2009 NBA Offseason

How to Repeat a Championship, Starring the Phillies and Lakers

There’s only one thing more difficult than winning a championship: winning two championships. But the Phillies and the Lakers are doing it right way, by not being afraid to make changes.

The NBA Salary Cap and You, Part II: The Deep, the Cheap and the Stupid

A look at how some of the NBA’s teams have dealt with the salary cap in recent years.

The NBA Salary Cap and You: An Overview, Part I

The NBA is somewhere has a soft salary cap, which basically amounts to no cap, since so many exceptions to passing the cap exist. In fact, the NBA cap is so irrelevant that it’s a historical rarity for a team to be under it.

Allen Iverson and the Virtue of Selfishness

Allen Iverson is a one-of-a-kind player in NBA history. His time with the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, and Detroit Pistons have given him a reputation as a selfish player. But as a free agent in 2009, his “selfishness” suddenly doesn’t seem so shocking.

Anything For the King: The Cleveland Cavaliers Offseason Moves in Spider Graphs

The Cleveland Cavaliers brought in Shaquille O’Neal and Anthony Parker this offseason to help LeBron James, letting the world know they won’t settle for less than an NBA championship this year. But what effect does that make statistically on their starting five—and is it enough to win a ring for the King?

Wallace or Perkins? The Boston Celtics’ Offseason Moves in Spider Graphs

The Boston Celtics added Rasheed Wallace this offseason, but they already have Kendrick Perkins starting at center. Who’s going to win the battle in the middle?

If It Ain’t Broke: The Lakers’ Offseason Moves in Spider Graphs

The Lakers only made one big personnel move this summer. And for L.A. fans, the Lakers’ acquisition of Ron Artest is a love/hate relationship. Spider Graphs shed some light on how much the Lake Show gained or lost by picking up Artest while losing Trevor Ariza.

And For Their Next Trick: The Orlando Magic’s Offseason Moves in Spider Graphs

The Orlando Magic have made perhaps the most dramatic offseason moves out of the East’s elite teams. They replaced two of their starters, bringing in Vince Carter and Brandon Bass to start in place of the departed Courtney Lee and Hedo Turkoglu. But does it make them a better team? Spider Graphs can give us an idea.

Are You an NBA Has-Been? Then This Offseason Is For You

The NBA’s 2009 offseason has seen movement of some of the NBA’s most dynamic, influential, and franchise-changing players.

If you’re stuck in 2001, that is.

With All the Big-Name Dealing, This NBA Offseason’s Got a Baseball Feeling

Basketball is a coach’s sport, and baseball is a manager’s sport.
It’s not an absolute, of course, as coaches and managers play a significant role in both sports. But the coach gets the credit for winning in basketball, whereas in baseball the manager may be more deserving.
On a much greater level than in the NBA, baseball [...]