2015 NBA Draft: Player Grades

The NBA Draft where the story begins...

Despite the NBA, NFL and all the major soccer leagues concluded to an end, this is my favorite part of the year, the NBA Draft. I've been closely following the NBA Draft since I was a kid, the prospects, mock drafts, talk shows etc. From pleading in my bedroom for my Atlanta Hawks to draft Chris Paul over Marvin Williams to saying that Michael Beasley was the best player of the 2008 draft class.
It's just that thing, the NBA Draft (well all drafts for that matter) is a glorified guessing game for all teams in their respective leagues. In the NBA's case, the 14 teams that did not make the playoffs are drawn into a lottery with the worst having the highest percentage and second worst having second highest percentage and so on, this system (while Knicks fan are not too fond of it) is a fair system that does not allow teams that tank to always get what they want (just ask Knicks fans).
There is alot of player archetypes going on in every draft year, from the sure things to the players that could be the difference to you losing your GM job. The draft provokes a reaction from fans and players alike from fans booing the top commish every time he steps to the podium, to a player questioning their team's draft pick whom was deemed "two years away from being two years away".

The 2015 NBA Draft is full of different type of players that can change a team's fortune for better or worse. While I don't believe this draft will end up like the 96 Draft or the 03 Draft this will be one of the more solid draft classes we've seen (certainly better than the last two years).
In this article, is a grouping on where the players stand in the NBA Draft from my viewpoint.


FUTURE STAR
Possesses all the athletic traits and skills to be a perennial All-Star in the NBA. This is the player(s) who have all the tools in regards to be a household name in the NBA.(ex. Anthony Davis, Andrew Wiggins, John Wall, Kevin Durant)


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F/C Karl-Anthony Towns - Kentucky

Karl Towns has shown through his time in Kentucky he can be a game changer defensively. At 7'0 250 pounds, Towns has the mobility and size that NBA scouts want in a bigman, and the skill that someone with his raw talents usually lack at his age. Already projects as a elite shot-blocker (2.2 in 21.1 minutes), excellent jumpshot from mid-range and is also an good free throw shooter (81.3 FT percentage). His weaknesses are his post game and foul trouble but two aspects that can easily improve with further coaching. He might not get the big scoring numbers as a Anthony Davis, defensively he can be just as much of an impact. His quickness just like Davis allows him to play the four and five spot.

HIGH CLASS
Can't miss prospect who has the potential to be one of the better players of the NBA. May not be a household name but talent level is a in the NBA, Skills are already extremely polished to make an impact on the NBA but not as high of an upside as the future star. May have limitations that are holding him back. (ex. Al Horford, Al Jefferson, Jimmy Butler, Brook Lopez)



C Jahlil Okafor - Duke

I first watched Okafor live in the 2014 Jordan Brand Classic at the Barclays Center, and I came away amazed that someone his age can be so seasoned and polished. His post moves were already NBA caliber, it was almost like watching Steph Curry's jumpshot if you are all about the fundamentals like I am, the way he recognized defenses no wasted movements, knew when to fade knew when to go inside he made it look so effortless, So why I do I not have him at Future Star you ask? It is because I am not sold on how much he will improve. Jahlil Okafor reminds me of a slower LaMarcus Aldridge/Al Jefferson hybrid which means I believe he can be a 20 a game scorer but lacks the defense intensity to be an interior force and lacks the foot speed to play in a fast pace tempo or to play the four spot. Jahlil Okafor always dominated as he usually had a considerable size advantage over the person opposing him, how will he fare against opposition his own size?  Jahlil Okafor grades out as the most NBA ready prospect but does not have the potential as a Karl Towns.



G/F Justise Winslow - Duke

Jahlil Okafor's right hand man also grades out as a High Class prospect. He can do all the little things and was every bit as important to Duke's National Championship run as Jahilil Okafor. What I like most about Winslow is that he already possesses the strength needed to be a NBA swingman, he uses that size to be an excellent defender that can guard all perimeter positions even well as a power forward. The fact that he may be a 2 guard in the NBA but was able to play the 4 spot in the NCAA is a testament to his strength and post defense. Winslow is also a better scorer than given credit for, what he lacks is the ability to create his own shot but is a good spot-up shooter hitting 41.4 percent of his three point shots in college. Winslow's projected draft range is 4-8 with 4 being a slight reach, however Winslow's game reminds me of a Kawhi Leonard/Jimmy Butler on the high end with Wilson Chandler being the low end and should be paid closer attention to.



SUPER SCORER
These guys can flat out put the ball in the basket. They possess a potent jumpshot as well as the ability to create their own shot off the dribble. These guys can heat up any moment and put a scoring clinic on opposing defenses. (ex. Bradley Beal, Klay Thompson, Jamal Crawford, James Harden)



G D'Angelo Russell - Ohio State

I am extremely high on D'Angelo Russell as his position versatility and scoring ability can help any team in the top five of the draft. Russell can shoot the lights out, Russell was 41.1 from the three point line during his only year in Ohio State while attempting 7 threes a game. Russell also has the ball handling skills to create his own shot off the dribble with the ability to create for others averaging 5 assists per game. Russell just give me shades of Brandon Roy and like the former Trail-Blazer, makes up for his lack of elite athleticism with his craftiness. For critics questioning his lack of athleticism, he ranks number one in Transition Points per 40 minutes with 7.4(via Draftexpress). D'Angelo Russell will have no problems creating offense in the NBA.



G/F Mario Hezonja - Croatia(FC Barcelona)

Hezonja is a 6'8 200 Croatian shooting guard who plays for one of the best European clubs in the world FC Barcelona. Along with that size, Hezonja is a knockdown shooter and can heat up in an instant. Hezonja also benefits from his explosion and is able to finish effectively off the dribble. Think of an European J.R. Smith and that might fit the profile of Hezonja, a guy who is a microwave when hitting his first couple of shots. Like J.R. Smith when he is cold he can shoot you out of a game, as well as he has had problems with his discipline in Barcelona complaining about his sporadic playing time. Nonetheless Mario Hezonja knows how to score and that will translate to the NBA.



G Devin Booker - Kentucky

With the countless freshman that Kentucky boasts every year, there is always one or two players from each class that declare for the NBA Draft , whether it was James Young, Archie Goodwin, Daniel Orton you name it and the wonder if Devin Booker should of stayed in college another year rather than go to the NBA, There is one thing that Devin Booker does better than the last Kentucky alumni could do and that is shoot the ball. Devin Booker has a textbook shot, quick release that could fit seamlessly with the splash brothers. Devin Booker is not just the average standstill shooter, he can as well shoot off the dribble and has the off-ball awareness to run off screens to get himself open. Booker however is very below the rim and knows his limitations so don't expect him on the offensive end of a fathead. Being the youngest player in the NBA Draft at 18(will not turn 19 until October 30) Booker has the potential to be a starting 2 guard in the NBA.



G Cameron Payne - Murray State

Cameron Payne is the next mid-major point guard to come out of nowhere to being projected in the lottery following Elfrid Payton and Damian Lillard. Payne helped lead his college Murray State to have 25 straight wins until they lost to Belmont in the conference tournament final and went to the NIT. One of the most pure skillful basketball players in the draft with his combination of ball handling skills, passing and natural scoring ability. Does not have the elite quickness of a modern NBA point starting guard but enough quickness to be a threat in the NBA level. The obvious question is the level of competition in which he has not played a top 25 squad in his two seasons of college. He obviously has been doing something well in pre-draft workouts as his stock is quickly rising.



UPSIDE
Not the most NBA ready players, but their draft stock is based on what they can become. (ex. Dennis Schroeder, Anthony Randolph, Tyrus Thomas, Russell Westbrook)



G Emmanuel Mudiay - Congo(Guangdong Southern Tigers)

Emmanuel Mudiay may have the most interesting draft storyline, he might very well be the next Blindside, but Mudiay is out to prove that he will not be a flop like the once great movie star Michael Oher. Mudiay decided to go against the grain just like Jeremy Tyler and Brandon Jennings did before him and go overseas and the once projected #1 pick over Towns and Okafor is now not even a lock to go in the top 5. Playing overseas in clubs that know you are NBA bound do not give you any favors in regards to playing time as you are not staying with the club after that season, Mudiay found it tough to garner playing time, he finally got a run of games in a lineup switch and got an ankle injury that finished his season after 12 games. Mudiay is like a poor man's John Wall, he is not as athletic as the Wizards guard, but is just as good a passer as Wall was at that age and has a similar body type. Like Wall when he was drafted he does not have a jumpshot although he improved it in China, Hawks guard Dennis Schroeder might be the best comparison for now as he probably will struggle his first season but could ultimately end up one of the top players from the draft.



F Stanley Johnson - Arizona

There is a question on what exactly former Arizona forward Stanley Johnson will become as a NBA player. Looking at him from a physical standpoint he looks like LeBron James, he is 6'7, over 240 pounds and he has had the build since high school. Stanley Johnson struggled in the NCAA Tournament and was pretty inefficient when it came to finishing around the basket someone with his size should have no qualms with. The added size and skill in the college game resulted to Stanley Johnson not being as effective as he was accustomed to in high school. Although Stanley Johnson might benefit from the floor spacing and become a better player in the NBA than he was in college.



F/C Trey Lyles - Kentucky

Lyles shows a diverse skill-set when it comes to the offensive end. He can put the ball on the floor, has a mid range jumper, play in the post and is an good passer. Lyles is like a jack of all trades, master of none. Lyles upside is in his wingspan (7'3) and how he can be an impact defensively. He wasn't too great defensively for Kentucky but was playing in the small forward spot most of the time due to being on the same team with Karl Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein,
While he can do every bit of the offensive end well, where will his niche be in the NBA?



C Myles Turner - Texas

There always seem to be a type of player like Myles Turner, 7 foot lanky bigman with a lot of room to fill out his frame. There is one part of Turner's game that separates him from the other bigman he has a jumper that extends to college three point line. Combined he is also a good free throw shooter(shot 83.9 percent from the line), a skill that separates him from another 7 footer from the state of Texas DeAndre Jordan. Turner much like most young bigman does not have a defined post-game often electing to settle for the jumpshot. He is also more long than athletic and has struggled with better opposition(38% FG against top 100 defenses). Myles Turner with his mid-range shot and defensive potential could already find a role on a bench similar to what Clint Capela done for the Houston Rockets towards the end of the season.





F Kelly Oubre - Kansas

Kelly Oubre's draft stock fell a bit during his only college season as critics saw he wasn't as NBA ready as expected. Oubre is a 6'7 swingman with a ridicously long wingspan at 7'2 and is fairly athletic and can score in a variety ways. What Oubre lacks is polish and was often in Kansas' coach Bill Self's doghouse for his defensive lapses and questionable shot selection. Has all the tools to be a natural scorer in the NBA, may need some time to learn on the bench before he is ready to play big minutes. If he falls past the lottery, could be one of this year's draft steals.

ROLE PLAYER
NBA ready but with limited potential, key bench player or solid starter,can usually do one or two things pretty well, usually have athletic limitations or glaring weaknesses in other parts of their game. (ex. Kyle Korver, Tyler Hansbrough, Kyle Anderson, Danny Green, Tristan Thompson)



F Frank Kaminsky - Wisconsin

Frank Kaminsky was the media darling during the NCAA Tournament carrying Wisconsin along with Sam Dekker to the National stage until they lost to Okafor and the Duke Blue Devils. Kaminsky is a supremely skilled 7 footer who is one of the best three point shooters in this draft, a trait that is now coveted in today's NBA with the perimeter style bigman. Kaminsky also has a repertoire of post skills that keeps his defenders guessing. The problem is if he can score against players that are his size in the paint. During the latter stages of the NCAA tournament he has shown difficulty in scoring inside against the likes of Towns and Cauley Stein and Okafor and Marshall Plumlee where he has often times preferred to do his damage on the perimeter. He might be a defensive liability in the next level too as he lacks the strength in the post. Kaminsky could be a starter from the get-go but will have to be paired with someone else that is gritty and defensive minded to mask his weaknesses. Could be a 7'1 Ryan Anderson.





C Willie Cauley-Stein - Kentucky

Rim protection is big in the NBA as you need a key rim protector to make life harder for the LeBrons and Westbrooks of the NBA and Cauley Stein projects as a rim protector.Along with Towns created a 7 foot tower for opposing offenses. For a 7 footer with a 7'3 wingspan can also play defense on the perimeter which is rare for a player his size. Now the offensive side of his game is another side of the story but if he can keep developing his mid-range jumper would be a solid pick for a team building a foundation for the playoffs. Should not be drafted by a team expecting him to be more than what he is.



G/F R.J Hunter - Georgia State

R.J Hunter made a name for himself in the NCAA Tournament turning Georgia State into a Cinderella story along with his father and coach Ron Hunter. If it wasn't for the Baylor upset, he might not be getting this acclaim that he is getting. R.J Hunter is the ultimate 3 and D player, being a coach's son he has excellent basketball I.Q. and rotates good defensively and is athletic enough to hold his own against 2 guards and has the wingspan (6'11) to defend small forwards. Hunter may have not shot too well in Georgia State, (39.3 FG pct and 29,8 3PT) but can be contributed he was taking the bulk of the shots and defenses were keying on him. He has the mentality of a shooter though and will benefit from having less defensive pressure on him in the NBA. R.J. Hunter can shoot and draw foul shots at a good clip but is not able to create a shot off the dribble. R.J. Hunter might have the biggest draft range in the first round, with some mock drafts taking him in the lottery and others having him at 30.



F Rondae Hollis-Jefferson - Arizona

May be the most athletic player in this draft. At 6'7 220, Hollis-Jefferson already possess the physical frame needed to defend NBA wings. Hollis-Jefferson was named to the Pac-12 All-Conference Team and the All-Defensive Team. As you seen Andre Iguodala's effectiveness in the NBA Finals, you know perimeter defense is a coveted asset in the NBA and will automatically fill a role on a NBA squad. The question on the offensive end is his shooting range on the offensive end (20.7 3pt percentage off 0.8 attempts per game). Not really much of a difference between him and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.



F Bobby Portis - Arkansas

Solid college player who averaged 17.5 points per game and 8.9 rebounds during his time for Arkansas. Fundamental knows where to be on the offensive and defensive end. Is an inside-out player, good bigman on the pick and roll that can also fade and hit a jumpshot. Not that athletic, will not be able to impose his will in the NBA game. Reminds me of Jason Thompson.




G Tyus Jones - Duke

Tyus Jones was the difference maker for Duke winning the National Championship. Despite only being 19 years old, Jones has the mentality of an college senior. He knows how to run an offense, does a great job in keeping his turnovers to a minimum and might be the most polished floor general in the draft. What Tyus lacks is supreme athleticism and quickness but that attribute may be overvalued given today's NBA point guard.
One of my sleepers in the draft, I have him listed as role player but could be a legit NBA starter. High end Ty Lawson/Andre Miller, low end Jordan Farmar.


?
Last but not least we have the question mark. This is the ultimate boom or bust prospect, a player with extreme upside but also an extreme downside. Could possibly be a superstar in the NBA or out in 3 years. GM is usually fired if it turns out to be the latter. Even riskier than the Upside player. (ex. Dirk Nowitzki, Tracy McGrady, Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Hassan Whiteside, Jan Vesely,Tyson Chandler, Hasheem Thabeet)



F - Kristaps Porzingis - Latvia(CB Sevilla)

Perhaps the biggest mystery in the NBA Draft, has little to no game film and most detail NBA teams have to go by is his pre-draft workouts. NBA teams must of came out impressed as he has risen up draft boards with even some draft pundits labeling him number 2. To be honest I am not too sold on the Latvian big man, from watching clips of his European play for Sevilla, he looks too similar to Tskitishvili and Vesely. He is a 7'1 frail bigman who likes to play like a guard and put the ball on the floor from the perimeter which he might be able to get away with that in Europe but NBA players will steal the ball in an instant. I remember Nikoloz Tskitishvili was described as a 7 foot T-Mac and Jan Vesely said one of his favorite players was Kevin Durant and he modeled his game after him. Just like Porzingis both guys were deemed athletic, has guard skills and have a similar build. What Porzingis has is a three point shot which will translate into the next level but he seriously needs to bulk up if he wants to make it in the NBA. If he cannot consistently play in the post in Europe how is he expected to do that in the NBA? He already gets overpowered in the paint and will need to improve his defensive IQ as he falls asleep defensively and does not rotate quick enough. What I like hearing from Porzingis it does seem he has a drive to be a NBA player and is not traveling to America solely for the money, a common thing a lot of International players do. It will be a mystery were he will fall, but if I was GM, I would not take the risk.

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NBA Season Preview 2013-2014: New York Knicks

2012-2013 Regular Season Record: 54-28

Key Additions: G Tim Hardaway Jr.(Rd 1, Pick 24), F/C Andrea Bargnani F Metta World Peace(2 yrs 3.2 million, 1.59 guaranteed), G Beno Udrih(1 yr, 1.27 million, 884,293 guaranteed), G J.R. Smith (Contract Extension: 3 yrs, 17 million, 11.54 million guaranteed)

Key Losses: G Jason Kidd (Retirement, Coaching Brooklyn Nets), Rasheed Wallace (Retirement), F Chris Copeland,  F Steve Novak, C Marcus Camby

Projected Starting Lineup: PG: Raymond Felton, SG: Iman Shumpert SF: Carmelo Anthony PF: Andrea Bargnani C: Tyson Chandler

Key Backups: G/F J.R. Smith, F Metta World Peace , F Amare Stoudemire, G Beno Udrih, G Pablo Prigioni, F/C Kenyon Martin. G Tim Hardaway Jr., 

The block that ended the Knicks' season.

They were the oldest team in the history NBA. One of the most exciting teams to watch with their free flowing style of play. Last year was suppose to be their year, after signing a future hall of famer Jason Kidd, a long time veteran Marcus Camby, former Knick Raymond Felton and an Argentine icon in Pablo Prigioni. The Knicks not only wanted to be the best team in New York, they wanted to be the team that can challenge the Miami Heat. Carmelo Anthony led the NBA in scoring with 28.7 points per game, J.R. Smith won the Sixth Man of the Year, the Knicks broke the record for most threes in a season. The Knicks shown they were a team to be reckoned with in the regular season, but things changed during the NBA playoffs.

It took 6 games for the Knicks to defeat the Rajon Rondo-less Celtics, often settling for complacency allowing a 20 point unanswered run from Boston. The glaring weaknesses became bigger against the Pacers with their lack of size being exploited by David West and Roy Hibbert. The Knicks were not allowed to play small ball with Melo at the 4 and Tyson Chandler was being overpowered by the mammoth Roy Hibbert. Paul George's size and versatility nullified New York's top offensive threats and the hot streak of Lance Stephenson during the series proved too much for New York's guards to handle.

In the off-season the Knicks decided to address their lack of ruggedness with the signing of Ron...Metta World Peace, a 7 foot in marksman in Andrea Bargnani and an efficient combo guard in Beno Udrih. Despite the new additions, if the Knicks are to get anywhere, it is dependent on the play of Carmelo Anthony.

Player Spotlight

How many "threes to the domes" will it take for Melo to win a championship?

Carmelo Anthony had one of the better seasons of his career in 2012-2013. The former Syracuse forward was the focal point of the Mike Woodson isolation offense creating mismatches at the small forward and power forward position. The change to the 4 allowed Carmelo to do what he does best; play in the post and operate from mid range. His quickness off the dribble and strength also allowed mismatches as he is too strong to be covered by an average small forward and he is too quick to be guarded by a power forward. But when the small forward who is covering you is 6'10 and more athletic added to a shoulder injury, Carmelo could not bring forth the performance to put the Knicks over the Pacers.

Carmelo Anthony throughout his career earned the reputation of being a "ball-stopper" often resorting to breaking down his opponent rather than playing with the team. This is all not to blame on Melo, head coach Mike Woodson has been notorious for using an "Iso-Joe" offense in Atlanta and racked up a NBA high 16 percent in isolations last season. Whether it is Carmelo Anthony or J.R. Smith, the ball often does not leave their hands when their eyes are on the bucket which often left to broken offensive plays and bad turnovers. 

Carmelo is expected to play his natural position at the small forward spot this season with the inclusion of Andrea Bargnani. The feeling should be mutual as Bargnani can park out at the edge of the three while Carmelo can play inside the key. For defense, Metta World Peace may not be his former self but is still one of the most feared players in the NBA, just ask Tyler Hansbrough. At 260 pounds, Metta World Peace can handle the David Wests as well as the Paul Georges while Melo does not have to take as much responsibility defensively (something he won't complain about).

The Others

J.R. Smith and Tyson Chandler will be just as important to the Knicks' success as Carmelo Anthony

When it looked like guard J.R. Smith will miss part of the season with knee surgery, Smith is back in action and is ready for New York's final preseason game. At 28 years old, J.R is entering his ninth season in the prime of his career. Last season Smith averaged 18.1 points per game, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Smith played more disciplined and controlled, and was a nice compliment to Carmelo Anthony. While we saw more consistency, the bad J.R. Smith was back in full effect shooting 33 percent throughout the playoffs. The problem with J.R. if he is in bad form is he does not know when to stop shooting, a mentality that Denver fans knew all too well and that New York fans came to experience against Boston and Indiana. J.R. Smith is almost just as important as Melo because somebody else needs to score as they were not many other scoring options outside of them last season.

Despite winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, Tyson Chandler does not get the credit he deserves on the defensive end. Chandler was an integral part in Dallas' championship run and transformed the New York Knicks defense from being horrible to being one of the better defenses in the league. Chandler uses every bit of his 7'1 frame and his nimble feet to be a menace at the defensive end making life hard for opposing players to drive to the basket. On offense Tyson is pretty serviceable too, finishing a high amount of his close range shots with dunks, put-backs and easy layups. As I mentioned before, he had major problems dealing with Roy Hibbert as he was too strong for the skinny Tyson Chandler to handle. The Knicks still have not addressed that issue as Cole Aldrich and Josh Powell are his backups.

Iman Shumpert will take Jason Kidd's place in the lineup as the starting shooting guard and came on strong towards the end of the season as he was readjusting to his knee and shown flashes of his athleticism. Known for his lockdown defense, Iman Shumpert is expected to improve his consistency on the offensive end of the ball and give the Knicks another outlet for scoring.

Raymond Felton is a solid if unspectacular point guard capable of running an offense and can provide points when needed. Last season, Felton averaged just 5.5 assists last season due to other options on the offensive end. Felton is best in a full court style of offense where he is dominating the ball and running the pick and roll as he was doing during his first stint with the Knicks. Bargnani can give the former North Carolina point guard some nice pick and pop potential.

Part of Felton's early success was the dominance of Amare Stoudemire who has been slowed down by knee problems and punching fire extinguishers. It could be stretching it to think that Amare Stoudemire would ever get back to his old self that made him one of the top power forwards in the NBA but then again he averaged 14.2 points per game and 5 rebounds in only 23.5 minutes during his short comeback last regular season.

Beno Udrih is one of the more underrated point guards in the NBA, this will be the fifth team in the Yugoslavian guard's career and is a solid backup for either guard position. Pablo Prigioni might of came to the NBA too late in his basketball career as he is past his prime but is still an important player on the bench thanks to his basketball IQ. Kenyon Martin made an immediate impact after getting signed late into the last season, will provide backup minutes at the 4 and 5 slot.Tim Hardaway Jr. has an NBA pedigree in his genes and a great pickup for the Knicks at 24, knows how to score but could be brought along the rotation slowly.

Overview

Will there be changes to the Mike Woodson offense?

In the 2012-2013 season, the Knicks were last in the NBA in assists per game, and 26th in rebounds. The Knicks at times were one-dimensional offensively as they lived and die by the three or at the hands of Melo and J.R.. New signing Andrea Bargnani does not deviate from the team formula and should become more of an replacement for Steve Novak. Metta World Peace is back in his hometown and he will definitely get behind the fans and bring the toughness for this Knicks team. While these group of players are younger and more versatile than last season's squad, the Knicks have not made enough off-season acquisitions to offset their intercity rivals the Brooklyn Nets. With Carmelo Anthony having recently declared for the open market, this could be the year of judgement for the New York Knicks.

Projected All Stars: Carmelo Anthony

Season Projection: Playoff Contention(5th place, 2nd in Atlantic Division)



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NBA Season Preview 2013-14: Phoenix Suns

2012-2013 Regular Season Record: 25-57

Key Additions: G: Eric Bledsoe (from Clippers via trade),  C: Alex Len (Rd 1, Pick 5), G/F: Gerald Green (from Pacers via trade), G: Archie Goodwin (Rd 1, pick 29), Jeff Hornacek (Head Coach)

Key Losses: F Luis Scola, F Michael Beasley, G/F Jared Dudley, C Jermaine O'Neal

Projected Starting Lineup: PG: Goran Dragic, SG: Eric Bledsoe SF: Gerald Green PF: Markeiff Morris, C: Marcin Gortat

Key Backups: G Shannon Brown, F Marcus Morris, C Alex Len, G Kendall Marshall, F Channing Frye

New Suns GM, Ryan McDonough starting off with a clean slate

Ever since taking over for the Phoenix Suns, former Boston Celtics executive Ryan McDonough nearly rebuilt the whole rosters with younger players with lots of potential. McDonough has done a good job ridding the older players with heavy contracts, waiving the knuckleheads (*cough* Beasley *cough*) and getting a first round draft pick in the process. The problem during the Suns' disappointing 25-57 season was a lack of team chemistry, disgruntled players and a switch of coaches mid season, and with a permanent signing of former Suns player Jeff Hornacek as the new head coach, Ryan McDonough sent a message that there are spots up for grabs.

Player Spotlight

After being in John Wall and Chris Paul's shadow, in Phoenix, the lights are on Eric Bledsoe.

Ever since his days in Kentucky, I was a huge fan of Eric Bledsoe. Built like a football player and can jump out of the building, I rated him as nearly as talented of a prospect as his former teammate John Wall and during his time in Los Angeles, he became one of top backup point guards in the NBA.

The possibilities are endless on how this former Kentucky guard will perform for Phoenix with the chains unleashed. To get a sample of what you are going to see from this 23 year old, let's take a look at his stats. Eric Bledsoe in 20.4 minutes, averaged 8.5 points per game, 3.1 assists, 3 rebounds, 0.7 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. If we average those stats over 36 minutes, you get 14.9 points, 5.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 2.5 steals per game!

If the combo guard played 36 minutes per game the whole season, Bledsoe would be tied with Russell Westbrook for rebounds(although Westbrook played 34.9 minutes), would beat out former teammate Chris Paul as the top steal leader and would be far and away the number one block leader.As for scoring, that average can be exceeded as he has full freedom and the green light in the Suns offense unlike in LA where he had Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford and Chris Paul.

Dragic and Bledsoe, the ideal combo?

With Goran Dragic playing alongside him, that gives Phoenix a nice 2 guard combination. Eric Bledsoe's 6'8 wingspan allows him to cover shooting guards, if the opposing point guard is too athletic and strong for Dragic, Bledsoe can slide over and guard the Westbrooks, Roses of the world as he packs just as much strength and speed with the best of him.

As for the offensive potential of the two combo guards, both players compliment each other with Dragic's technical style of play and Bledsoe's explosive style of basketball. Both guards masks each others' weaknesses, Bledsoe can have problems slowing the tempo down in the offense, his high octane energy can lead to turnovers from bad decision making. Bledsoe also needs to improve his mid range game as he was 29 percent from 16-23 feet. Dragic is a better passer at this stage of his career than the 23 year old averaging 7.4 assists on the season, Dragic also has a more developed mid range game shooting 42 percent from that area.

The Others

Will 5th pick Alex Len make an impact this season?

Eric Bledsoe is not the only player in the starting lineup that has something to prove, Gerald Green has had an up and down career in the NBA so far and has not lived to the immense expectations he has had coming out of high school. The Suns will give him another chance in that small forward spot which has to be the position of weakness in Phoenix.

Another weakness is the power forward spot and while the Morris twins have proven to be good role players this past season, do they have what it takes to bring their respective games to the next level? Making a comeback is Channing Frye who missed all of last season with a tragic enlarged heart. Fortunately, Frye is clear and should add the veteran presence in the locker room as he is currently the longest tenured Sun.

Marcin Gortat has been frustrated with Suns life last season, still posting solid numbers as he is one of the better centers in the NBA. Hopefully Jeff Hornacek gave Gortat new found hope although it is yet to be seen if the Polish international is in Phoenix's plans or not. Rookie center Alex Len will have a say in that, a mobile 7'1 big man with a soft touch. Len has excellent pick and roll potential, a nice shot blocker averaging 2.1 per game in Maryland and a decent jumper. He has an obvious lack of strength as with most big men coming from college. May not be ready yet on day one, but could be the player to watch in the future if he can get over his ankle problems.

When it looked like Kendall Marshall would be the successor to Steve Nash, the Suns went out and signed back Goran Dragic and Marshall was limited to backup playing time. The former Tar Heel did not have a good season in his allotted  time and this season might be the determining factor whether Marshall is NBA caliber. There is some debate if former Kentucky guard Archie Goodwin left the Wildcats a year or two early, but the 19 year old had a encouraging summer league and could be the sleeper of the draft. Shannon Brown returns as the Suns possible sixth man and has the versatility to play the one, two and three if the Suns go small.

Overview
Jeff Hornacek has spent his first six seasons in Phoenix and enjoyed his time as a prolific scorer. This decision as the Suns head coach is a great move as he has the immediate backing from fans of Arizona. The Phoenix ownership will give him plenty of time and patience as this young squad is not ready to compete during this season of rebuilding. Nonetheless, I expect them to eclipse their last season's mark of 25 wins as they start their second season post-Nash era.

Projected All-Stars: None

Season Projection: Bottom of the Western Conference



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NBA Season Preview 2013-14: Charlotte Bobcats

2012-2013 Regular Season Record: 21-61

Key Additions:  F/C Cody Zeller (Rd 1, Pick 4), C Al Jefferson (3 years , 41 mil, 27.2 guaranteed), Gerald Henderson ( 4 yrs, 24 mil, 12 mil guaranteed), Steve Clifford (Head Coach)

Key Losses: F: Tyrus Thomas, Mike Dunlap (Head Coach)

Projected Starting Lineup: PG: Kemba Walker, SG: Gerald Henderson SF: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist PF: Cody Zeller, C: Al Jefferson

Key Backups: G Ramon Sessions, F/C Bismack Biyombo, G Ben Gordon, F Josh McRoberts

With a high profile signing and another top 5 pick, Can MJ and the Bobcats get back to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history?

Despite improving on their atrocious seven win record by 14, the Charlotte Bobcats were still among the worst in the NBA, lacking in talent and coaching. They weren't arguably the worst team in NBA history like they were in the 2011-2012 season but still is the laughing stock of the NBA and is it possible to rebuild with this team?

First, the Charlotte Bobcats did not have many players signed over the previous years that panned out, one being Tyrus Thomas. The athletic forward has had problems with injuries and confidence throughout his career and probably had his last stint of his NBA career. Mike Dunlap also got let go after his first year with the team after having problems with team chemistry and lineup rotations. Another clean slate(and another new jersey) the Charlotte Bobcats are looking to fly under the radar and sneak up the Eastern Conference.

Player Spotlight

If the Bobcats are gonna get anywhere from rock bottom, Kemba Walker will have to be the answer.

While basketball fans were paying attention to other teams, Kemba Walker silently put up a very solid season, averaging 17.7 points per game, 5.7 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game on 42 percent shooting. The Bronx-born 23 year old has made excellent strides from his struggling rookie season in which he shot near 37 percent. Kemba Walker has shown flashes in what made him the NCAA player of the year in Connecticut, but the problems still lies in his ability to finish in the paint given his 6'1 frame. Kemba manages to suppress that weakness with an excellent mid range game in which he can pull up off the bounce with his quickness and anticipation. In this era of the point guards, it might not be realistic in Kemba Walker's career(and Bobcats' expectations) for him to ever be a possible all star in future, but can make improvements next season for the Cats' to take the next step.

Although not Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook, Kemba Walker is able to get by regardless of his physical limitations, his amazing ball handling skills combined with his speed allows him to get anywhere on the court, his energy is infectious, he's durable(played all 82 games last season) and also has a decent three point shot at 32 percent. Areas the former UConn guard needs to improve is his passing, granted Kemba does not have much help and constantly plays with another point guard, but needs to balance being a passer and being a scorer in a more effective way. Given his size, he probably will never be a good defender but can be a terror picking off steals averaging 2 of them last season.

The Others

Is Big Al looking for a challenge or is he just in it for the money?

Al Jefferson enjoyed a fine couple of seasons for the Utah Jazz before cashing in on the Charlotte Bobcats averaging 17.8 and 9.2 rebounds in his final season. He has battled injuries throughout his career and is not the same player that got traded to the Timberwolves as part of the Kevin Garnett trade but is still one of the better centers of the NBA. Big Al can be what the Bobcats are missing in the post, but there is a little skepticism in the former high school draftee going to a bottom feeder team for a generous amount of money over a contender, does he have the ambition to win?

The fourth pick of the draft Cody Zeller enjoyed a fine two seasons at Indiana and is projected to fight with Bismack Biyombo to be the starting power forward. At 7'0 240, Zeller can run like a deer across the court and spread the floor out with his mid range game, extremely technical for a 21 year old, does he have the strength to hang and defend against the NBA big men?

Speaking of Biyombo, his defense is promising and his offense is offensive, with another coach, this might be his make or break year if we do not see any improvements.

Michael Kidd Gilchrist might be the worst shooting small forward in the NBA, but can pretty much do everything else that can impact the game. Has a lot of potential, can he improve his jumper?

Before we know it, Gerald Henderson might be a Bobcat/Hornet for life. Has found his role on the team utilizing his athleticism developed a jumpshot and has been producing well averaging 15 points per game over the last 2 seasons. But then again, who else is going to score?

As for the rest of the team, Ramon Sessions is a solid point guard who plays best in a sixth man role and has worked well with Kemba, Ben Gordon is no longer the player from Chicago but still can catch on fire in any second, McBob has one of the best nicknames in the business and can provide a good cover for Zeller/Biyombo/Jefferson.

Overview
Steve Clifford has a tough job ahead of him, and Jordan and the rest ownership have proven before they are not scared of firing a coach after the first year. Steve Clifford has a interesting background being a former protege of the Gundy brothers and serving as a Lakers assistant last season, it will be difficult to coach a young basketball team that had its third coach in three years. While the future Hornets should further improve on their 21-61 record, expect another losing season under the Bobcats name.

Projected All-Stars: None

Season Projection: Bottom of the Eastern Conference

NBA Top 5 SGs for the 13-14 Season

With an Achilles injury to Kobe Bryant, the shooting guard is in need of a young upstart ready to take the league by storm. James Harden has certainly benefited from getting out of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook's shadow, will Monta Ellis and OJ Mayo benefit from a change of scenery as well?

1. Dwayne Wade - Miami Heat

Many critics speculate whether Dwayne Wade still has what it takes to be a top player in the NBA. At times the Miami Heat did look like the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Dwayne Wade (as well as Chris Bosh) had much to blame, but how much of his discerning play was from injury or just simply age? Dwayne Wade is not known to make excuses, he never really let off how much his knee was bothering him. With a full off-season of rest, the three time NBA champ should come back to form. In terms of efficiency, DWade had his best season to date shooting 52 percent, this is the result of the three time NBA champion getting adjusted to his Robin role to LeBron's batman. Not exactly a sharpshooter, Dwayne excels with his still tremendous athletic ability, basketball IQ and heart to sacrifice his body for the benefit of the team. Expect Flash to be back into his old self this season.

2. James Harden - Houston Rockets

The Western Conference will fear the beard this season as he could become an All-Star starter as a result of the Kobe Bryant injury. I would be lying if I told you James Harden was going to perform as well as he did last season. The former Arizona State guard averaged 25.9 points per game, 5.8 assists, 4.9 rebounds while getting 1.8 steals per game. Harden is a versatile two guard, with the ability to operate an offense as well as being the main option and is also an underrated perimeter defender. The burden he had to carry for his team was heavier than his facial hair, Harden did not have much help on the offensive end which lead to a bittersweet exit at the hands of his former team Oklahoma City Thunder. Dwight Howard will provide the help offensive end giving Harden an option on fast breaks as well as pick and rolls and should take some ease off of him on the defensive end knowing he has a player who can consistently man the paint. The Rockets have not had this good of a shooting guard since Tracy McGrady, now the mission is to do something T-Mac has never done and that is to bring Houston past the first round.

3. Monta Ellis - Dallas Mavericks

Say what you want about Monta Ellis, this former Lanier high school graduate can put the ball in the basket. Monta Ellis recently signed with the Dallas Mavericks and should have more success with the Mavs then his tenure with the Bucks. During his last season with the Milwaukee Bucks, Ellis averaged 19.2 points per game and 6 assists along with a guard that has a similar style of play in Brandon Jennings. Ellis should have more success with Dallas with a pass first point guard in Jose Calderon and is expected to be the Mavs leading scorer.

4.  Manu Ginobili - San Antonio Spurs

Just like Dwayne Wade, Manu Ginobili looked like a shell of his former self in the NBA Finals. Battling with a bevy of injuries as well, it was a tough time for the Argentine producing 11.5 points per game on just short of 40 percent shooting in 26 minutes of play. However, Manu did show glimpses of the old such as his 24 point explosion in the Spurs winning effort against the Miami Heat in game 5 as well as a 18 point outing before falling to the Heat in game 7. With Marco Belinelli coming on board, Man Ginobili should have a lesser workload which means more time to rest and better efficiency. His game is not heavily reliant on his athleticism rather than his craftiness and technique so with injuries aside, look for the Spurs to become the big three once again.

5. Tyreke Evans - New Orleans Pelicans

The second major transaction after the trade for Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans is eager to prove that he is still the same player that was highly regarded during his rookie year. The former Memphis combo guard had a solid year during his last season with the Sacramento Kings. The 24 year old contributed 15.2 points per game on a career high 48 percent field goal percentage. What is also to note about Tyreke Evans is his versatility, Evans can pay three positions on the court, contribute in rebounding and assists.  The Pelicans has recently stated that Evans will come off the bench, which will provide the second team with somebody, who can take the ball to the basket, play off guard or run the point if need be and will bring much added depth into the second unit. A bold prediction yes, but Tyreke Evans is in a perfect position to win sixth man of the year and regain that swagger that made him rookie of the year.

The Big Question Mark - Kobe Bryant - Los Angeles Lakers

While creating this list, the most difficult decision I had to make is where do I put Kobe Bryant on this list? If not for the torn Achilles, Kobe Bryant would have been 2nd on the list behind Dwayne Wade (argue all you want). With the torn Achilles, I had him after James Harden. With recent developments of another knee procedure in Germany,  I decided to keep him here as a glorified honorable mention until we are sure he can be healthy for the first half of the season. We all know what happened to Andrew Bynum.

Other Honorable Mentions

Eric Gordon - New Orleans Pelicans
Has not been the same player since coming back from a right knee injury that got him sidelined for 57 games during his first year with New Orleans in the 2011-2012 season. Gordon has also been dealing with chronic ankle injuries that he had arthroscopic surgery on in May. Can the former Hoosier guard put these injuries behind him and return to the player he was during the 2010-11 season with the Clippers?

Jamal Crawford - Los Angeles Clippers
Known for his killer ball handle and knack for scoring, the Seattle born combo guard has come a long way in the league since being drafted by the Chicago Bulls 8th overall in 2000.  Jamal Crawford has become one of the top sixth men in the NBA but at that age of 33, can he maintain that level of production?

J.R. Smith - New York Knicks
During the off-season, J.R. Smith underwent patella tendon surgery that will keep him sidelined for 12-16 weeks. The defending NBA Sixth Man of the Year would of been my number five on my list, but unfortunately Knicks fans should only expect him to be back in action during the second half of the season.

OJ Mayo - Milwaukee Bucks
Mayo was really Jeykll and Hyde last season with the Dallas Mavericks. Before the All-Star break, OJ Mayo was averaging 17.9 points per game while shooting 46 percent from the field and 41 percent from downtown. After the break, the former USC guard averaged a meager 10.9 with his field goal percentage dipping just under 42 percent. Mavs coach Rick Carlisle even questioned his ambition playing against his former team, the Memphis Grizzlies. With Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings gone, OJ Mayo has a chance to be the man in Milwaukee, will he take that opportunity?

Joe Johnson - Brooklyn Nets
Despite breaking ankles and hitting clutch shots, Joe Johnson has been largely disappointing during his first year with the Brooklyn Nets. Most of the disappointing play was in part due to the lack of chemistry between him and Deron Williams. During his time with the Atlanta Hawks, Joe Johnson morphed from a spot up shooter in Phoenix to an isolation scorer in Atlanta, with Deron Williams dominating the ball and running the offense,it was hard for the 32 year old to get in rhythm. Add to that Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry, where will the six time All-Star fit in?

NBA Top 5 PGs for the 13-14 Season

NBA Top 5 PGs of the 2013-14 Season

With many teams in the NBA still making last minute signings before the start of the season, I have postponed the season previews for a more appropriate date. Meanwhile, lets get into a discussion of the best players of the NBA at each position. Note, I am not making this list on who is the best of last season, but who I expect to be the best of this season. There are bold decisions on my lists so I do not expect you to agree with all my picks. And if you don't, feel free to comment with your insight.

Now on to the show!

This is the golden era in the NBA for point guards, so this list is very debatable but based on projections this is my list for Top 10 PGs.

1. Chris Paul

With the influx of young talented point guards in the NBA, Chris Paul is still the top of the totem pole when it comes to the best. Last season, Chris Paul led the Los Angeles Clippers to a franchise best 56-26 regular season record while averaging 9.7 assists per game. Along with Kyrie Irving, he has the best handles in basketball, a true floor general running the offense and a fast break steal waiting to happen. Now being the big dog team in LA along with new coach Doc Rivers and returning players; Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Jamal Crawford, an NBA title is the expectation for Lob City.

2. Derrick Rose

No I am not crazy and yes I know he came off a torn ACL in which he did not play the whole season. Having a little experience in what DRose was going through, ACL tears are no joke, you can not rush this type of injury, not everybody is Adrian Peterson. Derrick Rose had to wait until he was ready and I know he is itching to come back in style. We are talking about a Derrick Rose with a full year of rest, over a year removed from his ACL tear and a big chance to challenge the Heat in the Eastern Conference. Many people forget that it was only two years ago Derrick Rose was the MVP averaging 25 points per game and 7.7.assists. Look for Derrick Rose to prove many doubters wrong this season.

3. Kyrie Irving

As I said in my Cleveland Cavaliers season preview Kyrie Irving will take the next step in his development and will become an elite point guard in the NBA. His first two seasons, Irving had to carry the workload on scoring, resulting in lower shooting percentages and assists numbers as Kyrie had to force shots occasionally to give his team a chance to win. Expect more help this season with Andrew Bynum(if healthy of course), rookie Anthony Bennett and a sophomore Dion Waiters. Despite his dominance in All-Star weekend last season, many basketball fans are still unaware of how good Kyrie Irving really is.This season, they will find out.

4. Tony Parker

Tony Parker gets better with age. If you have watched the Spurs throughout last year's postseason, Tony Parker was arguably the best point guard of the playoffs. With an added three point shot, Tony Parker became seemingly unguardable last season and did what he wanted on the court. It is still amazing to me how well this Frenchman can score in the paint given his size. Last season Tony Parker averaged 20.3 points per game 7.6 assists per game at an amazing 52 percent clip. Having came close to another NBA title, Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs will look for redemption this upcoming season.

5. Russell Westbrook

After Westbrook tore his right meniscus against the Houston Rockets Game 2 of the playoffs, critics started to realize just how important this former UCLA guard is to the OKC Thunder. Nobody else compliments Kevin Durant's game better than Russell Westbrook. KD had to carry the team on his shoulders and without Westbrook's unpredictability, OKC became one dimensional. This super athletic point guard should not have any setbacks from his knee injury and as long as he and Durant stays healthy, Oklahoma City are a championship contender. If Westbrook improves his shot selection, he would be higher on this list.

Honorable Mentions

John Wall

After his maximum contract signing, big things are expected from this lightning quick guard, and with so much talent on this list, he just missed the top 5. In reference to my Washington Wizards season preview, if the Wizards are to make a playoff berth, Wall needs to live up to those enormous expectations.

Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo is arguably the best passing point in the NBA. While lack of a consistent jumper, Rondo can still take over games and his running of the offense is a thing of beauty. Due to an ACL tear that ended his season early against the Atlanta Hawks and a complete rebuild of the Celtics, this year will be a transition for the former Kentucky guard so expect a drop in production.

Deron Williams

Remember when Deron Williams and Chris Paul were 1A and 1B? After a trade to the Brooklyn Nets, although playing at All-Star level, Deron Williams has not replicated the form that made him a top point guard. With a couple of new weapons at his disposal, Deron Williams has less pressure on him and a chance to make the Nets the best team in New York.

Stephen Curry

His jumper is poetry in motion. After breaking Ray Allen's record for most threes in a season and carrying Golden State to the second round, Stephen Curry became a fan favorite in The City after struggling with ankle injuries earlier in his career. A better floor general than given credit for, expect Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors to make even more noise in the Western Conference this season.

How Greg Oden will fit into the Miami Heat

Greg Oden, once known as the next big thing in the NBA, touted as the next legendary big man that will follow the lines of Tim Duncan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a couple of microfracture surgeries later, is now known as the guy that got drafted over Kevin Durant. For Greg Oden, high expectations was an understatement, he was a former McDonalds High School All-American and 2006 Indiana Mr. Basketball, Oden went on to lead Ohio State along with current Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley to National Championship runner-ups. Although they did not finish as champions, Greg Oden finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds against a front court of Al Horford and Joakim Noah. Many seen OKC star Kevin Durant as the new Tracy McGrady and Greg Oden as the new Tim Duncan, and of course the latter is expected to bring championships. Fast forward six years later, Greg Oden might still be the first to win a ring.

Before Greg Oden made his decision, agent Bill Duffy said the former Ohio State center would choose a team where there will be "less pressure". With Oden making his decision to Miami, there is nothing but pressure as all eyes are on him to perform and become the missing piece in Miami that almost got exposed against the Indiana Pacers and the San Antonio Spurs. Miami fan or not, everybody can agree that the Heat dodged some close calls, and with a talent like LeBron James, he masked the biggest of weaknesses, and the biggest weakness is their lack of size. This was most evident when David West and Roy Hibbert were bulldozing the smaller and less imposing Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem. Birdman might of helped their lack of a down and dirty bigman, but he is not exactly a massive build and is known more for bringing energy off the bench. Greg Oden answers the Heat's problem, but is he still the same player that made him a college freshman First Team All-American?

To make things clear, it would be a stretch to assume Greg Oden will be the Heat's starting center. After being away from the game for more than two years, it will be a while for Oden to get back into NBA shape so expect the Heat to play him sporadically. Even when he gets back into fitness, do not expect him to dominate, Pat Riley brought Greg Oden for one thing and that is to be a big body. He is the response to the Roy Hibberts and the Dwight Howards of the NBA. This acquisition will also allow LeBron James to be fresher on the offensive end with not having to help as much in the paint for defense so he can focus on guarding perimeter threats instead. Expect Greg Oden to be a taller and bigger Joel Anthony, anything more than that will probably be unrealistic.

NBA Season Preview 2013-14: Washington Wizards

2012-2013 Regular Season Record: 29-53

Key Additions:  F: Otto Porter Jr. (Rd 1, Pick 3), Glen Rice Jr. (Rd 2, Pick 35 via 76ers) Eric Maynor (2 yrs, 4.12 mil, all guaranteed), G John Wall (Contract Extension 5 yrs, 80 million, all guaranteed)

Key Losses: None

Projected Starting Lineup: PG: John Wall SG: Bradley Beal SF: Otto Porter Jr. PF: Nene C: Emeka Okafor

Key Backups: F Trevor Ariza, G/F Martell Webster, F/C Kevin Seraphin, F Trevor Booker, G Eric Maynor, F Jan Vesely

Move over Barack Obama, John Wall is now the big man in Washington DC! Just a few days ago from today, John Wall signed a maximum contract as shown above keeping him to 2018. Of course with a big contract comes big expectations, expectations that John Wall can not do alone. And that expectation is to lead the Washington Wizards to glory something former maximum contract signee Gilbert Hibachi Arenas(or whatever you call him these days) could not do.

John Wall recently stated that this contract will motivate him to another level and if the Wizards are able to take the next step, it has to. John Wall started last season with a left knee injury that kept him sidelined to January 12 where he made his impressive debut against that Hawks that saw an upset Wizard win 93-83 in which Wall scored 14 points in 21 minutes. Wall kept this impressive play up for the remainder of the season and transformed the Wizards from bottom feeder(5-28 without Wall) to a team that was not going to be pushed around(24-25 with Wall). To note, John Wall was also getting better as the season went on, his pre All-Star break stats were 14.7 PPG, 7.3 AST and 3.2 RPG on 43 percent shooting over 28.8 minutes. Wall then exploded post All-Star break with 20.7 PPG, 7.8 AST and 4.5 RPG on 45 percent shooting over 34.9 minutes. The major difference in the numbers indicates he was still getting back to fitness pre All-Star and his post All-Star numbers will be more of the norm this upcoming season.

John Wall's game is a hybrid of Russell Westbrook and Rajon Rondo. He is similar to Russell Westbrook in that he is usually the fastest man on the court and arguably the fastest player in the NBA right now who is seemingly unstoppable on a fast break. Wall is also similar to Rondo in that he plays with a pass first mentality and displays tremendous court vision. Defenses also give him the Rondo treatment forcing him to shoot the ball by playing off of him as far as they can while trying to block all passing lanes. Which like Rondo, shooting especially the three point shot is John Wall's Achilles' heel. Despite showing an improvement in his three point shot with a 34 percent clip post All-Star, Wall still only took one a game. In today's NBA, no matter how athletic you are or court savvy, it is almost imperative for a point guard to develop at least a serviceable three point shot playing at the top of the key. And in John Wall's case he will become practically unguardable if he develops a three point shot that he is confident with. To show just how deadly his offensive potential is, against the Memphis Grizzlies, Wall exploded for a stat line of 47 points with 7 rebounds and assists while making 2 out of 4 from the three point line. His defensive potential is enormous as well, gaining the reputation as one of the best shot blocking point guards and also chipping in a steal per game. His on the ball defense is good as well and will only get better due to his athletic ability. This year could see the evolution of John Wall but in order to take the Wizards into the next level, he will require help from the other young prospects.

Bradley Beal was drafted 3rd overall in the 2012 NBA draft for the main reason of being John Wall's Robin. Beal compliments Wall's game well, he is a prototypical two guard that can catch and shoot as well as shoot off the dribble. John Wall's early injury also had an impact on his rookie play, shooting around 35 percent without Wall and shooting around 46 percent with Wall. His season unfortunately got cut short to a right fibula injury and only played 56 games in the season that also cut him short of working with the USA team. Bradley Beal just got cleared yesterday for contact and just in time before training camp, Beal's shooting ability stretches the floor for John Wall to penetrate opposing defenses and vice versa.

The other piece to the puzzle is a bigger question mark, Otto Porter Jr. drafted 3rd overall, Otto Porter was seen by many as a "safe" pick that he will be able to make an impact on the NBA court from day one. His Vegas Summer League play proved otherwise, the Georgetown product scored 6.3 PPG on 30 percent shooting, 3.7 RPG and only 1 assist per game through 3 games before ending his summer league play to injury. One of the main problems for Porter's struggles is his lack of strength, Porter has a lanky frame of 6'9 205 and guarding the LeBron James and Carmelo Anthonys of the world will pose serious problems for him. There are many things that Porter does well but he does not really stand out in a particular skill set. He shot 42 percent from three in college but can he get his shot off against the NBA caliber talent? Can he make his lanky frame work ala Tayshawn Prince and become a terror on the defensive end or will he have similar struggles ala Wesley Johnson?

Big men Nene and Emeka Okafor are getting up there in age, both 30 years old. Can Nene stay healthy and provide the inside scoring he was known for 11 years in the NBA? Can Emeka Okafor provide the defensive presence necessary to compete with the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks of his division? They will also be backed by young promising bigs; Kevin Seraphin and Trevor Booker. The Frenchman Kevin Seraphin is similar to Nene in regard he knows how to score in the paint using his 275 pound frame to average 9.1 PPG in 21.8 minutes of play. Trevor Booker also provides energy off the bench grabbing 5 rebounds a game in 18.5 minutes of play. The bench also provides athletic utility man Trevor Ariza and the sharpshooting Martell Webster. Eric Maynor will look to forget his horrible Portland stint being over a year removed from his ACL injury, Jan Vesley has been disappointing so far in the NBA and this will be his make or break year and Glen Rice Jr. will look to crack the rotation after an excellent showing in the D-League.

Head Coach Randy Wittman is on the hot seat this year, and a playoff birth could prove to be all the difference to keep his job. The Wizards should be able to improve their total points per game that was ranked 28th in the league with 93.2 with a healthy John Wall, Beal and Nene. Their strength was in rebounding(43.2) and defense(95.8 allowed) that had them 8th and 9th in the league respectively and should be able to maintain their output. Everything I said about Kyrie Irving is the same with John Wall, I expect him to take his game to the next level. I had a tough time with this prediction, but the Wizards will just make the playoffs next season if Wall, Beal and Nene can stay healthy and if Porter can put his summer league play behind him.

Projected All Stars: John Wall

Season Projection: Playoff Contention(8th place if healthy)

NBA Season Preview 13-14: Orlando Magic

2012-2013 Regular Season Record: 20-62

Key Additions: G Victor Oladipo (Rd 1, Pick 2), F Jason Maxiell (2 yrs, 5 mil, 2.5 mil guaranteed) , G Ronnie Price (2 yrs, 2.58 mil, 1.27 mil guaranteed), F Romero Osby (Rd 2, Pick 51)

Key Losses: None

Projected Starting Lineup: PG: Jameer Nelson SG: Arron Affalo SF: Maurice Harkless PF: Tobias Harris C: Nikola Vucevic

Key Backups: G Victor Oladipo, F/C Glen "Big Baby" Davis, F Andrew Nicholson, F Jason Maxiell

Well there is one thing Orlando Magic fans can be happy about, they are now the clear cut winners of the Dwight Howard trade. It was always seemingly inevitable Dwight Howard would leave the Orlando Magic and unlike the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Magic managed to get pieces out of the trade in the form of Arron Afflalo, Maurice Harkless and Nikola Vucevic. What has also been the cause and effect was a huge rebuilding year, one that netted them the 2nd pick of the NBA draft in which the Magic choose Victor Oladipo.

Enter Victor Oladipo, part of the Indiana Hoosier resurgence alongside current Bobcat Cody Zeller, leads the current new look Orlando Magic. Oladipo is an intriguing prospect, blessed with excellent athleticism and good defensive qualitiesthat I found at first puzzling the Magic drafted him although having a playing style similar to the aforementioned Arron Afflalo. After watching the Orlando Summer League, Oladipo has left doubters including me speechless.

Orlando Head Coach Jacque Vaughn, tasked the Nigerian descent two guard of running the point guard position, one that doubters including me questioned with his presumed lack of ball handling and playmaking skills. Victor Oladipo put all those doubters including me on hush as he was the only other rookie not named Kelly Olynyk to make the first team of the Orlando Summer League scoring 19 points, grabbing 4.3 rebounds, five assists and picked off 3 steals through four games. Oladipo shown surprisingly good ball handling skills, a knack for hitting the big shot and blazing speed to cover both areas of the court in a matter of seconds. This summer league showing has him drawn to comparisons of Russell Westbrook, a player who also was almost exclusively a two guard in college playing at UCLA. While it is quick to put such a heavy ceiling on him, I expect after this summer league showing he will be used primarily as a point guard, and with learning under former point guard Jacque Vaughn and an experience point in Jameer Nelson, the sky is the limit on his presumed limited potential.

The free agent signings the Orlando Magic have made are not too much to note although Jason Maxiell and Ronnie Price adds some veteran presence in a young locker room. Maxiell was a high energy guy during eight seasons with the Pistons and Ronnie Price is an explosive combo guard who has seen stints with Sacramento, Utah, Phoenix and Portland. This team is obviously not expected to land a big star at this stage of development but are solid short term signings for a rebuilding team.

This rebuilding team has some nice rebuilding pieces. Despite Glen Davis being the designated starter of the Magic during the 2012-2013 season before being sidelined by a left ankle injury, I expect him to start the season on the bench after the tremendous showing of duo forwards; Maurice Harkless and Tobias Harris. Harkless struggled in the first half of the season when he was thrown into the starting spot after Hedo Turkgolu went down, but in the second half of the season, he averaged 13.4 PPG while rebounding at a clip of 5.3 in 35.7 minutes of play. The former St. John's man is versatile and athletic able of playing both forward spots and with further improvement on his shooting could be a player to watch for the Magic. Tobias Harris is also a player to keep an eye on and who would of thought the Magic came out with a rising star out of the trade of J.J. Redick. Tobias Harris averaged 17.5 PPG, grabbed 8.5 boards, chipped in 2.1 assists and also added a block post-trade playing the power forward position. At the age of 21, Tobias Harris already has a game mature beyond his years that will only improve with time.

Nikola Vucevic also surprised quite a few this season averaging 13.9 PPG and 11.9 rebounds even breaking Shaq's longstanding record of rebounds in a single game with 29 against the Miami Heat. In a league where it is rare to find talented seven-footers, the 76ers are wishing they had him back. Arron Afflalo had a heavy offensive workload last season scoring 16.5 PPG at a 44 percent clip. Same can be said for Jameer Nelson who scored 14.4 PPG and 7.4 assists before his season ended due to injury. Youn power forward Andrew Nicholson shown promise scoring 7.8 PPG in 16.7 minutes and could be in line for more playing time this season.

This upcoming season is only expected to be a slight improvement upon last season's 20-62 record. Jacque Vaughn is the right coach for the job with his leadership and his relationship to players as a former one himself, this team will grow as he grows. Unfortunately for this upcoming season they do not have much offensive firepower to compete in the Eastern Conference. This team is still in rebuilding mode and with the rising young talent they have, expect the Orlando Magic to make some noise a few years down the road.

Projected All-Stars: None

Season Projection: Bottom of the Eastern Conference