Team Needs: Atlantic Division

New York Knicks 2007-08 record: 23-59 Head Coach: Mike D’Antoni The first in what will be many steps in correcting the Knicks course was taken by firing then GM Isiah Thomas and bringing in the highly respected Donnie Walsh. Walsh’s first move as the new head honcho was to bring in Mike D’Antoni, seemingly prying…

After the Lottery: Part I

This just in: The NBA Draft is more than the first 14 picks. 46 more, to be exact. Sometimes, successful drafting outside the lottery is just as important to a team’s future as the lottery picks themselves. The lottery is the easy part; everyone knows the 18 or so players that will compete for those…

Team Needs: Southwest Division

Memphis Grizzlies 2007-08 Record 22-60 Head Coach: Marc Iavaroni The lowlight of the Grizzlies past season was the unexpected swift trade of the franchise’s best player, Pau Gasol. The deal was necessary, but the haste with which the franchise decided to cut costs and deal their centerpiece, they did not allow themselves to come close…

State of the Cap: Memphis Grizzlies

  2008/09 Memphis Grizzlies Payroll: $44 million 2008/09 Estimated Salary Cap: $58 million Roughly $14 million under cap   The Good: The Grizzlies didn’t improve their win total of 22 from last season, but let’s give them a break; they were in the toughest division in the NBA and their best player was traded for…

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State of the Cap: Philadelphia 76ers

  By Josh Redetzke 6/22/08 2008/09 Philadelphia 76ers Payroll: $34.6 million 2008/09 Estimated Salary Cap: $58 million Roughly $23.4 million under cap   The Good: Philadelphia can thank veteran point guard Andre Miller for getting them back into the playoffs this season. Miller was much more assertive on the offensive end, averaging a career high…

2008 NBA Draft Early Entry: Withdrawals

Withdrawals: A.J. Abrams Texas Josh Akognon Cal State Fullerton Antonio Anderson Memphis Derek Bailey Providence Christian Academy (SC) Jason Bennett Tallahassee CC (FL) Chase Budinger Arizona Derrick Caracter Louisville DeMarre Carroll Missouri Charles Carter Oklahoma Baptist Josh Carter Texas A&M Lee Cummard Brigham Young Robert Dozier Memphis Wayne Ellington North Carolina Alonzo Gee Alabama Paul…

Evaluating the 2008 Draft Class

With the 2008 NBA Draft a week away, it’s hard for fans to avoid wondering how this draft class might turn out. How will it compare to other drafts? Strengths? Weaknesses? Let’s break it down. Big Men (4s and 5s): Everyone knows about Michael Beasley. Coming off a dominant freshman season, Beasley is the only…

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State of the Cap: Sacramento Kings

  By Josh Redetzke 6/20/08 2008/09 Sacramento Kings Payroll: $63 million 2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million (estimate) Roughly: $5 million over cap The Good: It was a rough year for the Sacramento Kings and even their best player, Kevin Martin, had his share of hardships. The lightning quick guard missed 21 games due…

State of the Cap: Seattle Supersonics

2008/09 Seattle Supersonics Payroll: $48.4 million 2008/09 Estimated Salary Cap: $58 million (estimate) Roughly $9.6 million under cap The Good: After a couple of major trades, the Sonics have set themselves up so that the highest paid player on their team next season will be Chris Wilcox at just $6.75 million. For comparison, the Knicks…

Team Needs: Central Division

Milwaukee Bucks 2007-08 Record: 26-56 Head Coach: Scott Skiles The Milwaukee Bucks, another team with plenty of lottery picks and talent on the roster that hasn’t been able to get over the hump. There’s talk that the team is considering an overhaul, beginning with lead two guard Michael Redd, but given Redd’s expensive contract, a…

State of the Cap: Golden State Warriors

2008/09 Golden State Warriors Payroll: $46.7 million 2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million (estimate) Roughly: $11.3 million under cap (includes $17.1 million for the player option on Baron Davis’s contract) The Good: During his first full season in Golden State, Stephen Jackson topped 20 points a game for the first time in his career.…

State of the Cap: New Jersey Nets

By Josh Redetzke 2008/09 New Jersey Nets Payroll: $51.7 million 2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million (estimate) Roughly: $6.3 million under cap The Good: When you trade your franchise player, you had better get something really good in return (are you listening, Memphis?). Not only did the Nets get expiring contracts and draft picks,…

State of the Cap: Milwaukee Bucks

  By Josh Redetzke 6/15/08 2008/09 Milwaukee Bucks Payroll: $62.3 million 2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million (estimate) Roughly: $4.3 million over cap   The Good: Last summer’s biggest transaction, re-signing point guard Mo Williams, is off to a pretty good start. Mo maintained his scoring and assists at 17.2 and 6.4 per game…

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State of the Cap: Los Angleles Clippers

Josh Redetzke 6/14/08 2008/09 Los Angeles Clippers Payroll: $53.2 million 2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million (estimate) Roughly: $4.8 million under cap (includes player options of Elton Brand, $16.4 million, and Corey Maggette, $8.4 million)   The Good: After signing a hefty contract and responding with a terrible season, Chris Kaman took advantage of…