Elton Brand has been a great PF since his 1999 draft to the bulls averaging 20/10/2 as a rookie but he played for a bad coach and the team went 15-67 twice, which resulted in his trade to the Clippers, where he had spent the last 5 seasons. When Brand opted out, it was widely perceived that it was just to give the Clippers more financial flexibility, and when the Clippers signed Baron Davis, it was a great move indicating a new Clippers resurgence with two all-stars in their prime.
But, Elton Brand and the Sixers had a better idea. Why resign to a team that was on the bottom 3 worst teams in the west, that shares a building with a REAL championship contending team in the Lakers? Why not join a team with a great young core, who made the 7th seed playoffs last season with a 20 year old 6'8 SF rookie starting at PF. With 2 time all-star 20-10 Elton Brand in that spot, with Samuel Dalembert they will have one of the most dangerous frontlines in the league. Dalembert has always been a good defensive player, avging 2.4 bpg last season, with Elton Brand doing more scoring, he can concentrate on defense, the possiblities are endless for the sixers. John Hollinger says they are projected to be a 50 win team, but still need more pieces to be a eastern conference contender.
We at playoffshawks are most excited and thankful for this signing so the sixers will leave Josh Smith alone, the Sixers were really the only and biggest threat to sign him. There has been speculation that the Golden State Warriors would pursue him, but they're not willing to offer him a MAX deal required to even threaten him, and the Clippers might pursue Josh Smith to get revenge for them losing Brand, but the Clips and Smith know he wouldn't fit in with their system and they wouldn't use him the right way, anyway.
So, the Hawks are likely to keep Josh Smith and Josh Childress, which was already a absolute priority, now the Hawks need to sign a free agent or two(too bad Desanga Diop and James Jones are off the table...) just to keep things interesting and we'll be very good next season. Although the Hawks are confident they can still make an impact and improve in the improving east, alot of teams are improving in the east, and we are gonna be facing tougher competition JUST IN THE EAST, not even considering the WEST yet, so here is a detailed analysis of each team in the east and the changes/improvements they've made, from the worst to the best:
15. New York Knicks - Last season: 23-59, drafted - 6'9 forward Danilo Gillaro, SIGNED/ACQUIRED - Chris Duhon
Knicks biggest difference is gonna be Mike D' Antoni and rookie Danilo Gillario. The Knicks also recently signed Chris Duhon, but i don't think that was the best move. He's small, not a great shooter and not a great passer, what's the difference between him and Nate Robinson? If they were that desperate for a change of culture they could have traded for Kirk Hinrich, because Stephon Maurbury was never that bad to buy him out for Chris Duhon. The Knicks improvement also depends on the Randolph/Curry experiement, if D'Antoni wants to prove his coaching genius by trying to play these guys together again, it would be cool, but it probably won't work. The Knicks can't hope or expect to make the playoffs th is year but this will be an experiement to define the difference between a good coach and a bad coach, fans can expect a +10 win improvement.
14. Miami Heat - Last season 15-67, drafted - Micheal Beasley, Mario Chalmers, SIGNED/ ACQUIRED -
Miami has a new coach, new players, and a whole year to forget the nightmare that was the 08 season which was highlighted by the trade of Shaquille O'Neal and injured D'Wayne Wade. This season they have the development of Micheal Beasley and Mario Chalmers, the chemistry of a healthy Wade with Shawn Marion with the rookies, and the new head coach Erik Spuutlouas leadership testing. Many heat fans have high hopes for their team, they Heat can realistically only hope to double their win total. Beasley is talented but he has to learn how to perform consistenly, Marion is a great forward, rebounding, a little scoring, and a funny looking shot, he might be the teams leading rebounder, but he is not gonna be a leader on this heat team in his contract year. fans can expect a 15+ improvent.
13. Milwalkee Bucks - Last Season 26-56, drafted - Joe Alexander , SIGNED/ACQUIRED - Richard Jefferson
Scott Skiles is the new head coach there, but thats not the biggest difference to this team. They recentlty acquired all-star forward Richard Jefferson for Bobby Simmons, Yi Jianlin, and that was a good trade. Jefferson is greatly underratted as a scoring forward, he shoots 80+% FTs and will easily average 20+ ppg to lead the team. He and Micheal Redd will make an interesting combo, and i would like to see the ramon sessions kid again, but the problem with the bucks is they don't play defense. That might be fixed with Scott Skiles, but Andrew Bogut is not a franchise center, he doesn't play D at all. The Bucks are probably the most improved team that didn't make the playoffs last season, out of all teams on the outside the Bucks have the best chance to be the one team that takes someone out of the playoffs, this upcoming season will be very interesting. but my prediction is they will improve by 6+ wins, but still no playoffs.
12. Charlotte Bobcats - Last Season 32-50, drafted - D.J. Augustine, SIGNED/ACQUIRED -
New Coach Larry Brown and Micheal Jordan are on one accord, they want to bring good basketball back to the state of North Carolina. the Larry Brown factor is the biggest change this off-season, and they are still dealing with the future of PF Emeka Okafor. Okafor is still demanding more money than the Bobcats think he is worth, so until that is solved, the Cats can't hope to go anywhere near the playoffs in the improving east. Even with Okafor and Larry Brown it will be difficult for the bobcats to make the playoffs in the improving east, D.J. Augustine is a good, small PG, but they already have one of those in Raymond Felton. Jason Richardson is still gonna be good, but not a leader, Gerald Wallace was one of the most talented forwards in the east, but his durability is in question from all the injuries he has had. the Bobcats may achieve a +8 win improvement, but the playoffs is out of the question.
11. Chicago Bulls - Last Season 33-49, drafted Derrick Rose, SIGNED/ ACQUIRED -
New Coach Vinny Del Negro, new point guard Derrick Rose and the beginning of a new era for the Chicago Bulls. They are set to prove their number 1 pick Derrick Rose is a worthy one, they want him to be a Chris Paul type PG, maybe not immediately numbers-wise, but leadership, poise first, and the numbers will come. The bulls have alot of surgury to do on their roster, they still have 4 small guards, restricted free agents Luol Deng and Ben Gordon, and higher expectations than they have had in a while, so it's impossible predict how this is going to play out, but i would say they would get a +7 game improvement on their record, with Derrick Rose proving to be a solid PG, but he has to prove his not just good, but greatness to be a good PG for the new-era bulls.
10. New Jersey Nets - Last Season 34-48, drafted Robin Lopez, SIGNED/ACQUIRED - Bobby Simmons, Yi Jianlin
The Nets are rebuilding. They are in the middle of contruction for a new arena in Brooklyn, they traded their longest tentured player for a injury riddled forward and a chinese rookie. They have a slight bright future in Devin Harris and Yi, Robin Lopez might be talented, but the Nets are getting ready to move, they are not contending for a championship or even the playoffs as currently constructed. This is a season for Harris to be better leadership to his team and try to be an all-star with the new jersey nets before they make a play for LeBron James in Brooklyn.
I think Vince Carter is still a player there too, lol, but he has been regarded as lazy, uninspired, and really just a waste of talent, they will trade Vince too this or next season. Don't expect this Nets team to improve on last season's record, if any team is bound to get worse, its this one. But just for now, when 2010 comes around and they are in Brooklyn with Lebron James, it's gonna get ugly for the rest of the east and the NBA.
9. Indiana Pacers - Last Season 36-46, drafted - Brandon Rush, SIGNED/ACQUIRED - TJ Ford, Roy Hibbert
the Pacers were the Hawks biggest challengers last season for that last playoff spot, and now they look to improve in the draft and through trades. They finally got rid of Jermaine O'Neal and will look to move Jamaal Tinsley for ANYONE, with Danny Granger being in his 4th season, Troy Murphy and Jeff Foster.... they don't look to threaten the Hawks at all this upcoming season. I mean, seriously, the Pacers look lost right now, they are still trying to recover from the Artest era, i expect plenty of playing time for Brandon Rush and another season of mediocrity. No improvement
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Now, the following teams are playoffs teams. They were in the playoffs last season, made improvements this off-season and expect to be back in the playoffs again next season. It's gonna be funny if/when every team in the east that made the playoffs last season are back and every team that missed the playoffs are still on the outside looking in. The east is improving, the balance of power is shifting, competition is getting tougher, the east will not be so least this upcoming season. But, without further adou, here is my analysis of the 8 playoff teams in the eastern conference:
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