Post by Miege22 on Aug 27, 2018 16:15:21 GMT -5
This year's wildcard division is something of a paradox. In a league where having star talent is often the difference-maker, there is a lot of star power in this division. And yet, it's hard to pin any one team down as a true title contender (though, to be fair, the East is about as wide open as it's ever been). There's a case to be made here that the three best fantasy players in the game today are in this division. Two years ago, it looked like Tampa Bay would run through this division with no problem, but Washington matched them win for win and took them out in the conference finals. Last year, with the Wizards returning everyone, they looked like a Finals contender. For whatever reason, things didn't come together for them, and they lost in the ECF with a 9-7 record. This year? Who the heck knows.
1. Tampa Bay Bull Sharks
2018 record: 2-14
Playoff finish: N/A
PLAYERS ACQUIRED: DeAndre Ayton, Nic Batum, Allen Crabbe, Alec Burks, Serge Ibaka, Justise Winslow, Robin Lopez, Domantas Sabonis, Brandon Knight
PLAYERS LOST: Andrew Wiggins, Derrick Rose, Timofey Mozgov, Nick Young, Tobias Harris, Arron Afflalo, Amir Johnson, Mirza Teletovic, Marvin Williams
I will fully admit to starting this division off by throwing stuff at the wall and seeing if it will stick. There's no real reason to believe the Bull Sharks will go from worst to first, but there is a case to be made. That case is this team replaced a lot of dead weight with actual contributors. Look at the names of some of the guys they lost. Derrick Rose, Timofey Mozgov, Nick Young, Afflalo, Amir, Mirza... these are guys that basically never played. The guys replacing them, Nic Batum, Allen Crabbe, Serge Ibaka, Justise Winslow, Robin Lopez, all played and should continue to play. Russell Westbrook should continue to be a triple-double machine, and DeAndre Ayton is going to get all the playing time he can handle. Of course, I fully expect this call to blow up in my face. But hey, the East is WIDE OPEN. Get a few breaks, and the Bull Sharks are right back in the playoff hunt.
PROJECTED RECORD: 10-6 (2nd in East)
2. Orlando Magic
2018 record: 9-7
Playoff finish: 1st round
PLAYERS ACQUIRED: Ricky Rubio, Clint Capela
PLAYERS LOST: Justise Winslow, Aron Baynes, Jerami Grant
One of the quieter teams this off-season, the Magic brought virtually everyone back. They did, however, make some huge upgrades bringing in Ricky Rubio and Clint Capela. The Magic might have the best center rotation in the entire league with Capela, Howard, Valanciunas and Cauley-Stein. They are not going to hurt for boards, blocks or a high field goal percentage. At the same time, bringing Rubio will absolutely help with a thin point guard spot that suddenly can't rely on Milos Teodosic or TJ McConnell. The question here is what happens on the wings. Harrison Barnes could see his opportunities decrease in Dallas with the addition of Luke Doncic. Josh Jackson will have high level vets pushing him in Phoenix, and Brandon Ingram will no doubt lose quite a bit of ball-handling responsibilities to LeBron and Rondo. As much as I wanted to put the Magic in first and make them the favorites in the conference, the sketchiness on the wings had me spooked. The Magic should probably, still, make the playoffs, but it may take a trade or two to balance the roster and become real contenders.
PROJECTED RECORD: 10-6 (3rd in East)
3. Colorado Swannies
2018 record: 6-10
Playoff finish: N/A
PLAYERS ACQUIRED: John Wall, Dennis Smith Jr., Joe Ingles, Jerami Grant, Gerald Green
PLAYERS LOST: Buddy Hield, Frank Mason Jr., Malcolm Brogdon, Dante Exum, Jahlil Okafor, Cam Payne
It's been a long 8 years for the Swannies. Back in year 1, the Swannies, then the Charlotte Bobcats, advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. That was the last, and only time they made the playoffs. Since then, they've changed their name (to the Charlotte Hornets), then moved the whole dang franchise. After years of accumulating assets, years of building, the Swannies finally pushed some of their chips to the center of the table. Colorado landed John Wall in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, moved their 3rd pick for Dennis Smith Jr., and signed Joe Ingles. Those moves give Colorado a formidable starting 5 of Wall, DSJ, Ingles, Anthony Davis and Myles Turner. After years of waiting, it finally looks like the Swannies are getting back to the playoffs. The key here is if any of the young talent on their bench produces. Frank Ntilikina, Jordan Bell, Stanley Johnson, Marquese Chriss, Ivica Zubac all need to prove themselves this year. If one or two of those guys actually produce, the Swannies can make a run at this thing. If not, they may have to wait another year to end that drought.
PROJECTED RECORD: 9-7 (4th in East)
4. Washington Wizards
2018 record: 9-7
Playoff finish: Lost in ECF
PLAYERS ACQUIRED: Julius Randle, Rajon Rondo, Thaddeus Young, Marcin Gortat
PLAYERS LOST: Robin Lopez, PJ Tucker, Marcus Smart, George Hill
The Wizards won 14 games and the Eastern Conference crown in 2017, then followed it up with a Southeast Division title and an ECF appearance last year. It looks as though they improved with the acquisitions they made, and yet, it seems likely they will be slightly worse this year than they were last. Giannis Antentokounmpo continues to be amazing, but there are pieces on this roster that look destined to fall flat. Dennis Schroder won't get nearly the touches he did last season. John Henson is probably going to come off the bench. Kyle Anderson and Kent Bazemore will have to fight for the ball. In theory, the bench could be solid enough to lift this team back to the playoffs, but it's tough to see how it comes together.
PROJECTED RECORD: 8-8 (6th in East)
5. Atlanta Hawks
2018 record: 3-13
Playoff finish: N/A
PLAYERS ACQUIRED: Kyle Lowry, Klay Thompson, Steven Adams, Donte DiVincenzo, Chandler Hutchison, Aaron Holiday, Marco Belinelli, Dewayne Dedmon, Omari Spellman, E'Twaun Moore
PLAYERS LOST: Carmelo Anthony, Lonzo Ball, Bam Adebayo, Torrey Craig, Tyler Johnson, Emmanuel Mudiay, Garrett Temple, Tyler Zeller, Bojan Bogdanovic, Dwyane Wade
Perhaps no team changed their roster as much as the Atlanta Hawks. They traded Carmelo Anthony and Tyler Johnson for Kyle Lowry. Moved Lonzo Ball and Bam Adebayo for the 6th pick and a 2020, then flipped the 6th and 17th for Klay Thompson. They then went out and paid big money for Steven Adams. They filled out the rest of the roster with rookies and role players, and that's likely what will keep Atlanta out of the playoff hunt. At least for this year. This team will absolutely be better than last year, health permitting. The Hawks are going to need some of these mid-to-late first round picks to pan out, though, because Atlanta currently doesn't have a pick for the next three years.
PROJECTED RECORD: 6-10 (7th in East)
1. Tampa Bay Bull Sharks
2018 record: 2-14
Playoff finish: N/A
PLAYERS ACQUIRED: DeAndre Ayton, Nic Batum, Allen Crabbe, Alec Burks, Serge Ibaka, Justise Winslow, Robin Lopez, Domantas Sabonis, Brandon Knight
PLAYERS LOST: Andrew Wiggins, Derrick Rose, Timofey Mozgov, Nick Young, Tobias Harris, Arron Afflalo, Amir Johnson, Mirza Teletovic, Marvin Williams
I will fully admit to starting this division off by throwing stuff at the wall and seeing if it will stick. There's no real reason to believe the Bull Sharks will go from worst to first, but there is a case to be made. That case is this team replaced a lot of dead weight with actual contributors. Look at the names of some of the guys they lost. Derrick Rose, Timofey Mozgov, Nick Young, Afflalo, Amir, Mirza... these are guys that basically never played. The guys replacing them, Nic Batum, Allen Crabbe, Serge Ibaka, Justise Winslow, Robin Lopez, all played and should continue to play. Russell Westbrook should continue to be a triple-double machine, and DeAndre Ayton is going to get all the playing time he can handle. Of course, I fully expect this call to blow up in my face. But hey, the East is WIDE OPEN. Get a few breaks, and the Bull Sharks are right back in the playoff hunt.
PROJECTED RECORD: 10-6 (2nd in East)
2. Orlando Magic
2018 record: 9-7
Playoff finish: 1st round
PLAYERS ACQUIRED: Ricky Rubio, Clint Capela
PLAYERS LOST: Justise Winslow, Aron Baynes, Jerami Grant
One of the quieter teams this off-season, the Magic brought virtually everyone back. They did, however, make some huge upgrades bringing in Ricky Rubio and Clint Capela. The Magic might have the best center rotation in the entire league with Capela, Howard, Valanciunas and Cauley-Stein. They are not going to hurt for boards, blocks or a high field goal percentage. At the same time, bringing Rubio will absolutely help with a thin point guard spot that suddenly can't rely on Milos Teodosic or TJ McConnell. The question here is what happens on the wings. Harrison Barnes could see his opportunities decrease in Dallas with the addition of Luke Doncic. Josh Jackson will have high level vets pushing him in Phoenix, and Brandon Ingram will no doubt lose quite a bit of ball-handling responsibilities to LeBron and Rondo. As much as I wanted to put the Magic in first and make them the favorites in the conference, the sketchiness on the wings had me spooked. The Magic should probably, still, make the playoffs, but it may take a trade or two to balance the roster and become real contenders.
PROJECTED RECORD: 10-6 (3rd in East)
3. Colorado Swannies
2018 record: 6-10
Playoff finish: N/A
PLAYERS ACQUIRED: John Wall, Dennis Smith Jr., Joe Ingles, Jerami Grant, Gerald Green
PLAYERS LOST: Buddy Hield, Frank Mason Jr., Malcolm Brogdon, Dante Exum, Jahlil Okafor, Cam Payne
It's been a long 8 years for the Swannies. Back in year 1, the Swannies, then the Charlotte Bobcats, advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. That was the last, and only time they made the playoffs. Since then, they've changed their name (to the Charlotte Hornets), then moved the whole dang franchise. After years of accumulating assets, years of building, the Swannies finally pushed some of their chips to the center of the table. Colorado landed John Wall in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, moved their 3rd pick for Dennis Smith Jr., and signed Joe Ingles. Those moves give Colorado a formidable starting 5 of Wall, DSJ, Ingles, Anthony Davis and Myles Turner. After years of waiting, it finally looks like the Swannies are getting back to the playoffs. The key here is if any of the young talent on their bench produces. Frank Ntilikina, Jordan Bell, Stanley Johnson, Marquese Chriss, Ivica Zubac all need to prove themselves this year. If one or two of those guys actually produce, the Swannies can make a run at this thing. If not, they may have to wait another year to end that drought.
PROJECTED RECORD: 9-7 (4th in East)
4. Washington Wizards
2018 record: 9-7
Playoff finish: Lost in ECF
PLAYERS ACQUIRED: Julius Randle, Rajon Rondo, Thaddeus Young, Marcin Gortat
PLAYERS LOST: Robin Lopez, PJ Tucker, Marcus Smart, George Hill
The Wizards won 14 games and the Eastern Conference crown in 2017, then followed it up with a Southeast Division title and an ECF appearance last year. It looks as though they improved with the acquisitions they made, and yet, it seems likely they will be slightly worse this year than they were last. Giannis Antentokounmpo continues to be amazing, but there are pieces on this roster that look destined to fall flat. Dennis Schroder won't get nearly the touches he did last season. John Henson is probably going to come off the bench. Kyle Anderson and Kent Bazemore will have to fight for the ball. In theory, the bench could be solid enough to lift this team back to the playoffs, but it's tough to see how it comes together.
PROJECTED RECORD: 8-8 (6th in East)
5. Atlanta Hawks
2018 record: 3-13
Playoff finish: N/A
PLAYERS ACQUIRED: Kyle Lowry, Klay Thompson, Steven Adams, Donte DiVincenzo, Chandler Hutchison, Aaron Holiday, Marco Belinelli, Dewayne Dedmon, Omari Spellman, E'Twaun Moore
PLAYERS LOST: Carmelo Anthony, Lonzo Ball, Bam Adebayo, Torrey Craig, Tyler Johnson, Emmanuel Mudiay, Garrett Temple, Tyler Zeller, Bojan Bogdanovic, Dwyane Wade
Perhaps no team changed their roster as much as the Atlanta Hawks. They traded Carmelo Anthony and Tyler Johnson for Kyle Lowry. Moved Lonzo Ball and Bam Adebayo for the 6th pick and a 2020, then flipped the 6th and 17th for Klay Thompson. They then went out and paid big money for Steven Adams. They filled out the rest of the roster with rookies and role players, and that's likely what will keep Atlanta out of the playoff hunt. At least for this year. This team will absolutely be better than last year, health permitting. The Hawks are going to need some of these mid-to-late first round picks to pan out, though, because Atlanta currently doesn't have a pick for the next three years.
PROJECTED RECORD: 6-10 (7th in East)