The 1 2013 Offseason Decision Each NBA Team Already Regrets

The path to NBA hell is paved with GM intentions.

Few general managers intentionally sabotage their rosters—except for the ones who do (cough...Philly's Sam Hinkie...cough). And when they do, it's always for the greater good, or at least the lottery's no-guarantee equivalent thereof. So why are there so many bad teams? And why do some stay so bad for so long?

Decisions can haunt teams for years, long after their deciders have moved on. Spotting those decisions right away isn't easy, though.

Front offices are rarely the first to openly second-guess their own efforts. Making fans feel generally good about their teams is almost as important as building them in the first place. In turn, we hear spin, denial, optimism, evasion and all the usual "we'll wait and see" sentiments. It may take a long while for regret to sink in.

But not if I can help it. Let's embark upon some gratuitous nay-saying, shall we?

(Salary information from Hoopsworld.com unless otherwise specified.) 

Atlanta Hawks—Not Finding a Sign and Trade Deal for Josh Smith

Shortly after the Dwight Howard decision, the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen reported that the Houston Rockets "had no traction" in their pursuit of Josh Smith, a pursuit that apparently included discussion of a sign-and-trade scenario with the Atlanta Hawks.

In June, Sporting News' Sean Deveney suggested that the Boston Celtics were even further along with plans to acquire Smith via sign-and-trade, at least if they were able to secure a trade exception in exchange for Paul Pierce. Of course, therein lies one difficulty with meeting Atlanta's demands.

With the Hawks looking to preserve cap flexibility, receiving contracts worth the value of Smith's deal (sure to be in the double-figures regardless of who signed him) wasn't in the cards.

Here's the thing about that cap flexibility, though. It's not all that valuable to teams who have trouble attracting free agents. If willingness to put up with one or two seasons of undesirable contracts translated into young assets or a draft pick, it might have been worth Atlanta's trouble.

Instead, the Hawks get two years of Paul Millsap along with yet another prime opportunity to lose in the first round of the playoffs. Danny Ferry might not have pressed the reset button quite hard enough. 

Boston Celtics—Trading Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce

The Boston Celtics gave up a year too soon.

Danny Ainge owed this core an opportunity to regroup around a healthy Rajon Rondo. There's certainly a case to be made for minor changes. Jason Terry never quite clicked (and may be nearing "done"), and another big man would have been nice.

By some logic, Boston may spare itself a complete rebuild by reloading in more gradual fashion. That's just awfully tough to stomach with a roster that was maybe another piece away from seriously having a shot at the Miami Heat. Drastic measures have to be taken, but they have to be taken at the right time.

As it stands, the Celtics are neither bad enough to tank nor talented enough to contend. It's also hard to see how they've put themselves in position to rebuild or reload either way. Kris Humphries' $12 million will come off the books next summer, but Gerald Wallace's three years and $30 million aren't going anywhere for three more seasons.

Absent serious maneuvering, Boston won't be more than a bit player in free agency until 2015. In the meantime, new talent has to come via crafty trades and middling draft position. 

Whatever the future holds, we'll never know what next season could have held. Pierce's postseason sputtering overshadowed an exceptional regular season. Had Rondo been around to initiate offense, Pierce's playoffs might have been a different story. Garnett's decline is at hand, but better options in the paint are few and far between.

Could another big and some backcourt remodeling have extended their run? It was worth finding out.

Brooklyn Nets—Hiring Jason Kidd

Don't get me wrong. This is going to be impeccable theatre.

Jason Kidd immediately becomes the league's most recognizable coach, even as he's also its least experienced. Technically speaking, anyway. Mastering the point-guard position at a Hall of Fame level requires an especially elite understanding of the game, so Kidd's been thinking like a coach for a long time.

He also knows a thing or two about leadership having played the veteran-extraordinaire role in his most recent stints with the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks.

But before you talk yourself into this, remember that Kidd didn't sign up to coach an up-and-coming squad like the New Orleans Pelicans. He'll be working with one of the league's oldest rosters, Mikhail Prokhorov's obscenely expensive experiment with "win-now" team-building. That means immediate pressure on Kidd, along with media scrutiny any first-year coach could do without.

He might be the coach of the future, but Jason Kidd probably wasn't the choice for right now.

Charlotte Bobcats—Drafting Cody Zeller

This isn't about Cody Zeller. He'll be fine.

This is about priorities. The Charlotte Bobcats needed Ben McLemore, and they had a chance to draft him. They had a chance to partner Kemba Walker up with a shooting guard who had as much upside as any prospect in the 2013 draft class.

Instead, they're busy trying to discern restricted free agent Gerald Henderson's worth, paying Ben Gordon more money than Tony Parker will make this year and hoping Jeff Taylor turns out OK. It could have been so much easier.

Hard as it is to find truly skilled post-scorers, Charlotte ultimately found one in Al Jefferson—you know, the guy who will start ahead of Zeller and stunt his development for the next three seasons. Having already drafted Zeller, the Jefferson deal becomes a head-scratcher in its own right.

Meanwhile, the Bobcats still need a starting shooting guard.

Chicago Bulls—Letting Nate Robinson Go

There are any number of respects in which Kirk Hinrich and Marquis Teague make sense in the Chicago Bulls' backcourt, more sense even than recently departed Nate Robinson. Hinrich is a versatile defender, and Teague has nothing but upside.

Some rationales are overrated, though.

It doesn't get any spunkier than Nate Robinson. Where exactly spunk factors into Robinson's impressive 17.43 PER remains unclear, but his teammates know exactly how it factored into Chicago's resilience. He took games over and somehow rivaled Joakim Noah in firing up anything and everything with a pulse.

Gar Forman let this one get away.

Cleveland Cavaliers—Drafting Anthony Bennett

The Cleveland Cavaliers shouldn't have taken Anthony Bennett with the first-overall selection in June. They probably shouldn't have drafted anyone, not with that No. 1 pick anyway. 

As rebuilding processes go, Cleveland's is further along than it seems. Kyrie Irving has emerged as one the league's most elite floor generals, and Dion Waiters is already making the Cavs' scouting department look decently smart. Chances are Bennett will do the same, at least with whatever minutes he can pry from Tristan Thompson.

Add Andrew Bynum and Jarrett Jack to an already intriguing mix, and this doesn't feel like a rebuild anymore.

Exchanging the No. 1 pick for a proven veteran would have put Cleveland in position to be even more successful right away. A veteran to anchor the wing would be an upgrade over the C.J. Miles-Alonzo Gee tandem (however underrated that tandem may be). 

The Cavs will still turn heads, and Bennett could be worth the wait. It's just not clear a wait was entirely necessary, not with a roster that's suddenly on the brink of a Warriors-like coming-out party.

Dallas Mavericks—Pursuing Dwight Howard

You were expecting me to say Monta Ellis? Jose Calderon's contract?

The Dallas Mavericks will have plenty of cap space again next summer, and now they'll have some talent around to help recruit.

They could have done worse things with their money. Mark Cuban probably has. But Dallas was going to be a second-tier team in the West no matter what happened this summer. They've made the best of it and may put a better-than-expected product on the floor, especially with a healthy Dirk Nowitzki.

It wouldn't be the first time this coaching staff has worked wonders.

The real loser this July was Mark Cuban's ego. Granted, the ego is half the charm. Cuban's free agency failures have given birth to the most epically passive-aggressive spats this side of Real Housewives. After Dwight Howard eliminated the Mavs from his shortlist of five suitors, Operation "Spin It Like I Meant to Do That" commenced immediately (via ESPNDallas.com's Bryan Gutierrez and Tim MacMahon):

"

"I think we've put ourselves in a spot where we're in a better spot than we were at if we got just the one max-out deal," Cuban told ESPNDallas.com during the Mavs' summer league game Wednesday night. "I think it'd be better shorter and longer term. I don't want to make that sound the wrong way. I think we'll be better this year because we added five good players or more." 

"

If Mark Cuban really thinks that, why wasn't Plan B the Plan A? Is this really how front offices operate, throwing money at big-name players they don't really want? Or, this is just Cuban's way of coping—a little historical revisionism for the soul.

Most likely, it's just a message for the fans. They can't get this whole "Plan B" thing stuck in their heads—any good businessman knows that. 

Denver Nuggets—Not Replacing a Star

The Denver Nuggets have had a quietly impressive offseason. J.J. Hickson, Nate Robinson and Randy Foye all fill needs without breaking the bank. Robinson and Foye will jumpstart a subpar three-point attack, and Hickson joins JaVale McGee and Kenneth Faried in a rotation of mega-explosive big men. Denver also acquired Darrell Arthur, a solid pick-and-pop specialist off the bench.

Not a bad haul.

But it's a haul we have to weigh against one very important defection. New GM Tim Connelly struck out on his attempt to keep Andre Iguodala in a Nuggets uniform, opening the door for Iggy's sign-and-trade to the Golden State Warriors. There's something to be said for snagging Foye in the deal, and perhaps more to be said for holding the line in negotiations with Iguodala.

The real issue is Denver still needs a difference-maker. While clubs like the Warriors and Houston Rockets made significant strides landing Iguodala and Dwight Howard (respectively), the Nuggets are treading water. 

Barring any serious moves, Denver will be over the salary cap in each of the next three seasons, handicapping its ability to add elite talent via free agency. Three-straight trade deadlines treated to a heaping helping of Nuggets rumors—get ready!

Detroit Pistons—Signing Josh Smith

There are two problems with Josh Smith going to the Detroit Pistons, and neither is necessarily his fault.

First, the Pistons needed a legitimate small forward, maybe a slasher who could create some opportunities for Brandon Knight and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on the perimeter. Smith is better-suited to play the 4, where he'll presumably have to share some time with Greg Monroe (especially if Andre Drummond is getting serious minutes at center). Treating Smith like a true wingman can be dangerous given his penchant for ill-advised long-twos and threes. Detroit can't let that happen.

Second, there has to be a reason the Hawks didn't angle to retain Smith more aggressively. And there has to be a reason he never gets voted an All-Star reserve. His ability, production, versatility and physical tools make him valuable on paper, but some combination of concerns about attitude and/or consistent effort have always followed Smith. Something's not quite right. It could be more about perception than fact, but it's hard to see how Detroit would help that as it builds its own identity.

There's a ton to like about Josh Smith, and most hoops junkies have a soft spot for him. It feels like we haven't seen the best of him just yet.

It also feels like the Pistons aren't the solution to that.

Golden State Warriors—Signing Andre Iguodala

I don't hate this move, but the timing just wasn't right.

Obviously Andre Iguodala gives the Golden State Warriors something they desperately needed: a strong perimeter defender on one end of the floor and a playmaker on the other. With two sharpshooters in the backcourt, a borderline point-forward makes a lot of sense.

The initial concern—that it will stunt Harrison Barnes' development—isn't the most pressing. Ideally, Barnes would see an increased role sooner rather than later, but Golden State has the chance to be successful now. They'd be remiss not to go for the jugular.

But they should have waited one more summer to do so.

With modest team options on Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes, the only significant commitments under the cap in 2014 are to Iguodala, Stephen Curry and David Lee. Counting the $12 million owed Iggy alone, the Warriors will have nearly $52 million in salary on the books, enough to preclude any splashy free-agent targets.

That remains the case until 2016, when David Lee's contract expires. Iggy's a likable move, but is he worth his price in opportunity cost? Probably not.

Houston Rockets—Signing Dwight Howard

There are plenty of well-founded reasons to count the Houston Rockets this summer's biggest winners. They're simple enough, too. Having two really good players is better than having one. And three is even better if you count Chandler Parsons.

Dwight Howard's value may be axiomatic, but it isn't infinite or without condition. His last stop obviously didn't go well, and his final days in Orlando were fraught with unceasing drama. Could Howard's attitude sour in Houston down the road?

It seems improbable now, and it seemed improbable in Howard's earliest days with the Lakers. Even as he recovered post-surgery, vibes were good until the regular season rolled around. It's far too soon to assume history will repeat itself, but let's just say this. Until we see Howard face adversity in Houston, we can't even begin to assess this deal.

The unknown is the scary part. Is Howard a mischaracterized leader-in-the-making? Or just a distraction?

Withholding judgement is a virtue, but so is spending wisely. Without more encouraging evidence on the intangibles front, $88 million is a lot to wager on two really good players being better than one.

Indiana Pacers—Doing Nothing

In the grand scheme of things, we should admire the Indiana Pacers' deliberate and cautious approach to the offseason. It's one of the ways good teams stay good, and it's also one of the ways they improve. Sometimes the best addition a team can make is spending more time working with one another.

Waiting to trade Danny Granger may be a good idea, too. His value will only improve as teams see him in action after a season decimated by injury. With or without him, Indiana needs a playmaker. If that playmaker can score from the perimeter, all the better—but the bottom line is finding someone who drives, kicks and looks for open teammates. Unless Lance Stephenson is ready to perfect that role, Indiana should hit the phones.

That might mean trading Granger while he's still a little undervalued. The upshot to accelerating the process would be affording any new acquisition(s) a full training camp and preseason to study the playbook and practice with the team.

LA Clippers—Trading Eric Bledsoe Now

Too soon.

There was clearly no future for Eric Bledsoe in Los Angeles, but the Clippers could have gotten more for him. Don't get me wrong—LA is obviously better now. They've added reliable shooting, ultimately giving Chris Paul more perimeter options. Nothing wrong with that plan. You can't complain about landing J.J. Redick and Jared Dudley, but nor can you convince me that's the best Los Angeles could do.

But if you really want to fix the Clippers, adding another shooter or two is a bandaid solution. It'll help them keep pace as the rest of the West improves, but it doesn't put them in better position to contend. 

Waiting a month or two into the season might have improved Bledsoe's stock as well. The Clippers could have shown off his improvement and allowed the market to take shape before the trade deadline. 

It would have taken a bigger deal, potentially one involving DeAndre Jordan—a scenario that appeared distinctly possible at one point.

LA Lakers—Not Getting Anything for Dwight Howard

The LA Lakers should have traded Dwight Howard the second Mike D'Antoni showed up.

It would have been awkward and highly controversial, but it's worth sacrificing a little dignity if it means actually having assets. Now Los Angeles is neither especially well-prepared for the future nor feeling all that dignified.

By the time Howard had one foot out the door this summer, though, there were really no more excuses. The Lakers reportedly began to warm to sign-and-trade possibilities at the 11th hour, well after they should have gone into full sign-and-trade exploration mode, cordially working with Howard to assure all parties involved a mutually beneficial outcome.

That wouldn't have meant LA receiving equal value in return, but any value would have sufficed.

Well-versed Lakers fans will highlight the importance of preserving future cap space, and for good reason. It's been a while since the organization had any. But that space is only as useful as the players it helps sign. And players typically prefer signing with a team that has assets, stability and a clear plan for the future.

Mitch Kupchak's sales pitch sounds amazing, I'm sure, but spicing it up with a prospect here or draft pick there couldn't hurt the recruitment effort. Kobe's draw isn't what it used to be.

Memphis Grizzlies—Settling

We've already seen the best of the Memphis Grizzlies, and not even Mike Miller has enough three-point heroics to change that.

Memphis' consistent success—especially against the NBA's elite—is a testament to all the right things. The Grizzlies defend, they share the ball, and they work hard. They are not, however, a serious contender until they replace Rudy Gay with someone who more or less did what he did. They need a scorer, and they need length from someone besides Tayshaun Prince

The Grizzlies could be demonstrating the dangers of spending too much on big men before our very eyes. It's not that either Marc Gasol or Zach Randolph is overpaid necessarily. It's just that you can't allocate over half of your cap space to two bigs and have enough money to fill other key positions with multi-skilled stars.

The Grizzlies made their choice, held on to the bigs and sent Gay packing. 

Until Randolph follows him out the door, this club will continue to suffer the consequences.

Miami Heat—Keeping the Big 3 Together

I know, it sounds harsh. But hear me out—this is for the best, really.

There's a good chance the Big Three won't remain financially sustainable on account of the CBA's Repeater Tax. To some, that just means it's time to win one more title while they still can. You never know when you'll have this kind of lineup again.

But what about that next lineup? 

The longer Miami waits to deal one of its three stars—most likely Chris Bosh—the more that star's value declines. In Bosh's case, it does so precipitously. He can terminate his current contract after the season, making 2013-14 the another team's last real opportunity to rent him for a year.

Delaying the inevitable (or even the probable) could also endanger a locker room that's shut out distractions consistently well. Miami is better off resolving open ended questions so everyone can focus on the bottom line, not where they'll be playing next season.

Milwaukee Bucks—Spending Money on Zaza Pachulia and Carlos Delfino

If the Milwaukee Bucks were already a contender, signing Zaza Pachulia and Carlos Delfino would make some sense. They're both capable role players, and they're relatively affordable. Under ideal circumstances, those are the types you add to an elite core.

Unfortunately, Milwaukee doesn't have an elite core. Going forward, it's not entirely clear who the Bucks' core is in the first place. The organization's tenuous relationship with Brandon Jennings complicates that question even further. Would he stay in Milwaukee long-term? Will he have much of a choice?

Supporting the development of guys like Larry Sanders and John Henson should take priority over adding another seven-footer. The Bucks aren't getting past the first round this season. Give the kids some extra playing time and save some money. 

Minnesota Timberwolves—Overpaying Kevin Martin

In case you weren't sure what desperation looks like, the Minnesota Timberwolves have given it a name and a face—and a $28 million deal.

Let's get pleasantries out of the way first.

Kevin Martin is a great player and a perfect fit for Rick Adelman's Princeton offense. He moves well without the ball in his hands and made 43 percent of his three-point attempts last season. When you're ranked dead-last in team three-point efficiency, adding accurate shooters sounds like a pretty good idea.

And after a season in which Minnesota leaned on Alexey Shved to the tune of 24 minutes a night, Martin and newly-reacquired Corey Brewer seem like a huge upgrade. 

Now for the less pleasant part. Whereas most teams aim to acquire two-way, three-and-D specialists, Minnesota went about it a little differently. Martin gives you the three. Brewer gives you the D. Things don't work out quite as well that way, because both Martin and Brewer must be on the floor at the same time, lest there be three or D, one without the other.

New Orleans Pelicans—Adding so Much Salary

By themselves, the acquisitions of Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans were both fantastic moves. 

Unfortunately, it will cost them almost $22 million this season, and $60 million-plus after that. This could certainly be the beginning of something special, but that's beside the point.

As currently constructed, the New Orleans Pelicans won't be under the salary cap again until 2016. Chances are there will be changes between now and then, maybe sooner than later depending on how this new backcourt works out. With such a young core, what was the rush in spending that money? Why not make just one of those moves, spending another season taking inventory of personnel and assessing needs?

Worse yet, if Holiday or Evans takes a step back, New Orleans is all the more stuck. You have to take risks in this business, but you don't have to take every risk.

New York Knicks—Not Getting to the Point

I refuse to disparage the Andrea Bargnani trade. It was the closest thing to a big splash New York had at its disposal. Of course he's a weak defender, and of course he has injury issues. The Knicks weren't going to get an All-Star for what they were selling (a package of Steve Novak, Marcus Camby, Quentin Richardson, and plenty of sadness).

The real question is what the New York Knicks plan to do about their disappearing backcourt. Iman Shumpert should be in a better rhythm this season, but there's no reason to expect significant improvement from any other internal candidates—especially at the point, where New York's principal problems lie.

Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni aren't going to cut it. It's telling that they'll make a combined $5 million next season manning one of basketball's two most important positions. The Miami Heat have proven it's one thing when you have other elite playmakers to offset a mediocre point guard.

The Knicks don't have that luxury. 

If there was something wrong with the Bargnani deal, it's the fact Bargnani isn't a point guard. 

Oklahoma City Thunder—Drafting Steven Adams

The Oklahoma City Thunder probably won't have any complaints with Steven Adams, especially two or three years down the road when he starts to look like a surprisingly affordable member of the rotation. Finding this particular piece to the puzzle wasn't urgent, though. 

Finding a shooting guard to replace Kevin Martin (who replaced James Harden) is imperative. Reggie Jackson and Jeremy Lamb are legitimate cause for excitement, but there's no telling what they're capable of this season. Jackson shined in a surprise starting capacity during the playoffs last season, but you can rest assured teams will be more prepared for him now.

Lamb's body of professional work is just too limited to draw many conclusions, and that's the problem. OKC needs some experience at that spot, at least something of a known quantity (not you, Thabo). That kind of target didn't exist in the draft, but Adams—or pick No. 12 itself—could have started some conversations. In conjunction with young pieces, OKC could swing a deal for yet another third-option.

Hopefully one they can afford.

Orlando Magic—Not Making Arron Afflalo-Eric Bledsoe Deal Happen

ESPN's Marc Stein, Ramona Shelburne and Chad Ford reported in June that the Orlando Magic and LA Clippers were discussing a deal that would have exchanged Eric Bledsoe and Arron Afflalo. Instead, LA shipped Bledsoe to the Phoenix Suns in an entirely unrelated three-team trade. Beyond losing out on a point guard with star potential, the Magic also find themselves hanging on to a fish out of water.

Afflalo is a fine player, but the 27-year-old shooting guard is surrounded by youngsters only beginning to discover what they can do at the NBA level—guys like Bledsoe, who's still just 23.

Maybe the trigger on this deal wasn't Orlando's to pull. Otherwise, GM Rob Hennigan will one day regret giving it anything less than his all. This one needed to happen.

 

 

 

Philadelphia 76ers—Holding Good Players Hostage

What are Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young still doing on the Philadelphia 76ers? They may start asking themselves soon enough.

Philly jettisoned Jrue Holiday, let Dorell Wright walk in free agency and didn't even wave goodbye to Andrew Bynum. No arguments there. This season will be painful, but Sixers fans shouldn't have it any other way. This is what successful rebuilds look like. 

Unfortunately for Turner and Young, they're just young enough—24 and 25, respectively—to go along for the ride. And technically, Philadelphia does have to assemble a roster, so holding on to the guys with staying power makes sense. On paper, anyway.

The problem is nobody wants to enter their prime in the midst of a rebuild. Especially not this kind of rebuild, replete with a none-too-subtle tank-job. Turner and Young might see it as an opportunity to display heretofore unknown ability. They could relish opportunities to lead and usher in a new era of Sixers basketball.

But they could also start to sulk, setting all the wrong tones for a young locker room. 

Instead of waiting to find out, the Sixers should carry this particular fire sale through to its logical conclusion. For everyone's sake.

Phoenix Suns—Drafting Alex Len

The Philadelphia 76ers will have some competition for that No. 1-overall pick in 2014.

That's the good news for the Phoenix Suns. The bad news is they have precious little to show for all their rebuilding going into Year 2 of life without Steve Nash. The most gaping hole remains on the wing, right where it was this time 2012. Even if you believe Eric Bledsoe can coexist with Goran Dragic in Phoenix's starting backcourt, the hole remains.

Caron Butler is the right idea, but not the 33-year-old version of him. Your other options are Michael Beasley, Shannon Brown and P.J. Tucker—which is to say, there are no other options.

So with a glaring need for wing scorers, you'd expect Phoenix to jump at the opportunity to draft a guy like Ben McLemore or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope—high-upside shooters with plenty of range. Instead, the Suns snatched up Maryland's Alex Len fresh off of ankle surgery.

There's plenty to like about Len. He could well become one of the game's better two-way centers. He could also serve as a living reminder of the time Phoenix passed on two very talented young guards.

Portland Trail Blazers—Not Creating Cap Space for Summer, 2014

Comcast Sportsnet's Chris Haynes reports that representatives of LaMarcus Aldridge have already had talks with the Portland Trail Blazers about potentially finding a new home for their client. On one hand, that seems odd. Portland's future is brighter than it's been since it acquired Aldridge on draft night in 2006. 

On the other hand, Aldridge is 28 now. Even with an improved second unit, this is still a young team. Earl Watson immediately becomes the only player older than Aldridge (at 34), and the next closest are 27-year-old Dorell Wright and 26-year-old Wes Matthews.

Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard, small forward Nic Batum, newly-acquired Thomas Robinson, second-year center Meyers Leonard, and freshly-drafted C.J. McCollum are all 24 or younger.

If Portland wants to make the most of that rising core, it should give up on the here and now. It's better off giving guys like Robinson and Leonard opportunities to play big minutes, allowing them to develop and advertising their upside to future free-agent targets.

Instead, Aldridge is still in Portland—along with the two years and $12 million on Robin Lopez's contract.

Next season's Blazers will be deeper and more experienced, but it will come at a long-term cost.

Sacramento Kings—Not Having a Plan

The next four seasons will hurt Carl Landry a lot more than they'll hurt the Sacramento Kings' front office. 

Why they'd put a skilled veteran through this is anyone's guess, but the bigger question is what this organization wants with a skilled veteran in the first place. Sacramento also acquired Luc Mbah a Moute to improve a perennially atrocious defense, adding another two years and $9 million to the four years and $26 million owed Landry. You'd think the Kings were gearing up to actually compete.

They won't, of course, but at least they'll have a couple of decent role players along for the ride.

Next season, the Kings will spend over $27 million on Landry, Mbah a Moute, Chuck Hayes, John Salmons and Travis Outlaw. Kings fans shouldn't even try to imagine what they could do with a $27 million free-agent shopping spree, not if they want to sleep tonight.

Letting a promising talent like Tyreke Evans walk only makes sense if you're actually planning to save money. Turning around and spending that money on short-term fixes is exactly how you end up with guys like Hayes and Salmons clogging cap room years after signing their deals. 

Directionless rebuilds don't end quickly.

San Antonio Spurs—Giving Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter Everything

I'm all for doing right by guys like Manu Ginobili. He is a quintessential San Antonio Spur, an integral component to three of the franchise's titles and an astonishingly good actor. I also generally support locking up efficient, skilled big men—especially when they cost less than $10 million a year.

But I don't like significant opportunity costs.

San Antonio had the opportunity to ink an All-Star this summer or next, making the most of Tim Duncan's closing title window by adding a young, dynamic difference-maker to the mix. Instead, it will pay Ginobili and Splitter a combined $17.5 million this season and over $16 million in 2014-15. It's hard to ascertain who the Spurs might have snagged instead, if anyone at all. The opportunity to pursue an athletic frontcourt defender like Josh Smith has to make you wonder, though.

This could still work out well for the franchise. Doubting GM R.C. Buford usually isn't a good idea.

At best, Manu stays healthy and Splitter grows into more than a pick-and-roll specialist. It's hard to find fault with a status quo that came within seconds of a title last season. There'd be nothing more satisfying for Spurs fans than making up for 2013 with essentially the very same group.

Splitter could also become a valuable trade chip. His contract isn't terribly onerous to begin with, and it will look even better thanks to its front-loaded payout.

Toronto Raptors—Tanking Badly

Andrew Wiggins said he wants to play for the hometown Toronto Raptors. No, really.

It's not too good to be true, but nor is it probable. Toronto isn't a lock for the postseason by any means, but nor is it hopelessly removed from contention. Sneaking in with the No. 8 seed wouldn't be shocking. Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are no "Big Three," unless you're trying to make someone laugh.

They are, however, veteran scorers. And they are surrounded by a combination of solid role players (Amir Johnson, Steve Novak) and intriguing young prospects (Jonas Valanciunas, Terrence Ross). 

Don't get too caught up on playoff chances, though. And that goes for the Raptors, too. Toronto should sell off whatever it can, hold on to the really young guys, beg for more draft picks and start praying. Holding on to mid-level talent is no way to go about a proper tank-job.

It could be a long time before another superstar-to-be has his heart set on the Raptors.

Utah Jazz—Getting Nothing for Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap

Granted, this situation should have been resolved a long time ago. The Utah Jazz had plenty of time to figure out there wouldn't be enough room for Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap to coexist with up-and-coming bigs Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter.

It was never going to be financially viable, and there were never going to be enough minutes. As it is, the Jazz stunted Favors' and Kanter's growth and forewent premium draft position in stubborn pursuit of mediocrity. Perhaps the organization was overly optimistic. Perhaps it just wanted to give fans hope.

Whatever the reasons, Utah's future is bleaker than it should be. Yes, there's some young talent here. In addition to the big guys, Gordon Hayward, Alec Burks and rookie Trey Burke could all contribute to a solid core. 

But there are probably no All-Stars in that bunch. The Jazz of tomorrow could look an awful lot like the Jazz of yesterday, fighting tooth and nail for eight-seeds and hoping for some kind of Disney-inspired upset.

With Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap finally free agents this summer, it may have been too late for the Jazz to get value in return. Still, getting anything in a sign-and-trade deal would have been nice. Draft picks are handy where the Jazz are headed, and it's hard to believe there wasn't an outside-the-box last-minute solution.

Either way, Utah came away emptied-handed, with a future full of cap space and little chance of doing anything exciting with it. 

Washington Wizards—Giving Martell Webster $22 Million

If you're a casual fan of the NBA, you may be wondering: Who is Martell Webster, and what'd he do to wind up $22 million richer.

If you're a seasoned NBA expert, you may be wondering the exact same thing.

In reality, this wouldn't have been a bad deal if it were the Oklahoma City Thunder or New York Knicks. Webster's 2012-13 campaign was his best all-around performance yet. He made 42 percent of his three-pointers, putting up 11.4 points in 28.9 minutes a game. If you're looking for a three-and-D specialist to support a title push, you could do worse.

The Washington Wizards aren't on the verge of a title push, though. They admittedly looked like a different team last season with a healthy John Wall at the helm, but these are still very much transition years. Sophomore shooting guard Bradley Beal is still developing his game, and a handful of prospects (Jan Vesely, Trevor Booker and Kevin Seraphin) are still incubating under the tutelage of vets Nene and Emeka Okafor. 

Rookie forward Otto Porter Jr. could probably use some time to figure things out, too.

With over $22 million in contracts (belonging to Okafor and Trevor Ariza) coming off Washington's books next summer, Washington could have been a player in the 2014 free-agent market. John Wall's potential extension would complicate making a big splash, but now even a modest splash is unlikely.