According to Marc Stein, the Warriors might just
sign Lou Williams to an offer sheet. Apparently they want to corner the market on Monta Ellis's, poor-man's version or otherwise.
I don't see how they could possibly defend anyone with Ellis, Lou and Maggette on the floor at the same time, then again, defense doesn't seem to be much of a concern to them these days. The Sixers can match, I'm just not sure if they have a threshold where they won't match. Is it more important to avoid foolish longterm contracts, like Willie Green's, or is it more important to keep this young core together?
That's the question Ed Stefanski may have to answer shortly.
Also, check out the comments on the Samuel Dalembert post from a couple of days ago for a juicy, unsubstantiated trade rumor.
It's obviously waaay too early to be talking about playoff seeds (because you know Detroit is going to do something crazy any time now), but if the season started today, here's how i think the East would shape up.
1 Boston
2 Detroit
3 Washington
4 Philadelphia
5 Miami
6 Cleveland
7 Orlando
8 Toronto
Replace TMac with Iggy and i think Phili has a great shot at #2. It probably wouldn't be great for the long term future of the franchise, but it would make them title contenders this season.
I don't want to criticize your list too much, since I don't have any list yet myself, but I don't understand the Washington ranking. They don't defend and have lost to Cleveland like 3 years in a row now. I am no Lebronoholic but I think Cleveland deserves to be ahead of Washington. Cleveland's roster won't be the same though once the season starts, so it is a moot point kinda.
I can't forecast Toronto really, but they have ZERO depth, so I can't disagree much with that.
Orlando winning 10 less games this year? I can't buy that really. Van Gundy is a quality coach who gets his team to defend.
Well they were a fifth seed last year without their best player so that's my reasoning. The last time they were healthy (two years ago, I believe) the Wiz were a juggernaut. It's also just sort of a gut feeling as well.
Well, they won 45 games once.
I am bias though admittedly. I can't stand teams who don't defend.
I also consider Arenas their 3rd best player, although that may be unfair to him since he hasn't been healthy for 2 years or so now.
My instincts tell me they will win about 44 games, wherever that puts them. I think the Sixers will win about 10 more than that. I am a Sixers fan though, so once again a probable bias.
Don't like Iguodala, but T-Mac is one of the last guys you want to build your team around. Constantly injured, doesn't attack the basket anymore, jacks up brick after brick, quit playing active defense years ago... he might make us better, but he also virtually guarantees that you never win a championship. As for Lou, if he leaves, would that free up enough salary for us to sign a real shooter? If so, I wouldn't mind if he left.
Lou would free up 1 million in cap space assuming Iguodala isn't signed yet.
Well, keep him then.