East is on the rise
Steve Kerr's analysis of the NBA offseason thus far:
• Eastern Conference | Western Conference
Last summer Jason Kidd had the world at his fingertips. He faced a choice: Accept a $100-million offer from the team he led to the NBA finals in consecutive years, the New Jersey Nets, or sign a max contract with the San Antonio Spurs, where he was assured of playing with Tim Duncan and competing for championships the rest of his career.
The money from the Spurs was a little less but certainly not enough to make a difference in Kidd's life. Either way, he was going to be fabulously wealthy forever. Kidd chose to stay in New Jersey.
Fast forward to this summer. The Nets are being dismantled by their new ownership. Kidd must be doing his best Bill Walton impersonation – "What was I doooooooing?"
How quickly things change in the NBA. New Jersey had been an elite team in a weak Eastern Conference. Now the Nets are gutted and perhaps headed for the lottery as the rest of the East grows stronger.
The irony is that not only must Kidd be lamenting his decision to re-sign with the Nets but also New Jersey must be ruing the day it re-signed him. The team is in cost-cutting mode and going nowhere, and the Nets surely will try to trade Kidd and his enormous contract.
In the meantime, the Detroit Pistons are the reigning NBA champions, Shaquille O'Neal is lighting up South Beach, and LeBron James is ready to elevate the Cleveland Cavaliers to new heights. The Indiana Pacers, who had the best record in the NBA this past season, also seem stronger.
While the Nets' run is over, the rest of the Eastern Conference is only getting better.
Let's examine the new-look East in more detail.
Detroit Pistons
Detroit will enter next season as the favorite to win the East. GM Joe Dumars has had a terrific summer, re-signing Rasheed Wallace and adding Antonio McDyess to replace the departed Mehmet Okur.
Despite a spate of injuries during the past few years, McDyess was healthy and played well with the Phoenix Suns in the final month of last season. His defense, experience and leadership make him a great fit with Detroit.
The Pistons remain the best defensive squad in the league, and they now have the confidence that comes with being a champion. They will be difficult to dethrone.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat instantly became championship contenders by adding the Big Daddy to a roster led by terrific young guard Dwyane Wade. The Heat still have work to do before October. Their front line, Shaq excepted, is a question mark. But as coach Stan Van Gundy said recently, "We don't have to add stars – we have to add good role players." If Pat Riley can secure a shooter, a backup point guard and a viable big man, Miami could be in business.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers have stayed under the radar this offseason, which suits Rick Carlisle just fine. Indiana wanted to get more athletic in its backcourt, and Stephen Jackson will help. He is a fearless slasher and a clutch shooter, and he will help Indiana overcome the scoring deficiencies that plagued them in the playoffs.
Carlisle's challenge will be to rein in the emotional Jackson without thwarting his offensive punch. And with Ron Artest already testing his patience, Carlisle faces a difficult job next season. Still, the Pacers will be a year better and should contend for a championship.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The up-and-coming Cavaliers looked to be the team of the future before Carlos Boozer's stunning decision to go back on his word and sign with the Utah Jazz. Still, LeBron James is so good that he will carry this team into the playoffs next season.
Eric Snow was a terrific pickup who will improve the team's defense and leadership, and Drew Gooden will try to replace Boozer. Cleveland also added Luke Jackson from Oregon in the draft. He is a terrific young scorer and will really complement James.
Orlando Magic
Orlando fans won't recognize their team, which probably is a good thing. In exchange for Tracy McGrady, a brand new backcourt arrived from the Houston Rockets in the form of Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley. If top overall pick Dwight Howard is as good as advertised, the Magic should be a better team than last season's 21-61 disaster.
With that said, Howard will take a few years to develop fully, and it's tough to imagine this team contending for the playoffs.
New York Knicks
The Knicks are one Eastern team that has been surprisingly quiet so far this summer. Isiah Thomas constantly is looking for moves to make, and New York ownership has given him an unlimited budget. His efforts to land Chicago Bulls guard Jamal Crawford have gone unrewarded so far.
But with two months to go before camp starts, there is plenty of time for Thomas to make a move. The question for the Knicks isn't talent but whether they can put the right pieces together.
