Last time on The New Millennium, the Indiana Pacers were finally crowned NBA Champions on their fourth attempt, besting the surprise team of the West in the Sacramento Kings. Now, the offseason is upon us and changes are coming.
Player Retirements
Biding farewell to the NBA this year were Shawn Kemp, Kenny Anderson, Rick Fox, Robert Horry, Penny Hardaway and Darrell Armstrong. No players would make the Hall of Fame this year.
Draft Lottery
The big winners were Boston this year, who would claim the first overall pick. Seattle got pick number two, Detroit fell to third and the Clippers and Heat round out the top five.
2006 NBA Draft
1. PF LaMarcus Aldridge, Boston Celtics
2. PG Rajon Rondo, Seattle SuperSonics
3. SF Rudy Gay, Detroit Pistons
4. PF Paul Millsap, Los Angeles Clippers
5. PG Frankie Duncan, Miami Heat(generated player)
6. PG Wes Carney, Dallas Mavericks(generated player)
7. SF Bo Hayes, Charlotte Hornets(generated player)
8. C Sherman Conway, Denver Nuggets(generated player)
9. C Stanley Rider, Houston Rockets(generated player)
10. SG Ellis Carlisle, New York Knicks(generated player)
11. PG Kyle Lowry, Golden State Warriors
12. PG Roland Snow, Cleveland Cavaliers(generated player)
13. C Leon Powe, Philadelphia 76ers
14. PG Timmy Timmerman, Utah Jazz(generated player)
15. SF Preston McMillan, Washington Wizards(generated player)
21. PG Daniel Gibson, New Orleans Pelicans
23. SG J.J. Redick, Orlando Magic
24. SF Bojan Bogdanovic, Minnesota Timberwolves
39. SF P.J. Tucker, Philadelphia 76ers
40. SF Thabo Sefolosha, Los Angeles Lakers
Free Agency
Switching teams in free agency were:
SF Caron Butler(87 OVR), Philadelphia 76ers, 4 years, 124 million dollars
PG Andre Miller(86 OVR), San Antonio Spurs, 3 years, 93 million dollars
SF Richie Jackson(83 OVR), Milwaukee Bucks, 3 years, 62 million dollars
PF Mladen Tarlac(83 OVR), Miami Heat, 3 years, 57 million dollars
C Ben Wallace(83 OVR), Toronto Raptors, 3 years, 68 million dollars
C Nene(81 OVR), Boston Celtics, 3 years, 60 million dollars
PF Michael Ruffin(80 OVR), Miami Heat, 1 year, 6 million dollars
C Joel Przybilla(80 OVR), Seattle SuperSonics, 3 years, 39 million dollars
PF Brian Scalabrine(78 OVR), Phoenix Suns, 2 years, 8 million dollars
C Jamaal Magloire(78 OVR), Golden State Warriors, 2 years, 9 million dollars
C Zaza Pachulia(77 OVR), Houston Rockets, 2 years, 21 million dollars
Way Too Early Predictions
Switching things up, let's look at what Marc Spears predicts for next year. He has Orlando, Atlanta, San Antonio, Sacramento and Golden State in his top five, all of whom do have young cores and could improve. The Bulls and Lakers are low in the top ten, and Minnesota is all the way in the bottom ten. Also near the bottom are the 76ers, even despite adding Caron Butler in free agency, and he believes the Boston could be one of the worst teams again next year, despite picking LaMarcus Aldridge first overall.
2007 Draft Preview
Kevin Durant is the big prize next year, projected to go first overall and has obviously been a massive star in real life. This should be a great class for big men, with Al Horford, Greg Oden, Marc Gasol and Joakim Noah all available. There is a general lack of quality big men in the league in The New Millennium, so lots of teams will be very excited.
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