Last time on The New Millennium, the Orlando Magic took down the Portland Trail Blazers in a hard fought seven game series to win their first NBA Championship. Now, though, the offseason is upon us, and changes are coming.
Player Retirements
The retirements this year included names like Jerome Kersey, Sam Perkins, Otis Thorpe, A.C. Green, Detlef Schrempf, Johnny Newman, Horace Grant and Cliff Robinson. Unfortunately, none of them were elected into the Hall of Fame.
Draft Lottery
For the second year in a row, the poor Pelicans had absolutely no luck, falling to pick number three. The Cavaliers managed to win the lottery, while the Suns will pick second, and the Hawks and Mavericks round out the top five.
2002 NBA Draft
1. C Yao Ming, Cleveland Cavaliers
2. PF Amar'e Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
3. SF Caron Butler, New Orleans Pelicans
4. PG Jay Williams, Atlanta Hawks
5. SF Clifton Davenport, Dallas Mavericks(generated player)
6. PG Damien Baxter, Detroit Pistons(generated player)
7. SG Justin Galloway, Indiana Pacers(generated player)
8. PF Drew Gooden, Los Angeles Clippers
9. PG Kurt Fox, San Antonio Spurs(generated player)
10. SF Edmund Cooper, Charlotte Hornets(generated player)
11. SF Horace Everett, Golden State Warriors(generated player)
12. SF Ed Mercer, Minnesota Timberwolves(generated player)
13. SG Raymond Warner, Washington Wizards(generated player)
14. C Josh Barlow, Chicago Bulls(generated player)
15. SG Terrell Buford, Seattle SuperSonics(generated player)
19. PF Nene, Houston Rockets
24. PF Jared Jeffries, Milwaukee Bucks
26. PF Carlos Boozer, Los Angeles Lakers
Free Agency
A list of every player rated 80 overall or higher that switched teams in free agency:
SF Paul Pierce, Cleveland Cavaliers, 4 years, 138 million dollars
PF Dirk Nowitzki, Washington Wizards, 3 years, 101 million dollars
PG Chauncey Billups, Los Angeles Clippers, 2 years, 50 million dollars
This class may not have been as deep as last year's, but those are three big names switching teams. First off, Paul Pierce joins top draft pick Yao Ming in Cleveland, who already had Andre Miller and Zach Randolph, forming the nucleus of a juggernaut. Dirk abandons Dallas to join Rip Hamilton on the Wizards, while Chauncey Billups will now play the point in LA, partnering with last year's top pick, Pau Gasol. It's also worth noting that star power forward Antwan Jamison is still mulling offers and remains a free agent heading into the season.
Way Too Early Predictions
Based on NBA.com's predictions, the City of Angels should have plenty to cheer next season, as the Lakers and Clippers top the power rankings. Two teams that missed out on the playoffs last year, the Timberwolves and Pacers, are both in the top ten, as well as the Hawks, for some reason. The reining champions Orlando Magic are down at twelve, and the Bucks and Cavaliers are in the bottom ten. The Celtics are in full tank mode with Paul Pierce gone, projected to finish last, with ESPN hailing incoming prospect LeBron James as the "Chosen One".
Player Retirements
The retirements this year included names like Jerome Kersey, Sam Perkins, Otis Thorpe, A.C. Green, Detlef Schrempf, Johnny Newman, Horace Grant and Cliff Robinson. Unfortunately, none of them were elected into the Hall of Fame.
Draft Lottery
For the second year in a row, the poor Pelicans had absolutely no luck, falling to pick number three. The Cavaliers managed to win the lottery, while the Suns will pick second, and the Hawks and Mavericks round out the top five.
2002 NBA Draft
1. C Yao Ming, Cleveland Cavaliers
2. PF Amar'e Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
3. SF Caron Butler, New Orleans Pelicans
4. PG Jay Williams, Atlanta Hawks
5. SF Clifton Davenport, Dallas Mavericks(generated player)
6. PG Damien Baxter, Detroit Pistons(generated player)
7. SG Justin Galloway, Indiana Pacers(generated player)
8. PF Drew Gooden, Los Angeles Clippers
9. PG Kurt Fox, San Antonio Spurs(generated player)
10. SF Edmund Cooper, Charlotte Hornets(generated player)
11. SF Horace Everett, Golden State Warriors(generated player)
12. SF Ed Mercer, Minnesota Timberwolves(generated player)
13. SG Raymond Warner, Washington Wizards(generated player)
14. C Josh Barlow, Chicago Bulls(generated player)
15. SG Terrell Buford, Seattle SuperSonics(generated player)
19. PF Nene, Houston Rockets
24. PF Jared Jeffries, Milwaukee Bucks
26. PF Carlos Boozer, Los Angeles Lakers
Free Agency
A list of every player rated 80 overall or higher that switched teams in free agency:
SF Paul Pierce, Cleveland Cavaliers, 4 years, 138 million dollars
PF Dirk Nowitzki, Washington Wizards, 3 years, 101 million dollars
PG Chauncey Billups, Los Angeles Clippers, 2 years, 50 million dollars
This class may not have been as deep as last year's, but those are three big names switching teams. First off, Paul Pierce joins top draft pick Yao Ming in Cleveland, who already had Andre Miller and Zach Randolph, forming the nucleus of a juggernaut. Dirk abandons Dallas to join Rip Hamilton on the Wizards, while Chauncey Billups will now play the point in LA, partnering with last year's top pick, Pau Gasol. It's also worth noting that star power forward Antwan Jamison is still mulling offers and remains a free agent heading into the season.
Way Too Early Predictions
Based on NBA.com's predictions, the City of Angels should have plenty to cheer next season, as the Lakers and Clippers top the power rankings. Two teams that missed out on the playoffs last year, the Timberwolves and Pacers, are both in the top ten, as well as the Hawks, for some reason. The reining champions Orlando Magic are down at twelve, and the Bucks and Cavaliers are in the bottom ten. The Celtics are in full tank mode with Paul Pierce gone, projected to finish last, with ESPN hailing incoming prospect LeBron James as the "Chosen One".
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