Post by Face-in on Nov 4, 2014 15:24:01 GMT -6
3009 Central Division Preview
1. Milwaukee Bucks
Projected Record (65-17)
C: Rich Kelley
PF: Champ Godbolt
SF: Charles Barkley
SG: Jamal Wilkes
PG: Lionel Hollins
Bench
C: Tim McCormik
SG: Kendall Gill
PG: Doug Collins
Biggest Additions:
Jamal Wilkes
Rich Kelley
Biggest Losses:
Pete Maravich
Sharone Wright
Trofie had a great offseason adding Jamal Wilkes during free agency to go along with Barkley and Godbolt. Barkley/Godbolt/Wilkes makes up the best threesome in the league and Rich Kelley along with Lionel Hollins are very nice complimentary pieces. The Bucks look to be the clear favorite to win the Central and Eastern conference this season. This is my pick to have the best record in the league. The only thing that could hold them back is their lack of depth; they really have no bench right now so a long term injury to any of their starting five at the end of the regular season could be disastrous.
Moving forward, Barkley and Godbolt are locked up for at least the next five years. Hollins, Wilkes and Kelley are all 32 so if Trofie decides to keep the team together they should be the favorite in the east for at least the three years.
2. Toronto Raptors
Projected Record (55-27)
C: Bill Walton
PF: Sam Bowie
SF: George McInnis
SG: Billy Knight
PG: Gary Payton
Bench
PF: Carlos Rogers
SG: Sonny Parker
Biggest Additon:
Carlos Rogers
Biggest Losses:
Evan Turner
Jim Brewer
The Raptors didn’t do much in the offseason but they didn’t have to because they bring back a very strong team that won 58 games last season. The Raptors are clearly the second best team in the division and should get a top four seed come playoff time. Would like to see Pete try and run a different offense for a couple sims to see just how good Gary Payton really is. The team lacks some depth so maybe Pete will use his 3014 first to try and add a younger wing or get a better third big.
Moving forward. Walton, McGinnis and Knight are getting up there in age but Pete still looks to have at least another two to three year window with this team. Gary Payton expires in a couple years and the team doesn’t own its first round pick until 3014 so Pete really has no choice but to go all in for these next couple years.
3. Chicago Bulls
Projected Record (48-34)
C: Felton Spencer
PF: Manute Bol
SF: Walter Davis
SG: JR Smith
PG: Oscar Robertson
Bench
PF/SF: Donyell Marshall
PF/C: Juwon Howard
SG: Otis Birdsong
Biggest Additions:
Donyell Marshall
Walter Davis
Biggest Losses:
Ernie Grunfeld
Eddie Jones
The Bulls had a very solid offseason even though they struck out on the big name free agents. They were able to sign Walter Davis, trade for Donyell Marshall and draft defensive specialist Manute Bol. The Bulls look to be ready to compete for a playoff spot this season due to their additions and expected growth from the best young player in the league Oscar Robertson. This team should have no problem scoring but defending wings could be a problem due Walter Davis and JR Smith’s poor defensive grades.
Moving forward, the Bulls look to be in great shape with Oscar Robertson along with young players around him who are locked up long term. JR Smith expires after this season but he shouldn’t demand that big of a deal. I expect the Bulls to keep climbing as these other teams in the east get older.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
Projected Record (47-35)
C: Al Jefferson
PF: Leon Douglas
SF: Paul George
SG: Quincy Pondexter
PG: Jason Kidd
Bench
C/PF: Marvin Webster
C: Tree Rollins
SF: Mitch Kupchak
SF: Luol Deng
Biggest Addition:
Tom Burleson
Biggest Loss:
Rich Kelley
The Cavs had an uneventful offseason outside of locking up Paul George long term but bring back a solid team that was able to win 50 games and upset the Bucks last season in the playoffs. This season I think the Cavs take a small step back since they were unable to make any real improvements and the rest of the central looks to be improved. This team lacks a superstar and I’m not sure about the Al Jefferson/Leon Douglas frontcourt.
Moving forward, the Cavs are in an interesting spot where they are stuck in the middle of central and without their draft pick in 3011 and 3012. They’ve got everyone but Jefferson locked up for the at least the next three seasons. Perhaps they use what picks they have left and Jefferson to try and improve down low.
5. Charlotte Hornets
Projected Record (45-37)
C: Derrick Coleman
PF: DeMarcus Cousins
SF: Bailey Howell
SG: Evan Turner
PG: John Wall
Bench
C: Eric Mobley
SF: Oscar Schmidt
SG: Pete Maravich
PG: Lenny Wilkens
Biggest Additions:
DeMarcus Cousins
John Wall
Evan Turner
Oscar Schmidt
Pete Maravich
Biggest Loss:
None
After an amazing offseason the Hornets look to make a big jump in the standings this season and compete for a playoff spot. They now have stars at point guard and center along with nice young complimentary pieces around them. I’m still not sure if this team has a playoff spot locked up yet due to their youth at the wing spots but I think rv could make another jump up to 50+ win team and contender in the east if he uses some of his young pieces along with picks to trade for a star SG or SF.
Moving forward, rv is setup really well. He has the best collection of young talent in the league along with all of his future draft picks. If he doesn’t make a move this season he could stay patient and develop his young talent to build a monster team. Hornets should be one the best teams in the east for the duration of Wall and Cousin’s contracts.
6: Atlanta Hawks
Projected Record (20-62)
C: Dominic Long
PF: Dick Furry
SF: Lloyd McHale
SG: Dale Ellis
PG: Josh Coleman
Biggest Addition:
Dale Ellis
Biggest Loss:
None
The Hawks had another uneventful offseason after missing out on a top two pick and not getting any big time free agents so they are back to tanking in an attempt to get a young star to pair with Dick Furry. RW may hope that Furry has that typical big man sophomore slump which would improve his lotto odds this season. Due to how bad the Hawks guards are they should be right there with Pistons and Pelicans in the basement of the division.
Moving forward, this will be year three of the Hawks tank and they will eventually have to start competing again. If they can get a top three pick in this upcoming draft they should be in good shape, if not the Hawks have all their picks to trade and ton of cap room to turn things around.
7. Detroit Pistons
Projected Record (10-72)
C: Americas John-Lewis
PF: Thurl Bailey
SF: Al Farouq-Aminu
SG: Jud Buechler
PG: Jounny Moore
Bench
C: Cole Aldrich
PF: Mel Turpin
PG: Walter Diddle
Biggest Additon:
Thurl Bailey
Biggest Losses:
Lance Stephenson
Trevor Booker
Pistons smartly decided to tank this season since their team as it stood at the end of the season was not in position to compete even though they made the playoffs last season. This season they should be in contention with the Hawks and Pelicans to be last in the division and get top five lotto odds.
Moving forward, Wolf looks to have a couple good young prospects in Americas John-Lewis and Thurl Bailey. He owns all of his picks and has the Heat’s first round pick this year along with the Thunder’s first round pick in 3013 which could be a really attractive trade piece.
8. New Orleans Pelicans
Projected Record (8-74)
C: Walter McDermott
PF: Luke Babbit
SF: Gordon Hayward
SG: Byron Scott
PG: Desmond Stojakovich
Bench
SF: Toni Kukoc
Biggest Addition:
Byron Scott
Biggest Loss:
Dan Issel
Ervin Hayes
New GM tne is doing the right thing and tanking for these upcoming drafts. This season the Pelicans look like they should be pretty terrible and should be one of the worst five teams in the league. Not much to say about the team right now since they only have six players when I wrote this.
Moving forward, the Pelicans have all their draft picks along with Cavs and Suns first round picks in the 3011 draft. tne looks to have a nice young shooting guard prospect in Byron Scott (B- A- C B- C- B). With all those picks the Pelicans should be able to turn things around by 3012 or 3013.
