With the NBA Draft in the books and the flurry of the free agency period in the review mirror, it is time to look at which teams helped themselves the most this offseason. We will start in the Eastern Conference.
While it seems all the drama was going on out West (the courting of LaMarcus Aldridge and the DeAndre Jordan reversal), there was plenty of player movement in the East. So without further delay, let’s take a look at which teams have helped their cause this offseason.
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Toronto Raptors
Notable Additions
Notable Subtractions
Examining the Raptors surge and fall last season, one flaw immediately jumps out; defense. Or better yet, lack of it. If the Raptors are going to take that next step into the upper-tier of the East, they will have to stop being soft on the defensive end of the floor. After breaking down Toronto’s offseason moves, they clearly recognized and addressed that weakness.
The Raptors did not sign a so-called big name, but they did make a splash by bringing the “Junkyard Dog,” DeMare Carroll into the fold. Carroll steps in at the wing and immediately brings an enormous upgrade over Terrence Ross on defense. The much-traveled veteran can hold his own on offense as well as he hit over 1.5 threes per game at nearly a 40 percent clip last season. In another defensive-minded signing, Bismack Biyombo will bring above-average rim protection that was lacking last season. Biyombo is a fantastic defensive supplement to the offensive-minded Jonas Valanciunas at the five spot.
Despite their scoring punch off the bench, Greivis Vasquez and Lou Williams were deemed expendable due to their turnstile nature on defense. Free agent signee Corey Joseph can replicate Vasquez’s scoring while providing a higher level of effort on the defensive front. Also in a nod to the fan base, Joseph is a native Canadian, something for which the supporters in Toronto have been asking for some time. But the Raptors were not done there in solidifying the point. They spent the 20th pick in the NBA Draft on Delon Wright. Wright comes out of Utah as one of the more experienced and NBA-ready guards. And to no one’s surprise, his strengths fall on the defensive end.
They say defense wins championships, and the Raptors have done their best to reshape their roster in an ode to the mantra.
Charlotte Hornets
Notable Additions
Notable Subtractions
The Hornets started the offseason with a rarity. They admitted the free agent signing of Lance Stephenson last year was a mistake. The entire league knew Stephenson was an utter bust for the Hornets. Somehow they still managed to get value out of him as the front office dealt him to the Clippers for Spencer Hawes and ultimately Jeremy Lamb. At this point, Hawes is merely a warm body on the bench, but he has shown offensive promise in his career at the two frontcourt positions. Lamb, on the other hand, could be a steal. For a team like the Hornets who were in desperate need for more offensive weapons, the 23-year-old Lamb could fit the bill. A lottery pick merely three years ago, Lamb has shown firepower, albeit in limited minutes. His career averages of 16.0 points and 2.2 three-pointers per 36 minutes highlights his talents and makes him a worthwhile gamble for the Hornets.
Despite possibly being a one-year rental, Nicolas Batum provides a much-needed upgrade to the Charlotte offense. In 2014-15, Batum suffered a down year and was sent east for a fresh start by the rebuilding Blazers. In Charlotte, Batum will play at shooting guard for the first time in his career. Coach Steve Clifford has already stated his plans for the offense run through the 6’8″ Frenchman. Batum also provides more explosiveness, range, and hopefully consistency at the two than Gerald Henderson last season. Adding Jeremy Lin to replace Mo Williams looks to represent a small upgrade there as well. While he has plenty of doubters, Frank Kaminsky represents an immediate upgrade at the four, even if he never becomes a superstar in the NBA. The former Badger has the look of a seasoned pro and should have an extended career in the NBA as an above-average player.
Finishing 16 games below .500 in 2014-15 with the third worst offense in the NBA, the Hornets had plenty of holes to fill. While many question the long-term plan, the Hornets have significantly improved their roster for the upcoming season.
Miami Heat
Notable Additions
Notable Subtractions
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Looking at the list of additions to the Heat’s roster will not overwhelm anyone. Yes, A’mare Stoudemire is a capable backup big, even in his twilight years. Gerald Green is a talented three-point shooter off the bench. Even getting defensive stopper Justise Winslow in the draft doesn’t jump out at you. If you factor in with whom they were able to reach deals though, Miami suddenly looks like a dangerous darkhorse contender in the East.
If they had let the face of the franchise, Dwayne Wade, leave there would have been chaos in the streets of South Beach. Even with ailing knees and already in his 12th season, D-Wade managed to put up 21.5 points per game. Getting mid-season acquisition Goran Dragic to stay was vital too. After dealing four players plus two No. 1 draft picks for the point guard, it would have been a front office disaster if they let him walk after only 26 games played. With Dragic back for five years, he will hopefully get a chance to play with a healthy Chris Bosh. After missing the last half of the season due to blood clots in his lungs, Bosh is expected to be fully healthy and cleared for basketball activities by late September. The Heat even got a pleasant surprise with small forward Luol Deng unexpectedly deciding to pick up his player option and return for one more year in Miami. Those four, along with 2014-15 breakout star, Hassan Whiteside, provide the Heat with one of the best starting five in the East.
While the additions look modest, they provide great depth and insurance to a stacked lineup, something the Heat did not have last season as they finished one game out of the No. 8 seed. In 2015-16, the Heat have all the makings of a playoff team and a strong contender to return to the NBA finals.
New York Knicks
Notable Additions
Notable Subtractions
The high expectations of a Phil Jackson-led revival in New York would make one think the relatively quiet nature of the Knicks’ offseason was a disaster. They were aggressive, throwing buckets of money at the big-name free agents and trying to satisfy the fans and Carmelo Anthony. But they failed to lure the big names to Madison Square Garden. So it was off to plan B. In reality, the backup plan turned out better than many, even the Knicks, had hoped.
The signing of Robin Lopez will bring a defensive intensity not seen with the Knicks for a long time. Not just a one-trick pony, the center will also quietly average close to a double-double per game at the five spot as he won’t be battling for playing time. The Knicks filled out the rest of their previously thin frontcourt with a pair of low-risk gambles in former No. 2 overall pick Derrick Williams and the 25-year-old Kyle O’Quinn. The additions to the frontcourt allow superstar Carmelo Anthony to play at his natural small forward position. That shift in responsibility will help Anthony stay healthy, a key to the Knicks success as Melo missed 42 games last season.
In the backcourt, the Knicks tabbed Aaron Afflalo to be the No. 2 scoring option behind Melo. Over the past four seasons, the 6’5″ shooting guard has established himself as a reliable complimentary scorer, as he has averaged 15.8 points on 45 percent field goal shooting. The young draft picks of Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant may not provide the immediate results the fans are clamoring for, but they provide rotational depth and long-term promise for the organization.
Make no qualms about it, the Knicks are still lottery bound in 2015-16. Their successful offseason may not make them contenders, but it helps to change the culture in New York and provides fans the promise of good times ahead.
Dale Redman is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Dale, check out his archive and follow him @fantasytool.