10. Memphis Grizzlies
Intrigue: The Grit & Grind - If you don't like defensive, slow-paced, grind-it-out basketball, then don't watch the Grizzlies. If you do, then you're in luck, and if you do, then you understand how that makes this team successful albeit the reason they may not be very entertaining. Although they have a new coach, and he wants to make the team play more uptempo, they're not fooling anyone. They are who we thought they were. Their identity was established 3 years ago as a grind it out team, and as long as their core remains in tact, their success will continue to be predicated on aggressive team defense, Gasol high-post action, Z-Bo on the block, surrounding those bigs with perimeter shooters, and allowing Conley to take care of whatever else is necessary. It may not be the most entertaining basketball to watch and they are starting to look like Spurs lite, and come playoff time they're the type of team no one wants to play.
Player to Watch: Mike Conley - Ever since the Rudy Gay trade the team lost a perimeter player with the ability to make the offense go (statistical analysis geeks will say it was for the better but...) without running a set and be a threat on the perimeter through isolation (not saying it was efficient but...) in crunch time (not saying Z-Bo or Gasol on the block aren't good options in the clutch but...). Conley has the ability to be that guy (as seen in the playoffs last year) and will have to be (so far the numbers look good minus passing) if this team expects continued success with the same roster and no future moves made.
Trade to Consider:
(MEM) - Carmelo Anthony, Spencer Hawes, Jason Richardson
(NYK) - Eric Gordon, Ty Lawson, Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, Timofey Mozgov
(DEN) - Thaddeus Young, Ryan Anderson, Iman Shumpert, Raymond Felton, Kosta Koufus, Tayshaun Prince, Philly's 2nd round pick [via Mem]
(NO) - Zach Randolph, Lavoy Allen, Randy Foye
(PHI) - Amar'e Stoudemire, Jerryd Bayless, Mike Miller, 1st round pick via Mem
*Logic - Whew! That one took awhile to cook up. I'm not sure if five-team trades are possible, but if they are, here you go. Where to begin? The return Memphis gives up to get Melo may be/would be worth it come May/June when they're fighting to be in/win the NBA Finals. Their bench would need some retooling, but a starting lineup of Conley, Tony Allen, Melo, Hawes/Ed Davis/Pondexter, and Gasol would be quite scary and place them in consideration for best in the West. Melo gives this team that perimeter scorer (and even low post scoring lost from Z-Bo) I mentioned they lack that can and will takeover late in games; his poor defense would be covered on the perimeter by Allen and Conley, and on the inside by DPOY Gasol. He also brings them lineup flexibility which allows them change of pace. They can play him at the 3 or 4 with Hawes, Ed Davis, Pondexter, or J-Rich. This would be really exciting if it happened and Grizz fans should be salivating even if it meant a half-year rental (Melo is not signing long term to play in Memphis, let's be honest.) for a realistic chance to win it all.
New York gets to look like the pre-Melo days and their haul of players would make them look like George Karl's Nuggets East (Gallo & Mozgov are back!). New Orleans gets a Z-Bo/Brow combo up front and Foye, Austin Rivers, and Anthony Morrow will have to make up for the shooting lost from EG. Denver gets a ton of serviceable players with good value (except for Tayshaun) that they can keep or trade in other deals. Philly can buy out STAT to fill their cap minimum or give him an opportunity to play into his old form without pressure to perform well. Bayless can run on this team with Carter-Williams, and Mike Miller can enjoy his vacation season (it's fine he's won 2 the last 2 years he'll fine a contender to play for next year) or be bought out.
Where They'll Be Come June: If no moves are made, actually out of the playoffs in the 1st round and in much need of a roster change in the offseason.
9. Brooklyn Nets
Goal: Win NOW.
Player to Watch: Kevin Garnett - He's going to be very important defensively for this team, but his play on the court is also going to be just as important as his influence on the rest of his teammates especially his fellow bigs. Can he teach Brook Lopez aggression (not Reggie Evan's style, but better rebounding and m̶o̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ screens) and better low-post defense? Can he teach Andray Blatche maturity? These are important factors in getting this team where they want to be.
Trade to Consider: There's no way they're going to be able to trade any of these guys (maybe D-Will but not happening) nor do they have enticing players or cap space to really make anymore moves (They owe $30,457,433 in tax money!! That's Jerome James and Rashard Lewis contract money combined there.) Here's a little trade though:
(BKN) - Channing Frye
(PHX) - Matt Bonner, Mason Plumlee, Tyshawn Taylor (SAS) - Mirza Teletovic
*Logic - Frye can be paired with either KG or Lopez in the frontcourt and spaces the floor giving them another long range threat besides Terry. Phoenix gets Bonner to replace Frye's big man shooting and two pairs of brothers in Phoenix =O Popovich will turn Teletovic into a weapon somehow...
Where They'll Be Come June: Unfortunately moving the old Celtics to Brooklyn does not mean LeBron James left Miami (yet?)...Prokhorov will have to find another way to win a championship and it's not by taking on expensive contracts on players on their last hurrahs.
8. Houston Rockets
Goal: To win the whole damn thing and prove to the common basketball fan, statistical analysis reigns supreme.
Intrigue: Chapter 3 of the Dwightmare - Actually it won't be a nightmare. I think D-12 fits this team very well and as the season progresses and he builds more chemistry with Harden and Parsons, he will look like his old self especially now that he's healthy. We saw how dangerous this team was on offense last year without a low-post scorer and if Howard can become a monster inside, this offense may be unguardable (so far it's looking ok). Howard and Asik also make for a very intimidating post-presence on defense.Player to Watch: Patrick Beverly - Ah you wanted Jeremy Lin, huh? Sorry but as Kevin McHale has decided to go with Beverly over Lin as the starting point guard of the team, I'm actually fine with that. When their star shooting guard plays defense like this, they need a complimentary backcourt mate that will hound the opponent's ball-handler making passes more difficult to be made for wide open 2-guards coming off screens due to Harden's laziness. Beverly is an energy guy that may not fill the stat sheet, but he plays hard, he's very fast on the break, and he doesn't need to have the ball in his hands at all-times to succeed (not the case for Lin = excellent 6th man when Harden is out).
Trade to Consider: (HOU) - LaMarcus Aldridge, Kyle Lowry, Steve Novak
(POR) - Omer Asik, Terrence Jones, Amir Johnson, 1st round pick [via Hou]
(TOR) - Jeremy Lin, Donatas Motiejunas, Thomas Robinson, Omri Casspi
*Logic - This makes the Rockets the favorites to win it all. Does it not??...and nobody is actually getting jipped too hard in this deal. For years I have underestimated Lowry, but he's a good player that can give you a bit of everything. He's an upgrade over Lin and Beverly, and would thrive on this roster. Novak would get so many open threes. Most importantly pairing Aldridge with D-12 would be a high-low offensive wet dream and screams nightly combined stat lines of 45-30 (being points and rebounds).
Portland would get a new frontcourt duo of Asik and Johnson which isn't bad at all. Mix T-Jones (Potential!) with a late-first round pick and it's not a very bad return. It's acceptable.
Toronto for their cooperation gets Lin who will sell plenty of tickets to the heavily-Asian populated city (largest ethnic group of 33%) and he gets to reunite with his good-old buddy Landry. They also get T-Rob (potential!), Casspi will replace Novak's shooting, and Montiejunas gets to play with his fellow countryman Valanciunas! I love this deal. Daryl Morey read this blog! I just put the finishing touches to your master plan. You're welcome.
Where They'll Be Come June: This is the time where I want to remove this section for the top 5 teams in the West because I really can't predict the favorite. It really does depend on the matchups come playoff time and the moves these teams make. For the Rockets if they can add someone like Aldridge and maybe a more veteran point guard then they become my favorites in the West. For now, they're not good enough to beat the other four teams ahead of them in a seven-game series.
7. Golden State Warriors
Goal: Put their foot in the door of the Western elites and let everyone know they'll be there for years to come.
Intrigue: Winning Big with Style - They'll be one of the most fun teams to watch this year, and they'll be successful too. Will that flashy play work and equate to success come playoff time?
Player to Watch: Andre Iguodala - You've already seen the passing, the surprise three point shooting, the great defense, etc. Iggy has been great in the young season and I believe on this team, he will finally get recognition for being the player he is and was meant to be (Iggy has never been evaluated properly due to expectations greater than what he's capable of - Philly = overrated cause he had to be a superstar, do-everything player; or overlooked - Denver = underrated cause there were too many other players getting recognition while he covered the holes of each of his teammates' games on offense and defense). On this team he can play free, his way, and be recognized for it. Second to Stephen Curry (possibly Bogut's health to anchor the D, so maybe third?) Iggy is the most important player on the team. He can do everything and do it on a high level. His offense will show when needed, but his defensive presence will be most important towards the team's success. He can become a hybrid of young Shawn Marion and LeBron James lite and that would be sweet.
Trade to Consider: (GSW) - Marc Gasol, Ramon Sessions, Jeff Taylor, Anthony Tolliver
(MEM) - Andrew Bogut, Harrison Barnes, Ognjen Kuzmic, Andrea Bargnani
(NYK) - Tayshaun Prince, Bismack Biyombo
(CHA) - Ed Davis, Jerryd Bayless, Pablo Prigioni, Festus Ezeli, Philly's 2nd round pick [via Mem]
*Logic - The Dubs get the 2nd best center (most-skilled center) in the league and if you like the way the team has been moving the rock, Gasol would make passing more fun to watch than it already is. Not only that, he would bring the same defense (hello last year's DPOY) Bogut gives, and most importantly, he adds a versatile offensive game where he can kill you on either the high post or low post. Sessions can be J-Jack 2.0 (hopefully without the ball-hogging), Jeff Taylor I LIKE (Harry Barnes replacement though...), and Tolliver with Speights can shoot their hearts out. If Gasol were on the team, they would become one of the most complete teams in the league, maybe the most complete team in the league lacking few weaknesses (Passing: the whole team except for SPEIGHTS, check! outside scoring: Klay, Steph, T-Dougie, SPEIGHTS? check! Inside scoring: Gasol, Lee, SPEIGHTS? check! Rebounding: Gasol, Lee, Iggy, JO, etc, check! Highlight-Reel Athleticism: Iggy, Jeff Taylor, check! Defense: Gasol, Iggy, Klay, Bazemore, check! You get the picture, SCARY GOOD.) They could be considered legitimate championship favorites.
Memphis still looks solid as Bogut provides the poor man services of Gasol. Barnes is the prize haul for the team (hard for Dubs to give him up with all his upside) and a HUGE upgrade over Tayshaun or Pondexter. He'll get a chance to be there go-to perimeter scorer. Lastly Bargnani allows the Grizz lineup flexibility (Bogut, Z-Bo, Bargs, Barnes & Conley would be a realistic big lineup that can work) as an expensive 6th man.
The Knicks get Tayshaun who is cheaper than Bargs and Biyombo to back up Chandler. The Bobcats get the pu pu platter special of decent role players (Bayless, Prigioni) and potential (Ed Davis, Ezeli eh... & draft pick).
Where They'll Be Come June: Once again eliminated in the Conference semis but this time around it will not be seem like a fluke or luck. Bob Myers will make the right decisions moving forward (Possibly dealing D-Lee? Barnes?) as the team continues to build a higher reputation amongst the league and fans so San Francisco (hopefully!) becomes known as a basketball city in 2017.
6. Chicago Bulls
Goal: Return to being the King's biggest potential foil (Eh...Paul George and gang may beg to differ).
Trade to Consider: (CHI) - Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson, Greg Stiemsma, Courtney Lee
(NO) - Carlos Boozer, Kirk Hinrich Jeff Green, Brandon Bass
(BOS) - Luol Deng, Austin Rivers, Brian Roberts
*Logic - Chicago gets the scoring they desperately need by adding EG as D-Rose's sidekick and Anderson as their 6th man supreme. Both guys would thrive off the open looks Rose would give them. Lee is a very serviceable role player and Stiemsma on the team almost screams hard foul on LeBron come playoff time leading to an ejection! This trade is made possible because the Bulls have guys ready to replace Deng and Boozer (Butler & Taj Gibson), so why not use their best trade assets other than Noah and get guys that would fit what they need.
New Orleans becomes full of depth in the frontcourt, Tyreke is allowed to be the starter he's getting paid to be (his contract is not 6th man money...), and they get a good backup point guard in Hinrich. Also exchanging Anderson's 3 years for a more expensive Boozer at 2 years is reasonable. Jeff Green and Bass even out Gordon's contract.
Boston gets to remain competitive I guess...for Bill Simmons' sake by adding Deng, but also his contract will be off the books at the end of the year = more cap space! And it's a year too late but Austin Rivers is a Celtic! Great.
Where They'll Be Come June: Out of the playoffs thanks to the other team in the conference/division that has emerged in the last few years to overtake their place as biggest threat to the champs in the East. Hopefully they will have received some future assets for Deng's expiring or traded away Boozer's bad contract for better pieces built for a title run (this year and next).
5. Oklahoma City Thunder
Goal: To prove they aren't old news and get back to the Finals with a healthy Westbrook for the playoffs.
Player to Watch: Jeremy Lamb - It's time. It really is unfair for him, but in his second season and first with playing time, he (and Steve Adams!) is going to have to prove at least a little bit, for the Thunder and the rest of the league, that the Harden deal was not a complete robbery on the Rocket's part. He gets Kevin Martin's 6th man role and the Thunder are definitely hoping he will be that third scorer they desperately need (that should never have been an issue...I just teared a bit).
Trade to Consider: (OKC) - Arron Afflalo, Patty Mills
(ORL) - Reggie Jackson, Matt Bonner, Ryan Gomes
(SAS) - Thabo Sefolosha, Hasheem Thabeet
*Logic - It's a small trade but would be huge for the Thunder if it happened. Afflolo is one of the most underrated shooting guards in the league and he can play both ends of the floor very well. Unlike Sefolosha who becomes a liability down the stretch due to his lack of offense (especially the inability to hit the open shots Russ and KD will create when the defense crashes on them in the paint) Afflalo can make open shots and create his own. He's also just as good of a defender as Sefolosha, and the Thunder will be able to play him 40 minutes in the playoffs without worrying if he can provide any type of offense which makes that whole issue of finding a 6th man like Harden a little more irrelevant (Nothing will ever make up for his loss, unless Lamb and Adams both become future all-stars. BOTH OF THEM). Patty Mills also has the ability to light it up.
Orlando can then trade Jameer away to a contender in need of point guard help for nothing, and experiment a starting backcourt of Jackson and Oladipo while Bonner and Gomes are off the books after the season.
The Spurs get a backup shooting guard that will be better than Belinelli. Under Pop by some magic, Sefolosha will become a dead-eye shooter and become the new Bruce Bowen or Ime Udoka. Also Pop will transform Thabeet into a blocking-dunking machine off the bench that will learn the art of the bank shot thanks to Timmy. Damn.
Where They'll Be Come June: After winning his first MVP, KD and company will fall short in the NBA Finals. However what was once considered a trade gone terribly one-sided, Adams and Lamb gain a ton of experience in big moments and prove ready to be a big-part of their future. Add 2 first round picks for next year and hopefully Perkins finally amnestied! The Thunder will once again be back on top of the Western Conference and KD will hopefully win his first one next year.
4. San Antonio Spurs
Goal: To overcome the devastation of being 30 seconds away from winning it all and watching it slip away - Which is a big deal and tough for almost any team to come back from, but I think for the Spurs, not as difficult as we think it would be. At the time it was devastating to see Ray hit the three in Game 6 and watch Timmy miss that easy bunny he would make 99 out of 100 times in Game 7, preventing a 5th championship in the Duncan-Pop era. It was really unfortunate because they also deserved to be a champion last year and were so close. However, when I think about this team's demeanor and where they should be with their best players already past their prime, which was considered 4-5 years ago, they've been playing with house money the last few years. They won't hang their heads about it coming into this season (so far 6-1). This team was written off as a contender in the West a couple years ago (at least by me 5 years ago - season before Blake Griffin was in the draft, Timmy had the chronic knee tendinitis, perfect year to throw away the season to rebuild with young Blake and aging Duncan a la young Duncan aging Robinson) and they continue to keep winning when there really isn't anything else their core needs to prove. Whether or not Tim won one last year or wins another one moving forward, it will not change his legacy as the greatest power forward to ever play the game (only adds more to his epic career), Tony Parker is a hall of famer and so is Ginobili. Pop is a hall of fame coach. A top 5 coach of all-time. So the Spurs really have nothing to lose and everything to gain moving forward. They will not be traumatized by the way last season ended. They'll be back possibly even better than last year.
Intrigue: The Formula - It's worked since '99 and until Timmy retires or Pop is no longer the coach providing these interviews, it will continue to work. They'll finish in the top 3 of the West (50 wins or more as usual), play masterful basketball that is unappreciated with a roster that is 12-deep, and do it under the radar while critics continue to say they're too old until May comes around and everyone is wrong again. It happens every year and Tim, Tony, and Manu, and now Kawhi will remind those teams with all the flashy new stars they still have to go through San Antonio if they want to win the West. Player to Watch: Kawhi Leonard - YEAR 3 ALERT! The heir to Duncan's throne, Leonard is expected to become the bright star of this team following his great playoff performance last year. He'll have a couple more years to get a lot better before the team is his, and he will only improve. The future is bright for the Spurs. They're in good hands (Hehehehe.)
Trade to Consider: Sorry, but I've written enough about this team.The Spurs are not trading any of their main pieces and what do you get for a Diaw? Bonner? Splitter recently re-signed but would be the most movable player but what can they get in return? The Spurs rarely make big trades during the season and this season should not be an exception.
Where They'll Be Come June: Losing in the Conference Finals in 7 to KD and crew after posting the best regular season record. The beginning to the end of an era is near as Manu Ginobili retires with Tim Duncan's possibly following a season later. The Spurs must begin minor rebuilding in the summer, starting with a solid draft of Kyle Anderson and James McAdoo who will be much better pros in the NB...ok I'll stop with all the prophesizing.
3. Los Angeles Clippers
Goal: LA supremacy (this matters a lot to them, I swear), Western Conference supremacy
Intrigue: How does this team play with coaching competence now? Del Negro as their coach meant any good coach replacing him would have made them a lot better but they got a top 5 coach in the league instead? Oh me oh my!
Trade to Consider:
#1 - (LAC): Kendrick Perkins, Jeremy Lamb
(OKC): Jamal Crawford, Willie Green, Ryan Hollins, Maalik Wayns
#2 - (LAC): Jeff Green, Ekpe Udoh
(BOS): DeAndre Jordan, Caron Butler, Aaron Gray
(TOR): Kris Humphries, Brandon Knight, Ersan Ilyasova, Future 1st Round pick from BOS via BKN [2016]
(MIL): DeMar DeRozan, Amir Johnson, Courtney Lee
*Logic - Doc Rivers gets two centers, one he already loves, that plays defense and they get the potential upside of Jeremy Lamb while Jeff Green allows the team to move JJ Redick or Jared Dudley into a 6th man role vacated by Crawford. DeAndre has been great early in the year (or at least the numbers say so) but having Perkins and Udoh at center makes them a better defensive team inside, and Green's ability to score on the wing is much needed on this team (no one can get their own shot off but CP3 & Crawford currently).
For the Thunder they get the 6th man scorer/instant offense they need in Crawford and the rest of the guys will be sitting on the end of the bench or in street clothes most nights.
Boston finally gets DeAndre Jordan who could be a terror on the break with Rondo when healthy, and Caron Butler will play hard for them and expire at the end of the season.
Toronto and Milwaukee pretty much exchange a bunch of players with each other that won't make them much better or worse.
Where They'll Be Come June: If all the pieces fit and Doc does his best to coach these guys, they can be the best team in the West and playing in the Finals come June. Chris Paul is great enough to get them deep in the playoffs but the leap needed from Blake Griffin will put them over the top. I believe he can do it, and that's why I had them as the best in the West (just not predicted to win the West however...) to start the year. If Blake remains old Blake, then this team will continue to be a conference semis contender and nothing further.
2. Indiana Pacers
Goal: To prove last year was not a fluke and make the NBA Finals.
Intrigue: Why people are sleeping on them?? Paul George moving into the tier of super stardom. - This was written prior to the season starting so people aren't sleeping on them anymore, but a lot of people cannot deny they had the Bulls and Nets ahead of them when the year began. It has not surprised me that the Pacers have gotten off to this great start and Paul George is indeed a superstar now.
Player to Watch: Danny Granger -
If he isn't a me-first/shoot-first player like he was before his injury
he can be valuable with his scoring ability. He can also space the
floor for George with his range. If he doesn't fit the team he can be a
trade piece for a team tanking and in need of an expiring contract. & Roy Hibbert -
Yes that is Tim Duncan in the picture looking very miniscule. For a guy
who was considered too slow and a potential bust coming out of the
draft, he's only gotten better every season and he's also busted his
butt to be in great shape (look at that picture again!) He has a great
mid-range jimmy, an assortment of post moves, and his defense is
excellent, and I expect him to be the compliment Yao was never healthy
enough to be for McGrady a la Paul George now. Trade to Consider: *RONDO TRADE ALERT*
(IND) - Rajon Rondo, Courtney Lee (+2 wins)
(BOS) - Danny Granger, Boris Diaw, Matt Bonner, Patty Mills, Aron Baynes, 1st round pick via SAS (-9 wins)
(SAS) - George Hill, Brandon Bass (+1 wins)
*Logic - The Pacers get a big-name shot creator for a team that lacks a legitimate ball-handling playmaker (Paul George cannot be depended on to create/be the offense all the time). The Spurs get really good depth for giving up nothing and the C's clear cap space, lose more, and get a 1st round pick.
This trade may not actually benefit the Pacers however because Hill actually fits the Pacers well and the trade costs them one more shooter they desperately need (Granger). Also the Celtics don't receive a young prospect in addition to the pick so I'm not sure they would get the value they want for Rondo.
Where They'll Be Come June: Stuck in Memphis Grizzlies territory, very good and always a contender but never good enough to win it all. Don't get me wrong. I love love LOVE the Pacers. They're a take no shit from no one-confident basketball team with the talent and grit to back it up. They also have an alpha dog! Perfect compliments for him and on a paper a much-improved bench (A̶l̶d̶o̶u̶s̶ ̶S̶n̶o̶w̶!̶ , Luis Scola, CJ Watson, & either Born Ready or Granger). I think they can beat any team in this league on any given day and in any series... Except for seven games against the Heat.
1. Miami Heat
Goal: The quest for not 1 not 2 but 3 championships, a dynasty...and making it impossible (Then again it is LeBron yall so anything is possible. It really isn't that bad of an idea because Bosh and Wade are only getting older and aren't there greener pastures with better compliments somewhere else for LeBron to play with for the future?) for LeBron to leave (3-peating makes it almost impossible to leave, unless you have a gambling problem er...go on a baseball sabatical...) .
Intrigue: LeBron only getting better, D Wade proving all the doubters wrong & of course more Chris Bosh GIFs!
Player to Watch: Greg Oden - No it's not B-Easy. I'm tired of him now. Let's talk about the hopes of a feel good story instead. Did you see how yolked Oden looked in that video?? Besides that, the patience, the power, and the ferociousness in the move and the dunk?? It was awesome granted he was on a much smaller player, but It's the type of thing I dream Dwight Howard would do every time he gets in the post on a mismatch. I can write more about about his injuries and what not but that's been talked about enough. All I hope for is a healthy 65 games from the big man and just 75% of the Greg Oden we were all supposed to be blessed with by the basketball gods, please?? If that is given, the Heat may have found themselves a potential starting center to make that defense better than it already is and maybe that player championship teams need to bring the hunger to win again, but let's not get ahead of ourselves, Oden being a rotation guy by any means and staying healthy is what we're watching and hoping for.
Trade to Consider: I apologize but no trades here. I really can't think of anyone they would or can trade on this roster with value besides the Big 3. Chalmers, Battier, and Haslem have trade value but I don't think the Heat can give those guys up. Most likely they will grab a mid-season buyout.
Where They'll Be Come June: Repeating
as Champions. There's no way I can pick another team to dethrone them
right now. Sure the West is more stacked at the top and the East has a
Pacers team only getting better, that other New York team with their new
"Big 4," and of course...Derrick Rose is back, but I'll wager on the
back-to-back champions, an even better LeBron (yeah that's possible), a
healthy Wade, and Greg Oden's massive d̶o̶n̶g̶ ..er...untapped potential. 
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