"Hoops Assassin" by The Sportz Assassin

ATLANTIC DIVISION

BOSTON CELTICS: 
ADD: PG Sebastian Telfair, C Theo Ratliff, PG Rajon Rondo, PF/C Brian Grant, F Leon Powe, PF Kevin Pittsnogle, PG/SG Allan Ray 
LOST:  PG Dan Dickau, C/PF Raef LaFrentz, PG Orien Greene
Boston gained two point guards in Telfair and Rondo.  Interesting, since neither is a good shooter.  Telfair is a poor chemistry guy as well.  This may lead to a possible deal for Allen Iverson down the road.  Ratliff shaves a year from dealt Raef LaFrentz.  Powe could be a sleeper as an undersized power forward.  Grant just adds some experienced frontcourt help.  Pittsnogle, who went undrafted, gives the C's a cheap replacement for LaFrentz [read: a big guy that plays on the perimeter].

NEW JERSEY NETS: 
ADD:  PG Marcus Williams, PF Josh Boone, C Mikki Moore, SG Hassan Adams. 
LOST:  PG Jacques Vaughn, SF Scott Padgett
Clifford Robinson was let go...then resigned him.  The Nets had to have been shocked to see Williams fall in their laps.  He was labeled a "Jason Kidd type" of player...and now he gets to work with Kidd.  So he should fit with what the team is trying to do.  Boone is a risk, but when his mind is right, he can rebound, block shots, score around the basket and defend well.  The Nets need that badly.  Adams is a highlight dunker who brings gritty defense.  Moore is a veteran center that brings some depth to the front court. 

NEW YORK KNICKS: 
ADD:  SF Jared Jeffries, PF Renaldo Balkman, PG Mardy Collins. 
LOST:  C Jackie Butler
I don't like the Jeffries signing, aside from the fact that he will play defense.  He just isn't worth that money.  I just hate the picks.  Balkman isn't worth the #20 pick in the draft.  He could've been had later in the draft.  Collins is a defensive combo guard....now on a team with four combo guards. Sigh.  This was the one area that most hoops people felt that Isiah Thomas was really good at.  Not anymore. 

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: 
ADD:  SF Rodney Carney, SF Bobby Jones, C Edin Bavcic. 
LOST:  SG/SF John Salmons
The biggest story of the offseason was one that never happened.  Allen Iverson was all over the trading floor...but nothing came of it......again.  The draft picks, to me, were rather interesting.  They got an athletic swingman in Carney and a very tough defender in Jones [Bavcic is a project].  Carney was a very good pick, especially at the 16th spot.  However, they still failed to get a point guard. 

TORONTO RAPTORS: 
ADD:  PG TJ Ford, PF Andrea Bargnani, PG/SG Fred Jones, PF Jorge Garbajosa, C Rasho Nesterovic, SG/SF Anthony Parker, SF PJ Tucker, PF Kris Humphries, PF Uros Slokar. 
LOST:  SF/PF Charlie Villeneuva, PG Mike James, PG Alvin Williams, SF Eric Williams, SF Matt Bonner, C Raphael Araujo, C/PF Pape Sow, SG Andre Barrett
In an offseason full of movement for Toronto, the biggest catch was signing Chris Bosh to an extention.  For the first time, they get to keep their big young star.  Getting Ford means Toronto gets a real point guard to run their show [they let James walk].  It cost them Charlie V, but with Bosh signing an extension and Bargnani as a draft pick...someone had to go and Villeneuva was the odd man out.  The Raptors added some depth there by getting combo guard Freddie Jones [who could be a starting 2-guard].  Boy....Bargnani is a very risky pick.  I think he'll be solid...but it is a risk to take him #1.  Especially when most anyone in the top 6 wouldn't have wanted him.  Toronto coulda/shoulda dealt the pick back and got him and some other stuff.  Still, they wanted him and got him.  Tucker is a nice player, but they drafted Joey Graham last year who does the same things.  They also got Nesterovic in a trade...which gives them a serviceable center and all it cost them was a couple of guys that didn't want to be there anyways.  Toronto also brings swingman Anthony Parker over from Israel...meaning that they have some depth at the swing position with Parker, Tucker and Graham.  The Arajulo-Whaley/Humphries trade won't be a major one, as Whaley was already waived and picked back up by Utah.  Garbajosa was the Spanish Cup Finals MVP.  With these point guard moves, the Raptors bought out Alvin Williams...who had played just one game in two years and was the longest tenured Raptor. 

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

ATLANTA HAWKS: 
ADD:   C Lorenzen Wright, PG Speedy Claxton, PF Sheldon Williams, C Solomon Jones. 
LOST:   SF Donta Smith
Wright returns to the Hawks after a long stay in Memphis.  He's a pretty good defensive player [when healthy] and could form a tough front line with new draft pick Sheldon Williams.  Signing Speedy Claxton finally nets the Hawks are real live point guard [not Joe Johnson or Royal Ivey].  Williams should be a solid NBA player for years as his defense and rebounding will be needed anywhere he goes.  But, the Hawks took him too high and there were guys at the #5 spot that fit bigger needs [Foye, Roy].  Jones has a chance to make the team. 

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS: 
ADD:  SF Adam Morrison, C/PF Othella Harrington, C Ryan Hollins. 
LOST: 
Morrison brings a scorer to the Cats, something they haven't had.  He's a guy that can get his shot off anywhere on the court.  And he's passionate which could make him a fan favorite.  Harrington adds depth underneath...which may be necessary with Emeka Okafor and Sean May coming back from injuries.  Hollins could come in and be a solid prospect as well...a big man who can run the floor.  

MIAMI HEAT: 
ADD:   SG Mike Gansey
LOST: 
Miami was the only team who had no picks in this draft.  The picks they would've had in this draft were used to get Shaquille O'Neal and Antoine Walker.  Not bad.  They did pick up rookie free agent Mike Gansey.  Gansey is smallish for an off guard and slow for a point guard, but dude is a leader and canshootthe lights out. 

ORLANDO MAGIC: 
ADD:  SG JJ Redick, SG Keith Bogans, C James Augustine. 
LOST:  SG DeShawn Stevenson
Redick is small for a two guard and may not be what Orlando needs.  There were bigger, more athletic guards availiable when theypicked....so I don't like it.  Redick, again, will be a Steve Kerr kind of player....not Reggie Miller.  As for Augustine, he could make the team as a backup center.  Bogans is another too-small-for-his-position guys, which Orlando already have too much of.  Bogans has been a decent backup player, though...and cheaper than Stevenson, who the Magic let walk. 

WASHINGTON WIZARDS: 
ADD:  SG DeShawn Stevenson, PF Darius Songala, PF Olexsiy Pecherov, PF Vladimir Veremeenko. 
LOST:  SF Jared Jeffries
Losing Jeffries hurts a bit....but I don't think it is a big of a loss as others do.  He is a decent defender but wasn't special on the offensive side of things and wasn't worth the money the Knicks signed him for.  The Wiz signed Songala as a big man who can shoot...yet isn't afraid to bump around with the big boys inside.  Stevenson is a decent swing guard that gives them some depth there.  Both of their draft picks will sit in Europe for at least a year...but that's fine with Washington.  The Wiz still have Calvin Booth and Michael Ruffin [how is Ruffin making $1.8M???] on the books this coming season....and then they are gone.  These rookies can come in and, at worst, fill the exact same roles. 

CENTRAL DIVISION

CHICAGO BULLS: 
ADD:  C/PF Ben Wallace, PF Tyrus Thomas, PF/C PJ Brown, SG/SF Adrian Griffin, SG Thabo Sefolosha, SF Viktor Khryapa
LOST:  C/PF Tyson Chandler, SG Eric Piatkowski,PF/C Othella Harrington, PG Jannero Pargo, PF Darius Songaila
Chicago nearly revamped their entire roster and have been impressive at filling their glaring weakness - the inside game.  The Bulls wrapped up the biggest free agent on the market by luring Big Ben from the Pistons.  Wallace adds defense, toughness and that veteran moxy that the Bulls need to get to the upper tier of the East.  Oh, and plucking him from a division rival is sweet as well.  To make room on the floor [andin the payroll], the Bulls sent away Chandler and got back PJ Brown and JR Smith [Smith was dealt to Denver for Howard Eisley's unguaranteed contract, which the Bulls waived in order to afford Wallace].  Brown is cheaper, veteran and a great locker room presence [the Bulls also let Harrington go].  Griffin rejoins the Bulls after a season away...and brings experience and defense with him.  Top draft pick Thomas was many people's top guy on the board.  He is athletic and could be the interior scorer that Chicago desperately needs.  They also needed a big guard, and Sefolosha is that.  And he is more refined than most foreign players are. Khyrapa adds depth to the wing position.  Chicago is having the best summer thus far!

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS:  
ADD:  SG Shannon Brown, PG/SG David Wesley, PG Daniel Gibson, F Ejike Ugboaja. 
LOST:  SG Flip Murray
The biggest offseason move was signing LeBron James to an extension...keeping the title hopes on track.  They let Flip Murray go to rival Detroit...since they drafted Shannon Brown.  Brown fills a big need.  A big guard who can score in a variety of ways...including hitting jumpers, something the Cavs need with those LeBron kick-outs.  He'll be more of a combo guard.  They also nabbed Wesley, who's all that with experience.  Gibson is too, but not as gifted.  Ugboaja is a project that may never set foot in the league. 

DETROIT PISTONS: 
ADD:  C Nazr Mohammad, SG Flip Murray, SF Ronald Dupree, C Cheik Samb, PG Will Blaylock
LOST:  C/PF Ben Wallace, SF Maurice Evans, PG Tony Delk
Wow.  Losing Ben Wallace is huge.  He was their best defender and masked any defensive issues they had.  And Detroit watches him go without a solid replacement or plan.  Remember they dealt away Darko Milicic last year so they can't even use him.  Sure, signing Mohammad softens the blow a bit, but he is no where near Wallace as far as defense and rebounding go.  They did nab Murray which gives the Pistons a combo guard who can solidify a rotation with Billups and Hamilton.  They also brought Dupree back...and hecould get some time.  Samb is a project...a huge kid who will stay over in Spain to develop.  Getting him cost the Pistons Evans, who wanted out of Detroit anyways.  Blaylock could make the Pistons as the team does need backup guard help since they dealt Carlos Arroyo last season. 

INDIANA PACERS: 
ADD:  SG/SF Marquis Daniels, SF Shawne Williams, PG Darrell Armstrong, PG Orien Greene, SF Josh Powell, SG James White, PF Maceo Baston, SG/SF Rawle Marshall. 
LOST:  SF Peja Stojakovic, PF/SF Austin Croshere, PG Anthony Johnson, PG/SG Fred Jones, SF Jonathan Bender
Adding Daniels means they add some swingman help who is solid defensively.  They needed size and a point guard in the draft....and got neither.  Sure, Peja is out the door, but they drafted Danny Granger last year and he does what Williams can do.  White is one heck of an athlete and seemingly coachable...butneeds some polishing just to get minutes.  They also gained Greene off waivers...who may get some time at the point guard spot.  Losing Peja means they essentially dealt away Ron Artest for nothing.  They waived Bender who basically spent his Pacers career in the trainer's room.  Indy also lost Anthony Johnson [via trade] and Fred Jones...with hurt their depth in the backcourt a bit.  They did bring in aging Darrell Armstrong, Josh Powell and Rawle Marshall in the Johnson deal.  Baston was in Israel the last three years. 

MILWAUKEE BUCKS: 
ADD:  PF Charlie Villenueva, SF/SG Ruben Patterson, PG Steve Blake, PF Brian Skinner, C Ha Seung-Jin, SF David Noel, PG Lynn Greer, SF Damir Markota. 
LOST:  PG TJ Ford, C Jamaal Magliore, PF/C Joe Smith, SG Jiri Welsch
The Bucks uncerimoniously dealt Magliore, with the idea of moving 2005 top overall pick Andrew Bogut from forward to center.  He's their future, so dealing Magliore was expected.  They didn't get too much for him, though....just Blake [who was the Blazers starter] and a few big men [Skinner, Ha].  Trading Ford was tough since he made a great comeback from a head/spine injury to play last year....and play well.  But, the Bucks brought in Charlie V who could form [along with Bogut] a nice young frontcourt.  Patterson adds a much needed defensive swingman....something needed in a division with LeBron James.  Noel was rated the top athlete in the Orlando camp.  He's a big time dunker, plays pretty good defense, passes well and has a decent jumper.  He may get a shot with the Bucks.  Markota, well, I'm not so sure.   Welsh quit the NBA and is going back to Spain.

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