I am once again putting on my general manager hat and attempting to evaluate all 30 teams in the NBA once their seasons have concluded and giving my opinion on what they should do next. This will include any potential coaching changes, trades, free agency, and draft prospects. I have covered the bottom five teams in both conferences, as well as the middle five teams in the East. Now, I will cover the middle five teams in the West.
Portland Trail Blazers
Head Coach: N/A
After nine seasons the Blazers have decided to move on from Terry Stotts after his fifth first-round exit. While he’s certainly had a role in the team making the playoffs eight straight years, things have probably became stale. With Lillard possibly past his apex now, they need to shake things up if they want to win a championship with Lillard.
Building Blocks: Damian Lillard
Dame has been an All-NBA, fringe MVP caliber player the last few seasons. And the fact that he’s only made it out of the second round once in his nine years is unacceptable. I am sure that people would consider McCollum a trading block. However, I don’t think so. Not anymore at least. They need to make some major changes in order to maximize Lillard while he is still in his prime.
What They Need To Do
They have already taken the first step and fire Stotts. Mike D’Antoni has been rumored to interview with the Blazers and I personally love it. While the construction of the team needs to be more balanced that doesn’t mean you need to go away from what made you successful. Which is having a good offensive coach.
Next, they need to move CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic. They have gone as far as they can go with these guys and it’s time to shake things up. It doesn’t really have to be sexy trades either. I think if they can find strong complementary pieces then they really don’t need to give Lillard a co-star.
Some names they could possibly move for are guys like Al Horford, Buddy Hield, Myles Turner, and Jerami Grant. If they want to do it in free agency, they can buy low on guys like Victor Oladipo and Richaun Holmes.
As far as who to bring back, I would keep Powell if he wants to accept his player option. If he declines to look for a bigger payday, then I let him walk. As for everyone, let them walk. It’s clear the roster wasn’t good enough so bringing the same guys back expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.
With a new voice, and some major retooling, the Blazers could finally become a legit contender, but I will believe it when I see it.
Los Angeles Lakers
Head Coach: Frank Vogel
Vogel has certainly proven to be a decent coach for the Lakers. Being able to keep their heads above water when Lebron and Anthony Davis were both out with injuries. The defense has been the key for them in his two years with the team and that will be the case going forward.
Building Blocks: Lebron James, Anthony Davis
It’s weird, when the trade was made I thought injuries were going to play a role in their success. Davis having a lengthy injury history for a player who was only 26 years old at the time and Lebron suffering his major injury. Yet, they were healthy for most of the season and won the championship. This year was more what I thought could happen. This is a dangerous scenario when your two best players are as old as Lebron or as injury-prone as Davis. Now is the time to start building a more complete team than a team that just fits around the soon-to-be 37-year-old Lebron James.
What They Need To Do
The Lakers are in some trouble with their cap space. As it stands they are already in the red and have only seven players on the roster. They have impending free agents such as Dennis Schroder, Alex Caruso, Wes Matthews, Talen Horton-Tucker, Andre Drummond, and Markieff Morris. They have bird-rights on everyone except Drummond and Matthews, so they can resign those guys back if they wanted to. However, I am not sure that is a good idea. It was clear that when one of these guys needed to shoulder a larger role in the offense, they couldn’t get it done. So, with the exception of Horton-Tucker and Caruso, I would probably let these guys walk.
There have been some rumblings about trying to acquire a third star. However, I don’t think that’s as realistic as people want to believe. Can they get a salary to match the third stars contract? Sure, but the problem is the talent part of the trade. Trading Kuzma and Caldwell-Pope would not suffice a team to try to minimize the talent gap they would be losing a star player in a potential trade if they were a contender. They also have no real value on a rebuilding team and the 22nd pick to a rebuilding team is pretty much a second-round pick.
So, what can they do? Well, they can trade Kuzma and Caldwell-Pope individually for different players to change it up. For Caldwell-Pope, I could see them making a deal with New Orleans where they ended up getting Steven Adams. This helps the Pelicans by taking opening more space for Zion to operate with a decent catch-and-shoot player on the floor. For the Lakers, they get a more reliable big man, as a combination of Gasol, Harrell, and Drummond was pretty underwhelming. As for Kuzma, I think if they could swing a deal with Houston for Augustin and Bradley that would be very beneficial for both sides. Houston gets a guy who’s 26 and looking to prove himself. For the Lakers, they get Bradley back and another ball-handler in DJ Augustin.
After that, it’s just about finding new role players. They gave some of these players a chance to run it back, but after the team not going very far, it is time they mix it up.
Memphis Grizzlies
Head Coach: Taylor Jenkins
Jenkins might be the most underrated head coach in basketball. Bringing back the famous Grit ‘N Grind style of play to Memphis. Being one of the youngest coaches in the league, this could definitely be a very favorable scenario for them, as they also have one of the youngest rosters in the league. Memphis might be back for a long time.
Building Blocks: Ja Morant
Morant definitely plays like a young Westbrook. Can’t affect a game in different ways and plays with the same fire on a nightly basis. While the rest of the team might not be considered building blocks, they have a lot of talent and compliment his playstyle very well. The Grizzlies are in good hands for the next decade.
What They Need To Do
They honestly don’t need to do much. As mentioned they are still a very young team so there is still plenty of room for Morant and others to grow. However, they do have $24 million in practical cap space and could get $13 million more by declining Justise Winslow’s club option. If they want to go that route they can definitely take add some more scoring. Guys like Victor Oladipo and Kelly Oubre Jr. come to mind.
Outside of that, they need to stash their money because re-signing Morant, Brooks, Jaren Jackson, Valanciunas is just around the corner.
Golden State Warriors
Head Coach: Stever Kerr
A lot of people have been critical of Steve Kerr over the last few years, but I feel like, for the most part, it is undeserved. Is the perfect coach? No, but he is a lot better than most want to admit. Obviously not having Klay Thompson has been a huge reason for their lack of success the last two years. Steph Curry deserves a lot of credit for nearly making the playoffs, but so does Steve Kerr.
Building Blocks: Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green
Curry gave us a reminder of how good he really is. Green also gave us a reminder that even though he is not an elite scorer or shooter he is probably the smartest player in the game. However, these last two years have shown us how valuable Klay Thompson is to this trio. His ability to get hot at any moment is what made the Warriors so dangerous, even before Kevin Durant joined them. Once he is healthy again, I would expect the Warriors to be back in the playoffs.
What They Need To Do
If they don’t care about being over the luxury tax then there’s nothing to do. Other than re-sign Kent Bazemore. However, if they do want to get under the tax, they need to make a trade. More than likely that trade involving Andrew Wiggings. Obviously, this will hurt as he showed a lot of progression for the first time in his career. However, they are currently over $30 million above the luxury tax which means they would pay roughly $120 million for being that high over the luxury tax. As much as they want to win, that is just too hefty of a price to pay. With that being said, they could get a good pick or two out of it to fill the roster. That on top of already having two lottery picks–assuming Minnesota doesn’t land in the top 3.
With Curry, Thompson, and Green getting paid very handsomely, it is going to be very hard to recreate the “Strength in Number” Warriors. However, having veteran-aged players like Tuscano-Anderson and Bazemore, mixed with young guys like Paschall, Poole, Wiseman, and potentially two or more lottery picks, the Warriors can get close to it.
San Antonio Spurs
Head Coach: Gregg Popovich
The man, the myth, the legend. Hopefully after a few years of trying to hang on, Pop will let the veterans walk and let the young players create a new era in San Antonio.
Building Blocks: Dejounte Murray
Because of the veteran players taking a lot of the reps, it is hard to gauge just exactly where the Spurs are at. However, Murray is definitely someone to build around. He has the “jack of all trades, but master of none” skill set. Obviously not a championship building block, but having the guy who gives you a high floor is certainly necessary. They could have potential building blocks in Jakob Poeltl, Lonnie Walker IV, or Devin Vassell, but we will have to actually see them on the floor.
What They Need To Do
As mentioned it is time to see what they have in their young corps. It might not lead them to immediate success, but this would be the best thing for the franchise in the long term.
However, if they are still trying to contend, they have the money to do it. Currently, at just under $50 million in cap space, they can test the free agency waters to see if there’s a player who can help get this team back in the playoffs and end their longest playoff drought in franchise history–currently two years.
There isn’t much they can do in free agency, as Kawhi Leonard and Chris Paul are the biggest fish and I would be shocked to see Chris Paul decline his option and San Antonio is probably 30th on Kawhi’s list of teams. However, they have the cap space to acquire a play I had just mentioned that could be on the block. Andrew Wiggins. The Spurs have the space for him and still have some leftover. The Warriors need to get rid of his contract to get under the cap. I also think the projected 12th overall pick would be enough for it to be a done deal. Even if the Spurs add a Top-4 protection I think just getting Wiggins’s contract off the roster is worth it. And seeing how well Wiggins player under Kerr, I think Pop can make him even better.
After that use the rest of the money on another quality starter. Maybe get someone like Trevor Ariza. Then, just let the young guys develop.