The Definitive 2015 Offseason Shopping List for Every NBA Team
While this NBA campaign bears down on the playoffs, league executives are busy building their offseason shopping lists.
With the demand far outweighing the supply, teams have no choice but to plan ahead.
The start of free agency is like basketball's version of Black Friday. Only the sales are almost never as good, and the quantities are scarce. But it's a first-come, first-served process, so teams without a clear direction will be trampled as soon as those doors open for business.
Some are in desperate need of legitimate difference-makers—whether that's a star free-agent signing or an early draft choice—while others are merely looking to complement what they already have. A select group of fortunate franchises simply hope to leave the summer with the same players they employed this season.
We've peeled back the curtain and provided an early glimpse at each team's offseason plans. By examining strengths, weaknesses and potential roster openings, we have figured out what each team hopes to find this summer and where it might turn to get what it wants.
Atlanta Hawks: Interior Depth
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First order of offseason business for the Atlanta Hawks is stopping Paul Millsap's unrestricted free-agency journey before it starts. His two-way versatility has played a big part in Atlanta's rise, and the Hawks have to ensure that he sticks around.
But after tending to the home front—DeMarre Carroll also needs to be re-signed—the Hawks need to find some depth. They're well-covered at most spots (no one averages more than Millsap's 32.8 minutes per game), but they are frighteningly thin behind Al Horford.
The stretch label is getting harder to attach to Pero Antic with his sub-37 field-goal percentage. And Father Time has confined 36-year-old Elton Brand to emergency-backup status.
Horford has been healthy this season, but his injury history (two torn pectoral muscles) gives reason to plan for the worst. A reliable reserve like Brandan Wright or Kosta Koufos would help shore up one of this roster's lone weaknesses.
Boston Celtics: Star Power and Rim Protection
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As the Boston Celtics are currently proving, it's possible to contend for an Eastern Conference playoff spot without a legitimate star. But they'll need that type of player to significantly raise their ceiling.
With only $40.4 million committed to next season's payroll, they have the financial flexibility to go big-game hunting this summer. That's reportedly the plan for president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, according to Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler.
"The Celtics have a ton of cash and are geared up to use it," Kyler wrote. "Target No. 1 is Kevin Love. Target No. 2 is Greg Monroe."
Other pie-in-the-sky pursuits could include Marc Gasol, Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler. Gasol would net Boston both an All-Star presence and an elite defensive anchor, but he'll be atop many free-agent wish lists. Leonard and Butler could tighten up the Celtics' perimeter defense, but overpaying the restricted-free-agents-to-be would be a must—and even that probably won't be enough.
Love, whom the Celtics chased last summer, would scratch this team's itch for a go-to scorer, but he would first need to decline his $16.7 million player option with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Monroe would be an intriguing low-post complement to stretch bigs Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk, though the defense would remain cotton-soft in the middle.
If Boston would settle for a second-tier, defensive-minded center, then DeAndre Jordan, Robin Lopez, Tyson Chandler and Omer Asik could all fit the bill.
Brooklyn Nets: Youth, Youth and More Youth
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Unless there's some sort of tax break for employing AARP-eligible NBA players, the Brooklyn Nets must find a way to inject youth into their past-its-prime core. With Joe Johnson and Deron Williams still chewing up copious amounts of cap space next season, this isn't going to be easy.
Brook Lopez, the youngest and easily most productive member of Brooklyn's Big Three, has complicated matters with his sudden statistical surge (20.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game since the All-Star break). Finally healthy, he is expected by most league executives to decline his $16.7 million player option for 2015-16, per Grantland's Zach Lowe.
The Nets could also wind up bidding on another of their own if Thaddeus Young walks away from his $9.7 million option. Both of these deals could require major money, which Brooklyn doesn't have to spare.
And neither would fill the franchise's void of young talent to develop. With an obvious need for youth on the perimeter, the Nets could be left hoping they can steal someone along the lines of Will Barton, K.J. McDaniels, Cory Joseph or John Jenkins.
Charlotte Hornets: Perimeter Shooting
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The Charlotte Hornets had to know this could be a problem. None of their roster cornerstones are three-point threats.
Kemba Walker is an attacking point guard who does his best work off the bounce. Al Jefferson is a beast on the low block but not much of a contributor away from it. Even with a revamped shooting form, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has yet to test his new stroke from beyond the arc.
Finding shooters is a must, especially with the perimeter struggles endured by Lance Stephenson (17.1 three-point percentage) and P.J. Hairston (30.8). But those hired guns might have to come cheap if both Jefferson ($13.5 million) and Gerald Henderson ($6 million) exercise their player options for next season. And the Hornets need to find the money to keep the raw-but-improving Bismack Biyombo from leaving as a restricted free agent.
Danny Green would be a dream option to improve Charlotte's last-ranked three-point attack, but he might cost more than the Hornets have to spend. Gambling on the injured Wesley Matthews would be a bold move, but there is obviously risk involved. If the Hornets trust their defense to cover for a one-way gunner, that could move Marcus Thornton or Anthony Morrow onto their radar.
Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose Insurance
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The Chicago Bulls won't need to look outside the Windy City for their biggest free-agency tests. They have to keep a max contract ready for Jimmy Butler, and they might need to save some money for Mike Dunleavy depending on how they feel about rookie Doug McDermott's short-term future.
Assuming they sign off on both of those deals, they'll be shopping with an uncomfortably light wallet. And that's potentially problematic with the need to improve their ranks behind the oft-injured Derrick Rose.
Aaron Brooks thrived in a spark-plug role behind Rose, but his quick trigger doesn't look nearly as appealing if it has to be featured in the starting lineup. With question marks hovering over Rose's present and clouding his future, the Bulls need a more reliable option than Brooks and Kirk Hinrich.
But reliability is hard to find on a strict budget. Reuniting with former Bull C.J. Watson might be an option. A veteran like Mo Williams would seemingly fit with this locker room. Maybe Tom Thibodeau's magic with diminutive point guards could help former lottery pick Shane Larkin get his career back on track.
Ideally, the Bulls won't need this player filling more than a minimal role. But with Rose's injury history, there's always the possibility his backup will be pressed into major duty.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Building a Bench
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The Cleveland Cavaliers could have a busy offseason.
They have just three players under guaranteed contracts for 2015-16: Kyrie Irving, Anderson Varejao and rookie Joe Harris. Picking up Timofey Mozgov's $4.9 million team option should be a no-brainer.
Beyond that, there's a horde of uncertainty. LeBron James, Kevin Love, J.R. Smith and Mike Miller all own player options. Tristan Thompson and Iman Shumpert are both slated for restricted free agency. Shawn Marion has already decided to retire at season's end.
That's a ton of holes to fill for any team, let alone a title contender. Even if James, Love and Smith all return, the Cavs might have to construct their entire second team.
Irving has needed a backup all season, and Cory Joseph would fit perfectly into that role. Jae Crowder could easily fill Marion's do-it-all shoes, but if his price gets too steep, Wesley Johnson might be a cheaper way to handle that opening. Cleveland's frontcourt looks fine if everyone returns, but if they don't, then Brandan Wright, Brandon Bass, Kyle O'Quinn and Thomas Robinson might all emerge as low-cost targets.
Dallas Mavericks: Reshaping Their Backcourt
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Once the Dallas Mavericks re-sign invaluable paint presence Tyson Chandler, they'll quickly turn their attention to balancing their backcourt. As the last three-plus months have proved, there aren't enough touches to keep both Rajon Rondo and Monta Ellis happy—especially with the need to feed Chandler Parsons and Dirk Nowitzki.
Rondo will become an unrestricted free agent at year's end. Ellis seems likely to join him there with only a $9 million player option left on his contract. It's hard to envision a scenario where both guards are still calling Dallas home next season.
"Given the unremarkable returns on this partnership, the Mavericks have to realize they only have room enough for one," wrote Bleacher Report's Dan Favale.
Promoting either Devin Harris or J.J. Barea to the starting lineup is not a viable option. The Mavs need both on the bench and, more importantly, have to find something better for their opening group.
If Rondo bolts, the Mavs could make a run at either Goran Dragic or Brandon Knight. If Ellis leaves, Dallas could target Danny Green, Khris Middleton or Arron Afflalo as Ellis' replacement.
Denver Nuggets: Resetting the Franchise
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Want to know the current state of the Denver Nuggets? Digest the following sentence, and you'll find that answer.
"Jusuf Nurkic is the only true untouchable on the roster, per several league sources who have dealt with the Nuggets," Grantland's Zach Lowe wrote in February.
Nurkic, a rookie center with a 45.1 field-goal percentage, is the closest thing this roster has to a keeper. If that isn't a sign that a fire sale is inevitable, I don't know what is.
The Nuggets shouldn't be shopping this summer; they need to be selling. If they can find picks, prospects or both in return for Ty Lawson, Kenneth Faried, Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari, they have to explore those options. This core can compete when it's at full strength, but it lacks the upward mobility to climb into the championship picture.
Any free-agent investments made this offseason should be reserved for high-upside players. The Nuggets can afford to dream big and chase the likes of Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard and Draymond Green, even if their chances of actually landing them are low.
Denver has to start building something from the ground up. But it needs to tear down what it already has first to make that a possibility.
Detroit Pistons: Floor Spacers
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Life is different for the Detroit Pistons under first-year president-coach Stan Van Gundy, but one thing hasn't changed: Andre Drummond is still the bridge to better days ahead.
As long as that's the case, the Pistons need to make life easier for their blossoming big man. That might mean cutting ties with Greg Monroe's limited offensive game. Or it could mean moving forward without Reggie Jackson and his inconsistent three-point shot. It almost certainly entails doing one or the other, if not both.
Since Jackson can play the uptempo game that seems to suit Drummond best, the super-athletic point guard could have a long-term home in Motown. While Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's production has lagged behind his perception as a three-point marksman (career 33 percent from distance), the 22-year-old has time to turn things around.
But the Pistons still need to fix both forward spots. Bringing Michigan native Draymond Green back home would be a dream addition, but he's a tough get as a restricted free agent. Veteran Luol Deng might be a more realistic target, and he'd still meet the demand for tighter defense and better shooting at either forward position.
Van Gundy could add a second shooter to his forward ranks by targeting Gerald Green, DeMarre Carroll, Iman Shumpert or Tobias Harris.
Golden State Warriors: Keeping Draymond Green
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The Golden State Warriors' summer strategy should be simple: It isn't broke, so why try fixing it?
Maintaining status quo can be a death sentence in the NBA, unless status quo involves historic levels of dominance. With youth on the side of Golden State's key contributors, the only focus should be on keeping this group together.
This summer, that means matching any offer extended to restricted free agent Draymond Green. That seems like a move the Warriors are willing to make, but that perception could be a negotiating ploy itself.
"A consensus opinion that Golden State will match any Green offer might chase away some suitors, driving his price down," noted ESPN.com's Ethan Sherwood Strauss. "It's in the Warriors' interest to have everyone believe they'll pay Green a max contract without blinking."
Maybe the Warriors' resolve is as strong as they say, though keeping Green could send them into luxury-tax territory if they can't move a pricey vet like David Lee or Andre Iguodala first. An external assessment says that's a small price to pay for title contention, but it's easier to make that call when you're not the one cutting the check.
Outside of keeping Green, there isn't much roster maintenance required. The Dubs could look to improve their bench—shooting guard is a little light behind Klay Thompson—but they'll have a first-round pick to help with that effort.
Houston Rockets: Getting Harden Some Help
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James Harden's MVP credentials might be a little too strong. As incredible as it's been to watch him shoulder a substantial offensive load and hold down the fort without some key injured teammates, there's an underlying concern at the heart of his one-man magic show.
Is it really a good thing that the Houston Rockets have become so dependent on Harden? If it weren't for the MVP race, would we still celebrate the fact that Houston's offense is 13.7 points per 100 possessions worse when he doesn't play?
The Rockets have to ease The Beard's burden. And the easiest way to do that is finding a better option at starting point guard than Patrick Beverley and his 38.3 field-goal percentage (and 3.4 assists per game). In an ideal world, Houston could unleash Beverley's dogged defense and three-point shooting in spurts off the bench.
Former Rocket Goran Dragic should sit atop Houston's wish list. He's capable of playing off Harden and running the offense on his own. Cory Joseph is another name to watch, as he brings a defensive tenacity similar to Beverley's and a more efficient offense.
With Beverley headed for restricted free agency and Jason Terry's contract set to expire, the Rockets could be primed to overhaul their point guard rotation. Any move that helps Harden is the right one for Houston.
Indiana Pacers: Adding a Second Scorer
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The Indiana Pacers could be prominent free-agent players or bargain hunters. It all depends on what Roy Hibbert ($15.1 million) and David West ($12.6 million) do with their player options.
Either way, Indiana will be in the market for a scoring sidekick to help the recently returned Paul George. George Hill has never had a better scoring season, and he's still only putting up 15.8 points per game. Even if Paul George starts going for more than 20 points per night again, the Pacers could face an uphill battle on the offensive end.
If the Mavericks move forward without Monta Ellis, the explosive combo guard could give Indiana the firepower that it needs.
"Indy needs an aggressive, shoot-first weapon in the backcourt," wrote Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes. "George Hill is big enough to handle defensive matchups against either guard spot, and Ellis' presence as a pick-and-roll orchestrator down the stretch would spare Paul George from the ball-handling duties he's never been great at."
If Indy needs to reshuffle its frontcourt rotation, Robin Lopez and Brandon Bass could be relatively cost-effective targets to fill the starting spots.
Los Angeles Clippers: Bring Back Starters, Retool Bench
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You could find a handful of better frontcourt partners for Blake Griffin than the offensively limited DeAndre Jordan, but none that the Los Angeles Clippers can afford. Besides, this team is set up to maximize Jordan's offensive impact and needs his defensive presence behind Griffin and its partially leaky perimeter group.
The Clippers must keep Jordan, even if campaigning for him as Defensive Player of the Year doesn't get Doc Rivers off the hook from paying the big man a max contract. Luckily, L.A. seems to have the resources needed to cut that check courtesy of billionaire owner Steve Ballmer.
"We want to be the best we can be and I'm going to support Doc to go do that," Ballmer said, per Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times.
Moving past Jordan, though, the Clippers have some harder calls to make. The team options on Jamal Crawford ($5.6 million) and Matt Barnes ($3.5 million) seem like simple decisions, but the $52.9 million already slotted for Griffin, Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and Spencer Hawes complicate matters.
L.A. needs Barnes' defense. It might have to learn how to live without Crawford's quick-strike offense. Look for the Clippers to scan the clearance rack to find their reserves, with names like Gary Neal, Marco Belinelli, Tayshaun Prince and Kevin Seraphin surfacing as uninspiring but possibly effective targets.
Los Angeles Lakers: Staying Patient, Chasing Young Talent
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Whatever Kobe Bryant envisioned for the end of his illustrious playing career, it isn't happening.
Even if the Los Angeles Lakers wanted to give him a postseason sendoff, they have neither the cap space nor the on-hand talent to make a dramatic one-year turnaround. Chasing any costly veterans (hello, Rajon Rondo) won't significantly improve the present, and it would only make the future harder to navigate.
The Lakers need to prioritize youth as much as possible on the open market. When that isn't an option, they have to remain as flexible as possible. The only certainty headed into this summer is that change is coming. As coach Byron Scott has grown more familiar with his players, he's apparently figured out he isn't interested in moving forward with a lot of them.
"I got a sense of a whole lot of them I wouldn't want to be in a fox hole with," Scott said, per Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. "I think they'd end up shooting me in the back."
The good news for Scott is that only four Lakers hold guaranteed contracts for next season. L.A. can, and probably will, radically change its roster. As long as it keeps its top-five protected pick, it should target the best player available regardless of position.
If the Lakers target youngsters in free agency, they'll likely be bidding on restricted free agents: Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris, Brandon Knight, etc. They might not be able to pry any of them lose, but they cannot afford to panic. Grabbing another round of placeholders is better than tying up future funds that could be better spent down the line.
Memphis Grizzlies: Retaining, Supporting Big Three
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Outside of LeBron James, there isn't a more coveted name on the free-agent market than Marc Gasol. He's a two-way star who can carry a team at either end of the floor.
For each of his seven NBA seasons, he's manned the middle for the Memphis Grizzlies. The franchise has to make sure he's still holding down the same spot for his eighth.
Holding off Gasol's many suitors will be hard enough, but a successful summer for the Grizzlies involves more than that. Memphis also must breathe new life into a perimeter attack that Jeff Green, Vince Carter and (lately) Courtney Lee haven't been able to fix.
Bringing Green back wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but the Grizzlies could find someone better suited to their needs: defense and shooting on the perimeter. Luol Deng could be a sneaky-good investment if the Grizzlies can work him in under the cap.
With Lee, Carter and Tony Allen all on the books, there isn't going to be a ton of money to throw around. But if Louis Williams and Jared Dudley become available at a discounted rate, the Grizzlies would have to give both a long look.
Miami Heat: Rounding out the Reserves
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The Miami Heat were never able to see what they had at full strength.
Josh McRoberts went down before Hassan Whiteside appeared out of thin air. Hours after landing Goran Dragic from the Phoenix Suns at the trade deadline, the Heat lost Chris Bosh for the year to blood clots on his lung.
In other words, Miami may have unfortunately redefined the term "worst-case scenario." And the Heat could somehow come out of this mess with a playoff berth. (Hey, it pays to play in the Eastern Conference.)
But assuming they keep all of their key pieces—Dragic, Luol Deng and Dwyane Wade all hold player options for next season—they'll have a strong foundation to build around. That should accelerate their plans to climb back to the top.
That being said, the second team needs plenty of work. Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen and, if he isn't traded, McRoberts are the only trusted reserves on this roster. Shooting and perimeter depth are obvious areas of need.
Gerald Green, Marcus Thornton and Marco Belinelli could help fill both voids. Chase Budinger, Mike Dunleavy and Kyle Singler could do the same to a lesser extent—but perhaps at a cheaper cost.
Milwaukee Bucks: Upgrade Center, Find Some Shooting
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Milwaukee Bucks fans should be excited about the direction of their franchise. Assuming the Bucks keep Khris Middleton around, they could have three of their five starting spots filled for a long time with him, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker.
But this talent base needs to keep growing, and it will have to do it without the benefit of a 2015 lottery pick. Milwaukee also has never been a free-agent destination, and even if it was, there isn't a lot of money to bring guys in.
The Bucks will have to hunt for bargains, and they need to come out of this with either a starting center or more shooters (or, if it's possible, both).
Robin Lopez and Omer Asik could fill that first vacancy, though both may be able to find more lucrative deals elsewhere. Brandan Wright, Kosta Koufos and Alexis Ajinca might be the best Milwaukee can afford.
On the shooting front, Marco Belinelli and Wayne Ellington could interest the Bucks.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Collecting Athletes and Assets
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Any team with Ricky Rubio, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine should never stop running. When healthy, the Minnesota Timberwolves are a tremendously tough cover in the open court, even when they're still doling out minutes to costly veterans Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin.
The high-flying Timberpups aren't ready to rise yet. That isn't going to change over this offseason.
Minnesota has to prepare itself for when this group is ready to make its move. Acing the upcoming draft is an absolute must—this team could use any of the top prospects—and shedding some of that veteran salary could be an added bonus.
Teams won't pay a high price for the likes of Pekovic and Martin, but the Wolves might be ready to take what they can get. Minutes that are vacated by those two could be used to speed up the development of Wiggins, LaVine and Gorgui Dieng.
With no real pressure to perform, the Wolves can get creative in free agency. They can afford to overspend on boom-or-bust targets like K.J. McDaniels and Will Barton—players the organization could keep or flip in future deals.
New Orleans Pelicans: Balancing the Roster Around the Brow
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Anthony Davis' NBA takeover is a matter of when—not if. Judging by his astronomical 30.7 player efficiency rating, it might already be taking place.
The New Orleans Pelicans have to pounce on this unique opportunity. That means forgoing the quick-fix methods that have failed them to this point and identifying a group to sustain success.
The poor-fitting, ball-dominant trio of Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon is almost certain to return. The first two have guaranteed contracts for the next two seasons, and Gordon holds a $15.5 million player option that he'd be crazy to walk away from.
It's possible to build a winner with these three, but they can't all occupy the same starting lineup. Letting Evans join Ryan Anderson on the bench could give the Pellies the second-team punch they've lacked all season. If New Orleans can stomach cutting ties with Omer Asik one year after giving up a first-round pick to get him, it would have the money needed to chase a new starting small forward.
The dream list of targets begins with the same restricted free agents everyone will chase, but Luol Deng and DeMarre Carroll would also make a ton of sense. They could not only strengthen the perimeter defense and add shooting, but they'd also carry over good habits from having played with a winning team.
Alexis Ajinca and Brandan Wright or Kosta Koufos could split the center duties, and some low-cost guards—Norris Cole, Cory Joseph, John Jenkins, Wayne Ellington—would round out a more cohesive roster.
New York Knicks: Building for Present and Future
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There's always a stopwatch attached to the New York Knicks' plans. It's as if Big Apple fans are incapable of waiting for a winner and would somehow prefer more immediate—but ultimately less fulfilling—gratification.
That simply isn't how it works.
Sure, the New York media put a certain amount of pressure on franchises. And yes, there's a temptation to accelerate things with each tick on 30-year-old Carmelo Anthony's basketball clock.
But patience is possible inside the Empire State. And practicing that virtue means holding onto the valuable first-round selection awaiting the Knicks instead of sacrificing it for a proven player with a low ceiling.
"A draft pick can move an entire organization forward...and this is our opportunity," Knicks president of basketball operations Phil Jackson said, per ESPN New York's Ian Begley.
This entire offseason is an opportunity. Unless the Knicks can somehow steal Marc Gasol or LaMarcus Aldridge, they should focus on finding high-potential players. Kevin Love, Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler on the high end, while Reggie Jackson, Danny Green and Tobias Harris are on the more obtainable side.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Injury-Bug Repellent
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The Oklahoma City Thunder can't get a mulligan on this season, but significant changes are the last thing this team needs.
With Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka leading the way, the Thunder won 72.2 percent of their games over the last three seasons. For context, only the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks have a .700-plus winning percentage this year.
OKC should break training camp in October with roughly the same group it has now. The Thunder already have 13 players under contract for 2015-16, and they could decide to bring Enes Kanter back in restricted free agency. Any fears of Durant leaving shouldn't reach a fever pitch until after next season—if they ever get to that point.
The Thunder simply caught a bad break with injuries this season: Durant's nagging foot problem, Ibaka's knee pain, Westbrook's fractured hand and literally dented face. Outside of the annual calls for coach Scott Brooks' job, there isn't much to complain about beyond misfortune.
OKC needs to get healthy this summer and should probably keep Kanter around, as long as his price tag isn't too high. After that, the only item on the Thunder's wish list is anything that keeps the injury bug at bay.
Orlando Magic: Perimeter Scoring and Rim Protection
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The real key to the Orlando Magic's summer will be internal development.
They need Nikola Vucevic to be more of a defensive deterrent underneath. They have to find an offensive niche for defensive-minded rookie Aaron Gordon. More than anything, they have to figure out how to balance the floor with a Victor Oladipo-Elfrid Payton backcourt.
"Both of them have to grow as shooters," interim coach James Borrego told Grantland's Zach Lowe.
That's true, albeit a massive understatement. Oladipo and Payton have fired up 262 three-point attempts combined this season and connected on only 86 of them (32.8 percent). With both players relying heavily on dribble penetration for their offense, the team has to find enough shooting to properly space the floor.
Orlando tried filling that void with Channing Frye, Ben Gordon and Willie Green last summer, but it's hard to recommend a rebuilding club loading up on past-their-prime vets. Evan Fournier has helped, but he's best used as a second-team playmaker, which doesn't do anything for Oladipo and Payton.
The Magic shouldn't overspend to keep Tobias Harris, but they should make a run at DeMarre Carroll. They should also scan the market for cheap rim protection, selecting the best bargain out of Brandan Wright, Bismack Biyombo and their own restricted free agent Kyle O'Quinn.
Philadelphia 76ers: Guards of All Types
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Nerlens Noel. Joel Embiid.
That's what the Philadelphia 76ers have to show for all the losses they've endured over the past two seasons. (You could add Dario Saric to that list, but he's an unknown commodity who might not make his NBA debut before 2016-17.)
This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Noel has already flashed transcendent defensive potential. A healthy Embiid compares favorably to Hakeem Olajuwon. Saric was named by league executives as one of the best players not currently in the NBA.
There's talent in the City of Brotherly Love, but it obviously needs massive amounts of support. The Sixers need upgrades all across the perimeter, and their treasure trove of draft picks can only be expected to fill so many of those holes.
Every young, intriguing guard belongs on Philly's radar: Emmanuel Mudiay and D'Angelo Russell in the draft; Reggie Jackson, Brandon Knight, Jimmy Butler, Iman Shumpert and Will Barton in free agency. The Sixers shouldn't hesitate over tying up their funds, so they could cast a wide net over restricted free agents in the Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green and Khris Middleton category.
Noel, Embiid, Saric and the unknown lottery pick are a start. It's time to fill in some of those blanks around them.
Phoenix Suns: Adding Defense, Carefully Proceeding with Brandon Knight
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The Phoenix Suns appear to be stuck in the NBA's middle. They'll narrowly miss the playoffs for the second straight season, and they don't have the drool-worthy prospects to radically raise their ceiling.
But there's a lot of young talent in place, all of which fits well on paper. Eric Bledsoe can be a good-to-great point guard, Markieff Morris and Alex Len should provide some stability underneath, and the bench isn't short on high-energy contributors like Marcus Morris, T.J. Warren and Archie Goodwin.
Brandon Knight fits that vision reasonably well. He's a good enough shooter to spread the floor for Bledsoe, and his shoot-first mentality is easier to manage in a second guard role. The Suns clearly see something in Knight, because they flipped a potentially valuable (top-five protected) first-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers to acquire him in a three-team trade at the deadline.
"We had a great chip, and we cashed it in for a good young player," Suns general manager Ryan McDonough told Grantland's Zach Lowe.
But Phoenix has to be careful with Knight's upcoming restricted free agency. The Suns can't grossly overpay him when they still lack the superstar presence that's required for championship contention.
They also have to budget for needed defensive upgrades. Keeping Brandan Wright would be a start, but they need to plug some leaks on the perimeter. Chasing Danny Green, Jae Crowder, DeMarre Carroll and Iman Shumpert might take care of them.
Portland Trail Blazers: Internal Commitments, Minor External Moves
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The Portland Trail Blazers know their core is special. They should also understand that keeping it together is the only path worth pursuing this offseason.
They won't find a more productive power forward than LaMarcus Aldridge. He's the only player in the entire league to average at least 23 points and 10 rebounds both this season and last.
They won't bring in a better complementary center than Robin Lopez. He's a master of the little things, a player who is willing to roll up his sleeves and do the underappreciated dirty work.
And, as they've unfortunately discovered this past month, they won't be able to replace Wesley Matthews' importance both on and off the floor. He's an emotional leader, a knockdown shooter and a relentless defender.
"His ability to lock guys up defensively and kind of spark us at that end of the floor," Damian Lillard said of what the Blazers have missed since losing Matthews to a torn Achilles, per Mike Richman of The Oregonian. "His passion. Just the fire that he brought to our team is something that we definitely miss."
Looking through a wide-angle lens, Matthews' injury could have been a blessing. The more impact it has on his market, the easier it becomes for the Blazers to keep him, Aldridge, Lopez and midseason addition Arron Afflalo. If that happens, Portland only has to search for minor upgrades at the reserve forward spots, perhaps targeting the likes of Wesley Johnson and K.J. McDaniels.
Sacramento Kings: Backcourt Upgrade, Frontcourt Help for Boogie
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DeMarcus Cousins deserves better.
Boogie has tried to will the Sacramento Kings to relevance. He's averaged an absurd 28.3 points, 18.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 3.5 steals over his last four outings. The Kings dropped all four contests.
Cousins needs either a defensive presence or a sharpshooter alongside him in the frontcourt. If the Kings opt for the former, they might find what they need on draft night. Willie Cauley-Stein would be an ideal selection for Sacramento, and Myles Turner wouldn't be a bad consolation prize.
The Kings shouldn't have to worry about the shooting guard spot after addressing that position in each of the last two drafts. They need more consistency out of Ben McLemore and literally anything out of Nik Stauskas, but both have time to find their rhythm.
Point guard is a different story. Darren Collison looks so much better in a reserve role. If there's any way to find a starter this summer—signing Brandon Knight or Rajon Rondo, trading for Ty Lawson or Deron Williams—the Kings have to at least consider it.
That would cut Sacramento's needs down to reserve forwards. Dorell Wright and Alonzo Gee would give the Kings cheap two-way small forwards, and Kevin Seraphin could add some missing size to the second team's front line.
San Antonio Spurs: Keep Everything in House
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You know all those players that San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has enjoyed such a ridiculously successful run with? Yeah, they're worth keeping around a little longer.
All of them.
Pop may have found that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but those individual pieces are what makes the machine so effective. Keeping Kawhi Leonard—a Finals MVP who hasn't even played his best basketball yet—is a painfully easy decision. Ditto for welcoming back Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili with open arms if they opt against retirement and not letting Danny Green out of their sights in unrestricted free agency.
The futures of Cory Joseph, Marco Belinelli, Aron Baynes, Jeff Ayres and Matt Bonner won't make or break the franchise. But the fact that all of them are well-versed in Pop's system could give them an edge over external candidates.
If Duncan calls it quits, this conversation changes. Marc Gasol suddenly rushes to the top of San Antonio's big board, and the Spurs would have to make an all-out pursuit for the selfless superstar. If Ginobili follows Duncan's lead, Jamal Crawford and Louis Williams might be suitable replacements for the Alamo City's resident wild card.
But if the franchise faces want to retain their positions, we're not going to argue against keeping a dynasty together.
Toronto Raptors: Efficient Offense and Any Type of Defense
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Defense has to the Toronto Raptors' primary offseason focus. They won't be making any lengthy playoff runs without improving their 23rd-ranked unit.
But this offense isn't perfect, either. It's hard to gloss over the fact that Toronto's top three scorers—Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and Louis Williams—are all shooting below 42 percent from the field.
With substantial cap space at their disposal, the Raptors have to target two-way players whenever possible. If they're ready to move on without Amir Johnson, they should chase Paul Millsap and Draymond Green at all costs. Neither is likely to wind up north of the border, but that's where Toronto must set the bar to continue its climb up the NBA ranks.
The Raptors also need some perimeter defenders coming off the pine. That should move Cory Joseph, Norris Cole and Ish Smith onto their radar. If Toronto could attract the likes of Danny Green or Wesley Matthews, then Terrence Ross would be easy to move back to the bench.
This team has the foundation in place to dream about making legitimate postseason noise. But those dreams won't meet reality until this roster's flaws are addressed.
Utah Jazz: Snipers for Sure, Possibly a Point Guard
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Do the Utah Jazz have their point guard of the future in either Trey Burke or Dante Exum? More importantly, are their futures close enough to meet this team's suddenly soaring trajectory?
Those are going to be the toughest questions the Jazz answer this summer. Their response could ultimately determine Utah's course of offseason action.
Without some major lottery luck, the Jazz won't have a shot at this draft class' top floor generals. Even if they did, they might not want to wait for the likes of Emmanuel Mudiay or D'Angelo Russell to develop.
Goran Dragic would be a fun free-agent target, but he seems focused on finding one of two things (if not both) that the Jazz can't offer: championship contention or a major market. Brandon Knight could be a possibility, but it's hard to say how much higher his ceiling is compared to what Utah already has. Ty Lawson makes some sense as a trade target, but the Jazz should be wary about parting with too many picks.
The Jazz might want to give Exum and Burke another year for one of them to take over this spot. If they do, they should surround their young floor generals with more shooters. There should be plenty available in both the draft (Sam Dekker, Devin Booker) and free agency (Marco Belinelli, Wayne Ellington, Anthony Morrow, Mirza Teletovic).
Washington Wizards: Offensive Placeholders
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The Washington Wizards aren't crazy. They might run an antiquated, unworkable offense, but they aren't crazy.
If they think they have even the slimmest of chances to lure D.C. native Kevin Durant back home in 2016, they have to exhaust that possibility. He's a once-in-a-generation type of talent, and the Wizards haven't exactly had a ton of those players pass through their franchise.
The waiting game is necessary, but it also tells you everything you need to know about this summer's plans. Washington is short on cap space anyway, so it couldn't make a splashy signing if it wanted to. Unless, of course, a coaching change would qualify as such. A premature playoff exit might spell the end for Randy Wittman.
The Wizards should target temporary shooters to make life a little easier for John Wall and Bradley Beal. It's hard to say how much help Marcus Thornton, John Jenkins or Jimmer Fredette could provide—and harder still to figure out how much Wittman would let them contribute, if he's still around—but the Wizards aren't planning for next season.
They're looking farther ahead, hoping against hope that Durant wants a homecoming as much as they want to host it. It's a pipe dream, for sure—but it isn't crazy.
Unless otherwise noted, statistics used courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com. Salary information obtained via HoopsHype.com.
