Blue = Possible trade / Free agency candidates

The Northwest

Denver Nuggets

Approx Cap Situation: $55,000,000

GM Points: 38

Record: +13

Picks: 13

Key Players Returning:

·        John Wall $16,957,900

·        Derrick Favors $10,800,000

·        JJ Redick $ 7,377,500

Otto Porter, Norman Powell, Ersan Ilyasova, Mitch McGary, Lamar Patterson, James Young

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Isaiah Canaan, Luol Deng, Kent Bazemore, Zaza Pachulia

Restricted Free Agents:

Alex Len, JaMychal Green

Rumours:

Coming off a long playoff run, Denver are pretty happy with their core group of guys, rumours have it that Lamar Patterson, James Young, Isaiah Canaan and JaMychal Green will make way in an attempt to add more depth to an already formidable roster. Will the Aussie in Rootsey have him looking to draft Thon Maker with his #13 pick?

Targets:

With a good chance Kent Bazemore, Luol Deng and his big man revelation Zaza Pachulia opt for free agency; Denver will be needing depth across the roster specifically at Point guard and Centre

Overview:

Can’t not buy some of Denver’s stock leading into the 2016/17 season with the way GM Rootsey has his team humming along, a pretty good chance Denver will be around 15million under next seasons cap. Just imagine a few more news articles and some serious GM to splash would have made Denver a prime spot for a top tier FA

Possible Line-up

·         PG – John Wall

·         SG – JJ Redick

·         SF – Otto Porter

·         PF – Derrick Favors

·         C – Alex Len

·         6^th Man – Kent Bazemore

 

Oklahoma City Thunder

Approx Cap Situation $79,000,000

GM Points: 99

Record: +11

Picks: #23 #33 #34 #36 #38 #53

Key Players Returning:

·        Jimmy Butler $16,402,499

·        Draymond Green $15,330,435

·        Jonas Valanciunas $14,382,022

Robert Covington, Nikola Jokic, Dennis Schroder, Ricky Rubio, Michael Kidd Gilchrist, Walter Tavares, Bruno Coboclo

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Nil

Restricted Free Agents:

Evan Fournier, Boban Marjanovic, Josh Richardson, Joffrey Lauvergne, Damien Inglis

Rumours:

Having been knocked out of the Western finals series by the Lakers Thunder GM Nenjabin wrote a strongly worded letter to Jonas Valanciunas medical staff situated in Toronto. Have ties been severed? Can Jonas and GM Nenjabin continue to work together?

With six draft picks and Nenjabin’s recent success with big goofy looking, white dudes and their really long yet strangely entertaining names, I expect to see six new stashes added to the OKC rights retained slots.

Targets:

To Avoid the mishap of this season expect OKC to use accumulated assets to shop for a veteran back-up big man and future 1^st round picks, Free agency will be a no go for OKC this season just due to the personnel currently on board.

Overview:

Is there a hotter team in the NLL right now (Heat don’t count) OKC is brimming with talent all over the place all hitting their peaks at the right time, only minor problem will be the hefty tax bill in the coming season to keep this beast going. Is that really a problem though?

GM Nenjabin has patiently nurtured this team for a few seasons and his patience is now paying off.

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Ricky Rubio

·         SG – Jimmy Butler

·         SF – Michael Kidd Gilchrist

·         PF – Draymond Green

·         C – Jonas Valanciunas

·         6^th Man – Evan Fournier

 

Utah Jazz

Approx Cap Situation $55,000,000

GM Points: 73

Record: +7

Picks: Nil

Key Players Returning:

·        Derrick Rose $20,093,064

·        Kenneth Faried $11,235,955

·        Andrew Wiggins $5,758,680

Willey Cauley Stein, Victor Oladipo, Julius Randle, Andrew Goudelock, Bojan Bogdanovich, Montrezl Harrell, Joseph Young, Jordan Mickey

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Brian Roberts, Jeff Ayers

Restricted Free Agents:

Nil

Rumours:

Is GM Merencio growing tired of his No#1 guy in Derrick Rose? Is it time his injury plagued career is cut loose and have him hand the keys over to Andrew Wiggins and his brigade of high potential youth

Targets:

A big rim protecting Centre and a good back up point for the times when Rose sits out, out of Principal GM Merencio will load up to bring back Eric Gordon, as I type his current 15 game Utah career cost a #3 draft pick

Overview:

This is a tough one, can Utah keep up with the flying Thunder and Nuggets I’ll say they probably can but a lot relies on Derrick Rose remaining injury free. Rose plays Utah wins. A lot of responsibility will be falling to the laps of the young brigade Andrew Wiggins, Victor Oladipo and Kenneth Faried to keep up when Rose inevitably takes some games off

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Derrick Rose

·         SG – Victor Oladipo

·         SF – Andrew Wiggins

·         PF – Kenneth Faried

·         C – Wiley Cauley Stein

·         6^th Man – Eric Gordon

 

Minnesota Timberwolves

Approx Cap Situation $47,000,000

GM Points: 40

Record: +2

Picks: #43

Key Players Returning:

·        Paul George $16,900,000

·        Kyle Lowry $12,000,000

·        Tyreke Evans $10,734,586

Justin Anderson, Nerlens Noel, Jeremy Evans, Richaun Holmes

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Ryan Anderson, Matt Bonner, Chris Copeland, Mike Miller, Elton Brand, Shelvin Mack

Restricted Free Agents:

Bradley Beal, Andrew Nicholson

Rumours:

Is Bradley Beal sitting down with GM Javi, does Beal have permission from medical staff to sit down. Will GM Javi ever trade Bradley Beal? By all reports the Oxford Dictionaries will add the phrase To, Beal in the coming year

Meaning - Sit down repeatedly for no apparent reason, typically on Chair, Floor, or similar seating device Eg Bradley was forced to “Beal” with his GM throughout much of 2016

Targets:

Like so many others, Minnesota really needs a big man up front to pull down the tough boards. A veteran back-up point guard would also do wonders off the bench

Overview:

With the eventual return of Bradley Beal to the roster at a reported Max Beal, im mean deal can GM Javi attract quality players to replace a possible departure of Ryan Anderson in a super strong northwest division it’s going to be a tough ask to keep up. With Paul George, Kyle Lowry, Tyreke Evans, Bradley Beal and Nerlens Noel on deck anything is possible.

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Kyle Lowry

·         SG – Bradley Beal

·         SF – Paul George

·         PF – Ryan Anderson

·         C – Nerlens Noel

·         6^th Man – Tyreke Evans

Portland Trailblazers

Approx Cap Situation $35,000,000

GM Points: 29

Record: -25

Picks: #5

Key Players Returning:

·        Jose Barea $4,290,000

·        Jason Thompson $6,431,250

·        Robin Lopez $12,650,000

Terry Rozier, Kyle Singler, Sam Dekker, Sonny Weems, Kevin Garnett

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Ramon Sessions, David Lee

Restricted Free Agents:

Christopher Johnson, PJ Hairston, Robert Sacre, Joe Harris, Dion Waiters

Rumours:

Djdrew would be gutted he not only missed out on a top two pick but fell to number five in a draft with no clear choice outside Simmons and Ingram, the pick immediately went on the block

Targets:

Djdrew recently posted that he needs everything but with Jose Barea, Robin Lopez and a likely return of Dion waiters this team maybe only a few pieces shy of being relevant again

Overview:

Djdrew has had a rough couple of seasons voted unanimously by all to win the Northwest last season it has been an epic fall down the NLL ladder, Dj can get on with the business of rebuilding the Blazers back into a powerhouse, starting with the #5 pick in the NLL draft.

Prospects like Bender and Murray possibly available it’s a pretty good start to proceedings. Having experienced this stuff it’ll take a year or two to see some progress. Patience is the key…

Possible Line-up

·         PG – Jose Barea

·         SG – Dion Waiters

·         SF – Kyle Singler

·         PF – Jason Thompson

·         C – Robin Lopez

·         6^th Man – Terry Rozier

Ladder Predictor 2017

A tough division to predict just due to the quality of rosters coming through I can see this being the year OKC break through and become a title contender, Denver, Utah and Sota will be hot on their heels with Portland looking to start fresh with some youthful exuberance

1.      Oklahoma City

2.      Denver Nuggets

3.      Utah Jazz

4.      Minnesota Timberwolves

5.      Portland Trailblazers