NBA Training Camp 2014: Biggest Question Each Team Must Answer
NBA training camp is set to open Sept. 30, and while casual fans won't truly refocus on basketball until the regular season, there are plenty of storylines available to pique the interest of the Association's most avid followers.
For instance: How will the San Antonio Spurs prepare for a run at their first back-to-back championship? And how will the league's newest Big Three look for the Cleveland Cavaliers?
Then, of course, there's the ongoing saga in Beantown, as the Boston Celtics continue to deal with trade rumors surrounding Rajon Rondo.
Not every organization will feature drama in training camp, but each fanbase has a reason to follow its team at this point in the process. The dog days of the offseason are nearly over, as players and fans alike can look forward and see another year on the horizon.
Atlanta Hawks
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Can they put the drama behind them?
The Atlanta Hawks have been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. We won't go into all of that at this juncture, but you can read the most recent updates on Danny Ferry here, courtesy of Bleacher Report's Scott Polacek, and the most recent updates on Bruce Levenson here, courtesy of B/R's Timothy Rapp.
What we will focus on is how the Hawks can forget about the off-court controversy. For starters, the return of Al Horford will do wonders for this organization both now and in the regular season.
In training camp, we'll get a distraction from the front office drama via the analysis of Horford's return. During the year, the big man's presence will boost this roster to another level, as the Hawks looked like a second-tier team out East with him in the lineup last season.
Along with Horford will be the growth of players such as Jeff Teague and Paul Millsap. The Eastern Conference is the most wide open it's been in four years, and while Atlanta won't be a true contender in the eyes of most, it has a chance to improve this season, making fans everywhere forget about what's taken place this offseason.
Boston Celtics
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Trade Rajon Rondo?
The Boston Celtics don't need to make a decision on Rajon Rondo during training camp. Don't expect to see a resolution here before the regular season, and certainly don't expect a trade just days before the year begins, as we saw with James Harden in 2012.
What you can expect is that this storyline isn't going away anytime soon. The Celtics have dealt with Rondo rumors for years, and with him officially entering a contract season, it should only get worse with the threat of him leaving in free agency.
As B/R's Ric Bucher wrote:
"Add it all together—the hiring of [Brad] Stevens, the exploration of Rondo's value, the overall youth of the Boston roster—and it seems pretty clear Ainge has positioned himself to move Rondo for the right price; he simply hasn't come anywhere close to getting it.
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So what is Rondo's market value? That will depend on how well he performs. He's coming off back-to-back seasons where he played just 68 total contests, which is why teams will want to see what he can do before a trade partner truly emerges.
Brooklyn Nets
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Who will emerge as the star of this roster?
The Brooklyn Nets have talent. Paul Pierce is gone, but Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez still remain, all with the raw skill sets to lead this team to contention in 2014-15.
The problem? None of them has actually been able to translate that talent into leadership as it pertains to winning games at a championship level.
For Lopez, it's all about health. Defense and rebounding have been concerns in the past, but keeping him on the floor is the first step toward becoming a dominant center on both ends.
Then there are the guards. Williams, once considered one of the best point guards in the league, is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. Johnson, while still productive, isn't going to stuff a stat sheet the way he did with the Atlanta Hawks.
Training camp won't offer a true solution, but it'll give us an idea of which star is ready to play. The hope is that someone emerges as a leader on this roster sooner rather than later.
Charlotte Hornets
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Is this a fresh start for Lance Stephenson?
Lance Stephenson has made a name for himself over the years. Although some of that is for the right reasons (see: defensive abilities), there's also the exact opposite (see: blowing in LeBron James' ear).
As entertaining as Stephenson can be from a fan's perspective, it's time for him to get down to work with his newest organization. He said, via the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com), "I bring more to the table than just blowing in someone's ear. I'm a great player."
At this point, we know the 24-year-old has the potential to be great; it just comes down to maturity. As B/R's Stephen Babb put it: "[...] it's not too late for Stephenson to be remembered for all the right reasons. A change of scenery may be all the opportunity he needs."
Chicago Bulls
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Will "The Return 2.0" be a success?
Derrick Rose is back. Again.
This time, however, the hope is that he can stay on the court, as his most recent comeback lasted 10 games and resulted in yet another season-ending injury.
At this point, Rose looks good. We've seen him on display during the FIBA World Cup, and while it hasn't always been against NBA-caliber competition, it's exactly what he needed to put him a step ahead of where he was this time last year.
Rose's return isn't the only storyline surrounding the Chicago Bulls, as newcomers Pau Gasol, Nikola Mirotic (rookie) and Doug McDermott (rookie) will make a difference. That said, Rose is a former MVP for a reason, and this team's championship potential depends on his production.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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Do the Cavs have the best Big Three in the NBA?
When LeBron James announced his decision to return home, the foundation of the NBA shifted. When the Cleveland Cavaliers subsequently swung a deal to trade No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins for Kevin Love, the Cavs instantly became contenders (if they weren't already).
The question here isn't so much about how good the Big Three of James, Love and Kyrie Irving can be down the road (they can unequivocally be the best); it's about how good the three can be right from the start.
Although training camp won't give us the answer, it will be indicative of how well the three play together to begin the year. Even more important is how well the three play with the rest of the team, as it's going to be a cohesive brand of basketball that gives this squad a true championship roster.
Dallas Mavericks
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How much better are the Mavs?
Although this question could, and should, be posed to every team following the offseason, we give it to the Dallas Mavericks. This should be the franchise's most talented roster since the 2010-11 championship campaign, and that's a relief for fans who have watched this organization swing and miss on big-name talent the past few years.
After watching what Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis did last season, we now have the pleasure of watching Tyson Chandler and Chandler Parsons join the mix.
Don't forget about Jameer Nelson either. He gives this team a more reliable option at the 1 over Raymond Felton, who was acquired in the deal for Chandler.
The losses of Vince Carter and Shawn Marion will hurt, but the problem for Dallas is no longer its own roster. Ultimately, it's the competition out West that could keep this team from competing for home-court advantage.
The Western Conference is brutal, but then again, Dallas is one of the reasons why. The conference is deep, and it will be fun to watch how far the Mavs compete following an eighth-seed finish in 2013-14.
Denver Nuggets
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How will Kenneth Faried improve post FIBA?
Back in February, Kenneth Faried was mentioned by NBA.com's David Aldridge as a possible trade chip. At the time, Faried's defense was the biggest reason for the rumors, as Aldridge stated:
""The Manimal" has seen his rebound numbers decline from last season, and, per basketball-reference.com, his defensive wins shares have dropped from 3.4 last season to 1.4 this season. That doesn't mean Faried still isn't a ferocious rebounder who can change a game with his energy and effort. The question is, what do the Nuggets pay for that 17 months from now, when he could become a restricted free agent.
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The question of how much the Denver Nuggets are willing to pay is still a reasonable query, but following a FIBA World Cup performance that saw the forward put his energy, talent and sheer aggression on full display, you have to believe he's emerging as something of a star and not just an energetic role player.
The caveat here is that Faried is about to leave the world stage, where the competition, while still elite, is far from what he'll see in the NBA. The Nuggets have a deep roster without a true superstar, and if Faried is ever going to become the face of the franchise, the time is now to take the leap.
Detroit Pistons
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Can The Threesome up front win together?
It's tough to imagine the same Detroit Pistons squad we saw last year competing for home-court advantage, let alone a spot in the playoffs. Out East, however, this team can make the postseason with a decent showing.
Training camp will be the first step toward creating a cohesive unit. Detroit has a new lead man in Stan Van Gundy, and one of his biggest tasks from Day 1 will be getting Josh Smith, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond to become a three-headed monster in the frontcourt.
Atop Van Gundy's to-do list should be creating defensive sets where the three work together instead of stepping on each other's toes. Offensively, getting Drummond a few more touches should behoove all involved.
Additionally, making sure Smith is utilized on the block should be a priority. His 41.9 percent shooting (26.4 percent from downtown) didn't help anyone except his opponents in 2013-14, and his 3.4 three-point attempts per game (career high) should be the only time he hits that mark for the rest of his career.
Golden State Warriors
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Will Steve Kerr maintain 'Dubs defensive identity?
Mark Jackson did something incredible throughout his time with the Golden State Warriors.
He instilled a defensive mentality without sacrificing offensive production.
In 2013-14, Golden State was a top-10 team in terms of points per game as well as points allowed per game. According to ESPN.com, the team was 12th in terms of offensive efficiency, but even more impressive is that it was third in terms of efficiency on the other end of the floor.
Although we don't know exactly what to expect from Steve Kerr, the hope is that he continues to utilize his team's offensive strengths without ignoring the defensive improvements made the past few seasons.
The Warriors are close to contention, and they need to maintain their all-around efficiency if they hope to compete with the powers out West for home-court advantage.
Houston Rockets
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Can Houston overcome adversity?
When Damian Lillard hit his walk-off three-pointer to eliminate the Houston Rockets in Round 1 of the 2014 postseason, the hope was that Clutch City could only go up from there.
As it turned out, the offseason was just as disappointing as the first-round exit.
Following a summer that saw Chandler Parsons, Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik leave via trade and free agency, the Rockets look to start anew in training camp. The hope was that the aforementioned departures would precede a superstar acquisition, but without such a signing coming to fruition, the team now looks to James Harden and Dwight Howard as its sole leaders.
One theme that can't be ignored here is whether Harden and Howard have enough talent surrounding them to compete for a championship. Patrick Beverley is a pesky defender, Terrence Jones has talent and Trevor Ariza is a proven commodity, but it would be a lie to say this team improved between Lillard's shot and the start of training camp.
No one should count Houston out with two stars on board, but overcoming adversity will be an arduous task with the championship-or-bust mentality the team has had since Howard's arrival.
Indiana Pacers
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Where in the world will offense come from?
The Indiana Pacers have a serious problem to address in training camp. Paul George, the team's leading scorer from 2013-14, is out for the year, and Lance Stephenson, the team's third-leading scorer, is now a member of the Charlotte Hornets.
That leaves David West as Indiana's most productive offensive player from last season (14.0 PPG), which is bad news for a team that was just 24th in scoring.
Putting the ball in the bucket is going to be a concern for the Pacers, but then again, a lack of offense has never been concerning for the overall success of this squad. Why would it be a problem now considering this group allowed the second-fewest points per game all last season?
As it turns out, Indiana isn't just losing offensive production with the losses of George and Stephenson; it's also losing two of its best defensive players.
If the defense isn't as elite as it once was, that's when scoring becomes worrisome. Training camp will be a time for Indiana to figure out which area should be a bigger focus, and the hope is that Frank Vogel and his staff will adjust accordingly.
Los Angeles Clippers
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Can L.A. finally get over the hump?
Once upon a time, the Los Angeles Clippers were the laughingstock of the NBA. Between 1984 (the year the Clips moved to L.A.) and 2011, the team made the playoffs just four times, and it was often looked at as a doormat without any hope of improvement.
Although the Clippers became immensely more entertaining in 2010 with the drafting of Blake Griffin, they didn't truly turn things around until the next year, when they acquired Chris Paul. The problem is that since then, L.A. has failed to live up to its championship aspirations.
Despite coming off a 4-2 series loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2014 Western Conference Semifinals, Jamal Crawford has confidence in this group. In a recent Q&A with Dennis Rogers of Clippers.com, he stated, "We all know what the goal is and I think this will be the best year in Clippers history."
If Crawford is right, that will mean pushing 60 regular-season wins and advancing past the second round of the postseason. The competition out West will make such goals difficult to attain, but having spent a whole year now under Doc Rivers, the Clips appear ready to take things to another level.
Los Angeles Lakers
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Will Kobe's return be better than the last one?
The Los Angeles Lakers aren't lacking drama entering training camp. Consider the following:
- Position battle: starting point guard
- Position battle: starting power forward
- Position battle: backup center
- New head coach
- Shallow wing rotation
Think the Lakers have their hands full? You bet they do. And yet none of those storylines will come even close to trumping the comeback of one of the greatest players in NBA history.
At 36 years old, Bryant is entering his 19th season. Doubting him has never gotten anyone anywhere in the past, but coming off back-to-back season-ending injuries will add a new perspective on how we analyze his production.
As B/R's Grant Hughes put it, "Byron Scott will face many challenges in his first season as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, but his biggest—by far—will be the delicate task of managing Kobe Bryant's workload."
Bryant's workload will ultimately be determined by how competitive the team is late in the year, but training camp is the first step in seeing how much he can handle at this point in his career.
Memphis Grizzlies
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Tayshaun Prince or Vince Carter?
Vince Carter became something of a super-sub for the Dallas Mavericks over the past two seasons. He masterfully adjusted his game to accommodate his increase in age and decrease in athleticism, and he shot wonderfully from downtown to the tune of 40.6 percent in 2012-13 and 39.4 percent in 2013-14.
Now, Carter brings that same offensive production to the Grizzlies, and the question is: Should Memphis start him over Tayshaun Prince?
Although Carter has the clear edge from a statistical standpoint, it depends on what the Grizzlies want to see out of their rotation. Do they want to keep defense in the starting five while providing offense off the bench? Or do they want that three-point shooting to be a threat right out of the gate?
The coaching staff can test lineup combinations and begin planning the rotation during training camp. Regardless of what the team chooses, Memphis should be improved this season, which is always important when you play in the Western Conference.
Miami Heat
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How will Miami adjust to life without LeBron James?
Post-LeBron life has begun in Miami.
Or at least it will officially begin when training camp kicks off in South Beach this fall.
Amid the copious storylines surrounding the Miami Heat following LeBron James' departure, Chris Bosh's new role has to be the most intriguing. The big man is about to go from third wheel to No. 1 option, and while Dwyane Wade's health and production are equally as important, Bosh's max contract puts him in the spotlight from Day 1 of the 2014-15 season.
Also worth watching in training camp is the incorporation of Luol Deng and Josh McRoberts to the starting lineup. Neither will truly replace James' production and leadership, but both will look to soften the blow.
Danny Granger's role off the bench is also noteworthy, as well as the potential emergence of young players such as Norris Cole and Shabazz Napier at the point guard position.
Milwaukee Bucks
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Which young talent will see the most development?
When you look at the Milwaukee Bucks' depth chart, courtesy of ESPN.com, one thing sticks out.
There's a slew of young, unproven players all over this roster.
Of the bunch, Jabari Parker stands out as a potential face of the franchise. He was the No. 2 pick in the 2014 draft, and he's a favorite for Rookie of the Year before ever hitting an NBA court.
Also on the perimeter is Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak has become a fan favorite in Milwaukee after just one season, and at 19 years old, you have to assume there's plenty of room for improvement despite impressing people so early in his career.
Along with the two potential stars you have players such as John Henson, Brandon Knight and Larry Sanders looking to make a name for themselves. Jason Kidd and his coaching staff have plenty of talent to work with; now it's time to convert that talent into production.
Minnesota Timberwolves
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Who will emerge as the new leader?
Kevin Love is gone, meaning the Minnesota Timberwolves are without a clear-cut face of the franchise. Andrew Wiggins appears to be the long-term option in that category, but Ricky Rubio has a chance to emerge as a leader in his first year without Love by his side.
As Vice Sports' Ian Levy has pointed out, this may be the perfect scenario for Rubio:
"Rubio has an opportunity that is rarely afforded to young players who were drafted high and have fallen short. He has three years of experience under his belt, hasn't had to move cities, and still gets the opportunity to be part of an organization whose status quo and goals for the future are suddenly a perfect match for his own. Make layups, make jumpshots, make his teammates better in an offense which functions effectively, regardless of the score or the time remaining in the game; focus on process until the product arrives.
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Although we don't know how good the Wolves will be now or even in the immediate future, Rubio has a chance to grow with the organization. Wiggins will have that same opportunity, but it's the point guard from Spain with the professional experience at this point in the process.
New Orleans Pelicans
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AD for MVP?
Anthony Davis is an MVP-caliber talent at the professional level. Don't believe me? Maybe you'll take Kevin Durant's opinion seriously.
According to NBA.com's Jim Eichenhofer, Durant stated back in July, "I know how good he is now, but I know how good he's going to be. He’s an MVP-caliber player."
Durant continued by saying, "So he’s next. He’s next in line—a guy that has grown so much in just a year. I’m excited to see what he does from here. He’s definitely on pace."
The words "next in line" might be a bit misleading. As it pertains to the 2014-15 season, Durant and LeBron James are still the favorites. Then again, "next in line" might be a bit more literal than you think.
B/R's Adam Fromal recently broke down how Davis can climb the MVP rankings this next season, stating, "This year, with a potential third-year jump looming, that's almost guaranteed to change, and the league's highly promising 21-year-old has the potential to rocket his way all the way up to the top."
Watch for Davis to improve once again in his third season, and if he does (and the team is winning), he's bound to earn MVP recognition even if he doesn't take the trophy home.
New York Knicks
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Who will be Melo's sidekick?
When the New York Knicks signed Amar'e Stoudemire to a five-year, $100 million contract in 2010, the hope was that he would be the ultimate superstar sidekick alongside another big signing such as LeBron James or Dwyane Wade.
"This could help get the dominoes falling," then-head coach Mike D’Antoni said, via Howard Beck (now with B/R) of The New York Times. "He’ll be a great teammate for somebody."
As it turned out, the dominoes never fell, as the team was forced to acquire its next star, Carmelo Anthony, in a midseason trade. Even worse is that Stoudemire has seen a decrease in numbers every year since signing and is no longer considered a viable choice as a No. 2 option.
At this point, look to guys like Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith as the next best. Guys like Jose Calderon and Tim Hardaway Jr. will also look to make that claim, and once training camp begins, every role player on the roster will have a chance to step up and prove he's worthy of more responsibility.
Oklahoma City Thunder
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Steven Adams or Kendrick Perkins?
The Oklahoma City Thunder enter the 2014-15 season with Kendrick Perkins as the starting 5, but if Steven Adams can improve coming off his impressive rookie campaign, we could see a changing of the guard at center before we know it.
As B/R's Dave Leonardis points out:
"Despite the lack of production, [Scott] Brooks still thought it was a good idea to have the 29-year-old Perkins start 62 games in the regular season and all 19 playoff games. In both instances, he played 20 minutes per game.
On the flip side, Adams played 14.8 minutes a game in the regular season, and his numbers were comparable to Perkins' (3.3 points, 4.1 rebounds). Unlike Perkins, though, Adams turned it up in the postseason. He averaged 3.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 18.4 minutes (as opposed to Perkins' 3.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.3 blocks in 20.3 minutes).
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Statistically, Perkins has been going downhill since his move to OKC. He's in the final year of his contract, and if the Thunder want to see what the team will look like moving forward, a switch at center could expedite the process.
Orlando Magic
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How will the young talent develop?
The Orlando Magic's 23-59 record might not show it, but they have talent. The roster is full of young prospects, and while competing at an elite level might not be an immediate priority, developing the youth absolutely is.
For starters, the team has a Rookie of the Year candidate from last season in Victor Oladipo and one for this season in Aaron Gordon. Combine that with young pieces such as Elfrid Payton, Maurice Harkless and Tobias Harris (not to mention big men Nikola Vucevic, Andrew Nicholson and Kyle O'Quinn), and you've got as much promise as any lottery team league-wide.
With Channing Frye, Luke Ridnour and Ben Gordon as the only true veterans on the roster, this team will teach maturity and decision-making in training camp. The Magic appear to be on the outside looking in when it comes to playoff hopefuls, but the franchise has done wonders compiling assets as it rebuilds toward the future.
Philadelphia 76ers
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How will Nerlens Noel's "rookie" season play out?
In NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper's NBA Rookie Ladder (last updated on July 20), Nerlens Noel owns the top spot for Rookie of the Year candidates.
In Howard-Cooper's analysis, he states:
"Noel made just one appearance in Las Vegas and instead mostly rested the left knee coming off surgery. But between here and Orlando, he controlled the paint by blocking shots and forcing penetrators to change plans on others, and rebounded.
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For Noel to live up to such hype, he'll have to translate his summer-league production to the regular season. Just as importantly, he'll have to stay healthy.
Along with scoring 12.3 points per game on 51.6 percent shooting, he blocked three shots per contest in the Orlando exhibition. The Philadelphia 76ers will be content missing the playoffs and earning another lottery pick, but they'll look to develop Noel as a starting center, grooming him for the future.
Phoenix Suns
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What is going on with Eric Bledsoe?
Despite entering the 2014 offseason as supposedly one of the hottest commodities on the free-agent market, Eric Bledsoe remains a restricted free agent as we near training camp.
For a quick summary of the situation, we turn our attention to a recent write-up from NBA.com's Jeff Caplan:
"Bledsoe, 24, long ago rejected the Suns’ reported four-year, $48-million offer, a deal that would have paid the restricted free agent the same as Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry and put him on par with many of his peers despite having only started 78 games in his four seasons and missing half of last season with a knee injury.
He has yet to sign the qualifying offer that would pay him $3.7 million and make him an unrestricted free agent next summer.
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Regardless of how this plays out—whether it be a qualifying offer or a new long-term agreement—the Phoenix Suns need to make something happen. Phoenix is a borderline playoff squad out West, and getting everyone on the same page by training camp is a must.
Portland Trail Blazers
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Will the bench finally step up?
For the past two seasons, the Portland Trail Blazers have lived and died by the production of their starters. This hasn't been a monumental problem considering their first five led them to a second-round playoff appearance in 2014, but it is a concern if they want to take their game to the next level.
In free agency, Portland, without cap space to utilize, brought in Chris Kaman and Steve Blake, using the mid-level and bi-annual exception, respectively. Blake will look to replace the sharpshooting yet often erratic Mo Williams, while Kaman will bring size and experience to a position that desperately needs both.
Although we can and will put the pressure on this group of reserves (also comprised of players such as C.J. McCollum, Thomas Robinson and Dorell Wright), we must also point to the coaching staff.
According to HoopsStats.com, the Blazers played their bench the fewest minutes of any team across the Association, and at some point, you have to throw your second unit to the wolves in order for it to improve.
Sacramento Kings
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Will we see the growth of DeMarcus Cousins?
Watching DeMarcus Cousins go up against the size of Spain in the FIBA World Cup championship would have been a treat. Not only would we have seen one of the NBA's best young centers competing against the likes of Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol and Serge Ibaka, but it would have been the perfect benchmark to show how good the 24-year-old can be against elite competition.
Nonetheless, Cousins gained valuable experience this summer. He played with All-Stars en route to a world championship, and he did it while keeping his cool almost every step of the way.
Entering training camp, it will be interesting to see how Cousins takes his experience and translates it into leadership both on and off the court. The Sacramento Kings need their center to be a leader, and the hope is that they see that happen now.
San Antonio Spurs
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Back-to-back championship in sight?
The San Antonio Spurs have never won back-to-to-back titles. They've won five titles since 1999, but they've yet to bring home a Larry O'Brien Trophy in consecutive seasons.
In 2015, Gregg Popovich will have a chance to do just that.
Year after year, we assume the Spurs are too old to compete in June, but we're always proved wrong. It's true that Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are another year older, but guess who on the roster is another year wiser?
Kawhi Leonard.
Following a year that saw Leonard take home the Finals MVP award, it's safe to say the Spurs organization has done a miraculous job grooming young talent to eventually take over. Duncan, Parker and Ginobili aren't gone yet, which makes Leonard's growth even more valuable at this point in the process.
Toronto Raptors
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Was 2013-14 a starting point or a ceiling?
Calling the 2013-14 season a starting point is a bit unfair. It ignores the work that the franchise did beforehand to get to that point, and it discredits the growth the individual players on this roster have seen in recent years.
That said, the team was eliminated in Round 1 of the 2014 playoffs, and nobody up North believes that this is as far as the Toronto Raptors can go moving forward.
During the offseason, Toronto did the first thing it needed to do in retaining Kyle Lowry. He's become a veteran leader, and losing him would have pushed the Raptors a step back.
With Lowry back on board, the Raptors look largely the same. That's why growth from within is such an important theme, and that's why this group has a lot to prove.
Utah Jazz
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Will Dante Exum overtake Trey Burke?
Dante Exum is a potential superstar for the Utah Jazz. In the words of ESPN's Chad Ford (insider):
"Exum is a huge win for the Jazz. They needed a potential franchise player, and I think they got him. He's so quick, so fast and has such great size for his position. He can play with Trey Burke, or he can, and likely will, eventually take Burke's starting job. It's so hard for the Jazz to lure elite talent. I think they got one here.
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The question here is: How good can he be right away, and more specifically, how will his play impact the rotation? As Ford states in his post-draft analysis, Exum can play alongside Trey Burke, and while that's good news, playing him at—not alongside—point guard might be the quickest way to reach his potential.
Although Utah's permanent rotation won't be decided at the start of training camp, the preseason workouts will help project where and how often Exum will play. Seeing him on the court with Burke is the first step toward building the rotation, and while the plan will likely change throughout the year, point guard is the top position to keep an eye on before the regular season.
Washington Wizards
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Possible contender out East?
Boy, how things have changed in the nation's capital.
Before last season, the Washington Wizards hadn't made the playoffs since 2008, and going back further, they hadn't made the second round since 2005. Now we're looking at them as potential contenders out East. And while some of that has to do with the current state of the conference, you can't discredit what the organization has done to turn things in its favor.
Coming off a 44-win season that saw Washington earn a second-round matchup against the Indiana Pacers, the Wizards have added a championship presence in Paul Pierce. There's no denying he's past his prime, but having that kind of player on the floor and in the locker room is invaluable in the pursuit for a title.
Along with Pierce, Washington has pieces such as John Wall, Bradley Beal, Nene and Marcin Gortat leading the way. The wild cards come in the form of Otto Porter Jr. and Glen Rice Jr. and to a lesser extent—but just as important—Kris Humphries, DeJuan Blair and Martell Webster.
Consistency off the bench will be crucial for this group's chances, and if that proves to be a non-issue, Washington is right there behind the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers as favorites out East.
This group is about as entertaining to watch as it comes, and if everything goes according to plan, we'll be watching the Wizards deep into the postseason.
