On the NBA | Rockets hot, Wolves not, in busy off-season

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/colu...kets_hot__Wolves_not__in_busy_off-season.html

On the NBA | Rockets hot, Wolves not, in busy off-seasonBy David Aldridge
Inquirer Columnist

JIM MONE / Associated Press
Kevin Garnett has helped to create a new order in the Eastern Conference, which has also added Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis and Zach Randolph since the draft.
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No doubt someone out there will say the NBA engineered the Kevin Garnett trade to Boston to take attention away from Tim Donaghy, because someone out there always tosses out conspiracies where the NBA is concerned. It's easy, and how do you disprove them?
But who cares? It's nice to talk basketball again.

The Garnett deal forces contemplation of a new order in the Eastern Conference, which has seen the addition of Garnett, Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis and Zach Randolph since the draft, with no significant shuffle of equal talent out west. The Western Conference still has a prohibitive edge, but perhaps the balance is, finally, starting to even out.

The Garnett deal was the last big thing likely to happen this summer (though Jermaine O'Neal and Pau Gasol could still be rerouted). And that allows us to rate the off-season winners and losers, taking the draft, free agency, coaching moves and trades - made and not made - into account.

Once again: This is who had the best off-season, not which team is going to win the championship next season.

1. Houston. Added: guards Steve Francis, Mike James and Aaron Brooks; forward Luis Scola; center Jackie Butler. Lost: forward Juwan Howard.

This was quite a haul for new general manager Daryl Morey, who got the burly Scola from the Spurs and James from the Timberwolves, drafted Brooks and signed Francis, adding speed, scoring and depth. New coach Rick Adelman got a lot out of Bonzi Wells in Sacramento.

2. Portland. Added: guard Steve Blake; forwards Channing Frye, James Jones and Josh McRoberts; center Greg Oden. Lost: guard Fred Jones and forward Zach Randolph.

Oden's charming personality and game are a rock-solid foundation to build on. With precious few veterans around, Portland will struggle this season. But when its experience catches its talent - the over-under is January 2009 - watch out.

3. Chicago. Added: forwards Joakim Noah and Joe Smith. No significant losses.

While everyone's salivating about the Celtics, Bulls general manager John Paxson drafted Noah, re-signed Andres Nocioni, and added Smith to a talent-rich roster. Chicago can still make a run at Pau Gasol or make the big pitch for Kobe Bryant.

4. Phoenix. Added: guard D.J. Strawberry; forwards Grant Hill and Alando Tucker. Lost: center Kurt Thomas.

The Suns didn't get Kevin Garnett, but by dealing Thomas to Seattle, they can keep their core (Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, Leandro Barbosa) without being a big luxury-tax payer, with access to an $8 million trade exception for a year.

5. Boston. Added: guards Ray Allen, Eddie House and Gabe Pruitt; forwards Kevin Garnett and Glen Davis. Lost: guards Delonte West and Sebastian Telfair; forwards Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green and Wally Szczerbiak; center Theo Ratliff.

General manager Danny Ainge must thank the Leprechaun every day his Wolves counterpart, Kevin McHale, still has a job. Since February 2006, McHale has acquired nine Celtics from a team with a 57-107 mark the last two years. However, the Celtics still need a point guard.

6. San Antonio. Added: forward Tiago Splitter. No significant losses.

The Spurs gave Luis Scola to Houston for next to nothing. Almost nothing. The trade allowed San Antonio to clear enough money to re-sign Fabricio Oberto, Matt Bonner and Jacque Vaughn, retaining key depth from its title team.

7. Atlanta. Added: guard Acie Law IV; forward Al Horford. No significant losses.

The Hawks couldn't get Stoudemire from Phoenix in that proposed three-way deal with the Suns and Wolves before the draft, but drafted two solid kids. Still, they're botching what should be a simple contract extension for Josh Smith.

8. Seattle. Added: guard Delonte West; forwards Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Wally Szczerbiak; center Kurt Thomas. Lost: guard Ray Allen; forward Rashard Lewis.

It's bleak now, and will be for a while for new coach P.J. Carlesimo. But Durant and Green are worth blowing up a team for. The Sonics would have rated higher, but we weren't crazy about giving up that big trade exception (sent to Phoenix) so soon.

9. Milwaukee. Added: forwards Yi Jianlian and Desmond Mason. No significant losses.

We don't care if Yi never plays a second for the Bucks; he was the right choice. His skills were too good to pass up. The Bucks overspent to re-sign Mo Williams, but Williams, Michael Redd, Yi and Andrew Bogut are a pretty good starting quartet.

10. Orlando. Added: forward Rashard Lewis. Lost: forward Grant Hill and center Darko Milicic.

Spending $118 million on Lewis makes no sense, no matter how Orlando spins it. That freezes the Magic in place for years. But Lewis and Dwight Howard are solid, and the Magic salvaged the Billy Donovan embarrassment by hiring Stan Van Gundy.

11. Detroit. Added: guards Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo. Lost: guard Carlos Delfino.

The Pistons re-signed their core guys (Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess) and didn't trade Rasheed Wallace, as many suggested they should. With Kevin Garnett now in the East, having a post defender like Wallace around looks smarter every day.

12. Dallas. Added: forwards Nick Fazekas and Reyshawn Terry. No significant losses.

The Mavericks have a relatively high rank because, after the shocking playoff loss to the Warriors, there was no fire sale. The Mavs re-signed Jerry Stackhouse, drafted solidly, and exhaled when Kevin Garnett went east. Now they'll pace themselves next season.

13. Washington. Added: guard Nick Young and forward Oleksiy Pecherov. No significant losses.

The Wizards added even more offensive pop but did nothing about their horrendous defense or cap-sapping contracts. Still, a future first-rounder from the Grizzlies for Spanish guard Juan Carlos Navarro could pay big dividends down the road.

14. Charlotte. Added: guard Jason Richardson and forward Jared Dudley. No significant losses.

Michael Jordan's first big move in Charlotte brought him a reasonably priced star in Richardson, but he paid an awful lot to keep Matt Carroll ($27 million) and Gerald Wallace ($57 million). Will owner Bob Johnson keep spending?

15. New Orleans. Added: forwards Julian Wright and Morris Peterson. Lost: forward Desmond Mason.

The Hornets may have stolen Wright at No. 14 in the draft. He can't shoot, but they can teach that. Moving back home after two years in Oklahoma City should provide stability, and if New Orleans can finally stay healthy, it's a playoff team.

16. Los Angeles Lakers. Added: guards Derek Fisher and Javaris Crittenton. Lost: guard Smush Parker.

We can't imagine that Kobe Bryant is happy about the Lakers' failing to land Kevin Garnett, Rashard Lewis, Ray Allen, et al, but he's clammed up - for now. Fisher should stabilize things at the point, and keeping Luke Walton was smart. The bleeding may have stopped.

17. New York. Added: guards Fred Jones and Dan Dickau; forwards Zach Randolph and Wilson Chandler. Lost: guard Steve Francis; forward Channing Frye.

We're not sure if Randolph and Eddy Curry will mesh or how New York plans to play inside-out without shooters. But Chandler could be a player, and Stephon Marbury is coming off a great season. Isiah Thomas is safe for the moment.

18. New Jersey. Added: forward Sean Williams and center Jamaal Magloire. Lost: center Mikki Moore.

Williams will be a shot-blocking stud if he can keep his head on straight. The Nets spent $60 million to keep Vince Carter and are trying to get Jermaine O'Neal from Indiana. If that happens, move the Nets further up the list.

19. Toronto. Added: guards Jason Kapono, Carlos Delfino. Lost: forward Morris Peterson.

The Raptors wanted Euro guard Marco Belinelli badly but couldn't get a pick. They are spending big bucks ($24 million) for Kapono, who led the league in threes. Shaquille O'Neal didn't follow him up north. But the Raptors did the right thing by giving Sam Mitchell a new deal.

20. 76ers. Added: forwards Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith. Lost: forward Joe Smith.

The team firmly believes that Young was the right choice with the 11th pick, but it's still officially rebuilding. So sit back, try not to care this season, and hope the Sixers can bag a big-time free agent next summer with all that cap room.

21. Indiana. Added: guards Travis Diener and Kareem Rush. No significant losses.

The Pacers are high on Rush and think new coach Jim O'Brien will better use the talent on the roster. They still have to decide what to do with Jermaine O'Neal, who may wind up a Laker or Net before next season.

22. Memphis. Added: guards Mike Conley Jr. and Juan Carlos Navarro; center Darko Milicic. No significant losses.

New coach Marc Iavaroni wants to build Suns South, so he took Conley to run the show. The Grizzlies spent $21 million for Milicic, who isn't exactly the tough guy they need to protect Pau Gasol. Adding Navarro, Gasol's Spanish teammate, is a smart move.

23. Golden State. Added: guard Marco Belinelli and forward Brandan Wright. Lost: guard Jason Richardson.

The Warriors saved money by trading Richardson and want to re-sign Mickael Pietrus or extend Monta Ellis' contract with the savings. Belinelli will fit right in. But the Warriors didn't land the Big Ticket, Kevin Garnett. That's why they're ranked so low.

24. Los Angeles Clippers. Added: guard Jared Jordan and forward Al Thornton. Lost: guard James Singleton.

Is the renaissance already over? Sam Cassell is on his last legs; Shawn Livingston is recovering from that gruesome knee injury. And Elton Brand and Corey Maggette can both opt out in 2008. Repeating, Elton Brand can be a free agent next summer.

25. Utah. Added: guard Morris Almond. Lost: guard Derek Fisher.

Almond is good, but losing Fisher is going to hurt. And what to do with Andrei Kirilenko, who pouted through last season? Plus, we haven't forgotten how Deron Williams called out his teammates after the Western finals loss to the Spurs.

26. Miami. Added: guards Smush Parker and Daequan Cook. Lost: guards Jason Kapono and Eddie Jones.

There haven't been the big splashes coach Pat Riley hoped for as he looked to spice up his aging roster. Alonzo Mourning will be back for a final season, but that's about it. The Heat may be able to squeeze out one more run, but their long-term prospects aren't promising.

27. Sacramento. Added: centers Spencer Hawes and Mikki Moore. No significant losses.

Hawes and Moore will help in the middle. But the Kings got taken for a ride by Stan Van Gundy, then reached for Reggie Theus as their new coach. Most important, they've yet to separate Ron Artest and Mike Bibby, who don't get along on the court.

28. Denver. Added: guard Chucky Atkins. Lost: guard Steve Blake.

The Nuggets haven't added much-needed perimeter shooting or pared the roster to avoid the luxury tax. And how will there be enough playing time or shots next season for Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, Nene, Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin?

29. Cleveland. No significant additions or losses.

Standing pat is not enough for the Cavs, who haven't addressed their point-guard or shooting needs. (They've tried for months to get Mike Bibby from Sacramento.) They'll likely re-sign Anderson Varejao, but that's not enough.

30. Minnesota. Added: guard Sebastian Telfair; forwards Corey Brewer, Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green and Juwan Howard; and center Theo Ratliff. Lost: guards Mike James and Troy Hudson; forward Kevin Garnett.

It's not that the Wolves traded Garnett; it was time. But how did they not get the guy they really wanted - Rajon Rondo - from Boston? Rajon Rondo was a deal-breaker for one of the league's top five players? It's another example of how brain-dead this franchise has been for a decade.


Not much but good to hear where we placed and where everyone did