Rating the Alpha Conference
Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 9:44 pm
So, the dawn of a new era in SLOE is upon us. 4 franchises have been deleted from the league. 2 were storied franchises that dated all the way back to the glory decade of the 90s, one was a never-ending roller coaster captained by an unforgettable GM, and the last one...existed. We're down to 27 teams now, and the competition is perhaps fiercer than it's ever been before. A reign of terror unlike any in league history has abruptly ended, and the various have once again randomly been scattered to the winds, with new rivals and challenges lying in wait at their landing spots. Yes, it is a new day indeed.
...but enough of that nonsense, let's get to it. This is a preview of the Alpha Conference, but I'm going to do things a little differently. After a quick little bit about the team in question, I'm going to give them a grade based upon what I think their potential for this season is. The grade will be a color grade, because that's really all we look at anyway.
Atlanta Hawks
Key Additions: Erik Haynes, Carlton Glasser
Key Losses: Wig
Despite adding Erik Haynes to an already-solid group of guys, the Hawks have officially lost their longtime GM and are now under league control. This pretty much torpedoes any shot the Hawks had at competing. They probably could put together a quality regular season if they tried, but I'm expecting guys like Haynes, Bamba, and even Kuzma to be shipped out if a reasonable deal can be found. Do not be fooled by the roster, this team is headed down.
Rating: A 32-year-old Green/Blue
Denver Nuggets
Key Additions: Norris Turney
Key Losses: Erik Haynes
You pretty much know the story by now - this team will go as far as West will take them and Syndicate will let them. Adding 21-year-old Norris Turney from the now-defunct Celtics adds a new wrinkle to this squad, as there's now actual incentive for attempting to initiate a rebuild. I'm not really expecting them to unless the season starts off poorly, because there's actually a number of nice talent on this team surrounding West, Jackson, Turney, and Bagley. Another 63-win season may not be likely, but don't sleep on this team.
Rating: Blue/Blue
Indiana Pacers
Key Additions: Christopher Fortunado, Lino Brookins, Cameron Payne
Key Losses: Devin Booker, Michael Camby's talent
Last season's Jekyll-and-Hyde squad received an unexpected boost in the contraction draft when they picked up Christopher Fortunado from the now-gone Grizz. The pairing with Dragan Bender provides an answer to the question of how to get back to the Conference Final level form that they were at two seasons ago. Fortunado gives them the post scoring that they've lacked ever since Michael Williams left, and while you'd think that Booker's departure would be a loss, it does give Josh Hart more room to spread his wings. Still, I'm not too sure about this team. They've proven that they're as capable of shocking as they are of disappointing over the past few seasons.
Rating: Green/Green
LA Lakers
Key Additions: Wanderlei Silva, Ernie Acuna
Key Losses: Wyatt Battle, Michael Williams, Gary Loredo, Ronald Jackson, JR Johnson
While it looks like a lot of players esacaped from LA, it all becomes clear once you look at their two acquisitions. Former champions Ernia Acuna and Wanderlei Silva are now Lakers, and LA, at least for the moment, appears to be going all-in. For Acuna, this is a chance to break out on his own, as it's quite hard to make a name for yourself with Boban, Bronny, and Josh as your teammates. Wanderlei's already proven himself as a leader, but he's used to a bit more help than this. Aside from Sherrill, most of the other Lakers are guys waiting to have their breakout moment, and if they're to go anywhere this season, they kind of have to. Silva/Sherrill/Acuna should be able to carry them to playoff contention, but the next level may require something more.
Rating: Green/Blue
Washington Wizards
Key Additions: Shareef O'Neal, Aubrey Bynum, a good TC
Key Losses: Leroy Haugh
There's probably no team that, on paper, stands to benefit more from the one-two punch of the Magic's demise and the realignment than the Wizards. Ever since their bittersweet Finals run, the Wizards have established themselves as the perennial playoff bridesmaid, getting walloped by Boban and Co. twice despite impressive regular-season runs. Last season was a different story, as they fell to a familiar foe in the red-hot Raptors - who, as it turns out, did not make the move to the Alpha conference along with their former division rivals Milwaukee and DC. So with their two biggest obstacles now gone, the Wizards have to feel like they've been given a clean slate. They seemed to want to make the most of it during the offseason, trading away Haugh for depth in Bynum & DSJ, as well as gambling by sending two firsts to San Antonio for Shareef O'Neal. And after massive offseason improvements by Phillip Cuomo and Tony Cucone, the result is the most versatile roster the Wizards have ever had, with multiple options at every position. This is the best chance the Wizards have had at a title run since 2028, full stop.
Rating: Blue/Purple
Sacramento Kings
Key Additions: Udoka Azubuike, James Kirkendall, Ronald Jordan, Micheal Essex
Key Losses: None
The Kings have had nowhere to go but up the past few seasons, but every time, they just...don't. This time may be a bit different thanks to the contraction draft selection of James Kirkendall and the longshot signing of Udoka Azubuike in Free Agency. Combined with guys like Bulter, Futrell, Eldred, Thomas, and late addition Micheal Essex, Sacramento boasts an absolutely punishing frontcourt that makes scoring inside an absolute nightmare for opposing teams. Unfortunately, the backcourt doesn't seem like it's ready to hold up their end of the equation. Yandell is pretty much the only player of note here, and he looks a long way from being ready. Jordan's even farther away. In a strage way, this team is actually quite similar to two of Kirkendall's old teams, the now-defunct Bobcats and Grizzlies. Both teams featured lopsided rosters stuffed with bigs and lean on wings, and neither really went anywhere.
Rating: Yellow/Green
San Antonio Spurs
Key Additions: Timo Cruz, Adrian Rodriguez
Key Losses: Modestine Degrimonpon, Shareef O'Neal
Look, don't sleep on this team. This was a 52-win team last season, and though yeah, Bower's declined, and sure, Mod and Shareef are gone, but BDJ is still here. Rodriguez could also be an underrated pickup (if he can even get minutes on the Spurs' crowded post rotation), and if there's one thing Timo can do, it's score. Most of their young talent has improved drastically as well. This is team primed for a wing trade, as that's the only way I can see them really making a big run. Until then, their sheer ability to score will keep them as a pesky threat that's going to be a tough out every night.
Rating: Green/Blue
Brooklyn Nets
Key Additions: William Caine, Rui Hachimura, Paul McWhite, Harvey Daniels
Key Losses: Joffery Baratheon, Chris Pallies
The Nets only lost two guys, but one of them just happened to be the one guy they probably can't compete without. Baratheon's still a quality point, and not having him means they absolutely need Gregory Haddock to have a breakout year. Their new additions are solid, but don't really do much beyond add more scorers and create logjams at certain positions. I'm not quite feeling this team to be honest, I can't really tell what direction they're heading in, or even what direction they should. That's a strange thing to say about a team coming off of a 50-win season, but I dunno.
Rating: Green/Green
Cleveland Cavaliers
Key Additions: Chris Pallies, Derick Hunter, Ronald Haile
Key Losses: Andrew Baldwin
The Cavs did nothing but improve this offseason, adding a legit post presence in Pallies and Hunter to their plethora of shooting guards. Combine that with Domingo McKoy, and you have a rather impressive squad who might have a shot at being a sleeper. Like Pallies' old team, the Nets, the Cavs' key to success lies in how well their PG, Stephen Keitt, performs. If he has anything left in the tank, now's the time to show it, because the Cavs have absolutely nothing behind him. Dodge might be able to pinch-hit, but like Ridley and Haile, he's quite unproven, and may not be ready for prime time yet. I really hope LHamilton gets energized about this season - there's definitely something here to work with.
Rating: Green/Green
Milwaukee Bucks
Key Additions: Joshua Schumann, Wiley Paris, Tony Ellis
Key Losses: Antonio Copeland
Well for a team that, by their GM's own admission, wasn't quite dialed in throughout the offseason, the Bucks are another team who's come out of the realignment with a new lease on life. It's hard to be mad about picking last in the contraction draft when you somehow grab one of the Grizz's best young talents anyway. The addition of Schumann completely changes the outlook of the season for Milwaukee, as if he can at least improve a little on his 15 ppg from last season, the Bucks will be that much closer to recreating that deadly one-two punch they had with Paugh and Fox, only now with two defensive menaces in Reddish and Howard to back them up. Kaldur'ahm's improvement is also welcome, as are the additions of Paris and Ellis to the tandem of Constantino and Diallo. De'Aaron Fox is in his prime, and doesn't need too much help to do some damage, but this team will go as far as Quail can take them - and he's proven that he can take a team pretty far. Will he feel like doing so though?
Rating: Blue/Purple
New York Knicks
Key Additions: AC Williams
Key Losses: A bench
The Knicks made one of the ballsiest moves of the offseason, the already-way-over-the-cap Knicks flipped the tax man the finger and took on the biggest contract in the contraction draft in AC Williams. This gives the Knicks an absolutely disgusting frontcourt tandem in Kowalczyk/Williams, with youngster Kevin Stephan backing them up. It's not nearly as good as the Kings' army of bigs, but the Knicks have one thing that the Kings don't - talent on the wings. Wright, Barton, Irvine, Rasberry. Same dudes as last time, but hopefully better results. As you would expect though, all this talent comes with a price. Stephan and whoever doesn't start out of Wright/Barton/Irvine will be the only bench players worth a damn. One injury is all it'll take for the Knicks' money train to be derailed. Honestly, the Knicks should just head on down to the local free agent pool and raid whatever's left. Once you're this deep in the tax, what's a few more millions? And really, this is it, this is the time. The Knicks have it all. The talent, the cohesion...they'd be doing themselves a disservice not to go for broke now. After all, they're going to be broke soon anyway...
Rating: Purple/Purple
Philadelphia 76ers
Key Additions: Tony Willson, James Wiseman, Felix Ireland, Daniel Harrison
Key Losses: Udoka Azibuike, Eldridge Candelaria
So whatever happens this season, the Sixers don't really care. Why? Because despite being projected to get the 7th pick, the Sixers ended up scoring the #1 pick and James Wiseman, who just might be the most interesting prospect since Giannis in terms of size + skill + obvious potential for total dominance right out of the gate. With Wiseman on board, the loss of Udoka in Free Agency doesn't really faze them, because they have a bright future to focus on instead. That's probably good, because this season looks like a wash. When a 33-year-old Tyler Ulis is by far your best listed (both Paugh and Willson are better suited for SG than SF) guard, you know you have depth problems. Even if they stick Ulis at PG and go for the Paugh/Willson wing combo, the roster is just too thin and ill-fitting to do much damage in such a rough division. Now is not the Sixers' time, but the future...now that'll be interesting.
Rating: Yellow/Blue
Orlando Magic
Key Additions: Richard Hunt, Jaren Jackson Jr., Ronald Jackson, Wyatt Battle, Ash Ketchum
Key Losses: EVERYONE (Except Bronny)
…well damn. After a Game 7 loss in one of the most thrilling Finals in league history, False9 went all Mad Stan on the Magic and blew 'em up, big-time. This is clearly a transition year unless Bronny flourishes in his role as a leader, and both Jaren and Ash come into their own as legit co-stars and not mere complimentary pieces. Novonty's produced when given the minutes in the past, but asking him to run an offense without the finishing ability of Boban and JJ is a lot to ask, even with a veteran like JR Johnson backing him up. I don't think the Magic are through making moves, but I don't think those moves will be made with an eye towards immediate contention. It'll probably take a season or two before we can get a solid idea on what direction the Magic are really looking to go in. Fitting that the last team on here is also the hardest to rate...
Rating: Yellow/Blue
...but enough of that nonsense, let's get to it. This is a preview of the Alpha Conference, but I'm going to do things a little differently. After a quick little bit about the team in question, I'm going to give them a grade based upon what I think their potential for this season is. The grade will be a color grade, because that's really all we look at anyway.
Atlanta Hawks
Key Additions: Erik Haynes, Carlton Glasser
Key Losses: Wig
Despite adding Erik Haynes to an already-solid group of guys, the Hawks have officially lost their longtime GM and are now under league control. This pretty much torpedoes any shot the Hawks had at competing. They probably could put together a quality regular season if they tried, but I'm expecting guys like Haynes, Bamba, and even Kuzma to be shipped out if a reasonable deal can be found. Do not be fooled by the roster, this team is headed down.
Rating: A 32-year-old Green/Blue
Denver Nuggets
Key Additions: Norris Turney
Key Losses: Erik Haynes
You pretty much know the story by now - this team will go as far as West will take them and Syndicate will let them. Adding 21-year-old Norris Turney from the now-defunct Celtics adds a new wrinkle to this squad, as there's now actual incentive for attempting to initiate a rebuild. I'm not really expecting them to unless the season starts off poorly, because there's actually a number of nice talent on this team surrounding West, Jackson, Turney, and Bagley. Another 63-win season may not be likely, but don't sleep on this team.
Rating: Blue/Blue
Indiana Pacers
Key Additions: Christopher Fortunado, Lino Brookins, Cameron Payne
Key Losses: Devin Booker, Michael Camby's talent
Last season's Jekyll-and-Hyde squad received an unexpected boost in the contraction draft when they picked up Christopher Fortunado from the now-gone Grizz. The pairing with Dragan Bender provides an answer to the question of how to get back to the Conference Final level form that they were at two seasons ago. Fortunado gives them the post scoring that they've lacked ever since Michael Williams left, and while you'd think that Booker's departure would be a loss, it does give Josh Hart more room to spread his wings. Still, I'm not too sure about this team. They've proven that they're as capable of shocking as they are of disappointing over the past few seasons.
Rating: Green/Green
LA Lakers
Key Additions: Wanderlei Silva, Ernie Acuna
Key Losses: Wyatt Battle, Michael Williams, Gary Loredo, Ronald Jackson, JR Johnson
While it looks like a lot of players esacaped from LA, it all becomes clear once you look at their two acquisitions. Former champions Ernia Acuna and Wanderlei Silva are now Lakers, and LA, at least for the moment, appears to be going all-in. For Acuna, this is a chance to break out on his own, as it's quite hard to make a name for yourself with Boban, Bronny, and Josh as your teammates. Wanderlei's already proven himself as a leader, but he's used to a bit more help than this. Aside from Sherrill, most of the other Lakers are guys waiting to have their breakout moment, and if they're to go anywhere this season, they kind of have to. Silva/Sherrill/Acuna should be able to carry them to playoff contention, but the next level may require something more.
Rating: Green/Blue
Washington Wizards
Key Additions: Shareef O'Neal, Aubrey Bynum, a good TC
Key Losses: Leroy Haugh
There's probably no team that, on paper, stands to benefit more from the one-two punch of the Magic's demise and the realignment than the Wizards. Ever since their bittersweet Finals run, the Wizards have established themselves as the perennial playoff bridesmaid, getting walloped by Boban and Co. twice despite impressive regular-season runs. Last season was a different story, as they fell to a familiar foe in the red-hot Raptors - who, as it turns out, did not make the move to the Alpha conference along with their former division rivals Milwaukee and DC. So with their two biggest obstacles now gone, the Wizards have to feel like they've been given a clean slate. They seemed to want to make the most of it during the offseason, trading away Haugh for depth in Bynum & DSJ, as well as gambling by sending two firsts to San Antonio for Shareef O'Neal. And after massive offseason improvements by Phillip Cuomo and Tony Cucone, the result is the most versatile roster the Wizards have ever had, with multiple options at every position. This is the best chance the Wizards have had at a title run since 2028, full stop.
Rating: Blue/Purple
Sacramento Kings
Key Additions: Udoka Azubuike, James Kirkendall, Ronald Jordan, Micheal Essex
Key Losses: None
The Kings have had nowhere to go but up the past few seasons, but every time, they just...don't. This time may be a bit different thanks to the contraction draft selection of James Kirkendall and the longshot signing of Udoka Azubuike in Free Agency. Combined with guys like Bulter, Futrell, Eldred, Thomas, and late addition Micheal Essex, Sacramento boasts an absolutely punishing frontcourt that makes scoring inside an absolute nightmare for opposing teams. Unfortunately, the backcourt doesn't seem like it's ready to hold up their end of the equation. Yandell is pretty much the only player of note here, and he looks a long way from being ready. Jordan's even farther away. In a strage way, this team is actually quite similar to two of Kirkendall's old teams, the now-defunct Bobcats and Grizzlies. Both teams featured lopsided rosters stuffed with bigs and lean on wings, and neither really went anywhere.
Rating: Yellow/Green
San Antonio Spurs
Key Additions: Timo Cruz, Adrian Rodriguez
Key Losses: Modestine Degrimonpon, Shareef O'Neal
Look, don't sleep on this team. This was a 52-win team last season, and though yeah, Bower's declined, and sure, Mod and Shareef are gone, but BDJ is still here. Rodriguez could also be an underrated pickup (if he can even get minutes on the Spurs' crowded post rotation), and if there's one thing Timo can do, it's score. Most of their young talent has improved drastically as well. This is team primed for a wing trade, as that's the only way I can see them really making a big run. Until then, their sheer ability to score will keep them as a pesky threat that's going to be a tough out every night.
Rating: Green/Blue
Brooklyn Nets
Key Additions: William Caine, Rui Hachimura, Paul McWhite, Harvey Daniels
Key Losses: Joffery Baratheon, Chris Pallies
The Nets only lost two guys, but one of them just happened to be the one guy they probably can't compete without. Baratheon's still a quality point, and not having him means they absolutely need Gregory Haddock to have a breakout year. Their new additions are solid, but don't really do much beyond add more scorers and create logjams at certain positions. I'm not quite feeling this team to be honest, I can't really tell what direction they're heading in, or even what direction they should. That's a strange thing to say about a team coming off of a 50-win season, but I dunno.
Rating: Green/Green
Cleveland Cavaliers
Key Additions: Chris Pallies, Derick Hunter, Ronald Haile
Key Losses: Andrew Baldwin
The Cavs did nothing but improve this offseason, adding a legit post presence in Pallies and Hunter to their plethora of shooting guards. Combine that with Domingo McKoy, and you have a rather impressive squad who might have a shot at being a sleeper. Like Pallies' old team, the Nets, the Cavs' key to success lies in how well their PG, Stephen Keitt, performs. If he has anything left in the tank, now's the time to show it, because the Cavs have absolutely nothing behind him. Dodge might be able to pinch-hit, but like Ridley and Haile, he's quite unproven, and may not be ready for prime time yet. I really hope LHamilton gets energized about this season - there's definitely something here to work with.
Rating: Green/Green
Milwaukee Bucks
Key Additions: Joshua Schumann, Wiley Paris, Tony Ellis
Key Losses: Antonio Copeland
Well for a team that, by their GM's own admission, wasn't quite dialed in throughout the offseason, the Bucks are another team who's come out of the realignment with a new lease on life. It's hard to be mad about picking last in the contraction draft when you somehow grab one of the Grizz's best young talents anyway. The addition of Schumann completely changes the outlook of the season for Milwaukee, as if he can at least improve a little on his 15 ppg from last season, the Bucks will be that much closer to recreating that deadly one-two punch they had with Paugh and Fox, only now with two defensive menaces in Reddish and Howard to back them up. Kaldur'ahm's improvement is also welcome, as are the additions of Paris and Ellis to the tandem of Constantino and Diallo. De'Aaron Fox is in his prime, and doesn't need too much help to do some damage, but this team will go as far as Quail can take them - and he's proven that he can take a team pretty far. Will he feel like doing so though?
Rating: Blue/Purple
New York Knicks
Key Additions: AC Williams
Key Losses: A bench
The Knicks made one of the ballsiest moves of the offseason, the already-way-over-the-cap Knicks flipped the tax man the finger and took on the biggest contract in the contraction draft in AC Williams. This gives the Knicks an absolutely disgusting frontcourt tandem in Kowalczyk/Williams, with youngster Kevin Stephan backing them up. It's not nearly as good as the Kings' army of bigs, but the Knicks have one thing that the Kings don't - talent on the wings. Wright, Barton, Irvine, Rasberry. Same dudes as last time, but hopefully better results. As you would expect though, all this talent comes with a price. Stephan and whoever doesn't start out of Wright/Barton/Irvine will be the only bench players worth a damn. One injury is all it'll take for the Knicks' money train to be derailed. Honestly, the Knicks should just head on down to the local free agent pool and raid whatever's left. Once you're this deep in the tax, what's a few more millions? And really, this is it, this is the time. The Knicks have it all. The talent, the cohesion...they'd be doing themselves a disservice not to go for broke now. After all, they're going to be broke soon anyway...
Rating: Purple/Purple
Philadelphia 76ers
Key Additions: Tony Willson, James Wiseman, Felix Ireland, Daniel Harrison
Key Losses: Udoka Azibuike, Eldridge Candelaria
So whatever happens this season, the Sixers don't really care. Why? Because despite being projected to get the 7th pick, the Sixers ended up scoring the #1 pick and James Wiseman, who just might be the most interesting prospect since Giannis in terms of size + skill + obvious potential for total dominance right out of the gate. With Wiseman on board, the loss of Udoka in Free Agency doesn't really faze them, because they have a bright future to focus on instead. That's probably good, because this season looks like a wash. When a 33-year-old Tyler Ulis is by far your best listed (both Paugh and Willson are better suited for SG than SF) guard, you know you have depth problems. Even if they stick Ulis at PG and go for the Paugh/Willson wing combo, the roster is just too thin and ill-fitting to do much damage in such a rough division. Now is not the Sixers' time, but the future...now that'll be interesting.
Rating: Yellow/Blue
Orlando Magic
Key Additions: Richard Hunt, Jaren Jackson Jr., Ronald Jackson, Wyatt Battle, Ash Ketchum
Key Losses: EVERYONE (Except Bronny)
…well damn. After a Game 7 loss in one of the most thrilling Finals in league history, False9 went all Mad Stan on the Magic and blew 'em up, big-time. This is clearly a transition year unless Bronny flourishes in his role as a leader, and both Jaren and Ash come into their own as legit co-stars and not mere complimentary pieces. Novonty's produced when given the minutes in the past, but asking him to run an offense without the finishing ability of Boban and JJ is a lot to ask, even with a veteran like JR Johnson backing him up. I don't think the Magic are through making moves, but I don't think those moves will be made with an eye towards immediate contention. It'll probably take a season or two before we can get a solid idea on what direction the Magic are really looking to go in. Fitting that the last team on here is also the hardest to rate...
Rating: Yellow/Blue