Skip to content

NBA offseason grades: Central Division

Streeter Lecka / Getty Images Sport / Getty

LeBron James is now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, meaning the Central Division is as open as it's been in years. The Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers have a chance to rise to the top of the Eastern Conference, and the division's three other occupants could be pesky enough to sneak into the postseason.

Here's how each team in the Central Division fared this offseason:

Note: All contract terms are reported numbers

Chicago Bulls

Acquired: Jabari Parker (2-year, $40-million contract), Ryan Arcidiacono (1-year, $1.3-million contract), Derrick Walton Jr. (1-year, $1.3-million contract)

Departures: Jerian Grant (traded to Magic), Noah Vonleh (signed with Knicks), Sean Kilpatrick (waived), David Nwaba (signed with Cavaliers), Paul Zipser (waived), Quincy Pondexter (signed with Spurs)

Draft picks: PF Wendell Carter Jr. (No. 7), Chandler Hutchison (No. 22)

Re-signed: SG Zach LaVine (4-year, $78-million contract), Antonio Blakeney (2-year, $2.9-million contract)

A full-on tank seemed to be the best plan for the 2018-19 Bulls, as they could've allowed the Lauri Markkanen-Carter frontcourt of the future to have its growing pains alongside Kris Dunn and Justin Holiday for another season, with a top-three pick, and a shot at making R.J. Barrett the final piece of the puzzle, coming next summer.

Of course, the Bulls' front office couldn't resist trying to remain in the hunt for the No. 8 seed, bringing Parker to his hometown and matching the offer sheet to keep LaVine. While Chicago should be able to put up plenty of points, the team will likely be giving up more on the defensive end.

Grade: C-

Cleveland Cavaliers

Acquired: PF Channing Frye (1-year, $2.4-million contract), SG David Nwaba (contract terms unknown), SF Sam Dekker (traded from Clippers), PG Isaiah Taylor (1-year, $1.5-million contract)

Departures: F LeBron James (signed with Lakers), C Kendrick Perkins (waived), PG Jose Calderon (signed with Pistons), F Jeff Green (signed with Wizards), PF Okaro White (waived)

Draft picks: PG Collin Sexton (No. 8)

Re-signed: PF Kevin Love (4-year, $120-million contract)

Dan Gilbert did not want his team to reach the doldrums of the first post-LeBron era in which it went 97-215 from 2010-14. So he locked up Love to be the long-term centerpiece of the franchise.

With George Hill, J.R. Smith, and Tristan Thompson all under contract until 2020, Cleveland should at least remain competitive in the East while grooming Larry Nance Jr. and prized rookie Collin Sexton as cornerstones for the team's next phase.

The late summer addition of Nwaba could be looked at as a steal down the road, as the 25-year-old should continue growing into a legitimate starter after averaging 7.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting 34.6 percent from downtown last season.

Grade: B

Detroit Pistons

Acquired: PG Jose Calderon (1-year, $2.4-million contract), Zaza Pachulia (1-year, $2.4-million contract), Glenn Robinson III (1-year, $4-million contract)

Departures: PF Anthony Tolliver (signed with Timberwolves), PG Dwight Buycks (waived), SF James Ennis (signed with Rockets), Kay Felder (signed with Raptors), Eric Moreland (waived)

Draft picks: G Khyri Thomas (No. 38; traded from Sixers), SG Bruce Brown (No. 42)

Re-signed: N/A

With the Blake Griffin trade coming at the deadline, the Pistons' biggest offseason acquisition is of reigning Coach of the Year, Dwane Casey, who will join a team stocked with talent, despite some obvious fit issues.

Where Casey should be able to get creative is with his crop of wings, as Robinson should fit in seamlessly as an assassin from beyond the arc alongside Reggie Bullock, as the two shot 41.2 percent and 44.5 percent, respectively, from downtown last season. Thomas and Brown aren't yet real threats from deep but should play enough defense to contribute right away.

Calderon and Pachulia likely won't see much time on the court but will be an invaluable presence in the locker room as the new staff tries to reset the culture.

Grade: B+

Indiana Pacers

Acquired: SF Doug McDermott (3-year, $22-million contract), SG Tyreke Evans (1-year, $12.4-million contract), C Kyle O'Quinn (1-year, $4.4-million contract)

Departures: SG Lance Stephenson (signed with Lakers), C Al Jefferson (waived), SF Glenn Robinson III (signed with Pistons), PF Alex Poythress (waived), PG Joe Young (declined option)

Draft picks: PG Aaron Holiday (No. 23), PF Alize Johnson (No. 50)

Re-signed: PG Cory Joseph (exercised $7.9-million option), PF Thaddeus Young (exercised $13.7-million option)

While the Bucks will most likely be the sexy pick for a breakout this season, the Pacers' continuity and solid additions this summer should vault them into the upper echelon of the conference just behind the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors, with a chance to challenge the Philadelphia 76ers for a top-three seed.

If Evans can play like he did in Memphis, Indiana has the secondary scorer who was missing behind Victor Oladipo last season. McDermott may have come at a steep price, but you can never have enough shooting, and O'Quinn presents a significant upgrade over Jefferson as the backup center.

Holiday should also be able to contribute right away, and although he likely won't have a large enough role for Rookie of the Year consideration, could very well end up being one of the best players from this class.

Grade: A

Milwaukee Bucks

Acquired: PF Ersan Ilyasova (3-year, $21-million contract), C Brook Lopez (1-year, 3.3-million contract), SG Pat Connaughton (2-year, $3.4-million contract),

Departures: F Jabari Parker (signed with Bulls), PG Brandon Jennings (waived),

Draft picks: SG Donte DiVincenzo (No.17)

Re-signed: N/A

If the Bucks make that next step, it will more than likely be due to internal growth from their tandem of All-Stars in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, as the offseason lacked any needle-moving moves.

Ilyasova and Lopez add some shooting up front but the team still lacks solid reserve options in the backcourt and seemingly will have to count on the rookie DiVincenzo to be a primary scorer off the bench.

Although Parker had his flaws, letting the No. 2 pick in the 2014 draft walk to Chicago for nothing could come back to sting a team that needs all the help it can get around the Greek Freak.

Grade: C-

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox