How would you grade the NBA off-season so far?

Question

I posted this awhile ago:

http://thoughtsfromthejockstrap.blogspot.com/2008/08/grading-nba-summer-moves.html

I left some teams off, but today, finished the list, and updated a few teams:

http://thoughtsfromthejockstrap.blogspot.com/2008/08/nba-summer-grades-part-ii.html

Do you agree or disagree? What grades would you change? Let me know.

Answer 1

This is all very insightful. I definetly agree with my favorite team getting an A, the Houston Rockets. Hopefully they can win a playoff series

Answer 2

I like your analysis of each team and you make some good points, but there are some that I would have thought could have been better....

- Cleveland Cavaliers

I wouldn't go as far as giving them a B+ just yet. Mo Williams is Mo Williams...one player is not going to make a difference for one team. For years, LeBron needed help and although Williams is a nice addition, the Cavs need more. Ben Wallace's glory day as a premier defender are over and I don't know how long Big-Z will be effective. Outside of Gibson and Szczerbiak, the bench isn't even all that great. Still, I would give them a B just for the effort of trying to get the pieces for LBJ.

- New York Knicks

Even with the Donnie Walsh era (the new man running the show) starting, it still looks like the team Isiah Thomas coach last season...overpaid and underachieving. They fill out there PG situation with Chris Duhon, albeit being overpaid for a player who's not even a sixth man for the Bulls. Danilo Gallinari is a good player, just not merit enough to be a sixth pick, and bury under Q-Rich and Wilson Chandler in the rotation is not helping his game. Getting rid of draft bust Renaldo Balkman is a plus but there has to be a lot of work that has to be done. Marbury is still owed $21 million but not likely will see regular playing time with Duhon and Nate Robinson on the team. Randolph is owed $14 million but there is hope with the Grizzlies willing to absorb some of the contract in exchange for Darko if the deal goes through. Eddy Curry situation is going to get worse as he has a player option worth over $20 million after the 08/09 season. Basically, they need to give David Lee playing time, which they haven't done in a while. I'll give them a B+ if they can dump a few contracts to make space for LeBron in 2010, but as of this moment, I'll give them a B-. D'Antoni is a good coach but he can't save this team.        

- Milwaukee Bucks

I'll give some credit for the Bucks for landing Scott Skiles as there new head coach, as well as dumping some headache in the process (Bobby Simmons, Yi, Mason). Mo Williams was expected to be traded anyway because they have a potential in-house replacement in Ramon Sessions, who set a Milwaukee record with 20 assists and 20 points. Luke Ridnour is a cheap replacement for now, but it will be Sessions that's getting the minutes with Mo going to Cleveland. However, the Bucks have found a second scorer they need for Michael Redd in Richard Jefferson and they didn't give up much for him, which is a big plus. Drafting Joe Alexander might have been there only big mistake because he's the primary backup PF for Villanueva, a position Alexander doesn't bode well. Gadzuric is still an overprice backup and Damon Jones is going to be off the books after next season. I'll give them a B- because they have room to improve.

- Los Angeles Clippers

As a Los Angeles resident, I seen that the Clippers have fought through adversity this offseason with the loss of Brand and Maggette, the faces of the franchise for the past 7 years. Prior to June 30th, the Clippers didn't have a stable PG when they bypass Jerryd Bayless and D.J. Augustin in the draft for Eric Gordon, with Brevin Knight projected as the starting PG. Baron Davis wasn't going to opt out, even though his relationship with G.S. was getting bad. After July 1, Davis became a Clipper unofficially and Knight was traded for a young PG. Of course, the misfortune of Brand defecting to Philly was a bad omen for the Clippers but they didn't frown. They pursue Josh Smith and Emeka Okafor before getting Marcus Camby (the 2006-2007 NBA Defensive Player of the year, First Team All-Defensive 2007-2008) for basically nothing. Davis, unlike Brand, ended up keeping his word and sign with the Clippers for less money than he got with G.S. Their bench is basically rebuild with former Heat Jason Williams and Ricky Davis leading the way with Gordon (at least it's better than Dan Dickau and Smush Parker). The Clippers look more of a promising team than last season, which is why I'll give them a B for their big rebound from a potential PR disaster.

- Sacramento Kings

They weren't going to be competitive anyway, so why keep a disgruntled player who didn't want to be on the team when he forgot to opt-out by the deadline? Getting rid of Artest wasn't the wisest decision but it had to be done sooner or later before he explodes. I didn't like what they got in return (Bobby Jackson and first round pick Donte Greene) and could have held out more for Artest, like a Lamar Odom or some value in return. Resigning Beno Udrih was a big plus for the Kings that traded Bibby last season and there are some positive from the Artest trade. First, it give players like John Salmons and Francisco Garcia, two promising players, more playing time in place of Artest. Second, it establish that Kevin Martin is the face of this franchise. There not going to be playoff-bound but this is a promising team in th