Post by St. Louis Sting on Nov 30, 2014 18:27:53 GMT -5
Written After Week 4
Buffalo Wings
Biggest Assets: Kemba Walker
Biggest Needs: Everything
Best Value: None
Biggest Reach: Enes Kanter $7
2014 Outlook: Not good. Prime candidate to finish last.
Future Outlook: Owner dependent
Notes: Late start to drafting, and it shows with only one impact player. The team has plenty of cap space for the future and could rebuild in free agency the next couple seasons.
Chicago Fire
Biggest Assets: DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall
Biggest Needs: Small Forward, Shooting Guard
Best Value: Julius Randle $2(future)
Biggest Reach: Derrick Rose $19
2014 Outlook: Mid-Lower tier team. Veteran team with very little upside.
Future Outlook: Not much growth. Will probably remain mid-lower tier.
Notes: Team of veterans on the bench. Some young talent, but not enough to carry the Fire to the top. They do have a few prospects for growth, but the the lack of cap space and top-heavy long-term contracts limits the upside.
Clayhounds Dawgs
Biggest Assets: Klay Thompson, Damian Lilliard
Biggest Needs: None
Best Value: Klay Thompson $19
Biggest Reach: Josh Smith $16
2014 Outlook: Title Contender
Future Outlook: Upper-tier team, but maybe not at the top
Notes: Currently atop the standings for good reason. Solid team all the way around, with many proven veterans. Said veterans will limit the growth capabilities of the team, as will the limited cap space. Should remain near the top for the next couple seasons at least, though.
Dallas Desperados
Biggest Assets: Dirk Nowitzki, Kawhi Leonard
Biggest Needs: Guards
Best Value: Dirk Nowitzki $19, Kevin Durant $53 (future)
Biggest Reach: None
2014 Outlook: Likely 3rd-5th, but return of Durant will be major factor
Future Outlook: Will remain in the top half of the league with potential to enter the upper tier
Notes: Return of Durant for next season will be key. Poor depth on the bench and a lot of injuries. Salary cap constraints limit the team's flexibility.
Eakin Doughnuts
Biggest Assets: Lebron James
Biggest Needs: Everything but PF
Best Value: Elfrid Payton $6 (future)
Biggest Reach: Lebron James $80 (!)
2014 Outlook: Will finish near the bottom. Lack of depth is sinking the team.
Future Outlook: Not much improvement until at least 2016
Notes: Managed to get Lebron, but cost over 1/3rd of the total salary available. No depth, but plenty of cap space for improvement. Many lowly talented players signed for multiple seasons and large contracts. 2016 free agency will be key.
Gainesville Gators
Biggest Assets: Monta Ellis, Nikola Vucevic
Biggest Needs: Power Forward
Best Value: Nikola Vucevic $11
Biggest Reach: Rajon Rondo $21
2014 Outlook: Middle of the pack. Likely to make the playoffs in the back end.
Future Outlook: Could make a jump to the 2nd quartile by 2016.
Notes: Loads of cap space available. Team is solid throughout but lacking big impact players. Most players are on 2 year contracts, making the 2016 offseason vital to continued success. Good signings, mixed with long-term talent, could turn this team into a contender.
New Jersey Haze
Biggest Assets: Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul
Biggest Needs: SG and SF
Best Value: DeMar DeRozan $9
Biggest Reach: None
2014 Outlook: Will improve from their current 9th place standing. Likely to finish in top half.
Future Outlook: Top half finisher but will not compete for title until at least 2017
Notes: Extremely top heavy with very little depth. Still no reason this team should be in 9th though, and I expect them to move up in the rankings. Loads of salary and large number of players locked up for the next few seasons, limiting growth potential and flexibility.
Norwich Nemesis
Biggest Assets: Marc Gasol, Al Jefferson
Biggest Needs: Small Forward
Best Value: None
Biggest Reach: None
2014 Outlook: Top 5 team for sure, likely in the top 3
Future Outlook: Will remain a contender for a long time
Notes: Very little star power, but incredible depth on this team. Can put any player in the lineup and expect great results. Some cap space to work with in future seasons, and many key players locked up for the next few years.
Pensacola Pelicans
Biggest Assets: Jeff Green
Biggest Needs: Everything
Best Value: None
Biggest Reach: Everyone
2014 Outlook: Could make the back end of the playoffs, but unlikely.
Future Outlook: Likely near the bottom of the league until at least 2017
Notes: Got started late in drafting and overpaid to field a team. Many large contracts to players that are average or below that will haunt them in future seasons. Most of those contracts expire in 2017, so expect them to start to improve quickly starting then.
Salisbury Hotdogs
Biggest Assets: James Harden, Kevin Love
Biggest Needs: SF, Depth
Best Value: DeAndre Jordan $15
Biggest Reach: Lance Stephenson $18
2014 Outlook: Currently 10th, but should make playoffs
Future Outlook: Impossible to predict.
Notes: Has some star power, but very poor depth. Most players signed for extended periods and the lack of cap space will make improvement tough. Future depends entirely on the performance of the stars.
St. Louis Sting
Biggest Assets: Serge Ibaka, Kyle Lowry
Biggest Needs: None
Best Value: Bradley Beal $5 (future)
Biggest Reach: None
2014 Outlook: Top tier team with a chance at the title
Future Outlook: Even better than the current outlook. Expect a title within the next few seasons.
Notes: Like Norwich, very little star power but very deep throughout the roster. Multiple highly talented young players signed long-term and plenty of cap space allows room to improve as a team.
Syracuse Warriors
Biggest Assets: Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry
Biggest Needs: None
Best Value: Giannis Antetokounmpo $1 (future)
Biggest Reach: Joakim Noah $24
2014 Outlook: Title contender. Likely top 5 finish.
Future Outlook: Likely to remain a top 5 team. Young talent signed to extended contracts, some cap space (though not a ton), and solid depth will allow this team to remain a constant threat.
Buffalo Wings
Biggest Assets: Kemba Walker
Biggest Needs: Everything
Best Value: None
Biggest Reach: Enes Kanter $7
2014 Outlook: Not good. Prime candidate to finish last.
Future Outlook: Owner dependent
Notes: Late start to drafting, and it shows with only one impact player. The team has plenty of cap space for the future and could rebuild in free agency the next couple seasons.
Chicago Fire
Biggest Assets: DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall
Biggest Needs: Small Forward, Shooting Guard
Best Value: Julius Randle $2(future)
Biggest Reach: Derrick Rose $19
2014 Outlook: Mid-Lower tier team. Veteran team with very little upside.
Future Outlook: Not much growth. Will probably remain mid-lower tier.
Notes: Team of veterans on the bench. Some young talent, but not enough to carry the Fire to the top. They do have a few prospects for growth, but the the lack of cap space and top-heavy long-term contracts limits the upside.
Clayhounds Dawgs
Biggest Assets: Klay Thompson, Damian Lilliard
Biggest Needs: None
Best Value: Klay Thompson $19
Biggest Reach: Josh Smith $16
2014 Outlook: Title Contender
Future Outlook: Upper-tier team, but maybe not at the top
Notes: Currently atop the standings for good reason. Solid team all the way around, with many proven veterans. Said veterans will limit the growth capabilities of the team, as will the limited cap space. Should remain near the top for the next couple seasons at least, though.
Dallas Desperados
Biggest Assets: Dirk Nowitzki, Kawhi Leonard
Biggest Needs: Guards
Best Value: Dirk Nowitzki $19, Kevin Durant $53 (future)
Biggest Reach: None
2014 Outlook: Likely 3rd-5th, but return of Durant will be major factor
Future Outlook: Will remain in the top half of the league with potential to enter the upper tier
Notes: Return of Durant for next season will be key. Poor depth on the bench and a lot of injuries. Salary cap constraints limit the team's flexibility.
Eakin Doughnuts
Biggest Assets: Lebron James
Biggest Needs: Everything but PF
Best Value: Elfrid Payton $6 (future)
Biggest Reach: Lebron James $80 (!)
2014 Outlook: Will finish near the bottom. Lack of depth is sinking the team.
Future Outlook: Not much improvement until at least 2016
Notes: Managed to get Lebron, but cost over 1/3rd of the total salary available. No depth, but plenty of cap space for improvement. Many lowly talented players signed for multiple seasons and large contracts. 2016 free agency will be key.
Gainesville Gators
Biggest Assets: Monta Ellis, Nikola Vucevic
Biggest Needs: Power Forward
Best Value: Nikola Vucevic $11
Biggest Reach: Rajon Rondo $21
2014 Outlook: Middle of the pack. Likely to make the playoffs in the back end.
Future Outlook: Could make a jump to the 2nd quartile by 2016.
Notes: Loads of cap space available. Team is solid throughout but lacking big impact players. Most players are on 2 year contracts, making the 2016 offseason vital to continued success. Good signings, mixed with long-term talent, could turn this team into a contender.
New Jersey Haze
Biggest Assets: Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul
Biggest Needs: SG and SF
Best Value: DeMar DeRozan $9
Biggest Reach: None
2014 Outlook: Will improve from their current 9th place standing. Likely to finish in top half.
Future Outlook: Top half finisher but will not compete for title until at least 2017
Notes: Extremely top heavy with very little depth. Still no reason this team should be in 9th though, and I expect them to move up in the rankings. Loads of salary and large number of players locked up for the next few seasons, limiting growth potential and flexibility.
Norwich Nemesis
Biggest Assets: Marc Gasol, Al Jefferson
Biggest Needs: Small Forward
Best Value: None
Biggest Reach: None
2014 Outlook: Top 5 team for sure, likely in the top 3
Future Outlook: Will remain a contender for a long time
Notes: Very little star power, but incredible depth on this team. Can put any player in the lineup and expect great results. Some cap space to work with in future seasons, and many key players locked up for the next few years.
Pensacola Pelicans
Biggest Assets: Jeff Green
Biggest Needs: Everything
Best Value: None
Biggest Reach: Everyone
2014 Outlook: Could make the back end of the playoffs, but unlikely.
Future Outlook: Likely near the bottom of the league until at least 2017
Notes: Got started late in drafting and overpaid to field a team. Many large contracts to players that are average or below that will haunt them in future seasons. Most of those contracts expire in 2017, so expect them to start to improve quickly starting then.
Salisbury Hotdogs
Biggest Assets: James Harden, Kevin Love
Biggest Needs: SF, Depth
Best Value: DeAndre Jordan $15
Biggest Reach: Lance Stephenson $18
2014 Outlook: Currently 10th, but should make playoffs
Future Outlook: Impossible to predict.
Notes: Has some star power, but very poor depth. Most players signed for extended periods and the lack of cap space will make improvement tough. Future depends entirely on the performance of the stars.
St. Louis Sting
Biggest Assets: Serge Ibaka, Kyle Lowry
Biggest Needs: None
Best Value: Bradley Beal $5 (future)
Biggest Reach: None
2014 Outlook: Top tier team with a chance at the title
Future Outlook: Even better than the current outlook. Expect a title within the next few seasons.
Notes: Like Norwich, very little star power but very deep throughout the roster. Multiple highly talented young players signed long-term and plenty of cap space allows room to improve as a team.
Syracuse Warriors
Biggest Assets: Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry
Biggest Needs: None
Best Value: Giannis Antetokounmpo $1 (future)
Biggest Reach: Joakim Noah $24
2014 Outlook: Title contender. Likely top 5 finish.
Future Outlook: Likely to remain a top 5 team. Young talent signed to extended contracts, some cap space (though not a ton), and solid depth will allow this team to remain a constant threat.