NBA Southeast Division: Offseason Report Cards

Atlanta Hawks: D-

Atlanta is coming off an impressive regular season, which unfortunately concluded with a very unimpressive postseason.

The Hawks athletic wildcat-type style worked well for them over the course of the year, but the team needed to make sufficient roster moves to improve on last year and ensure at least a more competitive postseason run in 2011.

Marvin Williams should have been traded by now, and the Hawks needed to improve their point guard slot and depth overall.

The offseason additions of Jason Collins and Josh Powell really won’t help much.

The team also had a chance at snagging Shaquille O’Neal, who could have worked well within the lineup and could even allow Al Horford to play his natural power forward position. Instead, the Hawks shied away from giving O’Neal anything more than the minimum, and now he’s on a direct competitor.

Atlanta shouldn’t be as heavily criticized, as many believe they should, for shelling out max money to their franchise guy, Joe Johnson. The fact is, if Atlanta had not given their star maximum money, he likely would have bolted to the Knicks or Nets.

Still, couldn’t the team just play the waiting game with Johnson a little longer, to see what other clubs would have offered him?

All in all, this was a very lousy offseason in the ATL.

Charlotte Bobcats: F

You lose your starting point guard and center, Ray Felton and Tyson Chandler. You fail to use your one trading chip to acquire a major talent, Eric Dampier’s salary dump. Finally, you manage to tie even more money to your starting power forward slot.

What grade would you give them?

The Bobcats are coming off the franchise’s first playoff appearance, but have not managed to muster up a roster to improve on last season’s success.

Felton is now a member of the Knicks, a team likely to compete with Charlotte for the playoffs. The team also netted a slower older center for the athletic Tyson Chandler.

In addition to Damp, though, the team also took back some of the most unattractive contracts in the league, with Matt Carroll and Eduardo Najara.

The one small saving grace is that Charlotte was at least able to retain Tyrus Thomas. Still, Coach Larry Brown didn’t seem too fond of Thomas late in the season, as his postseason minutes indicated.

The team also was at least able to sign Shaun Livingston, who made serious strides late last season with the Washington Wizards. It still doesn’t seem like a great deal for Shaun, who now has to deal with yet another new situation and head coach who has been known to place certain players in the dog house.

Charlotte may still make the playoffs, but they have certainly regressed from last season.

Miami Heat: A+

How is this not the best offseason for any team in NBA history, perhaps even sports history?

The club somehow not only retained their own highly sought free agent, but were able to steal two others for less than market value, no less. But enough has been said about Miami’s abilities to secure long term contracts for the trio of James, Bosh, and Wade. That alone deserves an A for their offseason.

Let’s focus on the other signings, the role players, that Miami were able to solidify with their absurd talent.

Mike Miller was sought by the Lakers and Celtics, to name a few, but Miami was able to sign the sharp shooting veteran wing as their likely sixth man.

Miller gives the Heat more options offensively (as if they need it) and allows James, Wade, and Bosh more room to slash to the hoop, as defenders need to be wary of his outside shooting.

Speaking of shooting, the team filled out their likely starting unit by signing LeBron’s older buddy Zydranus Ilgauskus and backup guard Eddie House. Both Z and Eddie should relish in this role, and defenders need to leave them open in order to help out the aforementioned stars.

Miami also retained necessary talent to ensure proper depth at point guard and center/power forward.

Udonis Haslem, Carlos Arroyo, and Joel Anthony should allow Miami to stretch their rotation to eight or nine players deep and allow for needed help on the rebounding side and for point guard play.

Anything less than 66 wins and a trip to the finals should be an utter disappointment for this club.

Orlando Magic: D+

After a season in which Orlando was dismissed early from the playoffs, General Manager Otis Smith reacted by overpaying for JJ Redick and signing veterans Quentin Richardson and Chris Duhon. 

Instead of a much needed shakeup, the team still has Vince Carter and Jameer Nelson on the roster, but lost one of the few competitors in Matt Barnes.

Not exactly a stellar offseason for the Magic.

For better or worse, Orlando would have been better suited acquiring a high risk, high reward talent, and perhaps even finding a home for the unmotivated Vince Carter.

Smith has done little this offseason to believe the team will be able to last further than the second round of the playoffs.

Washington Wizards: B+

Drafting John Wall with the first overall pick of the draft was obvious. Surrounding him with valuable pieces and an opportunity to be successful is where the Wiz gets bonus points.

In addition to Wall on draft night, the Wizards were able to trade cap space to obtain both Kirk Hinrich and the draft rights to Kevin Seraphin.

Hinrich will be a valuable mentor to Wall during the early years of his progress, and should provide depth at both guard slot. Kirk should assist Wall the same way that Luke Ridnour helped out Brandon Jennings last season.

The Wizards will also be giving another chance to Chinese sensation Yi Jinlian. Yi has had a rough start to his NBA career, and has yet to show consistency in his offensive game. In Washington, coach Flip Saunders should place Yi in position to at least earn valuable minutes, an opportunity which will only help the Wizards long term.

Josh Howard will also be returning to Washington on a safe one-year deal worth lower than the mid-level exception. Howard can provide proper spacing for Wall to maneuver in the lane and should be a solid defensive presence at the wing slot.

The team would have been better off dealing Gilbert Arenas for anything resembling expiring deals. Though many have said that an Arenas-Wall backcourt could be successful, both essentially will need the ball to be efficient. This could result in a redundant backcourt, similar to the Francis-Marbury fiasco under the regime of Isaiah Thomas in New York.