New Faces in New Places: Atlantic Division

After taking a look at the Southeast, Central, Northwest and Pacific Divisions, Basketball Insiders continues its New Faces in New Places series with a look at the Northwest Division.

Boston Celtics:

Marcus Smart – It seems the Boston Celtics might have been drafting based on best available player during June’s draft because drafting a point guard with the sixth overall pick was shocking considering that Rajon Rondo is still on the team. Once the Celtics drafted Smart, the rumors that Rondo was on his way out ignited and the Celtics’ summer has been an interesting one. What they do have in Smart is a young player who the team can build around. The Celtics have a ton of draft picks owed to them over the next four seasons (including as many as two additional first-round picks next season) and possibly even more if they do move Rondo. So far, Smart is struggling on the offensive side of the ball as indicated by his Summer League performance and his debut in the preseason after missing all eight shots he took in the Celtics’ first game. Smart will make an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball, as he’s already drawn praise from head coach Brad Stevens. Smart was praised on his athleticism and toughness by Stevens. The team also added James Young through the draft.

Tyler Zeller – The Celtics were able to add depth to center by adding Tyler Zeller for practically nothing. They used a trade exception created in the Paul Pierce deal to add Zeller and Marcus Thornton. The seven-foot Zeller figures to be the backup center to Kelly Olynyk and adds a viable option for Stevens off of the bench. Zeller saw just 15 minutes a game last season with the Cavs, but will now get plenty of time to grow in Boston. Zeller should excel in Boston due to his ability to run the floor well, which is exactly the type of offense the Celtics want to have. Averaging just 5.7 points and four rebounds a game last season, Zeller should see a rise in production running the floor next to Rondo this season.

Brooklyn Nets:

Lionel Hollins – There was a point in the offseason in which Lionel Hollins almost didn’t have a job. With the success that Hollins has had, it was a bit surprising he was without a job for that long but then came the Brooklyn Nets’ job. The Nets moved quickly to bring in Hollins, and now the work begins for him. The job will certainly have its challenges for Hollins with a high payroll, an aging Kevin Garnett and the losses of Paul Pierce and Shaun Livingston. Hollins will most certainly help the Nets create a name for themselves on the defensive side of the ball as Hollins’ past teams in Memphis shows. Hollins has had excellent work developing big men in Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph and should continue that work with sophomore Mason Plumlee. Hollins has studied up on what type of players he’ll be dealing with in Brooklyn and will create an offensive and defensive system based around their strengths, which is exactly what makes Hollins right for the job.

Jarrett Jack – After Hollins, Jarrett Jack was arguably the next best addition. In Jack, the Nets have a great backup point guard behind Deron Williams who is coming to the Nets trying to reinvent himself. Jack is coming off of a season in which he scored 9.5 points and 4.1 assists per game with the Cavaliers in 28 minutes a game. With Williams’ inability to stay healthy consistently, the Nets will be able to rely on Jack to step in and give the team solid production in a starting role. With a new defensive-minded coach in Hollins, Jack will likely thrive in his new system as he has shown the ability to be a great defender. Hollins may even elect to have both Jack and Williams on the floor at the same time, which would allow Jack to make up for Williams’ lack of defense.

Toronto Raptors:

Lou Williams – The Raptors remained relatively quiet in terms of adding new talent, opting instead to re-sign Kyle Lowry, but they did add veteran Lou Williams. With Williams, the Raptors have a guy that can play either guard position and could flourish in an expanded role. The former Sixth Man of the Year runner-up will provide Lowry and DeMar DeRozan a real option off of the bench when they need a breather. With DeRozan averaging 38 minutes a game and Lowry averaging 36 minutes a game last season, the Raptors are hoping Williams can give them 25 minutes a game to allow DeRozan and Lowry to be more rested as the season progresses towards the playoffs.

James Johnson – After a brief stint in the D-League, Johnson returns to the Raptors a changed player. Johnson left the Raptors a couple of years ago after an incident with Raptors head coach Dwane Casey and appears to have put that in the past and is ready to provide the Raptors any type of role that they need. Now that the Raptors have stars in Lowry and DeRozan, Johnson knows that he won’t be the star in Toronto and accepts his role off of the bench. Johnson also brings an element of defense with him that will help when the team faces off against the better teams in the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia 76ers:

Nerlens Noel – Noel was on the team last year, but this season will be the first in which he will be available to the Philadelphia 76ers, and it should be a great season to watch him play. After Noel and Michael Carter-Williams, that may be about the only thing to watch as third overall pick in this year’s draft Joel Embiid and the No. 12 pick Dario Saric aren’t expected to play at all this season. Noel showed flashes in the Summer League of why the 76ers decided to acquire him injured from the Pelicans on draft night last year. In four games, Noel averaged 12.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and three blocks a game for the 76ers in Orlando. Noel showed very little rust during his time on the court and looked fully ready for the upcoming season. The 76ers will understandably be cautious with Noel this season, but he should be a contender for Rookie of the Year.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute – The 76ers acquired Mbah a Moute over the summer from the Timberwolves and he is already one of the team’s oldest players. After Jason Richardson, Mbah a Moute is the team’s second-oldest player at just 28, which proves just how young the 76ers are. Last season, Mbah a Moute averaged just 3.5 points a game between the Kings and Wolves, which leaves many thinking Mbah a Moute was brought in to mentor Joel Embiid. The two grew up in Cameroon and have known each other since 2011 when Mbah a Moute discovered Embiid at a camp. While many believe he is in Philadelphia to mentor Embiid, Mbah a Moute can add a lot to the defense. The 6’8, 230-pound Mbah a Moute moves well for his size and can guard three positions on the floor and make it difficult for ball handlers.

New York Knicks:

Derek Fisher – While the man that brought Fisher to New York may be deserving of a nod here, Fisher will suffice even though everyone knows it was Phil Jackson that chose him for the job. Fisher will understandably be under heavy pressure in New York, with many pegging the Knicks to return to the playoffs this season. That idea may have seemed crazy thinking about it at the beginning of this season, but Fisher has a better roster to work with this season. The success of the Knicks will rest on what type of performances they will receive out of their supporting cast, including Andrea Bargnani and Amar’e Stoudemire. If the Knicks can just score enough points and then have a decent defense, the Knicks could be in good shape. Fisher is aware of the questions regarding the defense and focused heavily on it during training camp. Fisher will provide stability to a team that just hasn’t been able to find the right head coach, but with Jackson in charge, it seems Fisher may be the right guy.

Cleanthony Early – After having no draft picks the week leading up to the draft, Jackson acquired two of them from the Dallas Mavericks. One of those the picks was used to take Cleanthony Early with the 34^th pick in the second round. Early is a player that some believed was a huge steal for the Knicks and is a player that can contribute immediately. Early averaged 11.5 points on 45 percent shooting from the field in the Summer League and will provide Fisher with solid production behind Carmelo Anthony. Part of what Jackson has been able to do so far is allow the team to get younger by acquiring the draft picks. Early indications are he will fit into the triangle offense as an athletic forward that can cut to the rim very well. Fisher may also have one of his better defensive players on the team, and on a team not known for its defense it’s fair to say Fisher welcomes Early’s versatility.

Jose Calderon – The Knicks have needed to add a legitimate answer at point guard for a while now and finally have that in Jose Calderon. With Calderon running the show in New York now, the Knicks get a player that won’t turn the ball over and can shoot the three-point shot very well. Calderon is a 41 percent career three-point shooter and converted 45 percent of his three-pointers last season with the Mavericks. Speaking of turnovers, Calderon finished third in the league in assists per turnovers with 3.66, which was behind only Chris Paul and Pablo Prigioni. With Anthony back in New York on a new contract, Calderon will flourish in Fisher’s triangle offense and will be the man for the job.