 |
| NBA Offseason Report Cards |
|
|
|
Last year the Central Division was the best in the East, with three teams (Pistons, Cavs, Bulls) finishing among the top five in the final regular-season standings. A fourth club, the Bucks, could well have made the playoffs were it not for a ridiculous spate of injuries. Even the Pacers had their moments before falling apart down the stretch.
While no Central team made any blockbuster moves during the summer, the division once again looks to be strong. Here are our grades for each team's offseason:
Chicago Bulls
What Went Right:
• They kept the Red Bull in the freezer.
After being wooed by the Grizzlies, restricted free agent forward Andres Nocioni decided to stay in the cold climes of the Windy City. The Bulls could ill afford to lose the 6-7 Argentinean's unique brand of energy, defense and shot-making. Plus, GM John Paxson got him at the reasonable price of $37.5 million over five years.
• They added no ordinary Joe.
With his mid-level exception, Paxson lured 6-10 veteran power forward Joe Smith away from the Sixers. Smith isn't the big low-post scorer the Bulls needed, but he's a solid blue collar player who can take charges, rebound a little and hit the 10- to 15-footer. At age 32, he's also considerably younger than P.J. Brown, 38, who filled that role a year ago.
• Noah joined their stable.
With the No. 9 pick in the Draft, Paxson continued his trend toward selecting players from NCAA championship programs by taking Florida forward Joakim Noah. The 6-11 Noah, who helped the Gators win two titles, likely would have been a top 3-4 pick had he come out after the '06 season. He gives the Bulls another elite young prospect, along with second-year forward Tyrus Thomas, to build on for the future.
What Went Wrong:
• They lost out on KG.
Despite the hopes of so many Bulls fans, Paxson was unable to pull the trigger on bringing Garnett back to the city where he played some of his high school ball. KG would have been a perfect fit with his all-around skills and height, and his desire to win an NBA title would have stoked Chicago's fires. Instead, Garnett's move to Boston gives the Bulls one more contender to deal with in the East.
• Noah was a No-Go.
Noah did not play in the team's summer league because of a slight tear in his rotator cuff. The Bulls have said he will be ready for training camp, but there has been speculation the injury might require surgery to heal fully. If Noah suffers a setback, he could fall behind in his development and miss out on a chance to contribute much this season.
Grade: B
With his team right in the thick of the East title chase, Paxson was understandably reluctant to break up his core. But will he regret not rolling the dice on Garnett?
Cleveland Cavaliers
What Went Right:
• They didn't lose Varejao or Pavlovic (at least not yet).
With Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic both restricted free agents, the Cavs were looking at the possibility of losing two key members of their rotation. It now appears that GM Danny Ferry's strategy of waiting will pay off. Varejao and Pavlovic have seen the free agent market dry up, meaning each likely will re-sign with Cleveland -- at least for one more season. It is also possible Ferry could still use one or both in a sign-and-trade.
What Went Wrong:
• They didn't land Bibby.
After last year's Finals sweep at the hands of the Spurs, it was clear the Cavs could use a true point guard and clutch shot-maker to help LeBron James. Ferry revisited talks with the Kings, but was unable to swing a deal for Mike Bibby. Barring something unexpected, it appears as if the Cavs will be forced to go into the season with combo guards Larry Hughes and Daniel Gibson once again running the point.
• They didn't get in the draft.
With no draft picks, the Cavs were forced to sit on the sidelines on Draft night. Meanwhile, the Bulls, Pistons and Bucks all picked up decent young prospects. The Cavs might not have been able to find a player to help them much this season anyway, but they at least could have stockpiled some talent for down the road.
Grade: C
As defending Eastern champs, they didn't have to make any moves, right? Well, not exactly. Ferry might yet pull something off, but time is running out.
1 of 3
