Magic, Nuggets, Lakers, Cav's offseasons

[wiley]

Let's assume these four teams are the biggest threat to our return to N.B.A. champions next year.

What can and will these teams do to improve themselves this offseason.  It would be great to hear from cap experts but also strategists. 

Imo the Lakers should trade Odom for another center and resign Ariza.
Cavs I have no idea.
Magic I have no idea other than keep Gortat if possible.
Nuggets need a 7 footer and a Kleiza replacement (after we lure Kleiza away)

Any moves these teams have the ability to make that I should be afraid of?

[BballTim]

  The biggest improvement to any of the four is likely to be the return of Jameer Nelson.

[Drucci]

For the Magic, their priority is to re-sign Turkoglu because he'll likely opt out of his contract even though they were successful this year and in these playoffs, since he is 30 and it's his last opportunity to get a big contract. The problem is that Orlando doesn't want to get over the luxury tax and they would be forced to if they want to re-sign Hedo.

[Who]

Orlando Magic

The Magic will resign Hedo Turkoglu to a contract worth around $9-10mil per annum. Then Otis Smith will desperately look for a "creative solution" to his luxury tax problems (Orlando do not want to pay the tax, and they will the minute they pay Hedo). They'll offer up Rafer Alston and Tony Battie (both expiring contracts) in trades, and see if they can find any takers and get their salaries lower. If they cannot find this solution, Gortat is as good as gone, so long as some other team offers him $4-5mil per annum (he's a steal at that price, good value at twice the price).

Cleveland Cavaliers

Their first priority is getting an extension for Varejao. They want him around long term. It'll be interesting to see what they pay him. If they get him for $6-7mil, they're doing good, if it's more it might become a dubious contract.

Their second priority will be trade assets and the MLE. They'll look to trade Ben Wallace, much like they did this last season with Wally. They'll only make a trade if they can get their hands on a player of Bosh's caliber, or some top 2010 free agent's caliber. They won't pass up that 2010 opportunity for someone like Vince Carter.

The Cavs will spend the MLE if they can keep the contract to a one year deal. They may pass on it otherwise, because I think (not certain) it would mean sacrificing Delonte West's non-guaranteed in order to have enough cap space to sign a max contract in 2010.

Los Angeles Lakers

They will not spend their MLE. They will only resign their own free agents and add minimum contract pieces. Speaking of minimum contracts, they'd love to hang onto Josh Powell (someone please steal him away!).

It remains to be seen whether they'll be willing to pay both Ariza and Odom. I think Ariza will be the first priority but it's fairly close, it could easily be Odom.

Also, do the Lakers spend the MLE if Odom leaves? Possibly. Uncertain though. I can't see them spending it if he stays.

The Lakers supporting cast doesn't have many trade assets so it'll be difficult for them to make a trade without breaking up their core.

On another note ... Joe Dumars should call LA and offer up Maxiell in a sign and trade for Lamar Odom. That could be a nice deal for both sides.

[Roy Hobbs]

Lakers free agents:  Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, Josh Powell, Shannon Brown, Didier Ilunga-Mbenga.  Even before signing any free agents, the Lakers' payroll is roughly the same as it was this year, meaning they may have to say goodbye to one of Odom or Ariza if they want to maintain their budget.

Magic free agents: Hedu Turkoglu, Marcin Gortat (restricted), Tyronn Lue, Jeremy Richardson, Adonal Foyle.  Their payroll is about $6 million less than this year's team, but they'll have to go way over their budget if they resign Turk and Gortat.

Nuggets free agents:  Anthony Carter, Chris Andersen, Dahntay Jones.  The Nuggets will enter the off-season with a payroll slightly less than this year's, but Andersen and Carter will be looking for raises.

Cavs free agents:  Wally Szczerbiak, Zydrunas Ilgauskas (player option), Anderson Varejao (player option), Joe Smith, Lorenzen Wright, Tarence Kinsey.  Depending upon which players pick up their options, the Cavs should have a payroll $15 - $30 million lower than last year's before signing free agents.  They still will be over the cap (or very slightly under), but should have more budget flexibility than other teams.

[lon3lytoaster]

I expect a lot of the top tier free agents this year will be moving to one of those four cities. I think Jason Kidd ends up in LA, I've thought this for a while and I don't know, I just see it happening.

Ron Artest is an option for Denver, I think. I hope we can get him, I'd really love to add him with the MLE or through sign and trade

Then, Marion could go to Cleveland for the MLE or in a sign and trade from Toronto.

We really need to step up our game this offseason. If Artest and Marion really want to go to other cities, or even stay at home there's nothing we can do but we absolutely have to try to get one of them here through the MLE, Marion would be great because of his rebounding and ability to play the four spot. Then we need to make trades, as we have the contracts to help teams dump salary. I'm honestly not going to follow this team next year if all we do is make minimum signings and no trades. Too frustrating. I don't want to sit by and watch our rivals get clearly better than us while we're idle.

[crownsy]

I expect a lot of the top tier free agents this year will be moving to one of those four cities. I think Jason Kidd ends up in LA, I've thought this for a while and I don't know, I just see it happening.

Ron Artest is an option for Denver, I think. I hope we can get him, I'd really love to add him with the MLE or through sign and trade

Then, Marion could go to Cleveland for the MLE or in a sign and trade from Toronto.

We really need to step up our game this offseason. If Artest and Marion really want to go to other cities, or even stay at home there's nothing we can do but we absolutely have to try to get one of them here through the MLE, Marion would be great because of his rebounding and ability to play the four spot. Then we need to make trades, as we have the contracts to help teams dump salary. I'm honestly not going to follow this team next year if all we do is make minimum signings and no trades. Too frustrating. I don't want to sit by and watch our rivals get clearly better than us while we're idle.

you dont think houston is going to sell out for ron ron? by all accounts they lvoe him and want him back.

[Who]

Denver Nuggets

Oh, I missed the Nuggets. I wouldn't concern myself with what Denver do, they're not a contender next year. I'd consider them the sixth best team in the West unless JR Smith has a breakout year (which would make them a contender).

This summer, they'll resign Andersen to anything below the MLE. Then they'll play hard ball with Kleiza, likely claim to match any offers, hope nobody makes an offer and keep him if nobody calls their bluff. If someone calls their bluff, I think they'll steal him away for $4-5mil per annum.

Then I think they may get forced into a slight raise for either or possibly both Jones and Carter.

Once they get beyond that, they'll be down to minimum contract offers ... unless Kroenke (owner) decides to throw caution to the wind and go down in a blaze of glory. Perhaps he will, he's an ambitious guy who's shown strong spending habits in the past, but in the last 12 months he's been very careful about the budget. It'll be interesting to see if gives management the green light. I'm skeptical about it until I see/hear it first.

[wiley]

Sounds like Cleveland is the biggest threat to do something scary (scary from our perspective).