Post by Face-in on Nov 4, 2014 22:23:47 GMT -6
3009 Atlantic Division Preview
1. Orlando Magic
Projected Record (61-21)
C: Greg Monroe
PF: Dave Greenwood
SF: Dan Roundfield
SG: Dick Barnett
PG: Magic Johnson
Bench
PF/C: Elden Campbell
SG: Mel Bennett
Biggest Additon:
Mel Bennett
Biggest Loss:
Adrian Dantley
After winning 72 games last season I think the Magic take a small step back this season but are still the overwhelming favorite to win the division and get a top two seed for the playoffs. Dantley was a big loss because the team doesn’t have much depth but I expect MJ to use one of his young PFs along with his future picks to find a replacement for Dantley. Only thing that keeps this team from winning the division is a serious injury to one of their stars.
Moving forward, Magic Johnson and Dave Greenwood are signed for the next two seasons and Greg Monroe is locked up long term so I expect MJ do go all out while he has Magic Johnson for at least these next two seasons. If he resigns Magic in a couple seasons MJ will continue to dominate the east and Atlantic.
2. Washington Bullets
Projected Record (55-27)
C: James Donaldson
PF: Moses Malone
SF: Sam Perkins
SG: Ricky Sobers
PG: Eric Bledsoe
Bench
PF: Bob McAdoo
SF: Bill Robinzine
PG: John Lucas
Biggest Loss:
Walter Davis
Maurice Lucas
Biggest Addition:
John Lucas
James Donaldson
Ricky Sobers
Even though I think the Bullets are better this season I think there win total decreases a bit due to the strength of the east. After losing Walter Davis in free agency kn was able to make a couple nice moves today acquiring James Donaldson and Ricky Sobers in trades. With Sam Perkins now playing SF the team looks to have a great defensive front court that should average close to 10 blocks a game. This team could challenge for the division and conference if Eric Bledsoe continues to improve and becomes one of top five point guards in the league.
Moving forward, kn is set up really well for the future with Bledsoe, Perkins and Malone locked up for the next five years. He also has all his picks from 3011 to 3014 to use in trades or add to young talent to his core.
3. Brooklyn Nets
Projected Record (48-34)
C: Dwight Howard
PF: Theodosios Cathasach
SF: Josh Childress
SG: Alexis Gardner
PG: Khalid Reeves
Bench
C: Gregor Fucka
SG: Jordan Crawford
PG: Al Attles
Biggest Addition:
None
Biggest Loss:
None
This is the same exact team as the last three seasons but it is nice to see the team finally have a GM. This team is still just one big move away from becoming a contender in the east. AHebrewtoo has plenty of ammo to make that happen with all his picks and seven players still on rookie deals. Even if he keeps the team as is the Nets look like they’ll be able to get a bottom four seed in the playoffs due Reeves, Catfish and Howard.
Moving forward, I’m sure AHebrewtoo wants to avoid scat-like mediocrity so if he doesn’t make a big move to try and become a title contender during the season he could blow it up to try and to put his own stamp on the team by trading Reeves and Catfish for a ton of picks.
4. New York Knicks
Projected Record (47-35)
C: Ralph Sampson
PF: Richard Washington
SF: Bobby Jones
SG: Lance Stephenson
PG: Butch McRae
Bench
C: Dick Mumma
PF: Clayton Roseau
SF: Tom Sanders
PG: Derek Harper
Biggest Additions:
Bobby Jones
Lance Stephenson
Ralph Sampson
Derek Harper
Butch McRae
Biggest Loss:
None
If not for the rv’s incredible free agency coup, newcomer spl would have had the best offseason. All of his signings looked like those of an experienced GM. He signed Richard Washington, Bobby Jones and Lance Stephenson to really good deals while adding Ralph Sampson and Derek Harper in the draft. Butch McRae was also a nice under the radar signing. I think he Knicks have a really good shot to win 50 games. This team should have no trouble scoring but defense could be a problem with McRae at PG and Sampson averaged less than 1 block per game during the preseason.
Moving forward, Washington is 30 and Jones is 33 but the team has nice young players in Sampson, Stephenson, Sanders and Harper. Spl has all his picks along with the Raptors 3013 first rounder so he could use those in trades to improve now for this three year window he has with Jones and Washington.
5. Miami Heat
Projected Record (41-41)
C: Jim McIlvane
PF: Brian Grant
SF: Truck Robinson
SG: Reggie King
PG: Jay Arnette
Bench
C: Larry Sanders
C: Tom Lagarde
PG: Greivis Vasquez
Biggest Additions:
Tom Lagarde
Jay Arnette
Biggest Losses:
Brian Taylor
John Lucas
It feels as though the Heat’s playoff run could be coming to an end, the rest of the east looks to have now passed them by. The team’s win total has decreased in each of the last two seasons and I expect that to continue this season since Canes was unable to add a quality PG in free agency. This team can score but looks like they will still struggle to rebound and play defense. The big holes at PG and C look like they will hold the Heat back from making the playoffs unless Canes is able to make a big move.
Moving forward, Truck is now 34 years old and Reggie King only has one year left on his deal so it could get bad if the Heat were to lose one of them this offseason. They don’t have their pick until 3012 so it looks like that could be the time for a rebuild unless a move to retool is made this season.
6. Boston Celtics
Projected Record (19-63)
C: Rafael Araujo
PF: Trevor Booker
SF: Lee Shaffer
SG: Clyde Drexler
PG: Paul Neumann
Bench
C: Mark West
SG: Ben Gordon
PG: Sedale Threatt
Biggest Additions:
Clyde Drexler
Trevor Booker
Mark West
Biggest Losses:
None
Dump didn’t exactly have the offseason he was hoping for but it was still really solid. He was able to sign Trevor Booker to a nice deal and Clyde Drexler looks promising even though he had an underwhelming preseason while playing out of position at SF and PF. I think the Celtics improve minimally from last season since the east has improved and I think Neumann, Drexler and Booker keep the Celtics from getting top five lotto odds. The Celtics seem to be in the 6-10 range of bad teams. This season will be all about developing that good young backcourt and hoping for some more lotto luck.
Moving forward, the Celtics have all their picks and have six other first round picks from other teams in the next three drafts. Even if Dump doesn’t get any lotto luck this season he still has a really nice young backcourt, a lot of young talent and 11 first round picks to use in trades. Dump should be back to competing for a playoff spot next season.
7. Philadelphia 76ers
Projected Record (0-82)
C: Lourens Hayate
PF: Curt Lafrentz
SF: Jadranko Teobaldo
SG: Dawson Kitna
PG: Neetnum Nagdorus
Biggest Additions:
More Scrubs
Biggest Loss:
Earl Manigault
This group of players was put together to be the first winless team of 4.0. The season will be a massive failure if the team wins more than one game and does not get a top three pick in the 3010 draft.
Moving forward, the Sixers have ten picks in the next three drafts. Hoping I can get a top three pick in two of the next three drafts and use those extra picks to get complimentary young talent or trade them for a star. The goal is for the tank to end by the 3013 season.
