NBA 2011 free agency: Atlantic Division

The Atlantic Division has been the worst in the NBA for the last decade, highlighted by the New York teams of the 2000s that had $100 million payrolls and less than 40 wins.

That has changed recently with a shift in power to the Atlantic, coming from the acquisitions of Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams in the last year. The teams still need to improve, though, as only one of the teams finished with over 50 wins.

BOSTON

Free agents: Carlos Arroyo, Glen Davis, Nenad Krstic, Troy Murphy, Sasha Pavlovic, Von Wafer, Delonte West (unrestricted); Jeff Green (restricted).

Boston is getting to a tipping point over the next year. KG and Ray Allen will be free agents at the end of next season, and both will be mulling retirement at that time. The Celtics are not in a financial position to sign free agents, so they will need to either trust their current rotation to make a deeper run into the playoffs next year, or make a move to get better in the interim.

Deal they should make: sign Grant Hill. Hill is an unrestricted free agent, he’s only going to want a short-term, veteran’s deal, and he can provide the kind of perimeter defence off the bench that Boston needed from Jeff Green.

With Green filling in at PF and SF, and Hill filling in at the swing positions, Boston’s defence will improve, and so will its chances of beating the Heat next season. Tayshaun Prince is an option here if you can get him for the mid-level.

NEW JERSEY

Free agents: Ben Uzoh, Brandan Wright (restricted); Dan Gadzuric, Kris Humphries, Sasha Vujacic, Mario West (unrestricted).

New Jersey swung for the fences when they traded away almost all of their major assets to score Deron Williams from Utah during the season. Williams, along with centre Brook Lopez, provide a good foundation for what the Nets are hoping will be a playoff team in the next two to three seasons.

With $18 million in cap room coming up, the Nets are in a position to make some signings to help their starting rotation. Their guards are pretty much set, with Deron Williams and Anthony Morrow starting, and Jordan Farmar, plus new rookie guard Marshon Brooks setting the back court rotation.

Deal they should make: With the back court set, the Nets must now focus on the forward positions. Re-signing Kris Humphries is a priority, and whilst he will attract attention from other teams like Indiana (mentioned in yesterday’s column), his impending marriage to reality TV star Kim Kardashian will ultimately mean that unless there’s a huge money offer for him, Humphries will stay on Manhattan’s doorstep.

I think New Jersey would benefit from the scoring and leadership provided by Caron Butler, who would immediately overtake Travis Outlaw for the starting small forward spot. Tayshaun Prince and David West are also options here for the Nets.

NEW YORK

Free agents: Derrick Brown (restricted), Anthony Carter, Jared Jeffries, Roger Mason, Ronny Turiaf, Shawne Williams, Shelden Williams (unrestricted).

With two All Stars in Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, as well as former Finals MVP Chauncey Billups, New York has the “cattle” to make a playoff run for next season. The Knicks last week drafted Iman Shumpert, a defensive-minded guard to run with Billups, second year glue guy Landry Fields, and Toney Douglas.

Anthony and Stoudemire are in serious need of frontcourt help, however. Rookie Josh Harrellson should crack the rotation, however a tweener forward and starting centre are needed to really improve this team.

Deal they should make: Sign Samuel Dalembert and Reggie Evans with the midlevel exception. Both were earning far more than they’ll make this year, as both are on the wrong side of 30. Dalembert would be able to start, and Evans would provide a good bench player who absolutely loves rebounding. A short term, low money contract to Tracy McGrady would be a good idea as well.

PHILADELPHIA

Free agents: Spencer Hawes, Thaddeus Young (restricted), Tony Battie, Antonio Daniels, Jason Kapono, Darius Songaila (unrestricted).

Doug Collins did a fantastic job of building the Sixers into a playoff team this past season, resulting in a first round loss to the Miami Heat. Young and Hawes should be priorities, unless the asking price is too high. $5 million per for both would be a good deal, any more is another example of an NBA player overvaluing themselves.

Deal they should make: Andre Iguodala for a more offensively equipped wing, like Dallo Galinari or Monta Ellis. The Detroit deal mentioned in yesterday’s column would also work, and result in not having to move Iguodala.

TORONTO

Free agents: Joey Dorsey, Sonny Weems, Julian Wright (restricted), Alexis Ajinca, Reggie Evans (unrestricted).

With a new, defensive-minded coach in Dwane Casey, the Raptors are hoping to climb up the Eastern Conference and develop their young core. Former number one draft pick Andrea Bargnani has proven to be okay on offense, but awful on the defensive end, and the Raptors are hoping the tutelage of Casey can change this.

Toronto needs to make a decision about its PG spot moving forward as well, and choose between Jose Calderon and Jerryd Bayless for the starting job. Once they’ve made that decision, personnel changes can be made.

Deal they should make: Offer Wilson Chandler a contract, leading to a sign-and-trade for Leandro Barbosa’s expiring deal. Chandler would be the perfect wing compliment to rising star DeMar DeRozan, and would add defence to a front line that lacked it last year.

Also, I think now is the time to give up on Bargnani while he’s still got some trade value. Packaging him with Calderon in exchange for a package such as Robin Lopez, Mickael Pietrus and Josh Childress; or Al Jefferson and Mhemet Okur, would allow the Raptors to gain a centre that is going to do more for them on both ends.

If the second option worked, then Toronto would have a starting rotation of Jefferson, Ed Davis, Chandler, DeRozan and Bayless, and a bench of Okur, Kleiza, and whoever they re-sign in free agency.