Goldmines and Graveyards

Inundating your Inboxes once again,

This week we're focusing on teams you should be looking to for players and teams you definitely shouldn't be in a segment I like to call

Goldmines and Graveyards

Goldmines

Golden State - I didn't just pick this team because they've got gold in their name, they also have the perfect combination of an awesome bench and an aging group of starters who they'll look to rest. Poole's the current favorite for Sixth Man of the Year and those younglings they've got are all (yes, even Wiseman) set for huge years

Players to watch: Poole, Divincenzo, Kuminga, Moody, Wiseman

LA Clippers - Another ideal mix of game management and talented backups. With Kawhi, George, and Wall, look for some serious Loophole Starters in this bunch. As exciting as GS's bench is, the Clippers have proven killers. Reggie Jackson is about to be arguably the best backup PG in the league

Players to watch: Jackson, Mann, Covington, Powell, Kennard

Memphis - A genuine football Next Man Up mentality will keep this group solid even with the losses of Melton and Anderson. Be on the lookout for a rando like Santi Aldama or David Roddy to pop up midseason and have himself a game. That's just who this team is. Also, Tyus Jones is the truth

Players to watch: Jones, Williams, Tillman, Konchar

Philly - Morey's brought in some real Morey players this offseason and with an actual shot at a chip, they're gonna log some real minutes this regular season. If your worst bench player is Shake Milton, that kind of rocks

Players to watch: Harrell, Melton, Thybulle, House, even Niang

Sacramento - Goldmine might be a little strong, but I felt like highlighting a team that has been trash for so long that my instinct is to ignore them. With Red Velvet and Monk coming in, they're sneaky deep

Players to Watch: Whoever doesn't start between Monk and Huerter, Mitchell, Holmes

Miami - I can't claim to know which of their players are gonna go off, but this team is a factory that pumps out great bench players no one's ever heard of

Players to Watch: Hell, close your eyes and throw a dart at their roster, you'll probably get a good player

Washington - Hear me out: they've got entirely too many high draft picks just floundering around and the team won't be good enough to not give them a shot. Deni Avdija is one of only five players who played all 82 games last year. He only started 8. Get this man

Players to Watch: For real, any of them, although I'd be cautious with Johnny Davis

Indeterminate

Brooklyn - Listen, if you look at their depth chart you'll see some tempting options. And I'm not gonna stop you from drafting any of them. But god, things are just so volcanic up there that I can't possibly feel good about recommending any of them. Seriously they might start Royce O'Neale. The good news is there's no way they start Simmons and Claxton together, right? I mean sheesh, a team that requires some serious study

Utah - I'm not willing to call them either Goldmine or Graveyard just yet because Ainge is going to strip this team like a gullible college freshman playing poker. They've got plenty of fun bench talent to keep an eye on, though

Graveyards

Boston - An already paper thin bench takes a hit with Timelord out at least the first few weeks of the season and Gallo gone for all of it

Players to Watch: Brogdan's pulling a lot of weight here, Derrick White as well

LA Lakers - You know this. As top heavy as a Barbie. They improved the bench a bit this year I guess, although essentially swapping Monk and Melo for Pat Bev and Schroeder isn't exactly what I'd call a knockout

Players to Watch: The only reason to pay attention to this team is if Russ goes to the bench. Some potential for a revenge tour from him if so

San Antonio - They might turn into a Goldmine as the year goes on because damn, this team's gonna be bad and they are gonna play some strangers some serious minutes. Unless you've got some insider info, I"d stay away from them until the season gets into full swing

Players to Watch: I guess Josh Primo

OKC - Another year passes with OKC stars getting hurt and them holding open tryouts like it's that Marky Mark movie Invincible. I don't know who the fuck's gonna play. Just like SA, this is a team to dig into once the season goes south around December

Players to Watch: I mean that rookie Jalen Williams should play