The Atlantic Division had only one team finish
with a winning record last season (Celtics), and although some members have
improved since then, it looks like it will be pretty weak once again. Let's
take a look at how each has fared in the attempt to upgrade their rosters.
CELTICS: Boston kept its "Big Four" intact by re-signing free agents Paul
Pierce and Ray Allen. The Celtics did lose a valuable bench player to free
agency with Tony Allen signing with the Grizzlies. Another key sub may not
return, as the C's await Rasheed Wallace's decision on whether he'll remain
retired. Boston signed free agent Jermaine O'Neal to bolster its front line,
which will help with Kendrick Perkins being sidelined to at least December as
he recovers from major knee surgery. O'Neal is more of an offensive threat than
Perkins, but the Celts will miss his physical presence. In the draft, the
Boston picked up guard Avery Bradley and power forward Luke Harangody. Even
though Harangody was a second round pick, he may be more ready to step in and
contribute this season following a very impressive showing in the summer
league.
KNICKS: Team president Donnie Walsh stripped his roster down to almost nothing
over the last two years to get under the salary cap, in hopes of striking free
agent gold this summer. What he ended up with was some nice bronze and two
straight horrible seasons. Free agent Amar'e Stoudemire was glad to come to New
York for a guaranteed $100 million dollars. The only problem was none of his
fellow big-ticket free agents wanted to do the same. Point guard Raymond
Felton, also a free agent, did opt to join Stoudemire in the Big Apple, signing
a three-year contract. Walsh did manage to get some useful pieces for free
agent David Lee, as he sent him to the Warriors in a sign-and-trade for Anthony
Randolph, Kelenna Azubuike, and Ronny Turiaf. The Knicks had two second-round
draft picks, and came away with small forward Landry Fields and guard Andy
Rautins. Fields showed some promise in the summer league, while Rautins may be
even a worse pick than Jordan Hill was last season. The end result for the
Knicks was they got rid of eventual All-Star Zach Randolph and sixth-man-of-
the-year winner Jamal Crawford for Stoudemire and Felton. Not much of a trade-
off for two horrible seasons, if you ask me.
NETS: New Jersey had the third overall pick in the draft and selected power
forward Derrick Favors. He has a wealth of potential and tremendous
athleticism, but it's unlikely he'll have a big impact in his first season. The
Nets selected Damion James with the second of their two first-round picks.
James played very well in the summer league and may be more polished at this
point than Favors. The Nets also picked up some serviceable pieces in the free
agent market, signing point guard Jordan Farmar, small forward Travis Outlaw,
and shooting guard Anthony Morrow. Farmar gives the Nets a solid backup for
Devin Harris, while Outlaw and Morrow can both fill it up from the outside.
Grade: B
76ERS: The big addition was Evan Turner, the second overall pick in the draft.
He struggled in the summer league by his own admission, and you wonder how
effective he'll be having to play off the ball in the NBA. The Sixers made one
trade of note, sending the highly outsized contract of center Samuel Dalembert
to the Kings for center Spencer Hawes and small forward Andres Nocioni. Aside
from dumping a bad contract, Philly gets a big man in Hawes that is seven years
younger than Dalembert. However, the overall effect of the trade as far as
improving the team is likely to be minimal at best.
Grade: C
RAPTORS: Even though Toronto lost its All-Star power forward Chris Bosh to the
Heat via free agency, it actually wasn't a disastrous off-season for the
Raptors. Toronto got another lefty power forward in the draft's first round,
North Carolina's Ed Davis. He's still very raw and will take time to develop,
but the Raptors potentially got themselves a good replacement for Bosh with the
13th overall pick. The Raptors made two free agent signings of their own,
inking small forward Linas Kleiza to a very reasonable four-year, $18.4 million
dollar deal, and a somewhat unreasonable five-year, $34 million dollar contract
to power forward Amir Johnson Kleiza played overseas last year, but was very
productive previously backing up Carmelo Anthony in Denver. Johnson earned his
hefty payday by averaging 6.2 ppg in nearly 18 minutes per game last season for
the Raptors. He does do some good work off the boards and provide a shot-
blocking presence, but has always had trouble staying on the floor due to
foul problems. Toronto also traded the disgruntled and disappointing Hedo
Turkoglu to the Suns for Leandro Barbosa. The Raptors had to be thrilled
getting a quality player like Barbosa in exchange for a player who didn't want
to be there and is four years older.
Grade: C+
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