Chicago Bulls Offseason Moves & Analysis

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bulls small logoUNDER CONTRACT: G Derrick Rose, F Carlos Boozer, F Luol Deng, C Joakim Noah, G Richard Hamilton, G Kirk Hinrich, F Taj Gibson, G Jimmy Butler, F Vladimir Radmanovic, C Nazr Mohammed, G Marco Belinelli, G Nate Robinson, C Kyrylo Fesenko

DRAFT PICKS: G Marquis Teague

FREE AGENTS: G Mike James, F Brian Scalabrine

MOVES: For the first time in franchise history, the Bulls are going to have to pay the luxury tax – and really don’t have much to show for it. GM Gar Forman refused to match the three-year, $25 million offer sheet Houston gave Omer Asik, who will receive $14.1 million in the final season of the deal. That’s 2014-15, when the Bulls already will have roughly $50 million committed to Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer. But Asik isn’t the only member of the “Bench Mob” that won’t be back. Kyle Korver was dealt to Atlanta for cash and a $5 million trade exception. Ronnie Brewer’s option of $4.37 million was not picked up, and he signed with New York. C.J. Watson also was waived and signed with Brooklyn. And Chicago showed no interest in bringing back John Lucas (who signed with Toronto) or Mike James (still a free agent), which means all of the point guards who filled in admirably when Rose was hurt last season are gone. Rose’s torn ACL will keep him out until late January at the earliest, and his new caddies are Kirk Hinrich, the former Bull who was re-signed for $8 million over two years, and rookie Marquis Teague. Forman did try to rebuild his bench on the cheap, nabbing Nazr Mohammed on a veterans’ minimum deal to replace Asik and adding range shooting by signing Vladimir Radmanovic to a one-year veteran deal and Marco Belinelli for $1.9 million through the bi-annual exception. He also got somewhat of a steal in signing Nate Robinson to a one-year, $1.2 million deal – if Robinson displays the maturity he has in recent years. If he doesn’t, he’s gone, because the contract isn’t fully guaranteed. But Radmanovic and Belinelli are not stalwart defenders; on offense, they are only effective playing off double-teams or dribble penetration. Without Rose, the Bulls don’t really have anyone who commands a double-team or can easily get inside a defense. Before camp began, Kyrylo Fesenko was signed to fortify the frontcourt. And coach Tom Thibodeau – inexplicably allowed to enter the final year of his deal – received a four-year, $17.5 million extension through 2016-17.

TO-DO LIST: Not matching on Asik  was somewhat of a surprise but allowed Forman to keep in place a long-term plan. Reserve forward Taj Gibson – who often plays ahead of Boozer in crunch time – is due for an extension next summer, when Richard Hamilton’s contract comes off the books. Discussions are under way and the deal likely will get done before the Oct. 31 deadline. Forman can then reload in the summer of 2014, when Luol Deng’s contract expires. At that time, he can also use the amnesty clause on Boozer and have enough room to sign a free agent to a maximum contract to play alongside Rose, Gibson, Noah and perhaps a re-signed Deng. Chicago native Patrick Beverley, considered as a camp invite, signed a three-year deal to play in Russia.

PROJECTION: The Bulls will look different next season, and not just because Hinrich is running the offense until Rose returns around the All-Star break. Asik, Watson, Brewer, Korver and Lucas all were rotation players last season. That is a huge turnover for a team that has had the NBA’s best record in each of the last two years. Chicago will fall from the 60-win stratosphere. The Bulls are still a playoff team, but they are going to take a step back – at least in the regular season – and it could be far enough to fall behind Indiana in the Central Division.

(RELATED: What grade did the Bulls get?)

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Washington Wizards Offseason Moves & Analysis

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wizards small logoUNDER CONTRACT: F-C Emeka Okafor, C Nene, F Trevor Ariza, G John Wall, F Jan Vesely, F Kevin Seraphin, F Chris Singleton, F Trevor Booker, G Jordan Crawford, G Shelvin Mack, G A.J. Price, G-F Martell Webster, G Jannero Pargo

DRAFT PICKS: G Bradley Beal, F Tomas Satoransky

FREE AGENTS: G Morris Almond, F Brian Cook, F Maurice Evans

MOVES: Before the draft, the Wizards found a taker for the one year and $24 million left on Rashard Lewis’ contract, shipping him to New Orleans for veterans Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza. From a financial standpoint, Washington took back more than $43 million in salaries over the next two years but retained its amnesty option – which GM Ernie Grunfeld used on forward Andray Blatche, removing his three years and $23.2 million left on his contract. The Wizards tried to trade the toxic Blatche but found no takers. Even with Blatche’s exile, the Wizards have considerable frontcourt depth, which may not be a good thing with youngsters such as Jan Vesely, Kevin Seraphin, Trevor Booker and Chris Singleton all having shown flashes last season. The Wizards also signed A.J. Price to back up John Wall at point guard and Martell Webster to provide depth at the wing. Price will have some help fr0m battle-tested Jannero Pargo, a late free agent signing after Wall went down for two months just before camp opened with a stress condition. Off the court, Washington added San Antonio assistant Don Newman to its staff. He should be able to improve a defense that was 20th last season.

TO-DO LIST: Webster will help a bit in fortifying the wing, but Washington really needs a veteran who will help coach Randy Wittman police the locker room. As of this writing, no one on Washington’s roster is older than 29. While Ariza, Okafor and Nene may welcome the chore of leadership, they could use some help. Given Wall’s injury, a good fit would have been Derek Fisher, who could use his proximity to the Beltway to get a jump-start on his potential next career in politics.

PROJECTION: Every year, the Wizards look like they have the young talent to make a quantum leap. And every year, they act the collective fool and end up back in the lottery. With apologies to The Who, I won’t get fooled again. Even in the Eastern Conference, Washington has a ton of work to do to even sniff the postseason.

(RELATED: What grade did the Wizards get?)

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Utah Jazz Offseason Moves & Analysis

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jazz small logoUNDER CONTRACT: C Al Jefferson, F Marvin Williams, F Paul Millsap, G Mo Williams, F Derrick Favors, F-C Enes Kanter, G Randy Foye, G-F Gordon Hayward, G Alec Burks, G Earl Watson, G DeMarre Carroll, G Jamaal Tinsley, F Jeremy Evans, G Raja Bell

DRAFT PICKS: G Kevin Murphy

FREE AGENTS: F Josh Howard

MOVES: The Jazz were active before July 1, jumping in on Dallas’ desire to dump Lamar Odom and taking Mo Williams off the hands of the Clippers while moving a trade exception to the Mavericks. Initially, the move didn’t make much sense because Utah already had three point guards under contract. But the Jazz moved the disappointing Devin Harris – an All-Star three years ago – to Atlanta for Marvin Williams, who could be in line for big minutes at small forward. A few of those minutes may be allocated to Slam Dunk champion Jeremy Evans, who was re-signed for $5.5 million over three years. Well into the offseason, the Jazz signed Randy Foye at the bargain price of $2.5 million, using a portion of one of their exceptions. Although Foye appears to clutter the shooting guard spot where youngsters Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks get their minutes, he does add needed shooting. Off the court, GM Kevin O’Connor will remain VP and hired Spurs assistant GM Dennis Lindsey as his new GM. Lindsey will handle day-to-day stuff, working the phones. This upcoming season should keep him busy.

TO-DO LIST: The Jazz are over the cap but below the luxury tax. However, they chose not to exhaust their exceptions. C.J. Miles and Josh Howard were not re-signed, but Raja Bell – who feuded with coach Tyrone Corbin last season and called their relationship “irreparable” – is in camp, yet to be bought out of his deal. With the addition of Foye, Utah currently has seven players entering the final year of their contracts, including a handful – Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Mo Williams – who may be looking for extensions. Millsap already was offered a three-year, $25 million extension. Depending how the season goes, O’Connor and Lindsey could be busy in February, specifically with Jefferson possibly moving on.

PROJECTION: The Jazz’s roster appears to be pretty much set. The additions of Mo and Marvin Williams and Foye and the anticipated improvement of Hayward, Burks, Derrick Favors and a slimmed-down Enes Kanter should be enough for Utah to squeeze back into the playoffs.

(RELATED: What grade did the Jazz get?)

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New York Knicks Offseason Moves & Analysis

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knicks small logoUNDER CONTRACT: F Amar’e Stoudemire, F Carmelo Anthony, C Tyson Chandler, G Jason Kidd, F Steve Novak, C Marcus Camby, G Iman Shumpert, G Raymond Felton, F Kurt Thomas, G J.R. Smith, G Pablo Prigioni, F Chris Copeland, F James White, G-F Ronnie Brewer, F-C Rasheed Wallace

DRAFT PICKS: None of consequence

FREE AGENTS: G Mike Bibby, G Baron Davis

MOVES: For the Knicks, the early offseason was more about who got away than whom they landed. They seemed to have the inside track to signing Steve Nash until geography allowed the Lakers to swoop in and snare the All-Star guard. Undaunted, New York remained focused on aging, savvy point guards by prying Jason Kidd away from Dallas with a three-year, $9 million deal, using the mini-mid-level exception. The plan was to have Kidd serve as a mentor to Jeremy Lin. The Knicks swore they would match any offer Lin received as a restricted free agent. But while waiting for Houston to deliver a backloaded three-year, $25 million offer sheet, GM Glen Grunwald made a pair of head-scratching deals in which he mortgaged a good portion of the farm. First, he sent Toney Douglas, Josh Harrellson, Jerome Jordan, 2014 and 2015 second-round picks and $2 million to Houston for 38-year-old Marcus Camby in a sign-and-trade, giving the center $13.2 million over three years ($10 million guaranteed). Then Grunwald packaged Jared Jeffries, Dan Gadzuric, draft rights to two Greek players, a 2016 second-round pick and $1 million to Portland for a signed-and-traded Raymond Felton – coming off a terrible season – and Kurt Thomas, who turns 40 in October. Felton was given $10.5 million for three years, and his addition led to New York not matching Houston’s offer to Lin, allowing a good, young, highly  marketable player to get away and turning point guard from an exclamation point into a question mark. New York’s other moves were pretty sound. It re-signed J.R. Smith to a two-year, $5.6 million deal and Steve Novak to a four-year, $15.8 million package.  They also made a number of roster-filling signings, inking defensive-minded Ronnie Brewer, athletic journeyman James White, 35-year-old Argentine point guard Pablo Prigioni and Chris Copeland, who has been playing in Europe. However, at least one of those players will not make the roster following the signing of Rasheed Wallace just before the start of training camp. Wallace is coming out of retirement after two dormant years; at 38, he is just the fourth-oldest player on the roster. Yes, Wallace can be volatile, but he and coach Mike Woodson were together on Detroit’s 2004 chanpionship team.

TO-DO LIST: Part of the reason why the Knicks didn’t get Nash was because Toronto signed RFA Landry Fields to a three-year, $19 million offer sheet that prevented New York from including Fields in a sign-and-trade for Nash. The Knicks got even by not matching on Fields, leaving the Raptors to overpay him. Brewer was signed to help fill in at shooting guard until Iman Shumpert recovers from his torn ACL but will miss training camp and preseason due to a torn meniscus. That may force Kidd to play some shooting guard early in the season, which he had done in Dallas in recent years.

PROJECTION: After a decade of incompetence, the Knicks were coming off two straight playoff appearances while becoming more of a defensive team with the additions of Tyson Chandler and Shumpert. They had the benefit of a somewhat stable coaching situation as they entered a full training camp. And then they spent the offseason reverting to their impatient, overspending ways, looking for the quick fix to end the 40-year championship drought. In doing so, they became one of the oldest teams in the NBA and didn’t resolve their biggest problem – finding a point guard whose skilled direction will prevent the offense from always winding up in Carmelo Anthony’s demanding hands. The Knicks believe they have a championship contender. They are certainly a playoff team, but time will tell whether they are experienced or just old. In the meantime, New York will be leveraged against the supertax for the foreseeable future and is down a ton of draft picks over the next four years. It seems like a familiar formula, and not one that has worked.

(RELATED: What grade did the Knicks get?)

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Los Angeles Clippers Offseason Moves & Analysis

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UNDER CONTRACT: G Chris Paul, F Blake Griffin, C DeAndre Jordan, F Caron Butler, F Lamar Odom, G Jamal Crawford, G Chauncey Billups, F Grant Hill, G Eric Bledsoe, C Ryan Hollins, F-C Ronny Turiaf, F Matt Barnes, G Willie Green, G Travis Leslie, F Trey Thompkins

DRAFT PICKS: None

FREE AGENTS: F Kenyon Martin, F Bobby Simmons, F Ryan Gomes

MOVES: For a team without a true GM, the Clippers did pretty well this offseason. Neil Olshey’s departure to Portland didn’t impact the team’s ability to attract quality players. It helped that the Clippers play in one of perhaps three cities that make Lamar Odom (and his fussy wife) happy; they capitalized by acquiring him from Dallas in a three-team deal that sent guard Mo Williams to Utah. If Odom finds happiness in LA and returns to form – he won the Sixth Man Award in 2011 – he reinforces both forward spots. The Clippers also brought back savvy Chauncey Billups with a one-year deal for $4.3 million plus incentives and further defined their backcourt by signing free agent Jamal Crawford to the mid-level exception for three years and $15.7 million. LA added small forward depth with the signing of Grant Hill to a two-year, $3.9 million deal via the biannual exception. The Clippers also sent Reggie Evans to Brooklyn in a sign-and-trade and used the amnesty provision on Ryan Gomes. Veteran Willie Green was acquired via sign-and-trade with Atlanta, which received the draft rights to Sofoklis Schortsanaitis, who will never play in the NBA. In their search for a legitimate backup center, LA considered amnesty victim Darko Milicic before deciding on a tandem of Ryan Hollins, who is much more active defensively than Milicic and could become an active participant in Lob City, and Ronny Turiaf, who was underutilized during his brief stay in Miami. But LA’s biggest move of the offseason was getting Blake Griffin’s commitment to a five-year, $95 million contract extension – which was signed a day before he bowed out of the Olympics with a knee injury. Griffin’s long-term presence will help lure other free agents for years to come. When all the dust settled, the Clippers elevated Gary Sacks from player personnel director to VP of basketball operations. Sacks then hired former Hornets VP of player personnel Gerald Madkins as director of basketball operations. Just weeks before camp began, LA also added Matt Barnes, further strengthening a very deep bench.

TO-DO LIST: The first chore for Sacks and Madkins will be to get Chris Paul to sign an extension, which probably won’t happen right away. Don’t read too much into Paul turning down a three-year, $60 million extension offer; he stands to add two years and $40 million to his next contract by waiting until next summer and was actively recruiting players to come play in LA all summer. Does that sound like someone who is leaving? Madkins knows Paul from their days in New Orleans, which can only help. With Paul, Billups, Crawford and Eric Bledsoe in the backcourt, the Clippers allowed Nick Young and Randy Foye to walk. Odom’s presence allowed them to take similar action with forward Kenyon Martin.

PROJECTION: The Clippers have one of the best 1 through 10 rosters in the NBA, a solid mix of youth and veterans, stars and role players. They figure to get better with the natural improvement of young studs Griffin, Bledsoe and DeAndre Jordan, an expected return to form from Odom and a deeper bench. This was a final-eight team last season and could go even further next season.

(RELATED: What grade did the Clippers get?)

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