Top 10 offseason acquisition: 10-6
As we yawn our way through this NBA off-season and the big headline stories begin dry-up where can we turn too? Why of course reckless speculation. I’ve already drawn up my power rankings for both the Western & Eastern Conferences, and it’s now time to take a look at individual players and take a look at the ten best off-season moves.
In this two-part series I’ll countdown what I consider to be the ten-best player personel moves across the National Basketball Association.
10. Philadelphia 76ers – Draft – Michael Carter-Williams
When you start at ten there’s a myriad of candidates. As I project ahead all the 2013 draft prospects, there was a large number of serviceable players but few who had the potential to be a genuine all-star. Carter-Williams is one of those few, an oversized point guard with excellent athleticism and a good feel for both the game and the position. He has a long, long way to go before reaching his potential, but with Jrue Holiday no longer in Philly, he’ll have plenty of opportunities for some on-the-job training, something the Sixers will have no objection to as they are not exactly in a rush to win games.
9. Philadelphia 76ers – Trade for Nerlens Noel and 1st round pick
Acquiring Noel gives Philly a potential game-changer on defense, the kind of player who can mask the defensive inadequacies of multiple teammates. This all is contingent on the state of Nerlens’ knees and the attitude he brings to the table. The darker ‘benefit’ of this deal is that it ensures Philadelphia will be magnificently awful in a draft year where everyone wants to be magnificently awful. Removing Holiday shells the Sixers from contending in many games, and as an added bonus they get to bet on New Orleans’ future in form of a protected 2014 first-round pick. A Pelicans lottery year will give Philly two selections in the top 14, which would provide a solid foundation to add talent on discount and begin the rebuilding process.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers – Draft – Anthony Bennett
The Cavs make the list with their first move this off-season, Drafting Bennett with the first overall pick. Given the developments with the team, this move can almost seem too good to be true; A talented inside-out offensive threat with an NBA-ready body and absolutely no pressure to carry the franchise. The team’s success now is about the health of Irving and Bynum; Bennett represents a future cog who can help push Cleveland over the top.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers – Sign – Andrew Bynum
This move was a simple risk versus reward: Bynum’s well-publicized knee problems, which caused him to miss all of the 2012-13 season (save one measly practice), versus Bynum’s talent, which made him an All-NBA performer two seasons ago, and who believed to be the best big-man in the game. If healthy, Bynum gives the Cavs a bona fide post presence and second star-level performer to play with the phenom that is Kyrie Irving. Defensively, Bynum excels as a rim protector and rebounder, and although he is a reluctant pick-and-roll defender, he gives Cleveland a shot to scheme in a similar way to Indiana do with Roy Hibbert. But will those knees hold up? If it doesn’t, the Cavs can cut him in early January and be out ‘only’ $6million. But if it does, Cleveland might have just had the steal of free agency, giving it a player who affects wins now and is young enough to grow with the team.
6. New Orleans Pelicans – Trade – Jrue Holiday
The Pelicans reached the stage of their life cycle where they’ve been bad long enough and are trying to become good again. After drafting Anthony Davis first overall last season, New Orleans felt the need to push the development of the rest of the roster forward. The Pelicans moved a questionable prospect (Noel) whose strength is a role filled by Davis and a 2014 first-round pick that has the potential to be costly if their season doesn’t turn out as planned. In return, they received rising star point guard Holiday, who provides the unique proposition of being a player who can affect wins both now and later. Holiday, 23, is a clear upgrade over Greivis Vasquez on both ends of the floor and is the ideal complement to play alongside Davis and engage in pick-and-roll action.
For the top five offseason acquisitions click here —> TOP FIVE
