Offseason Report Part 4 of 6: Getting There

Editor's note: Fantasy leagues have been created, and players are already joining leagues and participating in mock drafts. The Fantasy Season is almost upon us! To help aid Fantasy players, I'm sharing some outlooks on teams and possible fantasy prospects. In this six part Offseason Report, I divided teams based on how I see them prepare for the upcoming season. Let me stress again for the record that all analysis are based on read articles around the web, 2k13, discussions with experts (and feeling experts) confirmed by web reports, and previous fantasy experience. You know, things that are accessible from my sala or room.

With all the possible offseason moves, here's a look at teams who possibly could've done better in the draft, free agent signings, or trades. It's not that they got weaker, it's just that they could have been stronger coming out of this offseason.

New York Knicks

Maybe Tyson can teach Andrea a thing or two about defense?

Who they got in the market: Metta World Peace, Beno Udrih, JR Smith (Re-signed), Pablo Prigioni (Re-signed), Kenyon Martin (Re-signed), Tim Hardaway Jr. (Draft)
Who they traded for: Andrea Bargnani
Who they lost: Chris Copeland, Marcus Camby, Quentin Richardson, Steve Novak, James White (Waived), Jason Kidd (Retired)
Projected starters: Raymond Felton, Iman Shumpert, Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler
Bench depth: JR Smith, Beno Udrih, Metta World Peace, Andrea Bargnani, Kenyon Martin, Tim Hardaway Jr.

The Knicks are a team with a high-powered offense with Carmelo Anthony and JR Smith taking care of that department. Outside of them, though, there's not much firepower expected, as Amar'e Stoudemire still can't figure out how to play alongside Melo. And what do they do to address their need? Add another shooter. They traded for former number 1 draft pick Andrea Bargnani in a move that still boggles my mind. Raymond Felton is a shoot-first point guard, and they lost their facilitator in Jason Kidd. One ball is not enough in a five-man squad of Felton, Smith, Anthony, Stoudemire, and Bargnani. 

They're still going to be awful defensively, but it won't be because of Tyson Chandler. Kenyon Martin could provide quality minutes off the bench, but don't expect him to play over 50 games this season, given his injury situation. I'm not sure what to make of the Metta World Peace signing, other than it finally got him closer to his hometown Queensbridge. He's not as good defensively as he was before, Good news is that Tim Hardaway Jr. could potentially play major minutes in his rookie season.

Beno Udrih will fill the Jason Kidd role, a younger player with the old Kidd's game. He won't be spectacular, but he'll be able to provide threes and will distribute the ball. If he can somehow make a lineup with Melo and Amar'e together work, Felton might be losing his starting post.

Fantasy Prospects: With more passing options, Felton could be a nice 5th to 6th pick to fill your guard spot. Udrih might be a risky low risk-high reward pick. He's a heady pass-first guard that may steal minutes from Felton. That is, of course, if Shumpert continues his dismal showing. A couple of years ago, he was a great pick up to provide defensive stats and guard stats, but since getting back from injury, he hasn't been able to revert back to his form. His preseason performances are looking good though. Melo could still be a centerpiece of your team, but you'll have to live with his erratic FG%. Smith could be a third or fourth pick in a deep league, but his off-court antics may just hit his fantasy stock hard. Chandler provides efficient stats from the Center position; possibly not too elite rebounds, definitely not a lot of points, but will provide excellent FG% and at least a block per game. Amar'e and Bargnani would be risky picks. Bargs may give three pointers from the Center position, but the Raptors wouldn't have traded him out if his shots were falling. Amar'e is the odd man out in the New York payroll since the arrival of Melo. This could be his year, or he could be traded sometime soon to a team where he could flourish more. Remember his pre-Melo games with the Knicks?

Toronto Raptors

I still think Rudy Gay's going to have a big year coming up

Who they got in the market: Tyler Hansbrough, DJ Augustin, Austin Daye, Dwight Buycks
Who they traded for: Steve Novak
Who they lost: John Lucas III, Andrea Bargnani, Alan Anderson, Marcus Camby (Waived), Linas Kleiza (Waived)
Projected starters: Lowry-DeRozan-Gay-Johnson-Valanciunas
Bench depth: Hansbrough, Fields, Augustin, Novak, Ross, Gray, Daye, Richardson

After acquiring Rudy Gay from Memphis at the trade deadline last season, the Raptors finally have a big name player they could build around. They moved on from the Andrea Bargnani era, and are looking to go on a playoff hunt with the pieces that they have.

Their pieces include a borderline All-Star in Gay, the summer league MVP Jonas Valanciunas (who's just in his second year), a SG rotation of almost the same player in DeMarr DeRozan and Quentin Ross, an explosive triple-double threat in Kyle Lowry, and the perpetually active Amir Johnson up front. They added a couple of shooters from New York in Steve Novak and Quentin Richardson (who they eventually waived), and they also got free agent Austin Daye. They also got a couple of guys from Indiana in DJ Augustin and an energy guy in Tyler Hansbrough.

They may look deep, but they seem to be a collection of ok guys without an elite player, which means they could be a good team that's not great. The good news, is they're in the East, where the top teams are clear, but the 6th to 8th spots are wide open for anyone. The bad news, is that their best finish would be a first round exit.

Fantasy Prospects: I noticed that the SF spot has been a position of strength by the Raptors over the past couple of years in NBA Fantasy, with James Johnson and Alan Anderson providing solid numbers from that spot. With Gay now playing that spot, I would expect him to have a pretty good year this year. Lowry, when healthy, is one of the elite Fantasy guards, contributing in guard categories, and also providing some rebounds at the guard spot. Valanciunas was effective when he was on the floor, but had issues staying out of foul trouble, limiting his minutes. A year wiser, hopefully, he has learned how to stay on the floor longer. He'll be a valuable Center, as he has a nice shooting stroke from the line, and knows how to pick his shots, so your FG% won't suffer. Novak may be a late pick, seeing as he'll be competing for minutes with Rudy Gay. Daye might not cut the rotation, but if he’s given the chance, he can be a Channing Frye-lite.

Charlotte Bobcats

Big man in the middle is arguably the biggest star in their franchise history

Who they got in the market: Al Jefferson, Gerald Henderson (Re-signed), Josh McRoberts (Re-signed), Cody Zeller (Draft), Jannero Pargo
Who they traded for: N/A
Who they lost: Byron Mullens, Reggie Willams, Tyrus Thomas (Amnesty)
Projected Starters: Kemba Walker,Gerald Henderson, Micheal Kidd-Gilchrist, Cody Zelle, Al Jefferson
Bench Depth: Ben Gordon, Ramon Sessions, Jeff Taylor, Josh McRoberts, Bismack Biyombo, Jeff Adrien

Here's a big name acquisition; the Bobcats got one of the biggest names in free agency in Al Jefferson. While Toronto at least experienced a couple of big name players in Vince Carter and Chris Bosh, the biggest name that the Bobcats have had historically would probably be Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace, both of which were incidentally present in their first and only playoff appearance. With Jefferson, they have a legitimate All-Star caliber Center who can help carry their team back to the playoffs.

They're here in this section because they weren't able to do much with their bench. Sure, they got Ben Gordon and top scorer Gerald Henderson to re-sign with them, but that's basically it. We'll have to wait and see if Cody Zeller would turn out like his brother Tyler did in Cleveland (or better). Josh McRobers is a talented big but needs to keep his head in the game, while Bismack Biyombo is still a project in his third year. They're still young, but being in the East, they may have a chance for that 8th spot. 

Fantasy Prospects: Jefferson will definitely be a focal point of this team. The continued development of Kemba Walker is also something to watch out for in Fantasy. Last year, he provided decent assists to go along with sudden outbursts of scoring and steals. There were also a couple of good three point shooting games for him, so I'll definitely keep Kemba in my radar for an early pick. I'll be surprised if he's still available by the 5th round in deep leagues. Henderson provides offensive stats, and Sessions could be a nice late pick who will produce, as he almost splits time with Walker at the point. Gordon will give you days where he'll be unconscious from three, but get a dud in the same week, so he could be a specialty pick. MKG's a nice player for the Cats, but his contribution is mostly not seen in the stat sheets. He has a limited offensive game, but he'll give decent rebounding numbers.

Los Angeles Clippers

Despite injuries, Paul remains one of the best players in Fantasy

Who they got in the market: Chris Paul (re-signed), Matt Barnes (re-signed), Ryan Hollins (re-signed), Darren Collison, Byron Mullens, Reggie Bullock (Draft)
Who they traded for: Jared Dudley, J.J.Redick
Who they lost: Chauncey Billups, Ronnie Turiaf, Eric Bledsoe, Caron Butler, Grant Hill (retired)
Projected Starters: Chris Paul, Willie Green, Matt Barnes, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
Bench Depth: Jamaal Crawford, JJ Redick, Jared Dudley, Byron Mullens, Darren Collison, Ryan Hollins

The Clippers got their man back, keeping Chris Paul in their fold. They didn't quite get the players they wanted, after the trade for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett didn't push through. Basically, they're here in this section because of that failed trade. Instead of getting Pierce and Garnett, they have to settle for JJ Redick and Byron Mullens. They also lost more than they gained. Jared Dudley is a nice player, but he's no Caron Butler or Grant Hill. Eric Bledsoe's athleticism won't be replaced by Darren Collison, but he'd be able to compensate with the added playmaking aspect.

I'm not saying the Clippers blew it, I personally think they could've done better if they were able to keep at least one of the players they lost. Still, I think they're one of the better teams in the West, and their acquisition of Doc Rivers will definitely help their cause for a deep Playoff run, if not a championship.

Fantasy Prospects:  Paul is one of the elite guards in the NBA and in Fantasy Basketball. I think he can't be lower than the 5th overall pick (LeBron and Durant at the top, possibly Paul at third, but you could also go with “The Best Player in the League” Derrick Rose, or the crazy stats we get from Kevin Love. Depends really who you want to build your Fantasy team on). Blake Griffin, for all his highlights, isn't really a very attractive Fantasy player. He has the athleticism to grab around 15 rebounds per game, but he settles for 7 or 8. He's a bad free throw shooter, but he did show improvement last year. He doesn't block a lot of shots as well. He does play a lot of minutes, which is good from a Fantasy perspective. DeAndre Jordan provided elite block numbers, but he doesn't have much offensive creativity. He'll give you rebounds, but yes, he'll ruin your free throw percentage. They're bench looks like an attractive bunch; I discount Jamaal Crawford because he plays starters' minutes. Dudley could be a sneaky good pick. He may spell for Matt Barnes, or he may outplay him for the position, given his shooting stroke and able defensive skills. Up front, Mullens could provide threes from the PF/C position, and he may be able to be given playing time down the stretch if neither Blake nor DeAndre improve their free throw shooting. 

Denver Nuggets

A Center spot for him to lose, JaVale should finally have his time to shine

Who they got in the market: Nate Robinson, J.J.Hickson, Timofey Mozgov (Re-signed), Erick Green (Draft), Joffrey Lauvergne (Draft),
Who they traded for: Darrell Arthur, Randy Foye
Who they lost: Andre Igoudala, Corey Brewer, Kosta Koufos,
Projected Starters: Ty Lawson, Andre Miller, Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, JaVale McGee
Bench Depth: Wilson Chandler, Nate Robinson, JJ Hickson, Evan Fournier, Anthony Randolph, Darrell Arthur, Randy Foye, Timofey Mozgov

The Nuggets were able to snag one of the late big time performers of the league in Nate Robinson, which is supposed to be a good thing. However, Nate comes to a team where the starting point guard is almost as tall as he is. It may work to their advantage in the sense that they will essentially keep one style of play at the point guard spot through 48 minutes in the game. The problem is, they lost Andre Iguodala in free agency; a Small Forward who can create his own shots and create shots for his teammates as well. They also lost Corey Brewer, and with Danilo Gallinari possibly going to the season injured once again, it doesn't help that their next possible option at SF is Evan Fournier. Wilson Chandler might have to fill that spot as well instead of playing PF.

With the departure of Kosta Koufos, JaVale McGee's only competition for his spot would be Timofey Mozgov. They could also decide to play small, as they have a bunch of other big men they could play in the "Manimal" Kenneth Faried, and new recruits JJ Hickson and Darrell Arthur. They have an offensively gifted, but vertically challenged backcourt, with Randy Foye joining Lawson and Robinson at the Guard spot. They'll probably still be able to compete, but I doubt if they go as deep as they did last season.


Fantasy Prospects:  Lawson is an explosive guard who can be your second or third player in a deep draft. Evan Fournier may still not be a popular pick, but he may be an under the radar Fantasy pick who will provide threes and an efficient clip at that. I think Chandler will be a good 5th or 6th pick (or possibly earlier), as he will possibly play a huge role for this team. Faried needs to earn back his "Manimal" moniker after a bit of a disappointing showing last Fantasy season. McGee will give you blocks, and he may be a nice option at Center; a new coach means management may finally push the new coach to squeeze out the most out of their huge investment. Fantasy losers may be Robinson (stock definitely goes down from how he was late last season) and Hickson (decent PF rebounding and blocks and excellent shooting clim, but minutes would take a hit as he'll be competing with Faried).

Offseason Report Part 3 of 6: Keeping It Strong

Editor's note: Fantasy leagues have been created, and players are already joining leagues and participating in mock drafts. The Fantasy Season is almost upon us! To help aid Fantasy players, I'm sharing some outlooks on teams and possible fantasy prospects. In this six part Offseason Report, I divided teams based on how I see them prepare for the upcoming season. Let me stress again for the record that all analysis are based on read articles around the web, 2k13, discussions with experts (and feeling experts) confirmed by web reports, and previous fantasy experience. You know, things that are accessible from my sala or room.

Here's a look at teams who have either kept their team core intact and made minimal movement to their team, as they ride their success from last season. Not much noise with superstar acquisitions, as they don't need much of it. 

Memphis Grizzlies

Grizzlies' best defender is still an fantasy option for steals

Who they got in the market: Mike Miller, Tony Allen (Re-signed), Jon Leuer (Re-signed), Nick Calathes (Draft), Jamaal Franklin (Draft), Jannis Timma (Draft)
Who they traded for: Kosta Koufos
Who they lost: Austin Daye, Darrell Arthur (Waived)
Projected starters: Mike Conley, Tony Allen, Tayshaun Prince, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol
Bench depth: Quincy Pondexter, Jerryd Bayless, Jon Leuer, Kosta Koufos, Mike Miller, Ed Davis, Donte Greene

The grit-and-grind crew kept their "grit" by keeping Tony Allen in their fold. With Allen re-signing, they have kept their starting line up and short playoff rotation intact. They replaced Darrell Arthur's size with Kosta Koufos, who'll probably spell for Zach Randolph up front more than Ed Davis and Jon Leuer.

One of their weak spots last year was outside shooting, where Quincy Pondexter was a revelation. In the offseason, they tried to fill that hole by signing Mike Miller back to the Grizzlies' fold. Not sure if the rooks will get a chance to crack this lineup, but they still look pretty strong even if they don’t.

Fantasy Prospects: Mike Conley provides elite steals and assist numbers, and the frontcourt of Gasol and Randolph will give you big man stats you need despite them being on the floor together. Randolph will provide more scoring but Gasol has more blocks, so you get to pick your need. All the rest of the team will get minutes depending on their performances, but with a new coach, there may come a new coaching philosophy. With his performance during their playoff run, Pondexter may get some burn at the 2 spot when they need offense. Bayless may not have as much animosity with the new coach compared to when he was coached by Lionel Hollins. These guards, plus Koufos, can be under the radar picks from the middle to late in the draft.


Chicago Bulls

You can't claim to be the best and not back it up; expect a big season from Rose

Who they got in the market: Mike Dunleavy, Nazr Mohammed (Re-signed), Erik Murphy (Draft), Tony Snell (Draft)
Who they traded for: N/A
Who they lost: Marco Belinelli, Nate Robinson, Rip Hamilton (Waived), Malcolm Thomas (Waived)
Projected starters: Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah
Bench depth: Taj Gibson, Kirk Hinrich, Mike Dunleavy, Nazr Mohammed, Marquis Teague, Tony Snell, Erik Murphy

Derrick Rose is coming back, and that's enough to say that the Bulls are still strong. They made a second-round playoff appearance led by their 3rd point guard in the rotation (Nate Robinson), and what's to stop them aiming higher with their former MVP back and "100%" healthy? 

They somehow re-tooled, losing Nate Robinson (who had that amazing game against Miami) and Marco Belinelli to free agency and waived Rip Hamilton and Malcom Thomas (if you know him) but managing to get Mike Dunleavy off the market. The SG spot has always been their position of weakness, but that may have changed with the emergence of Jimmy Butler. They further strengthened that spot by adding Dunleavy who may also play some SF to spell for Luol Deng. Their rookies look like they're NBA-ready (at least from what I've been reading), and Marquis Teague can only improve as the years go by. Tom Thibbodeau's magic easily makes this team among the top three teams in the East with Miami and possibly Indiana or Brooklyn.

Fantasy Prospects: Rose said he won't come back unless he's 100%. Now that he's coming back, we expect him to do Derrick Rose things and fill up the stat sheets to validate his statement that he's "the best player in the NBA" today. Deng might continue to disappoint, so I'd rank Butler higher than Deng in my Fantasy depth chart. Joakim Noah is a guy I initially didn't like in my team when I started out in Fantasy basketball, but you gotta love the guy's energy that also translates to stats. Very late in the draft, if you're still looking for a guard to fill up your roster, Teague may be an option; Kirk Hinrich would be a primary option off the bench for Rose, but given his injury history, you might want to keep Teague on your bench. Tony Snell is said to be a Thibs kind of guy, so he may be able to earn minutes at the SF or PF spot.

Miami Heat

A mini-Twitter War with Gatorade ad buddy Kevin Durant may fuel
Flash to show that he is still one of the best shooting guards in the league

Who they got in the market: Greg Oden, Chris Andersen (Re-signed), James Ennis (Draft), Micheal Beasley (Waivers)
Who they traded for: N/A
Who they lost: Mike Miller
Projected Starters: Mario Chalmers, Dwyane Wade, Shane Battier, LeBron James, Chris Bosh
Bench Depth: Ray Allen, Norris Cole, Chris Andersen, Micheal Beasley, Greg Oden, Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony, Anthony Varnado, James Jones

With a loaded starting lineup, their position of weakness remains the Center and Point Guard spot. Still, they did manage to win a couple of titles with Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole at the point, while they had to learn to play small ball with Chris Bosh up at Center with Joel Anthony not really working out too well for them. In an offseason gambling move, they rolled the dice on two risky moves, signing former No.1 draft pick Greg Oden, and giving former No.2 pick Michael Beasley yet another chance in the league. 

Despite showing signs of brilliance that made the Blazers pick him over Kevin Durant, Oden has spent more time on the training room than on the floor. The Heat, with their intact lineup, do not figure to exactly "need" Oden, but it would be nice if he works out for them. Their Eddy Curry experiment didn't work a couple of years back, and this is another low risk-high reward experiment they are taking on their way to seeking their third straight title. 

They signed Michael Beasley off waivers, which gives them back the highest draft pick (both literally and figuratively…credit to @NotBillWalton for that joke) in the Heat’s franchise history. The talented forward’s off court issues have plagued his career countless times and most recently caused the Phoenix Suns to cut him loose, paving the way for Miami to make a move on him. It didn’t look like he was attracting a lot of suitors though.

Mike Miller is their only casualty, but that means more Ray Allen and Shane Battier threes when needed. Who knows, maybe James Jones would be dusted off and gets to play again.

Fantasy Prospects: Apart from the big three, the only immediate help you can get from this team are Chalmers and Allen's two to three 3-pointers per game. Haslem won't get much burn, and Birdman is a bit erratic, so their production from game to game will be varied. Battier will give a couple of games out of the 82 in the season where he'll hit an insane number of shots, but his production is not always seen in stat sheets, something you don't want when you're playing Fantasy basketball. If the Heat rolled the dice on Beasley, why can’t you? He can be a productive scorer and a decent rebounder off the bench for a late pick, and can play the JR Smith role in Miami if they decide to limit the minutes of their veterans during the regular season.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Not a lot of things can keep this guy off the court

Who they got in the market: Derek Fisher, Ryan Gomes
Who they traded for: N/A
Who they lost: Kevin Martin
Projected Starters: Russell Westbrook, Thabo Sefolosha, Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins
Bench Depth: Derek Fisher, Nick Collison, Reggie Jackson, Ryan Gomes, Jeremy Lamb, Daniel Orton, Perry Jones III

Next to Miami’s inactivity, Oklahoma might be the least inactive team in the league. And yet, they remain a top contender in the West with their solid lineup. Russell Westbrook is one tough SOB, so he'll be back before we know it. I’m not even sure if he’s healthy enough to start the season but I’m assuming he’ll be there. They lost Kevin Martin in free agency, validating the perception that they lost that James Harden trade badly. They essentially let him go for picks or something. That is, unless, Jeremy Lamb turns out to be a baller.

The Thunder will definitely bounce back, but I think they're not done moving pieces just yet. I think they're gearing to move someone in the middle of the season or a couple of weeks before the season starts. From where they are now, they still look like one of the best teams in the West.

Fantasy Prospects: Westbrook and Kevin Durant should definitely not be on the board by the 8th pick in a 14 -team draft. People have fallen in love with Serge Ibaka's stat lines, and may continue to do so despite a poor showing last year. Apart from them, it's difficult to assume who'd warrant playing time in that lineup, and how they're going to fill the stat sheets. Sefolosha gets a lot of playing time at the SG spot despite not showing much in the stat sheet. He does have three pointers and steals every once in a while, so he could still warrant a roster spot, but he can’t produce as much as you’d want from a starting SG. Lamb and Reggie Jackson are getting offseason love that may warrant them some regular season playing time.

Offseason Report Part 2 of 6: The Rebuilding Teams, West

Editor's note: Fantasy leagues have been created, and players are already joining leagues and participating in mock drafts. The Fantasy Season is almost upon us! To help aid Fantasy players, I'm sharing some outlooks on teams and possible fantasy prospects. In this six part Offseason Report, I divided teams based on how I see them prepare for the upcoming season. Let me stress again for the record that all analysis are based on read articles around the web, 2k13, discussions with experts (and feeling experts) confirmed by web reports, and previous fantasy experience. You know, things that are accessible from my sala or room.

The second installment of my offseason preview will feature the rebuilding teams of the West. The uber-competitive Western Conference will be a huge test to these teams as they try to establish themselves as playoff contenders in the coming years. 

New Orleans Pelicans

When healthy, this guy looks like a hybrid of Magic's version of Dwight Howard and Anderson Varejao

Who they got in the market: Anthony Morrow, Greg Stiemsma, Al-Farouq Aminu (Re-signed), Jeff Withey (Draft)
Who they traded for: Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday
Who they lost: Robin Lopez, Greivis Vasquez, Terrel Harris, Lou Amundson (Waived), Xavier Henry (Waived), Lance Thomas (Waived), Roger Mason, Jr. (Waived)
Projected starters: Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans, Ryan Anderson, Anthony Davis
Bench depth: Jason Smith, Al-Farouq Aminu, Anthony Morrow, Matt Carroll, Greg Stiemsma, Austin Rivers, Brian Roberts

I still don't understand what the Pelicans are trying to do. They upgraded their point guard spot from Greivis Vasquez to Jrue Holiday, then decided to trade for Tyreke Evans. They still have Eric Gordon. So unless they're trying to give new definition to "small ball" by playing the three of them together (Evans has played the SF role in Sacramento in spurts when backcourt mates Marcus Thornton and Ish Smith were on a hot streak, but Evans has already said he doesn't want to play that role again), I'm assuming that they're looking to move Gordon soon. Al-Farouq Aminu will likely play off the bench in a small-ball set up, with Ryan Anderson (who had a decent fantasy season last year, but not quite impressive as his last year in Orlando) and Anthony Davis (who we hope would get to play more) manning the middle.

Jason Smith is not an impressive player, but he gets the job done. I think they added Greg Stiemsma as an insurance policy to have at least a two-deep Center rotation even if Davis comes down with another injury. Anthony Morrow had a disappointing season last year, but the guy can flat out shoot the ball. They probably won't be the worst team in the league, but I doubt if they'll win a lot of games this upcoming season.

Fantasy Prospects: Holiday looks by far the best player on this team, which is not saying much for his draft stock; he won't have as much assists if his teammates can't hit their shots. Davis gives decent enough numbers to be your fourth or fifth best player when healthy, but he'll have to prove he can play a lot more games than he played last season. Aminu is an across-the-board contributor, and if you've played Fantasy Basketball over the past couple of years, you should know that as well. I'm very wary on picking either Gordon or Evans; the former is an explosive scoring guard, while the latter is a triple-double threat. I'm not sure who will be showcased more, or how each will turn out if one of them gets traded away. From a Fantasy perspective, I'd gamble on Evans just because he'd contribute to more cats. Stiemsma is a filler pick; he could fill your last roster spot and provide blocks from time to time, especially if the injury bug bites, or if they're not satisfied enough with Smith's contribution. Anderson is still an option as a 6th or 7th pick for your team, as he's a big man who can rebound and shoot threes.
  

Phoenix Suns

Eric Bledsoe has got to live up to the hype

Who they got in the market: Alex Len (Draft), Archie Goodwin (Draft), Alex Oriakhi (Draft)
Who they traded for: Eric Bledsoe, Ish Smith, Gerald Green, Malcom Lee, Miles Plumlee, Slava Kravstov
Who they lost: Wesley Johnson, Jermaine O'Neal, Luis Scola, Jared Dudley, Hamed Haddadi (Waived)
Projected Starters: Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe, PJ Tucker, Markieff Morris, Marcin Gortat
Bench Depth: Marcus Morris, Shannon Brown, Gerald Green, Miles Plumlee
Injured: Channing Frye, Alex Len

Their international frontcourt experiment of Luis Scola and Marcin Gortat didn't work out as they planned. But they finally found a solution to their constant problem of picking the "lesser" sibling to play for their team (e.g. Taylor Griffin, Jarron Collins, Robin Lopez) by getting both the Morris twins to play for them. On draft night, they got Marcus Morris one pick ahead of Markieff who was drafted by Houston. At the trade deadline, they got Markieff from Houston. Towards the end of the season, the twins literally split time at the PF spot, playing almost the same amount of minutes relieving each other.

They got a little more athletic with the acquisition of Eric Bledsoe and Gerald Green, and somehow "upgraded" when they gave up on Wesley Johnson and traded for Caron Butler. However, in a late offseason move, the Suns traded away Butler to the Bucks and waived Micheal Beasley after he was caught with drugs for the nth time in his career. Given this, look for PJ Tucker to be a lock at that 3 spot and play heavy minutes as he did late last season. Green might have to work hard for his part of the rotation; he'll be up against Shannon Brown and Bledsoe at the SG spot, while Tucker and Butler have that SF spot locked between them. Alex Len was a surprise in the draft, but from what I've read, he might still be nursing an injury.

Fantasy Prospects: I think Goran Dragic could be an early second round or even late first round pick in a deep league. He'll control the pace for the Suns, hit threes, and distribute the ball. You'll have to sacrifice turnovers, though. Gortat remains a good center to fill your roster, but don't expect crazy numbers from him. An upside, though, is that this Euro big can hit free throws efficiently, something that can't be said about all big men. If you're in need of a PF, you can flip a coin on the Morris twins as they'll likely produce almost identical numbers anyway. Bledsoe may be "freed", but I don't think he'll blow up as much as people expect him to. You can take the risk and prove me wrong though. Tucker was eligible for 3 spots last season, which is one of his most valuable assets in Fantasy leagues. His numbers won’t wow you, but his numbers are solid enough to be a complimentary player you can plug in from time to time. Channing Frye has said that he's healthy, and if that holds true, he should be worth an add on your fantasy roster. 

Sacramento Kings 

If he can stop being a jackass, he could be a fantasy beast

Who they got in the market: Carl Landry, Ben McLemore (Draft), CJ McCallum (Draft)
Who they traded for: Luc Mbah A Moute, Greivis Vasquez
Who they lost: Toney Douglas, Tyreke Evans
Projected Starters: Greivis Vasquez, Marcus Thornton, Luc Mbah a Moute, Jason Thompson, DeMarcus Cousins
Bench Depth: Isaiah Thomas, Chuck Hayes, John Salmons, Carl Landry, Jimmer Fredette, Ben McLemore, Patrick Patterson, Travis Outlaw

This could be the most dysfunctional team in the West. DeMarcus Cousins is a mercurial player who's got all the talent in the world but can't always get his head in the game. If he can play to his potential and keep his off-court drama at a minimum, this team might win a lot more games than they did last year. They're in somewhat of a rebuild, much like Atlanta, having enough players to compete, but I think built best for a low seeding in the playoffs. Their backcourt consists of one of last year's breakout players in Greivis Vasquez, explosive scoring guard Marcus Thronton, undersized Isaiah Thomas, a young player still trying to get a better feel of the NBA-level in Jimmer Fredette, and rookie draft pick Ben McLemore. Their SF rotation is thin, with only John Salmons and Luc Mbah a Moute playing that spot, which makes it seem to me that they'll play some three-guard combinations from time to time..

Up front, they have Cousins and Jason Thompson to start, but they were able to pick up Carl Landry in free agency, and still have a couple of talented bigs in Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. They don't look that bad, but they don't look good enough to compete against the likes of Golden State or the Clippers, for example. Rookie NBA coach Mike Malone is going to have his hands full with this one.

Fantasy Prospects: DeMarcus Cousins is a Fantasy beast, but he's a complimentary big man to go support your first pick and not a player you'd build around on. Grievis Vasquez was a sneaky pick last year, so his stock might be better this year than last year. The guard rotation works well for him, as he looks like he's the best facilitator in the bunch. Luc Mbah a Moute could be a sneaky pick for an all-around contributor as he looks to have a lot of burn a that position, if only to compete with size of other teams. Marcus Thronton didn't blow up quite as much as a couple of seasons ago, but he'll still be able to light it up in some games, especially with the threat Vasquez brings to the table. Draft pundits were high on Ben McLemore, but considering their guard rotation, he could be a risky as your rookie pick. People were high on "Jimmer-mania" but he wasn't played as much in his rookie year. Jason Thompson won't hurt your team, and he could be a nice mid to late pick if you need rebounds. Hopefully, he's favored by Coach Malone, because he has some tough competition with the talented Patterson and the veteran Landry. Hayes might be the main backup for Cousins, and could be an attractive backup Center in deep leagues. 

Utah Jazz

No longer just the first guy off the bench, Favors will be a force to reckon with in Utah

Who they got in the market: John Lucas III, Trey Burke (Draft), Rudy Gobert (Draft), Raul Neto (Draft)
Who they traded for: Andris Biedrins, Richard Jefferson, Brandon Rush
Who they lost: Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Earl Watson, Mo Williams, Randy Foye, Kevin Murphy
Projected Starters: John Lucas, Gordon Hayward, Marvin Williams, Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter
Bench Depth: Alec Burks, Trey Burke, Rudy Gobert/Andris Biedrins, Brandon Rush, Richard Jefferson

The Jazz finally solved their frontcourt logjam. But they did so by letting go of their two starters. Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter now have the spotlight to themselves, and I have little doubt in my mind that they will delivere. Their main weakness last season was point guard spot, where Jamaal Tinsley was able to showcase his wares from time to time. This year, they added the explosive (though undersized) John Lucas III and rookie Trey Burke. They still have Alec Burks, who showed flashes of brilliance towards the end of the season last year. They also took in the bad contract of Andris Biedrins to make some trades work, making him the primary backup at Center. 

As this is a rebuilding team, it wouldn't be surprising to see less of the newly acquired veterans from Golden State and more of the rookies they have in the roster. That said, I think Rudy Gobert could be a project the Jazz could work on. 

Fantasy Prospects: Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter showed efficient stats as backups and as starters when one or both Jefferson and Millsap were injured. Now they get to do that full time, and it won't be surprising to see monster numbers from these two. Favors provides blocks, and has little negative compared to all the positives he can give your Fantasy team. Kanter is a nice Center to fill that spot. Rudy Gobert could be a sneaky rookie pick, considering the lack of bench depth at the frontcourt by the Jazz. Trey Burke should still be the top rookie prospect in this team, but Gobert could be a rookie no one would see coming. Burks may build on last year's success, while Gordon Hayward always provided and will still provide efficient stats. 

Offseason Report Part 1 of 6: The Rebuilding Teams

Editor's note: Fantasy leagues have been created, and players are already joining leagues and participating in mock drafts. The Fantasy Season is almost upon us! To help aid Fantasy players, I'm sharing some outlooks on teams and possible fantasy prospects. In this six part Offseason Report, I divided teams based on how I see them prepare for the upcoming season. Let me stress again for the record that all analysis are based on read articles around the web, 2k13, discussions with experts (and feeling experts) confirmed by web reports, and previous fantasy experience. You know, things that are accessible from my sala or room. 

In part one of the season preview, we look at teams who are looking to build for the future. They aren't going to win a lot of games this year, but they are building around picks and young players, and may contend in a couple of years.  We start off with the Eastern Conference.

Boston Celtics

Huge decision for Rondo when he recovers;
be the Franchise Guy or bolt to make another super team elsewhere

Who they got in the market: Vitor Faverani (Draft), Colton Iverson (Draft), Kelly Olynyk (Draft), Phil Pressy (Draft)
Who they traded for: Keith Bogans, Marshon Brooks, Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace
Who they lost: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, D.J.White, Kris Joseph (Waived)
Projected starters: Avery Bradley, Jordan Crawford, Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, Kris Humphries
Bench depth: Gerald Wallace, JJ Sullinger, Kelly Olynyk, Jordan Crawford, Courtney Lee, MarShon Brooks, Keith Bogans
Injured: Rajon Rondo

The Celtics essentially blew up their roster by trading away Doc Rivers (first time I saw a coach traded), longtime Celtic Paul Pierce, and their defensive soul, Kevin Garnett. This is clearly Rajon Rondo’s team now. If he’s healthy, they have a pretty nice team that will still compete in the East. On the long term though, should Rondo decide to stick around for it, they’ll have a really good team as they got a lot of picks to build on when they traded away their marquee names.

Avery Bradley was a player Boston wanted to keep, and though he somewhat disappointed when he came back from injury last season, it’s not too far off to think that he’ll bounce back this year. JJ Sullinger was having a pretty nice rookie season until he was bitten by the injury bug. Brandon Bass was one of their most consistent players last season as well. Kelly Olynyk looks like an intriguing draft pick, but I think he got injured over the summer. If he comes back healthy, he may just be able to compete for minutes at the Center spot, where he’d only be competing against undersized Humphries, and the aforementioned Sullinger and Bass. Gerald Wallace may challenge Green’s minutes, or they could play together in a small ball lineup, with Green moving up to PF. Bradley might be better off coming off the bench to spell for Rondo, as it doesn’t look like they have enough ball handlers off the bench, unless they try to make Courtney Lee, Jordan Crawford, or Marshon Brooks play more of a facilitator.
As a proud franchise that’s looking to rebuild, it’s difficult to determine if they’re going to try to win games or just shuffle players around to figure out who they’ll keep after the season as they move forward.

Fantasy Prospects: Rondo is one of the elite guards in the NBA. If he’s healthy, he could be a player you could build your fantasy team around. But he could be a risky high pick, much like Derrick Rose was last year; if Boston loses a lot of games, would Rondo decide to come back to try and save them, or will he rest this year as they tank for a high draft pick? Without Rondo, Bradley could be the next best pick in this team, but I wouldn’t build my team around him. He’s a scoring guard, but he may need to facilitate more on offense. He’s a solid defender prior to his injury, which is why a lot of people scratched their heads when he came back and performed sub-par. Olynyk would be a nice rookie pick for reasons already mentioned above. Humrphries could potentially be able to produce nice rebounding numbers if he’s given a chance for a fresh start in Boston. That’s a big IF though. You can roll a dice on who might be the primary option for the SG spot if Bradley slides down to PG while Rondo is out; Lee has been with the team longest and could provide defensive stats more than the other two; Crawford is possibly the most offensively gifted among the options, but could be a defensive liability; Brooks is a versatile two guard back in New Jersey, and I always wondered why he got buried so deep in the Nets bench despite the dismal showing of Joe Johnson last year. Green would be a nice pick, as he’ll be the other piece Boston would build on with Rondo and Bradley. Wallace is a sneaky pick; he may play SF alongside Green at PF, but that would mean either Sullinger or Bass will lose minutes.

Philadelphia 76ers

With Holiday out, the Sixers are going all-in on their former top draft pick

Who they got in the market: Fulkan Aldemir (Draft), Michael Carter-Williams (Draft), Pierre Jackson (Draft), Arsalan Kazemi (Draft), Nerlens Noel (Draft), Royce White (Waivers, Rookie)
Who they traded for: N/A
Who they lost: Andrew Bynum, Nick Young, Dorrell Wright, Jrue Holiday
Projected starters: Micheal Carter-Williams, Evan Turner, Jason Richardson, Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes
Bench depth: :LaVoy Allen, Royce White, Arsalan Kazemi, Kwame Brown, Justin Holiday, Arnett Moultrie
Injured: Nerlens Noel

After a breakout season where he saw his first All-Star apperance, Jrue Holiday was traded away by Philadelphia in a move that got them top rookie prospect Nerlens Noel. By trading away their best player from last year and getting a rookie that might not play on opening night because of injury, the Sixers have announced a rebuild for their franchise. This is a direction that the Sixers are choosing a year after they were in a "win now" mentality, gambling on a one-year rental of Andrew Bynum in exchange for young prospects, most notably Nikola Vucevic who was a beast in Orlando last year. Bynum never got to play a single game as a Sixer.
On a positive note, the move freed up the PG spot to rookie Micheal Carter-Williams, and it wouldn't be surprising if their other rookies get to see action this year, as they look to develop their roster for the future. 
Jason Richardson would be a stabilizing voice in the team, but he'll probably spend more time teaching off the court than on it. Royce White may finally get to see action after the Rockets "freed" him from the doghouse. If he plays in the regular season, he'll still be an eligible rookie, as Blake Griffin was after his injury. 

Fantasy Prospects: Evan Turner is a do-it-all swingman who can play three positions (PG, SG, SF) and will be a valuable player in Fantasy ball. Now entering his fourth year, he'll have to show more consistency to maximize his potential. Thaddeus Young is a ball of energy, but his minutes might be cut down by LaVoy Allen and White. Spencer Hawes continues to be a nice prospect from Center; he's a higher-rebounding Andrea Bargnani. He has some passing skills too. Carter-Williams could be a nice pick at guard, but this is a guard-heavy league where you can pick a more experienced player than gamble on the strong upside by this rookie. I'm high on White because of what I've read, and how 2K13 portrays him. 

Milwaukee Bucks

Sanders' huge 2012-2013 campaign earned him a consideration as one of the top Centers in the league

Who they got in the market: Carlos Delfino, OJ Mayo, Gary Neal, Zaza Pachulia, Giannis Antetokounmpo (Draft), Nate Wolters (Draft)
Who they traded for: Brandon Knight, Luke Ridnour, Caron Butler, Khris Middleton
Who they lost: Samuel Dalembert, Monta Ellis, Mike Dunleavy, Brandon Jennings, Luc Mbah-a-Moute, JJ Redick, Gustavo Ayon (Waived), Drew Gooden (Amnesty)
Projected Starters: Luke Ridnour, OJ Mayo, Caron Butler, Ersan Ilyasova, Larry Sanders
Bench Depth: Carlos Delfino, Gary Neal, Ekpe Udoh, Zaza Pachulia, Brandon Knight, John Henson, Kris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo

Their playoff run was apparently their last hurrah for a while. Everyone was looking at how the Bucks were going to make two score-first guards work when they got Monta Ellis to play alongside Brandon Jennings. Now instead of getting rid of one them, they decided to let go of BOTH of them. It looks like their rebuilding process started at the trade deadline, taking part in deals that got them players they let go in the offseason. They let go of about six rotation players by either letting them walk in free agency or traded them away. 

Not to say they made an awful team. I think they made a good enough team that would compete, but not good enough to win a lot of games. Luke Ridnour is a tested veteran at the point, and he'll probably be spelled by a talented young guard in Brandon Knight. OJ Mayo, Gary Neal, and Carlos Delfino would be their outside gunners. They signed Zaza Pachulia to a generous contract, and John Henson was efficient when he got to play. In a late offseason move, they plucked Caron Butler from the Suns, bringing the versatile swingman closer to his home.

They won't be tanking, but surely they're not settling for this lineup to win a championship for them. 

Fantasy Prospects: Larry Sanders was a beast last season, blocking almost any shot that came his way. I think he got a triple double at least once with points, rebounds, and blocks last year. With a bigger role and without Samuel Dalembert looking over his shoulders, he may have a bigger year. Ridnour is a guard who can shoot outside, has nifty passes, and an excellent free throw shooter, but I've kept him in my team for the past couple of years because he could sneak in a block in his stat line every now and then. Those things he could do in limited minutes as he competed for his position against wunderkid Ricky Rubio, the young Alex Shved, and the feisty JJ Barea. Now he has only has Knight to compete with, who's most famous for being in DeAndre Jordan's poster. Mayo could be a nice scoring pick, while Neal would be a specialty pick to provide threes every now and then. Ersan Ilyasova is a versatile forward who can shoot threes and grab rebounds, but he usually does well off the bench. His performance picked up toward the end of last season, so he may just need your patience. Management said that they are looking to play Butler in a lot of minutes this season, which may give good all-around stats for your team as a middle round pick of a deep draft (round 6-9).

Atlanta Hawks

Former All-Star comes to town and yet they're "rebuilding"? Call me crazy, but this does not
look like a team geared for a championship run.

Who they got in the market: Paul Millsap, Elton Brand, Gustavo Ayon, Jeff Teague (Re-signed), Kyle Korver (Re-signed), Mike Muscala (Draft), Lucas Noguiera (Draft), Dennis Shroeder
Who they traded for: Jared Cunningham
Who they lost: Josh Smith, Devin Harris, Zaza Pachulia
Projected starters: Jeff Teague, Lou Williams, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, Al Horford
Bench depth: Elton Brand, John Jenkins, Gustavo Ayon, Dennis Shroeder, Lucas Noguiera

The Hawks could say they're aiming to win now, but I think they're setting up for a rebuild. They have finally ended the constant Josh Smith drama, and finally let him walk away. They replaced him with another talented PF with a different skillset in Paul Millsap. They were able to keep Jeff Teague, after he flirted with free agency (the Hawks matched the Bucks' offer). They added bench depth by snagging Elton Brand in free agency, but that's about it.
They did pick up intriguing, NBA-ready rookies in big man Lucas Noguiera (who will challenge Anderson Varejao with the best afro in the league) and guard Dennis Shroeder. Despite the talent they brought in, it looks like they'll best resemble Portland of last year; solid starting lineup (ok they have to deal with Kyle Korver being their starting SF) with not much bench support (I still am a firm believer that Brand is no longer half the guy who brought the Clippers to the playoffs on his back).

Fantasy Prospects: Al Horford is a fantasy beast that provides efficient stat lines from the Center position. With the arrival of Paul Millsap (who's a nice source of steals from that position), we can only wait and see whose numbers would go down. You can't go wrong either way, I think; Horford could get more points now as he stretches the floor with confidence that his PF is not lurking by the three point line, while Millsap has had plenty of experience playing with a legit big man with him at the post. This team probably won't be one of the best defensive teams that you can farm for blocks, but for steals, Teague could be a nice pick. He had somewhat of a breakout Fantasy season last year, adding some threes to his game. Korver had a stretch of consecutive played games where he made at least one three pointer, so at least you know what you're getting from him. If Lou Williams is healthy, he'd be a passing Korver. Watch out for his injury status. As mentioned earlier, both their rookies could see playing time, with Shroeder probably getting more burn as an attacking guard who can play alongside both Williams and Teague. Gustavo Ayon won the FIBA Americas MVP honors, which might bump his minutes up a little, but it’ll be difficult considering he’d be competing with All Star-caliber names like Millsap, Horford, and Brand. You get points and rebounds from him off the bench.

Orlando Magic

Talk about a late-season eye opener. Tobias Harris torched opponents in the "garbage time" equivalent of their season

Who they got in the market: Jason Maxiell, Ronnie Price, Victor Oladipo (Draft), Romero Osby 
Who they traded for: N/A
Who they lost: N/A
Projected Starters: Jameer Nelson, Victor Oladipo, Tobias Harris, Glen Davis, Nikola Vucevic
Bench Depth: Aaron Afflalo, E’Twuan Moore, Maurice Harkless, Al Harrington, Andrew Nicholson

Since Dwightmare ended in Orlando, the Magic has been on constant rebuild mode. They continue down that path this year, but not without promise. Nikola Vucevic was a revelation last year, and after the trade deadline, they found another gem in their lineup in the person of one Tobias Harris. They also added one of the most talked about prospect in the draft, Victor Oladipo. Apart from Al Harrington, Aaron Afflalo, Glen Davis, and Jameer Nelson, the Magic have young, promising talents who have not even played 5 years in the NBA.
This team will try to win games, but they won't be staked to a cross if they don't. Much like last year, they'll beat stronger teams from time to time and tease us of their potential in years to come, but they'll lose more than they'll win.

Fantasy Prospects: Vucevic, Tobias Harris, and Glen Davis should be your first three off the Magic roster. They showed the best form last year, before Davis got injured and was sidelined for most of the season. Next up, would probably be Oladipo over Jameer Nelson. I could be wrong here, but since they are a rebuilding team, I'd want to take a risk on a promising young upstart than a former All-Star who's probably looking to showcase his talents to show that he still has what it takes to get there. Harkless and Nicholson could be sneaky picks but at best they could be your last picks. Afflalo gives decent defensive stats, but his value last year was that he was the priority in offense. That will change this year with the emergence of Harris.

Offseason Special: The End of the "Next" Era

Over the years, NBA basketball has captured quite a wide range of followers separated by generations. Followers of the sport from each generation enjoyed a different brand of basketball they came to love, and not all may not see it the same way such that they would enjoy it the same way.

At 26 years old, I won't dare say I know the sport like the back of my hand. The brand of NBA basketball I have come to know is that of Micheal Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, who were gunning for their first three-peat, almost the default team of a 90's kid getting to know the game by himself. I was excited by Space Jam and for a time (actually, maybe until now) thought that those were the actual events that transpired while MJ took his leave from basketball. 

Except for MJ's last dunk, I thought this was almost true

Later on, I was able to read about historical games and actually watch quite a few of them. The really grainy ones, I cannot endure watching a whole game of, but the 80's basketball was something I could still enjoy watching.

That said, I think that the 80's was when Magic and Larry took the torch from Dr. J and ran with it. Later, Jordan took it and made it his time. After his 6th championship, that was when a new era started, an era that I would dub the "Next" Era.

MJ took over the league after these two

When Larry and Magic retired, no one was asking who the next Larry or the next Magic was; all people knew was that there was Michael. When Micheal retired the second time, all people cared about was saying who the "next" Jordan was going to be. Every athletic young player exciting enough to be cheered for was dubbed "the next Jordan" or something, but no one actually ended up being "the next Jordan". It was a time when players were not appreciated enough as themselves, but rather criticized because of what they lacked that Jordan had.

On Retirements, and The "Next" Era Ending

A recent chain of events have made me realize that the "next" era is almost coming to an end. Kobe got injured, and we'll be coming in to a season where we won't see the uber-competitve Bryant wearing a Lakers jersey on opening night. Tim Duncan told LeBron in 2003 that "one day" the league will be his, but it was his time that time. With the Spurs' loss in this year's NBA Finals, it almost seems Duncan's words were prophetic. Co-Rookies of the Year Grant Hill and Jason Kidd retired in the offseason. Recently, Allen Iverson decided to finally call it quits after not having a team sign him. Tracy McGrady also called it quits. 

I'm not saying that the new brand of basketball isn't fun to watch, all I'm saying is that it's not as fun as it used to be. We have transitioned from the era that may have contributed to the inception of the word "swag" to this era of a more "diplomatic" NBA, where a superstar's post-game interview will never leave out the line "the other team played great, we were luck to have this win". We are done with players crossing up defenders and stepping over them, finger wagging after a block, staredowns or point-downs after a poster dunk, trash talking then knocking down a game winner, and the genuine hatred of teams or players against opposing teams that makes a rivalry game actually feel like a rivalry game.

"Swag"

You see, those rivalries, those trash talking, and the "swag" are those that made basketball more than just a game for someone like me, who grew up and learned basketball at a relatively young age. Those are some of the reasons why some fans can't stand some teams, i.e. Celtics and Lakers fans, and I dare say Sacramento of 2000's against the Lakers (I curse you, Robert Horry). Those are the same reasons why we were excited to see players dunk on legitimate shot blockers (a breed that seems to be dying), and vice versa. Those are the same reasons why we want to wait for players to fail because they seem to think too highly of themselves, only to silence critics with an incredible game to back up his words. It was a time when the best players owned up to losses than whine in interviews about not having enough help. 

Today, we could have had a rivalry like that of Bird and Magic when LeBron and Melo came to the league, but they chose to have the kind of relationship Bird and Magic had AFTER they retired rather than when they were on opposite ends of the court. We have Chris Paul, arguably the best point guard in the league today, saying that the Clippers are Blake Griffin's team. We have role players talking trash that they can't back up when they're on the floor. Players love each other so much that the best players would rather team up than try to beat the other. The best players on the team always say it's a "team effort" when they win, and whine that their teammates need to step up when they lose.

What could've been a great rivalry has become somewhat of a "Cool Story Bro" feel to it

The "Next" era is coming to an end, and it is evidenced by the fact that Allen Iverson can't get a call from a team, and TMac has been reduced to the Matt Bonner-Brian Scalabrini level of fan pops. "Team-first" players are more venerated and respected, and while they still bring an exciting brand of basketball, I think, it hasn't been as much fun for me as it was before. It has become difficult to hate on anyone now, that when I watch games, I'm almost torn who to cheer for. The recently concluded NBA Finals will go down as one of the best Finals series ever played, but it was as painful for me as it was enjoyable; I cheered for my favorite player in Dwyane Wade, but I didn't have the heart to see such a nice guy like Tim Duncan lose that one.

At this point, I would like to thank the players of the "Next" era. To those who have retired, and those who are continuing their careers in a reduced or transformed role, thank you for igniting a passion for basketball in me. All those years of trying to prove that you are not "the next Jordan" but the first of who you are have given me countless games of one-upsmanship that I enjoyed immensely. But alas, everything must come to an end, and all I can hope for is that your own "Attitude Era" will have a revival of sorts in the future. It's no fun when Roger Mason,Jr. gets destroyed by LeBron James after saying he's overrated. I'll hope that one day, legitimate superstars would claim their team and challenge the rest of the league, as you did in your time.

I'm hoping he backs up his words and make a run at the MVP title

We are now in a time when Derrick Rose's proclamation that he is "the best player in the NBA" is met with ridicule than a legitimate claim, and when players like Brandon Jennings predict a future he can't even back up. To Rose, I say: back it up, boy, and bring attitude and "swagger" back to the NBA that the new basketball fans seem to no longer experience. By all means, shut all your critics up with an amazing season, so that the fans of this new brand of basketball can understand why the fans who grew up in the "Next" era are nostalgic about all these retirements. 

And to Jennings, I would like to tweak a couple of popular viral lines to share to you; "sumwagger ng ayon sa tamang galing". BRO??