28. Knicks
When Mike D'Antoni was brought in, I really believed that the Knicks roster would be dismantled, allowing D'Antoni to bring in players that would help play his flashy style of ball. Now it appears, with Chris Duhon being their only significant acquisition, their focus is to wait for the offseason of 2010.
They have too many players that are undesirable due to their contract, rather than their skill level. Jerome James, Quentin Richardson, and Stephon Marbury will all be off the books, and it should be safe to say that Zach Randolph will have a new home as well.
For this season, D'Antoni will continue his "run till you hit a wall" offense, but the sad part for Knicks fans is that their defense might be even worse than last year.
Danilo Galinari should be an instant hit, as his game is perfectly suited towards D'Antoni's style of play. If he gets a decent amount of time in the point-forward role, the Knicks offense will benefit greatly. He can dribble with both hands, and with his guard-like stutter step, the rest of the league's forwards will have a nightmarish time guarding him at the top of the key.
The Knicks aren't good enough for the playoffs just yet, but at least D'Antoni can get a couple of years to impose his style on the players he believes to be a part of the core before their big offseason arrives.
Prediction: The Knicks should be exciting, but nothing more. Another high lottery pick should help them setup a true core for whichever free agent they swoop for in the 2010 offseason. There are still too many character issues on the roster, and until they get rid of those players, they will be just like Portland a few years ago.
29. Thunder
With the move to Oklahoma complete, all the off-court distractions are put to rest. Sam Presti decided that Russell Westbrook would be his floor general for the many years to come. Scouts liken him to Rajon Rondo defensively, and Monta Ellis offensively. Just the thought of that is scary.
Obviously, for the foreseeable future this is just potential, how far these comparisons go is always up to the individual. This team has a lot of young players and should be quite exciting to watch. Wins will be hard to come by, but numbers are not what will define the success of their season.
With the young core of Westbrook, Jeff Green, and their franchise player Durant, it is up to the other young guns on this roster to help Presti decide whether they will be a part of the Thunder's future—or be a part of a trade that can enhance this team's reputation.
Prediction: The team will play much better at home than on the road, which is the case with most young teams. Durant really seemed to grasp the nuances of the NBA game towards the end of last season, and should take a major step towards becoming an All-Star this year.
A top three pick in the lottery should see Presti listening to offers, and probably taking this team to the conference's elite via a major trade.
30. Heat
Yes folks, Dwyane Wade is back! The scary part is that he looked better than ever with Team USA. That instantly makes the Heat a much better team than last year. Add to that the drafting of Michael Beasley as a big man that will provide a solid scoring threat. and the Heat will be in contention for a playoff spot late into the year.
Shawn Marion and Udonis Haslem represent the rest of the front court, one that is undersized but not to be taken lightly. Haslem provides toughness and hard work on a nightly basis, and Marion will continue to make his best Swiss-army knife impression.
On the downside for Miami, though, they have a rookie head coach and no true point guard. As of today, their point guards are Chris Quinn and Marcus Banks. Both are quite capable in a backup role, but would likely be overwhelmed with a starting role.
Prediction:The fans will be back in full force for the Heat this season. I wouldn't be surprised if they did return to the playoffs after a one-year hiatus, but the lack of a true center and point guard should be enough to deter them from going further.
So there it is—all the teams, all the moves, and now their new rankings:
| 1.Lakers(+1) |
6.Cavaliers |
11.Nuggets(+1) |
16.Wizards |
21.Kings(-3) |
26.Pacers(-6) |
| 2.Celtics(-1) |
7.Spurs(-3) |
12.Mavericks(-2) |
17.Bucks(+7) |
22.Hawks(-3) |
27.Nets(-5) |
| 3.Hornets(+1) |
8.Pistons(-1) |
13.Blazers(+1) |
18.Warriors(-5) |
23.Bulls(-2) |
28.Timberwolves(-2) |
| 4.Rockets(+4) |
9.Suns |
14.Raptors(+3) |
19.Clippers(+6) |
24.Bobcats(-1) |
29.Thunder |
| 5.Jazz |
10.76ers(+5) |
15.Magic(-4) |
20.Heat(+10) |
25.Knicks(+3) |
30.Grizzlies(-3) |
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