The Definitive 2016 Offseason Shopping List for Every NBA Team
Every NBA team has a plan for the offseason, though some will certainly have more to do than others. And the difference isn't solely determined by the quality of the squad in 2015-16.
While the Miami Heat are fringe contenders this year, they'll have plenty to work on during the calendar's hottest months. Plenty of players are coming off their books, and the front office will need to decide which ones to pursue and how to make those pitches.
Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz don't have to make many changes. Loaded with young players and homegrown talents, they can stay the course and avoid falling for the trendiest guys available on the open market.
Do note that we're taking the idea of a shopping list literally.
Though this may not be true for everyone, most people write "cereal" on their list instead of indicating which brand they'd like to purchase. That decision is made at the store. And in that spirit, we're looking at the overarching categories each team is targeting rather than the individual players it might have interest in.
Atlanta Hawks
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1. Al Horford
The Florida product remains the lifeblood of the Atlanta Hawks organization, even if Paul Millsap is objectively enjoying a better season. When Horford hits the open market, he'll draw plenty of suitors and entertain the idea of signing a max contract with a new franchise.
But the Hawks can't afford to lose him.
Everything they do revolves around his versatility, whether he's knocking down jumpers or terrorizing passing lanes with his quick hands and even quicker thinking. Let him walk, and there's no way to replicate his diverse skill set without developing a prospect for many years.
2. A Rebounding Big
Even if Horford and Millsap remain the starting big men, the Hawks need a bit of help on the glass. Tiago Splitter had trouble staying healthy during his first season in Atlanta, Walter Tavares is still a bit too raw to play major minutes, and both Kris Humphries and Mike Muscala are coming off the books this summer.
Part of this is by design, as head coach Mike Budenholzer implores his troops to get back in transition rather than attacking the offensive glass. But it's still problematic that the team ranks dead last in offensive rebounding percentage by a sizable margin and also slots in at No. 27 in defensive rebounding percentage.
3. Another Young Wing
The Hawks boast a veritable stable of fungible wing players, but they need to keep shooting for another potential star. Developing DeMarre Carroll into a stud was so key for the 60-win team of 2015-16, and the lack of true breakthroughs from Kent Bazemore, Tim Hardaway Jr., Thabo Sefolosha, Lamar Patterson and—before he was traded—Justin Holiday have prevented Atlanta from maximizing its potential.
With Kyle Korver slowing down a bit and getting further up there in years, this isn't something the Hawks can just overlook.
Boston Celtics
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1. A Superstar
"But there's a lot of talk about we need a superstar and stuff like that," Jae Crowder told ESPN.com's Chris Forsberg at the conclusion of All-Star Weekend. "But all five guys on the court are so locked in and so engaged that we're one superstar. We all play together."
Still, wouldn't it be nice to have an actual superstar?
Isaiah Thomas and Crowder both have that type of potential and made All-Star-caliber impacts during the 2015-16 campaign. But having another go-to scorer who truly terrifies defenses (cough, Kevin Durant, cough) could make a world of difference.
2. A Frontcourt Upgrade
While the current rotation has worked just fine in Beantown, it's going to be tough to keep all the incumbents together. Amir Johnson, Jonas Jerebko, Kelly Olynyk and Jordan Mickey are still under contract, but Tyler Zeller and Jared Sullinger are coming off the books.
None of the aforementioned players are true frontcourt stars. This is a team that often used undersized lineups and was bullied on the glass, and it's telling that not a single big man logged 2,000-plus minutes in 2015-16, despite mostly escaping the pesky injury imp.
Boston needs to go after Al Horford. It needs to pursue Dwight Howard, re-open negotiations for DeMarcus Cousins and test the waters with Festus Ezeli. Upgrades are out there, even if they're not perfect fits.
3. Another True Center
Even if the C's fail in their first two pursuits, they could use another actual center. Olynyk and Sullinger have been able to slide over to the 5 in a pinch, but part of the rebounding trouble stems from the lack of size at head coach Brad Stevens' disposal.
Boston already boasts the league's No. 4 defensive rating. But just imagine what would happen if it stopped allowing so many second-chance points (No. 26 in defensive rebounding percentage) and didn't give up the eighth-worst field-goal percentage at the rim, per NBA.com's SportVU data.
Brooklyn Nets
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1. A New Point Guard
The Brooklyn Nets have four players with player efficiency ratings over the league-average mark of 15.0:
- Brook Lopez, 21.9 PER
- Willie Reed, 19.3 PER
- Thaddeus Young, 17.6 PER
- Sean Kilpatrick, 16.1 PER
You cannot win without a point guard on the right side of 15, and a return to health from Jarrett Jack isn't going to change that unfortunate fact for Brooklyn.
It's as simple as that.
2. Buyers for Veteran Pieces
Lopez and Young aren't going to be around when the Nets are finally competitive again.
This team lacks the assets necessary to expedite a rebuild, and it's consistently experienced setbacks when the front office wants to skip steps in that lengthy process. Without a first-round draft pick in 2016, boasting little appeal in the free-agency market and featuring no incumbent pieces with superstar potential, the Nets are caught between the proverbial rock and hard place.
Selling the key veterans would be a great way to add some assets, even if they're only mediocre selections and youthful pieces with significant limitations.
3. Young Talent with Upside
It doesn't matter what positions the Nets target. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is the lone player still under contract with a serious amount of potential, and he could eventually slot in as either a small forward or an undersized, small-ball power forward.
Instead of targeting safe veterans with their hordes of cap space, the Nets must go after uncertain commodities who could break out and elevate the team's long-term ceiling.
Charlotte Hornets
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1-3. Key Incumbents
Why do the Charlotte Hornets have to make sweeping changes?
Thanks to their second-half surge up the Eastern Conference standings, they're ahead of schedule and winning games with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist still shelved. When he comes back and adds even more defense to head coach Steve Clifford's reservoirs, this team could become one of the more dangerous squads in its half of the NBA.
But that's only true if the Hornets manage to bring back all their key pieces.
Al Jefferson isn't the star he used to be, but he still brings an offensive presence to the frontcourt and offers the Hornets the option of throwing him the ball on the left block and letting him go to work with his back to the basket.
Nicolas Batum has become a constant triple-double threat while splitting time at shooting guard and small forward. His ability to connect from the outside or set up plays for his teammates makes him an invaluable offensive presence, and it's not like his defense is shabby.
After his breakout season as a stretch 4, Marvin Williams is another player the Hornets can't afford to lose. And even if they're able to replace him with another shooter on the wings, it would be nice to have Courtney Lee back as well.
Charlotte's offseason has to be centered around retaining players, not trying to lure in new ones.
Chicago Bulls
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1. Point Guard Help
Even though Derrick Rose has shown some sustained flashes of his old form, he hasn't been a positive presence for the Chicago Bulls. His PER stands at a below-average 13.7. Box plus/minus indicates he's been worse than average by a significant margin on each end of the floor. The Bulls have even been 3.9 points per 100 possessions worse when he's on the floor.
Beyond Rose, more trouble abounds. Aaron Brooks and E'Twaun Moore will both be free agents at the conclusion of the 2015-16 campaign, which leaves Chicago with no backups.
Figuring out this issue has to be the top priority, whether it's achieved by trading Rose and starting from scratch, adding a workable backup or pushing the former MVP to the bench in favor of a steadier contributor.
2. A New Center
Joakim Noah's contract is expiring, and that should ring in a new era of Chicago basketball.
The defensive-minded 5 has been declining for the last few years, plagued by constant injuries that keep him off the floor and limit him when he's capable of playing. Now, he's simply not suited to be a starter for a competitive team, and it's not like his playing style has meshed with what head coach Fred Hoiberg would like to do.
The Bulls can continue to get by with Pau Gasol as the primary center, but adding another big body would provide a huge boost.
3. Assistance on the Wings
Rewind to December, when The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski was speaking on his podcast (as transcribed by BlogABull.com):
"Executives around the league, and people have told me, that the Bulls are very determined to add a talented wing player. Tony Snell has been given a lot of opportunities and he hasn't established himself, and I've been told that the Bulls are open to...whether it's Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson...maybe not both of them, but either of them if there's a deal out there that they can bring in the best possible wing player available, they're open to it. That's a direction they're going to go in. They need more shooting...to shape this team towards more of an offensive-minded group.
"
That mentality shouldn't change. Justin Holiday doesn't qualify as the talented wing player the Bulls were targeting.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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1. New LeBron James Contract
The Cleveland Cavaliers can't allow their franchise player to depart just one season after the much-ballyhooed return to Northeast Ohio. Should that happen, the Cavs would enter into a tailspin, saddled with big contracts for players who don't have the upside necessary to end the championship drought without a certain four-time MVP.
2. A True Center
This was supposed to be Timofey Mozgov's job, but the Cleveland center has cost himself a significant amount of money by failing to make a sustained positive impact during his first full season with the Cavs.
"I've got a lot of [stuff] in my head," Mozgov explained to the Akron Beacon Journal's Jason Lloyd. "I'm not going to share it to nobody. You ask me what's going on in my head, you're not going to find out. Only Sasha [Kaun] knows. You don't want to be there, trust me."
If he doesn't get that figured out, the Cavs must find a new option. Their small-ball lineups work quite well, but having a bruising presence at the 5 remains a necessity for a team that often allows a lot of dribble penetration.
3. A Backup Point Guard
The Cavaliers have two options here.
First, they could re-sign Matthew Dellavedova to a lucrative contract. The Australian floor general has been one of the league's most improved players, and he asserts himself as a two-way presence who helps improve Cleveland's net rating by 8.3 when he's on the floor.
But if Dellavedova's new contract is looking too lucrative, this team can easily search elsewhere for help. There should be plenty of mid-level options available on the open market, and nearly all of them would be upgrades over the Cavs' washed-up version of Mo Williams.
Dallas Mavericks
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1. Clarity
The Dallas Mavericks can't proceed until they know what a few of their key players will do.
Chandler Parsons could opt in for upward of $16 million in 2016-17, but he could also seek a long-term contract and attempt to parlay his improvement during the season's second half into even more money. Deron Williams could do the same thing at a smaller scale, though the Mavs shouldn't be particularly torn up if he tests the waters. And we can't forget about Dirk Nowitzki, who could restructure his deal to save his team additional cash.
If they all opt in, the Mavs will have approximately $30 million less to spend.
2. Youth
Outside of the three aforementioned players, the Mavericks only have a limited number of players under contract:
- Wesley Matthews, 29 years old and still working his way back from the Achilles injury that ended his 2014-15 season
- Devin Harris, 33 years old
- J.J. Barea, 31 years old
- Justin Anderson, 22 years old
- JaVale McGee, 28 years old
- Jeremy Evans, 28 years old
- Salah Mejri, 29 years old
Where is the upside coming from?
Anderson could turn into something special, but that ship sailed long ago for everyone else still under contract. Head coach Rick Carlisle can turn anyone into a convincing member of the rotation, but even his magic is limited.
3. Warm Bodies
Even with all seven of the guaranteed incumbents and the three players with options, that's only 10 players. And some of them aren't exactly guys you want in the rotation, as a true contender won't be handing major minutes to Harris, Barea, McGee, Evans or Mejri.
Dallas needs players. The Mavs are an older group without much upside that constantly experiences injuries.
Denver Nuggets
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1. A Higher Draft Pick
Thanks to the surprising success of the Portland Trail Blazers, the Denver Nuggets will be picking up an extra draft pick. They'll also be getting one from the Houston Rockets if James Harden manages to lead them into the postseason, potentially granting Denver three of the first 30 selections.
But given the makeup of this roster, the Nuggets have no need for three incoming rookies. Their first order of business will be packaging these picks together—the two owed by other teams and their own, which is certain to fall in the lottery—and moving up in the order.
2. Consolidating for a Superstar
The consolidation won't stop after the draft. Even before adding rookies into the mix, the Nuggets could have as many as 13 players under contract.
The frontcourt is especially crowded, with Kenneth Faried, Nikola Jokic, Jusuf Nurkic and Joffrey Lauvergne all fighting for big minutes. Playing time was already difficult to divvy out this season, and that was without a healthy Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari missing plenty of action.
Denver needs a star, and it should float plenty of different combinations to try acquiring one. It might be painful to part with some homegrown talents, but two-for-one deals have to be the priority in the Mile High City—both to increase the level of star power and to open up rotation slots for newer players with more upside.
3. Veteran Leadership
If the Nuggets have any roster spots left—and that's a massive "if"—they need to spend them on stabilizing forces in the locker room. Every team needs some veteran leadership, and Denver could potentially be entering 2016-17 with little of that precious commodity.
Detroit Pistons
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1. A New Andre Drummond Contract
The Detroit Pistons can't afford to let Andre Drummond escape. And they won't.
No matter how much money he's offered in free agency, the Motor City should match the deal and continue building around his insane athleticism, rebounding skill and burgeoning work on the defensive end. Frankly, the negotiations may not even reach that point, as he could easily sign an extension rather than an offer sheet as soon as the moratorium is lifted.
2. More Shooting
Stan Van Gundy, operating as both the general manager and the head coach, can never have enough shooting.
This year, the Pistons have made more triples than all but 10 teams throughout the Association, but they haven't been accurate enough. The team as a whole has connected on only 34.2 percent of its downtown tries, which ranks it No. 23 overall.
Boosting that latter number is key for a team that likes to spread the court around Drummond and draw defensive attention to the perimeter by featuring lineups that can drill treys from four of the five positions on the floor at any one time.
3. Even More Shooting
Seriously, Van Gundy can't get enough.
Golden State Warriors
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Option 1
1. Kevin Durant
If the Golden State Warriors want to blow up their core and add even more star power to the lineup, there's only one player who could make it happen. As The Vertical's Bobby Marks outlined, the Dubs really can afford to sign Kevin Durant this offseason without parting with any member of the current nucleus—Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.
2. Veteran Depth
Should they successfully court Durant, they'll have to part with plenty of key members from this year's potentially record-breaking squad. Andrew Bogut, Andre Iguodala and others could easily be playing for different teams, and they've all been crucial parts of 2015-16's dominant showings.
Fortunately for Golden State, ring-seeking veterans should line up to join the squad. Who wouldn't want the chance to play alongside Curry, Green, Durant and Thompson?
In this scenario, it would be up to the front office to determine which players are the best fits. Identifying veterans who can still make positive contributions while complementing other rostered players isn't easy, but it's the only way to guarantee the ability to compete for another championship.
Option 2
1. Re-Sign Everyone
If Durant isn't coming to town, the Warriors shouldn't be worried.
They can re-sign Harrison Barnes while negotiating new deals with Festus Ezeli, Marreese Speights, Leandro Barbosa, Ian Clark, Brandon Rush, James Michael McAdoo and Anderson Varejao. Financially, it's entirely feasible to keep the same squad together for another run at a title—one that could potentially be a three-peat bid if all goes according to plan.
2. Veteran Depth
If the Warriors don't feel like bringing back any of the aforementioned players—looking at you, Varejao and Clark—they could easily find replacements on the open market. Failing to land Durant won't prevent those ring-chasing veterans from wanting to sign on and play in the Bay Area.
Houston Rockets
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1. A New Center
Dwight Howard will not be back with the Houston Rockets. That much we can practically guarantee after his name was floated at the trade deadline. He's failed to make enough of an impact when healthy, and chemistry concerns continue to abound.
But once Howard opts out of his deal, the Rockets can travel down one of two paths.
First, they could choose to let Clint Capela take over as the starter and sign a new center to serve as the young big man's backup. Second, they could attempt to replace Howard's previous star power by landing a big-name free agent such as Al Horford.
Either way, they're going to need more than just Capela.
2. Solution at the 4
If it seems like Houston has been scrambling to find a power forward for quite some time, it's because the Rockets have. This team has grown so desperate it's even toyed with the idea of playing Howard and Capela together, which creates a horrible lack of spacing that wrecks the offensive flow.
With Josh Smith, Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas all hitting free agency this summer, the Rockets should finally have an opportunity to make a change.
At this point, it shouldn't matter what kind of player he is. Anyone new will be more than welcome.
3. Backcourt Depth
Patrick Beverley and James Harden work perfectly well as the starters, but Houston doesn't have any other options.
The Ty Lawson experiment was such a failure that the speedy point guard is now playing for the Indiana Pacers. Jason Terry is a free agent this summer. Andrew Goudelock could be the best incumbent option, unless the Rockets want to move a forward such as Corey Brewer away from his natural position.
Finding an offensive talent at the 1 and someone who can keep Harden from needing to play 40 minutes per game is vital if Houston hopes to reassert itself as a playoff lock.
Indiana Pacers
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1. New Contracts for Frontcourt Pieces
The Indiana Pacers can't afford to lose Ian Mahinmi and Jordan Hill.
Mahinmi in particular is a breakout player in 2015-16 and has asserted himself as a dominant defensive presence while maintaining a bit of limited value on the scoring end. In fact, the Pacers have actually been 2.9 points per 100 possessions better when he's played.
Despite his name becoming virtually synonymous with squandered potential, Hill has become a useful frontcourt force as well. He's not a game-changing addition on either end, but his ability to play consistent defense has aided Indiana's quest to make it back into the playoffs.
Even with Myles Turner in town, losing either would force the Pacers to take a step backward.
2. Wing Upside
Rodney Stuckey, C.J. Miles and Glenn Robinson III don't make for exciting options on the wings. They're all moderately productive players—they currently have respective PERs of 12.4, 13.6 and 11.6—but they don't have the upside necessary to help this team compete for a 2016 or '17 title.
Whether they target a defensive presence capable of slowing down the best shooting guards and small forwards the Eastern Conference has to offer, or they go after someone who can help take some of the scoring load away from Paul George, they need another body.
3. Backcourt Upside
That need doesn't go away when we look at the smallest positions in the rotation.
George Hill is perfectly capable as a starting point guard, but where is the upside coming from? He's a known commodity, as is the declining version of Monta Ellis who has produced a 13.7 PER and 0.2 BPM for the Pacers.
Whether the Pacers take another chance on Ty Lawson, draft a point guard or go after a free-agent target who could provide a substantial backcourt boost, they need a little more help.
Los Angeles Clippers
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1. A Small Forward Who Works
Paul Pierce hasn't panned out for the Los Angeles Clippers.
The veteran small forward has averaged just 5.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocks during his age-38 season, and those numbers get even worse when we dive deeper. He's knocked down just 35.4 percent of his field-goal attempts, connected from beyond the arc at a 30.4 percent clip and served as an obvious negative on the defensive end.
Naturally, the Clippers tried to replace him at the trade deadline.
But Jeff Green hasn't worked out, either. His ineffective shooting and inability to pass well in the modern NBA that requires some playmaking from forwards has rendered him a detrimental presence, and it shouldn't be surprising that LAC is 2.7 points per 100 possessions worse when he's on the floor.
Going into the 2016-17 campaign without a replacement would be disastrous.
2. Shot-Creators
Other than Chris Paul, not many Clippers can create their own offense.
Austin Rivers tries, but that usually has a negative result unless he's in the middle of an unexpected career night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jamal Crawford is often successful at creating, but his advancing age has made him less likely to connect on the ensuing shot. The 36-year-old is shooting just 40.1 percent from the field and 33.5 percent from three-point territory.
Los Angeles can't keep asking Paul to shoulder so much responsibility on the offensive end.
3. Convincing Depth
If it seems like the Clippers have been trying to add more depth for years, it's because they have. That won't change during the 2016 offseason, as they could potentially enter the summer with C.J. Wilcox and Branden Dawson serving as the only backups.
Los Angeles Lakers
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1. Another Potential Superstar
It's all about the draft.
The Los Angeles Lakers won't have too many chances to add superstar talent in free agency, as there's no reason a current stud would want to join a team mired in a rebuild rather than latch on to a contender. But they'll have one of the first picks in the 2016 NBA draft and an opportunity to add a young prospect such as Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram.
They. Cannot. Mess. This. Up.
Especially in the first season of the post-Kobe Bryant era, one in which fans will be aching for a player to cheer for, they need to land a future star who will look the part during his first professional campaign.
2. A New Home for Nick Young
At this point, you've probably read about the drama between D'Angelo Russell and Nick Young. We won't bother recapping that, since it has nothing to do with actual basketball.
However, it could lead the Lakers to make a move that will improve their locker room chemistry. And that can be done rather easily by trading Nick Young for pennies on the dollar nickel. Even if there's no taker, they can buy out his contract and lose little production on the court.
"It has nothing to do with the chemistry," head coach Byron Scott recently explained to reporters about his decision to keep Young on the bench, per ESPN.com's Jovan Buha. "It has everything to do with just basketball. Right now, I know what he's going through, and I know it's hard on him. But he's not here with us, mentally, and there's no need for me to put him out there on the floor."
Picking between Young and Russell shouldn't be hard.
3. Better Players
There's no need to get specific.
How many players on the Lakers roster are actually keepers?
Even with Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and Larry Nance Jr., there are no positions overflowing with talent. Los Angeles can afford to upgrade across the board, and it should be at the part of the rebuild where it's actually trying to get a little bit more competitive.
Memphis Grizzlies
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1. Bring Back Mike Conley
Though tendinitis in his left Achilles will knock him out for the rest of the season, per ESPN.com news services, Mike Conley shouldn't be done with the Memphis Grizzlies. He's a free agent this summer, but the Beale Street residents don't have a legitimate way to replace him, and he's still so important to everything they do on both ends:
| On Court | 108.1 (No. 8) | 106.1 (No. 16) | 2.0 (No. 11) |
| Off Court | 103.3 (No. 27) | 108.6 (No. 25) | Minus-5.3 (No. 26) |
Good luck competing without him on the roster.
2. Health
Though this isn't something the Grizzlies can actually shop for during the offseason, we'll make an exception. Injuries have flat-out ravaged this team during the 2015-16 campaign, and Memphis must do everything possible to experience a little bit more durability going forward.
Ideally, the Grizz won't simultaneously be missing Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Conley and basically everyone else on the roster ever again.
3. Shooting (For the Umpteenth Time)
Only the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks have made fewer triples this year. Given the typical trade-off between volume and efficiency, you could logically assume Memphis has made up for the lack of treys by picking its spots wisely and becoming remarkably accurate when it does fire away.
You'd be wrong.
The Grizzlies have hit their three-pointers at a 33.2 percent clip in 2015-16—better than just the Timberwolves (33.1 percent) and Los Angeles Lakers (31.7).
It's basically impossible to succeed in the modern NBA with that type of limitation.
Miami Heat
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1. New Contracts for Key Guys
As Ananth Pandian wrote for CBS Sports, the Miami Heat still don't know what they want to do with Hassan Whiteside. It depends on how high the price will rise this summer:
"Once concerned about making a huge financial commitment to Whiteside, Miami now clearly wants to re-sign its productive big man, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. It all comes down to how much the franchise would need to spend to keep him around, and whether it can afford to do so. Whiteside might command a max deal, or something slightly below that amount.
"
But Whiteside isn't the only important free agent.
Though he's the biggest flight risk, due to the potential max contract inevitably coming from a team such as the Los Angeles Lakers, the Heat also have to re-sign Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Tyler Johnson and plenty of others.
The first offseason step must involve deciding who's worth it, because only five players will remain under contract.
2-3. The Right Minimum Players
The Heat can't be tempted by the biggest names while trying to complete the roster, unless they're throwing caution to the wind by pursuing Kevin Durant. We've seen how well that worked out for teams like the Los Angeles Clippers, who decided Paul Pierce was the right addition.
Pat Riley is a savvy enough director of personnel that he'll handle this stage just fine. Finding bargains is key when the marquee players are making so much money.
Milwaukee Bucks
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1. Takers for Unwanted Pieces
Michael Carter-Williams should certainly be one of these.
The point guard hasn't managed to make much of an impact during his first full season with the Milwaukee Bucks. His inability to shoot and the occasionally excessive turnovers have negated most of his lanky defense. Now that Giannis Antetokounmpo is thriving as a de facto floor general, the former Syracuse standout is even more expendable, and the Bucks should undoubtedly shop him during the offseason.
Greg Monroe could also be added to the list, depending on how Milwaukee feels about his future with the organization. He hasn't been a strong fit with his new squad, but it could be tough to pull the plug just one year after offering him such a gaudy contract.
2. A Defensive Center
Speaking of Monroe, the Bucks have to find a defensively slanted center to either replace or complement him. Given the frustrating unwillingness to let John Henson play major minutes, Milwaukee doesn't have enough rim protection on the roster.
According to NBA.com's SportVU data, the Bucks are allowing opponents to shoot 51.5 percent at the rim, good for the No. 12 mark in the Association. However, they're also facing plenty of attempts around the basket—more than all but six teams—because teams aren't afraid to challenge their defenders in the restricted area.
3. More Shooters
The numbers aren't getting any better here.
No team has made fewer three-pointers than the Bucks during the 2015-16 campaign, and it's not like Milwaukee is making up for the lack of volume with impressive efficiency. The squad has drained 34.8 percent of its attempts from beyond the arc—still lagging behind the league-average mark of 35.3.
Especially if the Bucks are planning on running out Antetokounmpo at the point, giving them a backcourt member who can't shoot to save his life, they have to add a few more marksmen to the roster.
Minnesota Timberwolves
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1. A New Head Coach
After the Associated Press' Jon Krawczynski broke news on Twitter that the Minnesota Timberwolves might consider removing Sam Mitchell's interim tag and make him the actual head coach for 2016-17, the fanbase lost its mind. Seriously, just read some of the many responses to that tweet linked in the previous sentence.
The Wolves can't afford to let Mitchell keep running the show.
They need someone who's not afraid to let their young talents develop on the perimeter. They need a coach who can exhibit a bit of creativity on the offensive end and not inhibit the growth of the up-and-coming studs. They need someone who's not a retread option.
2. Another Strong Rookie
This should be the only way the Timberwolves make a significant addition to the current roster.
Tayshaun Prince and Greg Smith are the only players whose contracts don't extend past the conclusion of the campaign still in progress, so there aren't many spots to fill this summer. And while Minnesota has plenty of money to spend on free agents, it has to be careful not to block the development of a young gun with a limited veteran.
But imagine if the Wolves can land a top-tier prospect during the 2016 NBA draft. What if they can pair a promising power forward with Karl-Anthony Towns? Imagine them adding another wing such as Jaylen Brown and using him or Andrew Wiggins at the 4 in a small-ball lineup.
These are the possibilities the franchise should be pondering, not potential free-agent targets.
3. The Fortitude to Stay the Course
Minnesota can't be steered away from the current path by the futility of the last few seasons.
Sure, the Timberwolves are losing plenty of games, and it doesn't seem like they're getting too much more competitive. But they've also added some incredible talents to the roster during the previous summers, and those guys are growing into strong contributors.
The future remains bright. They can't do anything rash that could change that.
New Orleans Pelicans
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1. A Power Forward Who Complements Anthony Davis
Is this Ryan Anderson?
During the 2015-16 season, Anderson and Anthony Davis spent 1,046 minutes together and produced a net rating of minus-2.0. That might sound terrible in a vacuum, but it's actually an upgrade over Davis' average net rating (minus-4.6). Then again, the same isn't true for Anderson, who helped the New Orleans Pelicans only get outscored by 0.7 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor.
If this sounds confusing, it's because it should. There's still no telling whether the Anderson-Davis duo is an ideal one, even if it seems like the sharpshooting efforts of the power forward should complement the contributions of his superstar running mate.
But the Pelicans have to figure that out, and quickly.
2. A Floor-Spacing Wing
New Orleans might have saddled Eric Gordon with an albatross of a contract, but don't let that distract you from how he produced as a three-point marksman.
The soon-to-be free agent took 6.5 attempts per game from beyond the arc this season and connected at a 38.4 percent clip. Last year, he lofted up 5.2 triples during his typical outing and still produced a three-point percentage of 44.8. One campaign before that, the respective numbers stood at 4.0 and 39.1.
Was Gordon overpaid? Absolutely. Was he a valuable presence because of his three-point stroke? See the previous answer.
Replacing those contributions will be both tricky and necessary.
3. Better Luck
If the Pelicans have any money left over, they shouldn't hesitate to spend it on four-leaved clovers, rabbit feet, horseshoes, magical amulets and anything else that might provide a bit more luck in 2016-17.
Injuries have ravaged this year's team, to the point that it's closing the season with a nine-man rotation composed of Toney Douglas, Tim Frazier, Dante Cunningham, James Ennis, Jordan Hamilton, Luke Babbitt, Alexis Ajinca, Kendrick Perkins and Omer Asik.
That can't happen in 2016-17. Not just for the sake of the Pelicans, but to prevent their fans' eyes from ever bleeding like this again.
New York Knicks
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1. A New Head Coach
As Bleacher Report's Dan Favale explained in March, Phil Jackson must expand his coaching search beyond the candidates who are familiar with a certain geometric system:
"Hiring a coach is something Jackson can control. He can't force Golden State Warriors assistant Luke Walton to leave the comfy confines of Oakland, but he most certainly can expand his search to include those outside his inner circle—which, in reality, shouldn't be a problem, since there isn't a tried-and-true solution to pluck from Jackson's coaching cactus.
[Derek] Fisher clearly wasn't the answer, and [Kurt] Rambis isn't a viable option, either. The Knicks have fared no better under him than his predecessor.
"
Even though the Knicks are clearly wanting for more talent, hiring a coach is the bigger priority. It sets the tone for this team, letting it know whether it's just Jackson's method of experimentation or a squad that's actually supposed to become more competitive.
2. Point Guard Upgrade
Jose Calderon is averaging just 7.6 points, 4.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds for the Knicks while shooting 45.9 percent from the field. His PER is a mere 12.3, and his woeful defensive ability cancels out his work as a sniper, to the point that BPM shows he's a below-average two-way player.
Meanwhile, the Knicks have given rookie point guard Jerian Grant precious few opportunities to run the show. The former Notre Dame standout has played just 15.8 minutes per game during his first professional go-round, and he's squandered many of the high-leverage chances he's been fortunate enough to receive.
Of course, there's still the enduring possibility the 23-year-old Grant could turn into something special. But even if the Knicks are willing to hand him the reins going forward, they'll need to add another point guard into the mix. He and Calderon together aren't cutting it, and that's not likely to change in the near future.
3. Help on the Wings
Arron Afflalo and Derrick Williams could both turn down their player options and try to find bigger, lengthier contracts in new locations. But even if they each decide to return, the Knicks still need significant upgrades at shooting guard and small forward, which would ideally push Carmelo Anthony to the power forward position that has often seen him experience more success.
In the modern NBA, the wing positions are too vital for New York to continue improving while throwing out such limited options. The incumbents are a step below solid, and that's not nearly good enough.
Oklahoma City Thunder
21 of 30
1-3. Keeping Kevin Durant
Nothing else matters.
Without Kevin Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder would go plunging down the Western Conference standings. And this is a bit more than a mere hypothetical, as we saw OKC engage in a tailspin during the 2014-15 season, when Russell Westbrook attempted to do all the heavy lifting by himself.
This year, the Thunder have outscored opponents by 11.1 points per 100 possessions when Durant is on the floor. When he's not, that net rating has dropped all the way to minus-0.8.
The disparity might not be quite so drastic if the Thunder spent an entire offseason figuring out how to replace him and then learning how to play with a new core, but that's a situation they'd rather avoid.
Orlando Magic
22 of 30
1. Wing Shooters
With Evan Fournier coming off the books, the Orlando Magic will have one fewer three-point marksman on the roster. The Frenchman has knocked down 40.1 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc in 2015-16, and he's taken more than anyone else on the team:
| Evan Fournier | 367 | 40.1 |
| Victor Oladipo | 279 | 34.4 |
| Mario Hezonja | 174 | 34.5 |
| Tobias Harris | 151 | 31.1 |
| Aaron Gordon | 136 | 30.1 |
| Channing Frye | 121 | 39.7 |
Tobias Harris is no longer on the team, following a midseason trade to the Detroit Pistons. Ditto for Channing Frye, who will be finishing up the season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Without Fournier, there won't be enough shooting left. Whether by re-signing him or finding a new wing sniper, the Magic have to remedy that situation.
2. Defensive Center
As Brett David Roberts explained for Orlando Magic Daily, it may be time for a change at the 5:
"One thing became clear while Nikola Vucevic was on the shelf: The Orlando Magic can function far better with a defensive-minded big at center. For all Nikola Vucevic is, he carves out a spot as an average defender at best. The Orlando Magic need more than that if they want to take the next step up in their rebuild.
"
With Vucevic still under contract, this isn't a huge priority. But the Magic have plenty of money to spend during the free-agency period, and centers such as Hassan Whiteside, Festus Ezeli, Dwight Howard and Al Horford could all become better fits than the incumbent.
3. Veterans Who Don't Block Progress
The Magic won't settle for a big-name free agent who doesn't fit with the current roster construction. As Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler wrote, they do still like the young core already in place:
"There is no sense that Orlando wants to blow up their young core. Several teams tried to pry away parts of Orlando’s roster at the deadline only to be turned away. That is not to say the Magic would not be open to moving a core guy if it returned the right impact veteran, but their plan is to add to this group, not subtract from it unless it moves the team forward radically.
"
But Orlando could also unintentionally blow up the nucleus by signing a veteran who will impede the progress of the young pieces. Unless it's a star coming to town, it must trust the developments of Elfrid Payton, Oladipo, Hezonja and Gordon.
Philadelphia 76ers
23 of 30
1. Draft-Day Success
The Philadelphia 76ers shouldn't so much as think about anything else before the draft has concluded. Finding the right players during the selection process is key in expediting this rebuild, and they should have plenty of chances to do so.
Not only will Philly have its own first-round pick, but it will also pick up selections from both the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder. And though this is quite unlikely, fortuitous bounces during the lottery could push the Los Angeles Lakers out of the top three and force them to convey their pick to the Sixers.
In DraftExpress' March 27 mock draft, Philadelphia selected Brandon Ingram at No. 1, Taurean Prince at No. 22 and Isaia Cordinier at No. 27. Maybe those aren't the exact prospects the Sixers will be adding to their ever-growing coffers, but the idea of bringing three more promising rookies into the mix sounds awfully nice.
2. Dario Saric
Philly still can't focus on the free-agent market. After all, it's not like many players will voluntarily sign with this struggling franchise when so many other teams have excessive cap space to help lure them in.
But it can turn to one other option: bringing Dario Saric across the pond.
The No. 12 pick of the 2014 NBA draft has been playing for Anadolu Efes, and he's averaging 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from three-point range, per RealGM.com. He's also indicated that he's planning on joining Philadelphia in 2016, and head coach Brett Brown isn't losing confidence in that locale change.
"Obviously, decisions are going to have to be made on his part, but we like what we see and we believe he likes what he sees," Brown told CSN Philly's Jessica Camerato after a Philly assistant returned from a trip to Istanbul.
3. Joel Embiid
Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor may already be in place, but Joel Embiid is even more talented.
That's if he can ever play, of course. Thanks to a series of injuries and setbacks, the No. 3 pick of the 2014 NBA draft has yet to log a single minute for the Sixers and has operated as more of a ghostly presence who occasionally shows up for some warm-up highlights.
Now, after traveling to Qatar for a second round of rehab activities, "Embiid's lone restriction right now is 'full-contact, full-court scrimmaging,'" per Calkins Media's Tom Moore.
Continuing to get him on track could alter the fortunes of this franchise in a big way.
Phoenix Suns
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1. Starting Power Forward
During the stretch run of the 2015-16 season, the Phoenix Suns' depth chart at power forward looks like so, per Rotoworld.com:
- Jon Leuer
- Mirza Teletovic
- Cory Jefferson
But as soon as the offseason begins, it will appear in this fashion:
- [Empty]
The Suns won't have a single power forward under contract, and that's not a tenable situation.
2. Extension for Earl Watson
As Dave King wrote for Bright Side of the Sun in early March, Earl Watson has helped change the culture of the Phoenix Suns since taking over as interim head coach:
"Watson was definitely changing the team's culture. The players were no longer pointing fingers outward. They began talking in more inclusive tones and about collective growth toward the future.
Lo and behold, a month after taking over the team, it appears that Earl Watson is somewhat dousing the fire. And if he keeps on this path, he might just have saved GM Ryan McDonough's job, who in turn may be honor-bound to save Earl's.
"
When King penned that, the Suns had just won a second consecutive game and improved to 17-46 on the disappointing season. Since then, they've emerged victoriously from just three more contests in 14 attempts, but the humiliating blowouts aren't happening nearly as often.
It's worth giving Watson a shot after removing the interim tag.
3. Frontcourt Depth
Even after the Suns figure out who's going to start at power forward and determine their head coach of the future, they'll be lacking capable depth in the frontcourt. The rotation of Alex Len and Tyson Chandler isn't promising at the 5, and one player alone won't solve the woes at the 4.
The backcourt is totally fine. T.J. Warren has shown enough for the Suns to be satisfied at small forward.
But shoring up the two biggest spots in the lineup must remain a primary focus.
Portland Trail Blazers
25 of 30
1. Find a 3rd Scorer
Talented as Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum may be on the offensive end, the Portland Trail Blazers don't have a reliable third option.
Back on March 23, we showed that no team in the Western Conference has seen a No. 3 scorer average fewer points per game than Allen Crabbe in Rip City, and that hasn't changed. Lillard is producing 25.3 points per game. McCollum is checking in with 20.7 during his typical outing. But Crabbe is still stuck at 10.2—narrowly ahead of Al-Farouq Aminu for No. 3.
That, in a nutshell, is why Portland's ceiling is limited.
When your third option is barely outscoring a defensive specialist who often stands in a corner and waits to clean up on the offensive glass, that's problematic.
2. Maintain Frontcourt Depth
With Mason Plumlee, Meyers Leonard, Ed Davis, Chris Kaman and Noah Vonleh on the roster, the Blazers haven't usually been lacking depth at the biggest positions. Whenever someone has suffered an injury or been plagued by ineffectiveness, they've been able to turn to another option.
And that's saying nothing of the ability to play Aminu at the 4 in a small-ball lineup. Even Crabbe has dabbled at power forward, though only for minimal time.
But with Leonard and Kaman both coming off the books, that structure is threatened. The latter is expendable at this point in his career, but re-signing the former should be a priority, even if he's been massively disappointing during his 2015-16 campaign.
3. Wing Defense
According to defensive box plus/minus (DBPM), only three members of the Portland organization have been above-average presences on the point-preventing end in 2015-16:
- Mason Plumlee, 2.9 DBPM
- Ed Davis, 2.5 DBPM
- Al-Farouq Aminu, 0.7 DBPM
The Blazers already have a couple of bigs who can protect the rim, and a healthy season from Leonard (if he re-signs) could expand the list from two to three. They're also never going to get positive defensive production from the backcourt, since Lillard and McCollum are notorious sieves who would need to undergo massive overhauls to change that unfortunate fact.
If they're going to finish better than No. 20 in next season's defensive-rating leaderboard, the upgrade has to come on the wings.
Sacramento Kings
26 of 30
1. Find a New Head Coach
George Karl is not going to work.
Early in February, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported the Sacramento Kings were planning to fire their head coach in the next few days, but that never happened. Instead, Karl was forced to spend the rest of the season serving as a lame duck, and we've even seen DeMarcus Cousins draw a suspension for yelling at him during a game.
Now, it would be shocking if Sacramento retained Karl. The Kings are almost guaranteed to turn to a fresh face, and he'll be the ninth different signal-caller in the 10 years since this franchise last advanced to the playoffs.
2. Figure Out Point Guard
Was Rajon Rondo's one-year deal with the Kings a success? It depends on how you look at it.
On the surface level, the point guard is averaging 11.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and a league-best 11.6 assists per game. He's also trending in the right direction as a shooter, even knocking down a career-high 35.5 percent of his three-point attempts.
But PER (16.7) and BPM (0.9) both indicate he's only been slightly better than an average player, and on/off splits show the Kings have been substantially worse on both ends of the court when he's playing. He's also failed to lead Sacramento into playoff contention.
Is it worth retaining him? Should the Kings ask Darren Collison to serve as the starter next year? Would it make sense to spend money acquiring a new floor general to take over?
3. Make DeMarcus Cousins Happy
Rondo and Eric Moreland are the only incumbent players with expiring contracts, though a quartet of backups possess player options and could hit the open market. Either way, it's not looking as if Sacramento will have plenty of roster spots available to make major changes.
No matter what happens, the Kings need to consult Cousins on everything. That includes the inevitable coaching search, anything that happens during the 2016 NBA draft and free-agency forays.
While it may be unorthodox to include a player in front-office activity, the Kings have to appease Cousins. Based on the trajectory of the organization, the hapless feel of the 2015-16 season and his potentially tenuous relationship with everyone who helped fire Mike Malone last year, it can't be long before a trade demand is coming.
San Antonio Spurs
27 of 30
1. Bring Back the Veterans
"Somewhere in the shadows of this incredible San Antonio Spurs season is the fact that at its end, two of the greatest players in franchise history could walk away. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili both have player options for next year, and Ginobili is undecided on how much longer he'll play," Matt Moore recently wrote for CBS Sports.
Even though the franchise is transitioning into the Kawhi Leonard/LaMarcus Aldridge era, the first priority must be convincing each of these guys to come back. Offer them extra rest days if you need to.
Whether they pick up their player options or decline them and sign new deals, having Ginobili and Duncan in the fold would set the Spurs up for even more success in 2016-17.
2-3. Acquire Spurs Players
Who are Spurs players?
They're whoever you want them to be. At this point, head coach Gregg Popovich could turn a lineup of Ty Lawson, Dion Waiters, Kyle Singler, Anthony Tolliver and Kendrick Perkins into a quality bunch.
Toronto Raptors
28 of 30
1. Starting Power Forward
"The Raptors are chasing a power forward this week," ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst reported before the trade deadline. "Sources say Brooklyn's Thaddeus Young, New Orleans' Ryan Anderson, Denver's Kenneth Faried and the Phoenix duo of Markieff Morris and P.J. Tucker have all been pursued this month by the East's No. 2 team."
Well, the Toronto Raptors struck out in those pursuits.
Now, with James Johnson and Luis Scola finishing up the last year of their current deals, the Raptors will have an even greater need at the 4. Going to war with Patrick Patterson as the lone power forward is a serious concern, even if the team has admittedly fared better with him on the court.
2. Backup Power Forward
This isn't to say the Raptors should move Patterson to the third slot on the positional depth chart, but rather to suggest they should add another power forward behind him and whomever else they sign.
Injuries and/or ineffectiveness at this position have plagued Toronto ever since Chris Bosh left to join the Miami Heat, and having additional depth would make it easier for them to use small-ball lineups and match the modern NBA's biggest trend.
3. Secure DeMar DeRozan
"This has always been home to me. I took pride in putting on this Toronto Raptors jersey since I've been drafted here. And my whole goal was to get this team to the point where it is now. And I feel I've been a major key to that," DeMar DeRozan told Stein, also saying it would be "pretty tough" for another team to lure him away this summer.
Nonetheless, some will try.
ESPN.com's Zach Lowe reported the Los Angeles Lakers, DeRozan's hometown squad, will be one of the teams prepared to offer him a maximum contract. We don't yet know the others, but they'll surely exist now that he's made the All-Star team for the second time while playing such a shallow position.
Despite the glamorous statistics he accrues, DeRozan isn't totally vital to Toronto's championship hopes. Kyle Lowry plays better when he's not on the floor, and the team's net rating goes down by 6.9 points per 100 possessions when he plays.
But he's still a valuable presence, and a stretchy power forward would help unlock the potential of lineups that feature him. He's important enough to be a priority—just not the top one this offseason.
Utah Jazz
29 of 30
1-3. Stay the Course
The Utah Jazz may not have met the expectations they carried into the 2015-16 season, but they're still in playoff contention with a young, homegrown roster. It's only injuries that have held them back and prevented them from building chemistry, and they have had to force players into roles too large for them at the current stage of their careers.
This offseason, Trevor Booker and Erick Green will be the only players with expiring contracts. The Jazz can easily replace the former with a more polished version of Trey Lyles, and there will only be less room for the latter when Dante Exum is back in the lineup.
Panicking and attempting to expedite this process is the worst thing Utah can do. Just remain patient, because the best is yet to come.
Washington Wizards
30 of 30
1. Kevin Durant
At this point, it's exceedingly unlikely Kevin Durant would sign with the Washington Wizards this summer. After they spent the 2015-16 season scrambling and then attempting to climb back into the playoff picture, they don't have enough present appeal for a current superstar who wants to win a championship as quickly as possible.
But the Wizards must perform their due diligence. After all, they are Durant's hometown team, and they've spent the last few years preparing for their shot at him.
It probably won't be successful, but they'll never know unless they try.
2. Bradley Beal Extension
The Wizards and Bradley Beal couldn't come to terms on an extension before the early-season deadline, but that should change this summer. As soon as Durant gives an indication he's ruling out a return to the nation's capital, Washington will have the money necessary to sign its shooting guard to a new deal.
Only a lack of excitement about Beal's future prospects could hinder this logical progression. The 2-guard has struggled with injuries during his professional career, and he's failed to develop as expected since he left Florida behind.
Of course, he's still just 22 years old, and that alone should force the Wizards' hand.
3. Everything
Remember how we said the Wizards had been gearing up for this offseason during the last few years? We weren't making that up.
Right now, only seven players are under contract past this campaign, and they make for a rather threadbare depth chart:
| PG | John Wall | |
| SG | ||
| SF | Otto Porter | Kelly Oubre, Jarell Eddie |
| PF | Markieff Morris | Drew Gooden |
| C | Marcin Gortat |
The Wizards will have their work cut out for them this offseason. They're going to need help everywhere.
Adam Fromal covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @fromal09.
All stats, unless otherwise indicated, are from Basketball-Reference.com or Adam's own databases and are accurate heading into games on April 5.
