Musing

This is "slow dance" time for the NBA.

Some significant free agents are still available and a teams have unmet needs but events unfold slowly as players and team match up based on priorities and salary cap. As players sign and teams spend cash, the pool of available players and salary cap space diminish and both free agents and teams move on and match up, often compromising on salary and expectations. Finley for example really did hold up a lot of teams from spending their mid-level exception. Now that he is gone, teams can spend that cash on other free agents. It is a slow process.

The Bulls haven't done much - relative to previous years and to other teams in their conference. They began with a good, young roster and are beefing up their front court looking for big men who can shoot - Bill Wennington style. They should improve and are hedging against Curry getting ill.

It's hard to integrate and sum the net effects of all the changes - mostly teams look like they improve but not every team can have a better record. It is a zero sum game.

Some guesses: The Pacers and Detroit will be tough this year. I'm guessing less so for the Pacers. Why? Gut feeling and the lack of old R. Miller.