Post by ucfinfan86 on Mar 7, 2024 18:24:00 GMT
Melo and I are reviewing our favorite and least favorite move for every team. Starting with the Atlantic division
Boston Celtics
UCF Favorite Move: Drafting Matas Buzelis #2. Celtics had some good fortune to stay at #2 and get a very good looking SF prospect. He didn’t move at all in TC, but he is still a promising prospect
UCF Least Favorite Move: They didn’t really do anything aside from draft. They sat out FA. Not moving Simons yet would probably be the move.
Melo Favorite Move: Selecting Matas Buzelis at pick #2. Matt has really taken this tanking thing and run with it and has been rewarded the last 2 drafts. There’s not much he has done on the trading front (in terms of improving), but getting a guy like Buzelis and Topic are great starts to a rebuild.
Melo Least Favorite Move: Not being more aggressive with his cap space. Even if he is in a full on rebuild, this FA was great, so he could have pulled in some top guys to flip for assets.
Miami Heat
UCF Favorite Move: Trading Herro. They didn’t get a ton, but Huerter replaces a lot of Herro production and they added Hayes when they really lacked a PG. Also get cap flexibility for next season
UCF Least Favorite Move: Not sure why Collins/Harris got multiyear deals in FA and now they take away their potential cap space from last year.
Melo Favorite Move: Not unloading more firsts to try and recoup what was left from the previous regime. Think this team is a playoff contender with their bigs, but trading further picks down the line would only increase the problem.
Melo Least Favorite Move: Trading Tyler Herro. Unfortunately, leflop came into a bad sitatuion pick wise and things were made worse with Butler retiring, so unloading one of their best players wasn’t my favorite move.
Brooklyn Nets
UCF Favorite Move: Evan Mobley signing. They had a really good FA overall getting Markkanen on a fair deal also, but Mobley being 24y and then improving to B+ reb is my favorite. Simmons on min deal is nice too
UCF Least Favorite Move: Overall I think Nets had a very strong offseason, but losing Cam Thomas hurts. They may not have been able to sign one of Mobley/Markannen if they did though.
Melo Favorite Move: Signing Evan Mobley. Like the Lauri signing with the contract, but think Mobley is a nice defensive big to build around. Still think Mobley has some improvement needed on the offensive end, but I like his contract compared to others that were thrown around.
Melo Least Favorite Move: Not upgrading the PG position. This is something that the Nets have needed for years and while it has been tough to find a decent one, this should have been a priority this offseason.
New York Knicks
UCF Favorite Move: Lonnie Walker signing. Hasn’t been much activity yet, but I think Walker is good. I had him last year and he can be a nice bench scorer.
UCF Least Favorite Move: Trade Negotiations. I think rip way overvalued his guys and then is/was frustrated there wasn’t any deals available.
Melo Favorite Move: Not many moves besides signing Lonnie Walker, so I’ll go with standing pat on the young guys. Knicks have moved all of their picks, so like the Heat, I think it’s smart to let this thing ride out. Still think they’re a year away with guys like Wagner and Mara.
Melo Least Favorite Move: Well I hated the Ingram deal last year, so guess my least favorite would be to not upgrade the SF position when it’s a huge need.
Orlando Magic
UCF Favorite Move: I think their offseason is far from over, so this may be premature. I’ll say I liked the Cam Scott pick at 18
UCF Least Favorite Move: TBD (Can’t say SGA). I’ll go Andrej Stojakovic. I see the update with him being an insane shooter, but thought there was better options available at 12
Melo Favorite Move: Trading SGA for a full retool. I think Rog and I are in a similar spot where we tried for 2 seasons, but lost a lot of ability to create a flexible roster. Trading SGA to get his picks back and for some young talent was necessary.
Melo Least Favorite Move: Trading SGA lol. I mean, he’s one of the best PGs in the league so to have to move him has to hurt.
Philadelphia 76ers
UCF Favorite Move: Vassell trade. Get a young SG with mentor ability that fits Maxey better then LaVine. They had cash to burn and with Embiid/Maxey/Vassell their pick won’t be worth much
UCF Least Favorite Move: Not much to choose from, but why is Oladipo on a multiyear deal?
Melo Favorite Move: Swapping Zach Lavine for Devin Vassell. This is obviously the best team in the league and they’re built to stay elite for a bit. Adding Vassell and losing Lavine extends the window.
Melo Least Favorite Move: This is really nitpicking, but I guess not upgrading the backup guard position. Not the biggest fan of Oladipo, but it was good enough last year.
Washington Wizards
UCF Favorite Move: Cooper Flagg. He had a strong TC and paired with Collier gives them one of, if not the best young prospect duo in the league.
UCF Least Favorite Move: Working OT while not getting paid. Get a new job man
Melo Favorite Move: Drafting Flagg. I mean there was obviously no other choice after Washington moved up in the draft, but he should end up being a top 5 player in a season or 2.
Melo Least Favorite Move: Not using the cap space. I know Dash has been extremely busy with work, but like other rebuilding teams, they could have used the free agents to bring in more assets.
Boston Celtics
UCF Favorite Move: Drafting Matas Buzelis #2. Celtics had some good fortune to stay at #2 and get a very good looking SF prospect. He didn’t move at all in TC, but he is still a promising prospect
UCF Least Favorite Move: They didn’t really do anything aside from draft. They sat out FA. Not moving Simons yet would probably be the move.
Melo Favorite Move: Selecting Matas Buzelis at pick #2. Matt has really taken this tanking thing and run with it and has been rewarded the last 2 drafts. There’s not much he has done on the trading front (in terms of improving), but getting a guy like Buzelis and Topic are great starts to a rebuild.
Melo Least Favorite Move: Not being more aggressive with his cap space. Even if he is in a full on rebuild, this FA was great, so he could have pulled in some top guys to flip for assets.
Miami Heat
UCF Favorite Move: Trading Herro. They didn’t get a ton, but Huerter replaces a lot of Herro production and they added Hayes when they really lacked a PG. Also get cap flexibility for next season
UCF Least Favorite Move: Not sure why Collins/Harris got multiyear deals in FA and now they take away their potential cap space from last year.
Melo Favorite Move: Not unloading more firsts to try and recoup what was left from the previous regime. Think this team is a playoff contender with their bigs, but trading further picks down the line would only increase the problem.
Melo Least Favorite Move: Trading Tyler Herro. Unfortunately, leflop came into a bad sitatuion pick wise and things were made worse with Butler retiring, so unloading one of their best players wasn’t my favorite move.
Brooklyn Nets
UCF Favorite Move: Evan Mobley signing. They had a really good FA overall getting Markkanen on a fair deal also, but Mobley being 24y and then improving to B+ reb is my favorite. Simmons on min deal is nice too
UCF Least Favorite Move: Overall I think Nets had a very strong offseason, but losing Cam Thomas hurts. They may not have been able to sign one of Mobley/Markannen if they did though.
Melo Favorite Move: Signing Evan Mobley. Like the Lauri signing with the contract, but think Mobley is a nice defensive big to build around. Still think Mobley has some improvement needed on the offensive end, but I like his contract compared to others that were thrown around.
Melo Least Favorite Move: Not upgrading the PG position. This is something that the Nets have needed for years and while it has been tough to find a decent one, this should have been a priority this offseason.
New York Knicks
UCF Favorite Move: Lonnie Walker signing. Hasn’t been much activity yet, but I think Walker is good. I had him last year and he can be a nice bench scorer.
UCF Least Favorite Move: Trade Negotiations. I think rip way overvalued his guys and then is/was frustrated there wasn’t any deals available.
Melo Favorite Move: Not many moves besides signing Lonnie Walker, so I’ll go with standing pat on the young guys. Knicks have moved all of their picks, so like the Heat, I think it’s smart to let this thing ride out. Still think they’re a year away with guys like Wagner and Mara.
Melo Least Favorite Move: Well I hated the Ingram deal last year, so guess my least favorite would be to not upgrade the SF position when it’s a huge need.
Orlando Magic
UCF Favorite Move: I think their offseason is far from over, so this may be premature. I’ll say I liked the Cam Scott pick at 18
UCF Least Favorite Move: TBD (Can’t say SGA). I’ll go Andrej Stojakovic. I see the update with him being an insane shooter, but thought there was better options available at 12
Melo Favorite Move: Trading SGA for a full retool. I think Rog and I are in a similar spot where we tried for 2 seasons, but lost a lot of ability to create a flexible roster. Trading SGA to get his picks back and for some young talent was necessary.
Melo Least Favorite Move: Trading SGA lol. I mean, he’s one of the best PGs in the league so to have to move him has to hurt.
Philadelphia 76ers
UCF Favorite Move: Vassell trade. Get a young SG with mentor ability that fits Maxey better then LaVine. They had cash to burn and with Embiid/Maxey/Vassell their pick won’t be worth much
UCF Least Favorite Move: Not much to choose from, but why is Oladipo on a multiyear deal?
Melo Favorite Move: Swapping Zach Lavine for Devin Vassell. This is obviously the best team in the league and they’re built to stay elite for a bit. Adding Vassell and losing Lavine extends the window.
Melo Least Favorite Move: This is really nitpicking, but I guess not upgrading the backup guard position. Not the biggest fan of Oladipo, but it was good enough last year.
Washington Wizards
UCF Favorite Move: Cooper Flagg. He had a strong TC and paired with Collier gives them one of, if not the best young prospect duo in the league.
UCF Least Favorite Move: Working OT while not getting paid. Get a new job man
Melo Favorite Move: Drafting Flagg. I mean there was obviously no other choice after Washington moved up in the draft, but he should end up being a top 5 player in a season or 2.
Melo Least Favorite Move: Not using the cap space. I know Dash has been extremely busy with work, but like other rebuilding teams, they could have used the free agents to bring in more assets.
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