Blue = Possible trade / Free agency candidates

Southeast

Miami Heat

Approx Cap Situation: $32,000,000

GM Points: 45

Record: +7

Picks: Nil

Key Players Returning:

·        Rudy Gay $ 13,333,333

·        JR Smith $ 5,000,000

·        Kyle Korver $ 5,239,527

Jose Calderon

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Jonas Jerebko, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Richard Jefferson, Randy Foye, Rajon Rondo, Al Jefferson, Tim Duncan, David West, Caron Butler

Restricted Free Agents:

Langston Galloway, Alan Williams

Rumours:

Rajon Rondo was Miami’s key signing in the past off season, will GM proid go down the same route and make him the teams priority for season 2016/17.? Is Timmy finally calling it quits, will Al Jeff look to move on? Can Miami do it again and scrape together another contender?

Targets:

If Rajon is retained Al Jefferson maybe lost, GM Proid is hoping Tim Duncan staves off retirement for another season. This leaves only one hole at starting Centre. Will GM Proid have enough GM and a winning enough record to fight off some potentially bigger free agency players? Either way I expect the Heat to make some moves this off season

Overview:

Each season I think to myself Miami may have a tough time next year and each year they manage to scrape together a powerhouse team of veteran ballers. With no 2016 1^st or 2017 1^st and limited GM Miami’s assets are getting a little thin, can GM Proid scrape together another contender? I can’t doubt him because he keeps putting out a worthy team full of geriat…, I mean solid veterans.

Possible Line-up

·         PG - Rajon Rondo

·         SG - Kyle Korver

·         SF - Rudy Gay

·         PF - Tim Duncan

·         C - FA?

·         6^th Man – JR Smith

 

Orlando Magic

Approx Cap Situation $45,000,000

GM Points: 53

Record: +1

Picks: #8

Key Players Returning:

·        Brook Lopez $ 21,165,765

·        Cody Zeller $ 5,318,313

·        Anderson Varejao $ 9,700,000

Tyler Ennis, Kendall Marshall, KJ McDaniels, Tim Frasier

Unrestricted Free Agents:

DeMar DeRozan, Nicolas Batum, Etwaun Moore, Tony Douglas, Charlie Villanueva, Amir Johnson

Restricted Free Agents:

Axel Toupane, Jerami Grant

Rumours:

GM Laddas is right now on bended knee praying to the NLL gods that both DeMar DeRozan and Nicolas Batum stay with their respective teams and come back for an Orlando revival season in what could be considered a relatively open division in the east. Not afraid of turning the roster over I wouldn’t be surprised to see an entirely new line-up next season

Targets:

DeMar DeRozan is the target without doubt, the multiple time player of the month award winner is the heart of the Magic engine. And will be retained at all costs. The other off season target will undoubtedly be a point guard and a quality 6^th man, im sure Laddas will get something done via trade to bring in the right pieces

Overview:

So much revolves around DeMar and Nic returning to the Magic and while I believe they will. Can GM Laddas surround them with players that will deliver a playoff berth? I bought some Magic stock last year and im going to hold onto it. Add a #8 pick into the mix and im sure GM Laddas will be adding notches to the W column at a rapid rate

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Trade / FA / Draft

·         SG – DeMar DeRozan

·         SF – Nic Batum

·         PF – Cody Zeller

·         C – Brook Lopez

·         6^th Man – Trade / FA / Draft

 

Atlanta Hawks

Approx Cap Situation $ 55,000,000

GM Points: 65

Record: Even

Picks: #7, #25

Key Players Returning:

·        Chris Paul $ 22,868,828

·        Greg Monroe $ 17,145,838

·        Justice Winslow $ 2,593,440

Patrick Mills, Alexis Ajinca, Lucas Nogueira, Justin Holiday

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Trevor Booker, Ronnie Price, Jon Leuer, OJ Mayo, Dwyane Wade

Restricted Free Agents:

Donatas Motiejunas

Rumours:

With Dwyane all but assured to return for what may be his final contract and a #7 draft pick, the Hawks look to be in a pretty good spot albeit would greatly benefit by adding a power forward to plug into the line-up. Dragan Bender, perhaps? Recent news that Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade are available for younger pieces could create waves in the south east

Targets:

Without doubt the key to unlocking the Atlanta beast is a starting centre and a quality bench scorer to cover a potential loss of OJ Mayo. With Dragan Bender and Jakob Poeltl high on some draft boards they could be interesting additions to an already dangerous team. Pending the RFA of Donatas and his salary will play a major factor into the Hawks free agency activity..

Overview:

GM Nick has the hawks in a pretty good place at the moment, with Dwyane and Donatas set to return can the Hawks to make some noise in free agency. And make a charge up the ladder in 2017.

While Nick undoubtedly enjoyed his return to the NLL, this off season is where he can put his own mark on the team. And mould the Atlanta franchise into something he can call his own, does that mean trading away some stars? Maybe? Stay tuned!!

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Chris Paul

·         SG – Dwyane Wade

·         SF – Justice Winslow

·         PF – Greg Monroe

·         C – FA / Trade / Draft

·         6^th Man – OJ Mayo

 

Charlotte Hornets

Approx Cap Situation $36,000,000

GM Points: 51

Record: -7

Picks: #2, #3, #10, #11, #40, #48, #49, #50

Key Players Returning:

·        Kristaps Porzingis $ 4,317,720

·        Iman Shumpert $ 9,622,921

·        Myles Turner $ 2,463,840

Mario Hezonja, Gary Harris, Elfrid Payton, Kris Humphries, Carl Landry, Christian Wood

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Brandon Bass, Nene

Restricted Free Agents:

Aaron Harrison, Xavier Munford, Willie Reed, Sergey Karasev

Rumours:

Not quite done with rebuilding yet look for the Hornets to trade as a priority Kris Humphries and Carl Landry. With 4 2016 lottery picks at their disposal including the #2 and #3 picks. A strong rumor doing the rounds is Digeze may be looking to trade 1 possible 2 picks out of the draft?

Targets:

The rebuild continues, Charlotte will be targeting young talent to add to an already young talented team, sitting well under minimum the Hornets will be after some serious cash simply due to the fact they’ll be approx 40 million under the salary cap. Assets galore that shouldn’t be an issue

Overview:

The future that Charlotte has in a wide open southeast division is amazing and why stop there? Add #2 & #3 from this draft along with the #10 & #11 picks to what is already an emerging core, and this team will be a nightmare proposition. Only downside right now is cash money, not too much either! Not enough! Anyone need some money the Hornets have plenty!

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Elfrid Payton

·         SG – Gary Harris

·         SF – Brandon Ingram / Ben Simmons

·         PF – Kristaps Porzingis

·         C – Myles Turner

·         6^th Man – Iman Shumpert

 

Washington Wizards

Approx Cap Situation $63,000,000

GM Points: 72

Record: -11

Picks: Nil

Key Players Returning:

·        Carmelo Anthony $ 22,875,000

·        Mark Gasol $ 19,689,000

·        Marcus Morris $ 5,000,000

Trey Burke, Spencer Hawes, Jameer Nelson, Nick Collison

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Alan Anderson, Drew Gooden, James Anderson, Kevin Martin, Matthew Dellavedova, Chris Anderson

Restricted Free Agents:

Devyn Marble, Cleanthony Early

Rumours:

GM Darko will likely try and move Nick Collison and Spencer Hawes prior to season 16/17 kick off. Who will be the free agency target will the wizards put all their dough back into Kevin Martin he tries to bolt looking for greener pastures. Is GM Darko is trying to acquire a 2016 lottery pick?

Targets:

Quality depth and more importantly players that will pass the ball to Carmelo Anthony is a good start, Trey Burke you are not that man. GM Darko needs to make Kmart and Delly #1 and #2 priorities this off season. Signing quality replacements will be a tougher proposition. A pass first PG and a tough rebounding PF will do wonders.

Overview:

Reading this roster from top to bottom it starts off with a bang Melo and Gasol are great can Darko add players around that will compliment them? GM Darko’s best bet will be bringing back Kevin Martin and Delly and add to his team through the draft or FA. Anyone with Carmelo and Mark Gasol leading the charge will be a tough matchup right now it’s just about adding the right players around them. (Are the Morri, in goal yet?)

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Mathew Dellavadova

·         SG – Kevin Martin

·         SF – Carmelo Anthony

·         PF – FA / Trade / Draft

·         C – Marc Gasol

·         6^th Man – Trey Burke

 

Ladder Predictor 2017

This division is really hard to predict, really hard!! So many if’s to take into account. Will Orlando retain Batum and DeRozan? Will Atlanta Trade away their superstar back court? Can Miami scrape together a contender? Can Charlottes team of teenage phenom’s gel? Are Carmelo and Gasol going to carry the wizards onto great things?

1.      Orlando Magic

2.      Atlanta Hawks

3.      Miami Heat

4.      Charlotte Hornets

5.      Washington Wizards