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NBA Teams Who Have Done The Least This Summer: Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, & San Antonio Spurs



July 25 07

The NBA off-season is in full effect. Most teams are making moves in hopes of improving; however, some teams seem to be enjoying the summer sun. Here are six teams that have been on vacation since the playoffs ended.

Cleveland Cavaliers

In: Nothing to announce so far.

Out: Nothing to announce so far. 

What’s on the table: The Cavaliers are trying to re-sign restricted free agents Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao. Unfortunately, Cleveland’s cap predicament—the club owes 62 million dollars in salary without Pavlovic and Varejao’s new contracts on the book- makes it impossible to add a legitimate point guard.

Will their inactivity matter: Yes and no. On the one hand, they need to add talent to beat a Western Conference foe in the NBA Finals. On the other hand, they have more than enough to compete in the lowly Eastern Conference.

Denver Nuggets

In: Chucky Atkins.

Out: Steve Blake.

What’s on the table: The Nuggets have a bloated payroll of 78 million dollars. I believe they’re trying to be an off-season seller instead of buyer and will look to move one of their bit ticket contracts like Nene, Kenyon Martin, or maybe even Marcus Camby.

Will their inactivity matter: Yes. Denver plays in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. Other teams have gotten better, so the Nuggets have to hope the deadly Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson combination takes another step next year.

Los Angeles Clippers

In: Al Thornton.

Out: Dan Ewing, Jason Hart, and James Singelton.

What’s on the table: The Clippers need another point guard. Cassell, while still capable of getting the job done, is starting to wear down. And youngster Shaun Livingston is out with an injury. I think veteran Brevin Knight would be a good fit.

Will their inactivity matter: Yes. The Clippers took a step back last season and missed the playoffs. L.A’s other team needs to improve if they want to return to the second-season dance in May.

Miami Heat

In: Daequan Cook.

Out: Jason Kapono.

What’s on the table: Miami has been unsuccessful in their attempts to upgrade the point guard position. Mo Williams re-signed with Milwaukee, while Steve Francis returned to Houston. The Heat is now trying to acquire Rafer Alston from the Rockets.

Will their inactivity matter: This is hard to tell. The Heat should be okay if Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade are healthy. But Shaq and Flash have struggled with injuries, so the club needs to get younger and more athletic players.

Minnesota Timberwolves.

In: Corey Brewer and Juwan Howard.

Out: Mike James.

What’s on the table: A Kevin Garnett deal has likely been delayed until the regular season. But, wait for it, the club is currently negotiating a buyout with Troy Hudson, which will clearly solve all their problems.

Will their inactivity matter: Yes. The Wolves must pull the plug on the Garnett era. It’s not The Big Ticket’s fault. It’s time for everybody to move on. Minnesota shouldn’t put off the inevitable any longer.

San Antonio Spurs.

In: Nothing to announce so far.

Out: Jackie Butler and Luis Scola.

What’s on the table: The Spurs have quietly re-signed their own free agents: Matt Bonner, Fabricio Oberto, and Jacque Vaughn. However, they haven’t added any outside talent this summer and traded Scola, the best club player in Europe, to Houston.

Will their inactivity matter: No. San Antonio is still the best team in the NBA.They have most of their title-winning core returning next year.

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7 Comments: NBA Teams Who Have Done The Least This Summer: Cleveland (...)

Posted by
chris
on 07.26.2007
what are you talkin about? pickin up chucky atkins was good for the nuggets, + its not like they could’ve got mike bibby or chauncey billups, they dont got that kind of money right now.. forget steve blake he’s some garbage, he wouldnt of got them to the beginning of the season yet alone to the playoffs... that was a good pickup for the nuggets, as long as he’s a backup point guard i dont got no problem with that pickup.. the nuggets gm can just sit back and relax, i dont know what denver nuggets your talkin about fool, you must still be stuck in the early 90’s.. its 2007 get familiar .
Posted by
chris
on 07.26.2007
what are you talkin about? pickin up chucky atkins was good for the nuggets, + its not like they could’ve got mike bibby or chauncey billups, they dont got that kind of money right now.. forget steve blake he’s some garbage, he wouldnt of got them to the beginning of the season yet alone to the playoffs... that was a good pickup for the nuggets, as long as he’s a backup point guard i dont got no problem with that pickup.. the nuggets gm can just sit back and relax, i dont know what denver nuggets your talkin about fool, you must still be stuck in the early 90’s.. its 2007 get familiar .
Posted by
Leon
on 07.26.2007
Of course , the winner of this summer is the Houston Rocket . And i also hope they guys can win more games with the recent roster . They will have a long way to go . Just go and get it , rockets. .
Posted by

on 07.25.2007
I still like the Spurs-a lot, but what are the Wolves doing!!!!It’s time to fire mcHale and begin the rebuilding process....The Clips need much, much more too... .
Posted by
It’s all about TEAM
on 07.25.2007
While the Spurs havne’t added to their roster, they have subtracted a few which allows them some good flexibility. Expect them to sign a decent free agent or two who can contribute before all is said and done. Houston is a much better team now that they have Scola and Francis, and the Rockets will give the Mavs and the Suns some real trouble. I expect to see the Rockets and Spurs in next year’s WCF if TMac and Yao can somehow stay healthy (big if). .
Posted by
wal
on 07.25.2007
cleveland needs to add definetly i dont care wht no one says the east will be better next season i hope ahh the spurs run was fixed so thats nothing they aint winning next year guaranteedand i dont know what the hell the heat was thinking gettin rid of kapono man he will be good mark my word hes the best shooter i seen since ray allen lol ohh and as for denver i dont see why they coudnt have gon further in the playoffs bracket i guess cuz they were up with the fxed spurs in the beginning but the clippers theyre another story they need to take drastic measures escpecially at the 1 spot and their outside shooting cat mobley’s good but they still need something else cant quite make it out but they better do something if they wanna be the better between the 2 .
Posted by
The Count
on 07.25.2007
the spurs re-signing of the red-rocket matt bonner is the most underrated move of the summer!! here comes another title!! .

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Oly Sandor

About
Oly Sandor

Daily take on NBA
Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More