Hoop Ball Primer: NBA Team Needs
Nov 12, 2020 20:08:15 GMT 2
Miami Heat and Boston Celtics like this
Post by Portland TrailBlazers on Nov 12, 2020 20:08:15 GMT 2
It’s fantasy draft season once again and you guys are lucky cause I’ll be sharing some of my content at Hoop Ball exclusively with you!
The complete fantasy draft is already out for JUST $19.99
Study until your eyes spin with 30+ articles, mock drafts, Dynasty coverage, team breakdowns and 450+ player profiles!
Use projections, format specific-rankings, tier reports, ADP reviews and other next level analysis to get ready for your draft!
Bruski 150 added to the Guide on (TBD as the NBA schedule is determined)
When it comes to the draft, we often say that teams should just take the best player available and figure it out later. That’s the prevailing strategy, but make no mistake; teams have weaknesses that need to be addressed, and you can bet that they’d just love it if the best player available at draft time just so happened to be a guy that patches over a problem. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the NBA’s 30 rosters as currently constructed and see where the biggest needs are.
Atlanta Hawks
Draft Picks: No. 6, 50
Expiring Contracts: Jeff Teague, Treveon Graham, DeAndre’ Bembry, Charlie Brown Jr., Skal Labissiere, Damian Jones
Team Needs: The Hawks are building their franchise around Trae Young and John Collins while the recent acceleration of the process landed them a solid veteran in Clint Capela. A backup combo guard who can create for his teammates and play next to Young or Kevin Huerter and more shooting and versatility from the power forward position are the primary targets. In a draft full of guards and skilled bigs Atlanta should be able to cover some of its holes.
Rumor Mill: Could explore trading their first-round pick for more veteran help but they won’t pass on top talent if it slips to them.
Boston Celtics
Draft Picks: No. 14, 26, 30, 47
Expiring Contracts: Brad Wanamaker, Semi Ojeleye, Tacko Fall, Tremont Waters
Team Needs: Depth is the key for the current Celtics team who once again will have multiple picks ahead of Draft night. Shooting, rebounding, point guard help and a big who will become their long-term answer to the hole in the middle are the main needs. The later picks offer an opportunity to also stash prospects.
Rumor Mill: Danny Ainge is keeping an eye on Rudy Gobert while it’s possible that he tries to move up in a year where many teams are rumored to be looking to trade back.
Brooklyn Nets
Draft picks: No. 19, 55
Expiring Contracts: Joe Harris, Garrett Temple, Wilson Chandler, David Nwaba, Jamal Crawford, Lance Thomas, Tyler Johnson, Donta Hall, Justin Anderson, Chris Chiozza, Jeremiah Martin
Team Needs: The front office seems to lean towards the ‘best available player’ in recent years and the team will be active trying to recruit veterans that can play next to KD and Kyrie but if they’re forced to draft for need, a wing and a stretch big will be the targets. They have a hole at the power forward position while they could use versatile wings and swingmen that have the size and ability to defend the perimeter.
Rumor Mill: Brooklyn might try to trade for a third star like Jrue Holiday so their pick could easily be packaged in a potential deal.
Charlotte Hornets
Draft picks: No. 3, 32, 56
Expiring Contracts: Bismack Biyombo, Willy Hernangomez, Dwayne Bacon
Team Needs: Charlotte beat the odds and was able to secure the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft while the team, after back-to-back selections of forwards, is desperate for a big man in the middle and could absolutely use James Wiseman. The draft is loaded with point guards at the top but the Hornets have invested a lot of money and draft stock in recent years years by acquiring Terry Rozier, Devonte’ Graham and Malik Monk, so another guard really doesn’t make a lot of sense. Shooting and more depth at the center position could be addressed with the second round picks as well.
Rumor Mill: The Hornets are rumored to be trying to trade up in order to secure Wiseman and this might be their chance to acquire a star and bring excitement back to Charlotte.
Chicago Bulls
Draft picks: No. 4, 44
Expiring Contracts: Kris Dunn, Denzel Valentine, Shaq Harrison, Adam Mokoka
Team Needs: The Bulls were also lucky to climb in the lottery and they have a great opportunity to draft a lead playmaker that will address the point guard position long-term. Depth at the wing, power forward and center position also look to be areas they try to address.
Rumor Mill: There is a new regime in Chicago that’s slowly putting its fingerprints on the team by appointing a new GM and a new head coach so it remains to be seen what direction the franchise takes.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Draft picks: No. 5
Expiring Contracts: Tristan Thompson, Mathew Dellavedova
Team Needs: This is a roster with many many holes but the Cavs are unlikely to select another guard, unless LaMelo Ball falls to them. There is not elite talent outside the top-3 but many big bodies with upside so the team could use this draft in order to try and rebuild their frontcourt, finally moving away from TT and Kevin Love.
Rumor Mill: Owner Dan Gilbert is reportedly pushing the front office to explore trade options in order to trade down and acquire more veterans.
Dallas Mavericks
Draft picks: No. 18, 31
Expiring Contracts: Courtney Lee, J.J. Barea, Trey Burke, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Team Needs: Two major concerns for the Mavs that were exposed during their first round loss to the Clippers were shooting and wing depth. With Dallas aiming at maintaining their cap room for 2021 it’s likely that they draft a 3-and-D wing capable of knocking down triples from the corners and defending the likes of LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard. There are also a bunch of international prospects available in this year’s class and the Mavs never saw a a Euro they didn’t like so they could try to acquire some stash candidates.
Rumor Mill: The Mavs reportedly want to add a third star alongside Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis and they have made all their players, expect from these two, available for a trade, in pursuit of adding a lottery pick to a potential package, so expect to hear a lot of rumors as we get closer to draft night.
Denver Nuggets
Draft picks: No. 22
Expiring Contracts: Paul Milsap, Mason Plumlee, Torrey Craig, Noah Vonleh, P.J. Dozier, Jordan McRae, Tyler Cook
Team Needs: The Nuggets have drafted very well in recent years and as a result their roster combines a healthy mix of guys in their prime and youngsters who are on the rise. They are deep at almost every position and as long as they are able to resign Jerami Grant, who is likely to opt out of his deal, they really don’t have many holes. A stretch forward and more depth at the center position could be some of their targets while they could also take a flier with an international prospect that could flourish down the road just like Nikola Jokic.
Rumor Mill: The Nuggets are keeping an eye on Jrue Holiday and they could move their pick if it can be packaged in such a deal.
Detroit Pistons
Draft picks: No. 7
Expiring Contracts: Brandon Knight, John Henson, Langston Galloway, Thon Maker, Christian Wood, Justin Patton
Team Needs: The Pistons have an obvious hole at point guard and they need more shooting and secondary playmaking. Their depth at every other position needs upgrade and they lack a center after the departure of Andre Drummond. Most importantly, though, they lack a young star to build around and this could be their chance to address that need if they are able to somehow move up in the lottery. Assuming they don’t and as long as they are able to re-sign Christian Wood, they should draft a point guard.
Rumor Mill: The Pistons remain active in trade talks and they could try to move Blake Griffin or Derrick Rose in their attempt to secure a top-3 selection.
Golden State Warriors
Draft picks: No 2, 48, 51
Expiring Contracts: None
Team Needs: Golden State is expected to be a contender again next year but there is not a player in the draft that could help them immediately in their championship aspirations so the best case scenario is to be able to package their top pick for a star. If they are not able to do so they could try to address their frontcourt needs or draft a versatile perimeter wingman. Their second round picks are likely to be used either for NBA-ready guys or to stash overseas prospects.
Rumor Mill: The Warriors have been sending mixed messages about their intentions with the No. 2 pick and this is likely a leverage play in order to maximize its value.
Houston Rockets
Draft picks: No picks
Expiring Contracts: Jeff Green, Tyson Chandler, Thabo Sefolosha, Bruno Caboclo, DeMarre Carroll, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
Team Needs: With Daryl Morey out of a town and a new head coach in Stephen Silas, everything is up in the air for the Rockets who will have to address the center position and add more wings.
Rumor Mill: They currently don’t have a pick but have a long history of buying them, which I think has a reasonable chance of happening again.
Indiana Pacers
Draft picks: No. 54
Expiring Contracts: Justin Holiday, JaKarr Sampson, Alize Johnson
Team Needs: Shooting from the wing position and another stretch big is what the doctor prescribed for the Pacers, who have a new head coach that is expected to bring some changes. Indiana has a nice starting five but their depth is limited and they ranked 29th in 3-pointers and 30th in long-range attempts (27.5).
Rumor Mill: Victor Oladipo’s name has been mentioned in many trade rumors and his future in Indiana is uncertain which could trigger a draft night deal.
LA Clippers
Draft picks: No. 57
Expiring Contracts: Marcus Morris, Montrezl Harrell, JaMychal Green, Patrick Patterson, Reggie Jackson, Joakim Noah, Johnathan Motley
Team Needs: The playoffs exposed the weaknesses of this Clippers team, which needs help at the point and more defensive depth at the power forward and center positions while another secondary playmaker wouldn’t hurt.
Rumor Mill: The Clippers are expected to be very active in free agency and I could see them moving away their pick or stashing an international player.
Los Angeles Lakers
Draft picks: No. 28
Expiring Contracts: Anthony Davis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rajon Rondo, Jared Dudley, Dwight Howard, Markieff Morris, Dion Waiters, J.R. Smith
Team Needs: Veterans like Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard were crucial to the Lakers’ success but they still need help at the point, a reliable stretch forward and a secondary playmaker to take the pressure away from LeBron.
Rumor Mill: Kyle Kuzma is a name to keep an eye on as the Lakers could package him with their first-round pick in order to acquire a player that fits better with the current group.
Memphis Grizzlies
Draft picks: No. 40
Expiring Contracts: Josh Jackson, De’Anthony Melton, Anthony Tolliver
Team Needs: 3-point shooting and wing defense are the main areas that Memphis will be looking to address this offseason. They ranked 23rd in the league, shooting just 34 percent, and the lack of spacing didn’t help Ja Morant, who often found himself trapped.
Rumor Mill: By selecting Jaren Jackson Jr., Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke with their last three first-round picks and trading for Justise Winslow, the Grizzlies have the pieces to build around and they should be one of the quieter teams on draft night.
Miami Heat
Draft picks: No. 20
Expiring Contracts: Goran Dragic, Solomon Hill, Meyers Leonard, Jae Crowder, Derrick Jones Jr., Udonis Haslem
Team Needs: Miami could use some point guard help while center depth and defensive wings are also areas that need improvement but it’s difficult to assess what the team does on draft night since some key pieces are free agents and the Heat don’t plan to compromise their 2021 cap room in order to go after Giannis.
Rumor Mill: Pat Riley has never been hesitant about trading away first-round picks so the Heat might try to acquire a veteran with their juicy No. 20 in what is considered to be a deep class with potential solid role players down the road.
Milwaukee Bucks
Draft picks: No. 24
Expiring Contracts: Kyle Korver, Sterling Brown, Pat Connaughton, Marvin Williams
Team Needs: More shooting and another playmaker that can create his own shot and relieve Giannis Antetokounmpo is what the Bucks will be looking for but it will be hard to address these needs through the draft. A quick, defensive-minded, energy big that can help with rebounding while stretching the floor is also something they lacked last year.
Rumor Mill: The Bucks are expected to be very active in the offseason in their effort to surround Giannis with the best available talent and their No. 24 pick is one of their few bargaining chips.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Draft picks: No. 1, 17, 33
Expiring Contracts: Juancho Hernangomez, Malik Beasley, Evan Turner, Jordan McLaughlin
Team Needs: The Wolves are determined to build around Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell, both of them excellent offensive players, and it’s the front office’s job to surround them with the missing pieces. They lack 3-point shooting (29th last year), their defense was atrocious, they don’t have a starting power forward and their wings are not elite so they should look to acquire the best available players.
Rumor Mill: The Wolves are reportedly exploring the possibility of trading the No. 1 pick and it’s possible that they try to acquire a proven veteran instead of investing in the development of another young player.
New Orleans Pelicans
Draft picks: No. 13, 39, 42, 60
Expiring Contracts: Derrick Favors, E’Twaun Moore, Brandon Ingram, Jahlil Okafor, Frank Jackson, Kenrich Williams, Sindarius Thornwell
Team Needs: Shooting and wing depth are the areas where the Pelicans need help the most while it remains to be seen what kind of big they decide to put next to Zion Williamson. I don’t see them drafting with all of their second-round picks, which they could either sell or use in order to stash international talent.
Rumor Mill: New Orleans has been able to accumulate a bunch of draft picks in the upcoming years which gives them the flexibility to swing for the fences if a deal that makes sense appears.
New York Knicks
Draft picks: No. 8, 27, 38
Expiring Contracts: Maurice Harkless, Damyean Dotson, Theo Pinson, Isaiah Hicks
Team Needs: This is obviously a roster that is lacking quality talent at every position while the Knicks are stacked with bigs but are missing scoring, shooting and playmakers with the ability to manufacture shots. New York was unlucky and ended up with just the No. 8 pick but they have drafted well in recent years in the late first and second round where they have a couple more selections.
Rumor Mill: Another team that is rumored to be active in trade talks in their attempt to move up in the draft or trade for a disgruntled star.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Draft picks: No. 25, 53
Expiring Contracts: Danilo Gallinari, Andre Roberson, Nerlens Noel
Team Needs: Wing shooting and scoring have been issues for Oklahoma City since forever but the team is clearly entering into a rebuilding stage and the roster could look completely different at the start of next season. Sam Presti has collected a bunch of draft picks and the team could look into some stash candidates in the second round.
Rumor Mill: Not much is coming out of OKC with the team still looking for their new head coach after the departure of Billy Donovan.
Orlando Magic
Draft picks: No. 15, 45
Expiring Contracts: D.J. Augustin, Michael Carter-Williams, Wesley Iwundu, Gary Clark
Team Needs: Jeff Weltman’s draft philosophy since he got the job with the Magic has been to add a player that fits his vision but the team has struggled with recent picks and Orlando should try to address the actual needs at some point. Shooting and scoring are the main issues for a roster that is full of defensive minded forwards and repeatedly had trouble beating opponents on the offensive side of the ball.
Rumor Mill: This team has reached its ceiling under Steve Clifford and the Magic could be willing to move one of their main guys after coming to terms with reality during their first-round exits in the playoffs the last couple seasons.
Philadelphia 76ers
Draft picks: No. 21, 34, 36, 49, 58
Expiring Contracts: Alec Burks, Kyle O’Quinn, Glenn Robinson, Raul Neto, Furkan Korkmaz, Ryan Broekhoff
Team Needs: A disappointing season brought plenty of changes into the front office and the coaching staff but the Sixers look committed to moving forward with their current duo of stars in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. The point guard and power forward positions remain big question marks while the lack of shooting and secondary playmaking around Simmons has hurt Philadelphia. The Sixers need to nail more draft picks like last year’s Matisse Thybulle.
Rumor Mill: Daryl Morey and Elton Brand should be busy on draft night as the Sixers have four second-round picks and they are not expected to use all of them.
Phoenix Suns
Draft picks: No. 10
Expiring Contracts: Aron Baynes, Dario Saric, Jevon Carter
Team Needs: The Suns have struggled to find a reliable backup point guard in recent years even after using some of their draft stock specifically for that purpose. The team was very successful in the bubble with more agile schemes that included stretch forwards next to Deandre Ayton and it will be interesting to see whether Phoenix tries to find a complementary piece next to the big man or decides to address the need for guard help.
Rumor Mill: Phoenix is another team that might be willing to move their pick in hopes of acquiring a ready-to-produce veteran.
Portland Trail Blazers
Draft picks: No. 16, 46
Expiring Contracts: Hassan Whiteside, Carmelo Anthony, Mario Hezonja, Caleb Swanigan, Wenyen Gabriel, Jaylen Adams
Team Needs: The departure of Al-Farouq Aminu last year left a big void in the middle for the Blazers, who still haven’t addressed the power forward position and have a need for more size and rebounding. Trevor Ariza and Carmelo Anthony were good temporary fits and the return of Rodney Hood should help with shooting but the team also doesn’t have a long term answer for the necessary 3-and-D wings in today’s basketball.
Rumor Mill: Portland is usually one of the most active teams around draft night and the trade deadline but they have drafted well in the second round in recent years and I expect them to look for help deep in the draft.
Sacramento Kings
Draft picks: No. 12, 35, 42, 53
Expiring Contracts: Kent Bazemore, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Alex Len, Yogi Ferrell, Harry Giles, Corey Brewer
Team Needs: The Kings need size and versatility at forward and a long term solution at the center position, while they could also use another combo guard that can shoot. They have multiple picks in the second round where they could target some guys that fall.
Rumor Mill: A change in the front office could spark change in Sacramento and the Kings have already been involved in rumors regarding Rudy Gobert, Al Horford, Gordon Hayward and others.
San Antonio Spurs
Draft picks: No. 11, 41
Expiring Contracts: Marco Belinelli, Jakob Poeltl, Bryn Forbes, Tyler Zeller
Team Needs: The Spurs have their first lottery pick in more than two decades and after drafting multiple guards in recent years they need to take a close look at multiple available power forwards and centers that could help them in the area they need help the most, interior defense and rebounding. Keldon Johnson impressed during the NBA bubble and could be their answer at wing but more perimeter scoring is also something that is missing from San Antonio, who traditionally like to draft two-way players.
Rumor Mill: The Spurs rarely make moves during draft night but they find themselves in a transitional period and they could look to deal DeMar DeRozan and/or LaMarcus Aldridge.
Toronto Raptors
Draft picks: No. 29, 59
Expiring Contracts: Serge Ibaka, Marc Gasol, Fred VanVleet, Stanley Johnson, Dewan Hernandez, Chris Boucher, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Malcolm Miller
Team Needs: The Raptors have some interesting decisions to make in the upcoming offseason as one of their core guys, Fred VanVleet, is an unrestricted free agent and could attract a major offer from teams with available salary cap. Ibaka and Gasol are also not a lock to return with the latter already linked to a return to his hometown in Spain, Barcelona. The team needs another backup point guard, depth and size in the frontcourt, a big guard who can defend and shoot triples and a bench scorer. Masai Ujiri has drafted exceptionally well in recent years and I expect him to try and address some of these areas with the two picks the team has.
Rumor Mill: Another team that could be really busy during draft night as the Raptors don’t have many options in free agency and might try to improve through a draft day trade.
Utah Jazz
Draft picks: No. 23
Expiring Contracts: Jordan Clarkson, Emmanuel Mudiay, Juwan Morgan, Rayjon Tucker
Team Needs: The Jazz had one of the most loaded starting units in the NBA last season but they lacked the necessary depth and the need for size and versatile wing defenders that can provide length and athleticism was evident in the playoffs. Utah hasn’t really addressed the power forward position where Bojan Bogdanovic and Royce O’ Neale spent most of their time last year and they could look to add a young big who could develop into a long-term answer.
Rumor Mill: Rudy Gobert will demand a max contract extension and the new owner of the Jazz will soon have to make a decision on whether the team commits to him or moves in another direction.
Washington Wizards
Draft picks: No. 9, 37
Expiring Contracts: Ian Mahinmi, Davis Bertans, Shabazz Napier, Gary Payton II, Jerian Grant, Jarrod Uthoff
Team Needs: There is no question that Washington is loaded with offense while they lack defensive wing players and a rim-protecting center. Meanwhile, in a draft loaded with point guards, they could also look to acquire John Wall’s successor and the No. 9 selection gives them plenty of options, while their second-round pick could also land them a contributor.
Rumor Mill: The Wizards have been adamant about not looking to trade Bradley Beal away but if a Godfather offer appears, it’s likely that happens on Draft night.
The complete fantasy draft is already out for JUST $19.99
Study until your eyes spin with 30+ articles, mock drafts, Dynasty coverage, team breakdowns and 450+ player profiles!
Use projections, format specific-rankings, tier reports, ADP reviews and other next level analysis to get ready for your draft!
Bruski 150 added to the Guide on (TBD as the NBA schedule is determined)
When it comes to the draft, we often say that teams should just take the best player available and figure it out later. That’s the prevailing strategy, but make no mistake; teams have weaknesses that need to be addressed, and you can bet that they’d just love it if the best player available at draft time just so happened to be a guy that patches over a problem. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the NBA’s 30 rosters as currently constructed and see where the biggest needs are.
Atlanta Hawks
Draft Picks: No. 6, 50
Expiring Contracts: Jeff Teague, Treveon Graham, DeAndre’ Bembry, Charlie Brown Jr., Skal Labissiere, Damian Jones
Team Needs: The Hawks are building their franchise around Trae Young and John Collins while the recent acceleration of the process landed them a solid veteran in Clint Capela. A backup combo guard who can create for his teammates and play next to Young or Kevin Huerter and more shooting and versatility from the power forward position are the primary targets. In a draft full of guards and skilled bigs Atlanta should be able to cover some of its holes.
Rumor Mill: Could explore trading their first-round pick for more veteran help but they won’t pass on top talent if it slips to them.
Boston Celtics
Draft Picks: No. 14, 26, 30, 47
Expiring Contracts: Brad Wanamaker, Semi Ojeleye, Tacko Fall, Tremont Waters
Team Needs: Depth is the key for the current Celtics team who once again will have multiple picks ahead of Draft night. Shooting, rebounding, point guard help and a big who will become their long-term answer to the hole in the middle are the main needs. The later picks offer an opportunity to also stash prospects.
Rumor Mill: Danny Ainge is keeping an eye on Rudy Gobert while it’s possible that he tries to move up in a year where many teams are rumored to be looking to trade back.
Brooklyn Nets
Draft picks: No. 19, 55
Expiring Contracts: Joe Harris, Garrett Temple, Wilson Chandler, David Nwaba, Jamal Crawford, Lance Thomas, Tyler Johnson, Donta Hall, Justin Anderson, Chris Chiozza, Jeremiah Martin
Team Needs: The front office seems to lean towards the ‘best available player’ in recent years and the team will be active trying to recruit veterans that can play next to KD and Kyrie but if they’re forced to draft for need, a wing and a stretch big will be the targets. They have a hole at the power forward position while they could use versatile wings and swingmen that have the size and ability to defend the perimeter.
Rumor Mill: Brooklyn might try to trade for a third star like Jrue Holiday so their pick could easily be packaged in a potential deal.
Charlotte Hornets
Draft picks: No. 3, 32, 56
Expiring Contracts: Bismack Biyombo, Willy Hernangomez, Dwayne Bacon
Team Needs: Charlotte beat the odds and was able to secure the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft while the team, after back-to-back selections of forwards, is desperate for a big man in the middle and could absolutely use James Wiseman. The draft is loaded with point guards at the top but the Hornets have invested a lot of money and draft stock in recent years years by acquiring Terry Rozier, Devonte’ Graham and Malik Monk, so another guard really doesn’t make a lot of sense. Shooting and more depth at the center position could be addressed with the second round picks as well.
Rumor Mill: The Hornets are rumored to be trying to trade up in order to secure Wiseman and this might be their chance to acquire a star and bring excitement back to Charlotte.
Chicago Bulls
Draft picks: No. 4, 44
Expiring Contracts: Kris Dunn, Denzel Valentine, Shaq Harrison, Adam Mokoka
Team Needs: The Bulls were also lucky to climb in the lottery and they have a great opportunity to draft a lead playmaker that will address the point guard position long-term. Depth at the wing, power forward and center position also look to be areas they try to address.
Rumor Mill: There is a new regime in Chicago that’s slowly putting its fingerprints on the team by appointing a new GM and a new head coach so it remains to be seen what direction the franchise takes.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Draft picks: No. 5
Expiring Contracts: Tristan Thompson, Mathew Dellavedova
Team Needs: This is a roster with many many holes but the Cavs are unlikely to select another guard, unless LaMelo Ball falls to them. There is not elite talent outside the top-3 but many big bodies with upside so the team could use this draft in order to try and rebuild their frontcourt, finally moving away from TT and Kevin Love.
Rumor Mill: Owner Dan Gilbert is reportedly pushing the front office to explore trade options in order to trade down and acquire more veterans.
Dallas Mavericks
Draft picks: No. 18, 31
Expiring Contracts: Courtney Lee, J.J. Barea, Trey Burke, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Team Needs: Two major concerns for the Mavs that were exposed during their first round loss to the Clippers were shooting and wing depth. With Dallas aiming at maintaining their cap room for 2021 it’s likely that they draft a 3-and-D wing capable of knocking down triples from the corners and defending the likes of LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard. There are also a bunch of international prospects available in this year’s class and the Mavs never saw a a Euro they didn’t like so they could try to acquire some stash candidates.
Rumor Mill: The Mavs reportedly want to add a third star alongside Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis and they have made all their players, expect from these two, available for a trade, in pursuit of adding a lottery pick to a potential package, so expect to hear a lot of rumors as we get closer to draft night.
Denver Nuggets
Draft picks: No. 22
Expiring Contracts: Paul Milsap, Mason Plumlee, Torrey Craig, Noah Vonleh, P.J. Dozier, Jordan McRae, Tyler Cook
Team Needs: The Nuggets have drafted very well in recent years and as a result their roster combines a healthy mix of guys in their prime and youngsters who are on the rise. They are deep at almost every position and as long as they are able to resign Jerami Grant, who is likely to opt out of his deal, they really don’t have many holes. A stretch forward and more depth at the center position could be some of their targets while they could also take a flier with an international prospect that could flourish down the road just like Nikola Jokic.
Rumor Mill: The Nuggets are keeping an eye on Jrue Holiday and they could move their pick if it can be packaged in such a deal.
Detroit Pistons
Draft picks: No. 7
Expiring Contracts: Brandon Knight, John Henson, Langston Galloway, Thon Maker, Christian Wood, Justin Patton
Team Needs: The Pistons have an obvious hole at point guard and they need more shooting and secondary playmaking. Their depth at every other position needs upgrade and they lack a center after the departure of Andre Drummond. Most importantly, though, they lack a young star to build around and this could be their chance to address that need if they are able to somehow move up in the lottery. Assuming they don’t and as long as they are able to re-sign Christian Wood, they should draft a point guard.
Rumor Mill: The Pistons remain active in trade talks and they could try to move Blake Griffin or Derrick Rose in their attempt to secure a top-3 selection.
Golden State Warriors
Draft picks: No 2, 48, 51
Expiring Contracts: None
Team Needs: Golden State is expected to be a contender again next year but there is not a player in the draft that could help them immediately in their championship aspirations so the best case scenario is to be able to package their top pick for a star. If they are not able to do so they could try to address their frontcourt needs or draft a versatile perimeter wingman. Their second round picks are likely to be used either for NBA-ready guys or to stash overseas prospects.
Rumor Mill: The Warriors have been sending mixed messages about their intentions with the No. 2 pick and this is likely a leverage play in order to maximize its value.
Houston Rockets
Draft picks: No picks
Expiring Contracts: Jeff Green, Tyson Chandler, Thabo Sefolosha, Bruno Caboclo, DeMarre Carroll, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
Team Needs: With Daryl Morey out of a town and a new head coach in Stephen Silas, everything is up in the air for the Rockets who will have to address the center position and add more wings.
Rumor Mill: They currently don’t have a pick but have a long history of buying them, which I think has a reasonable chance of happening again.
Indiana Pacers
Draft picks: No. 54
Expiring Contracts: Justin Holiday, JaKarr Sampson, Alize Johnson
Team Needs: Shooting from the wing position and another stretch big is what the doctor prescribed for the Pacers, who have a new head coach that is expected to bring some changes. Indiana has a nice starting five but their depth is limited and they ranked 29th in 3-pointers and 30th in long-range attempts (27.5).
Rumor Mill: Victor Oladipo’s name has been mentioned in many trade rumors and his future in Indiana is uncertain which could trigger a draft night deal.
LA Clippers
Draft picks: No. 57
Expiring Contracts: Marcus Morris, Montrezl Harrell, JaMychal Green, Patrick Patterson, Reggie Jackson, Joakim Noah, Johnathan Motley
Team Needs: The playoffs exposed the weaknesses of this Clippers team, which needs help at the point and more defensive depth at the power forward and center positions while another secondary playmaker wouldn’t hurt.
Rumor Mill: The Clippers are expected to be very active in free agency and I could see them moving away their pick or stashing an international player.
Los Angeles Lakers
Draft picks: No. 28
Expiring Contracts: Anthony Davis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rajon Rondo, Jared Dudley, Dwight Howard, Markieff Morris, Dion Waiters, J.R. Smith
Team Needs: Veterans like Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard were crucial to the Lakers’ success but they still need help at the point, a reliable stretch forward and a secondary playmaker to take the pressure away from LeBron.
Rumor Mill: Kyle Kuzma is a name to keep an eye on as the Lakers could package him with their first-round pick in order to acquire a player that fits better with the current group.
Memphis Grizzlies
Draft picks: No. 40
Expiring Contracts: Josh Jackson, De’Anthony Melton, Anthony Tolliver
Team Needs: 3-point shooting and wing defense are the main areas that Memphis will be looking to address this offseason. They ranked 23rd in the league, shooting just 34 percent, and the lack of spacing didn’t help Ja Morant, who often found himself trapped.
Rumor Mill: By selecting Jaren Jackson Jr., Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke with their last three first-round picks and trading for Justise Winslow, the Grizzlies have the pieces to build around and they should be one of the quieter teams on draft night.
Miami Heat
Draft picks: No. 20
Expiring Contracts: Goran Dragic, Solomon Hill, Meyers Leonard, Jae Crowder, Derrick Jones Jr., Udonis Haslem
Team Needs: Miami could use some point guard help while center depth and defensive wings are also areas that need improvement but it’s difficult to assess what the team does on draft night since some key pieces are free agents and the Heat don’t plan to compromise their 2021 cap room in order to go after Giannis.
Rumor Mill: Pat Riley has never been hesitant about trading away first-round picks so the Heat might try to acquire a veteran with their juicy No. 20 in what is considered to be a deep class with potential solid role players down the road.
Milwaukee Bucks
Draft picks: No. 24
Expiring Contracts: Kyle Korver, Sterling Brown, Pat Connaughton, Marvin Williams
Team Needs: More shooting and another playmaker that can create his own shot and relieve Giannis Antetokounmpo is what the Bucks will be looking for but it will be hard to address these needs through the draft. A quick, defensive-minded, energy big that can help with rebounding while stretching the floor is also something they lacked last year.
Rumor Mill: The Bucks are expected to be very active in the offseason in their effort to surround Giannis with the best available talent and their No. 24 pick is one of their few bargaining chips.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Draft picks: No. 1, 17, 33
Expiring Contracts: Juancho Hernangomez, Malik Beasley, Evan Turner, Jordan McLaughlin
Team Needs: The Wolves are determined to build around Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell, both of them excellent offensive players, and it’s the front office’s job to surround them with the missing pieces. They lack 3-point shooting (29th last year), their defense was atrocious, they don’t have a starting power forward and their wings are not elite so they should look to acquire the best available players.
Rumor Mill: The Wolves are reportedly exploring the possibility of trading the No. 1 pick and it’s possible that they try to acquire a proven veteran instead of investing in the development of another young player.
New Orleans Pelicans
Draft picks: No. 13, 39, 42, 60
Expiring Contracts: Derrick Favors, E’Twaun Moore, Brandon Ingram, Jahlil Okafor, Frank Jackson, Kenrich Williams, Sindarius Thornwell
Team Needs: Shooting and wing depth are the areas where the Pelicans need help the most while it remains to be seen what kind of big they decide to put next to Zion Williamson. I don’t see them drafting with all of their second-round picks, which they could either sell or use in order to stash international talent.
Rumor Mill: New Orleans has been able to accumulate a bunch of draft picks in the upcoming years which gives them the flexibility to swing for the fences if a deal that makes sense appears.
New York Knicks
Draft picks: No. 8, 27, 38
Expiring Contracts: Maurice Harkless, Damyean Dotson, Theo Pinson, Isaiah Hicks
Team Needs: This is obviously a roster that is lacking quality talent at every position while the Knicks are stacked with bigs but are missing scoring, shooting and playmakers with the ability to manufacture shots. New York was unlucky and ended up with just the No. 8 pick but they have drafted well in recent years in the late first and second round where they have a couple more selections.
Rumor Mill: Another team that is rumored to be active in trade talks in their attempt to move up in the draft or trade for a disgruntled star.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Draft picks: No. 25, 53
Expiring Contracts: Danilo Gallinari, Andre Roberson, Nerlens Noel
Team Needs: Wing shooting and scoring have been issues for Oklahoma City since forever but the team is clearly entering into a rebuilding stage and the roster could look completely different at the start of next season. Sam Presti has collected a bunch of draft picks and the team could look into some stash candidates in the second round.
Rumor Mill: Not much is coming out of OKC with the team still looking for their new head coach after the departure of Billy Donovan.
Orlando Magic
Draft picks: No. 15, 45
Expiring Contracts: D.J. Augustin, Michael Carter-Williams, Wesley Iwundu, Gary Clark
Team Needs: Jeff Weltman’s draft philosophy since he got the job with the Magic has been to add a player that fits his vision but the team has struggled with recent picks and Orlando should try to address the actual needs at some point. Shooting and scoring are the main issues for a roster that is full of defensive minded forwards and repeatedly had trouble beating opponents on the offensive side of the ball.
Rumor Mill: This team has reached its ceiling under Steve Clifford and the Magic could be willing to move one of their main guys after coming to terms with reality during their first-round exits in the playoffs the last couple seasons.
Philadelphia 76ers
Draft picks: No. 21, 34, 36, 49, 58
Expiring Contracts: Alec Burks, Kyle O’Quinn, Glenn Robinson, Raul Neto, Furkan Korkmaz, Ryan Broekhoff
Team Needs: A disappointing season brought plenty of changes into the front office and the coaching staff but the Sixers look committed to moving forward with their current duo of stars in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. The point guard and power forward positions remain big question marks while the lack of shooting and secondary playmaking around Simmons has hurt Philadelphia. The Sixers need to nail more draft picks like last year’s Matisse Thybulle.
Rumor Mill: Daryl Morey and Elton Brand should be busy on draft night as the Sixers have four second-round picks and they are not expected to use all of them.
Phoenix Suns
Draft picks: No. 10
Expiring Contracts: Aron Baynes, Dario Saric, Jevon Carter
Team Needs: The Suns have struggled to find a reliable backup point guard in recent years even after using some of their draft stock specifically for that purpose. The team was very successful in the bubble with more agile schemes that included stretch forwards next to Deandre Ayton and it will be interesting to see whether Phoenix tries to find a complementary piece next to the big man or decides to address the need for guard help.
Rumor Mill: Phoenix is another team that might be willing to move their pick in hopes of acquiring a ready-to-produce veteran.
Portland Trail Blazers
Draft picks: No. 16, 46
Expiring Contracts: Hassan Whiteside, Carmelo Anthony, Mario Hezonja, Caleb Swanigan, Wenyen Gabriel, Jaylen Adams
Team Needs: The departure of Al-Farouq Aminu last year left a big void in the middle for the Blazers, who still haven’t addressed the power forward position and have a need for more size and rebounding. Trevor Ariza and Carmelo Anthony were good temporary fits and the return of Rodney Hood should help with shooting but the team also doesn’t have a long term answer for the necessary 3-and-D wings in today’s basketball.
Rumor Mill: Portland is usually one of the most active teams around draft night and the trade deadline but they have drafted well in the second round in recent years and I expect them to look for help deep in the draft.
Sacramento Kings
Draft picks: No. 12, 35, 42, 53
Expiring Contracts: Kent Bazemore, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Alex Len, Yogi Ferrell, Harry Giles, Corey Brewer
Team Needs: The Kings need size and versatility at forward and a long term solution at the center position, while they could also use another combo guard that can shoot. They have multiple picks in the second round where they could target some guys that fall.
Rumor Mill: A change in the front office could spark change in Sacramento and the Kings have already been involved in rumors regarding Rudy Gobert, Al Horford, Gordon Hayward and others.
San Antonio Spurs
Draft picks: No. 11, 41
Expiring Contracts: Marco Belinelli, Jakob Poeltl, Bryn Forbes, Tyler Zeller
Team Needs: The Spurs have their first lottery pick in more than two decades and after drafting multiple guards in recent years they need to take a close look at multiple available power forwards and centers that could help them in the area they need help the most, interior defense and rebounding. Keldon Johnson impressed during the NBA bubble and could be their answer at wing but more perimeter scoring is also something that is missing from San Antonio, who traditionally like to draft two-way players.
Rumor Mill: The Spurs rarely make moves during draft night but they find themselves in a transitional period and they could look to deal DeMar DeRozan and/or LaMarcus Aldridge.
Toronto Raptors
Draft picks: No. 29, 59
Expiring Contracts: Serge Ibaka, Marc Gasol, Fred VanVleet, Stanley Johnson, Dewan Hernandez, Chris Boucher, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Malcolm Miller
Team Needs: The Raptors have some interesting decisions to make in the upcoming offseason as one of their core guys, Fred VanVleet, is an unrestricted free agent and could attract a major offer from teams with available salary cap. Ibaka and Gasol are also not a lock to return with the latter already linked to a return to his hometown in Spain, Barcelona. The team needs another backup point guard, depth and size in the frontcourt, a big guard who can defend and shoot triples and a bench scorer. Masai Ujiri has drafted exceptionally well in recent years and I expect him to try and address some of these areas with the two picks the team has.
Rumor Mill: Another team that could be really busy during draft night as the Raptors don’t have many options in free agency and might try to improve through a draft day trade.
Utah Jazz
Draft picks: No. 23
Expiring Contracts: Jordan Clarkson, Emmanuel Mudiay, Juwan Morgan, Rayjon Tucker
Team Needs: The Jazz had one of the most loaded starting units in the NBA last season but they lacked the necessary depth and the need for size and versatile wing defenders that can provide length and athleticism was evident in the playoffs. Utah hasn’t really addressed the power forward position where Bojan Bogdanovic and Royce O’ Neale spent most of their time last year and they could look to add a young big who could develop into a long-term answer.
Rumor Mill: Rudy Gobert will demand a max contract extension and the new owner of the Jazz will soon have to make a decision on whether the team commits to him or moves in another direction.
Washington Wizards
Draft picks: No. 9, 37
Expiring Contracts: Ian Mahinmi, Davis Bertans, Shabazz Napier, Gary Payton II, Jerian Grant, Jarrod Uthoff
Team Needs: There is no question that Washington is loaded with offense while they lack defensive wing players and a rim-protecting center. Meanwhile, in a draft loaded with point guards, they could also look to acquire John Wall’s successor and the No. 9 selection gives them plenty of options, while their second-round pick could also land them a contributor.
Rumor Mill: The Wizards have been adamant about not looking to trade Bradley Beal away but if a Godfather offer appears, it’s likely that happens on Draft night.
