Oct 24, 2009, 4:44 GMT
Los Angeles -
New Orleans Hornets Last season: 49-33, lost to Denver in first round Coach Byron Scott (6th season with New Orleans)
Additions: G Bobby Brown (free agent), G Darren Collison (draft) F Ike Diogu (free agent), C Emeka Okafor (trade with Charlotte), F-C Darius Songaila (trade with Minnesota), G Marcus Thornton (draft)
Subtractions: F-G Rasual Butler, C Tyson Chandler, G Antonio Daniels
Projected starters: F Peja Stojakovic, F David West, C Emeka Okafor, G Chris Paul, G-F Morris Peterson
Outlook: The Hornets need more than the brilliance of Paul and the consistency of West to make a serious postseason run. Okafor may stabilize the middle at both ends in an attempt to erase the poor postseason taste and challenge for the Southwest division crown.
Memphis Grizzlies Last season: 24-58, did not make playoffs Coach: Lionel Hollins (2nd season with Memphis)
Additions: C Steven Hunter (trade with Denver), G Allen Iverson (free agent), G Mike Taylor (free agent), C Hasheem Thabeet (draft), F-C Zach Randolph (trade with LA Clippers), F Sam Young (draft).
Subtractions: G Greg Buckner, F-C Darko Milicic, F Quinton Ross, F Hakim Warrick
Projected starters: F Rudy Gay, F Zach Randolph, C Marc Gasol, G Allen Iverson, G O.J. Mayo
Outlook: Hollins gets his first training camp after replacing Marc Iavaroni during last season. Iverson gives the Grizzlies star power but may hinder the development of Gay, Mayo and young guard Mike Conley Jr. There is some firepower here but also lots of inexperience. It could work well or blow up miserably.
Denver Nuggets: Last season: 54-28, lost to LA Lakers in conference finals Coach: George Karl (6th season with Denver)
Additions: G Arron Afflalo (trade with Detroit), F Malik Allen (trade with Milwaukee), F Joey Graham (free agent), G Ty Lawson (draft)
Subtractions: F-C Steven Hunter, G Dahntay Jones, G-F Linas Kleiza, C Walter Sharpe, G Sonny Weems
Projected starters: F Carmelo Anthony, F Kenyon Martin, C Nene, G Chauncey Billups, G Arron Afflalo
Outlook: Billups' winning pedigree and the coming of age of Anthony turned the Nuggets into a legitimate title contender. They may have upgraded at shooting guard with Afflalo over Jones and did well to keep reserve centre Chris Andersen. They still need a bit more to get past the Lakers, though.
Portland Trail Blazers: Last season: 54-28, lost to Houston in conference semifinals Coach: Nate McMillan (5th season with Portland)
Additions: C Jarron Collins (free agent), F Dante Cunningham (draft), F-C Juwan Howard (free agent), G Andre Miller (free agent), F Jeff Pendergraph (draft), F-G Ime Udoka (free agent)
Subtractions: F Channing Frye, G Sergio Rodriguez, F Raef LaFrentz
Projected starters: F Nicolas Batum, F LaMarcus Aldridge, C Greg Oden, G Andre Miller, G Brandon Roy
Outlook: The Blazers made free agent runs at Hedo Turkoglu and Paul Millsap before settling on Miller, who already is grumbling about his role and needs to provide veteran leadership for a young, improving core headed by Roy and Aldridge. A breakout season from Oden could move them among the elite, but anything less than the conference semifinals would be a step backward.
Utah Jazz Last season: 48-34, lost to LA Lakers in first round Coach: Jerry Sloan (22nd season with Utah)
Additions: G Eric Maynor (draft), Wesley Matthews (free agent)
Subtractions: G Morris Almond, C Jarron Collins, G Brevin Knight
Projected starters: F Carlos Boozer, F C.J. Miles, C Mehmet Okur, G Deron Williams, G Ronnie Brewer
Outlook: The Jazz re-signed F Paul Millsap as insurance against Boozer, who is in the last year of his contract and could disrupt things. Williams is a top-notch point guard and there is depth in Fs Andrei Kirilenko and Kyle Korver. Sloan will have them playing hard every night, but they appear to be a notch below the West's elite.
Minnesota Timberwolves Last season: 24-58, did not make playoffs Coach: Kurt Rambis (1st season with Minnesota)
Additions: G Chucky Atkins (trade with Oklahoma City), G Jonny Flynn (draft), C Ryan Hollins (free agent), G-F Sasha Pavlovic (free agent), Oleksiy Pecherov (trade with Washington), G Ramon Sessions (free agent), F Damien Wilkins (trade with Oklahoma City)
Subtractions: G Rodney Carney, C Jason Collins, G Randy Foye, F Mark Madsen, G Mike Miller, G Kevin Ollie, F Craig Smith, G Sebastian Telfair, Etan Thomas, F-C Shelden Williams
Projected starters: F Ryan Gomes, F Kevin Love, C Al Jefferson, G Jonny Flynn, G Ramon Sessions
Outlook: Love's broken hand will keep him out until December and hurt his development and that of this very young team. New GM David Kahn has started a huge rebuilding process with a new coach and lots of new faces. Don't expect much until Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio possibly shows up in two years. more
Your Talkback on this Story