NLL Insider - Southwest Division- What's Next?by Andrew, updated on Tuesday, June 21 2016, 05:27 am EST Blue = Possible trade / Free agency candidates The Southwest Dallas Mavericks Approx Cap Situation: $85,000,000 GM Points: 75 Record: +15 Picks: #26 #42 #59 #60 Key Players Returning: · DeAndre Jordan $21,165,675 · Lou Williams $7,000,000 · Emanuel Mudiay $3,241,800 Kelly Olynyk, Mike Dunleavy, Danny Green, Shabazz Muhammad, Nikola Mirotic, Doug McDermott, Jrue Holiday, RJ Hunter, Thaddeus Young Unrestricted Free Agents: Dirk Nowitzki, Ray McCallum, Joel Anthony Restricted Free Agents: Nil Rumours: Coming off a series loss to the Denver Nuggets, Smokey may look to shake thing up a bit in an attempt to add a new dimension to this very deep team. Is Jrue’s future in Dallas coming to an end? Targets: With Dirk expected to return the Mavs don’t look like they’ll be playing in FA this year, I’d expect they may use 4 draft picks and Jrue Holliday to snare a starting calibre shooting guard and back court running mate for the teams PG of the future Emmanuel Mudiay. Overview: This team is really talented but do they have that “Star†player to propel them to the next level? Mudiay, could be that man? Im positive GM Smokey is hoping that’s the case. Regardless one more season out of dirk and a trade or two and this team will be a leading light out west. Possible Line-up · PG – Emmanuel Mudiay · SG – Trade / FA / Draft · SF – Thaddeus Young · PF – Dirk Nowitzki · C – DeAndre Jordan · 6th Man – Lou Williams
San Antonio Spurs Approx Cap Situation $63,000,000 GM Points: 99 Record: +6 Picks: #42 #54 Key Players Returning: · Anthony Davis $20,956,974 · Reggie Jackson $13,913,044 · Joel Embiid $4,626,960 Bismack Biyombo, Will Barton, Stanley Johnson, Patrick Beverley, Brandon Wright, Trey Lyles Unrestricted Free Agents: Marvin Williams, Gerald Henderson Restricted Free Agents: Maurice Harkless, James Ennis, Alan Crabbe Rumours: Leeroy started 2016 with a winning mindset a few tough weeks brought about a slight retool to his team. What happened? He started winning games and at some point looked like a genuine contender. Has that thought process stuck in his mind, will we see more moves? Targets: With Mo Harkless and Alan Crabbe expected to return, the Cap in San Antonio may be a little tight, #1 target for this up and coming powerhouse is a quality power forward to plug in when Anthony Davis inevitably sits games. And a upgrade at shooting guard would also go a long way to solving the Spurs puzzle. Overview: Davis, Embiid, Jackson, Johnson there is nothing to dislike about those 4 quality young players. If Joel can get 100% and Anthony Davis takes some harden-up look out! This team has amazing potential. Points in the paint for opponents will dry up faster than a nuns………….well you know. Possible Line-up · PG – Reggie Jackson · SG – Draft / FA / Trade · SF – Stanley Johnson · PF – Anthony Davis · C – Bismack Biyombo · 6th Man – Will Barton Houston Rockets Approx Cap Situation $45,000,000 GM Points: 92 Record: +6 Picks: #55 Key Players Returning: · Gordon Hayward $16,073,140 · Enes Kanter $17,145,838 · Isaiah Thomas $6,587,132 Shabazz Napier, Paul Pierce Unrestricted Free Agents: Hassan Whiteside, Aaron Afflalo, Brandon Jennings, Ian Mahinmi, Mirza Teletovic, Leandro Barbosa, Ryan Kelly, Wayne Ellington, Luke Babbitt Restricted Free Agents: Nil Rumours: Hassan Whiteside by all reports; was being shopped around at the deadline last season, will Hassan be a Houston Rockets sign and trade candidate? Or will he be the cornerstone of the Houston D for years to come? I have an inkling Hassan’s days in Houston may be coming to an end via trade Targets: GM Spudspace has no less than 10 players looking at free agency departures surely the target here would be to keep 4 or 5 of the top guys and fill out the team through FA with exemptions and trades. Overview: Like others, a lot revolves around the return of at least three of the rockets potential free agent candidates, if Spud can entice their return he has a very solid contender to start up the 2016/17 campaign, with Dallas and the uber talented Spurs ready to unleash Spud is going to need all hands on deck to stay in the Southwest race. Possible Line-up · PG – Isaiah Thomas · SG – Aaron Afflalo · SF – Gordon Hayward · PF – Enes Kanter · C – Hassan Whiteside · 6th Man – Brandon Jennings New Orleans Pelicans Approx Cap Situation $42,000,000 GM Points: 54 Record: -20 Picks: #15 #17 Key Players Returning: · Brandon Knight $12,606,205 · Markieff Morris $7,400,000 · Jahlil Okafor $4,788,540 Marco Belinelli, Nemanja Bjelica, Darren Collison, Anthony Brown Unrestricted Free Agents: Chandler Parsons, Norris Cole, Nazr Mohammed, John Jenkins Restricted Free Agents: TJ Warren, Jared Sullinger, James McAdoo Rumours: 2016 was a tough year for GM BM, drafting Jahlil Okafor signing Chandler Parsons everything was looking rosy!! And that’s where the highlights finished, what is on the Horizon for this team it’s hard to know. Will they be putting all their eggs into the Chandler Parsons basket or start fresh? My money is on Parsons returning and a much improved NOLA team Targets: 1 big brutal rebounder can change the direction of this team in my opinion, go get him BM, don’t expect Chandler Parsons to be a free agent participant after the NOLA loaded up 99points into him last season. Overview: This is a brutal division to be in, with a resurgent western conference, at this stage it’s going to be tough to see forward movement until after the draft and free agency pans out; pieces are definitely in place for it to happen though. Chandler Parsons, Brandon Knight, Jahlil Okafor, Markieff Morris, Jared Sullinger is a fine starting point. Expect the Pels to be much improved in 2016/17; can they get above the other teams in this tough division? Possible Line-up · PG – Brandon Knight · SG – Marco Bellineli · SF – Chandler Parsons · PF – Jahlil Okafor · C – FA / Trade / Draft · 6th Man – Darren Collison (pending court case) Memphis Grizzlies Approx Cap Situation $64,000,000 GM Points: 60 Record: -27 Picks: #4 Key Players Returning: · Wes Matthews $4,290,000 · Jeff Teague $6,431,250 · Dante Exum $12,650,000 Adreian Payne, CJ Watson, Nik Stuaskas, Chris Bosh, Jordan Adams Unrestricted Free Agents: Cory Brewer, Kevin Seraphin, Troy Daniels, Mike Scott Restricted Free Agents: Jared Cunningham, Jarnell Stokes, Darrun Hilliard Rumours: GM Jesse publicised recently his desire to move along Jeff Teague, currently possessing the number four pick in the NLL draft could that equate to the drafting of a guard, Dunn / Murray / Heild? Or is Dante Exum going to be given the keys and GM Jesse hoping to land the 2016 version of Kristaps, In Dragan Bender? Personally I hope Memphis stick with JT and draft a big man... Targets: Unbelievably like so many others this team needs a big man to pull down the boards at centre. With Dante Exum, Chris Bosh, Jeff Teague and Wes Mathews all fit and firing who knows whats going to transpire in Memphis. Overview: Based on last season youd sell grizzlies stock and not think twice, but delve a little deeper and add a healthy Dante Exum, a fully fit Wes Mathews, Chris Bosh, Jeff Teague and a number 4 draft pick and it’s starting to look a little nicer for the Grizz. GM Jesse had a brutal season with injury; don’t let last season’s ladder position lull you into a false sense of security. Houston, San Antonio and the Mavs should keep an eye out, the Grizz are coming! Possible Line-up · PG – Jeff Teague · SG – Draft / FA / Trade · SF – Wes Matthews · PF – Chris Bosh · C – Draft / FA / Trade · 6th Man – Dante Exum Ladder Predictor 2017 Another tough division to predict with each of the five teams very capable, I have to give the title to Dallas though with the other four teams closely following. An injury or two to any of these teams could prove to be a disaster (see Memphis last season) 1. Dallas Mavericks 2. San Antonio Spurs 3. Houston Rockets 4. Memphis Grizzlies 5. New Orleans Pelicans
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