The Tweeners: a look into the late lottery teams that didn’t make the playoffs
Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 12:04 pm
11. Cavaliers 
How to get better: Get one more star. With the center and point guard position solidified for next year, one more star would give this team a big three. With three star players, any team can contend. The only other option is to try to get impact role players. The need for three impact players seems more difficult to attain than one more great player.
How to get worse: Trade Chris Paul and Al Jefferson. Both of these players are later in their respective careers, but are still top players at each position. Either could get a 1st round pick and a role player. By trading both, this team is a bottom 5 team in the league. The hardest part is trading each salary which are over $30 million.
Which way to go: The Cavs don’t own their pick next year. Try to get better so the Heat don’t get a top pick next year.
12. Grizzlies
How to get better: With $120 million dollars of cap space already on the books for next season, it will be hard to get better immediately. I think this team has a chance of being a mid-level playoff team with some different game planning. This team will be good next year, but just couldn’t make the playoffs this past year.
How to get worse: Trade away as much as you can. He can get good pieces and picks for Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard. By losing those two pieces alone, this team would be much worse. If they can get a pick for both of them, and maybe an undeveloped player, those trades would be great.
Which way to go: Get better. This team is a playoff team next year baring Rondo getting hit terribly by TC.
13. Thunder
How to get better: With a lot of cap room and a lot of good players on this team, this team has a lot of options. Set at point guard (Thomas), shooting guard (McCollum), and small forward (Parker), the Thunder are primed for a push this next season. Losing Chandler and Randolph will make them worse. They have the money to pursue multiple top free agents. Going after a top center and power forward free agent will make this team better.
How to get worse: Trading Parker and McCollum. McCollum is already being listed on the trade block. If he could get a few picks for McCollum, that trade would be a great deal. Parker could get younger players and picks as well. Finally, this team would need to save their money this year and take on bad contracts for picks later in the season. The team would get multiple pick and players all while being a bottom 7 team in the league.
Which way to go: Get better. The cap space is the key here. With three starter positions locked up, going for broke on free agency is the best idea. Keep the players on good contracts, and fill out the team to make a run next season.
14. Rockets
How to get better: Capped out with 4 positions solidified, this team needs to find a small forward. If they could re-sign Thaddeus Young, that would be ideal. This team needs just to get more time together. Al Horford is a double-double possibility almost every game. Ty Lawson is a scoring point guard with the ability to pass and play defense. With these two players, this team seems like they don’t need much more to make the push into the playoffs.
How to get worse: Trading away Al Horford might be tough. Lance Stephenson, Ty Lawson, and Kenneth Faried are the most available to be traded. Trying to get one asset for each would be do-able for this team. Unfortunately, this team doesn’t have the option to take on bad contracts next year unless they plan on being bad for years to come and take on long contracts.
Which way to go: Get better. As you can tell, you don’t get to this level without some sort of basis for the future. Every team should get better because they are one or two pieces away. The Rockets can make a push next year. Unfortunately for all of these Western Conference team, I don’t see anyone ahead of them dropping off next year either.
How to get better: Get one more star. With the center and point guard position solidified for next year, one more star would give this team a big three. With three star players, any team can contend. The only other option is to try to get impact role players. The need for three impact players seems more difficult to attain than one more great player.
How to get worse: Trade Chris Paul and Al Jefferson. Both of these players are later in their respective careers, but are still top players at each position. Either could get a 1st round pick and a role player. By trading both, this team is a bottom 5 team in the league. The hardest part is trading each salary which are over $30 million.
Which way to go: The Cavs don’t own their pick next year. Try to get better so the Heat don’t get a top pick next year.
12. Grizzlies
How to get better: With $120 million dollars of cap space already on the books for next season, it will be hard to get better immediately. I think this team has a chance of being a mid-level playoff team with some different game planning. This team will be good next year, but just couldn’t make the playoffs this past year.
How to get worse: Trade away as much as you can. He can get good pieces and picks for Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard. By losing those two pieces alone, this team would be much worse. If they can get a pick for both of them, and maybe an undeveloped player, those trades would be great.
Which way to go: Get better. This team is a playoff team next year baring Rondo getting hit terribly by TC.
13. Thunder
How to get better: With a lot of cap room and a lot of good players on this team, this team has a lot of options. Set at point guard (Thomas), shooting guard (McCollum), and small forward (Parker), the Thunder are primed for a push this next season. Losing Chandler and Randolph will make them worse. They have the money to pursue multiple top free agents. Going after a top center and power forward free agent will make this team better.
How to get worse: Trading Parker and McCollum. McCollum is already being listed on the trade block. If he could get a few picks for McCollum, that trade would be a great deal. Parker could get younger players and picks as well. Finally, this team would need to save their money this year and take on bad contracts for picks later in the season. The team would get multiple pick and players all while being a bottom 7 team in the league.
Which way to go: Get better. The cap space is the key here. With three starter positions locked up, going for broke on free agency is the best idea. Keep the players on good contracts, and fill out the team to make a run next season.
14. Rockets
How to get better: Capped out with 4 positions solidified, this team needs to find a small forward. If they could re-sign Thaddeus Young, that would be ideal. This team needs just to get more time together. Al Horford is a double-double possibility almost every game. Ty Lawson is a scoring point guard with the ability to pass and play defense. With these two players, this team seems like they don’t need much more to make the push into the playoffs.
How to get worse: Trading away Al Horford might be tough. Lance Stephenson, Ty Lawson, and Kenneth Faried are the most available to be traded. Trying to get one asset for each would be do-able for this team. Unfortunately, this team doesn’t have the option to take on bad contracts next year unless they plan on being bad for years to come and take on long contracts.
Which way to go: Get better. As you can tell, you don’t get to this level without some sort of basis for the future. Every team should get better because they are one or two pieces away. The Rockets can make a push next year. Unfortunately for all of these Western Conference team, I don’t see anyone ahead of them dropping off next year either.