The Toughest Offseason Decision Every NBA Team Must Make
Dominoes are dropping all across the basketball world, and multimillion-dollar contracts are getting served up like hot cakes.
The NBA offseason is officially here.
Over the coming weeks and months, some clubs will solve problems. Others will create them. Questions will be answered, and new ones will be raised. Some rosters will come together while others fall apart.
For players, agents and executives, the summer is a time of risk versus reward. With major money at stake, legacies on the line and stories to be written, there's rarely a simple move at this time of year.
But some are exponentially more difficult than others. And we have examined the situations facing all 30 teams to identify the toughest decision lying in front of them.
Atlanta Hawks: Can PGs Offset Carroll's Exit?
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In a perfect world, the Atlanta Hawks would have retained all key members from this past season's 60-win squad.
But free agency rarely offers best-case-scenario results, and the Hawks will be flying without one of their prominent perimeter weapons. Starting small forward DeMarre Carroll, who was the team's top wing defender and its No. 1 scoring option at times during the playoffs, took his talents north of the border and landed a $60 million deal with the Toronto Raptors, sources told Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
Versatile power forward Paul Millsap re-upped with the Hawks on a three-year, $59 million contract, per ESPN.com's Chris Broussard. And Atlanta bolstered its frontcourt by landing center Tiago Splitter in a trade from the San Antonio Spurs, per Wojnarowski.
But the wing collection took a hit, and 34-year-old Kyle Korver isn't getting any younger. If the Hawks' bigs can't offset the scoring loss of Carroll, then point guards Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder will have to pick up the offensive slack.
Boston Celtics: Clearing Up Backcourt Logjam
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Unless the Boston Celtics want to put an extreme spin on the small-ball movement, they need to balance out their roster over the summer.
Five of their nine players with guaranteed contracts for next season are guards. That number doesn't include their four draft picks, three of whom play on the perimeter. There aren't enough touches to keep everyone involved, and there isn't enough size or shooting to trot out several of these guards together.
"We have a lot of guards," Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said, per Bleacher Report's Brian Robb. "We'll figure it out. ... Our roster isn't complete. If you've learned anything, that's one thing you should know: What you see today is not what you'll see tomorrow."
It's hard to say whom Celtics fans will see tomorrow. Boston has a slew of backcourt prospects to dangle: rookies Terry Rozier and R.J. Hunter and 2014 first-rounders Marcus Smart and James Young. It could also help a guard-deficient contender with more proven players, such as Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley and Evan Turner.
Boston has an abundance of backcourt talent, but there's too much of it. Ainge and Co. must decide which of his many guards are expendable.
Brooklyn Nets: Where (and How) to Shed Salary
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The Brooklyn Nets are ready for a change, but they're stopping well short of a complete reset.
As soon as the free-agent market opened, they reached agreements with Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young on multiyear deals, league sources told Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. Since both players have already celebrated their 27th birthdays, the Nets don't have the widest window to build a contender around them.
But Brooklyn's options are limited. The money spent on Lopez and Young hasn't entered the equation yet, and this team already had $59.4 million on next season's payroll. The Nets' only potential avenue to an impact player is the trade market. But they need to shed salary and bring back something of value, and teams might not be willing to pay that price for what Brooklyn is selling.
Joe Johnson could be the most attractive trade chip, which says a lot since he's 34 years old, will make $24.8 million in 2015-16 and has had a below-average player efficiency rating in two of the last three seasons. But Johnson can still handle a fairly prominent scoring role, which is something that can no longer be said for Deron Williams and has never really applied to Jarrett Jack.
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Charlotte Hornets: Calculating Michael Kidd-Gilchrist's Value
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The 2012 NBA draft class is eligible for extensions this summer. The top pick, Anthony Davis, already agreed to a five-year, $145 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, sources told Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. The sixth overall selection, Damian Lillard, is nearing agreement on a five-year, $120 million pact with the Portland Trail Blazers, league sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein.
Even at those astronomical rates, neither contract is too surprising. Both Davis and Lillard have established themselves as perennial All-Stars. But for the second pick in that draft, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, his value is significantly harder to gauge.
The 21-year-old is a relentless defender. His 3.62 defensive real plus-minus ranked 13th overall and fourth among small forwards, per ESPN.com. The Charlotte Hornets surrendered 7.8 points per 100 possessions fewer when he played than when he didn't. He also had a good year on the glass, corralling 9.4 rebounds per 36 minutes.
But Kidd-Gilchrist doesn't have much of an offensive game. He averaged a career-high 10.9 points per game this past season, and he's never tossed out more than 1.5 assists a night. He hasn't attempted a three-point shot since his sophomore campaign, and he's just 3-of-18 from deep for his career.
One-way players are never easy to price. The Hornets should try to lock him into a long-term deal, but his annual salary could look like a bargain or a burden in the coming years depending on how his offense develops.
Chicago Bulls: Keep or Trade Tenured Bigs?
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The Windy City arrival of rookie Bobby Portis doesn't necessarily move Joakim Noah and/or Taj Gibson to the trade market. The Chicago Bulls might have taken the "best player available" route with Portis, and they could be content to bring him along slowly while their more proven players help them try to snap the franchise's championship drought.
But this frontcourt was crowded before Portis joined the party. Pau Gasol made his first career All-Star Game start and ranked second on the team in scoring during his debut season with Chicago. Rookie Nikola Mirotic shot his way into the rotation and could become a more prominent piece as a floor-spacer in new coach Fred Hoiberg's offense.
Even without Portis, that's a lot of mouths to feed. Probably too many, which is why Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported the Bulls are likely to test the trade markets for Noah and Gibson.
The window for this core won't stay open much longer. That might be motivation for the Bulls to keep all the frontcourt pieces they have to make one more postseason assault, or it could lead Chicago to use some of this interior depth to find more help on the perimeter.
Cleveland Cavaliers: How to Split Frontcourt Minutes
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Entering next season, the Cleveland Cavaliers should be armed with a big man for any situation.
They kept stretch forward Kevin Love on a five-year, $110 million deal, per Bob Finnan of the Morning Journal. They're also close to an agreement with relentless rebounder Tristan Thompson on an $80 million contract, sources told ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein. The Cavs already have centers Timofey Mozgov and Anderson Varejao under contract.
Cavaliers coach David Blatt faces one of the league's more desirable problems: too much depth. There are only so many minutes for Blatt to divvy up between the aforementioned quartet, and he'll also have to factor in the playing time LeBron James is likely to see at the power forward spot.
It should be safe to assume that James, Love and Mozgov will claim the three starting frontcourt positions. But with a pair of very capable reserves behind them, Blatt must find the minutes balance between the five to maximize their collective production and keep their fuel tanks full.
Dallas Mavericks: Building a Backcourt
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The Dallas Mavericks are almost building from the ground up. They have four players under contract for next season: starters Dirk Nowitzki and Chandler Parsons, spark-plug reserve Devin Harris and sideline-seat-filler Raymond Felton.
Every decision Dallas makes is critically important. If the Mavs are trying to make one more championship run with the 37-year-old Nowitzki, they need to start lacing up their sprinting shoes.
Finding a big man will be key. But even if the Mavs miss out on both LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan, they could have serviceable backup plans in the likes of Robin Lopez or Kosta Koufos. They'll certainly be without Tyson Chandler, who signed a four-year, $52 million deal with the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, per ESPN.com's Marc Stein. The margin for error in building the backcourt looks considerably smaller.
By all accounts, Dallas is done with Rajon Rondo and Monta Ellis. The Mavs landed Justin Anderson in the draft, but they might want a more ready option on the wing (Wesley Matthews?). While they won't break the bank for a new point guard, according to ESPN.com's Tim MacMahon, they need to find someone who could give them a puncher's chance of containing the Western Conference's gauntlet of floor generals.
Denver Nuggets: Setting Right Trade Prices
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The fire sale is coming at some point for the Denver Nuggets.
They toyed around with the idea of demolition last season, shipping out Timofey Mozgov, Arron Afflalo and JaVale McGee in separate transactions. But they haven't blown their roster to pieces—yet.
Outside of their recent draft picks, nearly all of the Nuggets players have found their way to the trade rumor mill. The Sacramento Kings have been trying to land Ty Lawson, Kenneth Faried and Wilson Chandler, league sources told CBS Sports' Ken Berger. Danilo Gallinari has been dangled on the trade block, a source told Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears.
That's quite a bit of trade smoke billowing out of the Mile High City, and unfortunately, the rest of the league can see it. Teams will try to shortchange the Nuggets in trades, and it might be tough for Denver to collect equal value in return.
But the Nuggets need to establish an identity this summer. They can't let teams take advantage of them in deals, but they have to be realistic with their asking prices so this rebuilding project can finally get underway.
Detroit Pistons: Buying or Selling Reggie Jackson's Stock
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The Detroit Pistons have given every indication that they believe in point guard Reggie Jackson and his potential. They gave up two rotation players and two future draft picks to land Jackson at the trade deadline. Pistons president-coach Stan Van Gundy has been publicly propping up Jackson at every opportunity since.
"He's priority No. 1, even above small forward," Van Gundy said, per Dave Pemberton of the Oakland Press. "Priority No. 1. Reggie is priority No. 1. There's nothing more important to our summer than getting that situation resolved."
Van Gundy makes it sound as if Jackson has a long-term future in Motown, and maybe he does. But leading up to the draft, the Pistons were reportedly in the mix for point guard Emmanuel Mudiay if he slipped to No. 8. "They're not 100 percent sold on Reggie," a league source told CBS Sports' Ken Berger.
The Pistons didn't get Mudiay—he went to Denver at No. 7—but they do have rehabbing point guard Brandon Jennings (torn Achilles) still on the roster. Even with some teams running out dual-point guard lineups, a Jackson-Jennings pairing doesn't look tenable defensively. If someone inflates Jackson's value in restricted free agency, Van Gundy may not want to put the team's money where his mouth is.
Golden State Warriors: Determining Harrison Barnes' Worth
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Ideally, the Golden State Warriors' negotiating session with Harrison Barnes should be as stress-free as a multimillion-dollar business deal can be. He wants an extension, and the team would like to give him one, multiple sources told Bay Area News Group's Marcus Thompson II.
It sounds simple enough, and there's a chance it could go down smoothly. But it isn't hard to imagine Barnes' camp and the Warriors' holding different opinions about his economic value.
Barnes' representatives can point to his two-way versatility, freakish athleticism and potential to produce at a much higher level in a bigger role. But the Dubs could counter that their depth and system make Barnes as efficient as he is then note how the former top prospect is 23 years old and still hasn't matched his hype.
Fresh off their championship run, the Dubs could have a pretty painless summer. They've already re-signed Draymond Green to a five-year deal, as reported by Yahoo's Marc Spears. Now they just need to find David Lee a new home and maybe shore up the reserve shooting guard spot.
But if their offseason journey hits any turbulence, it could come when they try to attach a dollar value to what Barnes brings to the table.
Houston Rockets: How Much Is Too Much for Beverley?
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The Houston Rockets need another playmaker on the perimeter. Someone has to lighten the massive workload James Harden is currently carrying.
The MVP runner-up had more than 31 percent of the Rockets' total assists and over 26 percent of their total points. His floor presence meant the difference between high-powered execution and offensive incompetence. With Harden, the Rockets put up 107.7 points per 100 possessions (would have been tied for fourth overall). Without him, they managed just 93.7 points per 100 possessions (29th).
Houston needs more from the point guard position. Starter Patrick Beverley is a dogged defender, but at the other end, he's a three-point specialist—and only a career 36.1 percent three-point shooter.
Beverley's defense is nice to have but only up to a certain price. The Rockets can match any offer he receives, but they have to know when to pull out of the race. If Houston holds on to Beverley, it has to maintain enough flexibility to find someone else who can spark the offensive end.
Indiana Pacers: Rebuild or Reload?
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It feels like an eternity since the Indiana Pacers were trying to solve the LeBron James puzzle in the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals. It was less than 14 months ago, but this Pacers team barely resembles that one.
Lance Stephenson bolted last summer, David West could do the same shortly and Roy Hibbert's ticket out of town might be waiting on a willing trade partner. That's 60 percent of a starting lineup that looked contender-quality just last year.
With the Pacers looking to increase the tempo, more change could be on the way. They have a number of vacant roster spots, all of which are opportunities to build this team in a smaller, quicker vision. But will the Pacers want to fill those voids with win-now pieces, or should they opt for a more patient approach?
With 25-year-old centerpiece Paul George in place, Indiana shouldn't feel pressured to rush. But with the battle-tested George Hill still around, maybe the Pacers feel they still have a nucleus capable of climbing the Eastern Conference ladder.
Los Angeles Clippers: Building Their Bench
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If the Los Angeles Clippers can keep the free-agent vultures away from DeAndre Jordan, they could have a lethal starting five. Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and sharpshooter J.J. Redick are still on the books, and veteran Paul Pierce is headed for a reunion with Clippers coach-president Doc Rivers, sources told Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
But the Clippers had top-heavy talent last season. Their old opening lineup of Paul, Griffin, Redick, Jordan and Matt Barnes thrashed opponents by 17.7 points per 100 possessions.
L.A.'s problems surfaced when the starters handed things over to the reserves. The Clippers had the league's eighth-worst scoring bench, per HoopsStats.com, and that was with potent sixth man Jamal Crawford pumping in 15.8 points a night.
They already added the unpredictable but talented Lance Stephenson, who could bring another set of playmaking skills to the second team. But it won't be easy making any more external additions. The Clippers already have $60.5 million on next season's payroll, and that figure doesn't include Pierce's deal or any money Jordan could collect.
If L.A. brings back Austin Rivers and keeps C.J. Wilcox, it may have to hope that internal growth and Stephenson's arrival can add some scoring punch to the reserve unit.
Los Angeles Lakers: Patience or Quick-Fix Attempt?
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The Los Angeles Lakers have $36 million on next season's books. That means they also have a ton of cash in their pockets, and it has to be burning a hole there as they endure only the second two-year playoff drought in franchise history.
The Lakers are being linked with some of the free-agent crop's premier names. They have already met with LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Monroe, per the Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan. They are also scheduled to meet with DeAndre Jordan, according to USA Today's Sam Amick.
But Aldridge was "underwhelmed with the meeting," a source told ESPN's Chris Broussard. Jordan is said to be "50-50" between the Clippers and Mavericks, per Broussard. And Monroe might be the worst fit of the three as neither a floor-spacer nor a rim protector.
Even if the Lakers move to second-tier targets, they might still pay top-dollar prices. No one is taking a discount deal with the salary cap set to erupt with the new TV money next summer. As much as Lakers Nation would like some temporary relief, the Purple and Gold have to consider saving their money and spending it once their young prospects have more seasoning.
Memphis Grizzlies: Do They Have Enough Scoring?
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The grit-and-grind gang is almost all back together. The Memphis Grizzlies didn't send many players to free agency, and the biggest item on their checklist (literally and figuratively) seems like it's already taken care of. Although All-Star center Marc Gasol hasn't agreed to his next deal yet, the two sides are "expected to come to terms soon," according to USA Today's Sam Amick.
The Grizzlies have won at least 50 games in each of the last three seasons. It makes sense for Memphis to want to keep this thing going.
But even with that success, the Grizzlies must figure out if they have a championship-quality offensive attack. They tied for 13th in offensive efficiency this past season, and that number seems a few notches below where it needs to be for this group to legitimately contend for the crown.
Memphis reportedly discussed a Joe Johnson trade with Brooklyn recently, sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein. Dealing for Johnson's gigantic salary would be tough, but the Grizzlies clearly feel an itch for more scoring if they would consider taking it on. This defense won't let Memphis slip too far our of the championship race, but this team needs another scorer to make major noise.
Miami Heat: How Much Is Wade Worth?
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With a rock on one side and a hard place on the other, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat find themselves uncomfortably stuck in the middle.
The 33-year-old is the most iconic player in franchise history. Through on-court excellence and off-court sacrifice, Wade has helped deliver three world titles and countless stars to South Florida.
He's ready to be rewarded for that laundry list of accomplishments, and the Heat want to show their appreciation. But Miami also has to protect its finances without insulting Wade. The Heat have to give him a fair offer, but that amount won't be easy to calculate.
Wade has missed 48 games over the past two seasons. But when he's suited up, he has been dominant (21.5 points, 4.8 assists per game in 2014-15). He has also left money on the table in previous deals, but it's up to the Heat to decide how much—or how little—that should factor into his next deal.
There should be a meeting place somewhere in that middle, but it could take a little time to find it. The Heat don't want to pay a present superstar's rate for someone who can no longer fill that role, but they'll have to cough up some decent coin to avoid the nightmare scenario of him fleeing South Beach.
Milwaukee Bucks: What Is the Timeline for Contention?
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The Milwaukee Bucks roster is an intriguing blend of length, versatility and athleticism. There's a decent amount of youth mixed in as well, although not as much of it as one would expect from a rebuilding team.
But that's assuming the Bucks see themselves as such. If they wanted to take the long, patient road to contention, then parting with a pair of picks (including a future first-rounder) for 28-year-old Greivis Vasquez was a curious way to pursue it.
Milwaukee reportedly wanted a meeting with 32-year-old Tyson Chandler, according to NBA.com's David Aldridge. It landed one with 27-year-old Robin Lopez instead.
The Bucks could be rushing things a bit. Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn't turn 21 until December, four months before Jabari Parker. Some might want Milwaukee to maintain some flexibility and hold off on cashing in any more trade chips until these potential stars have more time to shine.
But if the Bucks think playoff experience would be good for them—or that this team is closer to the top than we realize—they might want to stay aggressive with their roster. The sooner they know when they plan to contend, the easier it will be to start drawing that blueprint.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Time to Unload the Vets?
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The stars are aligning for a blindingly bright future in front of the Minnesota Timberwolves. They have a pair of potential cornerstones in Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns plus an intriguing supporting cast of high-flying prospects.
Ricky Rubio has his flaws, but his otherworldly court vision pairs perfectly with the Timberpups' blend of length and athleticism. Veteran starters Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic, though, are quickly losing their usefulness.
The 32-year-old Martin is a high-volume scorer. He could put a jolt into any contender's attack. But considering the Wolves were a 16-win team this past season, there's no reason for Martin to be firing up a team-high 16.0 field-goal attempts per game. Pekovic is younger (29), but he's injury-prone and more expensive ($35.8 million over the next three years).
If Minnesota can ever become a free-agent destination, it won't happen before these young players move closer to their ceiling. The trade market is the Wolves' best bet for roster upgrades. They might want to shop Martin and Pekovic quickly before they either lose value or impede the young guys' development (or both).
New Orleans Pelicans: Can Gentry Solve Perimeter Puzzle?
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The New Orleans Pelicans know they have a once-in-a-generation talent in Anthony Davis. As soon as free agency opened, the franchise locked in the single-browed superstar on a five-year, $145 million extension, as sources told Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
Every move the organization makes now must be viewed for its impact on that investment. The Pelicans have to put Davis in the best possible position to succeed so that they can follow his path to the NBA's elite ranks.
The razor-sharp offensive mind of new coach Alvin Gentry should do some incredible things with Davis. (There's already been terrifying talk of corner three-point shots for Davis.) But Gentry's biggest challenge is what he can do with the pieces around Davis. There's plenty of young talent in the Jrue Holiday-Eric Gordon-Tyreke Evans trio, but former coach Monty Williams could never solve that puzzle.
It would help if the Pellies' top players could stay healthy. But even then, someone has to figure out how to make three ball-dominant perimeter players work around a big man who should get a touch on every offensive possession. Gentry might be bright enough to do it, but if he isn't, New Orleans may need to move some of these pieces out for better-fitting ones.
New York Knicks: Spend or Save?
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Despite the Big Apple pressure that gets discussed so often, the New York Knicks can patiently rebuild like anyone else. Some fans might get a little antsy—and the media may augment the agony—but that option is on the table if the Knicks want it.
It just doesn't seem like they do. If the Knicks valued the future more than the present, they would not have made a $124 million commitment to a 30-something Carmelo Anthony. They also wouldn't have 69-year-old Phil Jackson running the basketball operations in his first-ever front-office gig.
But New York did invest the No. 4 draft pick in high-potential project Kristaps Porzingis, so there might be a little patience somewhere within the organization. The Knicks have also shown interest in 22-year-old restricted free agent K.J. McDaniels, sources told ESPN New Yorks' Ian Begley, so someone must be looking down the line.
With only $31.1 million on next season's payroll, the Knicks are well-positioned to make a major splash. But they have to figure out if throwing max money at an established, top-shelf player would help the franchise more than making lower-cost investments and maintaining future flexibility.
Oklahoma City Thunder: How Much Is Too Much for Enes Kanter?
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Free agency can't help the Oklahoma City Thunder. They only entered it with two open roster spots, and they wanted them filled by the players who had just vacated them: Enes Kanter and Kyle Singler.
If the Thunder can get their talented roster healthy, they don't need a splash. With so much riding on the 2015-16 season—it's the last one left on Kevin Durant's contract, second-to-last on Russell Westbrook's—OKC wants as little movement as possible.
Singler is reportedly already on his way back with a new five-year, $25 million deal, sources told Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. There's mutual interest between Kanter and OKC, according to ESPN.com's Royce Young, but the big man is reportedly eyeing a "max or near-max deal," per Basketball Insiders' Alex Kennedy.
Kanter is a super-skilled scorer (career 17.1 points per 36 minutes, 51.1 percent shooting), but he can be a disaster at the defensive end. As much as the Thunder want to maintain status quo, that's a huge price to pay for a one-way player who may not even start.
Orlando Magic: Are They Ready to Leap?
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The Orlando Magic thought the pieces were in place for a leap last season. But their veteran additions didn't make the impact they needed—Channing Frye in particular really struggled—and their young prospects couldn't pick up all of the slack.
But their disappointing 25-57 season yielded another exciting young talent (Mario Hezonja), and it gave the ones already in place more time to grow. Expectations should be on the rise, and patience might be wearing a little thin from a three-year playoff drought.
The Magic have money to spend, and the way they use it could highlight where they feel they are as a team.
If they use most of their funds to keep restricted free agents Tobias Harris and Kyle O'Quinn around, they might be signing up for another year of slow-and-steady growth. But if they snag a bigger fish—they were in the running for Paul Millsap before he returned to Atlanta, per NBA.com's David Aldridge—it's going to signal that they're ready to win now.
Philadelphia 76ers: Asset Collection or Roster Building?
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The Philadelphia 76ers have rolled an incredible number of guys through their rebuilding project. But two sacrificed seasons into the process, it's hard to say how many players the Sixers have found for whatever is coming next.
Their three most high-profile acquisitions are all frontcourt players: Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor. European forward Dario Saric would be on that list too if he wasn't spending (at least) one more season overseas.
At some point, the Sixers are going to need more than trade chips and place holders on their roster. They'll need to build a vision for what they want then develop the players best-suited for that system. Roster redundancies can then be shipped out to address glaring voids. Veterans might actually buy what the Sixers are selling and impart some wisdom and guidance onto the youngsters.
With copious amounts of cap space and a mountain of future draft picks, the Sixers have enough chips to place some high-stakes gambles. Or, they could keep adding to that collection and wait until the market offers something sweet enough for them to break this cycle.
Phoenix Suns: Eric Bledsoe's Future
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The Phoenix Suns seemed like they were big Eric Bledsoe fans last summer. His venture into restricted free agency took some time to get settled, but eventually it yielded a five-year, $70 million commitment from Phoenix.
Bledsoe posted nearly identical stats this past season as the one preceding it. But the Suns no longer seem so attached to him. They threw his name around in trade talks before the draft, sources told Sporting News' Sean Deveney. While NBA.com's David Aldridge heard that Bledsoe is now off the market, his situation with the Suns still looks a bit murky.
Bledsoe's backcourt mate at the end of last season, Brandon Knight, scored his own five-year, $70 million deal from the Suns, as Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported. Phoenix also lured in veteran big man Tyson Chandler, per CBS Sports' Ken Berger, and is now pursuing LaMarcus Aldridge.
Why does that matter for Bledsoe? Because as ESPN.com's Marc Stein noted, the Suns could move him to the Portland Trail Blazers in a sign-and-trade for Aldridge. If they move Bledsoe, they need to groom a backcourt starter for the present and future (rookie Devin Booker?). If Bledsoe stays put, Phoenix needs to decide what, if any, permanent role he'll play in the franchise's future.
Portland Trail Blazers: Time to Start Over?
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The Portland Trail Blazers have had a busy couple of weeks. But it's still hard to tell exactly which direction they're moving.
Dealing for a pair of young bigs (Noah Vonleh and Mason Plumlee) and throwing $30 million at Al-Farouq Aminu, per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, has given some the impression that Portland is stocking up its shelves for the post-LaMarcus Aldridge era. With a five-year, $120 million pact soon headed toward 24-year-old Damian Lillard, per ESPN.com's Marc Stein, the Blazers have a bright future to protect.
But this was a 51-win team last season. And it hasn't fallen out of the Aldridge race, according to Wojnarowski. In fact, the Blazers are reportedly trying to sign Aldridge and Greg Monroe, a source told the Oregonian's Jason Quick. That obviously isn't a rebuilding move.
If the Blazers can keep Aldridge, they could have a younger, deeper cast to support him. A lack of depth has plagued Portland for a while, and the Blazers' early movement may have addressed that issue. But if Aldridge bolts, it will be interesting to see where Portland goes from there. Would the Blazers search for a second-tier replacement, or would they focus their efforts on putting more youthful pieces around Lillard?
Sacramento Kings: Find an Identity
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Every NBA team has dirty laundry. What makes the Sacramento Kings' different is that it's strewn all over the neighborhood for everyone to see.
Their head coach, George Karl, reportedly wants their franchise player, Demarcus Cousins, traded, per ESPN's Chris Broussard. Despite public denials that Cousins is available, the Kings reportedly discussed potential deals involving the All-Star center with multiple teams, per Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. Kings owner Vivek Ranadive has even considered dispatching Karl, per Broussard.
It's a messy situation and one that could ultimately require an uncomfortable solution. But the Kings need to take a definitive stance at some point so they can steer this organization in a specific direction.
The roster doesn't fit well. It also doesn't seem to be the one Karl wants, but he may no longer be the coach that Sacramento wants. The Kings will need to make a number of micro-moves to turn this around, but they'll be stuck in neutral until they make a macro decision about who they want to be.
San Antonio Spurs: Who Backs Up Tony Parker?
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Tony Parker has dazzled on the stat sheet before, but a lot of his best work is of the must-be-seen-to-be-appreciated variety.
His dribble penetrations set the San Antonio Spurs' offensive machine in motion. The fact that a 33-year-old, 32.3 percent career three-point shooter continues to consistently slip past the defense on the perimeter is nothing short of remarkable.
But Parker's production has been limited these past two seasons, thanks to a combination of San Antonio's minutes management, a few bouts with the injury bug and the still-undefeated Father Time. The Spurs have always had the depth to support Parker, but their ranks might not be as strong as normal.
Manu Ginobili, if he returns, is 37 years old and coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. Patty Mills is a much better scorer than distributor, so he can't take on too many of the playmaking duties. Cory Joseph's two-way play could earn the restricted free agent an offer that's too rich for the Spurs to match. For all of the talent San Antonio has elsewhere, point guard depth could be a major question mark.
Toronto Raptors: What Are the Youngsters Worth?
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The Toronto Raptors' plan for immediate contention rests with Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and now DeMarre Carroll, who snagged a four-year, $60 million deal, sources told Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. Toronto's long-term plans ideally feature raw but intriguing prospects Bruno Caboclo and Lucas Nogueira.
Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross can be the bridge between the two. Both are former top-10 picks who are under the age of 25 and have three years of NBA service under their belts. Neither is a finished product, but they aren't clean slates either.
There's a decent amount of mystery left with both players. Inconsistency is a major cause of that, as no one knows if their future will be more like their big nights or their quiet ones.
Toronto could gamble on one, both or none this summer, as each is eligible for a contract extension. There is a certain amount of risk in signing either one to a long-term deal, but there's also a risk in delaying the deal and potentially seeing them dramatically increase their value. It's impossible to tell which move the Raptors will make—just know that it will be an uneasy one.
Utah Jazz: Do They Need a PG Upgrade?
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The Utah Jazz not only have a promising future; they might even have a shot to crash the 2015 playoff party. They are young, long, athletic and defensively disruptive. If it can find a little more offensive consistency, this rising club could build off the success it found late last season (19-10 after the All-Star break).
The Jazz could try to bring about that improvement organically. Nearly everyone in the rotation is young, and this team caught fire down the stretch despite some obvious growing pains from 19-year-old Dante Exum and 22-year-old Trey Burke.
At their position, Utah's point guards ranked 25th in scoring (17.4 points per game), 28th in assists (6.5) and 30th in field-goal percentage (36.5), per HoopsStats.com. If the Jazz think the rest of their roster is ready for the big stage, they might want to add a proven floor general. But that move would carry its own risk.
"A veteran might speed up Utah's ascent, but the Jazz may be hesitant to stunt Exum's development," wrote Aaron Falk of the Salt Lake Tribune. "The Jazz might stand pat, hoping to see internal growth."
If that's the path they follow, they better hope this question has a clear answer by next summer.
Washington Wizards: Is Otto Porter Ready?
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The Washington Wizards know they could use a stretch 4 this summer. They're also a little thin at small forward now that Paul Pierce has departed.
Otto Porter can't fill either void on his own. But if he's ready for another colossal leap like the one he took last summer, the 22-year-old could bring needed stability to the forward spots.
He only averaged 19.4 minutes per game this past season, but that number ballooned to 33.1 during the playoffs. He may never be a go-to scorer or a three-point sniper, but he could masterfully fill the glue-guy role in the shadows of his higher-profile teammates.
The Wizards don't have much flexibility, so their avenues to potential upgrades are scarce. If they deem Porter ready for a major role, though, they can address one of their biggest problem areas and use their resources to shore up other weaknesses.
Unless otherwise noted, statistics used courtesy of NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com.
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.jpg?w=600 "Offseason Moves for Every Team 👉")