100+ Notes

It’s been a while since my last blog post, and I have a lot that I would like to discuss.  I have compiled over 100 notes that includes something about each NBA team.  As a caveat, I didn’t include as much about the teams that are closer to the bottom of the standings; I have a blog that will discuss these teams more at a later time.

1. This feels like uncharted territory because I have no idea who will win the championship; there isn’t a team I consider to be the obvious one.  The Nets are dominant offensively, but will their defense or health be enough?  The Jazz look so cohesive this year, but will small lineups force Gobert into difficult situations?  While most cite the Clippers’ previous playoff issues, I think the bigger issue is their brutal clutch play.  Phoenix might not have the playoff experience, Philadelphia might not have the bench depth needed, the Nuggets might be in trouble without Jamal Murray, Dallas and Portland probably aren’t good enough, and who knows how healthy LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be for the Lakers.  The Bucks might be the most enticing; they’re not an A+ option, but they have some solid role players to complement Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday.
2. People have called the Celtics season underwhelming, which I consider an understatement.  They are one of the most inconsistent teams I have ever seen in terms of motivation; there are some games they are playing team basketball and want to win and other games where they play isolation ball, take bad shots, don’t try on defense, and only get mad when there’s a call on them that they don’t like.  I thought they would learn from how they went 0-4 when they did this in the Eastern Conference Finals and 2-0 when they played as a team, but evidently not.  They are in big trouble though now that Jaylen Brown is out for the season.
3. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are among the elite young players, but they need to take a jump in getting others involved and in positions to win.  I’m not surprised that they have had struggles with this given their lack of experience in it, but if they don’t improve then they are a reincarnate of Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker:  two players who put up monster numbers but for many years seemed apathetic regarding winning.
4. I’m a little bit surprised by the large case Jaylen Brown for Most Improved Player; while his playmaking has improved, his point totals mainly went up due to higher usage and more shot attempts (his field goal percentage only went up slightly) and his defense has declined.  There are several I would put before him.  That said, the Celtics are in trouble now that he is out for the season.
5. There is a lot that Marcus Smart can do, but he might be the streakiest 33-34% three-point shooter I have ever seen.  The Celtics are 8-10 when he shoots less than 30% from 3 and 3-9 when he shoots under 30% from deep and attempts at least 5 3’s.  Considering he’s only played 43 games, that’s a lot of rough games to keep shooting.  In the 6 games he shot at least 10, he went 19-61 (31.1%) and the team went 3-3; while he shouldn’t be taking so many shots, the issue is that sometimes nobody else is making them either.
6. There has been a lot of hate towards Evan Fournier lately due to his offense, but he’ll get more consistent as he gets playing time.  I’m more confused by his defense; there are games where he seems to be making several great plays a game and other games where he seems to be a few steps behind on every play.  While he’s never been great defensively, I never paid enough attention to say if he was that inconsistent in Orlando.
7. The Celtics have some high energy guys that can compliment Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in Robert Williams, Payton Pritchard, and Aaron Nesmith.  Williams is great in the paint and a strong rim defender, but he has also improved substantially as a playmaker and decision maker.  Pritchard has inconsistencies (as expected from a rookie) but can shoot and constantly plays hard.  While Nesmith struggled early and still has his moments defensively, he constantly plays hard and is up to over 35% from 3.
8. I’m thrilled that Aaron Nesmith is now playing more minutes than Semi Ojeleye and Romeo Langford.  I didn’t consider Langford that special of a defender and he has been dreadful offensively.  Ojeleye has shot 38% from 3 but I always seem to cringe when he shoots.  In Ojeleye’s last 11 games, he only shot 31.8% from deep and had a -3 +/-.  Oddly enough, the Celtics went 7-4 in those games.  That said, Nesmith is worse defensively than those two but is capable offensively and is really fast, which is something I didn’t realize while in college since I was so focused on his shooting.
9. There are several guys I don’t know what to make of on this team.  While Grant Williams plays hard a lot, I don’t know whether he’s even good or has a chance of being good (and I was ecstatic when they drafted him).  Jabari Parker looked good his first couple games in Boston but then was kind of meh after that if he played.  Luke Kornet has provided energy and has been good defensively, but he takes more 3’s than he should for a guy who shoots less than 30%.  Semi Ojeleye is good defensively but is a negative on the offensive side.  Romeo Langford has potential, but is putrid offensively, seemingly either playing afraid or irrationally confident.  I’m just glad they got rid of Jeff Teague; he was awful for them.
10. Kemba Walker is the x-factor.  While it is no secret that he has been inconsistent this season, he seems to be inconsistent by the quarter; he will make every shot imaginable one half and then make in nothing the next or vice versa.  This is concerning from one of the best offensive players on the team.  If he continues to play like this, they will not have much (if any) playoff success.
11. Despite having no All-Stars and rarely being on highlight reels, the Spurs continue to be such a fun team to watch.  They play such beautiful basketball with their playmaking, passing, and decision making on the offensive end.  I am thrilled they didn’t trade DeMar DeRozan; it is so beneficial for them to have somebody who can be the top scorer and the lead playmaker while Dejounte Murray continues to develop as a playmaker.
12. The Spurs have several young players who are guys who will be reliable for the next 5-10 years.  In particular, they struck gold after Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, Lonnie Walker, Devin Vassell, and Derrick White fell into their lap as first round picks; I also think Jakob Poeltl, Trey Lyles, Luka Samanic, Tre Jones, Keita Bates-Diop, and Drew Eubanks could all be good players.  The question is if any will be a star; my best bet is on Johnson, but don’t rule out Murray or even Walker.
13. You know it’s a weird year for the NBA when James Harden of all people is missing a substantial chunk of games, as he’s played 42 of 60 possible.  I certainly didn’t expect Kyrie Irving to lead Brooklyn’s big 3 in games played, but they’ve been fortunate that they’ve almost always had at least one of them healthy, which has helped them lead the East.  While I think they’ll be able to make it work offensively despite not having played together, I am more nervous about their health at this point.  That said, all three have been amazing when healthy (which doesn’t surprise me); their games compliment each other better than I initially anticipated.
14. I have heard so much hype around Bruce Brown and I love the obsession over him.  He was brought in to play defense and I’d say they got a steal on that trade; he didn’t play at first, but he has been so valuable on the defensive end for them.
15. If using the logic that the best ability is availability, something has to be said about how valuable Joe Harris is for them.  He has played every game so far and is leading the league with a 48.3 3P% while taking 6.5 threes a game.  While his defense has been suspect, he is a valuable player for them given his elite shooting ability, making it difficult to guard Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, or James Harden intensely without keeping a guy on Harris.
16. I didn’t expect I would say this after giving up Jarrett Allen in the James Harden trade, but I have been pleasantly surprised by their big man rotation.  DeAndre Jordan is shooting a career high and has been a good fit defending the paint and will likely be the best matchup against superstar centers.  Nic Claxton has been great on the defensive end off the bench.  Jeff Green might be the biggest surprise of all, looking great on the offensive end and competent enough defensively in the right matchups while giving them a fast-paced small lineup.  While he’s played more at the 4, Blake Griffin has also looked good as a shooter and occasional playmaker for them as well.
17. Julius Randle has been an absolute revelation for the Knicks this year.  The improvement in his stats is clear to see, but it’s more than just the fact that he’s scoring more, passing better, and shooting better:  his decision making has drastically improved.  Gone are the days of Julius Randle seeing triple coverage in the paint and running towards it; now he will see that and shoot it away from them or pass to one of the open players.  His midrange game has also improved drastically, as has his ability to pump fake and step back.  If he doesn’t win Most Improved Player, this whole season might be a total waste.
18. I expected the Knicks to finish 13^th this season (ahead of the Pistons and the Cavs), but they have been more consistent than several of the teams behind them.  This team has been gritty (not surprising for a Tom Thibodeau team), playing hard defensively (again, Tibbs is there), and is willing to go up against much better teams (notice a pattern here?).  That said, as much credit as Tibbs deserves, the players have bought in, which is essential for this to work (part of what I think went wrong in Minnesota). 
19. I believe Julius Randle is the epitome of how much this team has improved.  Last year they were a laughingstock, this year they have several players I trust.  RJ Barrett looks like the player I expected when he was drafted 3^rd last year, Reggie Bullock has been a reliable 3-and-D player, Nerlens Noel has been fantastic defensively in the wake of Mitchell Robinson’s injury, Derrick Rose has fit as a 6^th man, Alec Burks seems to make in everything, Immanuel Quickly has looked better than I expected, and Elfrid Payton has been a solid point guard.
20. Memphis has so many players that can play well; they have done an excellent job in their signings, trades, and draft selections to make a quality lineup surrounded by their star in Ja Morant.  They currently have probably 12-13 players I would trust giving at least 10 minutes to and probably 11-12 I would want to give 20 minutes to.
21. Ja Morant is such an oddity for a young star because he puts up insane highlight reel plays but also makes all sorts of moves to improve his team.  He still needs to improve defensively and isn’t a consistent shooter, but he is special with his athleticism, hard work, playmaking, and decision making.  Upon being drafted, I said he had the highest ceiling in the 2019 Draft (even higher than Zion Williamson); I still think that’s possible.
22. Jaren Jackson has struggled from deep upon returning from his injury, but he’s been good inside the arc (especially closer to the rim).  His ability to defend and shoot makes him the perfect second in command to Morant.  He has been a better rebounder this season than he was last season; that will only help the cause.
23. There have been several players who have improved substantially for this team.  Jonas Valanciunas, Kyle Anderson, Grayson Allen, and De’Anthony Melton have all shown substantial improvement.  Their rookies, Desmond Bane and Xavier Tillman, have also been playing well.  That said, Brandon Clarke seems to have taken a step back in several ways, including shooting.
24. The Justice Winslow experiment in Memphis has unfortunately not worked so far.  I was in favor of it because he is a talented player, but he has been worse at backup point guard than Tyus Jones (who continues to be immensely underrated), but that’s his best position at this point.  I thought him being aggressive offensively off the bench would be a good idea, but they have ben worse with him on the court.  He’s a good player, but not right for Memphis.  The big question is whether they pick up his option and try to trade him at some point or just decline the option.
25. Watch out for Memphis in trade markets.  They won’t be able to get a superstar in free agency, but they have so many young players they can include in trades.  A star who can play off the ball or on the ball will be great for them (I keep thinking someone like Bradley Beal but a better defender) to turn them into a fun lower playoff team into a juggernaut.  Dillon Brooks has shown that he will not fit the bill there, and Jonas Valanciunas might be even better as a fourth or fifth option.  At some point in the next couple years, they will need to pay Brandon Clarke and Grayson Allen as well as several of their others.  They have the depth to make a trade work and still play well.
26. The Phoenix Suns feel like a better version of Memphis in which they have so many players I trust.  They have 14 players who make a case for being worthy of playing 10 minutes per game and 10 that I would think makes enough sense to play 20 minutes per game.
27. It is well-known that Chris Paul has been a crucial part of this team and could receive MVP votes.  You might look at his numbers this year and think he isn’t overwhelming compared to usual with points or assists, but he always is able to improve a team’s intensity, IQ, and winning percentage.
28. Chris Paul’s presence has suddenly made Devin Booker among the most underrated players.  He is an excellent scorer and while he is a good playmaker, I love having him as a second playmaker who plays a decent amount off the ball.  He also is one of the best younger players (he’s been in the league for what seems like forever but is only 24) at the step-back shot; when Jayson Tatum shoots it, I have my doubts at times, but I always think it’s going in for Booker.
29. Many will look at Deandre Ayton’s stats and say he has had an underwhelming season but watching him makes him look like a Most Improved Player candidate.  His decision making on both ends has improved drastically and I don’t even flinch or cringe if I see him guarding a star player like Giannis Antetokounmpo; I sure did last season.
30. I have mentioned in the past that Phoenix seemed to have struggles with drafting until they changed their approach a bit.  They had notable flops Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss, and Josh Jackson which shared one massive trait:  all three have high ceilings (well maybe not Bender as much, but I’m still adamant nobody is using him properly), but all three were so raw and the Suns played them as if they thought they were NBA ready (none were quite at that point).  Since 2018, they drafted Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, and Cam Johnson; the latter two were ready to play as a rookie and have been strong role players while Ayton was more skilled offensively than people remember coming into the NBA.  Even when Devin Booker was drafted, he was a strong offensive player at that time but developed into a stronger player.  Now that they have their stars, they have done well in using picks to draft the supporting cast.
31. Speaking of their supporting cast, they have an interesting combination of players whose roles were known and other players who would appear to be reclamation projects but just needed to be in the right roles.  In addition to their stars of Devin Booker and Chris Paul, they have Deandre Ayton as a third offensive option and a trio of 3-and-D players in Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, and Cameron Johnson.  After Dario Saric was thrown into the trade where they traded down for the pick to select Johson, he has thrived for them as a backup power forward/center, the latter being a position he rarely played in Philadelphia or his brief stint in Minnesota due to opportunity.  They also have Torrey Craig, who they got from Milwaukee for cash, who is a solid 3-and-D player for them, Cameron Payne who is a sharpshooting backup point guard, and Frank Kaminsky who is a strong shooting backup center.
32. The Jazz make so much sense to win the Championship in some ways, but there are several reasons to think they could get out early.  The biggest reason they could is by the wrong matchup, as there are teams that could exploit certain matchups they have (most notably if a smaller team was playing).
33. Rudy Gobert is absolutely the MVP of this team.  Will he receive any MVP votes?  Maybe one or two, but he won’t be in the top 5 (maybe even top 10).  For a player who is averaging less than 15 PPG, it feels weird to look at his offensive numbers and say that, but he is an elite defender and rim protector.  The only issue is if they are facing a team that is smaller or has a center who is a great shooter; that could make it tougher to keep him on the floor.
34. Donovan Mitchell has developed into a fantastic offensive player.  For somebody I thought had the second highest floor in the 2017 NBA Draft (I said Luke Kennard would be a better at the start of their rookie year; oops), his playmaking and shooting has taken a large leap.  There are still question marks about his defense, but he can admittedly get away with some weaker defense given how good some of their other players have been.
35. I feel like the starters outside their two stars are immensely underrated.  Royce O’Neale would be the best defender on most competitive teams and can also shoot at a decent clip, making it easy to give him big minutes.  Bojan Bogdanovic isn’t putting up the monster point totals he did last year, but he is shooting well and is still averaging over 16 PPG; the issue is that the points are likely the only stats you will get if you’re hoping he would fill the page.  While many have pointed to the healthiness of the Jazz, people tend to overlook that Mike Conley has missed a decent number of games.  The All-Star (I’m excited to finally be able to say that) is truly the x-factor for this team; not having him will sacrifice their bench depth and will cause them to lose one of their best shooters and playmakers.
36. It is rare for a team to have two of the top bench players in the league, but the Jazz could have the top 2 finishers in the Sixth Man of the Year voting; Jordan Clarkson cooled off a bit lately but was prolific scorer for them this season and Joe Ingles shot for an unreal clip while being a strong playmaker and decent defender.  That doesn’t take away from the fact that Derrick Favors has returned into the perfect backup for Rudy Gobert and Georges Niang is another elite shooter for them.
37. The 76ers have a strange case of having three dominant players and then other guys who are a little bit streakier.  That is the main thing that is preventing me from declaring them a favorite to get out of the East, as I like the depth of teams like Brooklyn and Milwaukee more.
38. Had Joel Embiid not gotten hurt, there was a serious chance he would have been named MVP.  He has still made a strong case for him as the MVP given his dominance at both ends of the floor.  He has career highs practically across the board and his demeanor when they have a bad run has drastically changed too; it feels like I was watching a teaser of Embiid for so long and the real thing is so exciting.
39. Ben Simmons is an interesting case where he could win the Defensive Player of the Year but not be named to an All-NBA Team.  He has not been as dominant offensively or even anywhere near as aggressive as he was previously.  He has career lows in several offensive numbers which has been disappointing to see, but his defense has been at another level this year.  Still, he is essential to stop if you want to get past them in the playoffs.
40. I thought not trading Tobias Harris in the offseason was the wrong decision, but Doc Rivers as seemed to figure out the cheat code for him (which isn’t surprising considering he coached him with the Clippers):  utilize minutes of him with the bench.  He has fit well with this group and it gives him the opportunity to create his own shot and play on the ball; his playmaking and decision making seems to have taken a massive leap as a result.
41. I think that there are a lot of question marks after what I consider their Big 3.  Seth Curry has played well for them, but I still think he is so much better coming off the bench.  Danny Green has shot well for them and played great defense, but he is probably best served for a bench role at this point.  As for the rest of their team, you have a streaky volume scorer in Shake Milton, a strong defender who seemingly forgot how to shoot in Matisse Thybulle, a solid shooter and solid shooter who has developed into a decent defender in Furkan Korkmaz, Dwight Howard playing quality minutes at backup center, a rookie backup point guard who can’t shoot in Tyrese Maxey, and a decent shooter in Mike Scott.  They also have George Hill, who hasn’t played much for them; he could make a massive difference for the team down the stretch.
42. When Jamal Murray went down with his injury, I thought the Nuggets were in trouble, but they have thrived since as if they were inspired by it.  Nikola Jokic is a generational talent:  one of the most complete players I’ve ever seen offensively and improving defensively.  Michael Porter has picked up his offense as well while the rest of the team has seemingly stepped up nicely given the injuries to Murray, Will Barton, and Monte Morris.  That said, it will be tough for them to win a championship without Murray.
43. I feel like there isn’t enough talk about just how good the Nuggets are at drafting and developing talent.  Nikola Jokic was drafted 41^st in 2014 and nobody thought anything of the pick, Michael Porter slipped to them at 14^th in 2018 because there were serious injury concerns, Monte Morris was drafted 51^st in 2017 after a very good college career, PJ Dozier shockingly went undrafted in 2017 after a good sophomore year and being a highly touted high school player, and Facundo Campazzo finally joined the NBA as a 30-year-old.  Even when Jamal Murray was drafted 7^th in 2016, there were questions because few projected him being a point guard and they had Gary Harris at shooting guard.
44. While I felt like Aaron Gordon was overhyped by the time the trade deadline approached, I think he has been an excellent fit with Denver.  They needed somebody to fill the role that Jerami Grant left and while I’m not sure he’s quite the defender Grant is, Gordon has a similar playing style to Grant.  He hasn’t put up eye-popping numbers with Denver, but he has consistently been making the perfect plays for them and fits well off Jokic.  Prior to Jamal Murray’s injury, I said this was the perfect situation for Gordon; I think Gordon will be best suited as the 4^th scoring option on a competitive team, which is what he could do behind Jokic, Murray, and Michael Porter.  Even with Murray injured, he would still be the 3^rd option.
45. It has always been so strange to watch Nikola Jokic since he has this strange knack of combining highlight plays with slowing the game down.  He will make brilliant passes or really nice dunks one play and then on the next possession will play a slower 1-on-1 style that seems to totally throw the defense off their rhythm.  He has such a strong basketball IQ and always seems to make the right decision.
46. I don’t believe enough people are talking about the Bucks right now.  Maybe I’m trying to find any reason to justify my preseason pick to make it out of the East (prior to the Nets obtaining James Harden), but I still think they could win the championship.  Giannis has been a superstar again, Khris Middleton has had his best offensive season, Jrue Holiday has been great as a third option, and the supporting cast has played well of these three.
47. One major question that has plagued them in the last few years is who would be in their closing lineup; in the past, they had players like Eric Bledsoe and George Hill struggle in the playoffs or Brook Lopez suddenly either look good offensively or defensively.  I think the addition of Jrue Holiday eased that decision since Bledsoe and Hill were progressively looking like the wrong choices.  The three locks for these spots are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Holiday, and Khris Middleton.  I think the other two spots will depend on the matchup, which is nice for them this year because I think there are multiple players who are reliable.  In the right situations, I could see Lopez, Donte DiVincenzo, Pat Connaughton, or even P.J. Tucker look like the right fit for them.
48. They have a lot of wings and bigs who can play off the bench.  On this team, Pat Connaughton is a good defender, athlete, and shooter, Bobby Portis has been an excellent finisher while shooting well, Bryn Forbes has been one of the best shooters on the team, P.J. Tucker has played solid defense and shot well (he’s barely taken any shots though), and Thanasis Antetokounmpo can give a few minutes of intensity. 
49. Their guard depth is a bit tougher; After Jrue Holiday, their next true point guard is Jeff Teague, who has improved his putrid shooting from inside the arc that he experienced in Boston, but now can’t shoot from deep and probably shouldn’t be trusted with more than 10 minutes per game (15 max).  That’s not to say they don’t have playmakers: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton pair with Holiday as the assist leaders for the team, and Donte DiVincenzo has shown that he can be a secondary playmaker at times as well.  In other words, this isn’t a concern for them at this time.
50. As for the team I originally predicted winning the championship this year…okay, I don’t know what to tell you other than the fact that I didn’t expect their two superstars would miss substantial time with injuries and their third best player (Dennis Schroder) would miss time for Covid protocols upon their return.  That said, LeBron James reaggravating his injury is not a good sign by any means, even if he is currently ruled out for only 2 games.
51. Prior to his injury, it wouldn’t have surprised me if LeBron had won the MVP; he really has been incredible when healthy, especially offensively.  It’s unreal that he is able to be such a dominant player at the age of 36.  I have no idea how this injury will affect his game, especially since there is a substantial portion of his game that relies on athleticism.  Still, the elite playmaking and decision making will always be there even if the athleticism fades.
52. Prior to his injury, it seemed as though Anthony Davis took a step back this season.  His number on both ends of the floor have been lower than they have been in several years and he hasn’t seemed quite as aggressive at times on either end.  That’s not to say he hasn’t been a talented player when healthy, but he hasn’t been the same A.D. we have come to know.  I’m not worried about his struggles coming back from his injuries though; he hasn’t played in a month and a half, so it’s not a surprise that he shot less than 40% from the field across his first 7 games back.
53. Some people would disagree with this characterization, but Dennis Schroder has been their third best player this year.  While he hasn’t put up eye-popping numbers (especially in terms of shooting efficiency), his presence on the team is probably the most valuable after their two superstars.  Having somebody like him who will play hard on both ends of the ball and is such a talented player is so valuable.  It will be difficult to lose him due to Covid protocols.
54. I’m not the biggest fan of their center rotation of Andre Drummond, Montrezl Harrell, and Marc Gasol.  Each has their moments, but Gasol is the only one I trust defensively for many opponents, which is problematic when I don’t trust him offensively in any matchup at this point outside of making a shot or two and making some nice plays.  I think LeBron’s presence will help make Drummond a little better, but I think Harrell has taken a step back this season in many aspects.  That said, they all can be useful at times and likely won’t end games (the Lakers have Anthony Davis to do that).
55. The Lakers have so many players who play a solid role for them despite not lighting up the box score.  In particular, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Alex Caruso, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Markieff Morris have all played quality minutes for them and will likely be valuable for them in the playoffs.
56. The Clippers have been strong since the All-Star Break and have largely flown under the radar, something that I think has been truly beneficial for them.  I think they struggled under the spotlight they created for themselves last year, so this has been a good situation for them.
57. Both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have been amazing this season.  While many have focused on how they will play in the playoffs, I’m not worried about it as long as George remembers he is the number 2 option unless Leonard has a rare bad game.  I’m more worried about their health; neither have been particularly healthy the last few years, and Leonard didn’t participate in load management as much as usual (until he was plagued by a recent injury).
58. This team has been plagued with injuries throughout the season; the only players who will have played 60 games in a 72-game season for them are Ivica Zubac, Nicolas Batum, Reggie Jackson, Terance Mann, and Luke Kennard.  On top of that, Patrick Beverley just came back from a long injury and Serge Ibaka is still out.  That could hurt them in the playoffs (no pun intended).
59. If they don’t win the championship this year and Kawhi Leonard remains with the team, I’m not sure what the right move for the Clippers is to improve.  They have limited cap space (to say the least) and even more limited draft capital.  Their free agents are Nicolas Batum, Reggie Jackson, DeMarcus Cousins, and Patrick Patterson; Batum has rebounded this year so he might not be on a minimum salary next year.  Leonard, Paul George, Marcus Morris, Patrick Beverley, and Luke Kennard will all be signed to more than $10M.  Out of those, Leonard and George will remain, Kennard is untradeable right now, and neither Morris nor Beverley has any shot of giving them a return that would be worthwhile.  Serge Ibaka (player option, but expect it to be accepted), Rajon Rondo, and Ivica Zubac all make over $7M but likely would not give them a sizeable or worthy return.  Terance Mann is a valuable player and is on a small contract; Daniel Oturu and Yogi Ferrell are also on small deals, making it difficult to trade them.  I’m not sure what they do in this scenario.
60. The Heat have been playing well recently now that several of their players are healthy.  If everyone is healthy, they can shake things up in the playoffs; the bigger question is whether everyone will be healthy.  That killed their chances last year and has been an issue for many teams this year.
61. Jimmy Butler is essential for them to go far in the playoffs.  He can do almost everything; he’s an excellent defender, playmaker, scorer, rebounder, finisher, has a nice midrange game.  That said, he is a horrible shooter from deep at this point.  Despite that, his True Shooting Percentage is still so high and he shoots well from the line.
62. Bam Adebayo has had a great season and can do so much, but they will need him to be aggressive.  Their young core has been inconsistent at times this year and there have been games where he had to score a lot previously; I expect there would be games where they will need him to play that role.  Outside of shooting, he is among the most complete players in the game and will be a pillar in Miami for years to come.
63. The Heat have several young players who thrived at points in their careers so far, but many have been inconsistent.  Tyler Herro had moments this year where he was horrid from open 3’s, Duncan Robinson has stretches where he can’t shoot, Kendrick Nunn has points where it doesn’t look like he knows how to play winning team basketball, and KZ Okpala and Precious Achiuwa are still very raw.  They are at their best when most of these players are thriving and playing winning basketball.
64. I like the collection of veteran role players that the Heat have.  I feel like you can count on Andre Iguodala, Trevor Ariza, and Goran Dragic to do whatever they can to help win.  On top of that, I think Dewayne Dedmon and Nemanja Bjelica can provide support at times when necessary.
65. Now that Victor Oladipo is out for the year, I think it’s safe to say that the Oladipo experiment in Miami failed.  The good news for them is that it was a low risk, high reward move.  Kelly Olynyk might have provided some value for them, but Trevor Ariza has filled in well.
66. Portland has thrived recently; they have such a good offense, and it starts with Damian Lillard.  He is a guy who can score from seemingly everywhere and is someone I’m scared to see with the ball at the end of a close game.  He is also a great playmaker, something that few seem to give him credit for.
67. C.J. McCollum was having the best season of his career prior to being injured, but he still has been great.  For all the questions that are risen regarding the fit between him and Lillard, that duo is terrifying offensively.
68. Portland has a historically bad defense this year, but I think part of that comes from all the injuries they have dealt with.  In particular, they missed centers Jusuf Nurkic for close to half the season and Zach Collins for the entire season.  I’m not sure how their big men of the future will be considering those two have been plagued with injuries recently.
69. The Trail Blazers are only as good as they are due to their elite offense.  While Norman Powell hasn’t shot as well as he did in Toronto, he has been a great third option for this team.  Carmelo Anthony has been a perfect sixth man for them (and congrats on reaching top 10 all time in scoring!).  Robert Covington, Jusuf Nurkic, and Anfernee Simons have been strong shooters while Enes Kanter and Derrick Jones are excellent inside the paint.  It takes a lot to stop them.
70. One team I was wrong at the deadline was the Atlanta Hawks.  I said they would struggle, but they have played better than I expected on the defensive end, and I think a big part of that comes down to how strong Clint Capela has been on that end.
71. Trae Young has had his inconsistencies shooting, but he has consistently scored and passed well.  He also seems to be more excited when the team wins than when he puts up monster numbers, something I didn’t think was true earlier this season, let alone earlier in his career.
72. There are a lot of other factors that contributed to their improvement.  The most glaring might be Bogdan Bogdanovic’s return and elite play upon being inserted into the starting lineup, but I think the trade for Lou Williams and improvement from Danilo Gallinari helped immensely.  They will certainly be aided more when De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish are healthy.
73. The big question mark for them this offseason is what happens with John Collins.  The good news for next season is that they will have cap space because Tony Snell and Lou Williams are both free agents; even if they both are resigned, they likely won’t make a combined $20M next season like they do now (I expect Snell to be in the 5-8M range).  The bad news is that this team is quickly going to get expensive:  Trae Young is up for an extension next year while De’Andre Hunter, Kevin Huerter, and Cam Reddish are eligible the following year; with the exception of Reddish, I think each of them are clearly deserving (Reddish will likely be by next year).  Add to the fact that Bogdan Bogdanovic is signed through 2024 (player option that year) at $18M and Clint Capela is making over $18M in 2023 and this will get expensive fast.  The good news is that Danilo Gallinari’s contract in 2023 isn’t fully guaranteed (only $5M guaranteed).  Despite that, I expect them to try to resign Collins, but he will be a coveted restricted free agent.
74. Remember when people were questioning Dallas early as they struggled?  This is why you don’t doubt Luka Doncic; he has been on a tear this season.  He is shooting better than ever this season, is still putting up strong numbers, is a smarter decision maker, and (do I dare say it?  Sure, why not) does seem to be improving as a defender.  He still lets his emotions get away from him at times, but I’d rather that than not being competitive.  I’m surprised more people don’t include him in the MVP conversation.
75. People make a big deal about how worse off the Mavericks are because they traded for and resigned Kristaps Porzingis.  He has been injured a sizeable amount, has struggled defensively, and seems to have difficulty adjusting to the idea of being a sidekick, so I get that idea.  That said, there are some glimmers of hope:  he has shot well from deep, improved as a finisher closer to the rim, and is rebounding at a career best rate.  If he can improve his defense and buy in, this can be a championship duo down the road.
76. I thought the Mavericks were in trouble when they traded Seth Curry for Josh Richardson since Curry is such a good shooter; while Richardson has been solid defensively, he has struggled in a lot of aspects offensively.  Fortunately, they have several strong shooters.  In addition to the aforementioned Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, they have Tim Hardaway Jr., Dorian Finney-Smith, Maxi Kleber (who is leading the team in percentage as a big man), Jalen Brunson, Trey Burke, and J.J. Redick, all of whom are shooting about 35%.  This is necessary to open up the paint for Doncic and Porzingis.
77. Charlotte has unbelievable depth with younger players who are reliable players.  From their players who are 25 or younger, they have LaMelo Ball (thank God he returned from his injury), P.J. Washington, Miles Bridges, Devonte’ Graham, Malik Monk, and Jalen McDaniels who have at least shown glimpses.  They also have 26-year-old Terry Rozier who has been incredible this season.  That said, this team is going nowhere in the playoffs without Gordon Hayward’s talent and experience.
78. I have no idea what they will do this offseason.  Devonte’ Graham and Malik Monk are both restricted free agents this offseason; while they have the cap room to retain at least one, I don’t know if it would be beneficial.  While the P.J. Washington lineups at center have worked well enough, I wonder if they would try to sign a younger big man.  While I expect the Cavs will resign Jarrett Allen, some other restricted free agents that come to mind are Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Zach Collins, Tony Bradley, and Jarred Vanderbilt, all of whom have shown glimpses; Zach Collins might fit best if he is healthy, but I like the idea of Bradley there.  If they wanted to go with an unrestricted one, Harry Giles and Trey Lyles have shown glimpses throughout their careers as well.  Worst case scenario, they could always try to resign Cody Zeller or Bismack Biyombo for a year.
79. What on earth has happened to Indiana?  They went from being a model franchise to suddenly having everyone injured and/or grumpy.  After one year there are rumors about the coach being fired.  It would not surprise me if they go crazy with trades this offseason though; it wouldn’t surprise me to see them put Myles Turner on the block to allow Domantas Sabonis to move to center and the team to play faster.  That said, Turner is valuable in his defensive ability and the way he can potentially be a 3-and-D big man.
80. Aaron Holiday being up for an extension and the free agencies of Doug McDermott and T.J. McConnell likely won’t be fun, but there’s a lot to look forward to for next year.  T.J. Warren will be back from injury, which will be a welcome sign.  Beyond that, they will still have Domantas Sabonis, who has been incredible for them and is one of the best playmaking big men in the game.  They will also have Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert return, which a pairing of them with Warren and Sabonis could be terrifying offensively.  Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday, Aaron Holiday, and Edmund Sumner all provide value while Oshae Brissett has been surprisingly good in his short time with the team (maybe he could be something?).  I expect them to look much better next year.
81. The Warriors would be nowhere without Stephen Curry.  He has is scoring at a career-high level, but the team is barely in the playoff race.  Now I think people are finally starting to realize why Bradley Beal can’t seem to will the Wizards to the playoffs by himself; it’s not easy when the team has no depth.
82. Draymond Green might be scoring at one of the lowest rates of his career, but he has managed to compile career high assist totals somehow with this team.  His presence continues for this team to be essential in any endeavors that they have.
83. Andrew Wiggins has surprised me this season.  I originally declared Minnesota the winner of the D’Angelo Russell trade since they got the guy they wanted in free agency and managed to get rid of Wiggins while at it, but Golden State has finally cracked the code with him.  His shooting percentages have increased from everywhere on the floor, he has been smarter with the shots he takes, he has improved defensively, and, most importantly, he is playing like he wants to win.  He still has his old Andrew Wiggins moments, but those have been reduced as the season has progressed.  I could see some teams reaching out about trading for him this offseason.
84. For everyone saying the Warriors of old will be back once Klay Thompson returns:  don’t put money on it.  The major difference that not enough people seem to be discussing is that the bench on the championship teams was loaded and it is…well, let’s be diplomatic and call it spotty.  Juan Toscano-Anderson has looked like he will be a good reserve for them over the next few seasons and Jordan Poole looks like he could be a quality sixth man in the short term, but it gets a little dicier after that.  Kelly Oubre is a very good player, but his inconsistent shooting makes him look like this isn’t the right team for him.  Kent Bazemore has been a good shooter overall but has had bad moments, James Wiseman was inconsistent and raw before missing the rest of the season for injury, Kevon Looney was solid but unspectacular for the most part, Eric Paschall had a bit of a down year after a solid rookie year, and several other players for them haven’t been too valuable outside of a few minutes.  On the plus side, the only free agents for them this year are Oubre and Bazemore, but they have no cap space.
85. Just when you thought the Wizards were out, welcome back Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal!  For everyone criticizing Beal for being more focused on his numbers than winning, puts up the monster scoring numbers because he has needed to in order to make this team have a chance of coming away with a victory.  For everyone criticizing Westbrook for focusing more on numbers, his teams have won close to 70% of the games where he scores a triple double, so it’s not him doing that solely for the numbers (also, congrats on breaking Oscar Robertson’s record!  That’s quite the accomplishment!).  This team needed these two to play like they have been to even be where they are now.
86. They have some underrated role players that will be useful in the coming years.  After a slow start, Davis Bertans has rediscovered his shooting touch and is a great guy to have off the ball for them.  Rui Hachimura is aggressive inside the arc on both ends and I could see him being a player who is kind of like Shawn Marion as a third best option on an incredible team.  Daniel Gafford has been shockingly good for them since the trade deadline (I can’t say I saw that coming), Chandler Hutchinson has improved his shooting since being acquired (though he isn’t taking many), and Garrison Matthews went from being a two-way player to a valuable sharpshooter for them.  Once Thomas Bryant and Deni Avdija return, they will be in better shape for the future.  As for their guys who are on expiring deals but are valuable, Raul Neto has been great, Ish Smith has been incredibly useful (in other words, he has been the Ish Smith we’ve come to expect), and the Robin Lopez/Alex Len center combo has worked much better than I ever would have expected.
87. I am disappointed in the way they played Deni Avdija this year.  While there was reason to be optimistic and bullish about his potential as a shooter, a bigger selling point was that he looked to be a talented playmaker.  The issue was that the Wizards started him most of his games alongside Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal, making him at best the third ball handling option by default, which is rare to exist alongside two players who frequently play on the ball like them.  I hoped that they would have him come off the bench alongside Ish Smith or Raul Neto (even if that meant starting one of them) to give him more opportunities as a ball handler to advance this skill.  His shooting has a ways to go given his free throw percent and three-point percent; the least they could do is advance a skill that he looks much more talented in.
88. After a disappointing year from New Orleans, questions loom about what is next for New Orleans.  The one guarantee is that Zion Williamson is the superstar everybody thought he was in the draft.  He looks better at point forward than I expected he would be and is aggressive in the paint, where he is absurdly efficient.  That said, he looks sizably worse on defense compared to what he showed in college.  I’ve heard some jokingly say that he is just trying to fit in with the role of how bad the Pelicans are at that end of the floor, but he needs to improve on that end for the Pelicans to improve unless they drastically change their lineup.
89. After Zion Williamson, this team is something to watch on all levels this offseason.  Brandon Ingram emerged as an All-Star upon arriving in New Orleans, but do they see him and Williamson as a long-term fit?  He’s a great offensive player, but isn’t good defensively.  Lonzo Ball has been strong for them and fits with Zion, but he will likely cost a lot in free agency.  Josh Hart has done a lot for them, but he is also a free agent.  I’m not sure if they’ll even be able to find a trade partner for Eric Bledsoe or Steven Adams at this point, as both have been largely underwhelming for them.
90. There are some other prospects to be excited about for the future in addition to Zion Williamson.  Nickeil Alexander-Walker has improved his shooting and has been a confident and aggressive scorer; he has been a valuable player in terms of picking up points off the bench.  Jaxson Hayes is a great athlete and great finisher in the paint; he will be fun to watch catching lobs from Zion and will likely make up for some of Zion’s defensive shortcomings as Hayes grows.  Kira Lewis has shown glimpses of what he could do as a playmaker and scorer inside the paint.  While Naji Marshall hasn’t been the best shooter for them, he has been aggressive and has shown an ability to do several things.  Despite a murky path ahead this offseason, there is still hope.
91. Overall, Chicago might be in one of the strangest places because two questions have continued to reign:  what should they do with Lauri Markkanen and who is their point guard?  Markkanen has had moments where he looks elite and has shot well many times, but he has largely disappointed for a second season in a row.  In a weaker free agency class, he will likely receive a big offer in restricted free agency, so who knows what is best for matching offers.  Coby White has been a nice option as a score first point guard, but I’m not sure either him or Zach LaVine are the best options as the lead point guard.  I wonder if they will address that this offseason; if Markkanen is not on the team, might they try a smaller lineup with White at the 2, LaVine at the 3, and Patrick Williams at the 4?
92. I think this team could have a bright future for next season and the long term.  They acquired Nikola Vucevic, who is one of the best scoring big men in the league and has developed into a solid passer, to pair with their other All-Star in Zach LaVine, who has emerged as a superstar option offensively while only being 25.  In the long term, they have the aforementioned Coby White, a 20-year-old guard who can score in bunches, Patrick Williams, who has shot and defended better than I expected as a rookie which certainly raises expectations for him, and Troy Brown, a quality young player who can do a lot off the ball for them.
93. This has been a disappointing year for Toronto; injuries and Covid protocols have plagued any sort of momentum this team had going into the year and add to that the fact that Kyle Lowry might have played his last game in Toronto by the end of this season.  Losing the best Raptor since the dinosaurs died (with all due respect to DeMar DeRozan, Chris Bosh, and Kawhi Leonard) will sting, but they could still remain competitive next year.
94. Next year’s team will be competing for the playoffs again even if Kyle Lowry is no longer playing for them.  While Pascal Siakam has struggled this year from deep, his play after the first month of two has drastically improved; there is reason to believe he can regain All-Star form upon being able to play in Toronto again.  Fred VanVleet has quickly emerged as a potential All-Star and plays hard at both ends of the floor; his presence will make it so Siakam can play off the ball a bit more.  While OG Anunoby might not be in the Most Improved race as I predicted he would be, he has improved immensely offensively while looking like a great defender.  Chris Boucher has been exceptional at both ends of the floor for them and looks like he can be an All-Defensive team player at some point.  Gary Trent Jr. will be a restricted free agent for them, but he has picked up where he left off in Portland with strong shooting and solid defense along the wing. Malachi Flynn has shown glimpses of why he was a first round pick, and Khem Birch has played like he is worth resigning.  In other words, have hope Toronto fans.
95. Who would have thought that the Kings would still be in the playoff race after the Pelicans were eliminated?  I find that shocking given the horrible shape I consider them in.  The only players I would consider essential to keep are De’Aaron Fox, who has emerged as a much stronger and more aggressive scorer than I predicted he would be, and Tyrese Haliburton, who has shown that he can play both ends of the court and either on the ball or off the ball.
96. I have no idea what Sacramento is going to do with their team next year.  I think that De’Aaron Fox is at his best when utilizing a faster offense, which is not at all what they have there, but I’m not sure how tradeable any of their players are.  Harrison Barnes had an excellent year this year, but they seemed resistant to trade him at the deadline.  Buddy Hield can shoot well, but that’s it, so I’m not sure the market he will have given his price.  Marvin Bagley can still provide value, but he has been frequently injured, is up for an extension, who knows if keeping him is the right decision long-term.  I imagine they will keep Delon Wright at this time given his ability as a shooter and defender.  I think they should resign Richaun Holmes and consider resigning Terence Davis, but these decisions will depend on the cost.  They could be a team to watch.
97. Remember when I declared Minnesota the most dysfunctional team in the NBA a few months ago?  There is reason for hope, Timberwolves fans.  First off, Anthony Edwards has turned himself into the Rookie of the Year frontrunner since then.  Second, Karl-Anthony Towns discussed how he wants to win and has shown it in his play.  Third, several young players have emerged as strong players, including Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jordan McLaughlin, and Jaylen Nowell.  Fourth (and most importantly), the Timberwolves are winning much more under new head coach Chris Finch.  It will be difficult for them to reach the playoffs next year due to the competition in the West, but this is a start for them.
98. The Timberwolves has two big questions for their future in D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley.  Russell is likely untradeable at this point, so they will likely be stuck with paying him more than $30M each of the next two years unless he improves his shot selection.  The issue is that he has been largely rewarded previously for his questionable shot selection, so I doubt this will change.  The more interesting player is Beasley.  Prior to his suspension and injury, I thought he had a serious case to be a finalist for Most Improved Player.  He had an excellent season on the offensive end, but I’m not sure how his future is impacted by Anthony Edwards.  There will likely be teams willing to take a risk on him, but they would need to act now while his value is at its highest.
99. Cleveland has several things that seem up in the air at this point:  what is Cedi Osman, Is Taurean Prince part of their future, will the combo of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland work, is there anyone crazy/desperate enough to trade for Kevin Love?  That said, there are several things that are guaranteed:  first, Sexton can score like crazy from anywhere on the floor and could be a good complementary piece.  Second, Garland has emerged into a better playmaker than I expected he would be while also scoring at a good rate.  Third, Isaac Okoro might have had his rough patches as a rookie, but he plays hard at both ends, is smart with the game, seems like he can always play, and competes all the time; there’s a reason I was so excited about him prior to the Draft.  Fourth, Jarrett Allen makes them look like big winners in the James Harden trade.  Fifth, Larry Nance Jr. looks like he will be a valuable piece for the Cavs for many years.  Lastly, both Dean Wade and Dylan Windler can be solid bench players for them in the long term.  That said, it will be rough for another couple years for them.
100. Orlando has just entered the start of a rebuild after trading Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, and Evan Fournier, but I wouldn’t mind being the GM who has this group to start the rebuild.  It hinges on Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz being healthy, which hasn’t been the most reliable request.  Even if they aren’t, they start the rebuild (excluding picks) with Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton, Wendell Carter, Chuma Okeke, and Mo Bamba; I could think of worse ways to start this.
101. Once the offseason hits, it will be time to see if (probably actually when) Terrence Ross and Gary Harris are traded.  Ross is a strong scorer off the bench and will likely have his suitors.  Harris seems to have rediscovered his shooting touch since joining the Magic, so they might find a team who will try for him as well.
102. Detroit might have struggled this season, but there were bright spots.  Signing Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee have looked better than I expected and have allowed their younger players to develop in lesser roles while Cory Joseph has played since being traded to Detroit and, if desired, could be moved for more assets.  Grant is also young enough at 27 where he might still be able to be a part of the team for the early stages in their competitiveness, depending on how quickly this goes.
103. Detroit has several young players who have shown glimpses and look like they could be good players.  Saddiq Bey was a player I thought would be a solid 3-and-D player in the NBA and already is starting to look the part as a rookie.  Isaiah Stewart is still fairly raw, he looks like he could be their center of the future while only being 19-years-old.  Hamidou Diallo has started to turn some of the raw potential he displayed into a lot of talent, likely making him a coveted restricted free agent.  While I’m not sure what Josh Jackson will be for his career at this point, he continues to show that he is an aggressive scorer and that his defense is (if nothing else) decent.  Frank Jackson has shown that he can shoot very well.  There were also glimpses from Killian Hayes (injured after he played 24 games of his rookie year), Dennis Smith Jr., Sekou Doumbouya, and Saben Lee, but I don’t know how any of them will be (Hayes probably has the highest potential out of those).
104. Some would argue that Oklahoma City is in the best shape for rebuilding teams due to the vast number of draft picks and players who have shown potential.  My biggest question is if they are so far out on a rebuild that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is even in the timeline, and he’s only 22.  That said, Gilgeous-Alexander will likely be a multiple time All-Star and possibly All-NBA player in his career.  They also seemed to have struck gold in Luguentz Dort, a strong defensive player who is improving as a shooter as well.  They have several others who have at least some potential, including Darius Bazley, Aleksej Pokusevski, Theo Maledon, Moses Brown, Tony Bradley, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Kenrich Williams, Isaiah Roby, and Ty Jerome; these players give a nice balance of defense, playmaking, athleticism, and shooting. 
105. While the hope for OKC was that Al Horford would net more draft picks in return, it isn’t a lock that they can get anything for him.  He only played 28 games and while he looked better than he did in Philadelphia, he likely didn’t do enough to shake the stigma against him after his season there.  That said, there could be more of a market for him if a team with an imposing center wins the championship (the teams and stars to watch in that regard include Utah with Rudy Gobert, Philadelphia with Joel Embiid, Denver with Nikola Jokic, Los Angeles with Anthony Davis, and Miami with Bam Adebayo).
106. I’ll be blunt with Houston:  I consider them to be in the worst shape in terms of their rebuild since they have the least in terms of foundation and don’t have multiple draft picks (including possibly this year’s, but we’ll see after the lottery on that one).  While they could have had several options for alternatives (including reportedly a case where they had Ben Simmons and another where they had Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, and Taurean Prince and a different collection of picks), but they ultimately went with more picks and Victor Oladipo, who turned into Kelly Olynyk, Avery Bradley, and an improved pick.  It is what it is in that case, but the later picks could turn out being valuable for Houston.  Also don’t be surprised if they try to trade anyone over the age of 28 (not that I think there will be much of a market for John Wall, D.J. Augustin, or Eric Gordon right now, but you never know).
107. Despite all of this, they have some players who might be something (or if nothing else might be worth taking a chance on for a couple years).  Christian Wood has been a steal of a signing so far and could complement a player who is a strong ball handler.  Kevin Porter has looked really aggressive and better at being a playmaker than I expected; he is still raw and has his immaturities, so there will be time required with him.  They also had success from Kenyon Martin, Jae’Sean Tate, Danuel House, Sterling Brown, and David Nwaba.  There also seems to be some promise in how Armoni Brooks and Cameron Oliver have played in limited minutes.  They have also tried several other reclamation projects (which I think is a good move).  Who knows how they will turn out, but there seems to be some confidence in how Khyri Thomas and D.J. Wilson have played; we’ll see if they are part of their plans for even next season.

Well, that was a lot.  Any of these you would like to discuss?  How about any other thoughts I didn’t cover?  Let me know in the comments!