APBRmetrics

I had this thought the other day comparing the Pistons' post-ASB schedule to the Hornets' post-ASB schedule: Does finishing the season "strong" with an easy schedule have better effects on team chemistry and player happiness than finishing the season "struggling" with a very difficult schedule?

The Pistons' are 8-3 since the ASB and have played just 4 teams with a winning record, two of them being the ~.500 Nets and the Oladipo-less Pacers. 7 of their final 15 games will be played against teams with a losing record as well, with two more games against the Pacers. Meanwhile, the Hornets post-ASB schedule only had them playing 9 games against sub .500 teams, and just one against a true tanking team in the Cavs. The Hornets are now 3-7 since the ASB. Even if the level of overall team performance hasn't changed, the difficulty of the Hornets' schedule could make it appear like they are "falling apart as a team" while the easiness of the Pistons' schedule makes it appear like they are "coming together as a team."

How much does this play into the attitudes of a team's free agents going into the offseason? My guess is that having a lighter post-ASB schedule and "coming together" gives a team more of an advantage in re-signing their own free agents and potentially even other free agents as opposed to struggling with a difficult post-ASB schedule. Have there been any studies on this?

I haven't seen such a study and doubt there is one, at least in public.

Yeah it could a factor, beyond overall record and overall player happiness.

Late season performance could be less important too if not in playoff hunt.

Money, playing time and city will be big factors. Beyond that, individual perspective will vary. Some might be affected by a tough ending, some might go more by future prospects.