Minnesota Timberwolves
Team Record: 22-60
2008-2009 Payroll (Source: HoopsHype.com): $55.1M
Draft Picks: #3, #31, #34
With the trade of Kevin Garnett last summer, the Timberwolves’ brass essentially waved the white flag for the 2007-2008 season. And wave it proudly they did. After reaching buyouts with both Troy Hudson and Juwan Howard (Fun Fact: The Wolves are still on the hook for $13.7M this year and $6.3M next year), Minnesota inked PF/C Al Jefferson to a 5-year/$65M contract. Meanwhile, Marko Jaric and Rashad McCants showed glimpses of their potential … when they were healthy.
At the point guard, Randy Foye has fallen well short of expectation to the point that Sebastian Telfair played significant minutes at times last year.
At forward, Corey Brewer struggled as a rookie, but is expected to contribute much more in Year 2. He’ll share time with Antoine Walker who is subject to a team option next year. That leaves rookie Chris Richard and whomever is re-signed among Ryan Gomes, Craig Smith and Wayne Simien.
Burning Questions: With the 3rd pick firmly in their grasp, the Wolves need to answer the following question: Do we go with the big (Brook Lopez) in order to move Al Jefferson to his natural 4 position or are we better served with a playmaker (e.g. OJ Mayo, Jerryd Bayless, Danilo Gallinari)? Since they are unlikely sign both and stay below the luxury tax, will the Wolves extend either Gomes or Smith?
Perceived Needs: C, Playmaking G or SF, Physical Presence
If I Were GM … I would take the best player available (i.e. not Brook Lopez) with the 3rd pick overall. Since Jerryd Bayless reminds me of Randy Foye minus the defensive tenacity, it’s a toss-up between the controversial OJ Mayo and the Italian Danilo Gallinari and I’d lean towards Mayo. For the #31 and #34 picks, there are a number of players who can play center to select from, such as Nathan Jawai, Nikola Pekovic and Joey Dorsey. A player with a high basketball IQ like combo guard Kyle Weaver should also be given consideration.
In terms of re-signing free agents, Ryan Gomes (12.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg) has to be the priority. Can he be signed for the mid-level exception?
Saturday, May 24, 2008
NBA Offseason Preview - Minnesota Timberwolves
Friday, May 23, 2008
NBA Offseason Preview - Miami Heat
Miami Heat
Record: 15-67
2008-2009 Payroll (Source: HoopsHype.com): $53.4M
Draft Picks: #2, #52
In what could only be described as a profound disappointment, the Heat begin the Erik Spoelstra regime with a shred of optimism, knowing that it’s likely Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion may be playing meaningful basketball games next season. What’s better? If you said “anything compared to the 2007-2008 campaign”, then few will disagree with you. Though the Heat were considered to be aging and beyond their best, no one tagged them for a 15-win basketball team.
That said, the Heat shed two hefty salaries in the form of Jason Williams ($8.9M) and Ricky “9th rebound off of my own glass” Davis ($6.8M). At the same time, the Heat require a long-term replacement for Alonzo Mourning.
Burning Questions: Set at the 2 and 3 positions, both Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley would be amazing additions to the team. In the end, it comes down to what the Bulls do. Also, what will the Heat do with their bevy of guards (Marcus Banks, Dorell Wright, Daequan Cook) not named DWade who are also under contract?
One last burning question. If Spoelstra is successful, when will Pat Riley hijack the team? Cheap shot.
Perceived Needs: PG, PF, C, Toughness
If I Were GM … It’s a no-lose situation with drafting second. Though drafting second, the Heat are likely to get their man in Rose. Also, with a combination of Wade, Marion and whomever is selected, it’s a situation that can lure a veteran guard for less than market value. With the #52 pick overall, the Heat are best served to trade out of that spot or select a project big who can provide depth in 2-3 years. Depending on the draft board, I would also consider trading into the early portion of the second round by sending multiple 2009 second-round picks (Miami currently owns three) to select either a power forward or a center (e.g. Kosta Koufos, Nathan Jawai, Nikola Pekovic, Joey Dorsey, DJ White, DeVon Hardin).
Additionally, I would do my best to cleanse the squad of superfluous guards and add to a very thin (in both talent and depth) frontcourt.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
NBA Offseason Preview - Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
Record: 33-49
2008-2009 Payroll (Source: HoopsHype.com): $40.4M
How the winds of change have taken shape in Chicago! The season started with rumors of Kobe Bryant heading to the Windy City followed by another slow start ultimately squelching the Kobe rumors and relieving Scott Skiles of his job. It ended with a blockbuster sending Ben Wallace on his way, but taking on Larry Hughes’s ugly contract (2 years/$26.5M). With the acquisition of Drew Gooden, the Bulls added a scoring power forward to their roster. Meanwhile, Ben Gordon and Luol Deng remain Bulls, but for how long? Both have qualifying offers, but will be prized free agents.
And when all hope was lost following a disheartening season that saw good turn into bad and bad into worse, the Bulls were gifted with the #1 overall pick.
Burning Questions: For a guy who pulled the trigger on many now-famous shots as a player, John Paxson has been notoriously gun-shy as a GM. Now that the Bulls are selecting first overall, how does this affect the long-term signability of Deng and Gordon? Also, who will the Bulls select first?
Gasol: Could have been a Bull.If I Were GM … I would select Michael Beasley as the #1 pick overall. Last season was an aberration. What was missing the previous two seasons? It was most definitely an interior force who can score at will. Simply put, the upgrade at power forward (Drew Gooden) is higher than the upgrade at point guard (Kirk Hinrich) should the Bulls select Derrick Rose. With their second-round pick (#39), the Bulls should address the potential exodus of backup point guard Chris Duhon.
Among the existing Bulls, re-signing Luol Deng (qualifying offer of $4.5M) is the top priority, because he provides a value-add with his mid-range jumper which is rare in today’s game. While inking Ben Gordon (qualifying offer of $6.4M) is important, this may not be realistic unless the Bulls are able to offload the hefty contracts of either Larry Hughes or Andres Nocioni (4 years/ ~$29.5M). If Gordon demands a trade, the Bulls can be certain to ask for a lottery-protected 1st-round pick from a Western Conference team.
Without a head coach, it’s tough to project the tempo at which the Bulls will play. Nevertheless, the Bulls could always use a true center to complement Joakim Noah, who shocked many with his steady performances following the trade of Ben Wallace.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
NBA Draft Lottery Tidbits
- One game separates the third (Minnesota) and sixth picks (New York). The sixth pick has a 25.5% chance of gaining a top 5 pick, whereas the third pick has a 95% of doing the same thing.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Coming Soon to PHSports
- Team-by-Team Breakdowns leading up to the NBA Draft and Free Agency
- Latest Edition of the NBA Mock Draft
Sunday, May 11, 2008
PHSports Staff MLB Predictions & Forecast: A Month Too Late???
What do you know, it’s MLB time! No matter where or when “opening day, night, or afternoon” was…baseball is back! While most of us don’t really care about the national pastime until post-NBA Draft time, there are plenty of fans who are still salivating for their team to be playing in late-October (now more than ever for far too many).
Who else would you trust to preview what the season will look like come late October???
Without further adieu, let’s roll!
Okay, we know we’re a bit late; however, the hangover from March Madness (what a ride!) left us putting this material on the back-burner.
If anything, it makes our work all the more skeptical.
Pay
If not now Lou...then when???Credit: Yahoo! Sports
NL East Champs:
NL Central Champs:
NL West Champs:
NL Wild Card:
AL East Champs:
AL Central Champs:
AL West Champs:
AL Wild Card:
Cy Young Award Winners: Carlos Zambrano [NL], John Lackey [
MVPs: Derek Lee [NL], Alex Rodriguez [
Rookies of the Year: Kosuke Fukudome [NL], Jacoby Ellsbury [
World Series Matchup:
Word Series Champs: Chicago Cubs (if not now, then when?)
Armin
Could Man-Ram pull off a Kobe-like MVP run this season?
Credit: Yahoo! Sports
NL East Champs: New York Mets
NL Central Champs: Chicago Cubs
NL West Champs: Los Angeles Dodgers
NL Wild Card: Philadelphia Phillies
AL East Champs: Boston Red Sox
AL Central Champs: Detroit Tigers
AL West Champs: Los Angeles Angels
AL Wild Card: Cleveland Indiana
Cy Young Award Winners: Johan Santana [NL], Justin Verlander [AL]
MVPs: Chase Utley [NL], Manny Ramirez [AL]
Rookies of the Year: Kosuke Fukudome [NL], Evan Longoria [AL] (What a name!)
World Series Matchup:
World Series Champs:
Clement
8-0 Brandon Webb sure is making Clement look good.Credit: Yahoo! Sports
NL East Champs:
NL Central Champs:
NL West Champs:
NL Wild Card:
AL East Champs: Boston Red SOOOOX [aka ESPN’s Man-Crush]
AL Central Champs:
AL West Champs: Seattle Mariners [sleeper!]
Cy Young Award Winners: Brandon Webb [NL], Josh Beckett [
MVPs: Ryan Howard [NL], Manny Ramirez [
Rookies of the Year: Johnny Cueto [NL], Jeff Clement [
World Series Matchup:
World Series Champs:
Monday, May 05, 2008
The Long Overdue College Basketball Post
Since Kansas shocked the college basketball world with its stunning comeback against Memphis, a few things have taken shape.
First, a number of talented ballers have entered early for the 2008 NBA Draft. At the bottom of the same page, there is a list of players who are returning to further their education [in college basketball].
Second, plenty of transfers will re-enter the hardcourt donning new colors. Players to watch this season include: Mike Mercer (South Florida from Georgia), Reginald Delk (Louisville from Mississippi State), Joe Trapani (Boston College from Vermont), Alex Legion (Illinois from Kentucky) and Tre'Von Willis (UNLV from Memphis).
Third, as for players who are leaving their schools this spring either for reason of a self-initiated transfer (see Ben Hansbrough) or a dismissal (see Indiana and Tennessee), there is no shortage of talent. I'll have my eye on Vernon Macklin, who entered Georgetown with notoriety, but did not mesh with JT3's system and was criticized for a lack of basketball IQ. He'll be suiting up for Billy D, who has been much the alchemist with raw big men.
Fourth, Bob Huggins signed an 11-year contract ... which means absolutely nothing beyond new money for Huggy Bear (800K to 1.5M per annum). Had he not signed the deal, I might have believed that he'd remain at WVU for the remainder of his career.
Fifth, staying in the coaching ranks, longtime Duke assistant Johnny Dawkins is now the head basketball coach at Stanford. While Dawkins has cited the similarities between his former and current institution as a major reason he left Duke, many including myself will wonder whether the color of Dawkins's skin has a part in being the successor to Coach K in Durham. For now, Stanford gets an excellent coach with name recognition. Can he recruit?
Sixth, how bad do all of the people feel who dogged Chris Lofton for a lackluster senior campaign? I, for one, feel about two feet tall after calling his play like I saw it. Why? Lofton played his entire senior season with testicular cancer and kept the secret from teammates. “It used to be that a bad game was the end of the road for me. When I went through my cancer, I realized basketball is fun but it’s not that big of a deal,” Lofton said.
Now, that is perspective.
