Writer’s note: this is the second of a three part series on critical offseasons for the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, and Dallas Mavericks.
The latest class of NBA bachelors looking for an expensive marriage with a new team underwhelms at best. Two of the biggest names, Baron Davis and Gilbert Arenas, appear to be off the market.
Elton Brand faces a tough decision: re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers for about $75 million and play alongside Baron Davis, or head to Davis' former team, the Golden State Warriors, and cash an eye-popping $90 million check.
Since the possibility of Brand heading to Philadelphia seems dead, his landing spot figures to make a softer impact in a rugged Western Conference. Whether the All-Star power forward decides to stay in L.A. or pack for the Bay Area, he will anchor a roster full of questions.
The Warriors now need a starting point guard and the Clippers need a bench with more than Tim Thomas and a few prospects on it.
The teams that won this year's youngster-filled NBA Draft traded unproven freshmen to get old guys who can play. That would be Kevin McHale's Minnesota Timberwolves, who landed the most undervalued guard/forward hybrid in the NBA. Who knew that McHale would devise a way to pair Mike Miller with Kevin Love and Al Jefferson?
The Portland Trail Blazers stole the evening again and stomped all over it. The Blazers landed the draft's second or third best point guard in Jerryd Bayless, depending on who you ask, and managed to snatch explosive reserve Ike Diogu in a trade.
Most mock rookie of the year lists slot Greg Oden at the top and Spanish star Rudy Fernandez in third place. Nate McMillan gets to mesh all of that talent with All-Star Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. Who doesn't envy the Blazers' position as a possible future powerhouse?
I can name three teams, and they hail from the same hot and humid state.
The Blazers will make a run at the seventh and eighth playoff spots next season, but they are not ready to contend. Adding Miller makes the Timberwolves a playoff prospect—but Randy Whittman's young bunch has a long route to a championship.
That arduous path includes multiple bumper-to-bumper, three-hour traffic jams, torn-up stretches of highway, faulty directions, and a half tank of gas with no filling station for 1000 miles.
A productive big man next to beastly Big Al, with Miller and Corey Brewer: So, what's the problem?
Let's just say Minnesota fans will not see a championship Love the next few seasons.
Many teams will spend this summer trying to add some veteran toughness to their soft and inexperienced rookie squads. How much can you expect a guy with one year of college to do in the NBA? What happens when 90 percent of the players on the team fit that undesirable mold?
The Supersonics happen, and while Oklahoma City fans inherit a 41-year-old team, surely they would prefer not to revisit last year's chilling, gruesome 20-62 campaign in Seattle.
We're going to send you the most entertaining Houston Rockets articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
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