Review/Preview: where is your team at, as of Dec 31?

[Domejandro]

REVIEW

With the benefit of hindsight, how do you feel about your team's draft?
I was a fan of Justin Patton going into the draft, and have liked what I have seen in his G-League stint.

How have your FA signings panned out so far?
Jeff Teague is a bad fit on this roster, I really have come away unimpressed with his play so far.

Taj Gibson has played like a fringe All-Star; no exaggeration, he is astonishingly fundamentally sound.

Jamal Crawford was a very good signing, he has shot us into games.

Andrew Wiggins (extension) is probably not worth the money he is going to be paid, but he isn’t a terrible player. He has been shaky adjusting to his new role offensively, but his defense has been so much better this season.

Shabazz Muhammad has been just abhorrent to watch, he hasn’t played in fifteenish games for good reason.

Marcus Georges-Hunt has been a solid contributor when he plays.

Amile Jefferson has been as solid in the G-League as he was for Duke.

I’m too biased of a Melo Tremble fan to comment, but I definitely think he will be an NBA-caliber player.

Any offseason/in-season trades to evaluate?

The Ricky Rubio trade was unfortunate given that Teague is a worse fit, but it is what it is. I’m pretty much over it at this point, at least we got a pick.

Jimmy Butler was worth everything Minnesota traded without question. He is a true super-star player.

Most teams had offseason goals, whether it was contention, making the playoffs, or developing (or some combination thereof). What was your team's plan? Has it changed?

End the thirteen year playoff drought, no question. Minnesota (thanks to Butler) is unquestionably on track to do so.

PREVIEW

Given where your team is now, what is your outlook for 2017-18?
I want home-court advantage, Minnesota can do that. My goal is to get to the Second-Round this year, that would be huge for the team from a developmental standpoint.

What are your team's greatest needs? List positions, skillsets, etc. Being as specific as possible (even including specific names) will help the board create better trade proposals!
Minnesota needs a solid backup wing player who defends well. I’ll expound on this later with an edit, I didn’t sleep.

What are your assets on offer? Where are you deepest?
Cole Aldrich and Shabazz are available to anyone. Because of the cap collapsing slightly, Gorgui is probably available. Minnesota has the OKC Pick. Just look at RealGM’s NBA Draft Obligations (Google “NBA Owed Draft Picks). It covers obligations and assets better than anywhere on the web.

[Kevin6CD]

One take on the

Utah Jazz

REVIEW

With the benefit of hindsight, how do you feel about your team's draft?

We ended up trading our first pick plus Trey Lyles for Donovan Mitchell. While I think the hype train is a wee bit out of control, even from other fans, we are obviously very pleased as to how this has turned out. Even if he isn't an all-time great, he has added some much-needed ability and EXCITEMENT to this team.

We also traded our second pick plus a second rounder for Tony Bradley. While this trade seemed unnecessary at the time (and now), Bradley at least fits our profile. Needs a lot of work and time before he can be evaluated thoroughly.

How have your FA signings panned out so far?

FA wasn't so much about who we signed as who we didn't. Losing Hill and Hayward was devastating, and signing journeymen Ekpe Udoh, Thabo Sefolosha and Jonas Jerebko did nothing to change that. These three guys are at least smart vets who know their roles, but they'll probably end up moving other team's needles more than ours.

Any offseason/in-season trades to evaluate?

Apart from the afore-mentioned draft trades, our biggest move was acquiring Ricky Rubio for OKC's 2018 pick and capspace. With George Hill not in the cards, we threw a Hail Mary to try to get Gordon Hayward to sign. That didn't work either, so we wound up with a reasonably talented awkward non-fit. Hard to say what future Rubio has with this team...if any.

Most teams had offseason goals, whether it was contention, making the playoffs, or developing (or some combination thereof). What was your team's plan? Has it changed?

Once Hill and Hayward were off to other places, there really weren't many illusions about our season. We were going to play hard, defend/defend/defend, and hope to win some ugly games...and struggle to make the playoffs in a slaughterhouse Western Conference. That's pretty much where we are, though repeated injuries to our best player have made it hard to get a clear picture.

PREVIEW

Given where your team is now, what is your outlook for 2017-18?

Quin Snyder has done pretty impressive work with a very ungainly roster, and Utah is just finishing up the toughest month ANY team will play all season based on SRS. Still, unless Rubio and Gobert magically coalesce over the next couple of months, making the playoffs is a real longshot.

What are your team's greatest needs? List positions, skillsets, etc. Being as specific as possible (even including specific names) will help the board create better trade proposals!

Our greatest need is actually to make decisions. We have a number of players expiring; which of them (if any) do we want back next year?

Positionally, our biggest need is probably a 3/4 who can pass and shoot. Are Paul Millsap and a fountain of youth available?

What are your assets on offer? Where are you deepest?

We have a number of veterans who are the kinds of pieces that playoff teams crave off the bench: Joe Johnson, Thabo, Jerebko. Johnson is expiring, and Thabo and Jonas have unguaranteed deals next year.

We also have Favors and possibly Hood, but again the Jazz braintrust needs to decide what our commitment to these guys might be next year.

Fellow Jazz fans, agree/disagree with any/all of this?

What would the Pistons need to give up to get Hood and Jerebko? Im assuming Stanley, Ellenson and a protected 2018 first is at least somewhat close.

[loserX]

Bumping for more submissions...fantastic work so far, everyone. Posters are doing a really good job of being thorough and candid!

[nomansland]

Nuggets


REVIEW

With the benefit of hindsight, how do you feel about your team's draft?

If they really wanted OG they should have taken OG and not traded the pick to Utah. The FO got too cute and it burned them in the ass. Lyles has been way better than expected but again, if they really wanted him I'm sure he could have been obtained from Utah for some scraps.

How have your FA signings panned out so far?

Sigh. Millsap was working out really well, bringing a defensive focus and vet presence. Can't really say it was a bad signing, these things just happen.

Plumlee has been up and down and they probably could have had him for a lot less money. I guess they felt they didn't need the extra cap space.

Any offseason/in-season trades to evaluate?

Nope.

Most teams had offseason goals, whether it was contention, making the playoffs, or developing (or some combination thereof). What was your team's plan? Has it changed?

Team's plan was to make the playoffs and that's looking likely to happen.

PREVIEW

Given where your team is now, what is your outlook for 2017-18?

I had them at 7th in the conference with about 43 wins, and that's not too far off track. That was with Millsap though; the sooner he gets back the sooner the win % will go up.

What are your team's greatest needs? List positions, skillsets, etc. Being as specific as possible (even including specific names) will help the board create better trade proposals!

Backup PG, backup SF. If we could somehow snag George Hill that would be huge.

What are your assets on offer? Where are you deepest?

Deepest at PF for sure. Assets depend on what the trade target is, but at the bottom end of things we could offer: Lydon, Craig, Lyles, Faried, Mudiay, Hernangomez, Chandler, rights to Cancar (Euro SF who's playing really well), and of course next year's 1st.

Feel free to answer for your team...and if some other fan has done your team already, feel free to agree or post your own![/quote]

[puppa bear]

Miami Heat

REVIEW

With the benefit of hindsight, how do you feel about your team's draft?
Bam was a great pick for us, that I honestly hated on draft day. My preference was to try to trade down, 2-for-1, and pick up OG & Giles. At this point every team between us and the23rd will have some regret over not getting OG, but that's natural and happens every year.

The player we ended up with has good upside, and has shown he can play right away as well. The big bonus is that combined with the Olynyk signing it frees up one of most valuable assets for a potential trade.

How have your FA signings panned out so far?
JJ has been solid, Olynyk has done what is asked of him, but Waiters has regressed. Honestly, I'm contented with the output of JJ and Olynyk, and see their signings as neutral value.

Waiters on the other hand, has been a relative disappointment. People can point to his past and say "told you so", and we have many people on our own board doing that. But the bigger issue I see is his weight. He had the ankle injury that he should have gotten surgery on, but instead wanted to not do anything that may hurt his FA value. The result was not coming in to camp the same weight as last year, and not being able to get it back down. So, he's lost part of that first step and now carries more weight on an injured ankle. Hopefully he gets it better, gets the weight down and returns at least part of the way to where he was.

On the vet min side, Mickey has turned out to be a solid deep bench pick-up for us.

Any offseason/in-season trades to evaluate?
Getting rid of McBob was good: he's broken.

Most teams had offseason goals, whether it was contention, making the playoffs, or developing (or some combination thereof). What was your team's plan? Has it changed?
Making the PO was the goal in the offseason, and nothing has changed. We may have locked ourselves into 3-4 years of treadmilling around the 6-9 spot, but the organisation favours POs over tanking.

PREVIEW

Given where your team is now, what is your outlook for 2017-18?
Forget the Magic from last years 30-11 finish, we just need to find health and consistency. If we can get that in the playing group, and Spo can settle his rotations into a winning formula then we're looking at trying to bridge that 1.5 game gap on the 4th seed. The other side is that we're only 2 games ahead of the 10th placed Philly, so getting those wins on the board is priority.

What are your team's greatest needs? List positions, skillsets, etc. Being as specific as possible (even including specific names) will help the board create better trade proposals!
An All Star. Outside of a back-up PG and a traditional PF we have a decent amount of depth. So the biggest need is in consolidation of that depth. I'm sure the club is willing to potentially sabotage a PO appearance by trading for an injured star, or damaging chemistry in the short term, if it means getting a big name player.

What are your assets on offer? Where are you deepest?
Whiteside has to be our biggest asset on offer. We have the most depth at C, and have shown during Whitesides absence that the player have can handle it. As a bonus it would also clear space for Bam.

The SG position is where we have the next most bodies, but I don't really see many tradable assets that will blow teams away between Waiters, TJ (contract balloon), Ellington (expiring), McGruder (injured) and Richardson (untradable due to extension).

[BullyKing]

REVIEW

With the benefit of hindsight, how do you feel about your team's draft?

I'm not sure how you can give it anything but an incomplete. From the uncertainty, I think you can take one positive and one negative. On the downside, obviously Tatum has looked great and Fultz situation is just flat bizarre. The one positive I can take from what has transpired so far is that watching this team without Fultz has really highlighted what a perfect fit he will be if he returns remotely to form.

How have your FA signings panned out so far?

Meh. Redick has been as advertised although the shooting a little weaker and much less consistent than hoped for. Amir has been fine but between the two of them its sort of an embarrassing use of $34 million. I do hope that part of the Redick was an under the table agreement for a cheap deal next year. But realistically speaking, our two biggest needs right now are wing shooting and a defensive big. So given that these are the two roles these guys were brought in to handle, I guess its a not so hot evaluation so far.

Any offseason/in-season trades to evaluate?

Ugh. The Okafor trade was fine for what it was but just completely pathetic how Colangelo handled the whole situation. He clearly had no sense of value when he started and took way to long to understand it. It's not process crippling by any means but its does not exactly inspire optimism for the future.

Most teams had offseason goals, whether it was contention, making the playoffs, or developing (or some combination thereof). What was your team's plan? Has it changed?

Contend for the playoffs/making the playoffs. Officially the team just wanted to compete but I think deep down everyone will be disappointed if they don't make it (especially because its probably related to an Embiid injury if it happens). I think that is still the goal and still within reach.
PREVIEW

Given where your team is now, what is your outlook for 2017-18?

Derek Bodner had a great mailbag for the athletic the other day where i found myself nodding along fairly consistently. My outlook for the season hasn't changed and those freaking out about where the Sixers are have unrealistic expectations. This team is streaky, this team turns the ball over a ton, this team has no clue how to close games out. All things you'd expect with an incredibly young team and a rookie playing actual point guard for the first time in his life. I think 2017-2018 (this season) will continue streaky and at times frustrating play albeit more consistent as the year goes on. I still think we end up as a 6-8 seed and become the team no one wants to play in the first round (while ultimately bowing out after a feisty 6 games).

Offseason is all about either landing PG13 or Lebron type or doing another set of one year deals to try again for Klay, Butler, etc. next year.

What are your team's greatest needs? List positions, skillsets, etc. Being as specific as possible (even including specific names) will help the board create better trade proposals!

Moving Bayless at some point. Outside shooting from anywhere (SG, SF, PF). I'd love another 3 and D wing but it doesn't make sense to pay the price to acquire one. So I'm fine with single dimensional players like Belinelli, McDermott, Lou Williams, and Joe Harris.

I'm a Holmes fan but Brett doesn't seem to trust him at all and really need someone other than Amir who can handle some minutes against bigger 5s especially when Embiid is out. Usual suspects here as well with Dedmon, Udoh, Mejri.
What are your assets on offer? Where are you deepest?

It's not worth targeting anyone that will cost a first so realistically we can trade as many seconds as you can handle. There is also no need for both TLC and Anderson so one or really both can be had. As I said, I like Holmes but if they're not going to play him, they may as well trade him since a team with Embiid really needs a 3rd center the coach trusts.

I'm also ok with trading Saric but think it would be hard to find the right deal at this time. Sixers would want to trade him for a true core piece but he's not worth that right now and figuring out the extra will be difficult.

[loserX]

Bumping one more time...would love to see reviews/shopping lists for

Brooklyn
Charlotte
Chicago
Golden State ("needs: lol")
Houston
LA Clippers
LA Lakers
Milwaukee
New Orleans
New York
Portland
Sacramento
Washington

(Or of course additional reviews/takes on the teams already in!)

[Trader_Joe]

REVIEW

With the benefit of hindsight, how do you feel about your team's draft?
I love Jarrett Allen. A modern day C who can pick and roll, lobs, blocks and hits his FTs He needs to put on weight, but he loves to finish hard and his chemistry with LeVert is off the charts. Franchise Center for years to come.

How have your FA signings panned out so far?
What FA signings?
Oh yeah, Tyler Zeller, who's been surprisingly good for the minimum. Good rebounding and finishing. Not a great defender, but a very hard worker. Can't complain. He's even hitting 3s.

Any offseason/in-season trades to evaluate?
Yes. Lots

DMC, TOR #1, lesser of ORL/LAL #2 (both looking good)
for
Justin Hamilton

The best trade of ours off-season. DMC is having one of his best seasons and is a perfect leader and mentor for this team.


Crabbe
for
Nicholson

I think Crabbe has had enough time to show what he is and what he isn't, and he is not a go to scorer. He cannot create off the dribble. He is not great off-screens. I think he will do better once Russell his back, but he needs to focus on his 3 ball (he's regressed) and his D, which has at times been impressive, like the Orlando game where he shut down Fournier and had 3 blocks. He has the length and tools to be a good defender. Otherwise, this was our worst move of the off-season.


Russell, Mozgov
for
Lopez, #27

As horrible as Mozgov is, as good as Kuzma has been (Nets probably would not have taken him since they did not have him that high on their draft board) and as much as I loved Lopez, this was a no brainer. Russell has looked sharp and looks to be the go to scorer the team lacks. Still only 21 and still on a rookie contract another 1.5 years.


Okafor, Stuaskas, 2019 NY #2
for
Booker

Apparently the Nets had been shopping Booker for some time. Makes sense as he's older and expiring. But his leadership will be missed. Stuaskas has looked great in KA's system and is nice insurance for the unrestricted Harris who is likely to get paid. Okafor is about to make his home debut and we'll see if there is a future here for him or not. The #2 was icing on the cake.

Most teams had offseason goals, whether it was contention, making the playoffs, or developing (or some combination thereof). What was your team's plan? Has it changed?\
It was and remains development, as well as talent/asset acquisition.

PREVIEW

Given where your team is now, what is your outlook for 2017-18?
I'd like to see the team continue to play hard and develop it's youth. It would be nice if the pick stays around #10 as well and we don't hand another team a franchise player. The biggest things to watch will be integrating Russell back into line-up (I'm assuming he takes Crabbe's spot), and seeing what KA can do with Okafor.

What are your team's greatest needs? List positions, skillsets, etc. Being as specific as possible (even including specific names) will help the board create better trade proposals!
The Nets would still like to collect talent and assets wherever possible. The biggest hole on the roster is a lack of a shooting big. Acy is older, inconsistent and not that big. Otherwise, I don't see any major shake-ups. Marks has stressed patience, and I think they really want to see what they have once Russell is back and if Okafor is salvageable and playable with Allen.

What are your assets on offer? Where are you deepest?
The Nets will look to shop some of their non-core pieces: Harris, Acy, Whitehead, Zeller, but I don't see much interest other than Harris. Maybe Carroll is shopped as well, though they'd be left with little veteran leadership. There's also a chance the Nets look to sell high on Dinwiddie with Russell coming back and LeVert's PG play.

[JasonStern]

I'll take a stab at it, although there are better Blazer fans to do this...

REVIEW

With the benefit of hindsight, how do you feel about your team's draft?

same as after the draft. a bit confused and disappointed with the direction the Blazers took. Lillard and McCollum are about to enter their prime, the Blazers are capped out and cannot sign free agents even if they had space, and with three first round draft picks they ended up with Collins, a project big that shows potential, and Swanigan, a G-league power forward. none of the picks are bad - they just don't fit with the core versus trading the picks for a talent upgrade or simply shotgunning all three picks for more proven players to acquire some cheap depth.

How have your FA signings panned out so far?

the Blazers are currently a luxury tax team and didn't sign anyone outside of inconsequential two-way contracts.

Any offseason/in-season trades to evaluate?

not yet.

Most teams had offseason goals, whether it was contention, making the playoffs, or developing (or some combination thereof). What was your team's plan? Has it changed?

plan was to make the playoffs. while that hasn't changed, the .500 performance might encourage management to make a trade to get under the luxury tax this season.

PREVIEW

Given where your team is now, what is your outlook for 2017-18?

41-41, 8th seed west, 0-4 1st round series against Golden State.

What are your team's greatest needs? List positions, skillsets, etc. Being as specific as possible (even including specific names) will help the board create better trade proposals!

NBA talent. ideally a wing with range to replace Allen Crabbe.

What are your assets on offer? Where are you deepest?

nothing of any value. the Blazers aren't trading a future 1st this season to avoid paying luxury tax or for a minor upgrade that still leads to Golden State or Houston beating us in the first round. I can honestly see the expiring contracts of either Noah Vonleh or Ed Davis being traded for cap space to get under the luxury tax.