When it comes to pressing the reset button in the NBA, a lot of things have to be in play. Such as salary, talent level and the realization that if you do not get a star your team will be middling lower seed team and delaying the inevitable. One month through the season and teams are regretting signing their free agents, agreeing to a trade years ago or have a unique situation where their star is out for the season.
More than half the league has set up their roster construction and salaries to be free for the 2016 offseason. But in the meantime teams are signing players to bad contracts but have them expire in time for 2016 offseason.
A team should not decide to a have a fire sale, if the team has a top player in their prime IE New York Knicks and the Miami Heat. The reason why I agree with this logic is because the NBA is a star driven league whether you want to believe it or not. If a team has a star or top player at a position and adds another impactful piece. That team drastically improves and could possibly become a top seed in their conference.
But how many teams can say they have that piece?
It I easier to build to a team with a defensive mindset, cheaper pieces compared to offense. The team will not be explosive on offensive but will keep games close enough to be a bottom seed in the conferences. Not all teams have to decide to have a fire sale and trade off all the assets. Some teams of young players on rookie contracts who can choose to let that deal expire and refuse to match an offer or just move an overpaid player
Here are a five teams that should consider to change things up and just start over.
Detroit Pistons
The reason why the Pistons are one of the five teams that should “blow it up” is because they are not very good, have bloated contracts and just need to start over. Last offseason the Pistons traded three pieces for Brandon Jennings, then agreed to a 3yr/ 24 million deal. Understood the trade, three pieces for a proven player but contract is manageable with his talent and only two years left. It does not hold a team hostage in terms of salary. Now on to this giant mess of a conundrum; Josh Smith
Josh Smith contracts, is unbearable it has three years for 40 million left on the books.. He is the only player I would move on this team. Just because of the salary alone compared to his skill level. Drastically overplayed for an overrated athlete. It was a bad signing when they did it in the first place. He is just not a good player. Whatever they envisioned with Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe and Josh Smith sounded like a good idea but in reality is awful. Nearly, feel bad for the city of Detroit for having this contract in their city. When it comes to Drummond, it is interesting. He is a young player who is still on his rookie deal and is a big men. The Pistons can do this two ways, and it all depends on his development. If they see enough sign re-sign him to a multiyear deal and match competitive offers after his rookie deal or just cut bait with him after 2015/2016 season. Reasons why I say this is during his first two seasons Drummond shot 61% with two points shots, this year he is shooting 44% as a 7 foot center. It is pretty important to shoot a high percentage in this area.
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets make the playoffs last year as a seventh seed, lose Josh McRoberts to free agency and extend Kemba Walker to a 4 year deal worth up to 48 million and then sign Lance Stephenson to a two year deal with a one year club option. The only good thing the Hornets have done was sign Al Jefferson otherwiseMichael Jordan messed up again. But I will help them out, do not re-sign Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and do not pick up Lance Stephenson’s contract. Only do one, I prefer to re-sign Kidd-Gilchrist just because he is not Lance Stephenson.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers are in a unique situation just because one of the best players in the world is injured and missing significant time. The Pacers could blow it up this year and still be fine. The only risk would be Paul George not recovering from the injury and facing long term issues. But in the present, the Pacers could trade away David West and George Hill for some young talent and picks, shed that salary and just tank it this season with Roy Hibbert. The big man is a good building block, he is young, a seven footer and plays defense pair that with Paul George, young talent athletic talent and the Pacers are back as a top seed in the East. That is how important George is.
Brooklyn Nets
When it comes to the Brooklyn Nets, just do it, blow it up get rid of the contracts of Joe Johnson. They are the toughest team to dismantle. Joe Johnson might be the most untradeable in pro sports right now. He is owed nearly 48 million the next two years. Deron Williams has lost his funk, no longer a top point guard in the league and got another multiyear deal that reaches into the low twenty millions in the years 2015/2016-2016-2017 seasons. I would keep Brook Lopez just because he is seven footer, when healthy he is a force in the paint and his contract is friendly and reasonable. But the backcourt of the Nets needs to go and if I am the Nets I would call every team for thirty straight days and see what happens.
Atlanta Hawks
I feel like the Hawks have been in no man’s land ever since I have been watching the NBA. A middling seed in the Eastern Conference. They did one great thing by dumping Joe Johnson to the Nets and letting them deal with that dumpster fire. But outside of that they just stay afloat as an average team trying to compete.Al Horford is a nice “piece” but he is just a piece. Paul Milsap is another “piece”. The Hawks just have a bunch of guys and “pieces” and constantly want to be in the chase for the next star. Whether it may be Dwight Howard or even possibly LeBron James. Best thing to do is just blow it up and draft a star. Nothing else has worked maybe do it this.