The Southeast Division might as top heavy as its ever been with the Heat looking to win the championship while the other four look like they are going to be stuck with a 6th place or below spot. Here is a grade for every single reported transaction each of these teams have made.
Atlanta Hawks
Traded PG Shane Larkin and cash to the Mavericks for C Lucas Noguiera, PF Mike Muscala, and SG Jared Cunningham, B
With Noguiera and Muscala looking more and more likely to stay overseas, it seems like this trade was more of a "future" move for the Hawks. Larkin had the ability to help right away, but GM Danny Ferry had been eyeing Noguiera and it seems like a good choice because he is only 20 pounds of muscle away from becoming a more athletic Nene-type player. Jared Cunningham after his dreadful summer league performance most likely won't affect much either, but all in all a good trade for the Hawks.
Drafted PG Dennis Schroeder 16th overall, A
Dennis Schroeder looked like a leader among boys during Summer League. He has great leadership qualities for a 19 year old, and he had many Rondo similarities just from his impressive Summer League showing, and that is great for a man his age.
Traded Raul Neto and James Ennis to the Jazz and Heat for 2015 second round picks, C+
Both of these picks looked promising but it might be better for the Hawks to simply focus on the future.
Signed PF Paul Millsap to a 2 year, $19 million deal, A-
Paul Millsap is a STEAL for the type of money he's getting from this deal and it is a very tradeable asset (which Ferry looks like he's trying to accumulate). On the other hand, the Hawks' best player, Al Horford, plays the same desired position as Millsap, power forward. This deal brings a wonderful player for the Hawks at a bargain price, but it seems unwise to upset the best player on the team and current building block.
Signed SF Demarre Carroll to a 2 year, $5 million deal,B+
Demarre, like Millsap, seems like a great player to get at such a bargain price, and it might not show in the box score, but Carroll is impactful on the floor as they come. He's a great perimeter defender and rebounder for a man his size, and Ferry worked his contractual skills again with this free agent from the Jazz.
Signed SF Kyle Korver to a 4 year, $24 million deal, C
Korver may be a great asset to have in NBA 2k13, but even though he's a great sharpshooter, he's not a player who should be commanding $6 million a year over such a long period of time when Ferry is preaching flexibility withing the Hawks organization. Its great that the Hawks retained him for shooting reasons, but it seems the price is too high to pay for a one dimensional 32 year old shooter.
Matched Bucks' offer sheet for PG Jeff Teague at 4 years, $32 million deal, A-
It's not Chris Paul, but hey I guess the Hawks'll have to take it if they didn't want Brandon Jennings. In my opinion, much better choice, but the length of the contract might be a question if Teague gets superceded by Schroeder in the coming years. The Hawks now have still retained their best point guard from last year and it seems like he will need to take a lot more responsibility of the team with Josh Smith gone.
Signed PF Elton Brand to a 1 year, $4 million deal, B
Having Elton Brand on the team will certainly help the Hawks with their undersized frontcourt, but he does not give the Hawks what they really need, a true center who can score. Otherwise a solid move, but does it make the Hawks that much better? Certainly not.
Signed PF Pero Antic to multiyear deal, C-
Although the Hawks really needed tall frontcourt help, I don't think this is what most Hawks fans wanted. Antic played on Olympiacos in the past 2 seasons and only averaged 6.2 point and 3.3 rebounds in Euroleague. International players usually don't pan out and it seems like this might be a likely story with Antic as well, but Hawks fans will have to wait and see.
Signed PF/C Gustavo Ayon to a 1 year, $1.5 million deal, B-
Gustavo Ayon gives the Hawks even more added frontcourt depth, but will he be enough to help the height disadvantage the Hawks have? Hopefully for their sake, but with the Hawks' additions this year they might be doomed for a 6th-10th East playoff spot.
Charlotte Bobcats
Picked PF/C Cody Zeller 4th overall, A-
Bobcats fans may not have liked the pick at first but with his averages of 16.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, he is proven to be a solid player in the NBA ranks. Compared to the rest of the rookies in the summer league, Cody figures to be at least top 5, and it seemed like the Bobcats could finally have a formidable player in their frontcourt. What doesn't make sense after drafting Zeller is the move they made in free agency next.
Signed C Al Jefferson to a 3 year/$41 million deal, C+
Al Jefferson is a great offensive post player, there's no denying that. The real question that needs to be asked though, is where are the Bobcats going? They've been in the lottery for so long now that nobody even remembers their first and only playoff series when they got swept by the Magic. With Al coming along, they could possibly get back into the playoffs with a little luck, but they're missing out on the most hyped draft class since the 2003 draft. The only way this move will not be criticized is if Zeller and Jefferson can both play together well, and with their similar play styles, it seems like that won't end very well. Hopefully GM Rich Cho is just waiting for a team to trade for him since he has a bevy of post moves as seen here
Waived PF Tyrus Thomas, A-
Tyrus Thomas, will never live up to his billing of being the 4th overall pick, and for Bobcats fans, seeing Thomas waived was probably one of the top 5 moments in their franchise history (they haven't had much to celebrate). Hopefully waiving Tyrus Thomas will erase the memory of many Bobcats' fans over the last 5 years (it most likely won't).
Re-Signed PF Josh McRoberts to a 2 year/ $5.42 million deal, B
Signing McRoberts to a deal adds to a an already dysfunctional frontcourt, but he is a decent player that has been on quite a couple teams.
Re-Signed SG Gerald Henderson to a 3 year/ $18 million deal, B+
Henderson has been a solid player for the Bobcats ever since he was drafted by them in 2009. He was a breakout player last year after averaging 15.5 points per game and he figures to try and stay at the same level this year. With the Bobcats making several moves to make the team better, it seems the Bobcats might be in a similar spot as the Hawks, with them looking to be in the 8th-12th spot in the East.
Miami Heat
Traded a 2015 second round pick to the Hawks for James Ennis, B+
The Heat will probably be in win now mode for a while, and Ennis seems like he could be a solid rookie sharpshooter off the bench who isn't only one-dimensional. Great pickup for the Heat at such a low cost.
Rashard Lewis and James Jones exercised their team options, Grade: incomplete
These two did not do much last year, and it figures they'll do even less this year. Rashard Lewis could be a solid role player on most teams but he is not as good as the many shooters the Heat have apparently, and James Jones is just well, old.
Re-Signed C Chris Andersen to a 1 year/$1.7 million, A-
BIRDMAN BIRDMAN!
Amnestied SF Mike Miller, C-
This is the one thing GM Pat Riley might regret most if the Heat don't win it all this year. Mike Miller was the only answer the Heat had for Danny Green and his 3 point barrage during the Finals last year. After being seldomly used during the season, Miller stuck a knife into Spurs' fans hearts when he hit all those 3s, including the infamous one-shoe one. If the Heat and Grizzlies possibly meet up in the Finals this year (seems unlikely, but hey, who knows), it will be sweet poetry if Miller hits a dagger 3 to win a game .
Orlando Magic
Drafted SG Victor Oladipo 2nd overall, SF/PF Romero Osby 51st overall, A
Oladipo seemed the best rookie during Summer League, and I'm sure Magic fans are certainly happy to hear that. The Magic have certainly won the Dwight trade with Nikola Vucevic, Arron Afflalo, some decent future first round picks, and Victor Oladipo with them as a result of that trade. Oladipo averaged 19 points per game, 5 rebounds per game, and 3.4 assists per game as a point guard, not his natural position. For a player deemed to be a defensive stalwart, he certainly plays very well on offense as well. Hopefully for the Magic fans' sake, he translates his Summer League numbers over to the regular season. Romero Osby also had a solid showing in Summer League averaging 11 points and 4.4 rebound per game as well, so it seems GM Rob Hennigan did very well in drafting those two.
Signed PF Jason Maxiell to a 2 year/ $5 million deal, B+
Looking at the Magic roster, there really is no proven Power Forward to put alongside Vucevic, and it seems like the Magic got their man. Maxiell is an enforcer down low and his tip jams are always something to remember. Hopefully he'll be a solid addition that can help Vucevic develop his overall game.
Signed PG Ronnie Price to a 2 year/ $2.58 million deal, B
Ronnie Price seems like that guy who is oft-forgotten in the NBA ranks. You see him on the roster, and you're just thinking to yourself "When did we get this guy?" He's a solid backup point guard, though, and GM Rob Hennigan seems like he's planning something big by getting all these rookies and bargain contracts to sign with the Magic.
Washington Wizards
Drafted SF Otto Porter Jr. 3rd overall, C+
I'm going to be honest here, not a big fan of Otto Porter's game and he certainly did not do much to change my mind during Summer League. He seems like he'll be a solid role player, but not anything close to warrant a 3rd overall pick. GM Ernie Grunfeld might be kicking himself for drafting Porter if he doesn't pan out.
Traded PG Nate Wolters and PF Arsalan Kazemi for SF Glen Rice Jr., B-
If Glen Rice Jr. had some offensive restrictions placed upon him during Summer League, it sure didn't look like it. Rice was jacking up shots like it was his job, and not with very great accuracy. Hopefully Rice will learn the difference between being smart with his shots and being Nick Young with his shots this season, or else his 40% shooting percentage won't cut it in the NBA. On the the other hand, it was a solid trade for the Wizards since the Wolters and Kazemi didn't do much at all in Summer League.
Signed PG Eric Maynor to a 2 year/ $4.12 million deal, B+
Maynor has pretty much been forgotten after backing up Westbrook in OKC but Maynor, may breakout this year as a backup for Wall if he holds off his injuries.
Re-Signed SG/SF Martell Webster to a 4 year/ $22 million deal and SF Garrett Temple to a 1 year/ $916K deal, A-
Martell Webster is a great sharpshooter among a team that has basically none other than Bradley Beal. He's very underrated in this regard, and if John Wall's healthy for a full season Webster could even increase his 42% 3PFG from a year ago. Garrett Temple's also a solid addition, but he's also a Ronnie Price type player which means that nobody knows about him until he is seen playing for your team.
Signed John Wall to a 5 year/$80 million deal, A-
It seems that the Wizards have found the guy thev've been waiting for, but is he good enough to lead the Wizards into contender status in a couple of years? The status quo on this question is that he most likely he won't be able to. I admit, though that once John Wall came back last year from his injury last year, the Wizards were close to .500. If Nene also gets back to full health, watch out for the Wizards, because they are a dangerous young team who could get lucky and sneak into the playoffs.
