ShareThisThe most significant free-agent market in NBA history has dwindled to a few leftovers. So here are the projected 2010-11 power rankings in each conference.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Los Angeles Lakers (57-25 last season)
Additions: F Devin Ebanks; F Derrick Caracter; G Matt Barnes; G Steve Blake; C Theo Ratliff
Subtractions: G Jordan Farmar; F Josh Powell
Bottom line: Amazingly, Lakers coach Phil Jackson is going for his 12th title and fourth three-peat.
2. Dallas Mavericks (55-27)
Additions: G Dominique Jones; C Tyson Chandler; C Alexis Ajinca; C Ian Mahinmi
Subtractions: C Erick Dampier; F Eduardo Najera; F Matt Carroll
Bottom line: Mavs often seem on the cusp of a championship; re-signing Nowitzki gives them a chance.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (50-32)
Additions: C Cole Aldrich; G Daequan Cook; G Morris Peterson; G Royal Ivey; C Tibor Pleiss; F Latavious Williams; F Ryan Reid
Subtractions: C Etan Thomas; G Kevin Ollie; G Mustafa Shakur
Bottom line: After making a statement last season, the cohesive Thunder becomes even better.
4. Portland Trail Blazers (50-32)
Additions: F Luke Babbitt; G Eliot Williams; G Armon Johnson; G Wesley Matthews
Subtractions: F Juwan Howard; F Martell Webster
Bottom line: Health is the key. Scary to think how good this team might be if healthy.
5. San Antonio Spurs (50-32)
Additions: G James Anderson; F Ryan Richards; C Tiago Splitter; G Gary Neal
Subtractions: C Ian Mahinmi
Bottom line: The Spurs are a unique mix of young and old, but seven players are older than 30.
6. Utah Jazz (53-29)
Additions: G Gordon Hayward; G Raja Bell; F/C Al Jefferson; F Jeremy Evans
Subtractions: F Carlos Boozer; G Kyle Korver; G Wesley Matthews; C Kosta Koufos
Bottom line: Jazz did a nice job of offsetting significant losses by acquiring some significant replacements.
7. Denver Nuggets (53-29)
Additions: F Al Harrington; F Shelden Williams; G Anthony Carter
Subtractions: C Johan Petro; F Linas Kleiza
Bottom line: George Karl's battle with cancer could send this team in either direction; most likely it's south.
8. Phoenix Suns (54-28)
Additions: F Gani Lawal; F Dwayne Collins; G Josh Childress; F Hedo Turkoglu; F Hakim Warrick
Subtractions: F Amar'e Stoudemire; G Leandro Barbosa; F Dwayne Jones
Bottom line: The sun sets on Amar'e and the new players probably aren't good enough to make up the difference.
9. Houston Rockets (42-40)
Additions: F Patrick Patterson; C Brad Miller
Subtractions: None
Bottom line: If Yao Ming is healthy enough to give them 20-plus minutes, Rockets could return to the playoffs.
10. Golden State Warriors (26-56)
Additions: F Ekpe Udoh; G Jeremy Lin; F David Lee; C Dan Gadzuric; G Charlie Bell; F Dorell Wright
Subtractions: G C.J. Watson; F Corey Maggette; F Kelenna Azubuike; F Anthony Randolph; C Ronny Turiaf; G Anthony Morrow
Bottom line: This team underachieved. Maybe some new faces will change the mood and consistency.
11. Memphis Grizzlies (40-42)
Additions: G Xavier Henry; G Greivis Vasquez; G Tony Allen
Subtractions: G Ronnie Brewer
Bottom line: Voted the least valuable franchise in the league, but last year's finish certainly was commendable.
12. Sacramento Kings (25-57)
Additions: C DeMarcus Cousins; C Hassan Whiteside; C Samuel Dalembert; F Darnell Jackson
Subtractions: C Spencer Hawes; G Andres Nocioni; C Jon Brockman; F Dominic McGuire
Bottom line: The key is Cousins. He and point guard Tyreke Evans have the makings of a lethal combination.
13. New Orleans Hornets (37-45)
Additions: F Craig Brackins; F Quincy Pondexter
Subtractions: G Morris Peterson
Bottom line: With or without Chris Paul on their roster, the Hornets are going to struggle mightily this season.
14. Los Angeles Clippers (29-53)
Additions: F Al-Farouq Aminu; G Eric Bledsoe; G Willie Warren; F Ryan Gomes; G Randy Foye; F Brian Cook
Subtractions: G Steve Blake; F Drew Gooden; F Travis Outlaw
Bottom line: A healthy Blake Griffin is set to return as rookie of the year candidate.
15. Minnesota Timberwolves (15-67)
Additions: F Wesley Johnson; F Lazar Hayward; G Luke Ridnour; C Darko Milicic; F Nikola Pekovic; F Michael Beasley; G Martell Webster; C Kosta Koufos; F Nemanja Bjelica; Paulao Prestes
Subtractions: C Al Jefferson; F Ryan Gomes
Bottom line: Despite onslaught of offseason changes, still not enough to climb out of the Western cellar.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Orlando Magic (59-23)
Additions: C Daniel Orton; F Stanley Robinson; G Chris Duhon; G Quentin Richardson
Subtractions: G Matt Barnes
Bottom line: Still the East's best mix of overall talent, but will it figure out how to win the championship?
2. Boston Celtics (50-32)
Additions: G Avery Bradley; F Luke Harangody; C Jermaine O'Neal
Subtractions: G Tony Allen; F Shelden Williams
Bottom line: Paul Pierce is upset about losing Allen, but new acquisitions more than offset the departure.
3. Miami Heat (47-35)
Additions: F LeBron James; F Chris Bosh; F Juwan Howard; C Jamaal Magloire; C Zydrunas Ilgauskas; G Mike Miller; C Dexter Pittman; C Jarvis Varnado; F Da'Sean Butler
Subtractions: C Jermaine O'Neal; G Quentin Richardson; G Daequan Cook; F Michael Beasley; F Dorell Wright
Bottom line: Though the Heat is incredibly talented, it still must prove it really is the new Beast of the East.
4. Chicago Bulls (41-41)
Additions: F Carlos Boozer; G Kyle Korver; C Omer Asik; G Ronnie Brewer; G C.J. Watson; F Kurt Thomas
Subtractions: F Hakim Warrick; C Brad Miller; G Kirk Hinrich; F Vladimir Veremeenko; F Rob Kurz; F Chris Richard
Bottom line: Bulls appear to have had an impressive offseason while playing a creative game of mix and match.
5. Milwaukee Bucks (46-36)
Additions: F Larry Sanders; G Darington Hobson; C Tiny Gallon; F Drew Gooden; G Keyon Dooling; F Corey Maggette; G Chris Douglas-Roberts; C Jon Brockman
Subtractions: G Luke Ridnour; G Royal Ivey; G Charlie Bell; C Dan Gadzuric; F Kurt Thomas; F Darnell Jackson
Bottom line: Better double-check your Bucks roster. Plenty of offseason moves despite their playoff appearance.
6. Atlanta Hawks (53-29)
Additions: G Jordan Crawford; F Josh Powell
Subtractions: G Josh Childress
Bottom line: Joe Johnson wound up the highest-paid free agent at $124 million, but where's the payoff?
7. Charlotte Bobcats (44-38)
Additions: G Shaun Livingston; F Dominic McGuire; C Erick Damper; F Eduardo Najera; F Matt Carroll
Subtractions: G Raymond Felton; F Theo Ratliff; C Tyson Chandler; C Alexis Ajinca
Bottom line: Bobcats essentially are having open tryouts. Employed 19 players on their summer-league roster.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (61-21)
Additions: None
Subtractions: C Zydrunas Ilgauskas; F LeBron James
Bottom line: LeBron bolted without even making a phone call to say goodbye. Good riddance to 60-plus wins.
9. New York Knicks (29-53)
Additions: G Andrew Rautins; F Landry Fields; F Amar'e Stoudemire; F Kelenna Azubuike; F Anthony Randolph; C Ronny Turiaf; C Jerome Jordan; G Raymond Felton; C Timofey Mozgov
Subtractions: G Chris Duhon; F Al Harrington; C David Lee
Bottom line: Knicks are on an upward swing, which could rise even higher if they somehow got Chris Paul.
10. Washington Wizards (26-56)
Additions: G John Wall; C Kevin Seraphin; F Trevor Booker; C Hamady N'diaye; C Hilton Armstrong; G Kirk Hinrich; F Yi Jianlian
Subtractions: G Randy Foye; G Mike Miller; G Quinton Ross; G Shaun Livingston
Bottom line: Wall figures to lead the Wizards to the promised land, but will Gilbert Arenas be anywhere in sight?
11. Toronto Raptors (40-42)
Additions: F Ed Davis; F Amir Johnson; C Solomon Alabi; G Leandro Barbosa; F Dwayne Jones
Subtractions: F Chris Bosh; F Hedo Turkoglu
Bottom line: The loss of double-double man Bosh will be significant. The loss of Turkoglu? Not so much.
12. Indiana Pacers (32-50)
Additions: F Paul George; G Lance Stephenson; C Magnum Rolle
Subtractions: G Luther Head
Bottom line: You would think a basketball team from the state of Indiana would be much better than this.
13. Philadelphia 76ers (27-55)
Additions: G Evan Turner; C Tony Battie; C Spencer Hawes; F Andres Nocioni
Subtractions: C Samuel Dalembert
Bottom line: If the Sixers lose their second A.I. (Andre Iguodala), it could send them all the way to East cellar.
14. New Jersey Nets (12-70)
Additions: F Derrick Favors; F Damion James; F Travis Outlaw; C Johan Petro; G Jordan Farmar; G Quinton Ross; G Anthony Morrow
Subtractions: C Tony Battie; G Chris Douglas-Roberts; F Yi Jianlian; G Keyon Dooling
Bottom line: There will be no watch for record futility this season. Nets will win at least twice as many games.
15. Detroit Pistons (27-55)
Additions: F Greg Monroe; G Terrico White
Subtractions: None
Bottom line: Former Bad Boys have become just plain bad. Team averaged just 94.0 ppg..
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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