Offseason Thread

[Who]

Mavs extending both Kyrie (3yr/119M) and Gifford (3yr/60M).

Good deal for Kyrie and team. Took less money coming off a serious injury. Allows the team to keep high end talent around him as he finishes his career in Dallas. Nice.

[Who]

Western Conference

The top 9 is incredible = OKC, Dallas, Minny, Denver, Golden State, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Houston, San Antonio.

It looks like the final play-in spot is going to be a fight between Memphis and Portland. Portland upgraded their team getting Jrue for A Simons. Memphis has some work to do to rebuild their supporting cast / depth particularly on the two wing positions. Portland might beat them to the spot. Especially if Morant has injury issues which he has had in recent years.

Bottom four teams = Sacramento, Phoenix, New Orleans, Utah in that order. Actually Zion might lift NOP over PHX.

[Who]

Eastern Conference

The East is hard to wrap my head around. Indy without Hali. Boston without Tatum. Milwaukee without Lillard. Philly have talent but major injury risks. Big variable in the East. It all went wrong from them last season but they shouldn't see a repeat of a season that goes that badly next year.

Cleveland look safe as #1 seed. From there it is hard to figure out order. A lot of teams look similar to one another.

NY and Philly have the most talent outside of Cleveland. NYK underachieved throughout last season and there is no good reason to expect otherwise next season. Still, they won 50 games. Philly underachieved primarily because of injuries which will continue to be an issue but to an unknown extent. They could be a 50 win team, a 45 win team, a 40 win team or worse. Wild card squad. 

Orlando are right there. They look like a 50 win team. They might be the safest bet along with NYK. Indy still have a good squad without Hali which is surprising to me. They could be a 45-48 win team without Hali. Boston could be here too if they keep Horford & Kornet or they could slip away to a play-in spot if they lose those guys.

Then you have Atlanta, Detroit, and Milwaukee. MIL will still be solid with Giannis there. A 44-46 win team. DET need a talent upgrade to move from 45-47 win team to a 50 win team. Hard to see where that talent upgrade comes from. Not high on them taking another big step forward. I expect them to stagnate. Atlanta should be in that 45-50 win territory.

Then you got Chicago and Toronto fighting out for the 10th spot / final play-in spot. I like Toronto's talent base better but they are underachieve with S Barnes as their franchise guy and I expect that to continue. I'd give Chicago the edge here.

Rounding out the lotto teams. Miami are next in line. Then Charlotte, Brooklyn, Washington as 3 of the 4 worst teams in the league.

[slightly biased bias fan]

I love the Hawks starting lineup

Young
Daniels (6-8)
Johnson (6-9)
Okongwu (6-10)
Porzingis (7-2)

Risacher (6th Man) (6-8)