What every team needs going into the draft
Make no mistake; the 2008-09 season begins Thursday night.
That's when every team in the league will take the first steps toward either enhancing or transforming their rosters via the draft and/or trades. Key players who are eligible to opt out of their contracts and choose to do so must also be replaced. That's why during the rest of the offseason, just about every team will resort to additional trades and/or free agent signings to get ready to rumble.As the pre-draft buzz gets louder, here's a rundown of each team's most pressing needs:
Atlanta
- A young point guard who has a steeper learning curve than Acie Law.
- A bevy of backup bigs.
- A wing who can create his own scoring opportunities.
- Defense, defense, defense.
Boston
- A young, playmaking backup for Rajon Rondo.
- A center-sized big to play behind Kendrick Perkins.
- A creative off-the-bench scorer.
- Should James Posey elect to change his address, a suitable replacement absolutely must be obtained.
Charlotte
- A big man with scoring skills.
- A natural point guard to replace Raymond Felton.
- A bold wing scorer to do what Adam Morrison was supposed to do.
- As many defensive-minded players as possible to augment Gerald Wallace.
Chicago
- A real point guard to replace Kirk Hinrich.
- A wing who can shoot, handle and defend.
- A pair of athletic bruisers for the frontcourt.
- Reinforcements for the bench.
Cleveland
- A power forward who can score and defend.
- A backup center.
- Two creative wing-scorers.
- Better auxiliary perimeter shooters.
Dallas
- Jason Kidd's eventual replacement.
- A wing-scorer off the bench.
- A center who can defend, rebound and is more of a threat to score than to foul.
- More toughness throughout the lineup.
Denver
- A point guard who can handle, shoot and defend.
- A muscular center who can defend.
- An athletic power forward who can defend.
- A star-power player or two who haven't been arrested.
Detroit
- A center who always comes to play.
- A power forward with sufficient size.
- A scoring wing off the bench.
Golden State
- Guys at every position who can defend.
- A big who can score more than layups.
- A host of rebounders.
- An overhaul of their bench.
Houston
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| Dikembe Mutombo isn't getting any younger. (D. Clarke Evans/NBAE / Getty Images) |
- A backup center who was born after World War II.
- A backup point guard.
- More reliable scorers off the bench.
- A backup power forward who can defend and also convert 10-foot jumpers.
Indiana
- A legit point guard who goes to bed early.
- A power forward who wants to bang.
- A wing-scorer off the bench.
- A center who can score in the low post, rebound and block shots.
L.A. Clippers
- A point guard.
- As many shooters as possible.
- A backup center who isn't afraid to knock people down.
- Defenders and rebounders.
L.A. Lakers
- Tougher guys and better defenders at both forward slots.
- A bigger, better backup for Andrew Bynum.
- A perpetually renewable prescription of tranquilizers for Sasha Vujacic.
Memphis
- An Elvis sighting at the FedEx Forum to boost attendance.
- Three big, mean and talented front-line players — especially at the power forward position.
- An athletic wing scorer.
Miami
- Except for Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion and Udonis Haslem, the Heat need to back up the truck and totally refurbish their roster.
- Their two most immediate needs, however, are a point guard and a center.
Milwaukee
- A point guard who'd rather pass than shoot.
- A powerful power forward and a backup center.
- A creative wing scorer.
- A high-fat diet for Yi Jianlian.
- Anybody at any position who can defend.
Minnesota
- A point guard with a future.
- A power forward with a future.
- A slew of bench players.
- A backup center.
- Faith, hope and charity.
New Jersey
- Powerful front line players.
- Creative wing scorers off the bench.
- Bigs who can defend and are a threat to score.
New Orleans
- A bruiser to back up Tyson Chandler.
- A playmaking point behind CP3.
- More athletic wings.
- A more reliable scorer than Bonzi Wells off the bench.
New York
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| Turn around the Knicks? It won't be easy for Mike D'Antoni. (Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE / Getty Images) |
- Defenders galore, especially at the point.
- The only keepers are David Lee, Jamal Crawford and Renaldo Balkman. Everybody else is expendable and should be expended.
- An extended honeymoon for Mike D'Antoni.
Orlando
- Backups at the point and in the middle.
- Wings who can shoot.
- A powerhouse power forward.
- A totally rebuilt bench.
Philadelphia
- Wing scorers.
- A power forward with NBA size.
- A backup center who knows where the basket is.
- Defenders everywhere.
Phoenix
- A backup for Steve Nash who can run the offense.
- A backup big who is capable of playing 30-plus minutes when Shaq inevitably suffers his next injury.
- A batch of defensive-minded players so that Raja Bell won't feel so isolated.
- Getting rid of the 7-second shot clock.
Portland
- A more athletic point guard.
- Wings who can create their own scoring opportunities.
- More size up-front.
- Better defenders at both forward positions.
- Greg Oden to live up to the Blazers' unrealistically high expectations.
Sacramento
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| The Kings might be better off dealing Ron Artest. (Rocky Widner/NBAE / Getty Images) |
- A sign-and-trade to get something for Ron Artest.
- A center with post-up skills.
- A more athletic point.
- Interior and exterior defenders.
San Antonio
- Athletic wings who can guard, shoot and handle well enough to put defenses at risk.
- An athletic center with post-up skills.
- A backup point.
Seattle
- Desperately seeking a big-league center!
- Also a point guard with a complete game.
- Beaucoup scorers and defenders.
Toronto
- The right deal for T.J. Ford, and an agreeable backup point to replace him.
- A center who can score in the paint.
- A power backup for Chris Bosh.
- A creative wing off the bench.
Utah
- A backup for Deron Williams.
- A center who can score in the paint.
- A shooting guard who can shoot.
- Better athletes off the bench.
Washington
- A center who wants to play every minute of every game.
- A playmaking point guard.
- A shooter off the bench.
- Anybody at any position who can defend.
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