Dallas Mavericks
Free Agents: Brian Cardinal (UFA), Jason Kidd (UFA), Ian Mahinmi (UFA), Jason Terry (UFA), Delonte West (UFA), Yi Jianlian (UFA), Vince Carter (TO)
2012 Draft: SG Jared Cunningham (Round 1, 24); C Bernanrd James (Round 2, 33); F Jae Crowder (Round 2, 34)
Team needs:: Point guard, Small forward, Shooting guard
Synopsis:: The whole point of letting Tyson Chandler leave last summer was to create flexibility this year and Dallas is poised to make big moves. It is no secret the Mavs’ No. 1 target is local product Deron Williams. If they can land him, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry may accept less money to stay in Dallas for another title run. After drafting Jared Cunningham, Dallas should let go of Vince Carter and pursue a younger wing player who can run the court with D-Will.
Denver Nuggets
Free Agents: Rudy Fernandez (RFA), JaVale McGee (RFA), Andre Miller (UFA)
2012 Draft: SG Evan Fournier (Round 1, 20); SF Quincy Miller (Round 2, 38); PF Izzet Turkyilmaz (Round 2, 50)
Team needs:: Power forward, Centre, Point guard
Synopsis:: The Nuggets currently have 10 players under contract for next season and have three important restricted free agents. While there is good depth on this roster, Denver desperately needs star power, so packaging players in a trade for someone like Pau Gasol would be a better option than through free agency.
Golden State Warriors
Free Agents: Mickell Gladness (RFA), Brandon Rush (RFA), Chris Wright (RFA), Dominic McGuire (UFA), Mikki Moore (UFA), Nate Robinson (UFA)
2012 Draft: SF Harrison Barnes (Round 1, 7); C Festus Ezeli (Round 1, 30); F Draymond Green (Round 2, 35); C Ognjen Kuzmic (Round 2, 52)
Team needs:: Shooting guard, Point guard
Synopsis:: Offence is not a problem for Golden State with the likes of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Richard Jefferson, Dorell Wright, David Lee, Andrew Bogut and now Harrison Barnes. What they need is some hard-nosed defenders on the perimeter. Raymond Felton could be a good fit if his salary demands aren’t too high though Shannon Brown would come at a more reasonable price.
Houston Rockets
Free Agents: Courtney Lee (RFA), Earl Boykins (UFA), Marcus Camby, (UFA), Goran Dragic (UFA)
2012 Draft: SG Jeremy Lamb (Round 1, 12); F Royce White (Round 1, 16); PF Terrence Jones (Round 1, 18)
Team needs:: Centre, Small forward
Synopsis:: After trading Samuel Dalembert, the Rockets don’t have a single centre on their roster. Of course they were acquiring first-round picks in an attempt to package assets for a Dwight Howard trade. Though there is still time for the aggressive Rockets, it might be time to seek another trade route or look at Roy Hibbert and Brook Lopez in free agency.
Los Angeles Clippers
Free Agents: Chauncey Billups (UFA), Reggie Evans (UFA), Randy Foye (UFA), Kenyon Martin (UFA), Bobby Simmons (UFA), Nick Young (UFA)
2012 Draft: PF Furkan Aldemir (Round 2, 53)
Team needs:: Shooting guard, Small forward
Synopsis:: The wing positions are a great weakness for the Clippers. Chauncey Billups, Randy Foye, Nick Young and Mo Williams attempted to play shooting guard by committee but none of them proved to be a capable backcourt partner with Chris Paul. Williams is now gone and the other three are UFAs. Ray Allen would look mighty fine in that spot. Jamal Crawford would also be a decent alternative.
Los Angeles Lakers
Free Agents: Devin Ebanks (RFA), Darius Morris (RFA), Matt Barnes (UFA), Jordan Hill (UFA), Troy Murphy (UFA), Ramon Sessions (UFA)
2012 Draft: SG Johnson-Odom (Round 2, 55); C Robert Sacre (Round 2, 60)
Team needs:: Point guard, Small forward
Synopsis:: The Lakers only have their mid-level exception (MLE) to offer players as they are over the salary cap with only seven players signed. Their best bet is to sign their two unrestricted free agents and try to add a veteran like Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, Andre Miller or Grant Hill with their MLE.
Memphis Grizzlies
Free Agents: Darrell Arthur (RFA), Lester Hudson (RFA), O.J. Mayo (RFA), Marreese Speights (RFA), Gilbert Arenas (UFA), Hamed Haddadi (UFA)
2012 Draft: PG Tony Wroten Jr. (Round 1, 25)
Team needs:: Shooting guard, Centre, Small forward
Synopsis:: Tony Wroten Jr. certainly has the size of a shooting guard, except that he can’t shoot. O.J. Mayo looks poised for a change of scenery, which leaves the Grizzlies with defensive specialist and injury-prone Tony Allen as the team’s only shooting guard. Thankfully, there are many potential scoring guards available such as Courtney Lee, Randy Foye, Leandro Barbosa, Rudy Fernandez, Marco Belinelli and Nick Young.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Free Agents: Michael Beasley (RFA), Anthony Randolph (RFA), Anthony Tolliver (UFA)
2012 Draft: SF Robbie Hummel (Round 2, 58)
Team needs:: Shooting guard, Centre
Synopsis:: This team full of small forwards selected in the lottery like Derrick Williams, Wesley Johnson, Michael Beasley, and Martell Webster, yet none of them can effectively play at the shooting guard position. Like every team that doesn’t have a star at this position, the Timberwolves will look for the combination of shooting and defence.
New Orleans Hornets
Free Agents: Eric Gordon (RFA), Marco Belinelli (UFA), Chris Kaman (UFA), Carl Landry (UFA)
2012 Draft: PF Anthony Davis (Round 1, 1); SG Austin Rivers (Round 1, 10); SF Darius Miller (Round 2, 46)
Team needs:: Centre, Small forward, Point guard
Synopsis:: Selecting a centre to pair with Anthony Davis is the No. 1 priority for the Hornets. Brook Lopez might be a good fit since Davis could cover for him on defence, grab most of the rebounds and get rewarded by Lopez’ good interior passing. JaVale McGee would be a completely different pairing wherein Davis would do more of the offensive work in the post while the two would be a fearsome shot-blocking presence.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Free Agents: Derek Fisher (UFA), Royal Ivey (UFA), Nazr Mohammed (UFA)
2012 Draft: PF Perry Jones III (Round 1, 28)
Team needs:: Point guard, Centre, Small forward
Synopsis:: After Perry Jones III signs, the Thunder will have 12 players on their roster already. If Derek Fisher doesn’t return and Eric Maynor’s knee isn’t fully recovered, GM Sam Presti may look into a backup point guard. An upgrade from Cole Adrich could be a possibility as could a defensive small forward (Nicolas Batum?) in case they face LeBron James in the Finals again next year.
Phoenix Suns
Free Agents: Aaron Brooks (RFA), Robin Lopez (RFA), Shannon Brown (UFA), Grant Hill (UFA), Steve Nash (UFA), Ronnie Price (UFA), Michael Redd (UFA)
2012 Draft: PG Kendall Marshall (Round 1, 13)
Team needs:: Point guard, Shooting guard
Synopsis:: As it stands, the Phoenix Suns have exactly zero guards on their roster. Obviously, signing Steve Nash is their priority and Kendall Marshall is on his way, though starting right away may be a stretch for him. O.J. Mayo might be the long-term answer for the Suns and may flourish if given more of a scoring role than he had in Memphis.
Portland Trail Blazers
Free Agents: Nicolas Batum (RFA), J.J. Hickson (RFA), Jamal Crawford (UFA), Jonny Flynn (UFA), Raymond Felton (UFA), Joel Przybilla (UFA), Craig Smith (UFA), Hasheem Thabeet (UFA), Shawne Williams (PO)
2012 Draft: PG Damian Lillard (Round 1, 6); C Meyers Leonard (Round 1, 11); SG Will Barton (Round 2, 40)
Team needs:: Small forward, Centre, Shooting guard
Synopsis:: The Trail Blazers will probably be fine if they re-sign free agents Nicolas Batum, Jamal Crawford, and even Greg Oden. However, other teams may be willing to spend more money on these players than Portland will care for. How ironic would it be if Gerald Wallace signed with the Blazers after New Jersey sent the No. 6 pick to Portland for half a year of his services?
Sacramento Kings
Free Agents: Donte Greene (RFA), Jason Thompson (RFA), Terrence Williams (RFA)
2012 Draft: PF Thomas Robinson (Round 1, 5)
Team needs:: Point guard, Small forward
Synopsis:: The Kings are loaded with talent but desperately need a floor general to get them all on the same page. Jimmer Fredette is more of a scorer himself and not much of a defender. Deron Williams and Steve Nash are a pipe dream for the Kings but Goran Dragic, Jameer Nelson, or D.J. Augustin might be worth a try in Sacramento.
San Antonio Spurs
Free Agents: Daniel Green (RFA), Patrick Mills (RFA), Boris Diaw (UFA), Tim Duncan (UFA)
2012 Draft: G Marcus Denmon (Round 2, 59)
Team needs:: Centre, Shooting guard, Point guard
Synopsis:: The bench for the Spurs has always looked weak on paper but performed well under coach Gregg Popovich. However, with only eight players signed, San Antonio could really use some quality backups for the ageing trio of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker. It will be interesting to see if Duncan gives the Spurs a hometown discount in order for the team to upgrade its bench.
Utah Jazz
Free Agents: Blake Ahearn (RFA), Jeremy Evans (RFA), Josh Howard (UFA), C.J. Miles (UFA), Jamaal Tinsley (TO)
2012 Draft: SF Kevin Murphy (Round 2, 47)
Team needs:: Shooting guard, Small forward
Synopsis:: It seems every NBA team is in need of wing players this summer and with a less than thrilling free agent list, maybe its time for the Utah Jazz to cash in on Al Jefferson. Enes Kanter can step in as the starting centre alongside Paul Millsap with Derrick Favors getting more minutes off the bench. Maybe Hornets guard Austin Rivers for Jefferson could work for both teams.
Key: RFA = Restricted Free Agent; UFA = Unrestricted Free Agent; PO = Player Option; TO = Team Option; ETO = Early Termination Option
