- Did not qualify for the playoffs
- Constructing a real-ish team with a bench and starters
- No stars or stars-to be: sorry Anthony Davis, I recommend you find better teammates. Buddy Pedraza, you have a lot of fans, but no friends amongst the Garbage Time committee.
Starters
Center
Andrew Bynum, Orlando Magic
Going from Disneyland to Disneyworld, This Laker castoff bowled over the fans in Orlando with numbers near his career best. Averaging 16.8 ppg and 9.0 rebounds with a decent PER of 18.6, Bynum may have revitalized his career. Maybe the management Orlando can cast some black magic and flip him for an asset, but more likely they'll settle for his $30 million salary expiring next season.
Power Forward
Paul Millsap, VanMemphis Grizzlies
Poor Paul- some though he was the perfect fit for the Grizzlies after being dealt from the playoff bound Bulls. But things never came together for the Grizz, and they missed the playoffs by four games. But Paul was competent as ever, with a career highs in PER of 20.9 and 15.8 ppg. It's unlikely the Grizzlies will pick up his option, but here's hoping Paul finds a contender for the final seasons of his career.
Small Forward
Danny Granger, Charlotte Bobcats
The stars of stars on a truly garbage team, Granger came as a salary dump from the Pacers. He put his adequate skills on display all season, with 16 ppg and a PER of 16.9. The Bobcats would have been worse off without him (how much worse can it get for a seven win team?!), but fret not- he'll likely opt back in for next year.
Shooting Guard
J.R. Smith, Boston Celtics
The master of the hoverboard hit the dreaded 30 year old mark, but also poured in a career high 19.8 ppg and a PER of 17.6. It's hard to imagine the pipes with bursting with cash for this free agent to be, but he'll land safely in the offseason.
Point Guard
Ty Lawson, Houston Rockets
My preseason pick to make the NBA Finals now finds themselves inundated with many terrible "Failure To Launch" headlines in media circles. Ty Lawson can hold his head high though- a career high of 7.7 assists per game coupled with a low turnover rate made him one of the more efficient point guards in the league. A PER of 21.8 is impressive. With a couple tweaks and some health luck, Lawson can lead this group back to the playoffs next year.
Bench
Kyle O'Quinn, Charlotte Bobcats.
Two Bobcats! You'd think that would have led to more than seven wins. Per 36 minutes, he would have averaged 11.3 points and 11.2 rebounds. He also has a career high in blocks. This might be enough to get him some contract security off the bench next year.
DJ White, Houston Rockets
The dynamic duos continue with our second Rocket player. White has done the dirty work his whole career, and this season was no different. He averaged 7 rebounds per game and Houston was always better defensively on the floor. His contract is a bargain at a little over $7 million next year.
Hollis Thompson, Golden State Warriors
The first of three (!) Warriors to make the team, Thompson had career highs in 3's made, attempted, and a legitimately good percentage of .431. Just, uhh, don't ask him to do anything else. At least he's got one skill, and GMs love skills.
Brant Valdez, Golden State Warriors
Welcome to the league, rook. Drafted by the playoff bound Pacers, he was promptly cut. He landed on an awful Magic team, only to be cut again for tax purposes. He found a home in Golden State for the rest of the season. Per 36 minutes, he would have averaged 15.8 points. He's undersized, but he looks like he could be a decent shooter and perimeter defender. Hopefully he'll sign a contract next season and can also sign an apartment lease for a year.
Kendall Marshall, Golden State Warriors
Street free agent one day, starting point guard averaging over 40 minutes a game the next. Marshall averaged 5.4 assists and a steal per game. Just don't look at his efficiency numbers. Or his shooting percentages.
Steven Adams, Dallas Mavericks
From orange/green pre-draft potential to forgotten third year man, Adams has had a rough time in the league. He barely played this year, racking up a whopping 43 minutes. But in a sample size as small as New Zealand, Adams had a PER of 21.7 and a RR of 19.4. He could find a new team and more playing time next year. He could also easily find himself on the free agent list for eternity.
Byron Odell, Orlando Magic
Besides his 70.6% shooting from inside, I have no idea what this guy does well. But he puts up a very average 15.8 PER- not bad for a towel waver at the end of the bench.
