We start with the Atlantic Division. With no team in this division making it out of the 2nd round of the playoffs, there's sure work to be done.
2008-9 Season Recap: 50-32; Won division; Largely brought back the same team as previous year. Added a prospect in Mozgov.
Offseason Outlook: The Nets lose 20 point scorer (and expiring contract) Ricky Davis, and will still be over the cap. They will barely be able to pay the tax this season, and as potential 4 year repeaters cannot afford to bring Davis back. They have to find a difference-maker if they want to move past the 2nd round next year.
Champ's Offseason Prescription: Sign as many vet mins in FA as possible (and work to re-sign Davis in the $7-10m range). Use that salary plus Mozgov and Gooden as trade bait for another star wing. If that trade doesn't materialize, or they fail to re-sign Davis, they should do a mini-reset trading Kaman or Miller for a slightly younger asset and another run centered around a core of Moz/Miller or Kaman/Nelson/NewGuy.
Prediction: After no luck dangling Mozgov in a trade to land an upgrade, RPF does what RPF does best - keep his team together. Aside from a few minor trades and signings, we see a similar Nets team next year, and they win an identical 50 games.
2008-9 Season Recap: 50-32; Tied for Division Lead; No major additions from last year's squad that made the finals; general decline in TC
Offseason Outlook: A very similar place as the Nets. Outside of the no-brainer decision to super max Boozer, this is a team at a crossroads. Do they dig deeper into the tax, or try to bring a difference-maker? Rolling out the same team next year will not bring this team to the promised land.
Champ's Offseason Prescription: Do whatever you can to move that Hughes contract. In light of the Jameson move, we've learned no contract is un-moveable. With Hughes (and presumably Beasley who will need to be included to send Hughes away) gone, Roy would have some money to spend wisely on 2nd and 3rd tear free agents even after re-signing Boozer. With a better supporting cast, you can take another shot.
Prediction: Roy is one of the best GMs in the league, I think he finds a way to move Hughes, keep his cast, and fill in the blanks enough for another playoff run. Unfortunately, without some more talent at the point, it's unlikely he progresses past round 2 if he makes it out of the first at all.
2008-9 Season Recap: 49-33; 3rd in Division by 1 game; Brought in Baron for Monta Ellis, Dudley for a pick swap
Offseason Outlook: Unlike the last two teams, this team CAN improve by a quiet off-season. Aside from hoping to sign a handful of vet mins to put them over the top, they will get better.
Champ's Offseason Prescription: Pray to the TC gods.
Prediction: This team runs away with the division next year due to improvements from their young core. They don't make enough quality min signings to win a championship, but do challenge for the East crown.
2008-9 Season Recap: 46-36; 4th in Division; Lost front court of Yao and Brand, sign oft-Injured Webber and declining(?) SUPERstar Stephen Jackson
Offseason Outlook: After paying Nate Robinson in RFA, the Knicks will still have $15m+ to play with in free agency. They will have holes to fill at Center and another position (PF, SG, or SF could work).
Champ's Offseason Prescription: Focus on two inexpensive defensive stoppers at Center to keep their legs frsh for blocks- Ben Wallace and bringing back Olowokandi could work. Then spend the rest of your cap on a flexible player to fill in some blanks - Think AK47 or Lamar Odom. With the lack of depth, I wouldn't focus on getting a star scorer, but if you can push your rotation to 7-8 quality players, you can go far.
Prediction: Inner makes a big splash to sign Bobby Simmons who immediately goes G/G in TC. The high-scoring no defensive team will be fun to watch, but won't win the division.
2008-9 Season Recap: 39-43; Season 1 A.R. (After Rashad) in Washington rebuild was completely uninspiring in any way. They do have a young core and I don't know that they know what next year's squad will look like.
Offseason Outlook: Really, the sky is the limit and there is no floor for how next year could go. They have Ray Allen's salary for one more year, so I don't expect anything too flashy
Champ's Offseason Prescription: Sign some young, good controllable assets to reasonable multi-year contracts, draft a project player, and strap in for another tough year.
Prediction: J2 cares too much about his team and integrity to FULLY bottom out. I imagine he'll pickup some useful players and win around 30-35 games next year.
2008-9 Season Recap: 33-49; A decidedly mediocre season after compiling a fairly decent group of talent.
Offseason Outlook: With essentially a full roster under contract for next season and being cap-conscious, I look for a very quiet offseason in Orlando.
Champ's Offseason Prescription: With two similar young players in Shaun Livingston and Trevor Ariza, I'd look to move one of them for a young SG or PF. Outside of that, staying put looks good to me.
Prediction: In the pursuit of quickening the pace of his rebuild, CG makes a move that messes it up completely.
2008-9 Season Recap: 24-58; probably wishes he would have done worse; tore down everything and re-tooling around Monta Ellis
Offseason Outlook: Ballsohard has cap room to spare even after maxing Ellis. He has ultimate flexibility, but may not want to get too good too fast.
Champ's Offseason Prescription: Acquire some useful assets in FA, move them at day 60, collect another lotto pick. Pray to the lotto gods.
Prediction: Unless a perfect trade partner presents allowing him to cash in some of his future picks for a couple of players, I think Ballsohard drafts a couple of BPA's and coasts to another top-10 pick.
