8/26 ESPN Insider - Grading the Atlantic Division (+more on Odom & E.Jones)

[OutletPass]

We Know What You Did This Summer
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford Tuesday, August 26


I love the NBA offseason for one simple reason. It is the only time of the year when every team is a contender. It's the time of the year when long-suffering Warriors fans sick of missing the playoffs or troubled T-Wolves fans outraged at a string of first-round playoff exits can dream.


Unfortunately, the dream is about to end. The summer is winding down. Most of the big moves have been made. Dreams are giving way to the harsh realities of the real world.

We live in a world where the rich just keep getting richer and the poor just keep getting poorer.

This was supposed to be the summer where down-and-out teams like the Nuggets and Jazz were going to use their boat loads of cash to narrow the gap between the haves and the have nots. It was supposed to be the summer where teams from the East lured the top free agents from the West, promising guys eager for a ring the shot to run roughshod over a mediocre field.

Never happened.

Which four teams had the best summers this year? The three-time world champion Lakers, the current world champion Spurs, two-time defending Eastern Conference champ Nets and the Pistons, the team with the best record in the East last season.

So much for the underdogs adding that final piece to the puzzle. Only four lottery teams earned a B- or better in our latest Insider summer grades. Two of them, the Cavs and Nuggets, got there on virtue of hitting the jackpot in the draft.

As for landing free agents, only three lottery teams, the Wizards, Heat and Nuggets, landed a big-time free agent this summer. That's the bad news, especially for the long-suffering fans out there trying to find some hope as the embers of the offseason begin to flicker away.

The good news is that the top seven teams in the NBA -- the Lakers, Kings, Spurs, Mavs, T-Wolves, Nets and Pistons -- all improved this summer. That should make for some amazing basketball in June.

Today, Insider grades the Atlantic Division. On Wednesday, we'll tackle the Central.

New Jersey Nets
Key Additions: Alonzo Mourning, Zoran Planinic
Key Subtractions: Anthony Johnson
Roster breakdown: Nets Depth Chart | Free Agent Watch

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The Skinny: All the Nets had to do to earn an "A" was re-sign Jason Kidd. The cards were stacked against them a little bit, and there were times this summer when it looked like Kidd was going to bolt to the Spurs. How big of a home run to did Rod Thorn eventually hit? Not only did he get Kidd, but Kidd brought Alonzo Mourning with him. If Mourning is healthy, the Nets are hands down the best team in the East and should give any team in the West a run for its money. If Mourning can't make it through the season, they'll still compete for the Eastern Conference title. Just to add a little gravy to the mix, in three years, most NBA teams are going to figure out that Planinic should've been a lottery pick.

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Grade: A



Orlando Magic
Key Additions: Juwan Howard, Reece Gaines, Tyronn Lue, Zaur Pachulia
Key Subtractions: Darrell Armstrong
Roster breakdown: Magic Depth Chart | Free Agent Watch

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The Skinny: We don't know for sure exactly how Howard is going to fit together with Drew Gooden, but the Magic did add a talented, multi-dimensional veteran for cheap and that's good for something. Then factor in that the Magic had their best draft in three years by adding Gaines and two second-round picks, Pachulia and Keith Bogans, who outplayed most of the first-round picks in the summer league. Gaines has the potential to be the long-term answer for the Magic at the point. Pachulia, in another year or two, could be the Magic's center. If the Magic had landed a big-time center, they would've gotten an A. But what they did do looks pretty good.

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Grade: B+



Washington Wizards
Key Additions: Gilbert Arenas, Jarvis Hayes
Key Subtractions: Michael Jordan, Bryon Russell, Tyronn Lue
Roster breakdown: Wizards Depth Chart | Free Agent Watch

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The Skinny: It's not easy to get up in the morning after Michael Jordan walks out the door. When you're an average Joe like the Wizards and your supermodel girlfriend decides to leave, it's easy to believe that things will never be that good again. But new GM Ernie Grunfeld didn't waste anytime feeling sorry for himself. The Wizards got an assist from the league office when it announced a big jump in the salary cap. That allowed the Wizards to go aggressively after Arenas. Landing him was a huge coup. At just 21 years of age, Arenas is the first real star on a team that has to grow up fast. Hayes, the Wizards' first-round pick, looked great in the summer league. If Grunfeld or new head coach Eddie Jordan can find a way to trade and get value in return for Kwame Brown, the Wizards would go from a "B" to an "A".

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Grade: B



Miami Heat
Key Additions: Lamar Odom, Dwyane Wade, Samaki Walker
Key Subtractions: Alonzo Mourning, Anthony Carter, Travis Best, Mike James, Eddie House
Roster breakdown: Heat Depth Chart | Free Agent Watch

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The Skinny: Give them an "A" for effort and a "B-" for execution. The Heat made a big offer to Elton Brand that was eventually matched by the Clippers. In their second go around, the Heat landed their other coveted free agent target -- Odom. But it came at a pretty steep price. Many GMs around the league thought the Clippers were crazy to offer Odom that six-year, $65 million deal. Let's wait and see. If Odom responds to Pat Riley's coaching, the Heat may have the steal of the summer. If Odom really can play the point, at 6-foot-10, he could be an all-star next year. If he keeps up his old ways, the Heat may never get out of lottery hell. Giving Odom all that money is a big risk for the Heat, but after Alonzo Mourning's tragic turn, Heat fans already know that everything can be a risk. Wade was also a nice pick-up for the Heat. He has the skills, athleticism and maturity to come in and contribute right away. But where does he play? Odom will get the bulk of minutes at the point. Eddie Jones will get them at the two. The Heat need to find a new home for Jones now.

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Grade: B-



Boston Celtics
Key Additions: Marcus Banks, Jumaine Jones, Mike James, Brandon Hunter
Key Subtractions: J.R. Bremer, Bruno Sundov
Roster breakdown: Celtics Depth Chart | Free Agent Watch

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The Skinny: Danny Ainge wasted no time doing what he does best, overhauling the Celtics' backcourt. Banks will give them speed and the ability to start running the break again. Jones gives them versatility at the three and the four. And Hunter showed at the summer league that he may be the brute force in the paint that the Celtics are looking for. With that all said, the team's money woes really have hindered its ability to totally fix this team. The Celtics still need to find a legit third scorer and their lack of toughness in the paint won't be totally alleviated by an undersized rookie. Ainge had the window to do more, but a new frugal ownership group has left his hands a little too tied.

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Grade: C+



Philadelphia 76ers
Key Additions: Glenn Robinson, Marc Jackson
Key Subtractions: Keith Van Horn, Brian Skinner, Tyrone Hill
Roster breakdown: Sixers Depth Chart | Free Agent Watch

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The Skinny: Robinson gives the Sixers a legit second scoring threat to Iverson. But the team didn't do enough to address its needs in the frontcourt. The Sixers overpaid for Kenny Thomas, giving him a ridiculous seven-year, $50 million deal. Jackson could end up holding his own in the East, but if he doesn't the Sixers are way too thin up front to compete with the likes of the Nets, Pistons and Hornets. It wasn't a terrible offseason, but it probably wasn't enough to make up for the loss of Larry Brown. Look for the Sixers to slip a notch this season.

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Grade: C



New York Knicks
Key Additions: Keith Van Horn, Michael Sweetney, Maciej Lampe
Key Subtractions: Latrell Sprewell
Roster breakdown: Heat Depth Chart | Free Agent Watch

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The Skinny: This all depends on what you think of Keith Van Horn. If you buy into the "he's the savior of the Knicks" line being fed to the media, then Layden's a genius. If you believe Byron Scott and Larry Brown, who both couldn't wait to get rid of him, then it doesn't look good for New York. Van Horn may be an upgrade over the undersized Spree on paper. But he doesn't have Spree's heart. For Knicks fans, that is going to be what matters. The Knicks didn't sign any free agents, but did have a steallar draft landing Sweetney and Lampe. Both players should develop down the line, but as far as improving the Knicks chances this year, forget about it.

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Grade: C-



Around the League


The Clippers' decision not to match the Heat's offer for Odom wasn't a huge surprise. As Insider first reported last Wednesday, the team was struggling to justify spending that much money on a guy who didn't want to be there. Of course, Elton Brand and Corey Maggette didn't want to be there either, but in each of those situations, the Clippers knew that Brand and Maggette would get over it and play hard every night.

There were no guarantees with Odom. The whole mess is really the Clippers fault. Had they not low balled him early in the process, it may have never come to this. But after the Heat had given Odom their offer, the team was in a real catch-22. Most inside the organization know that Odom has the potential to be a superstar. They also know that the chances that he realizes his potential are exponentially better in Miami under the tutledge of Pat Riley. Will the Clippers look like fools if Odom becomes a star in Miami next season? Sure.

But there's a twist. One league source, a former employee of the Clippers, describes what the real bottom line is L.A. "No one wants to stick their neck out there, that why they all keep their jobs," the source told Insider. "I'm sure Donald Sterling would've paid the money for Odom, but he would've required everyone in the organization to sign off on it. Now here's the kicker. If the Clippers keep losing, Sterling isn't going to complain as long as he's still making money. But if you waste his money, there would be hell to pay. No one wanted to be in that position in L.A."

Now the Clippers are in an interesting position. They have two solid players in Brand and Maggette and a bunch of question marks in Marko Jaric, Keyon Dooling, Quentin Richardson, Chris Wilcox, Melvin Ely and rookie Chris Kaman. If a couple of those players step up, the Clippers could have an outside shot at the playoffs. If they don't, it looks like the Clips, despite a record $124 million in expenditures, will be right back where they've been the last 20 years -- counting ping-pong balls. The good news? Next year the Clippers will have a ton of room again under the cap. If they play above their heads this season, could they be real players in the free-agent market in 2004?

If that isn't good enough for you, consider this. At least we won't have to move Elgin Baylor's cryogenic freezing pod out of the NBA studios in Secaucas.

Sources in Miami claim that the plan is to play Odom at the point this year whenever possible. They believe that is where Odom provides the most value, and if you remember Odom's stint running the point in L.A. his rookie year, they're probably right.

The problem the Heat will have is on the defensive end. Odom isn't a great defender to begin with, but if he's forced to guard the small quick point guards, he'll be in trouble.

Riley wants to play rookie Dwyane Wade at the two, but have him guard ones on the defensive end. Wade is an excellent defender and has the quickness to guard smaller defenders.

Where does that leave veteran Eddie Jones? He's been on the trading block for the past six months, but the team has yet to find a taker for the four years, $55 million left on his contract.

Here's one bizarre idea. Why not pick up the phone and call the Celtics? They're saddled with Vin Baker's contract for the next three years and he's giving them nothing. Given the Celtics' money woes, they just can't afford it. Jones would be a very nice fit in Boston, giving the team that elusive third scorer.

Maybe Riley can get something out of Baker that the folks in Seattle and Boston couldn't. If the Celtics threw in a young, athletic player like Kedrick Brown, would the Heat bite?

The other idea being thrown around? Jones to the Raptors for Jerome Williams and Hakeem Olajuwon's expiring contract.

[Dooby]

Thanks as always OP.

[jayC]

Miami is a great place for Odom to flourish. Sure he doesn't play D like Ford says but he has the ability to be a great defender.