I've been looking a the NBA for quite a while and it tells me a lot of obvious stuff.
For one, Gilbert Arenas is a smart guy. Taking $16 M off the big contract? That's basically giving the franchise a chance to sign better players. The Wizards lost so far Roger Mason to the Spurs and I haven't seen them make some moves which could impact the team aside from drafting Javale McGee, but they seem like one of those teams that doesn't really need changing. They have their starters coming back next season. Arenas, DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler, Antwan Jamison, and Brendan Haywood; and like the Lakers they have a young but strong bench, Andray Baltche, Nick Young, Antonio Daniels, Dominic McGuire, Darius Songalia, McGee, Perchovic , Etan Thomas.....can't remember all but the bench gets better every year. They could use some help at center or a back up guard or forward. Currently signing someone like David Harrison or Devean George would look good but the Wizards look formidable already with out them.
Detroit is too young and raw without it's veterans. If all but two or three starters are left, who would be the starters? Rip , Affalo , Stuckey, Prince, Brown? Not good. Rip and Prince are the most valuable players right now. Stuckey and Affalo will become guys who earn around the $5M to $10 M in the long run to replace Billups and Wallace. BillUps will continue to be the leader of this team for years to come but eventually, the Pistons will need to rebuild with better guys other than Prince and Stuckey and Amir Johnson. I like the signing of Brown because even though he's already labeled first pick-bust. He's still a solid player. He can bang around and get boards. Honestly, I think I rather see him start and get McDyess to come off the bench better. Brown can be a 20-35 Minutes guy with around 9-10 rebounds a game with a 8 ppg average. Adding another offensive minded veteran to the mix could be a good idea. They could risk signing and trading for players like andre Iguodala and Josh Smith or JR Smith. Wallace or Hamilton could fall into the deal for Smith or Iguodala for a better deal. Sixers would get the ability of Hamilton to find the open spots he'll have with Elton Brand attracting a lot of attention. Wallace can fill out the hole by Josh Childress and Smith by being bothe scorer and rebounder although it is unlikely the Hawks will take him. Like hot-tempered and veteran presence and scoring and shooting and 14ppg average for guy looking for $12M , fan-favorite, high flying, possible all-star in their twenties? not gonna happen unless the Hawks get more like adding one of the Young Pistons to the mix. Pistons getting Brown and trying to pry other players from the free agent pool means Dumars could be making a last stand in the Eastern Conference for the next 2 years and show that they can still be a championship team despite their breakdown for the past two years one against lebron James and another against the Big Three Boston Celtics team. Now this year, they have added threats in the form of a Full-powered Wizards team, and a rejuvinated Elton Brand Sixers team which pushed them to the brink without a proper post presence and the ever resilient Raptors could be chomping below.
Speaking of the East, it's new beasts are already getting attention. Micheal Beasley and Elton Brand just made it harder to guard the paint. Miami Heat are in-danger of losing Dwayne Wade in 2010 if they don't make any moves. They have a young core in Mario Chambers and Michael Beasley but they need a center and the Free agent market is getting thiner. Unless Shawn Marion or Udonis Haslem can play that post, the Heat are probably rebuilding. Some teams could use Haslem as a power Forward. Even if Alonzo Mourning returns or Mark Blount becomes a better post presence or rebounder for his $10M a year contract , that could save the team some money or chemistry. For now all eyes are on their young new duo of Beasley and Wade and on former All-star Shawn Marion to keep the Heat afloat. On the bright side, signing James Jones, a talented shooter and long wing guy will be a good addition but unless Wade plays the point then Jones could play the big guard. The 3 and 4 will be either Marion or Beasley and center would be sigh.....Blount or sligtly shorter sigh.....Haslem...whew! Jason Williams could come back but he would take a huge cut. Chris Quinn and Chambers looks like the only options they have right now. Heat are in the pits right now but with hard work they could go back to elite status in two years time if Wade stays put with Beasley.
Not much for now...more to come
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