1. Which team impressed you most during the Summer League?
Vahan Shakhpazyan: The Washington Wizards were the most impressive team to me during the summer league, but it was the individual play of Glen Rice Jr. that stood out to me the most from this team. He was the scoring leader during the summer league with an average of 25.0 points. His outstanding shooting reminded me a little bit of his father, Glen Rice.
Torkil Bang: I did not see enough games to really get impressed by any individual team.
Talar Kahwajian: Orlando, definitely. With Summer League being so long ago it’s hard to remember exactly what teams really did a great job with their young talent, but it’s not hard to forget Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton. The Magic poise solid young talent and are only starting to build what will one day be a playoff team, Oladipo and Payton are stepping stones to a bright future in Orlando.
Oliver Fredrickson: Although it’s never wise to judge a team on their summer league performance, it can provide a good indication of how the team’s rookies are settling in to their new team and also how much work the second and third year players have put in over the first month of the off-season. For me, the most impressive team was the eventual Las Vegas Summer League champions, the Sacramento Kings. Throughout the tournament, the Kings had an extremely balanced offense with Quincy Acy, Ray McCallum, Ben McLemore, Derrick Williams, and Nik Stauskas, all averaging 10-plus points per game. With each of these players set to be a part of the Kings rotation (except for Quincy Acy, who was traded) for the upcoming year, this is a great sign for head coach Mike Malone. For these young players who have had little success in the NBA thus far, the experience of winning games and eventually winning the tournament will be invaluable and will put them in good stead for the upcoming season.
Parker White: I may be biased but the Washington Wizards. They won all three of their games before the tournament and lost to the Kings in the semi-final round. Glen Rice Jr. and Otto Porter dominated the Summer League which is good news for the major league team. Both players will be key players off the bench for the Wizards this season, especially with sixth man Martell Webster missing the first two months after undergoing back surgery. They both were aggressive and played with supreme confidence; if you don’t have confidence in the NBA you’ll never reach your full potential.
Matt Moufarege: The Orlando Magic - while Victor Oladipo might not have won the ROY award, it's hard not be impressed by his tenacity and aggressive style, I'm expecting him to be develop into one of the league's better 2 guards sooner rather than later, he also gives the Magic some much needed look ability.
Julian Rosen: The Orlando Magic impressed me. I am looking forward to athletic hustle player Aaron Gordon, as well as Tobias Harris. They showed hard-nosed play in summer league, I expect the Magic to raise eyebrows this year.
2. Which rookie will fly under the radar and have an outstanding season?
Shakhpazyan: Julius Randle is one rookie that will fly under the radar this season. He is playing for one of the biggest franchises and wants to prove that he should have been drafted higher. With excellent mentors like Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, Randle will quietly be a top 3 rookie this season.
Bang: Nikola Mirotic. With the spotlight on this year's draft class, it's easy to forget that one of the best players in Europe is coming to the NBA. And with Tom Thibodeau as his coach, Mirotic will not get overly exposed in his rookie season.
Kahwajian: Nick Johnson, Houston. After being drafted 42nd, Johnson has a chip on his shoulder. The former PAC-12 Player of the Year averaged 16.3 points per game as a junior at Arizona. His athleticism will bode well in the NBA and he will fit into a young Houston team.
Fredrickson: With the hype around the 2014 draft class, there has not been much chance for rookies to fly under the radar. With that being said, I believe that Suns rookie TJ Warren has the ability to carve out a sixth man role as the Suns push for their first playoff appearance since 2010, after a superb Summer League where Warren averaged 17.8ppg on a sizzling 54.4 percent shooting. While PJ Tucker, fresh off a contract, currently starts at SF for the Suns, Warren’s offensive versatility and instant offense could make him a perfect sixth man for Phoenix.
White: Chicago Bulls rookie Doug McDermott will fly under the radar and have an outstanding season. All the accomplishments he piled up in college McDermott were overlooked and will continue to be overlooked heading into the season. With the small forward position still up for grabs for the Bulls, McDermott will have an opportunity to jump Mike Dunleavy on the depth chart.
Moufarege: Cleanthony Early - while I don't expect the Knicks to make too much noise during a retool year, the Knicks got a steal when they drafted Cleanthony Early with the 34th pick. With Amar'e Stoudemire frequently sidelined by injury, and the Knicks now running the triangle, his youth and athleticism will add a nice spark to the Knicks' offense. Should be interesting to see if Melo can help him develop alongside Hardaway Jr.
Rosen: Marcus Smart. I know he was a top pick, but he has not been talked about. With Rondo's injury, he will have a chance to show what he has got early on, and I think he will shine. A very heads-up kind of player that has a bright future.
3. Do you think the Cavaliers trade involving Andrew Wiggins and Kevin Love will help Cleveland? Will it help the Timberwolves?
Shakhpazyan: The Kevin Love trade will help the Cleveland Cavaliers in the present, absolutely. Andrew Wiggins is no doubt a future star, but time is required for him to reach that plateau. On the other hand, Love could bring the Cavaliers elite rebounding, terrific scoring, and excellent floor spacing. He will fit in extremely well, but the Cavaliers, who have a "win-now" mentality, will have to win in the next 3 or 4 years because James is not getting any younger. As for the Minnesota Timberwolves, they did a great job of getting as much as they can in this trade. They got a future star and a versatile power forward in Thaddeus Young. Their future looks bright, and they are headed towards the right direction, even though it might take them a couple of years to fully develop into the team they are projected to be.
Bang: Cavaliers win this trade. Kevin Love is a young superstar, who comes in with a chip on his shoulder, because he hasn't been able to carry Minnesota into the playoffs. Minnesota got a great haul for a superstar who was leaving anyway. And talent wise, they could not have asked for a better deal.
Kahwajian: There’s no way that this trade would not help Cleveland, personally it’s my belief that Wiggins should have stayed and played alongside LeBron, learn from one of the best in the league and grow as a player. However, Wiggins now has a chance to develop his game in Minnesota, where his minutes will probably be pretty high. This trade could potentially pay off big for Minnesota down the road if Wiggins proves to become a franchise superstar as predicted.
Fredrickson: It’s the biggest trade of the off-season so far, and in my books; it should never have happened. After drafting Andrew Wiggins, the Cavaliers found themselves with an intriguing lineup with a perfect mix of youth, experience, offense, and defense. Trading Wiggins, who has already shown extreme defensive ability, for Kevin Love, a known defensive liability, seemed superficial and lacked knowledge of what the team needed. The Cavs now find themselves with LeBron as the only member of the starting lineup with defensive ability, a situation that no champion contender wants to be in. Although this trade has the potential to succeed, if the Cavs put up 110 ppg, and Kevin Love suddenly develops a presence around the rim. I believe that retaining Andrew Wiggins would’ve given the Cavs a more balanced team that would have had ability to excel for years to come.
White: The Andrew Wiggins/Kevin Love trade will be one of the few trades that will benefit both organizations. Not only did Minnesota get Wiggins they also received Anthony Bennett who started to play better at the end of last year and Thaddeus Young from the 76ers who is a very solid athletic power forward. And Cleveland got their guy, who happens to be one of the best power forwards in the game. The Cavs are in place to contend for a title at least the next two years with LeBron on board to go along with Love and Kyrie Irving. Obviously the Timberwolves have more upside five to ten years from now, but Cleveland can win now which is what every team is trying to do.
Moufarege: I think the acquisition of Love absolutely puts the Cavs in good position to "win now." The physical gifts of LeBron James will not last forever. After a decade of wear and tear in the NBA, LBJ absolutely needs to have a second or third option to carry the work load. While Kyrie Irving is young and supremely talented, he's also been injury prone. If the Cavs are going to be championship contenders with LeBron, they do not have the luxury of waiting several years for Wiggins to mature. Kevin Love might not be proven in the playoffs but with LeBron's reputation for making his teammates better, I have a hard time imagining him disappearing come post season. After all, Wade was plagued by knee issues and the stress of old age. As for the T-Wolves, it's a bit of a mixed bag. Having Kevin Love so vehemently demand his way out of Minnesota lends credence to the team being a bottom tier Western Conference organization. When is it ever good for any team when your star player wants out? The upside is that with Love gone, it eliminates any false hope for T-Wolves fans who can instead look the young talent of LaVine and Wiggins grow together and develop.
Rosen: If the Cavs win one title or less, than the trade is in favor of the T-Wolves. They got a phenomenally talented young man that could develop into a star. He is a guy you can build around. However, Kevin Love is the best stretch 4 in the game, as Dirk is past his prime. His rebounding and shooting abilities are outstanding and his court vision is also really good. This team is primed to win multiple titles, but there are teams out west, like the Spurs, Thunder, and Blazers, that could get in the way.
4. Who is your off-season winner?
Shakhpazyan: The biggest off-season winner is, without doubt, the Cleveland Cavaliers. They were able to obtain the best player in the world along with one of the best rebounders and put together a solid bench.
Bang: Cavaliers. Getting LeBron James from costless agency would have done it alone. Adding Love is just icing on the cake.
Kahwajian: Clearly Cleveland, any team who lands LeBron James is a winner.
Fredrickson: Although I would like to pick anyone but the Cavaliers, it’s impossible to go past a team that added a perennial All-Star and a four-time MVP. After 32 wins last season, the Cavs are now looking like championship contenders, a turnaround even more dramatic than the Miami Heat’s of 2010. The additions of Mike Miller, James Jones, and Shawn Marion can also not be understated as they are four of the most composed and admired veterans in the league today. After four seasons of torture since LeBron left, Cavalier fans could once again proudly support their team as they have a lineup built for success.
White: The obvious choice is Cleveland getting LeBron and Kevin Love, but I’ll give you someone else, the Washington Wizards. Not only was this off-season a success but they set themselves up for success a couple years down the road. They re-signed center Marcin Gortat, signed Kris Humphries and DeJuan Blair to beef up the front court, and hours after losing Trevor Ariza to Houston they signed Paul Pierce to a team friendly two-year deal. Oh, and after that two years it up, they’ll have cap space for impending costless agent and D.C. native Kevin Durant.
Moufarege: This might be a shocker, but I'm going to pick the Cavs. Aside from their absurd lottery pick win, they managed to reacquire the best player on the planet who just happens to be their hometown hero, along with Kevin Love. They've gone from the butt of the league's jokes to the team to beat in the East (with the Bulls hot on their heels). Both the Cavs ownership and LeBron himself are seeing improved reputation and the media attention has already been insane.
Rosen: My winners are the Washington Wizards. They signed a proven veteran and leader in Pierce to a relatively cheap 2-year deal, and bulked up their second unit with rebounding specialists Kris Humphries and DeJuan Blair, to go with veterans Gooden and Miller off the pine. The Wizards were the lowest bench scoring team in the east last season, but adding Humphries and Blair, as well as Otto Porter's strong summer league campaign, leads me to believe that this will change.
5. Who is your off-season loser?
Shakhpazyan: The off-season losers this year would be the Philadelphia 76ers and Houston Rockets. The Sixers are going all-in for a rebuilding project, so they have dumped all their veteran players, which is understandable. However, they could have kept Thaddeus Young and convinced him to stay with them in the long-term for their brilliant rebuilding process. Instead, they gave up on him too easily. The Rockets traded Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik with confidence that Chris Bosh will join them. However, Bosh pulled out of Houston's offer last minute and re-signed with the Miami Heat instead. Chandler Parsons signed with the Dallas Mavericks, and the Rockets decided not to match his offer. In his place, Houston signed Trevor Ariza. Thus, the Rockets lost their two best bench players, plus their best perimeter defender and all-around player.
Bang: Heat. The worst part is, that they might have done a lot more to keep James. It seemed like they were in denial over the Finals loss and did not recognize their own flaws.
Kahwajian: The Los Angeles Lakers. They were not able to surround aging superstar Kobe Bryant with any real veteran talent that could catapult them back into playoff contention.
Fredrickson: Although it seems wrong to label the Pacers ‘losers’ as the Paul George injury was no fault of their own, the inevitable dramatic decline that will follow is not matched by any team throughout the NBA. After a strange season, where the Pacers would look like a champion contender then lottery bound on alternate nights, Frank Vogel and the Pacers were looking for this to be the season were they put it all together and had experience to make a real championship push. Then, on July 16th, Lance Stephenson signed with the Charlotte Hornets, leaving a gaping hole at shooting guard. With Stephenson being one of the Pacers primary ball-handlers and offensive initiators, his departure will be felt heavily for this already offensively limited team. If that was not bad enough, on August 1st, the Pacers cornerstone, PG13 suffered a gruesome leg injury at the Team USA scrimmage, all but ruling him out of the upcoming season. With both Stephenson and George gone, I simply do not see how the Pacers are going to score the ball and see a very tough season ahead for Pacer fans.
White: It’s a tie between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder. Both teams are considered title contenders a year ago but fell short. Neither team bettered their rosters, and when it comes to Houston they got worse. The Rockets had high off-season expectations as they were set to go after LeBron, Carmelo, and Chris Bosh. They did not get any of them and instead they lost Chandler Parsons (Dallas), Jeremy Lin (Lakers), and Omer Asik (Pelicans). The only move to replace them was the signing of Trevor Ariza, who is a good wing defender and three-point shooter. The Thunder has Durant and Westbrook but aside from that they have no other dependable offensive threats. Anthony Morrow was the only addition and I would not call it a big addition.
Moufarege: Going to have to go with the Houston Rockets for this one. They were suckered out of a draft pick and Jeremy Lin when they thought they had the best shot at signing Chris Bosh. Meanwhile they've lost Chandler Parsons, one of their cornerstone players, leaving the team's leadership down to James Harden and Dwight Howard. Ouch. I expect them to take a step back this year.
Rosen: My losers are the LA Lakers. Lin was a nice addition, but there was not much else done to help Kobe. Jordan Hill and the rest of the team will continue to ride out the rest of Black Mamba and Steve Nash's careers.
6. Who is your (very) early MVP winner?
Shakhpazyan: Kevin Durant is my early pick for MVP. He and LeBron James will continue to put up monster numbers, but Durant will be more valuable for his team since he will have to carry a heavy load once again. He will surely place the Oklahoma City Thunder top three in a tough Western Conference and will likely lead the league in scoring. Meanwhile, LeBron will probably help the Cavaliers get top 2 in the East, but he will have so much more help than Durant.
Bang: LeBron James. He will probably need to play at MVP level to get his team to the top.
Kahwajian: Kevin Durant wins it again. He’s going to need to carry an Oklahoma City team that very much needs his scoring in order to survive.
Fredrickson: The popular choice here would be for LeBron James to complete the fairytale by gaining his 5th MVP in his return season in Cleveland. I believe that this is underestimating the difficultly that comes along with switching teams. Although LeBron is certainly not ‘new’ to Cleveland, this is a totally different roster with a completely new coaching staff to the one that he left in 2009. No player has won an MVP in their first season with a team since Moses Malone in 1983 and with Cleveland’s defensive issues, I do not see that changing. That brings me to the current NBA MVP; the Slim Reaper. After a statistical season for the ages last year, full of broken records and feel-good stories, there will be nothing to slow down Durant in the upcoming season. With a healthy Westbrook and Ibaka from game 1, the Thunder will look to finally make a healthy playoff push and earn that elusive first title. I expect more big numbers from Durant as he further establishes himself as the best scorer in NBA while continuing to develop in other areas of his game. I predict a stat line of around 31-8-5 for KD as he earns his second consecutive MVP award.
White: The very early MVP candidate has to be Kevin Durant. He is the reigning MVP and nothing has changed to make me think he won't put similar numbers.
Moufarege: With D-Rose on a fully loaded Bulls team, LeBron splitting the workload with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant having fulfilled his goal of winning the MVP (Now likely less to focus on individual achievement and work towards a title, even if he does not, Westbrook is healthy, which puts a dent in KD's individual stats), I fully believe this will be the year of Anthony Davis. He's not only the Pelicans' number one option, - he's already one of the better power forwards in the league, showing shades of Tim Duncan, and he's coming of a stint with Team USA, where he's had the chance to grow and improve rapidly - considering how good he already is, that's kind of scary. Oh, and still only 21 years old. Bow to the Brow.
Rosen: My early MVP is Damian Lillard. The guy is freakishly good and very clutch. I think it will come down to him, Durant and LeBron, but remember that Rose won the award in his third season, so it is certainly possible for the young point guard.
7. Who is your (very) early Rookie of the Year?
Shakhpazyan: Jabari Parker will most likely win the Rookie of the Year. Both him and Andrew Wiggins will be neck and neck for this award, but Parker will edge Wiggins because, with the Milwaukee Bucks, Parker will have to do more, meaning he will almost certainly put up better numbers to help his team win games. Meanwhile, Wiggins will have a little more help, so his numbers may be overshadowed a bit.
Bang: Elfrid Payton. He might not be the biggest talent, but he will get the ball in his hands more than any other rookie, and it's just easier to shine that way. Just look at the many point guards who have become ROY in recent years: Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, and Michael Carter-Williams.
Kahwajian: Jabari Parker. He’ll find a rhythm and use his athleticism to take over games for the Bucks.
Fredrickson: Jabari Parker. The obvious choice here as Parker has both the NBA ready body, the most NBA ready game and the most incompetent roster that will allow him to flourish. After struggling at times throughout Summer League, Parker began to figure out how to get his shots off, despite the bigger bodies guarding him. He looked comfortable in the post which is a huge advantage for someone his size who may often find smaller small forwards on him and being able to capitalize on that will result in easy buckets. I do think he may take the first month or so to truly adapt to the faster paced NBA games, and that his conditioning will have to improve slightly, but Jabari is most definitely the favorite for this year’s Rookie of the Year Award. I see Parker with a stat line of 14-7-2 while shooting a respectable 45 percent from the field.
White: My early rookie of the year is Jabari Parker. The Bucks are not good. and Parker is the best rookie, one who is NBA ready. He will score from the get go where as Wiggins is not as polished on the offensive end.
Moufarege: Joel Embiid. The Sixers have another forgettable season in the works but looking their young core of Noel, Embiid, and MCW work together should make them interesting. If Embiid can stay healthy, I fully expect him to distinguish himself among first year players. It helps that the team he's on does not have veteran leadership.
Rosen: Rookie of Year for me is Jabari Parker. He is just so NBA ready and is going to be an anchor for a rebuilding Bucks squad for several years. Parker, Knight, and Ilyasova could become a potent trio.
8. Who plays in the 2015 NBA Finals? Who wins?
Shakhpazyan: It is way too soon to make an NBA finals prediction, but the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers are coming into the upcoming season as the favorites from both sides. Therefore, I have both these teams making it to the Finals with the Spurs winning once more. The Spurs will be the more experienced team and will have better chemistry than the Cavs if both teams enter the Finals. However, between now and June, a lot could change. The Chicago Bulls look like a worthy team to possibly knock out the Cavaliers, while in the West, the Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers have a good shot of giving the Spurs a run for their money. We'll see what happens.
Bang: Chicago Bulls vs. San Antonio Spurs. Spurs take the championship. Duncan and Pop retire. Manu goes home to play in Argentina.
Kahwajian: San Antonio and Cleveland. San Antonio captures another title with their outstanding chemistry, while the Cavaliers are still trying to find their way.
Fredrickson: From the East, the popular decision may be the Cleveland Cavaliers and with the superstar lineup they possess, you can see why. However, I’m going with the Chicago Bulls who also had a fantastic off-season, adding Pau Gasol (who looked fantastic playing for Spain), Doug McDermott, and also former MVP Derrick Rose returning to the lineup. With the talent the Bulls have, led by Coach Tom Thibodeau, this is the year I finally see the Bulls progressing out of the East and to the finals. Out West, there are so many talented teams that you really cannot go wrong with. For me, I’m going with the Oklahoma City Thunder as they are one year older and one year hungrier after being one Serge Ibaka hamstring from reaching the finals last year. After being decimated two years in a row by injuries in the playoffs, this is the year I see the Thunder finally avoiding the injury bug and making a much anticipated return to the finals. The Thunder have been criminally overlooked as title contenders this season but with the title window closing for the Thunder, I see the 2014/2015 season as the one that they finally get their elusive first title.
White: It’s too early to make a good prediction of the NBA Finals, but I’ll try. As of this minute I’ll go with the Spurs and the Cavaliers with the Cavaliers winning. The difference between the Cavs and the Miami Heat in previous years is frontcourt depth. Kevin Love and Anderson Varejao rebound the ball extremely well and LeBron actually has a point guard in Kyrie Irving who can run the offense. I do think teams like Chicago and Washington can compete with Cleveland, but the Cavs might be too talented if they are healthy come postseason. And for some reason the Spurs keep on winning, but OKC and the Clippers will push SA this year.
Moufarege: I don't think it's going to be the Spurs....so it's probably going to be the Spurs. Spurs vs. Bulls that is. It's tempting to overlook the Spurs, it always is. They're yet another year older, and they just accomplished one of the greatest revenge missions in sports history by demolishing the Heat in 5 games. I do not expect them to play with the same chip on their shoulder, the same drive that they've had. I'm tempted to make a case for this being the year the Clippers or Thunder break the mold and get through, but I have to stick with San Antonio, because when I count them out, they always find a way. Repeating may be a difficult task, but if there are any signs that Tim Duncan may be in for his last hurrah, I fully expect Popovich, the best coach in the NBA in my opinion, to rally his squad passed the Thunder, Clippers, Blazers, or whoever else has the misfortune of playing them. The only thing stopping them in the West is their own healthy. Should they face the Bulls or Cavs, I fully expect the Spurs to be better coached and have enough diversified talent and finals experience to steam roll whoever they face out of the East. Spurs - Bulls, Spurs in 6.
Rosen: The NBA Finals will feature the Cavaliers, coming off of a 4-1 series win over Washington in the conference finals, against the Thunder, coming off of a 4-2 series win over the Spurs. Durant faces LeBron for the second time, but this time gets the best of him. A deeper Thunder team gets it done in Durant's eighth season, just like Lebron did. The MVP, however, goes to Westbrook, who out duels Irving in a high flying and highly marketable NBA Finals.