The Hawks have an intriguing young nucleus that includes Al Harrington, high-flying Josh Smith, Josh Childress, Donta Smith and speedster Tyronn Lue. Thanks to a trade with Phoenix, talented point guard Joe Johnson joins the group. Harrington will be in a contract year and will surely look to impress potential suitors. The team drafted Marvin Williams with the No. 2 overall pick, and that has fueled speculation that Harrington will ask for a trade. Josh Smith has the ability to score, but will undoubtedly develop into a defensive stopper, potentially more effective than Detroit's Tayshaun Prince. Childress showed flashes of talent as the 2004-05 season progressed, and could develop into a valuable offensive weapon. Journeyman Lue, who re-signed, may have finally found a home in Atlanta, though Johnson will start at the point. The Hawks drafted Salim Stoudamire in the second round, and he is considered a terrific outside threat. Atlanta's most pressing need is a quality big man, and the team believes that 21-year-old Zaza Pachulia can help in that department. It's not a knock on Jason Collier and Pachulia, but the Hawks need more production from that position. Key reserve Tony Delk has options, which could mean an end to his tenure in Atlanta.
Paul Pierce is locked in until the 2006-07 season, and remains the cornerstone of the franchise. There are some rumors floating around that Boston continues to shop Pierce, but those have been squashed by Danny Ainge. Still, don't be surprised to hear whispers about his future prior to next year's trade deadline. Bigs Raef LaFrentz and Mark Blount are also locked in, as is Ricky Davis, one of the league's top reserves. Gary Payton signs with the Heat, which means others will need to step up at the guard position. Boston will need youngsters Al Jefferson, Delonte West, Tony Allen and Marcus Banks to take on more prominent roles. Boston has depended on Pierce for several seasons, and needs to take some of the pressure off of him by upgrading its frontcourt to compete against teams like Miami, Detroit and Indiana. Jefferson's development will factor greatly in those aspirations. The C's received a gift with the No. 18 pick in high school star Gerald Green, who is an incredible athlete. Ryan Gomes and Orien Greene also fall into the team's lap. Free-agent signee Brian Scalabrine, who was with New Jersey, will add toughness off the bench. The team dealt Antoine Walker to Miami in a blockbuster trade that netted them most notably Curtis Borchardt and Qyntel Woods. Dan Dickau provides spirit and depth at point guard.
It all begins with 2004-05 Rookie of the Year Emeka Okafor, who quickly established himself as the Bobcats' top player. He can defend and rebound very well, and will eventually develop into a quality low-post scorer with more experience. Primoz Brezec, a 7-foot-1 native of Slovenia, showed flashes of potential and could be a quality big man with a nice shooting touch. Those two are locked in for several seasons and will the backbone of the frontcourt duo for years to come. Brezec, who will earn $2.5 million next season, is a relative bargain. The Bobcats re-signed Gerald Wallace, who made the most of his opportunity after riding the bench in Sacramento for three seasons. Keith Bogans, Jason Hart, Brevin Knight and Jason Kapono are all dependable producers better suited for lesser roles than they currently play. Charlotte needed a point guard and drafted one with its first pick in Raymond Felton. Sean May had a terrific NCAA Tournament, but there is some concern that he won't see that type of success in the NBA. The Bobcats have money to play around with in free agency to address its backcourt needs and depth issues.
With the additions of Michael Sweetney and Tim Thomas, the Bulls will have a new look this season in the frontcourt. Four key youngsters -- Sixth Man of the Year Ben Gordon, Andres Nocioni, Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich -- are locked in for next season. Chris Duhon, another key contributor, will return to the team. Sweetney will likely pickup minutes at poth power forward and center. Tyson Chandler's re-signing gives the Bulls some frontcourt stability and he could see more time at the center position this season with Eddy Curry's departure to New York. Darius Songaila adds more frontcourt depth.
LeBron James isn't happy, and if he isn't happy, something needs to be done. The Cavs added another scorer in Larry Hughes, so that's a good start. James needed help, and the organization stepped up and got him some. The hiring of young, likeable former Pacers assistant Mike Brown as head coach is another step in the right direction. Further still, the Cavs re-signed Zydrunas Ilgauskas. The Cavs were willing to ante up given Z's injured past, but he's been healthy for two seasons now and is playing well. Donyell Marshall was one of Toronto's most consistent frontcourt players, and will look to have that same type of impact with Cleveland. The Cavs made a deal in the draft for 7-foot-2, 240-pound Martynas Andriuskevicius, who was considered a lottery pick last season but who fell to the second round in this season's draft. Drew Gooden has been linked to trade rumors, and Donyell Marshall's arrival may mean the end of Gooden's tenure in Cleveland. Jeff McInnis left the Cavs for the Nets, which gives new addition Damon Jones and Eric Snow opportunities to handle the point position.
Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups are locked in to long-term deals. Tayshaun Prince and Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace are taken care of next season, but will be on the market soon after that, so negotiating extensions will have to be on the agenda. Key reserves Antonio McDyess and Carlos Arroyo are signed to long-term deals. Darko Milicic's option was picked up, so it'll be interesting to see if Flip Saunders gives him a chance where Larry Brown didn't. Countryman Manu Ginobili believes that Carlos Delfino is a terrific talent who needs to play more inspired basketball. An injury-riddled rookie year tempered his development, but the Pistons like his scoring potential. The Pistons selected Jason Maxiell, an undersized power forward who will provide depth off the bench. Many teams pursued Dale Davis, who left Indiana for rival Detroit.
The Pacers' core of Jermaine O'Neal, Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson is locked in for several seasons, keeping Indiana as an East powerhouse. O'Neal's right shoulder will likely require surgery and it remains to be determined how that affects him for the 2005-06 season. The quicker he gets it taken care of, the better. Artest will return to action after practically missing a full season to suspension. Jackson has evolved into a terrific player. It'll be difficult to replace the perimeter shooting and mental toughness of 39-year-old Reggie Miller, who retired after spending all of his 18 NBA seasons with the Pacers. Sarunas Jasikevicius gives the Pacers more depth at both guard positions. He could battle Jamaal Tinsley for a lot of the minutes at that position. The Pacers also have Anthony Johnson and Eddie Gill under contract next season. The Pacers selected Danny Granger, who adds defensive toughness to this squad. The Pacers will use free agency to reinforce its backcourt with perimeter shooting to offset the loss of Miller. Many teams pursue Dale Davis, who left Indiana for rival Detroit.
The Heat have Dwyane Wade locked in next season, which is the good news. However, the team will eventually be burdened with re-signing him in a couple of years. Shaquille O'Neal is locked in for the next five seasons, which is good news for the organization. Alonzo Mourning has hinted he may return next season, but his situation may still force Miami to search for a quality backup for the oft-injured O'Neal. Valuable power forward Udonis Haslem took less to remain in Miami, which is his hometown. He quietly gets the job done and is a wonderful compliment to Wade and O'Neal. Antoine Walker, acquired from Boston in a blockbuster trade, will likely start at small forward. Damon Jones heads to Cleveland and is replace by incoming Jason Williams. James Posey, acquired from Memphis, will could either start or provide depth off the bench. Wayne Simien was a really nice selection for them. He was a 20-10 guy in college and suffered through injuries, which clouded his potential and resulted in a draft free-fall. His Summer-League play has opened a lot of eyes, however. Gary Payton was signed last in the offseason and he'll provide depth at point guard behind Williams. The Heat strengthen their frontcourt with the addition of Jason Kapono.
Michael Redd gave the Bucks the first opportunity to re-sign him, but at a steap price. If he stays healthy, he will certainly earn his paycheck. Will T.J. Ford be the same player he was prior to the neck injury that cost him the 2004-05 season? That remains to be seen. Ford's ability to create during his rookie season added a crucial dimension on a 2003-04 team that exceeded everyone's expectations. Maurice Williams performed well in his role as the team's starting point guard this past season, but lacks the important intangibles that Ford possesses. Desmond Mason and Joe Smith are locked in. There was a rumor that Chicago was interested in Toni Kukoc, but he decided to re-sign with the Bucks and remain in Milwaukee. Bobby Simmons' arrival could affect Mason's role. Mason will likely move to the bench as the team's sixth man. The Bucks drafted Andrew Bogut with the No. 1 overall pick and he should have an impact right away. Dan Gadzuric, who started last season, re-signed with the Bucks and will provide depth off the bench. The Bucks have a strong base with Bogut, Ford and Redd.
Jason Kidd is locked in to a long-term deal, but will be unhappy in New Jersey if it doesn't take steps to contend for a title. To do that, the team has acquired Marc Jackson, who solidifies the power forward position. He's no Shareef Abdur-Rahim, but he has a good offensive game. Vince Carter is in the middle of a deal that runs out in 2006-07 (he has a player option for the 2007-08 season). He played with great heart in New Jersey, but it remains to be seen whether he and Richard Jefferson can be an effective combination on a full-time basis. Jefferson, who signed a sizable contract extension earlier in the year, has recovered from a broken wrist that sidelined him for a large chunk of the season. Nenad Krstic is emerging as solid young big man, and will likely man the center position with Jackson's addition to the team. The 21-year-old Krstic is a bargain at his current price, and the Nets would be wise to lock him in now, before he has a chance to test his worth on the market. With the 15th pick in the draft, the Nets selected Antoine Wright, who is considered a terrific shooter. Jeff McInnis, who fell out of favor in Cleveland, provides depth at guard. Clifford Robinson re-signed and adds depth at forward and center.
The Knicks entered the offseason in an unenviable position, but with Larry Brown in the mix the tide could be turning. Isiah Thomas is doing a good job of ridding himself of bloated deals. Because of this, it will be easier to rebuild. Allan Houston has been riddled with injuries, Anfernee Hardaway is unhappy sitting on the bench and Shandon Anderson's deal remains partially on the books. However, the addition of Eddy Curry fills an important need at center, but his heart condition remains a big question. Stephon Marbury is locked in for several seasons and the success of the team will rest on the shoulders. The Knicks finally move Kurt Thomas after years of trade rumors surrounding him, and got the Suns' Quentin Richardson in return. With Jerome James in the mix, combined with the talents of Curry, the Knicks are solid at the center position. Rookies Channing Frye and Nate Robinson will both have time to develop on the bench or in the NBDL.
Dwight Howard is going to be a superstar. He performed quite well as a rookie fresh out of high school, and will surely improve. Steve Francis is a terrific guard who is among the NBA's elite players at his position. With the addition of Keyon Dooling, the Magic will likely shift Francis to shooting guard. Grant Hill made an incredible return to the league after a series of debilitating ankle injuries that sidetracked his career. Hedu Turkoglu is inconsistent, but when he's on, is a nice offensive weapon. That's the bright side. Doug Christie gets his wish and is released by the Magic. Jameer Nelson has proven to be a steal and will be a large part of the future as well. Centers Tony Battie and Kelvin Cato are both in contract years, which could have resulted in the Magic selecting Fran Vazquez in the draft. He's NBA-ready, but feels he is not ready for the rigors of the NBA, much to Orlando's dismay. Second-round pick Travis Diener's ability to hit from beyond the three could result in a spot on the roster.
Maurice Cheeks was an assistant coach when Allen Iverson first entered the league and they developed a great relationship. Iverson has a lot of respect for Cheeks, and a happy Iverson is very important to the team's success. Chris Webber was unhappy and reportedly told a friend that he would play for less money if it meant a trade out of Philadelphia. However, he has since changed his tune and is willing to give Cheeks a chance to win him over. Webber is locked in for one more season and can exercise a player option in his contract in 2006-07, but there's no one who will take his massive contract given his propensity for injury. Maybe Cheeks can find a way to help Webber flourish in an Iverson-led system. The rest of the nucleus is young and fairly talented. Athletic wing Andre Iguodala has a bright future, while sharp-shooting Kyle Korver is a weapon potentially better-suited to come off the bench. Philly decides to go younger, which spelled doom for long-time Sixer Aaron McKie. Samuel Dalembert, who agreed to remain with the Sixers, continues to develop into a good center, particularly on the defensive end. The Sixers sign Steven Hunter, who is a versatile athlete who can defend and run the court. Draft pick Louis Williams may not be ready to contribute anything significant right away.
Jalen Rose is still a solid scorer, but he will earn over $30 million over the next two seasons, a lot of money for what he provides. Alvin Williams, coming off surgery on his right knee to remove scar tissue, is locked in for several seasons. He has been slowed by injuries, which should provide many opportunities for Mike James and Milt Palacio. James was acquired from Houston in a deal in exchange for Rafer Alston. The Raptors have a terrific bargain in youngster Chris Bosh, but as his talent improves, so will his demand for a lot more money when he becomes a restricted free agent. Alston clashed with some teammates and his coaching staff at different points of the 2004-05 season, and has to repair those relationships if he's going to remain a Raptor for the length of his contract. Second-round pick Matt Bonner, acquired from the Bulls, was a pleasant surprise. The sad part is he had more of an impact than center Rafael Araujo, selected eighth. The Raptors left many scratching their heads when the team selected Charlie Villanueva.
As a trio, Antawn Jamison, Larry Hughes and Gilbert Arenas were as good as anyone last season, each putting together All-Star caliber campaigns. Hughes' decision to play for the Cavs has earned him a significant pay increase. The Wizards loved him, but his price tag was too much for Washington, who let him slide away. The addition of point guard Antonio Daniels could mean Arenas will shift over to shooting guard. Kwame Brown heads to Los Angeles, but the Wizards get athletic Caron Butler in exchange. Etan Thomas and Brendan Haywood are average centers who are locked in for several seasons. You could do better than that combo, but you could do worse. Juan Dixon, a key reserve who continues to improve, left for Portland, while Jarvis Hayes, who hopes to be back to form following an injury-plagued second season, is someone the Wizards remain very interested in. The team selected Andray Blatche, who will need some time in the NBDL to improve his game.
