Blue = Possible trade / Free agency candidates

The Pacific

Los Angeles Lakers

Approx Cap Situation: $47,000,000

GM Points: 99

Record: +19

Picks: #26 #42 #59 #60

Key Players Returning:

·        Tyson Chandler $21,165,675

·        Andre Iguodala $7,000,000

·        George Hill $3,241,800

Nick Young, Aron Baynes, Mason Plumlee

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Henry Sims, James Johnson, Jordan Hill, Courtney Lee, Aaron Brooks, Gerald Green, Manu Ginobli, Jonathon Simmons

Restricted Free Agents:

Shane Larkin

Rumours:

Do the Lakers bring back their free agents, does Manu play on? Or will he take his Ginobli sausage and retire with his good buddy Tim Duncan. Targets:

Lakers should be using their cap space and exceptional record to target the big name free agents for season 2016/17. Only question remains who will be the big name free agents? A replacement for Manu and Mr Glitch Gerald Green may be first point of call

Overview

Having just won back to back NLL titles can the Lakers take this current team to a third championship?

The Lakers always seem to pull together a competitive team, with the put it all on the line approach.

A good record and what looks to be a truck load of cash available im sure they can attract some quality free agents, question however remains who are the available free agents and will they fit in. Regardless GM Greenmig will be competing again next year, question remains will it be with this version of the Lakers or will we see a shake up?

Possible Line-up

·         PG – George Hill

·         SG – Manu Ginobli

·         SF – Andre Iguodala

·         PF – Jordan Hill

·         C – Tyson Chandler

·         6^th Man – Gerald Green

 

Sacramento Kings

Approx Cap Situation $49,000,000

GM Points: 94

Record: +4

Picks: Nil

Key Players Returning:

·        Andrew Bogut $12,000,000

·        Klay Thompson $15,501,000

·        Kevin Love $19,689,000

Sasha Kaun

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Mike Conley, Raymond Felton, Tayshaun Prince, James Jones, Jeff Green

Restricted Free Agents:

Jordan Clarkson, Reggie Bullock, Jorge Gutierrez, Dwight Powell, Miles Plumlee, Christiano Felicio

Rumours:

Kings GM Klemmelo is rumoured to have a preference of Jordan Clarkson as the Kings starting point guard and was oh so very close to trading away Mike Conley last season.

As soon as trading opens expect to see name’s like Conley, Love and Bogut shopped around the league. Of course Mike still needs to be brought back for that to happen. Will the UFA of Mike Conley be a priority?

Targets:

GM Klemmelo would be hoping that Jeff Green and Mike Conley both return  for season 2016/17 if that happens I see him looking at a big name centre to back up or replace Andrew Bogut who as the years go on seems to miss more and more time. Don’t be surprised if GM Klemmelo looks to join in the drafting festivities

Overview:

Sac Town are in pretty good shape for Klems second NLL season, Conley, Clarkson, Klay, Love and Bogut is a formidable starting 5.

Who can he add to in the offseason to add another dimension? For me I hope Conley, Love and the rest of the Kings core are back for another dig.  Somehow I think there may be some moves made that puts a GM Klemmelo stamp on this team.

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Mike Conley

·         SG – Klay Thompson

·         SF – Jeff Green

·         PF – Kevin Love

·         C – Andrew Bogut

·         6^th Man – Jordan Clarkson

Phoenix Suns

Approx Cap Situation $45,000,000

GM Points: 36

Record: +2

Picks: Nil

Key Players Returning:

·        Kemba Walker $12,000,000

·        Monta Ellis $10,300,000

·        Omer Asik $9,213,483

Josh Smith, CJ Miles, Ed Davis

Unrestricted Free Agents:

JaVale McGee, Jason Terry, Joe Johnson

Restricted Free Agents:

Cliff Alexander, CJ Wilcox, TJ McConnell, Markel Brown, Jeff Withey

Rumours:

At the deadline last season Monta Ellis and Omer Asik were place on the teams trade block. Entering the off season does that thought process remain intact or will GM Pennywise start with a fresh mindset?

Targets:

GM Penny will have a ton of cap space to dispose of, and will likely look to add depth to the team in 2016/17, specifically at the point guard and power forward positions.

Overview:

Over the last few seasons Penny has developed a win now attitude but has yet to see the results neither he nor many others would have expected. While I don’t see that mentality changing for the next NLL season it may be time for a spring clean of the roster?

With a load of cap space can Phoenix add key pieces to what is an already formidable team? Or will we see an overhaul of the roster in a bid to get off the treadmill?

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Kemba Walker

·         SG – Monta Ellis

·         SF – Joe Johnson

·         PF – FA / Trade / Draft  

·         C – Omer Asik

·         6^th Man – CJ Miles

Golden State Warriors

Approx Cap Situation $33,000,000

GM Points: 53

Record: -16

Picks: #44 #45 #50

Key Players Returning:

·        Wilson Chandler $11,233,146

·        Marcus Smart $3,578,880

·        Kosta Koufos $8,046,500

Pat Connaughton, Larry Nance Jr., Steve Novak, Quincy Pondexter

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Louis Amundson, Greivis Vasquez, Steve Blake, Ian Clarke, Roy Hibbert

Restricted Free Agents:

Harrison Barnes, Mike Muscala, Johnny O’Bryant

Rumours:

GSW have two untouchables now in Marcus Smart and the soon to return Harrison Barnes and his expected 20+ Million dollar contract, Will Wilson Chandler be moved in an attempt to add some depth to the GSW roster?

Targets:

With Smart and Barnes already set for season 16/17, GM Mailo should be looking to surround them with as much talent as possible. Replacing the expected departures of Roy Hibbert and Greivis Vasquez should be priority number #2 and #3 (Barnes RFA is #1)

Overview:

Mailo had a brutally unlucky 2015/16 campaign with season crippling injuries to key personnel (Chandler, Vasquez and Pondexter) as they limped to a -16 record. Can Mailo get this team back on track for 2016/17? Im sure he can but it’ll take some much better luck than he experienced last season!

Possible Line-up

·         PG – FA / Trade / Draft

·         SG – Marcus Smart

·         SF – Harrison Barnes

·         PF – Wilson Chandler

·         C – Kosta Koufos

·         6^th Man – Draft / FA / Trade

Los Angeles Clippers

Approx Cap Situation $61,000,000

GM Points: 69

Record: -16

Picks: #18 #19 #30 #51 #54

Key Players Returning:

·        Alec Burks $9,213,484

·        Devin Booker $2,055,840

·        D’Angelo Russell $5,103,120

Clint Capela, DeMarre Carroll, Nikola Pekovic, Frank Kaminsky, Rodney Hood, Jerian Grant, Archie Goodwin, Boris Diaw, Tibor Pleiss

Unrestricted Free Agents:

PJ Tucker (PO)

Restricted Free Agents:

Briante Weber, Festus Ezeli

Rumours:

Clippers will be active as usual as they attempt to trade away excess players that don’t fit the team. Boris Diaw and Nikola Pekovic are being shopped heavily with sources saying LAC could simply dump their salary for minimal cash. Is DeMarre being moved? Who are the Clippers drafting? Are the Clippers drafting?

Targets:

Clippers will trade away their fringe starters and attempt to clear some cap space and make a play in free agency, positions of need? Everything! With a horrible record and limited roster spots it may be a little too difficult! In an ideal world LAC add a Power Forward to replace Frank Kaminsky in the starting line-up.

Overview:

LAC expected to be a little better than what they were in 2015/16 thus traded away two lottery picks waaaaaay too early on in the year. If Nikola, Alec, DeMarre can play a full season If the young guys can improve their may be some forward movement! Way too many If’s, to make this team relevant right now.

Possible Line-up

·         PG – D’angelo Russell

·         SG – Alec Burks

·         SF – Rodney Hood

·         PF – FA / Draft / Trade

·         C – Clint Capela

·         6^th Man – Devin Booker

Ladder Predictor 2017

If the Kings can keep his starting 5 together its in my opinion a Sacramento divisional title in 2017, the Lakers found the 2k14 sweet spot and won back to back titles will GM Greenmig have the resources to hit that mark in a new engine? Phoenix and the Warriors are smokies in the Pacific both have uber talented rosters that can surprise anyone. Forget the Clippers this year to inconsistent to get out of the basement any time soon

1.      Sacramento Kings

2.      Los Angeles Lakers

3.      Phoenix Suns

4.      Golden State Warriors

5.      Los Angeles Clippers