Blue = Possible trade / Free agency candidates

The Atlantic

Philadelphia 76ers

Approx Cap Situation: $78,000,000

GM Points: 99

Record: +22

Picks: #30

Key Players Returning:

·        Damian Lillard $20,956,974

·        Kawhi Leonard $ 16,407,500

·        LaMarcus Aldridge $19,689,000

 

CJ McCollum, Jabari Parker, Rudy Gobert, Ben Mclemore, Kelly Oubre, Omri Casspi, Devin Harris

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Pau Gasol, Luis Scola, Evan Turner, Mo Buckets

Restricted Free Agents:

Salah Mejri (RFA)

Rumours:

LaMarcus was traded and controversially reversed by the league this past season while I expect some moves to be made here to free up some extra cap space in the hunt for some fresh FA meat. Does that equate to LMA going again or will GM VT move along some end of the bench pieces like Devin Harris and Omri Casspi? Rumors that VT was seen allegedly seen loitering outside DeMar DeRozan’s Florida mansion with a briefcase full of cash were left unanswered by the GM’s agent

Targets:

Pau Gasol and Evan Turner are likely on the priority list to retain in FA. Luis Scola, Mo Williams, Omri Casspi and Devin Harris  will likely be on the move will that place GM VT be in a position to entice another top line Free agent to plug into an already powerhouse team?

Overview:

Damien Lillard, Khawi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge the veteran stars CJ McCollum, Jabari Parker, Rudy Gobert the emerging stars it’s a surprise VT still has some wiggle room in cap space to add another piece to this beast. Quality youth, quality experience, quality bench nuff said.

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Damien Lillard

·         SG – CJ McCollum

·         SF - Khawi Leonard

·         PF – LaMarcus Aldrich

·         C – Rudy Gobert

·         6^th Man – FA / Draft / Trade

 

Boston Celtics

 

Approx Cap Situation $54,000,000

GM Points: 99

Record: +21

Picks: Nil

Key Players Returning:

·        Nikola Vucevic $11,750,000

·        Ty Lawson $12,404,495

·        Taj Gibson $8,950,000

Jeremy Lin, Al-Farouq Aminu, Trevor Ariza

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Kevin Durant, Al Horford, Jordan Farmar, Michael Beasley, Ryan Hollins, Garrett Temple and Tyler Hansbrough.

Restricted Free Agents:

Jerrell Martin, Delon Wright

Rumours

Boston are usually an extremely active free agency team however that may change in 2016 with his two biggest players both set to test the market and due to paid what is likely well north of 40 million to return GM Jmac could just settle on them returning and call it a day. I can see some moves though.

Is a replacement for Trevor Ariza on Jmac’s wish list after earning the hate / love / hate / love / hate / love of the GM during the 2015/16 playoffs?

Targets:

With a probable luxury tax problem GM Jmac will be out of the running for the “Big names” unless some of the teams key players are traded. Worse case Celtics will most likely go for the best MLE players on the market to fill out the roster specifically at SF/SG

Overview:

With Durant and Horford almost certainly returning to Boston they will be a load to handle once again. Jmac always looking for ways to get better will have his thinking cap on right now mulling over ways to continue on his 60+ record into next season.

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Ty Lawson

·         SG – Trevor Ariza

·         SF – Kevin Durant

·         PF – Al Horford

·         C – Nikola Vucevic

·         6^th Man – Jeremy Lin

 

New York Knicks

Approx Cap Situation $64,000,000

GM Points: 69

Record: +14

Picks: Nil

Heading into 2016/17 GM Dunadin has 5 players under lock and key and those 5 are eating up around 64 million dollars of cap space, with Tyler Johnson and Kyle Anderson all but guaranteed to return NY won’t have a lot of cash left under the cap to fill out the roster. Is D12 going back to NY, reportedly on the NBA Mavs radar for max dollars?

Key Players Returning:

·        Paul Millsap $20,072,033

·        James Harden $16,784,031

·        Kyrie Irving $17,638,063

Bobby Portis, John Henson

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Dwight Howard, JJ Hickson, Jared Dudley, Donald Sloan, Mario Chalmers, Quincy Acy, Wesley Johnson

Restricted Free Agents:

Kyle Anderson, Pablo Prigioni, Tyler Johnson

Rumours:

With Dwight set to earn north of 20million GM Dunadin has some cash problems to take care of Is a big name on the way out?  Facing a similar problem last off season Luol Deng was traded to save money will the same be done in 2016/17. John Henson and his NY career could be over

Targets:

Like Boston, NY looks set to be fighting the league for the players at an MLE level salary, pending the return of Dwight Howard and Mario Chalmers to the big apple. GM Dunadin would be targeting some bench depth and possibly a starting small forward.

Overview:

Irving, Harden, Millsap and possibly Dwight and Mario returning expect good things in the big apple. GM Dunadin isn’t afraid of pulling the trigger on a trade that’ll benefit his team both long term and short, nothing different expected this coming season in NY, can they finally get over the top of the two gentlemen above?

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Kyrie Irving

·         SG – James Harden

·         SF – FA / Draft / Trade

·         PF – Paul Millsap

·         C – Dwight Howard

·         6^th Man – Wesley Johnson

 

Toronto Raptors

Approx Cap Situation $25,000,000

GM Points: 53

Record: +4

Picks: #32, #37, #41

Goodbye Kobe and hello GM Billyking and an extra 24 million dollars in cap space; The Raps are in need of some serious maintenance this coming season and would not be shocked to see a rebuild begin.

Key Players Returning:

·        Zach Randolph $10,000,000

·        Jae Crowder $6,086,957

·        Michael Carter Williams $2,399,041

 

Georgui Dieng, Lavoy Allen, Alonzo Gee

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Jerryd Bayless, Deron Williams, Sasha Vujacic, Jerrell Eddie, Timofey Mozgov, Cole Aldrich, Jason Smith

Restricted Free Agents:

Tony Wroten (RFA)

Rumours:

Has GM Billyking struck already? Has there been a significant move completed that changes the trajectory of the Raptors future? Stay tuned.

Targets:

With a truckload of cap space available, and a decent season ending record. GM Billyking should have his pick of free agents; only problem will be the lack of GM points (53) to place bids. Toronto needs scorers badly with Kobe’s 40 points per game gone I just don’t see who does the scoring

Overview:

With Kobe at home watching the best of Kobe highlight packages, it’s going to be tough on the Raps, FA decisions will go a long way to deciding their future in a crazy tough Atlantic division. Look out for GM Billyking to trade away a lot of current players in a massive rebuild attempt

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Deron Williams

·         SG – Draft / FA / Trade

·         SF – Jae Crowder

·         PF – Zach Randolph

·         C – Georgui Dieng

·         6^th Man – Draft / FA / Trade

Brooklyn Nets

Approx Cap Situation $83,000,000

GM Points: 97

Record: -15

Picks #9 #20 #28 #39

GM Wizkid would probably be a little disappointed with how the 2015/16 season finished up after adding DeMarcus Cousins to a talented young core. That being said with Terrence Jones and Jordan McCrae expected back the Nets will have no cap space to make a FA plunge either

Key Players Returning:

·        Khris Middleton $15,200,000

·        Avery Bradley $7,730,337

·        DeMarcus Cousins $15,851,950

Andre Roberson, Jeremy Lamb, Glen Robinson, Dante Cunningham, Cory Joseph, Tyus Jones, Danilo Gallinari, Josh Huestis and Jarrett Jack

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Austin Rivers

Restricted Free Agents:

Jordan McRae, Terrence Jones

Rumours

3 first round picks + a full roster = Moves to be made? Wiz is an OKC fan surely that won’t save Josh Huestis. Brooklyn made some savvy moves this past season by adding vets in Gallinari and Jack. Don’t be surprised to see Brooklyn head into the draft with zero draft picks

Will be interesting to see what moves are on the horizon for this up and coming team

Targets:

I can see Wizkid leaving free agency untouched and using his accumulated assets to trade for some additional depth and possibly some help up front to partner DMC at the power forward position for if / when Danilo get injured. A GM in NY could maybe persuaded to part with a certain young PF that could be a nice fit ?

Overview:

Im buying some of this Brooklyn stock, Wizkid has nurtured this team for a while I see some positive movement in 2016/17; playoffs in a ridiculously strong Atlantic division will be a tough ask. Though they are most certainly headed down the right path to success.

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Jarrett Jack

·         SG – Avery Bradley

·         SF – Khris Middleton

·         PF – Danilo Gallinari

·         C – DeMarcus Cousins

·         6^th Man – Jeremy Lamb

Ladder Predictor 2017

Everyone that isn’t in this division, take a second and be thankful. It’s just scary good and that probably doesn’t do it justice. Four of the five teams are playoff quality in what order they finish is just a random guess so here it is.

1.      Philadelphia

2.      New York

3.      Boston

4.      Brooklyn

5.      Toronto