Midwest Division

The lowly Dallas Mavericks made more significant moves in the off season. You've got to wonder about the owner, though, because he did give the keys to the team to Don Nelson. He's never really proven he's a great scout of talent. Nelson did trade for Steve Nash, who had been tabbed as the best young point guard who wasn't starting. He should team with Michael Finley, a super star waiting to happen, to create a super back court. Nelson also traded for another potential star or potential bust, Dirk Nowitzki. Nelson is hoping this guy can be the answer at the forward position. This is the same guy who thought Chris Anstey and Shawn Bradley would be the solution to his problem at center. Dallas also signed Gary Trent for a song and John "Hot Rod" Williams for a nice backup at center. They also resigned the best garbage player in the NBA, Cedric Ceballos. Their three second round picks are pretty insignificant. A starting five or Nash, Finley, Ceballos, Samaki Walker and Bradley isn't too bad. But it's not too good either. They have depth, in the sense that the drop off from the starting five to the bench isn't too great, but at the same time, you have to consider how talented the starting lineup. Nowitzki, Anstey, sharp shooter Hubert Davis, veteran rebounder A.C. Green, injury riddled and overpaid Robert Pack, underachieving Khalid Reeves, former starter Erick Strickland, Trent and Williams make up a large bench, albeit not too talented. Look for them to struggle to win 20.

Talk about a turnaround. The Nuggets were headed for self-destruction, but in a matter of 6 months (actually 2, but you have to take into account the lockout) the Nuggets are actually on the rise again. No more Motumbo, Ellis, Abdul-Rauf, etc. The Nuggets drafted Raef Lafrenz from Kansas. He's a really good player. Good instincts and great rebounder. He'll be a keeper. Add to the mix via trades, hometown boy and former top 5 pick Chauncey Billups (backing up at 1 and 2), UNLV drop out Keon Clark, who great defensive potential, former Tennessee star Johnny Talyor, all-star Nick Van Exel and Rhode Island standout Tyson Wheeler. Those moves would be enough to make anyone happy, except the Nuggets signed Antonio McDyess, the jewel of the NBA free agents. He's back in Denver after a season in Phoenix. Loren Meyer and Monty Williams were added for depth. They did lose Johnny Newman and LaPhonso Ellis, but their acquisitions should more than offset the losses. Their starting five is pretty impressive, Van Exel, Bryan Stith, Eric Williams, back from injury, McDyess and Lafrenz. Their bench is young but deep with, Danny Forston, Cory Alexander, Monty Williams, Meyer, Billups, Taylor and Wheeler. I can see this making a run for the playoffs if they gel quickly.

The Houston Rockets are making one more run at the finals. What else could they be thinking resigning Charles Barkley, signing Antoine Carr, and trading for Scottie Pippen. All three are battle tested veterans who have played in the finals. As always, Hakeem Olajuwon is at center, and if he's there, there is always a chance the Rockets can win. The Rockets drafted overrated shooter Michael Dickerson from Arizona and underrated shooter from Valpariso, Bryce Drew. I like Drew, he can play point and shooting guard, and has a great outside shot. Cuttino Mobley from Rhode Island, adds backcourt depth. Trading Kevin Willis was a big loss, they lack any type of from court depth without him. Losing Mario Elie won't hurt too much if Dickerson does what he's touted as being able to do. The Rockets starting five is still dangerous, with Matt Maloney, Drew, Pippen, Barkley and Olajuwon. Their bench has some decent talent but it's thin, players like Matt Bullard, Carr, Othella Harrington, Eddie Johnson, Roderick Rhodes, Dickerson and Brent Brice hardly put much fear into anyone.

Drafting Radoslav Nesterovic and Andrae Patterson really does help the Timberwolves this year. Neither are considered to be a top NBA talent After losing Tom Gugliotta, they need all the talent they can get. Joe Smith was signed to fill Googs shoes. Smith has really fallen. From the number on pick, to a million dollar exemption contract, Smith really has to turn it on if he wants to get a decent contract for next year. Playing beside Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury, he should get some easy looks and soft rebounds. Malik Sealy was signed to add some depth at shooting guard. Losing Cherokee Parks and Terry Porter aren't that big a deal, especially when you consider the T-Wolves traded for Bobby Jackson and Dean Garrett to fill their holes. They did fleece Toronto by unloading Michael Williams, who hasn't played a full season in 5 years. A starting five of Marbury, Anthony Peeler, Garnett, Smith and Garrett isn't all that bad. It looks good, doesn't it? Their bench is well, weak, to say the least. Sealy leads off, but after that Bill Curly, Chris Carr, Paul Grant, and the two rookies Nestrovic and Patterson, are all borderline NBA players. I see Minnesota challenging for the final playoff spot, unless Marbury takes off into the next stratosphere of NBA players.

The Spurs didn't make too many moves this off season. They tried to get Latrell Spreewell from Golden State, but couldn't. They still need a shooting guard. I wonder why they don't go for Jimmy Jackson? In the mean time, they did trade for Steve Kerr, cushioning the loss of Chuck Person, to give the big men, Tim Duncan and David Robinson some space. They did trade for rookie bust Antonio Daniels. Unless Daniels lost all his talent in Vancouver, he should be a solid contributor with the Spurs. How hard is it to pass down low to Duncan or the Admiral. Mario Elie and Jerome Kersey were added for some veteran experience at shooting guard and small forward. Both have played in the finals and should help the Spurs. A starting five of Avery Johnson, Antonio Daniels, Sean Elliot, Tim Duncan and David Robinson can be pretty imposing. Their bench is strong as well. Kersey, Kerr, Elie and Purdue all have playoff experience and can start in a pinch. I think in a shortened season, the Spurs could challenge for the championship.

Afterl losing out on the Isaac Austin sweepstakes and resigning big mouth super star Karl Malone, the Jazz didn't do much else. They drafted unknown Torraye Braggs and traded away Nazr Mohammed to the 76ers. They did sign Thurl Bailey to camp, hoping he can recapture his former glory with the Jazz. They lost Antoine Carr and didn't resign Chris Morris, but otherwise, like in previous years, it's virtually the same team. The starting five is the same as last year, John Stockton, Jeff Hornacek, Bryon Russell, Karl Malone and Greg Ostertag. They have a super deep bench, with Greg Foster, Howard Eisley, Shandon Anderson, Adam Keefe, Jacque Vaughn and Bailey. This team should be in the finals. No Bulls. No problem. Right?

Oh those kooky Vancouver Grizzlies. They draft a point guard of the future, play him early and often and then trade him when he has a bad year. I think all first year point guards not named Isiah Thomas has a tough time. Vancouver traded Antonio Daniels to the Spurs for Felipe Lopez, who was never the star everyone thought he would be at St. John's, and backup power forward Carl Herrera. Add those two with rookie phoneme Mike Bibby, and the Grizzlies made some shrewd off season moves. Add Cherokee Parks to the mix and you have a decent mix of veterans and young talent. Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Bryant Reeves are the corner stones of the franchise. If Bibby pans out, then you've got three of the five pieces. The starting five of Bibby, Lopez, Abdur-Rahim, Michael Smith and Reeves is capable of good things. Their bench is a mix of journeymen and fringe players. Pete Chilcutt, Sam Mack, Tony Massenburg, Lee Mayberry, Herrera, Parks and Doug West can't combine to create one good player. The best thing Vancouver has going for them on the bench is they have a lot of players.

Return to First Annual Hoop-LA 1999 Player Movement Spectacular Home Page

Return to Hoop-LA Home Page