NBA Training camps are set to open across the country and with it the start of the NBA season will be official. The NBA offseason can be a long one and once the free-agency period is over and the draft is concluded we are left to chew on NBA Summer League tidbits. The offseason saw a couple big free-agent signings and an NBA entry draft that was full of surprises despite the low expectations
We will be making stops at each division to recap the tumultuous offseason and to highlight the new faces on each team. With it we will provide a fantasy spin and impact of these new additions. How will these new players fit into their new spots? Will these players have as much of an impact as management had hoped or will they falter?
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers addressed their biggest need this offseason as they shored up their bench. The thin lineup was exposed by the Miami Heat last season as the Pacers wilted away from Miami’s constant pressure. Shoring up the bench this season will be Luis Scola and Chris Copeland. Scola came over from Phoenix via a trade while Copeland was lured away with some aggressive accounting that made it impossible for the New York Knicks to match the offer.
Indiana is hoping that the new additions along with the return of Danny Granger and the boosted confidence of Paul George will be enough to carry them to a Conference title. The fate of the franchise will rest on the returning players as the new faces will serve as filler for the most part.
Milwaukee Bucks
For a team that is destined to finish among the bottom five, the Milwaukee actually spent a few bucks this offseason. Management brought in Carlos Delfino in an attempt to fill the void by the departed J.J. Redick and they brought O.J. Mayo in on a free agent contract to fill the scoring void left by the departing Monta Ellis.
Mayo could have a decent enough year, similar to the start of the 2013 campaign as he carried the Dallas Mavericks in the absence of Dirk Nowitzki. Mayo will score and he might rebound; however, the percentages will be low and the consistency will be lacking. As the season wears on it will be tough for Mayo to get up for games. For as the winter is cold and miserable outside, expect his shooting touch to be the same come January.
A bright spot for the Bucks is the addition of Brandon Knight. Knight still has a lot to learn at the point guard position; however, he has upside and he will be given the reigns to the offense. Expect Knight to have a good year and watch for him to surpass his career totals in all categories. Simple fact of the matter is that Knight will be called upon to score and he will need to take more than his career average of 12 shots per game. More shot attempts equals better point per game average. I’m high on Knight this season and he would make an excellent mid to late round pick up.
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons had a very busy offseason as they looked to retool the roster and make themselves relevant again in the division. Joe Dumars has his feet to the fire in Motown and he is needing to show a marked improvement over the previous five or so years. What better way than to show your dedication to winning than to spend, spend, spend.
Detroit welcomes in two high profile players as they signed Josh Smith as a free-agent and they swung a trade with Milwaukee that netted them Brandon Jennings. It remains to be seen exactly where Smith will fit in as he is best suited as a close to the hoop kinda guy, but with twin towers Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe the painted area is already quite crowded. This forces Smith to the outside where he will feel empowered to shoot the jumpers; this does not bode well for the Pistons as Smith does not shoot a high percentage from long range.
The Pistons did finally make a decision on Brandon Knight and that decision was to move on. Knight was deemed expendable as he wasn’t the point guard the Pistons were looking for. In Milwaukee they found a willing trade partner as they were ready to unload Jennings and his contract demands. Jennings will anchor the backcourt in Detroit and he must distribute the basketball more than he did in Milwaukee for things to be successful.
Jennings will have a solid fantasy season, whereas Smith will flounder in the system as his rebounding stats will decrease and his shooting percentages will plummet.
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls basically stood pat all offseason. They went out and added just one player, Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy will add some scoring punch to the second unit, but that is about it. The real roster addition for the Bulls will be the return of Derrick Rose. Rose is hardly a new face; however, it seems like his return was so baited last season that it almost made time stand still. Chicagoans are needing Rose to return healthy as the competition in the division has gotten better and if the Bulls are to resume their challenge for a Championship, Derrick Rose had better be able to support the weight of the franchise and it’s fans on his surgically repaired knee.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers had a busy and productive offseason. Every move the Cavaliers make is done with the intention of complementing Kyrie Irving and the pieces they brought in should do just that. The rebuilding process took a big step forward as the Cavs selected Anthony Bennett first-overall in the NBA Entry Draft. While skeptics will criticize and dissect the pick for the foreseeable future it looks like it will be good one. While Bennett isn’t likely to make an impact right away, he will be permitted time to grow and nurture rather than being thrust into a starting role right off the start.
Of course the Cavaliers managed to land perhaps the second biggest free-agent available, albeit perhaps the riskiest. Andrew Bynum signed a two-year deal with the Cavs that sees him earn a very reasonable base salary with some performance bonuses attached to it. If Bynum can return and be healthy then this signing could be the one that puts the Cavs in the playoffs. If Bynum is a bust then the Cavs will likely be left scrapping it out for one of the final spot.
Bynum’s injury and rehabilitation makes him a fantasy gamble at this point. Deeper leagues will give Bynum some value; however in a standard league format Bynum represents a risk.
Rounding out Cleveland’s additions are Earl Clark and Jarrett Jack. Clark fell out of favour in Los Angeles as his playing time was in steady decline. Clark took the dollars and the opportunity to leave LA and play for the upstart Cavaliers. Clark will provide some defense, athleticism and scoring to the second unit; however, his fantasy potential is limited. Jack on the other hand will get plenty of opportunity to play. Jack could be the first guard off the bench and that is assuming that he isn’t starting in the backcourt on occasion. Jack represents a solid fantasy pickup in all formats.