The Sixers made a couple of moves today, reaching a deal with Gani Lawal and waiving former Raptors center Solomon Alabi to make room. Here's the latest on how a few other additions to Atlantic Division clubs stand to benefit their new teams:
- The Knicks have 14 players with at least a partial guarantee, and coach Mike Woodson indicated today that the final spot is more likely to go to a big man than a wing or a point guard, notes Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. That's an auspicious sign for Cole Aldrich, Josh Powell and Ike Diogu.
- Keith Bogans is perhaps the most overpaid player in the NBA this season, thanks to sign-and-trade rules, but Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com looks at the ways that Bogans and his inflated deal can help the C's. They could either dangle him as a trade chip, use the trade exception his inclusion in the Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett swap facilitated, or both.
- Steve Novak is the only asset the Raptors received in the Andrea Bargnani trade who'll be on the team's roster this year, and Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun examines how the former Knick can help north of the border.
- Players drafted at the end of the first round are often non-factors as rookies, but Tim Hardaway Jr., whom the Knicks took 24th overall this year, has a chance to parlay J.R. Smith's five-game suspension into meaningful minutes this season. Fred Kerber of the New York Post examines the issue.
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