The NBA as we know it could change forever. Things are fairly simple at this point when it comes to what NBA players wear. Sure, we get some cool alternate team jerseys and some players have their own shoes. Or some guys wear headbands and others have leg or arm sleeves. But accessorizing in the NBA hasn’t seen anything yet.

If recent buzz is any indication, custom basketball uniforms as we know them are about to get, well, enhanced.

Nike CEO Mark Parker reportedly spoke to NBA owners at a recent conference and detailed a plan to incorporate all types of technology in player uniforms in the near future. While that could mean various types of things depending on how wild your imagination can run, Parker specifically noted “body monitors” and “self-lacing sneakers”.

We can probably pump the “Back to the Future” breaks for the moment, but it’s clear that Nike is interested in spicing things up on the basketball court. That could potentially include enhanced shoes, jerseys and other accessories players could wear. Nike already unveiled a shoe in 2012 that could track different types of player data, and that fusion of tech and sport appears to be something one of the top apparel companies in the world isn’t interested in halting.

The news makes you wonder what we can expect on the hardwood in the not too distant future. Something tells me we’re a few years away from a hover board or x-ray vision goggles, though.

Excited about technology being incorporated more in today’s basketball games? Like things just the way they are? Comment below!

A new 2015-16 NBA season brings new opportunities across the league. LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers can try again to win it all. The Golden State Warriors can try to repeat as NBA champs. Teams that didn’t make the playoffs can attempt to do so. And before the season starts, there’s still an inkling of hope that some of the worst NBA uniforms could be changed.

Hey, for some NBA teams, their uni’s are so bad you just go make custom basketball uniforms on your own. And when your team isn’t very good, sometimes how they look and the numbers they put up is all you have to hang your hat on. Winning and losing aside, though, there are a handful of teams (if not more) that badly need to consider upgrading or just changing their uniforms. We could include the Clippers and their new digs, but that’s too fresh (and too easy). Here are our favorite 4 NBA teams that need a reality check when it comes to their basketball uniforms:

Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook very well could be the NBA’s best duo. Off the court, they might even (in a sense) be the game’s best dressed. Westbrook is definitely known for his interesting fashion choices and it’s not shocking when you see the digs he dons on a nightly basis. Part of OKC’s ensemble is modern, but it’s also boring. The lettering on the jersey tries too hard, the white jerseys are too bland and the blue jerseys kind of actually hurt the eyes. OKC went big when they moved on from being the Seattle Supersonics, but they didn’t necessarily move on up in the looks department. Perhaps a revisit to their jersey would be advised before next season.

Oh, and it got worse. They unveiled their super orange alternative uniforms for the new year. Great.

Utah Jazz

Sometimes it’s good for a team to stick to it’s roots and keep a classic, vintage look. It’s not really working out for the Utah Jazz. They did well to rid their old purple jerseys that included mountains in the background, but now their jerseys come off plain and too old fashioned. That’s an odd label for a team young and trying to rise up in the brutal Western Conference.

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks had decent enough uniforms before this year, but there were whispers about them possibly shooting for an upgrade. The team listened and even got the players involved, but that ended up being a regrettable idea. Atlanta’s new uni’s include an odd foundation pattern and even sport some neon. They’re probably going to have a hard time pulling these off.

Los Angeles Clippers

Who are we kidding? We had to add them. The Clippers tried to modernize their team with a whole rebranding over the past year and it led to this. It’s not a great look. Hey, they got DeAndre Jordan to stay around and after a bunch of key depth signings they might have a shot at making an NBA Finals run. But they still now have one of the worst NBA uniforms. The logo, the jerseys, it’s all just bad.

Disagree with our bad NBA uniforms picks? Got your own? Tell us in the comments below!

The 2015-16 NBA season is inching closer and every day we hear about players working their way back to full strength or another random free agency addition takes place, we know it’s just around the corner. It’s only two months away, yet there remain several quality players sitting out on the open market, just waiting to get a phone call.

The likes of Jimmer Fredette, Samuel Dalembert and JaVale McGee all got jobs this summer, so there has to be room for the best talent still left in free agency. They have their flaws and there could be good reason they’re not signed yet, but these six guys could still bring something to the table for the right NBA franchise:

Norris Cole (PG)

Cole is a restricted free agent and is probably headed back to the New Orleans Pelicans, but another team could still claim him for the right price. It has to be somewhat telling that the Pellies still haven’t brought him back, but it’s likely a deal will get worked out in the near future. Coles is still young, can score on his own and knows how to create for others, so there is plenty of upside to like. In New Orleans he’d be a strict backup to starting point guard Jrue Holiday, and he could via for a starting job elsewhere. Look for him to stick with the Pels, though.

Ishmael Smith (PG)

Normally regarded as a fringe level player, Smith proved that wasn’t necessarily the case in extensive action as a starter with the Philadelphia 76ers late last season. Smith’s averages for the year aren’t impressive, but he enjoyed several strong outings that showcased his passing and outside shooting. It’s at least mildly surprising he’s not back with Philly or on another squad as a backup yet.

Alexey Shved (G)

Shved has a back issue and is currently signed on to play in Russia, but his surprisingly stellar play for the New York Knicks last year has to have some teams calling. Shved can be a little out of control at times and is not the most efficient player, but he brings great size and length to the point guard position, and is able to score and create at a solid level. He’s more of a backup, but he could be a great get for a high-paced offense. Shved is likely going to stick in Russia for this season, but if the right situation arises, he does have an opt out clause in his current deal.

Dorell Wright (SF)

Wright is currently in China trying to turn his career around, after he inexplicably went from having a huge role with the Golden State Warriors as recently as 2010 to being a bench player in 2012. Wright is still just 29 and can light it up from outside, while he also brings some size and athleticism to the wing. NBA reams want more of a skill-set in their wing players, but Wright knocked down 38% of his long range balls last year and brings an elite skill to the table. He’s a specialist and if an NBA teams is seeking three-point shooting, as most are, they’ll look into buying him out of his deal.

Carlos Boozer (PF)

Boozer is obviously running out of time at 32 years old and perhaps has waited this long to try to find the exact right fit. With only so many years left, Boozer probably is holding out hope to land with a legit title contender. Then again, Boozer does have some shortcomings in that he’s not always the most efficient offensive player and he is a total sieve on defense. That being said, Boozer is a veteran who can score and rebound, and numerous teams could use that solid impact off the bench. Boozer may have to give up on landing with a title contender if he wants to find work this year, however.

Henry Sims (C)

Last, but not necessarily least is Sims, who the 76ers actually let walk this year. They had the ability to hold onto the bruising big man, but turned him loose instead. That makes sense with them drafting Jahlil Okafor and already having both Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel on the roster, however. Sims isn’t the most skilled big man in the world, but he can clean the glass and score close to the basket. He’s also just 25, so there is plenty of upside to work with in the right system.

Got another free agent that deserves to be playing this year? Tell us about them in the comments below!

The NBA can be a cruel world. One year you’re in the NBA playoffs, the next year you’re near the bottom of the league. Just ask Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. And this year, there should be more teams to ask. With the Oklahoma City Thunder healthy and back in the playoff mix, the Western Conference especially could see a team or two slip out of the playoff picture. The same goes for the East, here the Miami Heat should rise from the ashes and could play a hand in sending one or more teams crashing back down to earth.

Who are the teams destined to drop out of playoff contention? That’s anyone’s guess, but if you ask us, it’s quite clear:

Portland Trail Blazers

Portland went through quite the roster overhaul this summer. Not only did big man LaMarcus Aldridge opt to chase a title with the San Antonio Spurs, but the team also said goodbye to Wesley Matthews, Robin Lopez, Arron Afflalo and Nicolas Batum thanks to trades or free agency. Portland isn’t completely without talent, as star point guard Damian Lillard still leads a team that boasts Gerald Henderson, Mason Plumlee and Al-Farouq Aminu. The talent is a serious downgrade across the board, though, and may no longer be good enough to lock up a playoff seed.

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets are certain to regress this year, as they did well to re-sign big men Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young, but didn’t do much else. They even let point guard Deron Williams leave, which crushed their point guard depth. With no real answer beyond Joe Johnson on the wings, the Nets could starve for offense. Last year’s eight seed has teams like the Heat, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic and even New York Knicks breathing down their necks. They’ll need to surprise to make the playoffs again.

Boston Celtics

Boston snagged the seventh seed a year ago thanks to terrific coaching and a team-first mentality. They actually did a solid job bringing in a defensive big man in Amir Johnson, as well as a solid scoring big in David Lee. The team drafted solid depth pieces and intends to build from within, as Marcus Smart’s improvement could help them in their efforts. Of course, there are better built teams behind them and sneaking into the playoffs won’t be nearly as easy this time around. It may take a huge jump from Smart or a big trade to upgrade this roster for Boston to make it back-to-back stops in post-season play.

Dallas Mavericks

Last, but absolutely not least, are the Dallas Mavericks. Mark Cuban’s crew was soooo close to becoming a top shelf force out West, but DeAndre Jordan opted to go back to L.A. at the last second in free agency. Instead of steadily working their way up the ranks, Dallas is at best looking at a 7th or 8th seed placement in the playoffs. With the Oklahoma City Thunder sending the Blazers out, the Mavs will have to hold off the likes of the Jazz, Suns and other rising Western Conference teams trying to squirm into the bottom seeds. Dallas definitely still has the pieces to be a solid, competitive team, as adding Deron Williams, Wesley Matthews and Zaza Pachulia shouldn’t go unnoticed. But Dirk Nowitzki is aging and Monta Ellis and Tyson Chandler are both gone. It shouldn’t shock anyone if the Mavs don’t make the playoffs this year.

Got another team that’s destined to slide out of the playoff race? Hate one of the teams we have on our list? Tell us in the comments below!

The Cleveland Cavaliers got all the way to the 204-15 NBA Finals last year and had things broken the right way, they may have won. They got there without Kevin Love and even won two games without Kyrie Irving, which would have the casual observer thinking they’re as close to winning a title right now as a team can get.

Of course, before any NBA team can go out and win a championship, they need to lie their foundation for success in place. They need a starting lineup they can fall back on in the toughest moments and a set of role players they know can come through when needed. For the most part, the pieces you’re thinking of are the exact pieces that will matter most for the Cavaliers this year. But if they want to win it all, conducting their lineup in a certain order may be advised.

Here’s our take on how the Cavs should run their roster this year if they’re serious about winning it all:

Suggested Starting 5: Kyrie Irving (PG), Iman Shumpert (SG), LeBron James (SF), Kevin Love (PF), Timofey Mozgov (C)

The Cleveland Cavaliers were a well oiled machine when healthy. J.R. Smith is absent from this team and correctly so, as he ultimately doesn’t fit in with a team that wants to both play great team defense and also run offensively. Smith would be a fine component off the bench, but Shumpert at his best can provide outside shooting, but is a better creator and a far better defender. Shumpert is a terrific fit at the two spot, and his only issue at all is being able to consistently knock down the three. He should be fine there, while not much needs to be said about star players like Irving or James.

Kevin Love is an offensive beast that simply didn’t get into a groove as the third guy in the pecking order in his first year with the Cavs. He seems to have fully bought into just being the third star on this team like Chris Bosh did by his second season with the Miami Heat, though, and that’s precisely why he’ll end up working out at the four spot. Love’s defense leaves a lot to be desired but he is an elite offensive presence that stretches the floor, can work inside and also hits the boards at an extremely high level.

There was chatter about Tristan Thompson starting over him, but Thompson has little offensive game. He’s best served as a rotational piece when the Cavs need defense, and he can play both the four or five as needed. Mozgov is the prototypical center and fits in perfectly with this team. He’s athletic enough to run with the Cavs, rebounds, can defend and even blocks shots. He’s a little inconsistent, but seemed to really hit his stride in the playoffs last year.

This is a deadly starting five with Shumpert being the only real weakness. If he hits outside shots consistently, though, he’ll be exactly what the Cavs need at shooting guard.

Key Rotation: Mo Williams (PG), Joe Harris (SG), Richard Jefferson (SF), Tristan Thompson (F/C), Anderson Varejao (C)

The key for the Cavs is going to be their bench. We saw LeBron beast out in the NBA Finals, but him trying to carry the team didn’t work out. He was inefficient and eventually he ran out of gas. He also didn’t have any star power around him and his bench was pretty weak. That should change this year, as Mo Williams proved last year that he’s an absolute menace. Mo can start at the point in a pinch and is a fantastic backup that can hit the three all day and also help run the offense. He’s a defensive liability, but he’ll be on the floor with Shump and James usually so it shouldn’t be a big deal.

I’m vouching for Joe Harris over James Jones. Harris is an elite shooting specialist that to me has major potential as that classic floor spacer the Heat had for James and the Cavs obviously need if they want to win a title. Jones was so absent on the floor when he wasn’t getting or hitting looks and it’s time Cleveland transitioned to someone with a little more upside. I think that’s Harris, who has the size and length to potentially improve as a defender, too. For now, having a strict shooting role off the bench will work just fine. Richard Jefferson can be a spacer, too, but he’s largely here for veteran leadership.

Having Tristan Thompson (who has yet to be officially signed) coming off the bench is amazing. He can hit the boards, score inside and man up on defense. He can start at the four or five or fill in at both spots as needed. He’s going to be pretty overpaid, but he’s a huge part of Cleveland’s team and should play a lot this coming season. Varejao is a total bonus, as he’s a major health risk every year. Anything the Cavs can get out of him is great, as he’d be amazing depth behind Mozzy. A healthy, effective Andy V can clean the glass, block shots and help defend the paint.

There is also chatter about Jamal Crawford coming to the Cavs. If that happens, I’d bump Harris down along with Jones and obviously use Crawford off the bench as the J.R. Smith replacement. Overall, though, Cleveland had the best trio in the league at this point, a very strong starting five and a healthy, balanced bench to work with. They’re favorites to win it all this year, and for very good reason.

The Charlotte Hornets were supposed to be a playoff team during the 2014-15 NBA season. Instead, they suffered through injuries to stars Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker, as well as defensive ace, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Instead of competing at a high level and making the playoffs in the weak Eastern Conference, the Hornets were exposed as an offensively-inept bunch that needed to play elite defense and be 100% healthy in order to compete.

While the latter two points are two the Hornets will gladly live up to for the upcoming 2015-16 NBA season, they have high hopes that their offensive woes could be eradicated this year. With solid new additions and some minor changes, Charlotte could be right back where they were two years ago: in the playoffs.

They just have to let the right players play. Let’s look over their roster and find the perfect starting five and roles for their main rotation to help the Hornets build a winner:

Ideal Starting 5: Kemba Walker (PG), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SG), Nicolas Batum (SF), Frank Kaminsky (PF) and Al Jefferson (C)

Walker is probably the most inefficient top shelf starting point guard in the league, but he’s a clutch gamer who can ball. He’s also a solid passing point guard and gives you a complete leader at the lead guard spot. He could be a little more consistent and he could be a stronger defender, but the Hornets could do a lot worse.

MKG is a stud defender and a very athletic, reliable slasher and finisher. He improved as a shooter last year but badly needs to add a three-point shot to his game. I’d prefer him to man the shooting guard slot and bring more offense to the table, but it’s hard to know his full potential given how much he was banged up last year. He’s still just 21 years old and the sky appears to be the limit, so if he can drastically improve this summer, Charlotte could be a lot better for it.

Batum is what he is, which is a solid, long defender who can rebound and hit the outside shot. He is not a star player, but he is a very strong role player who knows how to pick his spots. He really is inconsistent but a lot of that can have to do with his health at times. He’s a much more natural fit than Lance Stephenson was a year ago, a she doesn’t need the ball in his hands to kill you.

Frank the Tank has the potential to be a special big man, as he can already hit the NBA three and he’ll be able to rebound and score down low at this level. His toughness and defensive ability are absolutely in question, while he’s a nimble but not explosive big man. I think he’ll be just fine defensively in time, but the Hornets will have to work to help him out as a rookie. I like him starting right away, though, because his offensive game is his best asset and that’s what Charlotte needs the most.

Big Al is still a beast down low and can hit the mid-range jumper in his sleep. He’s also a fairly underrated defender that can clean the glass quite well. Jefferson is aging but he still has the goods to get it done at a high level. With Kaminsky hypothetically taking some pressure off of him and luring that extra defender out, Jefferson could find scoring to be an easier task this year.

Main Rotation: Jeremy Lin (PG), Jeremy Lamb (SG), P.J. Hairston (SF), Marvin Williams (PF), Tyler Hansbrough (PF), Cody Zeller (PF) and Spencer Hawes (C)

Linsanity is a very nice addition as a backup point guard and instant offense off the bench. Charlotte had that last year with Mo Williams and it worked out beautifully. Lin is a minor downgrade, but he can hit outside shots, get to the lane and create. He’s a very strong backup point guard and can also play off the ball at the two spot when needed. Lamb at his best is a decent starter, as he has a nice offensive game and some untapped upside. He’s a streaky shooter and inconsistent performer, overall, however, so hopefully he can just carve out a nice bench role where he comes in and fills it up with some scoring. The same goes for Hairston, who is a very explosive scorer but lacks defensive ability and is just not a polished player yet.

The Hornets have some serious depth and versatility on their bench when it comes to their bigs. Williams is a combo forward who can do pretty much everything, although he may not have a true position. He can start in a pinch, but for the betterment of this team, he’s the first forward off the bench instead. Psycho T is just a tough hustle guy who probably shouldn’t have a big role. I’d rather roll with Zeller’s athleticism and upside, as Zeller just needs to knock shots down consistently and continue to develop. He shouldn’t be given up on just yet. Hawes is a toss up, depending on which version of him shows up. If it’s the Hawes of two years ago, he might even start and give you a nice stretch four. If it’s the Hawes of last year, the Hornets might just want to cut him now.

Overall, Charlotte has a very solid starting five that is going to hit some bumps but has elite defensive potential and should get a boost offensively from Batum and Kaminsky. The bench is pretty strong, too, as it has some shooting/scoring, as well as some very nice depth for the paint. Ultimately, this probably isn’t a playoff team, but they sniffed success just two years ago and if they run this starting five and play their guys in the right spots, they’ll at least have a shot in the East.

Got a different take on the Hornets? Let us hear it in the comments below!

The Chicago Bulls were a title contender last season, as Derrick Rose returned to the court and the team added big man Pau Gasol. Rose wasn’t able to consistently stay on the court, unfortunately, while the Bulls battled nagging injuries to Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler and Joakim Noah for almost the entire year.

Despite dealing with health and chemistry issues all season, Chicago still locked up the Eastern Conference’s third overall seed and won a playoff series. Had they been able to find that consistency, it’s possible they may have made it past the Cleveland Cavaliers, and from there, it’s anyone’s guess what they could have done.

Going into the 2015-16 season, the Bulls again have a shot at being a special team. Rookie head coach Fred Hoiberg will open them up and release what binds them offensively, and in turn they will hopefully be less tense and more productive, overall. They’ll also need to use the right starting five and get the most they possibly can out of their main rotation. Let’s take a look at their starting unit and key rotation pieces and see what the future may hold for them this upcoming season:

Ideal Starting Lineup: Derrick Rose (PG), Jimmy Butler (SG), Nikola Mirotic (SF), Taj Gibson (PF), Joakim Noah (C)

Derrick Rose showed flashes of his former MVP self last year and when he did, the Bulls were pretty tough to stop. Unfortunately, he either wasn’t that version of himself or simply not on the court due to injury, far too much of the time. A healthy, effective Rose goes a long way for Chicago, and if they get that they’re absolutely a title contender. Without that, Chicago will be fine but won’t be able to make a deep playoff run, regardless of what everyone else can give them.

Let’s continue on assuming Rose’s horrendous bad luck with injuries is over. Great, now all Bulls fans can sleep at night and actually hold out some hope for next season. The next key part to this team is obviously Jimmy Butler, who has turned into a fantastic scorer and creator. He can do both of those things, but the Bulls really need to get back to the basics with Butler, who just a season ago seemed to be an elite defender. He really wasn’t all that elite defensively last year, as he was either battling an injury or too worried about scoring. If he can balance his game back out and be that elite defender again, opposing star players like Paul George, LeBron James and Kevin Durant are going to be very tired at the end of any night they face Chicago.

Here comes the kicker. I’m a huge fan of Nikola Mirotic. He’s a bit of a ‘tweener, so you absolutely can argue against or for him playing either the three or the four. He’s not not an amazing defender (yet). But he is such a terrific offensive player already that I don’t care about any of that. He needs to be on the court pretty much at all times if you can help it, and it also could give the Bulls an upgrade at small forward over the very average Dunleavy. Mirotic’s game best suits the three spot, but it remains to be determined if he can roll there full-time at both ends. For now, I like the upside.

The same story here with Taj at the four. Pau Gasol is the superior offensive player, but in terms of efficiency that gap is a lot closer than you’d think and what Gibson offers defensively makes him the better overall play. If Gasol can at all be open to coming off the bench, this could work beautifully. Gibson has been held back a ton in Chicago and has the size and athleticism to be a great two-way option. The Bulls just need to make it happen.

Keeping this whole thing together is a healthy Joakim Noah. I’ve heard the rumors of Noah being benched for Gasol and that’s one idea, but you’re losing a ton of defense if you do that. Noah needs to not be totally absent from the offense like he was last year, for one, a she clearly showed two years ago that he’s an amazing passer with the ball in his hands. He also wasn’t healthy at all last year, and a healthy and focused Noah can block shots, rebound and shutdown offensive studs. He’s a huge piece of the puzzle, provided Chicago doesn’t give up on him after one down year.

Main Rotation: Aaron Brooks (PG), Kirk Hinrich (SG), Mike Dunleavy (SF), Pau Gasol (PF), Bobby Portis (PF)

If the Bulls worked with the starting lineup I’ve given them, they could potentially have a very balanced first team that can both light it up offensively and also defend at an elite level. This would also give them a disgusting bench with Pau Gasol carrying much of the heavy lifting offensively and Brooks and Hinrich picking up the rest of the scoring and play-making responsibility. Portis has a ton of upside but might be in the same boat as Doug McDermott and simply not be ready to contribute just yet. Dunleavy is a fine starter who can hit open shots and defend, but I’d like him better with the second unit. Overall, this is a very solid bench that is top-heavy with an elite mid-range scorer in Gasol helping the team balance out quite well.

The problem here is that Gasol doesn’t want to come off the bench. Part of finding a way to win is sucking it up where need be, and I think Chicago’s best team would have both Gasol and Dunleavy coming off the bench. They’d keep fairly big roles and play a good amount, but I like their crunch time unit without these guys.

Overall, the Bulls have a ton of talent and if healthy and coached right, they could be a very dangerous team next season. Agree or disagree with my take? Let me hear it in the comments below!

The Boston Celtics found a way to worm into the NBA playoffs a year ago in head coach Brad Stevens’ second season at the helm. Naturally, Celtics fans will be expecting (or at least hoping) for the 2015-16 season to yield an even better team. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, but if Boston sends out the right unit and uses their roster correctly, they could easily lock down the 8th spot again and continue to improve.

How do they do that, though? Let’s analyze their roster and put together the ideal starting five and main rotation to map out a contender:

Starting 5: Marcus Smart (PG), Evan Turner (SG), Jae Crowder (SF), David Lee (PF), Amir Johnson (C)

The talk of Smart being benched needs to stop. He’s a plus defender who can hit spot-up three’s and has the size and athleticism to be an elite player. He still needs work on creating and scoring on his own, but these are attributes he flashed at a high level in college and should easily progress with moving forward. A shift to shooting guard wouldn’t be the worst move ever, but I like him just fine at the one and think he can excel there if given time.

With Smart locked in at the point, I like Turner at the two. He can play all three wing spots and might be best served as a three, but he’s actually a pretty good scorer and creator, so this is still a solid fit for him. He’s a versatile player who has the ability to defend, so if he plays to his talent you could do worse at the two spot. I’ll hear arguments to keep Avery Bradley here over him, as Turner is not a very efficient offensive player either, but he gives you more size and play-making ability than Bradley does.

Crowder is a no-brainer at the three spot, as he developed into a pretty reliable outside shooter and is also a very strong defender. He also got paid a ton of money this summer, so he’s going to start.

David Lee was brought in via trade and while the Celtics owe the 32-year old nothing, he still has fresh legs after sitting much of last season. He’s a defensive problem, but playing with Amir Johnson could help hide that, while no one else on this team can bring the combination of scoring and rebounding that he can. He’s a high energy guy that can get 15 points and 10 rebounds a night, if not more.

Johnson is a must at center to protect the rim, rebound and chip in on offense. He’s actually highly skilled offensively within five feet and if it weren’t for health woes, you’d hear him hyped up way more. I think he’s a bit of a free agent gem as he can tie together a tight defense and still offer some offensive upside down low.

This is not an elite starting unit by any means, but it very much is a strong one. Save for Lee, this is a starting five that can collectively create, score and defense at a moderate level. With a strong bench behind them and stellar coaching, this starting unit could have the Celtics looking even better come next season.

Main Bench: Isaiah Thomas (PG), Avery Bradley (SG), Jared Sullinger (PF), Tyler Zeller (C) and Kelly Olynyk (C)

The starting five is just solid, but this bench is absolutely beautiful. Isaiah Thomas is rumored to possibly end up starting, but that would ruin Smart’s development and distract IT2 from what he does best – just score the ball. As a 6th man he knows his job is to come in and produce points one way or another and he can do exactly that with no confusion about his role. Then there is Bradley and Sully, who could be terrific bench guys at shooting guard and power forward. Bradley can man the point in a pinch, can score in bunches and is a defensive ace. The problem? He’s not a true point guard, he’s under-sized for the two and he’s woefully erratic as a shooter. Bradley would best be served as a situational piece that can come in and play lockdown defense while also providing a scoring boost off the bench. The same goes for Sully, who probably is losing his starting gig due to poor conditioning. He can stretch the floor off the bench and hit the rebounds, but as a strong bench guy he’s not being asked to come in and dominate every night.

Zeller and Olynyk make up a very solid base at backup center, as both can play the floor if they absolutely have to and both have specific attributes at the five. I don’t think Olynyk is a starting center due to his weak defense, but he can shoot and score at a fairly high level. Zeller is largely there for his defense, so depending on the night and matchup, Stevens can use these guys as needed.

This is a string of very strong bench players that all could arguably start on any average team (especially this one). But as bench players, they form a very solid second unit for a young and rising team. The best part? We’re not even getting to the raw talent of R.J. Hunter (potential lights out three-point specialist), James Young (high upside two-way wing player), Terry Rozier (explosive lead guard and scorer) and Perry Jones (high upside forward ‘tweener).

It’s likely none of these guys will crack the regular rotation, but all have specific skill-sets that could make them names to watch.

Overall, Boston is a lot stronger than they look at first glance, but probably only if they stay the course with the right lineup. Stevens switched things up a lot last year, and while that at times worked in Boston’s favor, I think sticking with a set rotation (the one above) will benefit the team the most.

Think this rotation is all wrong? Let us hear who you’d play in Boston in the comments below!

The Brooklyn Nets are going to look a lot different for the upcoming 2015-16 NBA season. The team cut ties with star point guard Deron Williams, traded away young center Mason Plumlee and let key reserve Mirza Teletovic leave in free agency. Through it all, the Nets are sure to have a new starting five and a totally different take on where they’re headed this year, and beyond.

Sometimes NBA GM’s need a little help piecing their rosters and/or starting units together, and that’s where we come in, as we continue our run in “ideal starting lineups”. This time it’s the Nets, and we think we have the perfect solution with their currently constructed roster that could maximize their win potential:

Starting 5: Jarrett Jack (PG), Joe Johnson (SG), Bojan Bogdanovic (SF), Thaddeus Young (PF), Brook Lopez (C)

The Nets had to get rid of Deron Williams. He wasn’t a good fit anymore and he had a bad attitude. More specifically, he stopped playing defense and his shot was all over the place. Jack isn’t much better in either regard, but perhaps he was a little more consistent. Jack tends to fall apart late in games, though, so there’s not much to fall in love with at the point in Brooklyn right now. He’s definitely better than Shane Larkin, who is regrettably going to get solid minutes on this squad. If I’m the Nets, I don’t settle on Jack and try to swing a trade to upgrade at the point. That being said, Jack is the best they’ve got, so he’s starting no matter what.

I don’t buy the “bench Joe Johnson” hype. It sounds like the Nets want to cut his minutes back and decrease his workload in an effort to keep him fresh and efficient. Maybe it works, but for me, they just don’t have a strong enough starting unit to be able to afford to do that. They need Iso Joe out there, as he’s a great source of points, he can create and he keeps defenses guessing. Perhaps just cut his minutes down and go from there.

I’m not a huge fan of Bojan, but he’s somewhat underrated overall and spaces the floor pretty well with his outside shooting. He’s the best small forward the Nets have unless they’re using Johnson here, so the logic is simple. He leaves something to be desired on defense, but he gives solid effort, so he’s not a total waste there.

Power forward is when this lineup starts picking up, as Young was extended and is looked at as part of Brooklyn’s future. He can defend and is an athletic, versatile big man who can shoot a bit, too. He’s not overly efficient and can have rough stretches, but he’s a really solid four to have and absolutely belongs in this starting lineup.

The key is Brook Lopez. The Nets re-signed him to be their franchise player and the offense is going to run through him this year, probably even more than it did a year ago. His main issue is a rough health history, weak rebounding and absolutely atrocious defense. He can block shots, but he doesn’t actually stop anyone. He’s a terrific scorer, though, so he’s going to help the Nets a ton in that department. If this team stays afloat, he’ll be pretty much the only reason why.

Key Bench: Shane Larkin (PG), Wayne Ellington (SG), Markel Brown (SG), Andrea Bargnani (PF)

As “meh” as the Nets starting unit looks, their bench is even worse. Larkin is barely passable as a backup these days, as he’s too small to create inside or get to the rim consistently and nice steal numbers confuse people to think he’s a plus defender when he really isn’t. That being said, he’s a gadget guy who can provide random offense and snatch some steals. Hopefully the Nets don’t have to use him too much.

Ellington may end up starting, but this second unit badly needs some outside shooting and scoring, which he can provide. He’s not a great defender and doesn’t do anything on a high level other than score, but he can fill up the bucket when he’s on fire. He could be a serviceable starter if they go that route, but I’d love him off the bench. The same goes for Brown, although for different reasons. He has a raw offensive game, but contributes all over the place and can help on defense. He could end up carving a bigger role and being a gem to watch if he can keep improving.

Last and potentially least is Bargnani, who absolutely can still fill it up as a scorer but offers little else. He’ll randomly chip in big rebound and shot-blocking efforts, but usually is a very suspect performer in both areas – especially considering how tall and long he is. Health is a problem for him, but if he can stay on the court he should be a very nice bench scorer.

Overall, it doesn’t look amazing for the Nets heading into the 2015-16 NBA season. Their starting unit is a little sapped and if they’re serious about winning, they’ll want to move Joe Johnson and/or try to upgrade over Jack at the point. They don’t have a ton of young talent to develop, so they could be stuck in a rut if Young/Lopez don’t live up to their contracts. With the current roster, though, there isn’t a whole lot of optimism and it’s highly likely the Nets slip out of the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The sports world has a lot of time on it’s hands. The NFL is still two weeks away from waking up, baseball is currently on All-Star break and NBA summer league is almost ready to wrap things up. Naturally, all we can really do is look ahead and project, predict and guess what may be coming our way.

With NBA rosters starting to take form for the 2015-16 NBA season, that’s precisely what we’re setting out to do as we take a stop at each pro basketball squad and carve out the ideal starting lineup for each team – in our image, of course. Ever wonder if a team could maximize it’s potential if they just started the right guys and had the right guys in the right roles? We sure have, and if you ask us, plenty of teams already have the talent in place to make a serious playoff run or at least improve considerably next year.

It isn’t until just now that they had the perfect lineup to make it happen, of course. Join us on our team-by-team journey leading into next year, starting with the Atlanta Hawks:

Ideal Starting 5

PG: Jeff Teague

Teague remains a top shelf point guard who defends at a very high level and can also get his own shot and create for others very easily. Consistency is an issue for Teague, but he’s still a very solid lead guard that can take over games at times and knows how to play within Atlanta’s offense.

SG: Thabo Sefalosha

With DeMarre Carroll now in Toronto, the Hawks’ biggest question for 2015-16 is who will start alongside Kyle Korver on the wing. It’s got to be Thabo, who allows little (if any) drop-off defensively. Sefalosha is a fantastic iso and team defender and while he doesn’t offer much offensively, he’s certainly capable of hitting the open three. Sefalosha has played on several good teams and has solid playoff experience, so he’ll be a bigger boost than some may think.

SF: Kyle Korver

Korver is a weak iso defender but he can be masked in Atlanta’s elite team system on that end and we all know he’s on the floor for his offense. One of the best spacers in the game, Korver knows how to get his own shot off of screens and can be a total game-changer when he’s on. Korver crumbled in the playoffs last year due to defense and injuries, but as long as he’s healthy he’ll remain a key piece in ATL’s offense.

PF: Paul Millsap

Millsap could have left in free agency but instead he returned to the Hawks and should play a big hand in keeping them near the top of the Eastern Conference. He’s not really the traditional four, as he’s a little under-sized and has more of a perimeter game, but he’s a fantastic offensive threat that also gives great effort on the defensive end. His versatility is here you’ll see his value the most, as Millsap can score inside and out and is a serious matchup problem for most power forwards.

C: Al Horford

Horford’s health was key for Atlanta a year ago and they clearly come and go with him. Horford is a very solid source of offense inside the paint and from the mid-range game, but he really offers value as a defender. Horford doesn’t give up easy points around the basket and even at times can be a stiff rim protector with his shot-blocking.

Key Bench: Dennis Schroder, Shelvin Mack, Tim Hardaway Jr., Kent Bazemore, Tiago Splitter and Mike Scott

Atlanta’s starting five really isn’t up for debate. They need Thabo to replace Carroll as a strong defensive presence and as long as he can give them just something on offense, the Hawks really might not miss a beat overall. With their starting five looking strong, their roster rounds out with scoring threats in Schroder, Mack, Hardaway, Baze and Scott. Splitter is an underrated depth addition, as he can spell Horford in stretches as a solid paint defender and rim protector.

Atlanta’s roster still looks quite strong from top to bottom, but if they’re going to succeed two very key things need to happen. For one, they need to not fall in love with Schroder as much as they did last year. Teague sets a better tempo within the offense, has better awareness and is by far the better defender. More specifically, Schroder’s awareness is terrible in penetration, as he usually has tunnel vision when trying to score. In fact, his inability to create under pressure almost lost Atlanta a key playoff game, had Horford not rescued a missed shot with under a second left.

On top of better utilizing their point guards, the Hawks need to stick with their system at all costs in 2015-16. They seemed to try to adapt to the opposition too much during their playoff run – specifically against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals – and it led to them deviating from what they do best. They need to stick to their guns and use better in-game management to maximize their ability on both ends.

The Hawks are not a consistently explosive team and they lack even one true All-Star. They do have three very strong players in their starting lineup, an ace in the hole in an outside shooter in Korver and a very solid bench. If they play this roster right, they could be right back where they were a year ago – competing to reach the NBA Finals.