Atlanta Hawks
Resolution: Find a way to make Trae Young succeed
Trae Young has been absolutely abysmal this season. He shot 36% from deep in his lone year at Oklahoma but has found the NBA to be far less successful, shooting the three ball at just a 27.5% clip. The 15.6 points and 7.4 assists per game look good on paper, but Trae Young needs to be held to a higher standard than making just 1.4 three pointers on 5.1 attempts per game.
Boston Celtics
Resolution: Figure out how to be more consistent
The Celtics have underwhelmed fans in both Boston and around the league, with just a 21-15 record. Call it injuries, call it chemistry or call it unlucky, but the Celtics need to find a way to become a more consistent team. For now, the Celtics can count on Irving, Smart and Morris Sr., but the rest of the supporting cast varies on a night-to-night basis. For example, in their game against San Antonio, Jaylen Brown scored 30 points off the bench while Gordon Hayward failed to score.
Brooklyn Nets
Resolution: Make the Playoffs
The last time the Brooklyn Nets made the playoffs was in the 2014-15 season, and as of right now, they sit just a half game back of the Detroit Pistons for the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. A pleasant surprise for the team has been the play of backup point guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who is progressing quicker than anticipated and averaging 17.5 points per game. This team will ultimately go as far as the backcourt will take them.
READ: Western Conference Resolutions
Charlotte Hornets
Resolution: Get Kemba Walker some help
The Hornets currently sit at 18-18 and would be the 6th seed in the East if the playoffs started today. However, they are very clearly a one man show, as Kemba Walker carries this team on a nightly basis. Walker leads his team in points, assists and steals. Trading for an established big man would aid the Hornets mightily, as they don’t have anyone who can rebound the ball better than Cody Zeller, who is grabbing just 6.2 rebounds per game. The Hornets need to surround Kemba Walker with at least one talented player if they want to make a splash in the playoffs this season.
Chicago Bulls
Resolution: Trade for some picks
The Chicago Bulls are rumored to be in talks revolving around dealing Jabari Parker and possibly Robin Lopez. They did just pull the trigger on dealing Justin Holiday, which returned two draft picks already. The Bulls have just 10 wins this season and will certainly hold another top-7 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The best move for their franchise is to trade players that either take up too much cap or don’t fit their timeline and aim to build around players like LaVine, Markkanen, and Carter Jr.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Resolution: Out with the old, in with the new
The Cavaliers are tanking. It is clear as day. However, the Cavaliers would benefit by trading some of the remnants from the LeBron James era. Tristan Thompson should be considered the top priority to trade, given he could yield the best value. The Hornets might be a good trade partner in a deal for Tristan Thompson, so the Cavaliers could shed the $17.5 million contract. Kevin Love, JR Smith and Jordan Clarkson comprise the rest of the top four paid players on the roster, and trading any of them could go a long way for Cleveland.
Detroit Pistons
Resolution: Get an established shooter
The Pistons send out a starting lineup comprised of Reggie Jackson, Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond, which means the three-point game is automatically not going to be prevalent for their offense. Outside of Reggie Bullock, nobody is shooting better than 36% from three-point range. It is clear that if the Pistons want to make the playoffs this year, they need to snag someone to help spread the floor on a consistent basis. JR Smith?
Indiana Pacers
Resolution: Bring Tyreke Evans back to life
Tyreke Evans was a huge addition to the Pacers this offseason, but has yet to live up to the expectations. He has been better as of late, but is still putting up 10.5 points per game and shooting 37.8% from the field in just under 21 minutes per game. If the Pacers want to compete with the top teams in the East, they need a guy who can bolster up the bench unit and provide solid depth to their roster. Whether it is the system of the offense or Evans himself, something needs to change for the 29 year old.
Miami Heat
Resolution: Figure out the offense
The Miami Heat seem to exceed expectations every year as a result of Erik Spoelstra and a scrappy demeanor of the players he coaches. This year, the Heat are 18-19, but score the 25th-most points per game in the entire league. With no players averaging over 20 points per game, the Heat need to find someone who will step up and take over the offense.
Milwaukee Bucks
Resolution: Keep doing what you’re doing
The Bucks have the number one offense and the number two defense in the league this season and sit a half game ahead of the Raptors for the top seed in the East. With Giannis looking like one of if not the MVP this year (depending on who you ask) this team needs to make sure they play consistent basketball and stay healthy.
New York Knicks
Resolution: Decide if Porzingis will play this season
It has been about 11 months since Kristaps Porzingis tore his ACL. The Knicks are doing their best to appear as though the are not gunning for the worst record in the league, with their 9-28 record. Perhaps this discussion has already been had behind closed doors, but the Knicks need to decide if bringing Porzingis back at all is a good idea or not. Porzingis will obviously take his time coming back, as the Knicks are not in contention, but the risk for injury may be enough for the Knicks to tell him not to bother suiting up, even if he is healthy, for fear of another injury in a meaningless game.
Orlando Magic
Resolution: Be patient
The Orlando Magic are in an unfortunate position, where they are paying Timofey Mozgov $16 million per year. I highly doubt anyone would trade for that player under that contract, so the Magic need to do their best to either be patient and wait or try to make a trade where they can. Terry Rozier from Boston has been tied to the Magic for a while now and he may be a player they either attempt to trade for or sign in free agency.
Philadelphia 76ers
Resolution: Push Ben Simmons
The fact that the reigning rookie of the year has yet to make a three-point field goal in his career and ‘boasts’ a 19-foot jumpshot for his longest shot of the year is a problem. Simmons is a talented player, but teams know that they can leave him alone outside of the lane and it causes problems for the 76ers’ offense in close games. Is it fixable? Heck yes; either don’t play Simmons in the fourth (which would be a terrible idea) or push him to continue to develop his game and learn to shoot the ball. Everyone thinks that players are stuck the way they are forever, but remember that Simmons is just 22 years old, meaning he could have another 14 years in the league! He will figure it out one day, but in order to fit the 76ers timeline of competing to win the conference, he needs to start making those next steps as soon as possible.
Toronto Raptors
Resolution: Keep Kawhi Leonard healthy
The Raptors are keeping it close in the East for the number one seed and are just a half game behind Milwaukee. So far, Kawhi Leonard has played in just 29-of-39 games, as he has not played the second game in back-to-backs. The Raptors are trying to eliminate that restriction in 2019, but they need to be cautious it does not cost them the best two-way player in the NBA.
Washington Wizards
Resolution: Shed the dead weight
With John Wall out for the season, the Wizards need to finally blow it up. They need to consider the futures of Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr. and determine which one, if not both, should be traded. The Wizards destroyed their own cap space by agreeing to pay John Wall nearly $40 million next season. The future of the team may be in the darkest parts of the NBA basement for a while, unless the Wizards make dramatic changes before this season’s trade deadline.
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Western Conference New Year’s Resolutions
