2021-22 Season Preview

[Laimbeer40]

New Orleans Pelicans

Ownership Rating: 5.5 (This score shot up after last seasons trip to the semifinals. Previously they had zero playoff appearances and their best season was a .275% winning pct)

Studs: No bona fide studs but Clint Capela is a difference maker.

Prospects: This is a pretty veteran squad so Nico Mannion is the only one that qualifies here.

Decisions: None really.

Losses: Taj Gibson is UFA

Prove It: We all know what Boogie is capable of if his skills haven't been sapped by injuries. 

Status: Not much to do here with 12 players under contract and $6m to spend.

Outlook: They squeaked into the playoffs as an 8 seed last year and then made some noise so not sure if status quo gets them back to the playoffs. If so it will be as a 7-8 seed again.

[Laimbeer40]

New York Knicks

Ownership Rating: 9 (4x playoff appearances, team got better every season. #1 seed last year. It was shocking that Heiz stepped down from a juggernaut so we will see if JMAC can keep the momentum going)

Studs: Jamal Murray, Bam and MPJ have looked like studs at times. Myles Turner could fit here if he ends up in another situation not battling Sabonis for boards.

Prospects: Plenty of youth but most of it established enough I don't call them prospects anymore. 

Decisions: Extend Derrick Jones? But the bigger decision is what to do about their upcoming RFA class. Yikes!

Losses: DeAndre Bembry is UFA

Prove It: I need Fantrax to prove they aren't on meth. Mikal Bridges is nice but wow do they have him rated high. No way you can justify doing a $28.8m RFA extension.

Status: On the surface there isn't much to do here. In reality they have to start preparing for some cap issues on the horizon.

Outlook: This team is top notch. Anything less than a 2 seed would be a disappointment.

UPDATE
June 2021: Stock down a bit as the forward-thinking JMAC sends Mikal Bridges out for Cam Reddish. They weren't going to be able to re-sign Mikal but this does add a little more doubt about them being the team to beat in the East.

July 2021: Continuing the mission to clear cap they moved Bam Adebayo for John Collins and a 1st. Another move for the long term that moved them down a peg this season.

[Laimbeer40]

Oklahoma City Thunder

Ownership Rating: 3 (This team was picked 7th in the initial franchise draft. They were a 5 seed in the inaugural season, then never sniffed the playoffs again. Hopefully ThePetis can get them back on track with the rebuild)

Studs: Gordon Hayward played like one at times but of course he is more fragile than a 2 year old's self esteem.

Prospects: C.Anthony, Vassell, I.Stewart and P.Reed all showed some potential. Jalen Smith did not. 

Decisions: Put Miye Oni into the Hall of Fame now or wait until he is officially eligible?

Losses: Bryn Forbes and Chandler Hutchison

Prove It: Hayward needs to prove he can stay healthy. 

Status: $38m in cap with 4 open roster spots. This is a very young team. The key will be deciding how quickly you want to rebuild.

Outlook: This squad shouldn't make much noise this year but if a few of their young guys develop, then the playoffs could happen in a couple years.

[Laimbeer40]

Orlando Magic

Ownership Rating: 4 (1x playoff appearance, went 61-17-2 in 2019 and only got a 4 seed. The East is tough my friends)

Studs: Poor Steph Curry. This must be how he feels in real life.

Prospects: Malachi Flynn shows the most promise but their G-League is packed with kids going into their 2nd season.

Decisions: None

Losses: Sterling Brown

Prove It: Is Kevin Knox a lost cause at this point?

Status: $15m in cap with 1 open roster spot and their 1st rounder. This team has some talent so it's a matter of whether they want to press the gas pedal.

Outlook: They can be close to a .500 team as-is. With a couple of solid moves I could see them in the 8 seed.

Update
July 2021: Picked up Pick 1.2 and some prospects for Steph Curry and Aaron Gordon. Later returns for a fully paid Steph seems a bit better than the early pick. Sure hope Hericon nails their draft this year or it's going to be a painful journey.

[Laimbeer40]

Philadelphia 76ers

Ownership Rating: 8 (3rd pick in the franchise draft has never missed the playoffs. However they also never made it past the 2nd round. Perhaps the League Office can pump some life into a deteriorating franchise)

Studs: Their stars have faded a bit but Paul George and Zinger still qualify.

Prospects: Pretty barren here. Kyle never put much emphasis on youth.

Decisions: Is there a creative way to extend Gary Harris for $3.7m?

Losses: Muscala, Neto and MCW... most likely Gary Harris too

Prove It: Dario Saric has been all over the place with his stats. Can he come anywhere close to earning his $10m per season?

Status: $2.3m in cap to fill 4 roster spots and the entire G-League. And of course no 1st rounder.

Outlook: They can get a winning record even adding just some below average players. But it feels like they need to do something more exotic. Stock down.

[Laimbeer40]

Phoenix Suns

Ownership Rating: 9 (Has made the playoffs each season; 1x Semis appearance)

Studs: Luka and Dame. Pretty good I guess. Rudy Gobert right there too.

Prospects: I tried like hell to get Precious from them. No dice. I'm kind of glad since Pat Riley seems hesitant to use him so far.

Decisions: How to get in good positioning for Luka's expensive RFA extension.

Losses: Markieff Morris, Pat Connaughton and Robin Lopez

Prove It: This one goes to the GM who has to prove they can work the cap to afford those expensive studs.

Status: $16m with four spots to fill. Plenty of money on the surface. But again, that Luka extension on the horizon.

Outlook: There will likely be a trade or two in their future but it would be a major surprise to see them break the trend and miss the playoffs this year.

Update
July 2021 - Traded Dame for Poku, 1.10 and 1.12 but I don't hate the move. Certainly the ceiling isn't as high this season. This move would however allow them to extend Gobert if they so desired. There is an 80% chance they lose this trade. It could end up being the right move though to cultivate the depth.

[Laimbeer40]

Portland Trailblazers

Ownership Rating: 7 (3x playoff appearances; 2nd seed in 2021. I have been highly complimentary of what Tommy has done to turn around this franchise)

Studs: Ja Morant for sure. Also two undercover studs in Sabonis and Middleton.

Prospects: Saddiq Bey was a very pleasant surprise in his rookie season.

Decisions: Probably just need to consider if they plan to re-sign Jalen Brunson before he hits RFA.

Losses: Khem Birch & Jalen McDaniels

Prove It: It's time for Anfernee Simons to take the next step in his development. Until then, hope he wins another $20 in the dunk contest.

Status: $13m to fill one active roster spot. Will he do the Tommy special and trade his 2022 1st for a contributor?

Outlook: This team was the #2 seed last year and perhaps they get back a healthy Thomas Bryant. They are tracking as a Top 3 seed in the West.

[Laimbeer40]

Sacramento Kings

Ownership Rating: 5 (2x playoff appearances; 2nd seed in 2019. Prior owner let Kyrie get away and bounced. Faux going into a deep rebuild so future ratings will be tracking the progress of that)

Studs: None

Prospects: Payton Pritchard had some nice moments in his rookie season. Zeke Nnaji should continue to develop.

Decisions: Everything

Losses: Dwayne Bacon and Ed Davis

Prove It: With a wealth of draft picks at his disposal Faux will have to prove he knows how to work the draft and identify young talent.

Status: $32m in space to fill almost an entire roster. They will be mostly inexpensive and young players or flippable vets using their cap as an asset.

Outlook: This is a blank slate with a lot of cap being paid out to other teams over the next two years. It'll be a couple years before they sniff the postseason.

Update
July 2021: Basically flipped Pick 1.2 into Jaylen Brown, PJ Washington and Aaron Gordon. That accelerates the rebuild by a year lol

[Andrewmott]

I’m afraid to see my owner rating. I’m just hoping it’s positive.

And have to agree with the others. This is one of the great things about Laimbeer’s leagues

[Laimbeer40]

San Antonio Spurs

Ownership Rating: 1 (What else can I give a team that has never sniffed the playoffs and still isn't close? This team has the Corey Curse. AMott has done things the right way but every time he makes a big signing or trade his acquisition gets injured. Despite the low score this owner is far from the worst in the league)

Studs: De'Aaron Fox is a borderline stud who isn't making borderline money. Bradley Beal is excellent.

Prospects: Not sure we have a solid prospect here.

Decisions: Mo Bamba's RFA extension is coming up this year.

Losses: None

Prove It: Gotta put Bamba here. The Magic are in rebuild mode so hopefully they let him play so they can evaluate him. 

Status: Only $5.5m to fill 5 roster spots. They do have a lotto pick but will they keep it? They haven't made a draft pick since Donte DiVincenzo some years back.

Outlook: If things went amazingly well they could potentially be a playoff team. But with only 7 guys under contract they need plenty of quality depth. The cap is their biggest obstacle. Most likely they will be a 10 seed this year. Which isn't ideal when only the Top 8 get to the playoffs.