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Hache Man · 07-16-07, 10:19 PM

Team-by-Team Notes
My summer in Indy is going well, although it's not easy to get work done with six people staying in a small, one-bathroom house. But we're getting by, although I can't say the same about the Pacers. After watching the team go down the tubes over the last several years from afar, it's interesting to be back in Indianapolis and hear how angry, or disinterested, the average fan really is. The general consensus is that no reasonable person would spend a single dollar to go to a game right now. As my cousin Gary told me on Sunday, "I was the guest of a large corporation in a suite, free of charge, several times last year, and I still felt like it cost too much." That's quite a statement.

Basically, everything the Colts did right over the past year or so, the Pacers have gotten wrong. While Larry Bird is catching some flack in the national media about the horrible draft picks, trades and personnel decisions over the last three years, the heat from the spot light is much more intense in Indy. Everyone I've talked to has asked me why Larry hasn't been fired yet, which is pretty amazing to me. The guy is obviously a legend in this state, was highly popular as a coach when he took the Pacers on their only trip to the Finals and is one of the most loved Hoosiers of all time. And everyone thinks he is at the top of the list for screwing up the Pacers, and they're probably right.

Another interesting aspect of being back here (as opposed to Atlanta) is that people in Indiana actually care about the NBA. The Pacers have been a well respected and important staple of the community for years and for fans to see the team become a laughing stock (with a very bleak near future, I might add) has rocked them. Meanwhile, Atlanta's ownership group (more on them later) makes Bird, Donnie Walsh and the Pacer organization look like Mensa International. In North Georgia, I'm not even sure that people are aware that Atlanta has an NBA franchise. They all knew it at one time, but once Dominique left, it's like someone used that memory eraser from Men in Black to wipe the slates clean. And with Michael Vick's apparent love of watching dogs eat each other, the Falcons fan based isn't exactly feeling all that great right now either, especially after they traded away backup QB Matt Schaub. In short, there is one professional sports team left in Georgia, and they play football between the hedges in Athens. And as long as Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy are the good guys in Indy, basketball fans will turn their allegiance to the Colts and wait until Bird gets fired, Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley are sent packing, and Kevin Pritchard comes back home to run the organization. But unfortunately, it's hard to say if or when any of those things are going to happen.

As you may have figured out by now, this column is going to be random NBA notes, so let's get to it.

Atlanta Hawks

The ownership cluster continues to approach new heights of embarrassment. Now the agent for Josh Smith is upset because the team is making no effort to extend Smoov or Josh Childress as of yet, and it's probably because the group can't collectively come to a decision. And in case you missed it, even if the core group of owners agrees to do something (like trade for Amare Stoudemire or Monta Ellis), Steve Belkin, the "ousted owner," still has the power of veto in some cases. Add to it that the entire coaching staff is entering the final year of its contract and Billy Knight is not allowing anyone to leave (including assistant coaches), and you have to think the worst is yet to come in Atlanta. While I am all for less government, it is time for David Stern to step in and start using an iron fist in Atlanta. We all know that Atlanta has the hip-hop superstar crowd ready to fill the arena if the Hawks put the product on the floor. Not to mention Jeff Foxworthy and a slew of other "country stars" who would also join the fray. But until the ownership group gets it together, or is forced to sell the team to someone capable of running the show, Atlanta is going to continue to be a bottom feeder. You can probably expect to see an entirely new group of coaches after this season, at least.

It's a miracle that they were able to sign Joe Johnson a couple years ago, but until this ownership situation is worked out, I don't think they can sign another free agent, regardless of how big or small his name is. And while it's possible to build through the draft, it's not easy when you pass on guys like Chris Paul and Deron Williams, while stockpiling young wing players for five years. While guys like Mike Woodson and Knight take all the heat for the state of the Hawks, the finger should really be pointed directly at the entire ownership group. Mark Cuban runs a fantasy team in Dallas, which works because he has sole control and even has some basketball people on hand to help him. The Hawks ownership group also runs a fantasy team in the ATL, but there are too many cooks in the kitchen and too much dissension to get anything accomplished, other than continuing to put a product on the floor that very few people care about.

Boston Celtics

Gerald Green's name is being kicked around in trade rumors because no one can figure out how to get him minutes with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen around. Green had a horrible summer-league performance and is shaping up to be a fantasy bust if he doesn't make his way out of Boston. I love his game and would love to see him get moved.

Rajon Rondo should be ready to provide owners with great fantasy value, but it all depends on the Celtics' commitment to the run. If they find themselves in a half-court offense, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Rondo is probably the last person you want running your team. Look for the Celtics to run, or it's going to be another long year in Boston.

Many people are wondering if Al Jefferson will get enough touches with Allen's arrival in Boston. I say Jefferson will be just fine, but Ryan Gomes should probably get used to being nothing more than a role player for the next two years.

Charlotte Bobcats

The Cats were able to pull off a minor miracle by re-signing Gerald Wallace, giving them a tangible force of Wallace, Jason Richardson, Emeka Okafor and Raymond Felton. Add in Matt Carroll, Walter Herrmann and Adam Morrison, and that looks like a playoff team, especially in the East. There's also a chance they could bring Brevin Knight back to help backup Felton, but there's talk that the Cats have had him and his less than positive locker room presence around for long enough. Don't draft Sean May for your fantasy team this year. His knees are still not right and may never be. And there are questions about his work habits, which makes me think his NBA career will be a short one. And for all we know, we may have already seen the best he has to offer.

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls got Andres Nocioni back and now just have to hope his foot problems are behind him. Tyrus Thomas is sitting out summer games with knee tendonitis, which has to also be a concern for the team going forward. They didn't do much in the offseason (at least thus far), but clearly have one of the best and deepest teams in the East. Ben Gordon should be an All-Star this year and if Nocioni's foot is healthy, they're going to be tough to beat. Joakim Noah was a nice pickup, but I don't see him having much of an impact this year.

Cleveland Cavaliers

It's looking likely that the Cavs are going to probably get Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic back, but they still have a huge question mark at point guard. I still get the sense that their trip to the Finals was a bit of a fluke last season and I don't see them getting there again with Larry Hughes or Eric Snow running the offense. And LeBron's good, but he's not an NBA point guard. Then again, the rumors of Mike Bibby heading to Cleveland are still highly popular on the internet, and I would not be surprised to see a deal worked out. If Drew Gooden goes to Sacramento, it clears the way for Varejao to start, and obviously Bibby would be a perfect point guard for the Cavs. But the last thing the Kings need is another power forward who doesn't block shots.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs re-signed Devean George and Jerry Stackhouse, but haven't done much else this summer. You have to wonder if Dirk Nowitzki is going to come back with a vengeance this season, or if his confidence was permanently damaged after last year's playoff flop. I'm going to put my vote on "vengeance."

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are going to hand the reins to Chucky Atkins to run the point in Denver. He's a big-time long-range threat, and could be a nice piece to the Nuggets' puzzle, although I'm not sure he'll be more effective than Steve Blake was. The hiring of Atkins should slide Allen Iverson to shooting guard for much of the season, and we'll have to wait and see how J.R. Smith bounces back after the accident that killed his best friend.

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons re-signed Chauncey Billups and Amir Johnson and are still waiting to see what Chris Webber will do. Either way, the Pistons will once again be one of the better teams in the East. And for the record, Rasheed Wallace says that he and Flip Saunders have no problem with one another.

Golden St. Warriors

The talk in Warrior-land right now is the stellar summer-league play of rookie Marco Belinelli. There are rumors of him actually starting in front of Monta Ellis, but I'm not buying it. There are also a lot of questions about whether Don Nelson is going to return this season. All indications are that he will, but he's asking for his salary to be nearly doubled. If negotiations turn south, Nellie's going to get a reputation of not being loyal after his falling out with Mark Cuban, but the Warriors' job is likely the last of his career anyway. Mickael Pietrus and Matt Barnes are still unsigned, while the Warriors are bringing back Kelenna Azubuike, and Stephen Jackson will be sitting out the first seven games of the season after getting a suspension for his off-court activities of the past year. Center Patrick O'Bryant isn't developing quickly enough for the Warriors, but all signs are still pointing to him backing up Andris Biedrins this year.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets have a glut at point guard and really have too many guards in general. They also only have one true power forward in Chuck Hayes, meaning Shane Battier could play out of position a lot this year. Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming are going to be fantasy stars, as usual, but I think you're rolling the dice on the rest of the Rockets. Bonzi Wells qualifies as a sleeper under Rick Adelman, although I still don't know how Mike James and Rafer Alston are going to co-exist.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers have done almost nothing this offseason. They drafted a guy in the second round (whose name, ironically enough, is Stanko) who will likely never play in the U.S. and signed Kareem Rush. I think Rush could be a big player for the Pacers, but if he doesn't have enough talent surrounding him, he's going to have trouble finding open shots. Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley still need to go, and may not be Pacers once 2008 rolls around.

L.A. Clippers

Steve Francis could be the starting point guard for the Clippers this season and coach Mike Dunleavy says that Corey Maggette will start this year, giving him a big boost in fantasy value. Elton Brand's status for the FIBA tournament in Vegas is in doubt, but he's expected to be healthy in time for NBA training camp. And Brand should be treated as a bit of a sleeper this season. Despite still having a big season and posting nice numbers, he was not as dominant last season as he has been in the past. Taking him any time in the second round makes sense. And Francis could have some nice value if he signs with the Clips and is handed the starting point guard job.

L.A. Lakers

The Lakers signed Luke Walton to a six-year, $30 million deal this summer, and it should be interesting to see if he can play as well this year as he did last. Kobe Bryant apologized for his actions earlier in the summer, but the fact that the Walton signing is the big news coming out of L.A. is probably not making Bryant any happier. Then again, Derek Fisher is coming on board and should easily win the starting point guard job. He's going to have some fantasy value this season.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies pulled of a big coup when they landed Darko Milicic after talks broke down with the Magic. Darko and Pau Gasol should be a force together down low, and the Grizz have one of the best young cores out there with Rudy Gay, Hakim Warrick, Kyle Lowry, Mike Conley and Tarence Kinsey. They surprisingly waived forward Alexander Johnson, but he should land with another NBA team this fall.

Miami Heat

Alonzo Mourning will return to the Heat, and while Pat Riley hasn't officially said he's back, all indications are that he will return. Gary Payton is going to retire and the team may lose James Posey to free agency. Dwyane Wade's return from knee and shoulder surgery is the biggest question mark surrounding the team, but all indications are that he's clearly on his way back to form. However, it could take him until after Christmas to get there. I raised some eyebrows when I didn't put Wade in the Top 24 in a recent column, but until I get assurances from him that he's not going to miss much time, he's still on the bubble.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks are close to signing Desmond Mason and have already locked in with Mo Williams. Bobby Simmons should be close to a return to form this year if he is finally over his foot injury, while we are all still waiting to see if Yi Jianlian will ever play in a Bucks uniform. I'm guessing he fires his agent, gets a new one and is traded to the West. We'll see. Oh, and Ersan Ilyasova is going to play in Europe this season. Better find a new guy to target in the 17th round of your draft.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Randy Foye will be the starting point guard for the Wolves, giving him a huge bump in fantasy value, while Juwan Howard will help Kevin Garnett in the paint. I think the chances of the Wolves getting into the playoffs with a lackluster roster and a second-year point guard are not great, as the team continues to try to find a new home for Kevin Garnett.

New Orleans Hornets

The big news out of New Orleans is the signing of Morris Peterson. Now if they can just get Peja Stojakovic back on the floor, they should have a pretty good team this season. Tyson Chandler should have another good year, but don't expect him to play better than he did last year. That could end up being the greatest season of his life.

New Jersey Nets

The Nets waived Cliff Robinson and signed Jamaal Magloire after Mikki Moore bolted for Sacramento, which is apparently the NBA's most popular destination for overvalued power forwards. Nenad Krstic will recover slowly but surely from last year's knee surgery, but it appears the Nets are set to take their chances going to battle with Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter. There are still rumblings of a deal involving Jermaine O'Neal, but as of now, the Nets are sticking with what they've got.

New York Knicks

Nate Robinson won the summer league's MVP Award after putting up solid numbers and leading the Knicks to a 5-0 record. He is still considered iffy to make the team's final roster, but it will be hard for Isiah to justify waving the Vegas MVP. Quentin Richardson says his back is as healthy as it's been in years and he's ready to return to form for the Knicks. Of course, how he's going to get many shots with Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph and David Lee on board is anyone's guess. But it sounds like he should at least be one of the better 3-point specialists in the league this season.

Orlando Magic

The Magic lost Billy Donovan to kick things off this summer, then lost Darko Milicic when Otis Smith ignored him while trying to land Rashard Lewis. Smith did get Lewis, but the price tag was out of this world and the Magic just have to hope that it doesn't end up being one of those max contracts no one is happy about years later. J.J. Redick has been making summer-league noise and could actually have a little value this year. But I think that Jameer Nelson is likely to be the biggest sleeper in Orlando, now that Grant Hill and Darko are gone. And don't forget about Trevor Ariza, either.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers have been quiet this offseason, but have four rookies coming in, all with some promise. Jason Smith, Thaddeus Young, Derrick Byars and Herbert Hill are all intriguing prospects, as the Sixers are now looking to lock Andre Iguodala in for the long haul.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns signed Grant Hill away from the Magic, hoping that he's the piece to the puzzle that's been missing for the Suns. He could be, and it's hard to argue that the Suns are not the perfect fit for Hill. Shawn Marion has some plantar fasciitis issues with his foot that will likely keep him from playing for Team USA this summer. Fantasy owners just have to hope the problem doesn't raise its head this year, as he will be a Top 5 pick in all formats. He generally plays through injuries, so I'm not too concerned about him just yet. Amare Stoudemire is another interesting fantasy prospect for this fall. He didn't miss a game last year, but that doesn't guarantee anything for this season. His knees could fall apart at any time and I still think fantasy teams and the Suns have to handle him with kid gloves. But he's worth a late first-round pick if you can handle the risk.

Portland Trailblazers

Things are going so well in Portland right now they can buy out Steve Francis for $30 million and send him packing without even thinking twice about it. Greg Oden's nagging injury list scares me, and I really hope he doesn't turn out to be one of those guys who misses two out of every 10 games, but he's off to a shaky start. Let's hope that getting the tonsils out will be the last procedure he needs for awhile. Stay away from the Blazers' point guard, whoever it turns out to be. With Steve Blake, Sergio Rodriguez and Jarrett Jack all around, not to mention Brandon Roy, there could be a brutal log jam at the position this season. LaMarcus Aldridge should be the big sleeper in Portland this year and I think he's going to have a huge year.

Sacramento Kings

The Kings continue to talk about dealing Ron Artest and Mike Bibby and now have enough power forwards to start five of them. You can add Mikki Moore to the list already including Kenny Thomas, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Spencer Hawes, while Brad Miller also should qualify at the position. Stay away from all of them.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs have done what they can to keep last season's championship team intact and added Tiago Splitter and Marcus Williams in the draft. They also parted ways with big man Jackie Butler to bring in disgruntled guard Vassilis Spanoulis, who plans on playing in Greece this year.

Seattle Sonics

The Sonics are tough to recognize these days. No Ray Allen. No Rashard Lewis. Add in the fact that they now have Delonte West and their point guard position is as log jammed as ever with Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour still there. Kevin Durant and Jeff Green will obviously be thrown into the mix, and you have to think new coach P.J. Carlesimo will find minutes for Damien Wilkins, but it's hard to figure out who will emerge as Seattle's go-to guy at this point. Many people think it will be Durant, but veterans like Wilkins, Watson, West, Ridnour and Nick Collison are probably better bets.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors will say goodbye to Morris Peterson this season, but they probably won't miss him now that they've wrestled Jason Kapono away from the Bobcats. Toronto is going to build on last year's success and should be one of the better teams in the East.

Utah Jazz

The Jazz lost out on Peterson, so maybe another Morris, as in Morris Almond, will emerge at shooting guard in Utah this season. Not much has changed in Utah this summer, except that Derek Fisher is headed back to the Lakers and the Jazz signed back up point guard Jason Hart, who will play behind Deron Williams. They may not be done yet, but it looks like they'll go to war with Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, Deron Williams and either Gordan Giricek, Matt Harpring or Almond this season.

Washington Wizards

The Wizards agreed to terms with DeShawn Stevenson and Juan Carlos Navarro is a hot topic, although it doesn't sound like he'll play in the NBA this year, or for the Wizards. Etan Thomas and Brendan Haywood are still on the block, but the Wizards haven't been able to figure out what they're going to do at center. They're likely to lose Andray Blatche to free agency (Mavs?) and I can't wait to see how they work rookie Nick Young into the mix this year. Consider him a sleeper for ROY. But until they solve their problems at center, it's unlikely that Gilbert Arenas and company can win the East.

07-16-07, 10:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
Hache Man Moderator On The Rays' Wagon Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 42,758	Re: NBA News/NBA Fantasy News 2006/2007 Team-by-Team Notes My summer in Indy is going well, although it's not easy to get work done with six people staying in a small, one-bathroom house. But we're getting by, although I can't say the same about the Pacers. After watching the team go down the tubes over the last several years from afar, it's interesting to be back in Indianapolis and hear how angry, or disinterested, the average fan really is. The general consensus is that no reasonable person would spend a single dollar to go to a game right now. As my cousin Gary told me on Sunday, "I was the guest of a large corporation in a suite, free of charge, several times last year, and I still felt like it cost too much." That's quite a statement. Basically, everything the Colts did right over the past year or so, the Pacers have gotten wrong. While Larry Bird is catching some flack in the national media about the horrible draft picks, trades and personnel decisions over the last three years, the heat from the spot light is much more intense in Indy. Everyone I've talked to has asked me why Larry hasn't been fired yet, which is pretty amazing to me. The guy is obviously a legend in this state, was highly popular as a coach when he took the Pacers on their only trip to the Finals and is one of the most loved Hoosiers of all time. And everyone thinks he is at the top of the list for screwing up the Pacers, and they're probably right. Another interesting aspect of being back here (as opposed to Atlanta) is that people in Indiana actually care about the NBA. The Pacers have been a well respected and important staple of the community for years and for fans to see the team become a laughing stock (with a very bleak near future, I might add) has rocked them. Meanwhile, Atlanta's ownership group (more on them later) makes Bird, Donnie Walsh and the Pacer organization look like Mensa International. In North Georgia, I'm not even sure that people are aware that Atlanta has an NBA franchise. They all knew it at one time, but once Dominique left, it's like someone used that memory eraser from Men in Black to wipe the slates clean. And with Michael Vick's apparent love of watching dogs eat each other, the Falcons fan based isn't exactly feeling all that great right now either, especially after they traded away backup QB Matt Schaub. In short, there is one professional sports team left in Georgia, and they play football between the hedges in Athens. And as long as Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy are the good guys in Indy, basketball fans will turn their allegiance to the Colts and wait until Bird gets fired, Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley are sent packing, and Kevin Pritchard comes back home to run the organization. But unfortunately, it's hard to say if or when any of those things are going to happen. As you may have figured out by now, this column is going to be random NBA notes, so let's get to it. Atlanta Hawks The ownership cluster continues to approach new heights of embarrassment. Now the agent for Josh Smith is upset because the team is making no effort to extend Smoov or Josh Childress as of yet, and it's probably because the group can't collectively come to a decision. And in case you missed it, even if the core group of owners agrees to do something (like trade for Amare Stoudemire or Monta Ellis), Steve Belkin, the "ousted owner," still has the power of veto in some cases. Add to it that the entire coaching staff is entering the final year of its contract and Billy Knight is not allowing anyone to leave (including assistant coaches), and you have to think the worst is yet to come in Atlanta. While I am all for less government, it is time for David Stern to step in and start using an iron fist in Atlanta. We all know that Atlanta has the hip-hop superstar crowd ready to fill the arena if the Hawks put the product on the floor. Not to mention Jeff Foxworthy and a slew of other "country stars" who would also join the fray. But until the ownership group gets it together, or is forced to sell the team to someone capable of running the show, Atlanta is going to continue to be a bottom feeder. You can probably expect to see an entirely new group of coaches after this season, at least. It's a miracle that they were able to sign Joe Johnson a couple years ago, but until this ownership situation is worked out, I don't think they can sign another free agent, regardless of how big or small his name is. And while it's possible to build through the draft, it's not easy when you pass on guys like Chris Paul and Deron Williams, while stockpiling young wing players for five years. While guys like Mike Woodson and Knight take all the heat for the state of the Hawks, the finger should really be pointed directly at the entire ownership group. Mark Cuban runs a fantasy team in Dallas, which works because he has sole control and even has some basketball people on hand to help him. The Hawks ownership group also runs a fantasy team in the ATL, but there are too many cooks in the kitchen and too much dissension to get anything accomplished, other than continuing to put a product on the floor that very few people care about. Boston Celtics Gerald Green's name is being kicked around in trade rumors because no one can figure out how to get him minutes with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen around. Green had a horrible summer-league performance and is shaping up to be a fantasy bust if he doesn't make his way out of Boston. I love his game and would love to see him get moved. Rajon Rondo should be ready to provide owners with great fantasy value, but it all depends on the Celtics' commitment to the run. If they find themselves in a half-court offense, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Rondo is probably the last person you want running your team. Look for the Celtics to run, or it's going to be another long year in Boston. Many people are wondering if Al Jefferson will get enough touches with Allen's arrival in Boston. I say Jefferson will be just fine, but Ryan Gomes should probably get used to being nothing more than a role player for the next two years. Charlotte Bobcats The Cats were able to pull off a minor miracle by re-signing Gerald Wallace, giving them a tangible force of Wallace, Jason Richardson, Emeka Okafor and Raymond Felton. Add in Matt Carroll, Walter Herrmann and Adam Morrison, and that looks like a playoff team, especially in the East. There's also a chance they could bring Brevin Knight back to help backup Felton, but there's talk that the Cats have had him and his less than positive locker room presence around for long enough. Don't draft Sean May for your fantasy team this year. His knees are still not right and may never be. And there are questions about his work habits, which makes me think his NBA career will be a short one. And for all we know, we may have already seen the best he has to offer. Chicago Bulls The Bulls got Andres Nocioni back and now just have to hope his foot problems are behind him. Tyrus Thomas is sitting out summer games with knee tendonitis, which has to also be a concern for the team going forward. They didn't do much in the offseason (at least thus far), but clearly have one of the best and deepest teams in the East. Ben Gordon should be an All-Star this year and if Nocioni's foot is healthy, they're going to be tough to beat. Joakim Noah was a nice pickup, but I don't see him having much of an impact this year. Cleveland Cavaliers It's looking likely that the Cavs are going to probably get Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic back, but they still have a huge question mark at point guard. I still get the sense that their trip to the Finals was a bit of a fluke last season and I don't see them getting there again with Larry Hughes or Eric Snow running the offense. And LeBron's good, but he's not an NBA point guard. Then again, the rumors of Mike Bibby heading to Cleveland are still highly popular on the internet, and I would not be surprised to see a deal worked out. If Drew Gooden goes to Sacramento, it clears the way for Varejao to start, and obviously Bibby would be a perfect point guard for the Cavs. But the last thing the Kings need is another power forward who doesn't block shots. Dallas Mavericks The Mavs re-signed Devean George and Jerry Stackhouse, but haven't done much else this summer. You have to wonder if Dirk Nowitzki is going to come back with a vengeance this season, or if his confidence was permanently damaged after last year's playoff flop. I'm going to put my vote on "vengeance." Denver Nuggets The Nuggets are going to hand the reins to Chucky Atkins to run the point in Denver. He's a big-time long-range threat, and could be a nice piece to the Nuggets' puzzle, although I'm not sure he'll be more effective than Steve Blake was. The hiring of Atkins should slide Allen Iverson to shooting guard for much of the season, and we'll have to wait and see how J.R. Smith bounces back after the accident that killed his best friend. Detroit Pistons The Pistons re-signed Chauncey Billups and Amir Johnson and are still waiting to see what Chris Webber will do. Either way, the Pistons will once again be one of the better teams in the East. And for the record, Rasheed Wallace says that he and Flip Saunders have no problem with one another. Golden St. Warriors The talk in Warrior-land right now is the stellar summer-league play of rookie Marco Belinelli. There are rumors of him actually starting in front of Monta Ellis, but I'm not buying it. There are also a lot of questions about whether Don Nelson is going to return this season. All indications are that he will, but he's asking for his salary to be nearly doubled. If negotiations turn south, Nellie's going to get a reputation of not being loyal after his falling out with Mark Cuban, but the Warriors' job is likely the last of his career anyway. Mickael Pietrus and Matt Barnes are still unsigned, while the Warriors are bringing back Kelenna Azubuike, and Stephen Jackson will be sitting out the first seven games of the season after getting a suspension for his off-court activities of the past year. Center Patrick O'Bryant isn't developing quickly enough for the Warriors, but all signs are still pointing to him backing up Andris Biedrins this year. Houston Rockets The Rockets have a glut at point guard and really have too many guards in general. They also only have one true power forward in Chuck Hayes, meaning Shane Battier could play out of position a lot this year. Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming are going to be fantasy stars, as usual, but I think you're rolling the dice on the rest of the Rockets. Bonzi Wells qualifies as a sleeper under Rick Adelman, although I still don't know how Mike James and Rafer Alston are going to co-exist. Indiana Pacers The Pacers have done almost nothing this offseason. They drafted a guy in the second round (whose name, ironically enough, is Stanko) who will likely never play in the U.S. and signed Kareem Rush. I think Rush could be a big player for the Pacers, but if he doesn't have enough talent surrounding him, he's going to have trouble finding open shots. Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley still need to go, and may not be Pacers once 2008 rolls around. L.A. Clippers Steve Francis could be the starting point guard for the Clippers this season and coach Mike Dunleavy says that Corey Maggette will start this year, giving him a big boost in fantasy value. Elton Brand's status for the FIBA tournament in Vegas is in doubt, but he's expected to be healthy in time for NBA training camp. And Brand should be treated as a bit of a sleeper this season. Despite still having a big season and posting nice numbers, he was not as dominant last season as he has been in the past. Taking him any time in the second round makes sense. And Francis could have some nice value if he signs with the Clips and is handed the starting point guard job. L.A. Lakers The Lakers signed Luke Walton to a six-year, $30 million deal this summer, and it should be interesting to see if he can play as well this year as he did last. Kobe Bryant apologized for his actions earlier in the summer, but the fact that the Walton signing is the big news coming out of L.A. is probably not making Bryant any happier. Then again, Derek Fisher is coming on board and should easily win the starting point guard job. He's going to have some fantasy value this season. Memphis Grizzlies The Grizzlies pulled of a big coup when they landed Darko Milicic after talks broke down with the Magic. Darko and Pau Gasol should be a force together down low, and the Grizz have one of the best young cores out there with Rudy Gay, Hakim Warrick, Kyle Lowry, Mike Conley and Tarence Kinsey. They surprisingly waived forward Alexander Johnson, but he should land with another NBA team this fall. Miami Heat Alonzo Mourning will return to the Heat, and while Pat Riley hasn't officially said he's back, all indications are that he will return. Gary Payton is going to retire and the team may lose James Posey to free agency. Dwyane Wade's return from knee and shoulder surgery is the biggest question mark surrounding the team, but all indications are that he's clearly on his way back to form. However, it could take him until after Christmas to get there. I raised some eyebrows when I didn't put Wade in the Top 24 in a recent column, but until I get assurances from him that he's not going to miss much time, he's still on the bubble. Milwaukee Bucks The Bucks are close to signing Desmond Mason and have already locked in with Mo Williams. Bobby Simmons should be close to a return to form this year if he is finally over his foot injury, while we are all still waiting to see if Yi Jianlian will ever play in a Bucks uniform. I'm guessing he fires his agent, gets a new one and is traded to the West. We'll see. Oh, and Ersan Ilyasova is going to play in Europe this season. Better find a new guy to target in the 17th round of your draft. Minnesota Timberwolves Randy Foye will be the starting point guard for the Wolves, giving him a huge bump in fantasy value, while Juwan Howard will help Kevin Garnett in the paint. I think the chances of the Wolves getting into the playoffs with a lackluster roster and a second-year point guard are not great, as the team continues to try to find a new home for Kevin Garnett. New Orleans Hornets The big news out of New Orleans is the signing of Morris Peterson. Now if they can just get Peja Stojakovic back on the floor, they should have a pretty good team this season. Tyson Chandler should have another good year, but don't expect him to play better than he did last year. That could end up being the greatest season of his life. New Jersey Nets The Nets waived Cliff Robinson and signed Jamaal Magloire after Mikki Moore bolted for Sacramento, which is apparently the NBA's most popular destination for overvalued power forwards. Nenad Krstic will recover slowly but surely from last year's knee surgery, but it appears the Nets are set to take their chances going to battle with Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter. There are still rumblings of a deal involving Jermaine O'Neal, but as of now, the Nets are sticking with what they've got. New York Knicks Nate Robinson won the summer league's MVP Award after putting up solid numbers and leading the Knicks to a 5-0 record. He is still considered iffy to make the team's final roster, but it will be hard for Isiah to justify waving the Vegas MVP. Quentin Richardson says his back is as healthy as it's been in years and he's ready to return to form for the Knicks. Of course, how he's going to get many shots with Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph and David Lee on board is anyone's guess. But it sounds like he should at least be one of the better 3-point specialists in the league this season. Orlando Magic The Magic lost Billy Donovan to kick things off this summer, then lost Darko Milicic when Otis Smith ignored him while trying to land Rashard Lewis. Smith did get Lewis, but the price tag was out of this world and the Magic just have to hope that it doesn't end up being one of those max contracts no one is happy about years later. J.J. Redick has been making summer-league noise and could actually have a little value this year. But I think that Jameer Nelson is likely to be the biggest sleeper in Orlando, now that Grant Hill and Darko are gone. And don't forget about Trevor Ariza, either. Philadelphia 76ers The Sixers have been quiet this offseason, but have four rookies coming in, all with some promise. Jason Smith, Thaddeus Young, Derrick Byars and Herbert Hill are all intriguing prospects, as the Sixers are now looking to lock Andre Iguodala in for the long haul. Phoenix Suns The Suns signed Grant Hill away from the Magic, hoping that he's the piece to the puzzle that's been missing for the Suns. He could be, and it's hard to argue that the Suns are not the perfect fit for Hill. Shawn Marion has some plantar fasciitis issues with his foot that will likely keep him from playing for Team USA this summer. Fantasy owners just have to hope the problem doesn't raise its head this year, as he will be a Top 5 pick in all formats. He generally plays through injuries, so I'm not too concerned about him just yet. Amare Stoudemire is another interesting fantasy prospect for this fall. He didn't miss a game last year, but that doesn't guarantee anything for this season. His knees could fall apart at any time and I still think fantasy teams and the Suns have to handle him with kid gloves. But he's worth a late first-round pick if you can handle the risk. Portland Trailblazers Things are going so well in Portland right now they can buy out Steve Francis for $30 million and send him packing without even thinking twice about it. Greg Oden's nagging injury list scares me, and I really hope he doesn't turn out to be one of those guys who misses two out of every 10 games, but he's off to a shaky start. Let's hope that getting the tonsils out will be the last procedure he needs for awhile. Stay away from the Blazers' point guard, whoever it turns out to be. With Steve Blake, Sergio Rodriguez and Jarrett Jack all around, not to mention Brandon Roy, there could be a brutal log jam at the position this season. LaMarcus Aldridge should be the big sleeper in Portland this year and I think he's going to have a huge year. Sacramento Kings The Kings continue to talk about dealing Ron Artest and Mike Bibby and now have enough power forwards to start five of them. You can add Mikki Moore to the list already including Kenny Thomas, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Spencer Hawes, while Brad Miller also should qualify at the position. Stay away from all of them. San Antonio Spurs The Spurs have done what they can to keep last season's championship team intact and added Tiago Splitter and Marcus Williams in the draft. They also parted ways with big man Jackie Butler to bring in disgruntled guard Vassilis Spanoulis, who plans on playing in Greece this year. Seattle Sonics The Sonics are tough to recognize these days. No Ray Allen. No Rashard Lewis. Add in the fact that they now have Delonte West and their point guard position is as log jammed as ever with Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour still there. Kevin Durant and Jeff Green will obviously be thrown into the mix, and you have to think new coach P.J. Carlesimo will find minutes for Damien Wilkins, but it's hard to figure out who will emerge as Seattle's go-to guy at this point. Many people think it will be Durant, but veterans like Wilkins, Watson, West, Ridnour and Nick Collison are probably better bets. Toronto Raptors The Raptors will say goodbye to Morris Peterson this season, but they probably won't miss him now that they've wrestled Jason Kapono away from the Bobcats. Toronto is going to build on last year's success and should be one of the better teams in the East. Utah Jazz The Jazz lost out on Peterson, so maybe another Morris, as in Morris Almond, will emerge at shooting guard in Utah this season. Not much has changed in Utah this summer, except that Derek Fisher is headed back to the Lakers and the Jazz signed back up point guard Jason Hart, who will play behind Deron Williams. They may not be done yet, but it looks like they'll go to war with Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, Deron Williams and either Gordan Giricek, Matt Harpring or Almond this season. Washington Wizards The Wizards agreed to terms with DeShawn Stevenson and Juan Carlos Navarro is a hot topic, although it doesn't sound like he'll play in the NBA this year, or for the Wizards. Etan Thomas and Brendan Haywood are still on the block, but the Wizards haven't been able to figure out what they're going to do at center. They're likely to lose Andray Blatche to free agency (Mavs?) and I can't wait to see how they work rookie Nick Young into the mix this year. Consider him a sleeper for ROY. But until they solve their problems at center, it's unlikely that Gilbert Arenas and company can win the East.