Every NBA Team's Biggest Hole to Fill in Free Agency
Though the NBA's 2020 free-agency class is widely considered a downgrade from the last two, that doesn't mean it will be a less active or less interesting offseason. The more we see of the playoffs, the more every team's weaknesses are becoming glaring, and clubs ready to contend for titles can't rely on rookies to fill those kinds of roster holes.
We'll examine each team's biggest flaw it can fix via free agency. If you're a fan of a lottery-bound organization this year, don't be surprised if your team's obvious need is overlooked. For instance, the Knicks are more than likely going to target a point guard in the draft like they so often do, so we looked at another of their innumerable roster flaws instead.
Let's dig in.
Atlanta Hawks: Stretch Big
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For a lottery team, the Atlanta Hawks don't have many roster questions.
Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, DeAndre Hunter, Cam Reddish, John Collins and Clint Capela are all reasonable bets to stay in Atlanta for at least the forthcoming season, so the Hawks won't need to sign another starter. They're also effectively building around Young's glaring defensive deficiencies, which would be the next most obvious weakness to examine.
However, despite a good start to its rebuild, Atlanta's roster isn't airtight yet. There's still more to sort out in the frontcourt.
Despite being an ostensibly good fit, Collins and Capela share some skill-based overlap. While Collins is a good shooter and could be an adequate stretch 4, he's much better as an alley-oop target, which is also Capela's best offensive strength and would cramp Atlanta's otherwise stellar spacing.
With this in mind, the Hawks should target a backup big man who'd fit seamlessly with both Collins and Capela. Players like Aron Baynes and Chris Boucher (if the Raptors declined his Bird rights) come to mind.
If either wanted to make the ATL his next home, the Hawks would be much better for it.
Boston Celtics: Backup Point Guard
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Given that Daniel Theis, Enes Kanter and Robert Williams III make up the Celtics' center rotation, signing a big man would be a reasonable course of action. But the best free-agent centers will be out of Boston's price range, rendering the team ineligible for the services of Tristan Thompson or Marc Gasol.
A more modest pursuit would involve fixing one of the team's underrated issues: offensive efficiency without Kemba Walker.
Though Jayson Tatum has emerged as the Celtics' best player this season, Walker has proved just as integral as his more highly regarded teammate. Boston's offense sputtered when Walker sat during the regular season, which makes sense considering the team's other point guards included Marcus Smart (obviously a good player and one who led the Celtics in assists this year, but he works better off the ball), Brad Wanamaker and Carsen Edwards.
Not ideal substitutes for a four-time All-Star.
Gordon Hayward, Tatum and Smart all boast solid playmaking skills, so this isn't necessarily a big deal. But with players like Jordan McLaughlin, Chris Chiozza and Gary Payton II potentially available, general manager Danny Ainge could plug one of the team's last remaining roster holes this offseason.
Brooklyn Nets: Big Wing Depth
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The Nets will likely focus on acquiring an All-Star-caliber player this offseason. Kyrie Irving has made that desire clear, additional reports have corroborated Brooklyn's intentions in that regard and there are numerous potential options for such a deal.
But if the Nets bring in a third star, it'll likely be either a sharpshooting guard or a literal small forward. They'll still need to fill in their depth chart at the 4.
Kevin Durant will be Brooklyn's starting power forward, but the team's depth at that spot is lacking. Its most common power forwards in 2019-20 included Taurean Prince (who shot 37.6 percent from the field), Rodions Kurucs and 33-year-old Wilson Chandler, who's a free agent this offseason.
For a team that wants to compete for titles as soon as next year, that's not ideal. In addition, Durant may have a minutes limit early and will need an intelligent backup to prevent team stagnation when he sits.
Whether it's Jae Crowder, Jeff Green, Markieff Morris, Maurice Harkless or somebody else, the Nets need one more bigger forward to make their lineups as impenetrable as possible going into the pivotal 2020-21 season.
Charlotte Hornets: Center
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Though the Hornets slightly overachieved this season, they're still not set up for long-term success.
None of Devonte' Graham, Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges or PJ Washington resembles a franchise player. If Graham could increase his efficiency and become even passable on defense, he'd come close, but "if" is doing a lot of work in that sentence.
Another step on Rebuild Road would be to find a new center. Cody Zeller is a dependable big man but is aging out of the Hornets' current timeline and doesn't fit the modern big-man mold. Thankfully for Charlotte, several intriguing centers fit those criteria and are under the radar enough to potentially consider Buzz City as a destination.
The Hornets' free-agent fits include bench standout Montrezl Harrell, belated breakout Christian Wood and the constantly overlooked Jakob Poeltl, who has already warned the Spurs he may leave.
To be certain, none of these players would singlehandedly lift Charlotte into contender status—even Kemba Walker couldn't do that. But in the Eastern Conference, plugging one of that trio in at center makes the Hornets a threat to earn the seventh or eighth seed, which is a step in the right direction.
Chicago Bulls: Playmaker
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The irony of the Chicago Bulls' rostering five point guards yet ranking 29th in offensive rating and 26th in assist/turnover ratio is not lost on anybody in the Windy City. While they may use the fourth overall pick on a lead guard, that's just one of many scenarios new executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas will consider over the coming months.
If Chicago could combine its point guards into one, that player might be elite.
Kris Dunn and Shaquille Harrison are standout defenders, Coby White began to earn his bucket-getting stripes before the season shut down, Ryan Arcidiacono is a scrappy distributor and Tomas Satoransky can do a little bit of everything as an athletic vet. Unfortunately, we don't yet have that technology, so these players remain separate entities.
Though it may seem counterintuitive, signing yet another point guard might be the answer. Even a mediocre, stopgap option like Jeff Teague or DJ Augustin could suffice.
With so many recent lottery picks on the roster, Chicago just needs a few adjustments to get back in the playoff picture. Hiring the correct coach will be the first step, but entrusting the offense to a capable playmaker is the next one.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Defender
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If you didn't watch a lot of Cavaliers basketball this year, you didn't miss much. While the team had fits of competency on offense, it was almost always terrible defensively, though that shouldn't come as a surprise when you view the roster.
Outside of Larry Nance Jr. and Tristan Thompson, Cleveland has essentially no defenders that are even average. Starting Darius Garland and Collin Sexton guarantees bad perimeter defense, while Kevin Love and Andre Drummond post gaudy rebound statistics but get blitzed in most other scenarios. All this is borne out in the team's league-worst defensive rating and various other poor metrics.
It will behoove the Cavaliers to draft somebody like Onyeka Okongwu, Isaac Okoro or Devin Vassell with the fifth pick in this year's draft, but they better find a short-term veteran solution too.
Cleveland isn't a premier free-agency destination for various reasons—the team traded for all its main supporting cast members even during LeBron James' second stint—but overpaying on a short-term deal for Glenn Robinson III, Shaquille Harrison or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist might be necessary to give the team's young core a reasonable infrastructure through which to develop good habits.
Dallas Mavericks: Best Player Available
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The Mavericks arguably have the brightest future in the NBA.
Not only do they claim Luka Doncic, who officially joined the league's superstar tier in Orlando, but they now also have evidence that he can coax a team into becoming greater than the sum of its parts. Outside of Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas' supporting cast is unremarkable, yet it recorded the best offensive rating in NBA history this year and was nearly as dominant against a menacing Clippers defense in the playoffs.
What do you get the team that has everything? Well, if Mark Cuban has any say, the Mavericks will once again aim high this offseason.
Now, Dallas can't be too ambitious. Like so many other clubs, it's competing for the services of Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021, and several other megastars will become available then too. But with Doncic, Porzingis and a lack of state income tax, don't be surprised if the Mavericks are a hot destination (and one where players take pay cuts to play).
This line of thinking could help the team sign anybody from Doncic confidant Goran Dragic to Paul Millsap to Aron Baynes, and it may position Dallas well for immediate and long-term success.
Denver Nuggets: Guard Defenders
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Gary Harris and Will Barton aren't known as very versatile defenders. Harris is solid on that end but not big or long enough to regularly shadow forwards, while Barton, despite a positive analytical profile, is constantly playing up a position as a 6'5", 175-pound small forward.
All this makes the Nuggets' apparent reliance on them to even be average on that end of the floor troubling.
Denver was an average defensive team by net rating in the regular season but has cratered without its two wing starters in Orlando. The Nuggets have given up at least 120 points in 10 of 14 games (including six playoff matchups) since play resumed. Though the team's two most recent showings saw it allow just 107 points to Utah, it's safe to say perimeter defense is still a need in the Mile High City.
Even when Harris and Barton are healthy next season, the Nuggets will need more wing stoppers. That's the price you pay for building around Nikola Jokic, who's as easy to score on as he is tough to anticipate on offense.
Detroit Pistons: Christian Wood
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Detroit lacks a long-term point guard, though it may be targeting one in the draft. The team also lacks wing depth, to the point that Tony Snell started the most games of any Piston and Langston Galloway led them in total minutes. But most of all, the team needs upside, which is why re-signing Christian Wood this offseason should be a top organizational priority.
Wood was productive all season long but broke out after Detroit traded Andre Drummond to the Cavaliers, playing 34.2 minutes per game, averaging 22.8 points and 9.9 rebounds, and recording 56.2/40.0/75.7 shooting splits from Feb. 7 onward.
In posting such elite statistics on a team largely devoid of structure, Wood earned himself a big payday. However, if that next contract is with a team other than the Pistons, then they'll be right back where they started, without many young players of note or much cap space.
Bringing back Wood and teaming him with a lottery pick, a supposedly healthy Blake Griffin and Luke Kennard has the sheen of competency and can provide some hope for the future.
Golden State Warriors: 3-and-D Wings
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The Warriors may address this deficiency by trading down in the draft, as it seems they're more interested in role players like Devin Vassell and Saddiq Bey than the consensus top prospects. But signing a battle-tested swingman is a much surer proposition through the remainder of Golden State's title window than a youngster who'll likely need a learning curve.
After cornering the market on this player type for a half-decade, the Warriors are now desperate for them. Last year, they depended on Eric Paschall, Damion Lee, Jordan Poole and the late-arriving Andrew Wiggins. Some of those players may pan out, but none are sure bets, so Golden State should look outward for at least one more solution.
As a premier organization, the Warriors will likely have their pick of players this offseason. Some who come to mind include Jae Crowder, Markieff Morris, Jeff Green and Golden State alums Kent Bazemore and Justin Holiday. Most of these five have deep playoff experience, and each would fit perfectly alongside the Warriors' power trio.
A healthy Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson guarantee a Golden State playoff berth, but without the requisite supporting talent, the team's run of excellence will undoubtedly end in disappointment.
Houston Rockets: Backup Big Man
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Houston's commitment to "microball" is admirable. It even claimed Steven Adams as a victim in their first-round series. But, as is the case with many of GM Daryl Morey's philosophical gambits, data can't triumph in this situation forever.
PJ Tucker and Robert Covington have impressed in Orlando. Sure, the team gets out-rebounded every game, but that's no issue when James Harden and his cadre of three-point snipers are in a groove. However, if the Rockets overcome the Thunder in the first round, Covington and Tucker will match up against the Lakers' Anthony Davis in the semifinals, and he was excellent against Houston this season, shooting 65.5 percent from the floor over two games.
Tucker is 35 years old, while Covington is nearly 30, and asking them to battle with players half a foot taller than them every night is a recipe for mutiny.
For the players' peace of mind, the Rockets should sign a big man like Alex Len or Willy Hernangomez who can shoot and just take up space for five or 10 minutes a night.
Indiana Pacers: Starting Wing
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It's possible none of the Indiana Pacers' three current shooting guards play for the team next season.
With Jeremy Lamb hurt, Justin Holiday an unrestricted free agent and Victor Oladipo's future with the team in question, the team may be short on wing depth and need to find a quick solution to stay competitive.
Given that the Pacers may need to trade Oladipo for financial reasons, they could address this problem by promoting Aaron Holiday to the starting lineup. But higher-ceiling moves may exist this offseason.
Should the Nets forgo Joe Harris in pursuit of a third star, the Spurs decline Bryn Forbes' Bird rights to create more playing time for their young guards, or if Jordan Clarkson looks to find a bigger role outside Utah, Indiana has the opportunity to make a cost-efficient wing signing.
Oladipo's row with the organization may sort itself out, and he could return to form. In that case, this level of concern could feel excessive. But in the scenario where one or neither of those things takes place, then Indiana should have a contingency plan at the ready.
Los Angeles Clippers: Backup Point Guard
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With Ivica Zubac not a fit for the modern big-man template and Montrezl Harrell a free agent, we could have focused on the Clippers' potential lack of center depth. But as we're reminded every postseason, centers matter a little less each year, and besides, Los Angeles has a more pressing skill-based need.
Despite owning one of the league's most talented teams, the Clippers have a disturbing lack of good playmakers. They ranked 24th in assist percentage and 28th in passes per game in the regular season, and they remain at the bottom of those leaderboards in the postseason.
Clearly, this hasn't affected Los Angeles' efficiency much. The team ranked second in offensive rating in the regular season and slapped 154 points on the Mavericks last week. But as the playoffs progress, the Clippers' lack of ball movement and offensive rhythm may become predictable and result in their premature elimination.
This is why president Lawrence Frank should make signing a pass-first backup guard his chief priority this summer. From Jeff Teague to Jordan McLaughlin to Yogi Ferrell, this player type is available, and acquiring one of them might give the Clippers a flawless on-paper roster.
Los Angeles Lakers: Backup Point Guard
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It's amazing that LeBron James remains an individual stat maven in his 17th year, but even more impressive is how integral he still is to the functionality of the Lakers offense.
With the King on the floor, Los Angeles scored at a top-10-efficiency clip. Sans him, however, the Lakers had one of the worst attacks in the league, a stat that doesn't bode well for Anthony Davis' potential future as the face of the franchise.
GM Rob Pelinka has been aware of his team's LeBron dependency all season long, attempting to acquire Derrick Rose and coax Darren Collison out of retirement. Neither of those transactions occurred, but considering the team's only acquisitions since are Dion Waiters, Markieff Morris and JR Smith, it's safe to say the Lakers still need offensive stability for those non-LeBron minutes.
Perhaps Davis will improve as a ball-handler this offseason and render this conversation moot. He'll never match LeBron in that department, but joining the Blake Griffin or Draymond Green tier of playmaking is an acceptable goal.
However, to account for the scenario where Davis doesn't make such changes, Los Angeles should still pursue a cheap, high-IQ lead guard like DJ Augustin or Shabazz Napier.
Memphis Grizzlies: Veteran Wing
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Grizzlies fans will probably hate this comparison, but stay with us until the end.
This young core is reminiscent of the early 2010s Wizards. After drafting John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr., Washington's future was impossibly bright. However, the Wizards didn't achieve postseason success until a cadre of veterans taught them how to win.
With players like Trevor Ariza, Nene, Marcin Gortat and Paul Pierce around, the young Wizards were exposed to an encyclopedia of basketball knowledge and elevated their play accordingly.
To bring the comparison full-circle, Memphis has so much young talent on its roster, from Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. to Brandon Clarke to Justise Winslow and Josh Jackson. Even Grayson Allen strutted his stuff in Orlando.
But in order to make the leap and become a full-time playoff contender, the team needs to add another veteran who a) is still productive and b) is willing to be a mentor. Ideally, that player would be a bigger wing like Marvin Williams or DeMarre Carroll so the team can address a roster hole as well.
Memphis' rebuild is already ahead of schedule. With this last step, it could establish itself as a threat for the foreseeable future.
Miami Heat: Playmaker
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The Heat have made their intentions to make a splash in the loaded 2021 free-agent class clear, so they'll probably be lying low this offseason. But that doesn't mean head honcho Pat Riley and GM Andy Elisburg will be completely silent.
The Heat are known for developing under-the-radar prospects into NBA contributors, a legacy that includes Hassan Whiteside, Josh Richardson, Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn. Who's to say they won't do so again this offseason in another area of need?
This year, Miami needs playmakers.
It may seem silly to say that about a team that ranked third in assist percentage this year, but the Heat also ranked 22nd in turnover percentage, suggesting they're just proficient ball-movers and not necessarily terrific ball-handlers. Add the fact that Goran Dragic is an unrestricted free agent, and you have a recipe for Miami's next potential reclamation project.
Even if Dragic leaves, Nunn, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo could probably cobble together an efficient offense. But it would be fun to see the Heat try to make an NBA starter out of Emmanuel Mudiay, Gary Payton II or another minimum-salary point guard.
Milwaukee Bucks: Whatever Giannis Says
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Much like the Heat (and numerous other clubs), the Milwaukee Bucks' free-agency priorities exist in 2021, when Giannis Antetokounmpo will hit the open market. However, we'll know the likely two-time MVP's intentions this offseason, as he'll be eligible to sign an extension.
If he immediately extends, a host of teams around the league will be freed to pursue other 2021 plans while the Bucks can relax. However, if the Greek Freak takes his sweet time with the extension or expresses reservations, then the team must pursue whatever he desires.
It's hard to know what Antetokounmpo would want that Milwaukee doesn't already have.
The team claims a second All-Star, has depth at every position and posted transcendent defensive metrics this year. Perhaps an Eric Bledsoe trade will be warranted if the point guard falls short in a third straight postseason. Maybe he would want them to swap salaries with the Lakers and acquire his brother Kostas (though if the Lakers knew they had such leverage, they probably wouldn't agree to the deal).
In any case, the point stands. Until Giannis signs on the dotted line, the Bucks must do everything in their power to appease him.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Big Defender
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Given that James Wiseman doesn't fit alongside Karl-Anthony Towns, it seems likely that the Timberwolves will pick a guard or wing with the first overall pick (provided they don't trade it). But with Towns and D'Angelo Russell as the two building blocks, Minnesota will still require major defensive help, so let's examine its power forward position.
Currently, ESPN lists Juan Hernangomez as the Timberwolves' starting 4. While Hernangomez is a solid shooter, he is the obvious weak link in a lineup with Towns, Russell, Malik Beasley and Anthony Edwards or LaMelo Ball (not to mention an impending unrestricted free agent).
Thankfully for Minnesota, one of the strengths of this free-agency class is its defensive-minded forwards.
Everyone from Maurice Harkless to Jae Crowder to Marvin Williams is on the market this offseason. Though Minnesota would likely be bidding for these players alongside current title contenders, being a mentor to two rising stars might be enticing in its own right.
Building around Towns and Russell may prove a futile task, but president Gersson Rosas owes it to them and this long-suffering franchise to acquire players who cover their specific and glaring weaknesses.
New Orleans Pelicans: Center
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The Pelicans' stint in Orlando was disappointing but understandable. Zion Williamson's truncated rookie season combined with a jumbled offensive hierarchy made for a lack of cohesion. But the most important bubble-centric takeaway for New Orleans is that it must look elsewhere to find a center of the future.
The Pelicans claim four players who could credibly be called centers—Williamson, Derrick Favors, Jaxson Hayes and Jahlil Okafor—yet none of them fit this bill.
Zion was lost on defense this year, and though he may improve, center isn't his best full-time fit. Favors had a strong year in 2019-20 but is nearing 30 and an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Hayes is a backup at best unless he irons out his JaVale McGee-esque inconsistencies. Okafor is a sieve on defense and ancient on offense.
New Orleans may solve this issue through the draft or a splashy trade. But for the time being, the team should overpay somebody like Marc Gasol or Tristan Thompson on a short-term deal to teach Williamson and Hayes how to play NBA-caliber defense.
If this much-hyped young core is going to reach its potential, such a move is necessary this offseason.
New York Knicks: Shooting
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We don't have to reinvent the wheel.
New York's need for long-range snipers is especially pressing given that its two most promising young players—RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson—are allergic to three-pointers. Somehow, in the era of Stephen Curry and the Houston Rockets shooting 50 threes a night, the Knicks saddled themselves with two spacing-impaired youngsters.
This team is a ways away from contention, but constructing a roster around young players is still important at the beginning of a rebuild (or whatever this is, considering that "rebuild" implies a peak the Knicks haven't reached in years).
New president Leon Rose should use the Miami Heat as a model for succeeding with two non-shooters as focal points. Neither Barrett nor Robinson will likely be as good as Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo, but the fact remains that every player New York pursues as long as those two are in town should be a floor-spacer.
The 2019-20 Heat are built this way, and they're a popular pick to upset the vaunted Milwaukee Bucks. If done right, the Knicks could return to making some postseason noise in the (near?) future.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Wing Shooting
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The Thunder simultaneously boast a playoff-ready roster and a rebuild-ready collection of assets, so it's anybody's guess how their offseason will proceed. With so many variables at play here, let's return to an old standby: Oklahoma City needs wing shooting.
GM Sam Presti's seeming obsession with this archetype began with the selection of Andre Roberson in the 2013 draft, but it's really become noteworthy over the past several years. Since 2017, he's picked Terrance Ferguson and acquired Hamidou Diallo on draft night while signing Luguentz Dort as an undrafted free agent last offseason. All three remain on the roster alongside Roberson.
Since none of the four even made 30 percent of their long-range shots in 2019-20 and boast essentially duplicative skill sets, why not try to replace at least one with a bona fide sharpshooter?
Roberson's trade value is likely nil thanks to his injury struggles over the past few years, while Dort is becoming a fan favorite and treasured James Harden stopper. But Ferguson and Diallo are eminently replaceable, and with players like Alec Burks and Furkan Korkmaz potentially available for cheap, Oklahoma City owes itself the chance to fill a long-empty roster hole.
Orlando Magic: Offensive Spark
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Because scoring is the coin of the realm these days, most available bucket-getters are likely out of the Magic's price range this offseason. But if you've seen them play in recent years, you know they desperately need help in that department.
Nobody on Orlando's current roster is worth writing home about as a scorer. Nikola Vucevic, despite claiming a proficient post game, is an inconsistent shooter. Evan Fournier isn't a strong shot creator. Aaron Gordon is a charter member of the "If Only He Could Shoot" All-Stars. Terrence Ross is streaky as they come, hence his sixth-man status. Jonathan Isaac, even when healthy, isn't known as a scorer. Markelle Fultz is a nice story, but let's be serious here.
Though all six of those players pad the stat sheet to varying degrees, it only resulted in a bottom-10 offensive rating and fourth-worst true shooting percentage this season.
Again, it bears mentioning that no one available player will be able to solve Orlando's offensive woes. But players like Alec Burks, Jordan McRae and Glenn Robinson III are available and could stop the bleeding somewhat while the Magic try to maintain their playoff status in the coming years.
Philadelphia 76ers: Lead Ball-Handler
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The fact that Sixers GM Elton Brand is insistent upon keeping both Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons is probably the franchise's original sin. As has been yelled about by Sixers fans and commentators alike for over a year now, their working partnership is not a sound one and warps the geometry of Philadelphia's offense in harmful ways.
But if we must accept Brand's worldview for the next several years, then the Sixers' next-biggest roster flaw is likely their lack of an offensive conductor.
Though a talented ball-handler in most circumstances and a virtually unstoppable one in transition play, Simmons shouldn't be a team's primary decision-maker because of his lack of shooting range and shot-creation ability. Now-fired coach Brett Brown took far too long to realize this fact, and his idea of a replacement—second-year guard Shake Milton—couldn't process the team's byzantine offense in Orlando either.
With four players on nine-figure contracts, the Sixers can't afford, say, Fred VanVleet. But they don't need a point guard of that caliber. A fairly average lead playmaker who can shoot—think Jeff Teague or DJ Augustin—might be enough to maximize Philly's potential with both Embiid and Simmons.
Phoenix Suns: Defensive-Minded Big Wing
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It may be recency bias, but the Orlando version of the Suns feels more like a sign of things to come than a hot streak, so let's drill down on a marginal roster hole.
Yes, we've assigned this player type to several other teams. But considering the elite superstars nowadays—Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic, a healthy Kevin Durant, etc.—having a 6'8" defender with the requisite strength and length is more valuable than ever. Phoenix theoretically has this player in Kelly Oubre Jr., but he drifts in and out on that end.
The Suns should be outbidding everybody for the likes of Jerami Grant (if he declines his player option) or Arizona alum Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Combine either of them with Mikal Bridges and Ricky Rubio, and Phoenix has a scary perimeter defense.
All 15 Western Conference teams have compelling arguments to make the 2021 playoffs. But with a scorer as deadly as Devin Booker, a stout collection of stoppers and a quietly improving center in Deandre Ayton, the Suns could have all the tools necessary to rise above the fray and secure their first postseason berth in a decade.
Portland Trail Blazers: Big Wing Defender
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For a minute, we were all caught up in Damian Lillard's magic. He carried a strangely constructed, injury-riddled roster to the eighth seed and began proving Charles Barkley right by winning Game 1 against the Lakers. But as soon as the Purple and Gold woke up in Game 2, Portland's obvious roster flaws returned to the fore.
Chief among the myriad problems with this team's construction was the lack of anybody capable of stopping LeBron James specifically and bigger wings more generally. Was this deficit more apparent because Trevor Ariza sat out the league's return? Perhaps, but he's just one player and a past-his-prime one at that.
Any team that wants to call itself a contender can't fake its way through a series with Carmelo Anthony, Gary Trent Jr. and Wenyen Gabriel defending the other team's best scorer. It didn't work against the Lakers, and it wouldn't work against most other top-tier NBA clubs.
As discussed previously, this kind of player can be found for cheap on the market this summer. If Portland wants to maximize the remainder of Lillard's prime, it'll need to address what has become a fatal flaw.
Sacramento Kings: Forward Scoring
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You could blame the Kings' regression this year on the league's catching up to De'Aaron Fox and company or the fact that the team seems to be cosmically cursed. But more than anything, Sacramento's roster is ill-constructed for 2020 in that it needs a scoring and/or playmaking forward.
A scan of contenders around the NBA reveals a commonality. Whether it's Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, Jayson Tatum, Nikola Jokic or countless others, most top teams run their offenses through players 6'7" or taller. Sacramento's entrants into this daunting field include...Harrison Barnes, Nemanja Bjelica and Marvin Bagley III.
Given that the Kings are the Kings and that this free-agency class isn't the strongest, they may not be able to solve the issue this summer. But players like Paul Millsap and Danilo Gallinari are available, and interim GM Joe Dumars should pursue them both. Presenting Brandon Ingram with the largest possible contract and challenging the Pelicans to match it isn't the craziest idea either.
With its current roster, Sacramento will remain lottery-bound. It needs one more injection of offensive spark to feel confident about breaking a 14-year playoff drought in the near future.
San Antonio Spurs: Size
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Not everybody can or should be the Houston Rockets. When DeMar DeRozan began playing power forward for the Spurs this season, alarm bells started ringing.
San Antonio's talented young players are mostly guards. Their one young big, Jakob Poeltl, is a restricted free agent this offseason. LaMarcus Aldridge is the team's best player, but he's 35 years old and also close to the open market. Trey Lyles? Let's just say he wouldn't have cracked most playoff teams' rotations.
The Spurs will likely address this position in the draft, and they're right to do so. As evidenced by the performances of Dejounte Murray, Derrick White and Keldon Johnson in Orlando, the team is organically turning over a new leaf, and bringing in a complementary young big man makes sense.
Accordingly, it would also make sense to sign a veteran big man to mentor the rookie. Players who would make sense include Mason Plumlee, Bismack Biyombo or former Spur Ian Mahinmi.
It's unfortunate that Gregg Popovich's storied career will likely end as he coaches a rebuilding roster, but a signing like the one described here could help guide the franchise seamlessly into its next era, and that's just as valuable an endeavor.
Toronto Raptors: Fred VanVleet
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Regarding roster holes, the Raptors may want to pursue a younger big man like Christian Wood this offseason, as Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka are both unrestricted free agents on the wrong side of 30. But if Toronto fails to retain Fred VanVleet, then its future might be unclear.
The Raptors are on a player development hot streak, and VanVleet is their most accomplished graduate. The undrafted free agent earned a Finals MVP vote in just his third season and has shown consistent year-to-year improvement. The 26-year old seems to love Toronto and would be a co-face of the franchise were he to re-sign long-term.
Of course, players do renege on verbal commitments, so VanVleet's comments aren't gospel. In addition, teams like the Knicks and Pistons may offer him beaucoup dollars, and you couldn't blame the Wichita State alum for just taking the most money.
But Masai Ujiri, Toronto's genius of a president, surely knows all of this and understands VanVleet's importance to his franchise. He'll likely follow through and retain the point guard for another half-decade. The alternative is too dark to fathom for Toronto fans to ponder.
Utah Jazz: Bench Depth
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After not mattering through the first four games of the playoffs, Utah's lack of depth is rearing its ugly head again. While Donovan Mitchell continues to score at a blistering pace, the team's porous defense and decline from its sky-high offensive peaks have made all the difference. Now, whenever Georges Niang, Juwan Morgan or Tony Bradley enters the game, it feels like the Nuggets are about to pull away.
Of course, this version of the Jazz isn't full-strength. Bojan Bogdanovic is sidelined with a wrist injury, and he'll be essential going forward. In addition, Bradley and Niang improved greatly in the 2019-20 season and could become more integral in the future.
But none of that negates the fact that Utah requires more established bench players to chase deep postseason contention.
Though Mitchell's breakout is in part thanks to a lifeless Denver defense, his eye-popping stats are reflective of improvement throughout this year and prove that he'll be a perennial All-Star. Now that the Jazz have their bona fide franchise player and will likely give him a max contract as soon as this offseason begins, they can put the finishing touches on an already well-constructed roster.
Washington Wizards: Defense
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We end on perhaps the easiest choice of them all.
If you watched any amount of Wizards basketball this year, you know how badly they need defensive help. Washington gave up 120 points or more an astounding 33 times, claimed six of the league's 40 worst defenders by Real Plus-Minus and generally reached historic lows on that end of the floor.
It's a major credit to Bradley Beal, Davis Bertans and the rest of the Wizards that they mustered a decent offense night after night, because the alternative would have made for nearly unwatchable basketball.
When you're dealing with this glaring a deficiency, one acquisition will not erase it. Hell, the Wizards could figure out a way to teleport mid-'90s Scottie Pippen to the present day and still might not even have an average defense. But the team needs to start somewhere, and there are plenty of available (and potentially cheap) stoppers at all positions this offseason.
Whether it's Michael Carter-Williams and Shaquille Harrison at guard, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Josh Jackson at forward, or Nerlens Noel at center, Washington has a chance to sign several defensive building blocks this offseason.
