work out well, but the Grizzlies upsetting the Clippers and Thunder worked out very well until they were swept by the Spurs in the Conference Finals.  The Grizzlies hired Dave Joerger to replace Lionel Hollins at head coach, and Joerger is to Hollins what Tom Thibodeau was to Doc Rivers in Boston as far as being a “defensive coordinator”. The Grizzlies defense was ranked 2nd (best in the West), and they have a ferocious defensive lineup with Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol and All-Defensive Teamers shooting guard Tony Allen and point guard Mike Conley. The team also have a double-double machine in All-Star power forward Zach Randolph and small forward Tayshaun Prince has a ring from Detroit. But Allen is a free agent, and he highlights the biggest problem in Memphis: they don’t shoot any threes. In fact, the Grizzlies have been dead last in threes made three of the last four seasons. Memphis needs a shooter, especially if their best offensive players are their big men.

Denver Nuggets (#27): The Nuggets followed up a great season with a first round upset to the Warriors, then watched as Executive of the Year Masai Ujiri moved to Toronto (replaced as general manager by New Orleans exec Tim Connelly) and replaced Coach of the Year George Karl with Brian Shaw. The Nuggets also are dealing with the free agency of key acquisition shooting guard Andre Iguodala and the recovery of small forward Danilo Gallinari from a torn ACL. While center JaVale McGee is expected to be a starter, power forward Kenneth Faried could use a better backup than Anthony Randolph. A sprained ankle limited his effectiveness against the Warriors, and the Nuggets were 30th in the league in allowing offensive rebounds. 

San Antonio Spurs (#28, #58): The Spurs made it all the way to the Finals for the first time since 2007 and took a 3-2 lead into Miami. San Antonio had a top ten offense (7th) and defense (3rd), but they were 28th in offensive rebounds this past season. Power forward Tim Duncan is 37, and center Tiago Splitter is a free agent. The Spurs picked up their point guard of the future in Tony Parker with the 28th pick in the 2001 draft. Don’t be surprised if the Spurs go big with their first round pick this year.

Oklahoma City Thunder (#12, #29, #32): The Thunder had the best record in the West, the best offense in the league (even with the turnovers of All-Stars small forward Kevin Durant and point guard Russell Westbrook), and the 4th best defense due to the shotblocking of power forward Serge Ibaka. But Westbrook’s injury exposed their lack of a supporting playmaker to the Thunder All-Stars; while Kevin Martin can shoot like James Harden, he can’t create plays for others like him. The Thunder also don’t have a backup guard who can force turnovers (Reggie Jackson isn’t a great defender). They have an opportunity to get a backup point guard, but they also need to get an upgrade on center Kendrick Perkins, as he shot 26% from the field in the playoffs and had more turnovers (23) than steals, blocks, and assists combined (20).

Miami Heat (no picks): The Heat don’t have a pick in this draft. They want to bring back Ray Allen, and power forward Udonis Haslem is their best rebounder. The Big 3 (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh) will be together for at least another year, but they can’t count on another year of Chris Andersen and Haslem as their only rebounders in reserve, can they?

Of course they can.

-1SKILLZ