Buying or Selling Every NBA Team's 2012 Offseason Moves

The NBA offseason is all about getting better. By the start of training camp, teams want to be able to believe that they're putting the best possible product on the hardwood.

But that's not always the case.

Some teams make moves that clearly enhance their roster. As for those other teams, though?

Well, they say change is for better or worse, and for many organizations, the latter holds true in more ways than one.

Atlanta Hawks: Buy

The Hawks had quite the offseason.

Atlanta cleared a boatload of salary cap space by freeing the team of Joe Johnson's contract and brought on two capable perimeter scorers in Kyle Korver and Lou Williams to help fill any offensive void.

The underachieving Marvin Williams is also history, and the Hawks helped shore up their backcourt by adding Devin Harris to back up Jeff Teague.

No, Atlanta isn't built to win a championship, but that was true before, even with Johnson in the fold.

At least now the Hawks have financial flexibility on the horizon.

Boston Celtics: Buy

Ray Allen might have left, but the Celtics are actually better off.

Sure, Allen is the greatest three-point shooter of all time, but Jason Terry isn't too shabby from behind the arc either. Plus, Boston got much younger and more athletic with Courtney Lee.

And while Jeff Green's contract is undeniably steep, his presence instantly makes Boston's bench that much deeper, as did the team's strong draft.

No, it's never easy moving on from a player who helped you win a title, but the Celtics' core is still mostly intact, and the new faces that were brought in complement Rajon Rondo and company almost perfectly.

Now, instead of being a fringe championship contender, Boston is a bona fide one, making it difficult to criticize the moves that helped it get there.

Brooklyn Nets: Buy

I will never buy into Gerald Wallace's ridiculous contract. 

Unless, of course, it comes along with the re-signing of Deron Williams, Kris Humphries, Brook Lopez and the acquisition of Joe Johnson, which it does.

You don't necessarily have to like all of the Nets' offseason moves. I mean, both Wallace and Lopez didn't come cheap, and Johnson's contract wasn't cheap to begin with.

That said, you do have to respect them. The Nets have gone from a perennial lottery team to a potential championship contender overnight.

And let's be honest, that kind of transformation never comes cheap.

Unless you're the Lakers, that is.

Charlotte Bobcats: Sell

I can embrace the Bobcats drafting Michael Kidd-Gilchrist over Thomas Robinson. I can even get on board with the Ramon Sessions signing that potentially hinders the progression of Kemba Walker as a point guard.

But I will never understand why Charlotte acquired Ben Gordon.

Not only is Gordon less than half the scorer he once was, but the Bobcats relinquished the expired contract of Corey Maggette for a more one-dimensional player, whose contract only comes off the books if he doesn't pick up his player option next summer.

That's possible, though, right? Maybe Gordon won't want to continue his career in the basement of the NBA. But to do that, he'd have to walk away from an option worth a fat $13.2 million.

Chicago Bulls: Sell

I haven't had the opportunity to write much about the Bulls this summer. And that says it all.

Believe me when I say that the Nate Robinson signing is going to pay off. He's one of the most underrated scorers and playmakers in the game. I mean, if he were four or five inches taller, I doubt ESPN would have had the tenacity to deem him the 276th-best player in the NBA.

Outside of Robinson, though, the Bulls made no earth-shattering, hope-instilling moves.

Derrick Rose won't be sidelined forever. But the likes of Marco Belinelli and Kirk Hinrich aren't going to cut it, even in the interim, especially when you consider Chicago managed to lose Kyle Korver in the process.

That said, the Bulls will win plenty of games next season, even without Rose. But they would have won more if they had a more resourceful and pro-active offseason.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Sell

I actually like Dion Waiters—just not when both Thomas Robinson and Harrison Barnes are still on the board.

And you know what else? I also like C.J. Miles—just not when the team that signs him has $10-$15 million in cap space to burn.

Simply put, the Cavaliers should have been more aggressive this offseason. They had money to spare, talent to be excited about and a future that appeared bright.

But after such an idle summer, the future isn't as bright in Cleveland.

At least, not the immediate future, anyway.

Dallas Mavericks: Buy

The Mavericks may have lost Jason Terry, and they may have lost Jason Kidd as well, but they gained a whole lot more.

O.J. Mayo is one of the most underrated playmakers and perimeter defenders in the game. And now that he's on a team where he's, you know, actually needed, we should see the Mayo of his rookie and sophomore campaigns.

Then you have Chris Kaman, who can be clumsy around the rim. But his size helps spread the floor and he's able to knock down the midrange jump shot.

Don't sleep on Darren Collison either. A pass-first point guard with great scoring instincts, he's underrated himself.

No, the Mavericks aren't winning a championship this season, but they at least remained interesting to watch.

And after the way their roster has been pillaged the past two summers, that's a serious accomplishment. 

Denver Nuggets: Buy

The Nuggets have a problem: They're too deep.

Andre Iguodala's presence changes everything for Denver—in a good way. Not only can he play three out of the five positions on the floor, but he's the type of leader and mentor who will work wonders with young guns like Ty Lawson, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Kenneth Faried.

Iguodala also gives the Nuggets a bona fide superstar. He's not one who disrupts their completely selfless dynamic, but seamlessly fits into it.

And while JaVale McGee didn't come cheap, George Karl is just the coach to keep the athletically gifted, yet perpetually immature big man in line.

Denver has surprised nearly everyone in the post-Carmelo Anthony era, but it should come as no surprise when this newly retooled squad makes a deep playoff run next spring.

Detroit Pistons: Buy

They didn't do much, but the Pistons are headed in the right direction.

Though Detroit would have done well to surround Greg Monroe with more talent, Andre Drummond is a potential star. The cap space the franchise saved next summer by acquiring Corey Maggette must not be overlooked, either.

While the Pistons didn't bolster their roster significantly, they didn't deplete it, nor did they restrict their ability to make important moves in the near future.

It may be another long season in Detroit, but it won't be without cause or direction, and that's simply huge. 

Golden State Warriors: Buy

The Warriors had little to no cap space, yet they got it done this offseason.

Jarrett Jack's presence is just what Golden State needs—a true point guard who will have no trouble taking the reigns of the offense should Stephen Curry go down.

The Warriors' selection of Harrison Barnes was a terrific pickup as well. He brings much needed two-way prowess to Golden State's weakest position. Then there's the signing of Carl Landry and re-signing of Brandon Rush to consider.

Last season, the Warriors were hardly a deep team. After their busy offseason, though, they're a borderline playoff franchise, provided they remain healthy.

That's not a bad position, especially if like Golden State, you're simply hungry for any sort of relevance.

Houston Rockets: Sell, a Million Times over

Houston had a horrible offseason.

I'm not against gutting a team, as long as it maintains a sense of purpose and direction. The Rockets have neither.

Though Houston has plenty of cap space, signing Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik to such ridiculously backloaded contract was undeniably impulsive, and borderline crazy.

And while the Rockets had a strong trio of draft selections, losing talents like Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic definitely hasn't made this team more competitive.

Had Houston's fire sale resulted in the acquisition—or rather, rental—of Dwight Howard, perhaps we could sing a different tune.

But here the Rockets are, staring down the barrel of an era laden with disappointment, and we just can't buy into that.

Indiana Pacers: Sell, Sell, Sell

The Pacers retained Roy Hibbert, I'll give them that, but it came at way too high of a price.

However, you can at least attempt to justify lining Hibbert's pockets with that much money. George Hill, on the other hand? Not so much.

Hill is a perennial backup and subpar playmaker, who will now be handed the offensive reigns after being grossly overpaid.

And why will he be handed the offensive reigns? Because Indiana decided it wise to move Darren Collison, a crafty distributor who is much better suited to lead an offense.

Selecting Miles Plumlee in the first round didn't help Indiana's case, either.

All in all, the Pacers made it hard to embrace any move they made this summer.

Los Angeles Clippers: Buy

I will never buy into Jamal Crawford's contract, but everything else the Clippers accomplished this summer does, at the very least, offset it.

Chauncey Billups' return will bolster the backcourt if he is able to remain healthy, and Lamar Odom's return to Tinseltown will prove to be a substantial difference-maker if his head is right.

Extending Blake Griffin was also a necessity, because 1) he's the team's most promising youngster and 2) his presence gives the Clippers a better chance of retaining Chris Paul next summer.

Don't sleep on the veteran presence of Grant Hill and Ronnie Turiaf, either. Turiaf is a defensive specialist who is more than willing to sacrifice his body for the cause, while Hill, when healthy, is still capable of making a prolific two-way impact.

No, the Clippers don't appear to be as stacked as the Lakers or Thunder, but they're far from an afterthought.

And in a powerhouse-laden Western Conference, just breaking into the championship conversation is half the battle. 

Los Angeles Lakers: Buy

There wasn't a team in the NBA that had a better offseason than the Lakers.

Los Angeles landed two top-20 NBA stars in Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, and did so without giving up too much in return.

Was Andrew Bynum an integral part of the Lakers' attack? Yes, but essentially, for him and a handful of lowly draft picks, the Lakers went from borderline contenders to one of the few favorites.

And don't even get me started on the additions of Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks, two spectacular role players who came to Los Angeles at steep discounts.

Once again, under the watchful and crafty eyes of Mitch Kupchak, the Lakers have turned a string of misfortune into instant gratification.

Nothing's more impressive than that.

Memphis Grizzlies: Buy

Letting O.J. Mayo walk was a controversial decision, but Memphis had a strong offseason nonetheless.

The Grizzlies were able to retain key role players in Darrell Arthur and Marreese Speights, drafted an intriguing prospect in Tony Wroten and, most importantly, brought in Jerryd Bayless to man the point for the second unit.

Though a backup point man is hardly a slot that generates a wealth of interest, Bayless' presence will ultimately prove to be a major difference-maker in pushing Memphis to the next level.

Bayless is a starting-caliber floor general who isn't afraid to take it to the rack. His court vision and playmaking abilities are in need of some refining, but his presence provides stability to an otherwise tumultuous second unit.

For a fringe championship contender, that's huge.

Miami Heat: Buy

The Lakers may have stolen the offseason show, but the Heat were a close second.

Ray Allen provides Miami with a sharp-shooting savant who is going to stretch defenses to the breaking point. He also gives the Heat a wing who is much more dependable than the oft-injured and inconsistent Mike Miller.

Let's not forget about Rashard Lewis, though. His best days are clearly behind him, but he can man four out of the five positions on the court. He has no trouble posting up on the block, yet has the limitless range that gives the Heat yet another outside threat.

Fresh off an NBA title and weighed down by a cap-heavy roster, the odds of Miami improving drastically this summer were slim to none.

Or so we thought.

Milwaukee Bucks: Buy

I was on the fence about this one, but then I realized Milwaukee didn't have much choice.

The Bucks were strapped financially, so the odds of making a splash in free agency bigger than Ersan Ilyasova were near zero.

But Milwaukee delivered. It locked down the promising young forward while also bringing in Samuel Dalembert and John Henson to patrol the paint.

No, the Bucks won't be contending this year, and it's even a stretch to assume they'll be in the playoff conversation at all.

By all means, though, they did everything they could to strengthen their roster, despite severe financial limitations.

That has to count for something.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Sell

The Timberwolves needed to stockpile talent this summer, and while they did just that, they embraced a state of uncertainty at the same time.

Brandon Roy and Andrei Kirilenko are stars in their own right, but that was once upon a time. Both players are more than a year removed from NBA action and are going to be expected to carry relatively heavy burdens from the get-go.

I understand Kevin Love wanted—and Ricky Rubio needed—to have a stronger supporting cast, but Minnesota's is now only as strong Kirilenko's and Roy's ability to avoid injury.

Given each player's history, that's anything but a sure bet, and one I surely wouldn't be willing to make.   

New Orleans Hornets: Buy

Overnight, the Hornets went from bottom-feeders to up-and-comers.

Not only did New Orleans win the right to draft Anthony Davis, but it threw caution to the wind and retained one of the league's brightest stars in Eric Gordon, even though he was less than thrilled at the time.

There's also the addition of Ryan Anderson to consider. His presence helps stretch the floor, gives the Hornets a much needed three-point threat and allots more room in the paint for Davis to operate.

Even the acquisition of Robin Lopez serves a purpose, as he ensures Davis won't have to take too much of a beating by himself down low.

Yes, the Hornets are still a season or two away from even breaking into the playoff picture, but they're officially a team with a blueprint for success, which is a reality that we must not overlook or underestimate.

New York Knicks: Sell

In all truthfulness, the Knicks—on paper—are a much better team than last season.

That said, they're also a much older and more injury-prone than last year. They're down one undrafted prodigy as well.

So, while we can see what the Knicks were thinking—that only veterans have what it takes to bring home titles—it is more than slightly perplexing.

Why allow Jeremy Lin to walk away for nothing when his replacement was easily one of the most underwhelming floor generals of last season? Why would the Knicks bring in a bevy of aging low-post players who can't stay healthy long enough to tie their shoes?

Why do any of it?

You got me. While this team isn't built for failure, it's not built to win a title this season, either.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Buy

Sometimes less is simply more.

The Thunder had almost no cap space, yet they made out like bandits this offseason.

Perry Jones III is a draft day steal while Serge Ibaka is sitting pretty with his newly signed $48 million extension. Even Hasheem Thabeet's signing added much needed depth in the frontcourt.

Improving a roster that saw the light of the finals only last season is difficult. Being able to do that on a beggar's dime, though?

That's near impossible. But somehow, Oklahoma City managed to defy the odds, setting itself up nicely for a return trip to the championship round. 

Orlando Magic: Sell

Remember when the Magic gave too much money to a player who didn't deserve it?

Me too, and so does Jameer Nelson, because earlier this summer, he became another of those players.

To top it all off, Orlando ended 18 months of well-documented speculation by dealing Dwight Howard to the Lakers for merely peanuts in return.

Are you kidding me?

Heading into the season, the Magic are walking out of summer with nothing to show for the Howard trade but a handful of low-value draft picks and a couple of promising, yet lukewarm prospects.

For a team that just lost one of the franchise's best players, such a dismal outlook is simply unacceptable.

Philadelphia 76ers: Buy

Had the Sixers failed to land Andrew Bynum, I'm not quite sure I could buy into their offseason. But with Bynum on the roster, everything else seems to fall into place.

Suddenly, Nick Young's signing doesn't seem so insignificant. Suddenly, Dorell Wright seems like he could feast off the open looks he'll receive courtesy of Bynum. And, suddenly, Philadelphia seems like a heartbeat away from title contention.

That's a level of optimism the Sixers were never able to reach with Andre Iguodala as their cornerstone.

But times have changed. The summer came and went, leaving Philadelphia with the league's second-best center to tend to its cause.

Not too shabby, if I do say so myself.

Phoenix Suns: Buy

Kendall Marshall and Goran Dragic are hardly picture-perfect replacements for Steve Nash, but the truth is no one can replace him.

That said, the Suns did a great job trying. They also did a great job in making it clear they were ready to be something more than mediocre.

Michael Beasley may prove to be a roller coaster ride, but he adds much needed versatility and size. Luis Scola may have already seen his best days, but he's still a crafty scorer who is going to put plenty of points on the board.

And then, yeah, there's those Dragic and Marshall kids, too. Both are above-average playmakers with great instincts.

So, while there's no replacing Nash, Phoenix has done a great job of picking up the pieces from his departure.

Portland Trail Blazers: Sell

This was a tough one.

On the one hand, Portland had a strong draft in which the team picked up Meyers Leonard and Damian Lillard.

On the other hand, though, this is a team that failed to utilize any of its cap space, aside from obnoxiously lining the pockets of Nicolas Batum.

So, while the Blazers may have a promising future, they approached a Roy Hibbert-or-bust mentality when it came to improving their immediate roster.

Why wouldn't they make a serious play for Chris Kaman? Why stop at Hibbert?

Who even knows?

What we do know is that LaMarcus Aldridge isn't getting any younger and is now surrounded by a group of players with questionable potential.

That hardly implies that a playoff run is in store for this squad.

Sacramento Kings: Sell

Sacramento was thrown a bone when Thomas Robinson was still available once it hit the clock on draft night. After selecting him, though, the Kings promptly choked on said bone.

For some reason, Sacramento thought it prudent to offer $30 million to Jason Thompson, an underwhelming big man who is likely to come off the bench behind both Robinson and DeMarcus Cousins.

Then there's Aaron Brooks, a near carbon copy of Jimmer Fredette, but with a poorer attitude. His presence doesn't bode well for Fredette, whose minutes are, at the very least, bound to get cut.

It simply wouldn't be the offseason if the Kings didn't pull the trigger on numerous transactions that provoked quizzical reactions.

San Antonio Spurs: Sell

This one hurts a little.

It's easy to buy into every move the Spurs made this summer, except for the fact that every move was a re-signing.

Don't get me wrong; I was impressed with the Spurs' performance last season—we all were. But they came up short in the end. That they didn't see a need to add at least a smidgen more firepower is mind-blowing.

Because, more often than not, standing pat after coming up empty isn't an acceptable course of action, especially when the team's core is aging as rapidly as the Spurs'. 

Toronto Raptors: Buy

I get it. Landry Fields is overpaid. But at this point, in the NBA, who isn't?

The Raptors may have paid an arm and a leg for Fields, but they acquired Kyle Lowry from the Rockets for essentially nothing.

Not only does Lowry give Toronto a potential star-caliber point guard, but he brings a needed change from the usual play-stylings of Jose Calderon, who hasn't been able to take the Raptors much of anywhere.

John Lucas III only deepens Toronto's options at point guard, and in-bound rookie Terrence Ross stands to make an immediate impact on both ends of the floor, if given ample playing time.

So, for a team so used to getting it wrong on a yearly basis, the Raptors sure got their act together in time to get it right this summer.

Utah Jazz: Buy

Devin Harris wasn't meeting expectations in Utah, so it was time for a change. Mo Williams certainly brings change.

Williams can play either guard position and gives the Jazz a more reliable scoring option than Harris. He doesn't have the ability to create as well as Harris, but Williams is a wily ball-handler who at least understands how to direct an offense.

The Randy Foye signing was also huge. Like Williams, he can play either guard spot, and he's also capable of putting up points in a hurry.

Utah was set in the frontcourt. That much we knew. All it really needed to do was tweak its backcourt and hope for the best.

Now all that's left to do is hope for the best.

Washington Wizards: Buy

Even if you aren't in favor of the additions of Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor, you have to love what Bradley Beal is going to do for this team.

Beal is a chameleon in every sense of the word. He can find a niche within any system and is easily one of the most coachable players coming out of his draft class.

Most importantly, though, he complements John Wall. He excels in transition, isn't afraid to get his hands dirty on offense and can shoot the lights out of a building—which is especially important because Wall can't.

Combine Wall's new running mate with the added frontcourt depth Ariza and Okafor provide, and you have a Wizards team that, if healthy, has the potential to at least knock on the postseason door.

Follow @danfavale