The offseason is officially upon us, and with that in mind we have a quick preview up at the Box and One, citing one key question for each team as they progress through June and July. Every group is yearning to improve their roster; every front office contemplating dozens of courses of action and players to target. Yet each group has a different path to figuring out those tasks, and one question that looms greater than the rest.

Today, we attempt to answer those questions and illuminate the initial or most important steps each team must take on their path forward. After looking at the Eastern Conference yesterday, today climbs back with a look at the loaded Western Conference.

Golden State Warriors - How much does it cost to bring everyone back?
     Time will tell, but no matter the cost they need to do it. Culture is an amazing thing in basketball; it's what allows people to make selfless decisions and move in unison on and off the court. Steve Kerr, Joe Lacob and Bob Myers have built a culture that encourages and rewards those who sacrifice for the good of the team. I'd expect that to be pervasive all the way to their free agency decisions.

Curry, Iguodala and several important role players are due new contracts this year, but the main guys aren't likely to go anywhere -- that includes vets Shaun Livingston and David West. As for the Ian Clark and JaVale McGee's, the young players who have to cash in on their success elsewhere... let's see if the Warriors can recapture their magic and go bargain-hunting for the exact right fits at the end of their rotations.


Houston Rockets - Does General Manager Daryl Morey really have a "trick up his sleeve"?
     In a recent piece done by Zach Lowe on ESPN, he mentioned from an interview with Morey that if the Rockets choose to be more aggressive this offseason, the Rockets GM has some "tricks up their sleeve". Many readers took this literally, as in they already have a plan in place. I took this to mean that if the necessity for aggression comes to light, there are avenues available for Houston to explore an aggressive approach.

But exactly what that may be is a large question. Houston's entire core returns, with only Nene as a contributor hitting the open market. Any trick Morey reveals will have to involve a trade, and frankly, Houston is in good position to make a splash for a star on the trade market. They have desirable young pieces (Clint Capela, mainly), veterans on expiring deals (Trevor Ariza and Lou Williams) that could help expedite a rebuild somewhere and all their future draft picks in their arsenal. Would Paul George be a candidate to come to Houston? Would D'Antoni be able to reunite with Carmelo as a small-ball four? Houston doesn't need to be aggressive, but if they determine that's the best path don't be surprised to see some shockwaves sent throughout the league.


Los Angeles Clippers - Is this the end of Lob City?
     Cap circumstances may prevent the Clippers from assembling their typical three-headed monster with veteran role players and strong bench pieces. Somehow, the pieces off the bench never meshed and the Clippers were constantly unable to find an answer at small forward, instead employing one-way players or over-the-hill veterans with little in the tank. Now Chris Paul is looking for one final max contract, and Blake Griffin has the ability to opt out as well. Keeping both, along with free agent J.J. Redick and looking for upgrades elsewhere, will be either mighty expensive or altogether implausible.

At their best, the Lob City Clippers were a dynamic offensive threat that allowed them to be a top-three team in a loaded Western Conference. At their worst, they were an injury-riddled talented group that perennially underachieved in the postseason and plateaued far too early. It would be sad to see the group disband and head different directions, and even more interesting to watch how Doc Rivers would build a group in the post-Lob City era.

Los Angeles Lakers - What can the Lakers do to maneuver around the large contracts handed out last summer to Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov?
     The bounce of the ping pong balls was always going to be out of their control, so while Magic Johnson is heavily prepared on scouting through the draft, he needs to do some touch work on the roster they currently have. Mainly, the poor contracts of Deng and Mozgov will start to rear their ugly heads next summer when the Lakers look to extend and retain their young nucleus.

Mozgov has little value on the trade market; there are plenty of other centers available via trade of free agency that are better with higher upside. Deng's recent surgical procedure takes away a lot of the appeal of any team looking to acquire a gritty stretch-four on the cheap. A betting man would put money on both opening the season in purple and gold, with Magic still having enough space this summer to make a shot at one stud acquisition.


Memphis Grizzlies - How do the Grizzlies navigate their cap woes?
     Mike Conley and Marc Gasol are signed, so all hope will not be lost regardless of how the offseason goes. Still, the poor contract of Chandler Parsons and the several below-average role players constrict the Grizzlies' movements. Tony Allen is a free agent. Zach Randolph is a free agent, as is his long-term replacement JaMychal Green. Green is restricted, so the Grizz can match any offer for him. That said, his performance this season may have parlayed him above a sensible level for them to match.

Yet JaMychal is Memphis' only good young player, standing out on a team that has made poor draft decisions for years and lacks a 2017 first-round pick. If Green is their most important priority, then a changing of the guard may be in place as Memphis may be unable to afford cult heroes Zach Randolph and Tony Allen anymore. Either way, the depth on this roster is not something to get excited about, and unless the Grizz can find a way to wiggle some more room into their cap, the trajectory may be pointing downward next season.


Minnesota Timberwolves - Can the Wolves extend both LaVine and Wiggins?
     Cap finagling done by Tom Thibodeau and company could allow the Wolves to lock up their current youngsters and find a helping hand on the free agent market. First they'd need to be granted a long-term injury exclusion for Nikola Pekovic to get his contract off the books, giving the Wolves nearly $30 million this summer to use. That number is a facade in reality, as the brunt work of Minnesota's cap figures for future years will be eaten up by extensions to their talented three youngsters LaVine, Wiggins and Towns. LaVine and Wiggins are eligible to sign those extensions this summer, though the cap hits won't take place until July 2018.

Extending both LaVine (coming of an ACL tear) and Wiggins (who has yet to evolve into a transcendent player they hoped), with the certainty that the team will lock up Towns a year later, would leave Minnesota with very little long-term maneuverability. But locking them up now before LaVine can command a huge salary on the market or Wiggins take a big step forward this year could be the cheapest course of action to keep everyone in Minnesota. Of course, that all depends on the advice their agents give them and if Thibodeau wants to keep both for the long-term. It's more of a question for the fall regarding the extensions actually being signed, but how aggressive the Wolves are this summer in trying to lure a bigger-contract player to Minneapolis could tip their hand for how they'll proceed with these two.


New Orleans Pelicans - How do the Pelicans get both better backcourt production and bench players?
     GM Dell Demps came across an opportunity nobody could pass up and ran with it, acquiring DeMarcus Cousins at the trade deadline while giving up a 2017 first-rounder. Now is when Demps' recent string of trading away draft picks comes back to haunt the small-market Pelicans. There really isn't a young base of players on their roster to churn and develop. Jrue Holiday is a free agent, so finding depth and/ or flanking backcourt help to Holiday won't be possible if they keep him.

Demps has no first-rounder, $89 million already handed out in guarantees and the task of paying north of $18 million a year to keep Holiday (whom they must keep for the Bird rights that allow them to get a starting-caliber point guard). With a cap projected to be at around $102 million, Demps has to get creative since they have zero draft picks and expect to make a push for the 2018 Playoffs.


Oklahoma City Thunder - At what price do the Thunder walk away from Andre Roberson?
     Roberson presents one of the most fascinating offseason dilemmas for any team. He's been so bad on offense, and replacing him with a plus-shooter on the wing could alleviate the pressures this Thunder roster is under to rebuild its entire frontcourt around Westbrook. But Roberson is so good on defense that the Thunder might not get the same offensive production from Russ if it weren't for his teammate drawing the top assignment on a nightly basis.

It all comes down to money for the Thunder, who are already committed to $110 million in salary for next season. Players like Roberson are next to impossible to replace with one or two signings, but the value of playing a different brand of basketball is difficult to quantify. As teams drive up the bidding for Roberson's defensive services, the Thunder will have to think long and hard about when they let him go for nothing.


​Phoenix Suns - Who do the Suns target in the draft?
     The domino effect for their roster will begin after draft night. Pushing aside where their selection is and which players they like most, we'll certainly see the ripple effects moving the second after they make a pick. Grab a point guard and it's likely the end of the Eric Bledsoe era in Phoenix. Select a big man (aka a major reach) and Alex Len or Tyson Chandler looks expendable. Draft a wing, and I'd assume Jared Dudley would be a player heavily rumored in trade talks.

​The Suns will draft fourth overall in June, so getting one of Ball or Fultz can be ruled out for the Phoenix faithful. I believe Jonathan Isaac would be the missing piece for this franchise in numerous ways, but certainly acknowledge their defensive voids that Josh Jackson fills and his open-court athleticism are difficult to pass up. Once GM Ryan McDonough makes his selection, his tasks audible to balancing the roster and finding a place to unload Brandon Knight.
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Portland Trail Blazers - How will President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey manage Portland's cap-saddled, tax-looming roster situation this summer?
     No free agents (minus Festus Ezeli, who doesn't help relieve their cap situation too heavily) means Olshey has got to work the phones. I still believe the best bet is we see him try to get under the cap before the beginning of next season, hoping to avoid a repeater tax once they look at re-signing Jusuf Nurkic to an extension. They'll have to dangle some of their three first-round picks on the table to sweeten the pot for a team looking to take on some salary.

Once July hits, expect Olshey to be working hard as a third-party facilitator in some sort of salary dump to make a trade work. None of these pieces are seen as "dead weight", which should leave someone willing to take on a player or two. The biggest paradox: while first-round picks are the best way to sweeten the pot in a trade, they also have few other avenues to improve their bench if they unload their role players in a cap relief move. Incredibly fascinating and crucial summer ahead for Portland.


Sacramento Kings - The slate is blank in Sacramento. Does Vivek have the patience to see a rebuild through?
     The Kings could open free agency with as much as $65 million in cap space if they make their moves right. Despite the cash to throw around, this is a team that has some intriguing young talent that needs playing time and a commitment towards development. Ranadive is a brash owner with unrealistic expectations; it wouldn't be surprising to see him want to throw boatloads of cash at any available free agent at the detriment of the rest of his roster. With two top-ten picks, his staff should be preaching patience as they develop this promising young core.

Let's be clear: Sacramento does need to pursue players via free agency -- just the right ones. There are opportunities available to get younger and add some quality players if they target the right ones. Having cap space allows them to lure players towards their team with extra cash, and if they lure away some on three or four year deals that have upside, this would be considered a successful summer for the Kings.


San Antonio Spurs - What can the Spurs do this summer to better position themselves to topple Golden State?
     The answer of "more speed and athleticism" may seem too simple, but it's probably true. More pervasive than the questions of their point guard situation, now fluidly in the air due to Parker's injury and Mills' free agent status, are the worries that the Spurs won't be able to get past Golden State without having a few more versatile pieces. Parker and Mills greatly factor into this, and the Parker injury might mean keeping Mills despite the hefty price tag he commands.

More pressing for athleticism is the Spurs' frontcourt, featuring the likes of Gasol, Aldridge and David Lee. All three have a strong chance to return next season along with center Dewayne Dedmon, so there isn't a ton of room for a new roster spot here. I would expect the Spurs to look long and hard at bringing in a defensive-stopper and athlete in the draft this year, especially if they are unable to match any hefty offers that get handed out to Jonathon Simmons.


Utah Jazz - Can the front office keep the band together?
     Re-signing both Gordon Hayward and George Hill is a long shot when both should command such high salaries. Still, Hayward has incentive to take a short term 1+1 deal so he can possibly ink a designated max next summer. Hill on the other hand will have plenty of high-valued suitors; he's a target that Utah will have to convince to take a bit of a pay cut and value that fifth year that only the Jazz can offer.

The Jazz also have Joe Ingles as a restricted free agent, a big piece to what they've done in Utah. The luxury of time might not be on their side to wait out any sweepstakes Hill and Hayward undergo if Ingles signs an early offer sheet and forces the Jazz to lessen their spending budget in the front-half of July. Of course, Hayward is the important piece here: losses of Ingles and Hill will hurt but not break the team's upward trajectory. Losing Gordon in free agency takes away Utah's only shot creator and go-to scorer.

The offseason is officially upon us, and with that in mind we have a quick preview up at the Box and One, citing one key question for each team as they progress through June and July. Every group is yearning to improve their roster; every front office contemplating dozens of courses of action and players to target. Yet each group has a different path to figuring out those tasks, and one question that looms greater than the rest.

Today, we attempt to answer those questions and illuminate the initial or most important steps each team must take on their path forward. We start here with a look at the Eastern Conference.

Boston Celtics - Keep the pick or trade for a superstar?
     The massive question that everyone in the league sees coming, and everyone else is waiting on. Boston is officially on the clock, wrestling with their ultimate dilemma. Further complicating matters is the desire to go after free agent-to-be Gordon Hayward, whose pursuit can only be fulfilled after the draft. And I've waffled back and forth between what the Celtics should do for months.

Two years and a player option from Jimmy Butler, plus his Bird Rights, is an attractive offer. With any deal the Celtics entertain for the number one pick the real agitator is the outgoing players/ salaries used to make the trade work. If the Celtics can hang onto one of Crowder/ Bradley and one of Marcus Smart/ Jaylen Brown, it becomes a really tough decision based on just how well Brad Stevens can attract a top scorer like Hayward. I'm sure I'll change my answer tomorrow and hope the Celts keep the pick. I don't know. Either way they're in pretty good shape, but it'll be the most talked-about offseason saga until the Lakers are on the clock.


Brooklyn Nets - Will somebody for the love of God take Brook Lopez out of Brooklyn?
     One year, $22.6 million. That's all that is left on the once-albatross, impossible-to-move Brook Lopez contract. Brooklyn is in all-out rebuild mode, not a secret to the other 29 teams across the league. Still, nobody seems willing to give up picks or is able to absorb that contract, especially if the Nets in return have to swallow longer term deals. At this point, General Manager Sean Marks might be best served by keeping Lopez as the team's go-to veteran and leader for one more year, hoping for internal improvements and giving Brooklyn a shot at luring a free agent in 2018.

On a level of supporting Lopez, it is a tad disappointing that nobody is willing to take him on. He's made incredible improvements in his game since the Nets were last a postseason-relevant team; his rim protection is no longer at a league-worst level and he's a capable three point shooter. Still, the cap space has to fit the talent, and expecting to get something flexible and valuable in return for his $22.6 million would be a tad unreasonable.


Charlotte Hornets - Will General Manager Rich Cho be able to orchestrate a seismic trade to improve the talent on this roster?
     How does a capped-out team in a small market with no free agents improve? They have to be willing to deconstruct. The Hornets can add a decent piece through the draft and stockpile their depth, but at the end of the day this roster lacks the offensive firepower to be successful in the long-term. Cho has prioritized re-signing the team's "B+" young talent, extending Cody Zeller and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist over the last two seasons. And while All-Star Kemba Walker is on one of the most team-friendly deals in the league, there is still some overpaid, under-performing fat on the roster that is in need of trimming.

Walker should be off the table for trades, and Nic Batum is likely too difficult to trade off the poor season and large contract he just had. Everyone else is fair game for inclusion in any deal that moves the team's needle forward and improves their offense. Should Cho fail to find a deal worthy of an overhaul, the Hornets will look for cheap rim protection, shooting and a backup point guard -- whichever they don't find in the draft.


Chicago Bulls - Can Forman and Paxson construct a fitting roster around Jimmy Butler while Dwyane Wade is still in Chicago?
     Look, the debate could go on for days about whether the Bulls should move on from Jimmy Butler and cash in on him now. I'm very opposed to the idea from a Chicago perspective, as finding a guy of Butler's caliber on both ends of the court is difficult to do. Should Butler stay, the Bulls have limited resources and several tweaks needed to get a roster that fits not just the Fred Hoiberg image, but to incorporate both Butler and veteran Dwyane Wade.

Mirotic, Rondo and Carter-Williams all could be out the door, meaning the Bulls have upwards of $30 million to spend on two starting positions and depth. An overhaul is possible this summer if they choose wisely on the free agent market and get the right fit in the draft. A more athletic four-man that helps space the floor and a point guard comfortable with playing off the ball might bring out the best in a Wade-Butler tandem as well as a system Hoiberg is more comfortable with. Who knows, perhaps a core of those two with the right supporting cast could push for a top-four seed in the East next season. What we do know is that this is likely the last chance Forman and Paxson have to make a winner before their clock runs out.

Cleveland Cavaliers - How do the Cavs improve enough to topple Golden State?
     Tough questions rarely have simple answers. Most of the changes have to occur within, both because it'll be hard to acquire more talent due to their cap situation and because the group constructed last year is capable of beating Golden State. The key for Cleveland, barring a miraculous trade opportunity, is to value continuity of the roster as much as possible. Then target some key veterans to come in and flank their group, while using the minuscule Mid-Level Exception to get that one piece that gives them extra versatility against the Warriors.

Additionally, their playing style could be a bit better on the court. Defensively, the schemes never clicked through the regular season and Cleveland's porous play on that end of the court eventually bled over into the postseason. We also saw the dangers of a ball screen-oriented offense going against a team that switches and negates the ball screen. I'd expect Coach Lue and his staff to investigate more ball movement-heavy offenses that can allow the Cavs to create easier opportunities when they do go to their bread-and-butter pick-and-roll action.


Detroit Pistons - What do the Pistons do with the 12th pick?
     The Pistons may be in the toughest position in this draft. The talent-level seems to drop off fairly steeply after the top ten or eleven, and without a position of major need the Pistons don't have a clear course of action. Entertaining possibilities to trade down requires Stan Van Gundy to have a keen sense of how the rest of the market is unfolding and who would value a player the Pistons do not.

Their best option is to explore those trades and look to pick up more depth or assets via later first-round draft picks. This is a great draft to have multiple picks in the twenties as opposed to one in the teens. Beyond that, if Detroit has to keep the pick, a shooter on the wings would be a great snag for them. Donovan Mitchell, Luke Kennard and Terrance Ferguson come to mind as long-term prospects to flank KCP in the backcourt.


Indiana Pacers - Is now the time to trade Paul George?
     Every trade question is marked with the "it depends on what you can get in return" caveat, but that notwithstanding the Pacers truly lacked an identity this season. Their first in the post-Vogel era featured a group of offensive-minded players led by an offensive-minded coach fluctuate with their effort and focus. The bench was one-dimensional and a wreck throughout, the team lacking promising youth other than Myles Turner, and now their chief decision-maker has stepped down. George was at the center of the team's controversy throughout the year as well.

The point being, this team has too many warts to fix overnight. It would be quite the accomplishment to see the organization bounce back next season to become a top-five team in the East, so if they can snag some elite draft picks and a restocking of the cupboard this summer, it might not be the worst idea. Teams like the Lakers, Celtics and Hawks could all be making plays for PG-13 (throw Cleveland in there for the rumors too), but it likely will take a blockbuster offer to make the restructured front office want to roll the dice.


Miami Heat - Will Riley make a splash in free agency?
     The Heat cleared cap space for this summer, and the recent news on Chris Bosh's contracts likely coming off the books mean Miami has between $35 and $40 million to spend. The news of late links the Heat to trying to sign Gordon Hayward this summer, the league's marquee wing on the free agent market. The Heat already have their starting center and point guard for the future, and need a wing or swing-forward in the middle to make the jump back into the postseason.

Who Riley targets is in direct correlation with how large of a splash Miami makes. They have a versatile and desirable young team, a good market and one of the most stable front offices in the league. There are a lot of attractive features to Miami's infrastructure, though a lot needs to go just right for them to get a big name this summer. More likely than not Riley will get two high-end starters for the price of one superstar, another viable and lucrative option.


Milwaukee Bucks - What happens if Greg Monroe opts out?
     The Bucks are in an interesting predicament while they wait for Jabari Parker's knee to heal (Parker isn't expected back until around the All-Star Break next year). They don't have any real cap space to spend, and the space they do have would be best-served in retaining Tony Snell, a versatile 3-and-D wing that is a stopgap and long-term compliment to Parker. But the Bucks could lose Greg Monroe if the big man off the bench opts out and looks for a larger role elsewhere.

​Monroe would be due $17.8 million next year from the Bucks if he were to stay, though the team wouldn't be able to replace him with any comparable salary this summer due to that Snell extension. So if Monroe opts out, the Bucks would be smart to throw as much cash as necessary to retain the 26-year-old center. While Monroe's production in future years might be less than it was during this season as a contract year, it beats the alternative of losing Monroe and not having an interior scoring presence while they try to weather the majority of a season without Parker.
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New York Knicks - With the front office and coaching staff seemingly preparing for full-time Triangle action next year, can the Knicks lure a top free agent?
     Pushing aside the disaster of this season and the train wreck of Phil Jackson-led rebuild, it seems Jackson won't relent in his desire to do things his way. That means more Triangle, folks, and the Knicks staff around him have indicated as much. Jackson has more cap space to play with on the free agent market and the desire to lure a point guard to the Big Apple as a free agent.

Few elite-level point guards will have the desire to play in a Triangle system. George Hill makes the most sense and would help the Knicks a great deal, though Kyle Lowry is likely the crown jewel of their targets. When other offers are equal, it's hard to see a sought-after free agent choosing this system and the dysfunction of the organization.


Orlando Magic - How committed are the Magic to Aaron Gordon?
     Time flies, and as shocking as it may seem, Aaron Gordon will be extension-eligible this fall and hit restricted free agency next July. The various head coaches and front office personnel have tinkered with his role and position over his first three seasons, but Gordon showed a spark after the All-Star break this year. The move back to power forward helped him produce 16.4 points on 50 percent shooting from the field in that final stretch of the season.

The new regime in Orlando under Jeff Weltman will have many questions to answer -- who is the point guard of the future, what style do they envision this team playing, what will they do with their limited budget this summer, etc. As far as things go with Gordon, he can likely be sewn up on the cheap this fall. As the team's best hope at a future prospect, they have no downside to extending him. The question is, how much building this summer is done with him as the centerpiece of the blueprint in mind?


Philadelphia 76ers - Will any marquee free agents consider Philadelphia this summer?
     It seems clear that the Sixers have a good chance to add another impact rookie with their third overall selection. One more youngster would give them as formidable of a young core as any team in this league: Embiid, Ben Simmons, Dario Saric and others like Okafor, Timothe Luwawu and Rob Covington. The Sixers have some roster flexibility and total salaries for next season's commitments are just above $50 million (meaning they're not even half-way to the salary cap).

With cap tools like that, the Sixers could offer a generously heavy, front-loaded contract to try and snag a free agent difference-maker. It could be a point guard like Philly native Kyle Lowry, or a shooter to space the floor like J.J. Redick. The question is if any free agents want to take a year or two of growing pains with a young core now before the Sixers potentially vault their way to the top of the East. Of course, which names they target and who considers Philly will be driven by who they pick with the third overall pick.


Toronto Raptors - How does GM Masai Ujiri prioritize free agency?
     Carefully is the best answer to give. As Ujiri alluded to in his postseason presser, bringing everyone back might be too expensive: Lowry, Ibaka, Patterson, Tucker... that's a lot of money those four have earned. A smart Ujiri will only bring back one of Ibaka and Patterson, then find a sticking point financially for Lowry. Ujiri has about $30 million free in cap space, so getting Lowry and one other is possible, as is scrapping Lowry, getting a cheaper starting PG and keeping the other three. Keeping all four seems impossible though.

Lowry is 31 years old and would be asking to be the highest paid player in the NBA, making upwards of $200 million until he's 36. When other teams like Philadelphia or the Knicks could be around to throw boatloads of cash at him, the Raptors might not want to hit hard right away with the five-year max... let Lowry test the waters and then come back with an equivalent offer over that fifth year.


Washington Wizards - How does the second unit improve?
     This season showed how incredibly strong this Wizards' starting group can be. Otto Porter is a free agent, but a restricted one that the Wizards know they need to retain. So with a boatload of cash being thrown at him and an overpaid backup center in Ian Mahinmi taking up cap space, how the hell do the Wizards plan on improving their bench?

Bojan Bogdanovic, Trey Burke and Brandon Jennings are all hitting the market as well, with Jennings the only unrestricted free agent of the group. Bogdanvoic worked out decently for the Wizards, but Ernie Grunfeld knows he needs a playmaker off the bench and if push comes to shove might need to get a backup point guard first. Further complicating matters is the first-round pick the Wizards don't have in 2017, the same one they used to acquire Bogdanovic. Letting him go for nothing hardens the blow of trading away that pick. Grunfeld needs to utilize all veteran's minimums and cap tricks up his sleeve once the Porter dust settles, but this is a team that might be hard-pressed to find improvements.