Gasol in Memphis, but who's the favorite for the title?

Summer box in the NBA very quickly to an end. Only some unexpected developments associated with the new contract LeBron James could incite atmosphere. Bookmakers in Las Vegas are already four iron favorites for the title. Today we can say that if any of these teams will not win the championship in June 2016, it will be a surprise.

"Marc Gasol of Memphis"

Previous reports from the summer window: Cavaliers, Aldridge, Jordan, the Lakers

If you do not count LeBron James, who still has not signed a new contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers - waits until the Cavaliers will sign a new contract with Tristan Thompson - Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies was really the best free agent on the market. The younger of the brothers in 2013 received the award for best defender of the NBA, and after the 2014/15 season, was selected top five league. "Dr. Marc" game in the NBA since 2008 and all the time in Memphis. This is where it then okrąglutki "Big Burrito" was in high school, while his skinny brother Pau since 2001, he played in a shirt Grizzlies. Marc compounds of Memphis are known and at the end turned out to be significant in the fact that in July did not talk to any other club, but with the Grizzlies.

30-year-old Gasol from Grizzlies sign a five-year contract worth approx. 110 million US dollars. After the season 2015/16 contract ends the second best player in Memphis Mike Conley. Gasol said Tuesday the Spanish press that Conley had promised him that he would be, if Gasol is. Probably so for a minimum of two years formed the core of the Grizzlies will be Gasol, Conley and Zach Randolph, whose contract ends after season 2016/17. The question of how the Grizzlies manage to put the next step and teams to 50 victories, becoming one of the favorites for the title? In June there were reports that the Grizzlies are interested in bringing Danilo Gallinari of the Denver Nuggets, then added to the composition of Matt Barnes and swapped centers Kosta Koufos (Sacramento) in a better Brande Wright (from Phoenix). In the last year of the contract is Jeff Green, and it probably Grizzlies tried his contract will be used to add to the composition of the winger, who better throws for three (Gallinari?). Throw in three is something that a few seasons away Grizzlies of the NBA's elite. Grizzlies have to find a way to diversify their attack and be a team more comprehensive, capable of playing more than one style.

Staying Grizzlies Gasol, however, maintained its position among the top teams in the West. They must now hurry if they want to build a candidate for the title around him and soon the 28-year-old Conley.

Cancellation of money? Blast it

David West resigned from the options in the contract, which guaranteed him a $ 12.6 million Indiana Pacers, in favor of a one-year contract for 1.4 million dollars in the San Antonio Spurs. His agent can not be the happiest person in the world. The more that the West is the only player Lance Young of contract in the NBA, outside trzecioroczniakiem Reggie Bullockiem (Detroit). For 35-year-old West is a classic quest for the ring. Spurs are fourth turn podkoszowy next brought from Portland LaMarcus Aldridge, Tim Duncan and Boris Diaw. There is no better trained podkoszowych quartet, playing on the same team, in today's NBA. This skill will try to patch up the quartet age and average athleticism. But you can be sure that Spurs will still be looking for more of this typical, measuring 213 cm and blocking kicks centers. If they find him - to the shelter!

Who is the favorite for the title?

Summer is not over yet, of course. While what Las Vegas has the sequence: Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder. You can argue about who to whom, but there is a high probability that at least one of these teams will not be healthy at the end of next season. Suddenly, only 3 out of 16 teams (Warriors, Clippers, Nets), who played in the recent playoffs, finished them relatively healthy and without serious injury. Thunder by injuries Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaki and especially Kevin Durant (he played in only 27 games) even failed to advance to the last eight of the West. Cavaliers of the first round played without Kevin Love's, and the last five games of the Finals without Kyrie'ego Irving. Spurs were playing like a full court, but battered by injuries in the first half of the season, Tony Parker, in the second part was never able to stabilize the high level of the game and it was his depnięcia, the first step missed San Antonio's most losing 3-4 in the first round of the Clippers. Therefore, the addition of Aldridge as offensive option is so important to attack the Spurs. It will also be interesting if the 33-year-old Parker will play at the EuroBasket in September 2015. It does not befit him not to play when the championship held in his native France, but on the other hand, the Spurs probably would like to have a summer low (high dropout from the playoffs has quietly added him more than a month off).

So who is the favorite? The least you can earn nominating the Cavaliers, but that's largely because it should be a huge favorite to return to the NBA Finals. In the East, their main rivals should be Wizards and Bulls. It seems that with this group - the loss of DeMarre'a Carroll (Toronto) - may fall Hawks.

Meanwhile, in the West the Spurs, Warriors and Thunder have similar opportunities. That's what happened in June and July, is the fact that it did not even matter, what small gap that separates the Spurs and Thunder (Warriors are relatively new to this group) from the rest. Clippers lost DeAndre Jordan, Trail Blazers up to 80% of the first five, the Mavericks have a chance to be strong, but until season 2015/16 (after another 'free agenturze'). Rockets and Grizzlies are, but there is no longer primarily the Clippers, who are adding 2-3 players have a chance to finish off the leading West. One good exchange Grizzlies have a chance to firmly bring to the forefront Memphis, the Rockets will certainly be checking how they can strengthen the team during the season. At the end of one injury or more injuries in the Spurs, Warriors and Thunder can compensate forces. Therefore once again win the title this healthiest.

Question: Who was the last NBA champion who won the title despite a serious injury to one of the 3-4 most key players? Dallas Mavericks won the title in 2011 despite an injury Caron Butler, who played only 29 matches and at the end of the season was the third scorer Mavericks by average points. But Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd were then all better players.

Andrew Bynum still has not played in the NBA because of chronic problems with his knees, there was a time when he was ridiculed - rightly, wrongly - but in the 1st round of the playoffs in 2010, the then center the Los Angeles Lakers broke meniscus in the knee. However, Bynum played on, put down the operation for later and helped the Lakers win the championship together with Kobem Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Ron Artest. Of course, after the end of the first season, Bynum went to the World Cup championship to South Africa, then still on vacation to Europe, before they have surgery ...

Other interesting information:

Mo Williams returns to Cleveland after five-year break - sign a two-year contract for 4.5 million dollars (second year of an option for the Cavaliers). In the 2008/09 season, Williams was an All-Star, playing alongside LeBron James. Season after no one won more points in the NBA after a shootout with pure position (according to Synergy Sports). Williams is still a useful offensive player, but also one of the worst perimeter defenders in the NBA ... The Cavaliers have until 1 August is time to replace the 'Products, worth 10.5 million contract Brendan Haywood. They talked with the Brooklyn Nets on acquisition of Joe Johnson (Haywood + Anderson Varejao), also discussed with the Los Angeles Clippers on Jamal Crawford ... Meanwhile, Golden State Warriors on Tuesday gave the final year of the contract of David Lee to the Boston Celtics. In exchange, acquired veteran Gerald Wallace and - interestingly - according to initial reports do not want to release it straight away ... Kevin Garnett to sign a two-year contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. If the "KG" runs out onto the dance floor in the 2016/17 season, it will beat the record NBA seasons in the amount of games played (22). Kevin Willis played in the NBA over the fewer than 23 years but left two whole seasons, including one from 1988 to 1989 with a knee injury ... One-year contract with the Washington Wizards signed winger Alan Anderson (4.0 million USD.), Who will complete rotation of Contracts bench ... for one season also signed quarterback Aaron Brooks (is in Bulls), strong wing Charlie Villanueva (is the Mavericks), Jason Smith (Knicks turned on Magic) and small forward Wesley Johnson (Lakers turned the Clippers). .. Clippers are still searching for the market centers ... The most interesting remaining free agents are: Jeremy Lin (probably will go to Dallas), JR Smith, KJ McDaniels (registered by Houston), Enes Kanter (registered by Oklahoma), Carlos Boozer, Josh Smith Jordan Hill, Amar'e Stoudemire, Luis Scola, Kevin Seraphin and Darrell Arthur ... Miami Heat traded Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen. They are willing to give up both for draft picks.