Blue = Possible trade / Free agency candidates

The Southwest

Dallas Mavericks

Approx Cap Situation: $85,000,000

GM Points: 75

Record: +15

Picks: #26 #42 #59 #60

Key Players Returning:

·        DeAndre Jordan $21,165,675

·        Lou Williams $7,000,000

·        Emanuel Mudiay $3,241,800

Kelly Olynyk, Mike Dunleavy, Danny Green, Shabazz Muhammad, Nikola Mirotic, Doug McDermott, Jrue Holiday, RJ Hunter, Thaddeus Young

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Dirk Nowitzki, Ray McCallum, Joel Anthony

Restricted Free Agents:

Nil

Rumours:

Coming off a series loss to the Denver Nuggets, Smokey may look to shake thing up a bit in an attempt to add a new dimension to this very deep team. Is Jrue’s future in Dallas coming to an end?

Targets:

With Dirk expected to return the Mavs don’t look like they’ll be playing in FA this year, I’d expect they may use 4 draft picks and Jrue Holliday to snare a starting calibre shooting guard and back court running mate for the teams PG of the future Emmanuel Mudiay.

Overview:

This team is really talented but do they have that “Star” player to propel them to the next level? Mudiay, could be that man? Im positive GM Smokey is hoping that’s the case. Regardless one more season out of dirk and a trade or two and this team will be a leading light out west.

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Emmanuel Mudiay

·         SG – Trade / FA / Draft

·         SF – Thaddeus Young

·         PF – Dirk Nowitzki

·         C – DeAndre Jordan

·         6^th Man – Lou Williams

 

San Antonio Spurs

Approx Cap Situation $63,000,000

GM Points: 99

Record: +6

Picks: #42 #54

Key Players Returning:

·        Anthony Davis $20,956,974

·        Reggie Jackson $13,913,044

·        Joel Embiid $4,626,960

Bismack Biyombo, Will Barton, Stanley Johnson, Patrick Beverley, Brandon Wright, Trey Lyles

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Marvin Williams, Gerald Henderson

Restricted Free Agents:

Maurice Harkless, James Ennis, Alan Crabbe

Rumours:

Leeroy started 2016 with a winning mindset a few tough weeks brought about a slight retool to his team. What happened? He started winning games and at some point looked like a genuine contender. Has that thought process stuck in his mind, will we see more moves?

Targets:

With Mo Harkless and Alan Crabbe expected to return, the Cap in San Antonio may be a little tight, #1 target for this up and coming powerhouse is a quality power forward to plug in when Anthony Davis inevitably sits games. And a upgrade at shooting guard would also go a long way to solving the Spurs puzzle.

Overview:

Davis, Embiid, Jackson, Johnson there is nothing to dislike about those 4 quality young players. If Joel can get 100% and Anthony Davis takes some harden-up look out! This team has amazing potential. Points in the paint for opponents will dry up faster than a nuns………….well you know.

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Reggie Jackson

·         SG – Draft / FA / Trade

·         SF – Stanley Johnson

·         PF – Anthony Davis

·         C – Bismack Biyombo

·         6^th Man – Will Barton

Houston Rockets

Approx Cap Situation $45,000,000

GM Points: 92

Record: +6

Picks: #55

Key Players Returning:

·        Gordon Hayward $16,073,140

·        Enes Kanter $17,145,838

·        Isaiah Thomas $6,587,132

Shabazz Napier, Paul Pierce

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Hassan Whiteside, Aaron Afflalo, Brandon Jennings, Ian Mahinmi, Mirza Teletovic, Leandro Barbosa, Ryan Kelly, Wayne Ellington, Luke Babbitt

Restricted Free Agents:

Nil

Rumours:

Hassan Whiteside by all reports; was being shopped around at the deadline last season, will Hassan be a Houston Rockets sign and trade candidate? Or will he be the cornerstone of the Houston D for years to come? I have an inkling Hassan’s days in Houston may be coming to an end via trade

Targets:

GM Spudspace has no less than 10 players looking at free agency departures surely the target here would be to keep 4 or 5 of the top guys and fill out the team through FA with exemptions and trades.

Overview:

Like others, a lot revolves around the return of at least three of the rockets potential free agent candidates, if Spud can entice their return he has a very solid contender to start up the 2016/17 campaign, with Dallas and the uber talented Spurs ready to unleash Spud is going to need all hands on deck to stay in the Southwest race.

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Isaiah Thomas

·         SG – Aaron Afflalo 

·         SF – Gordon Hayward

·         PF – Enes Kanter

·         C – Hassan Whiteside

·         6^th Man – Brandon Jennings

New Orleans Pelicans

Approx Cap Situation $42,000,000

GM Points: 54

Record: -20

Picks: #15 #17

Key Players Returning:

·        Brandon Knight $12,606,205

·        Markieff Morris $7,400,000

·        Jahlil Okafor $4,788,540

Marco Belinelli, Nemanja Bjelica, Darren Collison, Anthony Brown

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Chandler Parsons, Norris Cole, Nazr Mohammed, John Jenkins

Restricted Free Agents:

TJ Warren, Jared Sullinger, James McAdoo

Rumours:

2016 was a tough year for GM BM, drafting Jahlil Okafor signing Chandler Parsons everything was looking rosy!! And that’s where the highlights finished, what is on the Horizon for this team it’s hard to know. Will they be putting all their eggs into the Chandler Parsons basket or start fresh? My money is on Parsons returning and a much improved NOLA team

Targets:

1 big brutal rebounder can change the direction of this team in my opinion, go get him BM, don’t expect Chandler Parsons to be a free agent participant after the NOLA loaded up 99points into him last season.

Overview:

This is a brutal division to be in, with a resurgent western conference, at this stage it’s going to be tough to see forward movement until after the draft and free agency pans out; pieces are definitely in place for it to happen though. Chandler Parsons, Brandon Knight, Jahlil Okafor, Markieff Morris, Jared Sullinger is a fine starting point. Expect the Pels to be much improved in 2016/17; can they get above the other teams in this tough division?

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Brandon Knight

·         SG – Marco Bellineli

·         SF – Chandler Parsons

·         PF – Jahlil Okafor

·         C – FA / Trade / Draft 

·         6^th Man – Darren Collison (pending court case)

Memphis Grizzlies

Approx Cap Situation $64,000,000

GM Points: 60

Record: -27

Picks: #4

Key Players Returning:

·        Wes Matthews $4,290,000

·        Jeff Teague $6,431,250

·        Dante Exum $12,650,000

Adreian Payne, CJ Watson, Nik Stuaskas, Chris Bosh, Jordan Adams

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Cory Brewer, Kevin Seraphin, Troy Daniels, Mike Scott

Restricted Free Agents:

Jared Cunningham, Jarnell Stokes, Darrun Hilliard

Rumours:

GM Jesse publicised recently his desire to move along Jeff Teague, currently possessing the number four pick in the NLL draft could that equate to the drafting of a guard, Dunn / Murray / Heild? Or is Dante Exum going to be given the keys and GM Jesse hoping to land the 2016 version of Kristaps, In Dragan Bender? Personally I hope Memphis stick with JT and draft a big man...

Targets:

Unbelievably like so many others this team needs a big man to pull down the boards at centre. With Dante Exum, Chris Bosh, Jeff Teague and Wes Mathews all fit and firing who knows whats going to transpire in Memphis.

Overview:

Based on last season youd sell grizzlies stock and not think twice, but delve a little deeper and add a healthy Dante Exum, a fully fit Wes Mathews, Chris Bosh, Jeff Teague and a number 4 draft pick and it’s starting to look a little nicer for the Grizz. GM Jesse had a brutal season with injury; don’t let last season’s ladder position lull you into a false sense of security. Houston, San Antonio and the Mavs should keep an eye out, the Grizz are coming!

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Jeff Teague

·         SG – Draft / FA / Trade

·         SF – Wes Matthews

·         PF – Chris Bosh

·         C – Draft / FA / Trade

·         6^th Man – Dante Exum

Ladder Predictor 2017

Another tough division to predict with each of the five teams very capable, I have to give the title to Dallas though with the other four teams closely following. An injury or two to any of these teams could prove to be a disaster (see Memphis last season)

1.      Dallas Mavericks

2.      San Antonio Spurs

3.      Houston Rockets

4.      Memphis Grizzlies

5.      New Orleans Pelicans