NBA 2016/17 Season Preview

COACH: Mike Budenholzer

LAST SEASON: 48-34, lost in conference semifinals

KEY INS: Dwight Howard (HOU), Jarrett Jack (BKN), DeAndre Bembry (R), Taurean Prince (R)

KEY OUTS: Al Horford (BOS), Jeff Teague (IND), Kirk Hinrich (FA)

STRENGTHS: Defensive cohesion should remain intact after all the offseason turnover.

WEAKNESSES: Offensive rating was a pedestrian 103.0 in 15/16 and is unlikely to improve.

VERDICT: They’re well-coached and always play as a team, but their brief window looks shut.

BOSTON CELTICS

COACH: Brad Stevens

LAST SEASON: 48-34, lost in first round

KEY INS: Al Horford (ATL), Jaylen Brown (R), Gerald Green (MIA), Demetrius Jackson (R)

KEY OUTS: Jared Sullinger (TOR), Evan Turner (POR)

STRENGTHS: Defence should rank near the very top of the league.

WEAKNESSES: Lack of offensive punch, especially outside shooting, could be a concern in playoffs.

VERDICT: Appear to be the second-best team in the East, but Cavs will stand in the way.

BROOKLYN NETS

COACH: Kenny Atkinson

LAST SEASON: 21-61

KEY INS: Jeremy Lin (CHA), Chase Budinger (PHX), Randy Foye (OKC), Greivis Vasquez (MIL), Luis Scola (TOR), Caris LeVert (R)

KEY OUTS: Jarrett Jack (ATL), Thaddeus Young (IND), Wayne Ellington (MIA)

STRENGTHS: Few and far between but low-post scoring through Lopez is at the top of the list.

WEAKNESSES: They’re just devoid of quality and how the pieces fit is very much in the air.

VERDICT: It’s possible they finish with the worst record.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

COACH: Steve Clifford

LAST SEASON: 48-34, lost in first round

KEY INS: Marco Belinelli (SAC), Roy Hibbert (LAL), Ramon Sessions (WAS)

KEY OUTS: Al Jefferson (IND), Courtney Lee (NYK), Jeremy Lin (BKN), Troy Daniels (MEM)

STRENGTHS: They don’t beat themselves and do the little things like avoid turnovers and rebound.

WEAKNESSES: Lost players who could create baskets on their own, leaving a void on offence.

VERDICT: Their solidness takes them far, but not far enough as another early playoff exit beckons.

CHICAGO BULLS

COACH: Fred Hoiberg

LAST SEASON: 42-40

KEY INS: Dwyane Wade (MIA), Rajon Rondo (SAC), Denzel Valentine (R), Michael Carter Williams (MIL), Robin Lopez (NYK)

KEY OUTS: Pau Gasol (SAS), Joakim Noah (NYK), Derrick Rose (NYK), Aaron Brooks (IND), Tony Snell (MIL), Mike Dunleavy (CLE)

STRENGTHS: Boast a new, talented backcourt.

WEAKNESSES: Zero perimeter shooting.

VERDICT: A return to the playoffs is the target, which means they’re going to be in for a disappointment.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

COACH: Tyronn Lue

LAST SEASON: 57-25, won Finals

KEY INS: Mike Dunleavy (CHI), Chris Andersen (MIL), Kay Felder (R)

KEY OUTS: Matthew Dellavedova (MIL), Timofey Mozgov (LAL), Mo Williams (retired)

STRENGTHS: Offensive firepower is overflowing with the LeBron/Irving duo a near unstoppable one.

WEAKNESSES: Lack of rim protection.

VERDICT: It’s never smart to bet against LeBron and he loves a challenge, but Golden State have stacked the odds even more heavily against him.

DALLAS MAVERICKS

COACH: Rick Carlisle

LAST SEASON: 42-40, lost in first round

KEY INS: Harrison Barnes (GSW), Andrew Bogut (GSW), Quincy Acy (SAC), Seth Curry (SAC)

KEY OUTS: Raymond Felton (LAC), David Lee (SAS), Zaza Pachulia (GSW), Chandler Parsons (MEM)

STRENGTHS: They’re always competent offensively under Carlisle, regardless of player turnover.

WEAKNESSES: Long in the tooth with aging veterans.

VERDICT: They’ll be in for more of the same as the roster is good enough for a low playoff seed, but nothing more.

DENVER NUGGETS

COACH: Mike Malone

LAST SEASON: 33-49

KEY INS: Jamal Murray (R), Juan Hernangomez (R), Malik Beasley (R)

KEY OUTS: D.J. Augustin (ORL), Joffrey Lauvergne (OKC)

STRENGTHS: Have an abundance of young, athletic and fast players.

WEAKNESSES: Struggled to defend last year, especially against perimeter shooting.

VERDICT: Playoffs are in reach, but the main focus will be continuing to develop youth.

DETROIT PISTONS

COACH: Stan Van Gundy

LAST SEASON: 44-38, lost in first round

KEY INS: Jon Leuer (PHX), Boban Marjanovic (SAS), Ish Smith (PHI), Henry Ellenson (R)

KEY OUTS: Jodie Meeks (ORL), Anthony Tolliver (SAC)

STRENGTHS: A beast of a rebounding team, thanks to dominant rebounder Drummond.

WEAKNESSES: Still don’t have enough outside shooting for Van Gundy’s liking.

VERDICT: For now, they’re stuck as a borderline playoff team in need of improvement from young players.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

COACH: Steve Kerr

LAST SEASON: 73-9, lost in Finals

KEY INS: Kevin Durant (OKC), Zaza Pachulia (DAL), David West (SAS), Patrick McCaw (R)

KEY OUTS: Harrison Barnes (DAL), Andrew Bogut (DAL), Leandro Barbosa (PHX), Festus Ezeli (POR), Marreese Speights (LAC)

STRENGTHS: Star power is off the charts and they have arguably one of the best offence in history.

WEAKNESSES: Depth could become an issue.

VERDICT: They’re overwhelming favourites to win it all and even LeBron will have a hard time stopping it.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

COACH: Mike D’Antoni

LAST SEASON: 41-41, lost in first round

KEY INS: Ryan Anderson (NOP), Eric Gordon (NOP), Nene (WAS), Tyler Ennis (MIL)

KEY OUTS: Dwight Howard (ATL), Terrence Jones (NOP), Jason Terry (MIL), Josh Smith (FA), Michael Beasley (MIL)

STRENGTHS: An already-potent offence will get juiced up with even more pace under D’Antoni.

WEAKNESSES: Will allow nearly as many points as they score.

VERDICT: Too unbalanced to truly contend.

INDIANA PACERS

COACH: Nate McMillan

LAST SEASON: 45-37, lost in first round

KEY INS: Jeff Teague (ATL), Thaddeus Young (BKN), Al Jefferson (CHA), Aaron Brooks (CHI), Kevin Seraphin (NYK), Georges Niang (R)

KEY OUTS: George Hill (UTA), Jordan Hill (MIN), Ty Lawson (SAC), Ian Mahinmi (WAS)

STRENGTHS: Improved depth and veteran presence.

WEAKNESSES: Their top-three ranked defensive rating is likely to take a step backwards.

VERDICT: Should be a well-balanced playoff team, but they’re still not at the top of the East’s pecking order.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

COACH: Doc Rivers

LAST SEASON: 53-29, lost in first round

KEY INS: Alan Anderson (WAS), Brandon Bass (LAL), Raymond Felton (DAL), Marreese Speights (GSW), Diamond Stone (R)

KEY OUTS: Jeff Green (ORL), Cole Aldrich (MIN)

STRENGTHS: One of the league’s best foursomes.

WEAKNESSES: Another year, another season in which they’ll be lacking at small forward and on the wing.

VERDICT: Could be the biggest challengers to the Warriors in the West, but ultimately don’t have enough.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

COACH: Luke Walton

LAST SEASON: 17-65

KEY INS: Jose Calderon (NYK), Luol Deng (MIA), Timofey Mozgov (CLE), Brandon Ingram (R), Ivica Zubac (R)

KEY OUTS: Brandon Bass (LAC), Kobe Bryant (retired), Roy Hibbert (CHA)

STRENGTHS: A young, dynamic backcourt of Russell and Jordan Clarkson will anchor a fun offence.

WEAKNESSES: Had the worst defensive rating (109.3) last year and that won’t get better any time soon.

VERDICT: Not close to returning to the playoffs yet.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

COACH: David Fizdale

LAST SEASON: 42-40, lost in first round

KEY INS: Troy Daniels (CHA), Chandler Parsons (HOU), Deyonta Davis (R), Wade Baldwin (R), Andrew Harrison (R)

KEY OUTS: P.J. Hairston (HOU), Lance Stephenson (NOP), Chris Andersen (CLE), Matt Barnes (SAC)

STRENGTHS: Continuity and the ‘Grit ‘N Grind’ style that can wear down opposing teams.

WEAKNESSES: Relying on aging, often-injured veterans and shooting remains a question mark.

VERDICT: If healthy, the playoffs are a certainty.

MIAMI HEAT

COACH: Erik Spoelstra

LAST SEASON: 48-34, lost in conf. semifinals

KEY INS: Dion Waiters (OKC), Luke Babbitt (NOP), Wayne Ellington (BKN), James Johnson (TOR)

KEY OUTS: Dwyane Wade (CHI), Luol Deng (LAL), Gerald Green (BOS), Joe Johnson (UTA), Chris Bosh (health)

STRENGTHS: Have the athleticism for a stout defence.

WEAKNESSES: A lot of experience left in the summer and the onus will be on the younger guys.

VERDICT: It’s a new era and even though another title isn’t coming soon, this can be a fresh start.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

COACH: Jason Kidd

LAST SEASON: 33-49

KEY INS: Matthew Dellavedova (CLE), Tony Snell (CHI), Mirza Teletovic (PHX), Michael Beasley (HOU), Jason Terry (HOU), Thon Maker (R)

KEY OUTS: Jerryd Bayless (PHI), Michael Carter-Williams (CHI), Greivis Vasquez (BKN), Tyler Ennis (HOU)

STRENGTHS: Size and versatility should unlock their defensive potential.

WEAKNESSES: Spacing and shooting.

VERDICT: They’re a fun, but a still-developing team.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

COACH: Tom Thibodeau

LAST SEASON: 29-53

KEY INS: Cole Aldrich (LAC), Jordan Hill (IND), Kris Dunn (R)

KEY OUTS: Kevin Garnett (retired)

STRENGTHS: Brimming with young, athletic talent that is quickly getting better.

WEAKNESSES: Not much shooting to create spacing and unclog the paint.

VERDICT: They’re a fashionable dark horse to reach the playoffs, but that could be an unreasonable expectation, even as they continue to improve.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

COACH: Alvin Gentry

LAST SEASON: 30-52

KEY INS: Lance Stephenson (MEM), Terrence Jones (HOU), Langston Galloway (NYK), Buddy Hield (R), Cheick Diallo (R)

KEY OUTS: Ryan Anderson (HOU), Luke Babbitt (MIA), Eric Gordon (HOU)

STRENGTHS: Size in the frontcourt, led by Davis.

WEAKNESSES: Lost a lot of shooting and will be hard-pressed to replace it.

VERDICT: Everything starts and ends with Davis, who should be better than last year’s disaster.

NEW YORK KNICKS

COACH: Jeff Hornacek

LAST SEASON: 32-50

KEY INS: Brandon Jennings (MIL), Courtney Lee (CHA), Joakim Noah (CHI), Derrick Rose (CHI)

KEY OUTS: Arron Afflalo (SAC), Jose Calderon (LAL), Robin Lopez (CHI), Kevin Seraphin (IND)

STRENGTHS: A veteran-laden squad with plenty of experience and accomplishments under their belt.

WEAKNESSES: Their age can also be their downfall as they’re a team that would look much better if it was 2011.

VERDICT: It would be a disaster if they can’t reach the playoffs, but their ceiling is ultimately capped.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

COACH: Billy Donovan

LAST SEASON: 55-27, lost in conf. finals

KEY INS: Victor Oladipo (ORL), Ersan Ilyasova (ORL), Joffrey Lauvergne (DEN), Domantas Sabonis (R)

KEY OUTS: Kevin Durant (GSW), Randy Foye (BKN), Serge Ibaka (ORL), Dion Waiters (MIA)

STRENGTHS: Length, athleticism and rebounding.

WEAKNESSES: Loss of Durant leaves a big hole on the wing, which was already lacking depth.

VERDICT: As hard as Westbrook will try, their ceiling is no higher than a playoff team that can win a series.

ORLANDO MAGIC

COACH: Frank Vogel

LAST SEASON: 35-47

KEY INS: D.J. Augustin (DEN), Bismack Biyombo (TOR), Jeff Green (LAC), Serge Ibaka (OKC), Jodie Meeks (DET)

KEY OUTS: Brandon Jennings (NYK), Victor Oladipo (OKC), Ersan Ilyasova (OKC)

STRENGTHS: Front-court depth and an improved defence, only boosted by Vogel’s arrival.

WEAKNESSES: They’re going to struggle to score and space the floor consistently.

VERDICT: Pressure to get back to the playoffs but will need a lot to go right for that to happen.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

COACH: Brett Brown

LAST SEASON: 10-72

KEY INS: Joel Embiid (injury), Jerryd Bayless (MIL), Gerald Henderson (POR), Ben Simmons (R), Dario Saric (R), Timothe Luwawu (R)

KEY OUTS: Ish Smith (DET)

STRENGTHS: Loaded with talented, young big men (inc. Simmons) who bring different things to the table.

WEAKNESSES: How will all these front-court players be able to share the floor without compromising all spacing?

VERDICT: They’ll be exciting and have a chance to take a step forward and out of the league’s basement.

PHOENIX SUNS

COACH: Earl Watson

LAST SEASON: 23-59

KEY INS: Leandro Barbosa (GSW), Jared Dudley (WAS), Dragan Bender (R), Marquese Chriss (R)

KEY OUTS: Chase Budinger (BKN), Jon Leuer (DET), Mirza Teletovic (MIL)

STRENGTHS: Have quality young players in the backcourt, including Devin Booker who should break out.

WEAKNESSES: Don’t have much to work with at small forward, with their roster trending either small or big.

VERDICT: Are loaded with youth, but they still don’t have a star so development is the biggest key right.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

COACH: Terry Stotts

LAST SEASON: 44-38, lost in Conf. semi-finals

KEY INS: Evan Turner (BOS), Festus Ezeli (GSW)

KEY OUTS: Gerald Henderson (PHI)

STRENGTHS: Lillard and C.J. McCollum form a devastating backcourt that can rain down 3-pointers.

WEAKNESSES: Ranked 21st (105.6) in defensive rating last season and Lillard and McCollum are turnstiles on that end.

VERDICT: They know who they are and while it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them take a step back, it won’t be out of the playoff picture.

SACRAMENTO KINGS

COACH: David Joerger

LAST SEASON: 33-49

KEY INS: Arron Afflalo (NYK), Matt Barnes (MEM), Ty Lawson (IND), Anthony Tolliver (DET), Skal Labissiere (R)

KEY OUTS: Rajon Rondo (CHI), Marco Belinelli (CHA), Seth Curry (DAL)

STRENGTHS: Roster trends on the bigger side and Cousins anchors a good group of big men.

WEAKNESSES: Have been appalling defensively.

VERDICT: There are a lot of moving parts here and a situation that can very quickly turn toxic.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

COACH: Gregg Popovich

LAST SEASON: 67-15, lost in Conf. semi-finals

KEY INS: Pau Gasol (CHI), David Lee (DAL), Dewayne Dedmon (ORL), Dejounte Murray (R)

KEY OUTS: Boris Diaw (UTA), Tim Duncan (retired), Boban Marjanovic (DET), David West (GSW)

STRENGTHS: Had a historically-good defence lastyear and it should once again be one of the very best

WEAKNESSES: Even with Duncan gone, age remains an issue for Gasol, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

VERDICT: They’re a lock for 55-60 wins and one of the top seeds in the West, but remain behind Golden State.

TORONTO RAPTORS

COACH: Dwane Casey

LAST SEASON: 56-26, lost in Conf. finals

KEY INS: Jared Sullinger (BOS), Jakob Poeltl (R)

KEY OUTS: Bismack Biyombo (ORL), James Johnson (MIA), Luis Scola (BKN)

STRENGTHS: An efficient offence that’s built around two free-throw hoarders in Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.

WEAKNESSES: Their overall depth took a hit with the losses of reliable veteran big men in the offseason.

VERDICT: Could very well finish second in the East again, but they’ve yet to find the same success in the playoffs and that should only continue.

UTAH JAZZ

COACH: Quin Snyder

LAST SEASON: 40-42

KEY INS: Boris Diaw (SAS), George Hill (IND), Joe Johnson (MIA), Joel Bolomboy (R)

KEY OUTS: Trevor Booker (BKN), Trey Burke (WAS)

STRENGTHS: Will have one of the best defences that can suffocate opponents.

WEAKNESSES: They haven’t shown they can score consistently with their best players on the floor.

VERDICT: Hayward’s early injury will hurt 50-win hopes, but they should take another step forward.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

COACH: Scott Brooks

LAST SEASON: 41-41

KEY INS: Trey Burke (UTA), Ian Mahinmi (IND), Andrew Nicholson (ORL), Tomas Satoransky (R)

KEY OUTS: Alan Anderson (LAC), Jared Dudley (PHX), Nene (HOU), Ramon Sessions (CHA)

STRENGTHS: Boast one of the league’s best guard duos when Bradley Beal can stay on the court.

WEAKNESSES: Struggled to rebound last year while opposing teams shot fairly high percentages against them.

VERDICT: They’re a bit of an enigma as they could either be a lot better or miss the playoffs again.