Perhaps no group has less patience than NBA owners. Often times it seems they hire head coaches and general managers just so they’ll have someone to fire when it all goes horribly wrong.
Indeed, being a decision-maker in the NBA is a tenuous position. “Do just enough to not get fired” has become more job description than requirement to no one’s benefit.
Here are four teams that need to shake the status quo and be bold this offseason.
1. Charlotte Hornets
Courtesy of USA Today Images: The Hornets would be better off if Al Jefferson opted out.
A year ago, Charlotte was one of the league’s feel-good stories. This team made the playoffs, re-energized its fan base and exorcised old ghosts with what was then an impending name change. Things were happening.
Now the Hornets look like a franchise stuck just below mediocrity, waiting only to be surpassed by an Eastern Conference suddenly flush with youth and draft picks.
Much of Charlotte’s core is young, too, but none of them are future All-Stars.
The biggest problem facing the Hornets is Al Jefferson’s contract. Jefferson is the team’s best player and lone offensive threat, but he’s 30-years old, injury prone and has the ability to opt out of his contract this summer. With Jefferson, this team can continue to fight for a playoff spot in the East for the next few years. Without him, they’re probably stuck in the middle of the lottery.
Even with a promising cap situation—they’ll have room to add a maximum contract in 2016 even after they extend Michael Kidd-Gilchrist—it’s time to develop a new plan.
There’s a lot to like about Kidd-Gilchrist, Kemba Walker and Cody Zeller as individuals. However, they are not the core of a team that will contend. Even with Jefferson as an anchor, the Hornets rank third from the bottom in offensive efficiency. Jefferson has already regressed this season, and it’s likely that trend with continue. Unless rookie Noah Vonleh turns into a force overnight, there’s little hope for the unit’s future.
Charlotte needs to find someone younger and more talented than Jefferson to build around, whether that’s via free agency or by trading a draft pick and some young talent.
2. Denver Nuggets
This won’t come as a major surprise, considering the Nuggets are a mid-lottery team and heading in the wrong direction. Denver doesn’t need to just rebuild through the draft, it needs to cut the team’s roster.
Denver’s core is a mess, and an argument can be made for trading all four of its top players. Ty Lawson, the team’s de facto star, is an undersized point guard whose game has topped out as a third option on a good team. His struggles off the court don’t make him a marketer’s dream, either.
Forwards Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler are both injury prone, and they both have major flaws in their game. Kenneth Faried, whose four-year, $50 million contract extension kicks in this summer, is a high-energy rebounder who struggles as a scorer and defender.
The only player on the roster to be a little excited about is rookie center Jusuf Nurkic. The 16th pick in the draft, Nurkic has posted averages of 6.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in just under 18 minutes per game.
Following a tumultuous two seasons, it’s time for Denver to bottom out and build through high lottery picks and shrewd signings in free agency.
3. Indiana Pacers
Courtesy of USA Today Images: Paul George needs all the help he can get.
Despite winning 56 games last year, the Pacers only have one player on their roster that is likely to be a better than average NBA player two years from now: Paul George, and that’s only if he makes a full recovery from his horrific broken leg. Even a healthy George will need reinforcements.
George’s frontcourt mates Roy Hibbert and David West are both facing player options this summer. Hibbert has been erratic at the best of times and shows no sings of being anything more than a defensive stopper. West has remained productive, but he’ll be 35 years old at the start of next season.
Even George Hill, who has shouldered much of the offensive burden in George’s absence, is nothing more than a marginal starter.
Facing a major roster reconstruction, President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird will need to be aggressive over the next two summers to get his team back to the Eastern Conference Finals. He can’t be afraid to let Hibbert walk in free agency, and he needs to find a lead guard who will put pressure on a defense.
4. Sacramento Kings
It’s not a secret the Kings have major issues, most of which are the direct result of owner Vivek Ranadive. Despite a handful of lottery picks and the aggressive move to acquire forward Rudy Gay, the roster is pretty much a disaster. Still, they have a young superstar, so they should be ahead of the game.
Why aren’t they?
DeMarcus Cousins’ progress has been impressive, and he’s developed into a legitimate force on both ends of the floor. His per game and efficiency numbers are worthy of All-NBA consideration.
Still, Cousins has significant drawbacks. He’s only shooting 46.7 percent from the field, which is way too low for a big man, and he’s second in the league with 4.3 turnovers per game. He racks up personal and technical fouls at a high rate. Compared to Anthony Davis, Cousins is well behind the curve for carrying teammates to new heights.
Then there was the ugly story about his representatives attempting to block the hire of George Karl as head coach. Cousins has done a remarkable job changing his reputation, but there’s little question things need to be perfect for him to be happy.
The Kings are in dire need of a dominant lead guard, upgrades at wing and another big to help Cousins, but they don’t have the assets to fill all of those holes in one summer. Is Sacramento confident they can fix their problems quickly enough to keep Cousins engaged?
Considering the extent of their problems, Sacramento might want to consider trading Cousins while his value is sky high and resetting its rebuild clock. Depending on how the lottery shakes out, the Kings might be able to move their star for Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor, plus another piece.
Photo: USA Today Images