NBA Free Agents 2011: 5 Teams That Are One Piece Away from Contending

Whenever the 2011 free agency period begins (damn you, lockout) there will be a few teams with the rare opportunity to push their status from good to great, from playoff bound to title contender.

Although this year's free agent class pales in comparison to the sexiness of last year's, there are still several impact players who could help a team rise up a slot or two on the NBA totem pole.

Before we delve into the list, I would like to clarify that I only consider two teams to currently be championship contenders next season: the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat. That's because they are the only two teams that could change nothing and still conceivably make the Finals. All the other teams are flawed, to varying extents.

Here are five teams that are one key piece away from being title contenders (Portland, Denver, and Boston are all at least two key players away from joining this group).

Los Angeles Lakers

After they went down in flames during the 2011 playoffs, many were quick to throw various Lakers into the guillotine.

Most notably placed on the chopping block were Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom. However, many seem to forget that the trio they formed was seen as the biggest advantage in basketball as recently as April.

The real problem in Hollywood was their horrid point guard play. Don't get me wrong, I love Derek Fisher (and he's doing a great job as president of the players association) but he's just too old, too slow and too unproductive to be a starting point guard in this league.

If the Lakers could bring in a talented and competent young point guard, they would immediately return to title-contender status. Unfortunately, this year's free agent crop isn't rich on point guards.

LA's only solid options through free agency would be Aaron Brooks or the restricted Rodney Stuckey. Both would give Los Angeles a boost in the youth department, but their inexperience would be a major question mark in the veteran Lakers locker room.

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls fell in the conference finals because of a lack of scoring to complement Derrick Rose. There's really no other reason: their defense was phenomenal, their tenacity/hustle was impeccable, and their chemistry was superb.

But with both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade locked in on D-Rose, the Bulls had no other scoring options on the perimeter.

High profile 2-guards Jason Richardson and Jamal Crawford will likely be too expensive for Chicago, but J.R. Smith could be reeled in at the right price. Smith (12.3 points in 24.9 minutes per game) would provide a much needed scoring threat from outside.

He's a bit of psycho, but teams can usually get away with one on board (see: Dallas Mavericks and DeShawn Stevenson).

If the Bulls don't sign Smith, look for them to orchestrate a trade for either O.J. Mayo or Richard Hamilton. Either player would fill the one weakness that Chicago has.

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs—the Western Conference regular season champions—met an untimely demise in the first round at the hand of the upstart Memphis Grizzlies.

The reason? The now elderly Tim Duncan (let's give him his due, he's top ten all-time no question) was utterly dominated by the young Memphis duo of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol.

There is an obvious solution available in free agency, and that's Denver Nuggets big man Nene. Nene is perhaps the most efficient post presence in the league, averaging 14.5 points (on 61.5 percent shooting) and 7.6 rebounds in just 30.5 minutes per game.

Clearing the space to afford him may be a bit tricky, though. The Spurs already owe over $70 million to players next season, and next year's salary cap will likely be closer to $50 million. But San Antonio will have much more flexibility in 2012, and may be able to swing a deal for Nene.

He would be the perfect successor to Duncan's throne, and a core of Manu Ginobili-Tony Parker-Nene would contend for at least the next few years.

New York Knicks

Calm down Knicks fans, this one comes with a disclaimer: New York is one major piece away from being title contenders. Emphasis on major—they would still need some minor acquisitions if this occurred.

But the addition of Dallas center Tyson Chandler would catapult the Knicks up the list of Eastern Conference title favorites. New York's biggest weakness is quite obviously its defense, and Chandler just happens to be a monster in the paint.

The Mavericks carried a similar "all-O-no-D" label until they signed Chandler, and then poof, they were suddenly NBA champions.

When Chandler is roaming the lane, other teams' offense becomes stagnant and ineffective. His numbers of 10.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game may not be mind-boggling, but his sheer presence is a variable that statistics simply cannot calculate.

Of course, fiscal restrictions may come into play—the Knicks 2011-12 salary already exceeds $60 million, and Chandler would likely add at least another $12 million to that.

However, New York only has four players on the books for the 2012-13 season, so a deal is possible.

If the Knicks are able to sign Chandler, they will need to fill out the roster with reliable veteran wing players. Then, they will truly be considered a championship contender.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Many people were critical of the Oklahoma City Thunder last season, despite the fact that they made the Western Conference Finals with their four best players under the age of 22.

I was tempted to put OKC in the Mavs/Heat pantheon of teams that don't need to change anything to contend for the title next season. After all, the Thunder's main weakness was a lack of interior scoring, and they have an exceptionally talented 21-year-old power forward in Serge Ibaka. Really, all they need to do is gain experience, right?

Well, OKC would certainly benefit from a boost of scoring in the paint. They are somewhat flexible financially (salary: $53 million next season, $44 million in 2012-13) and could afford unrestricted Boston Celtic Glen Davis.

Davis made $3.3 million last season and wouldn't be a huge hit to the Thunder's payroll. He averaged 11.7 points in 29.5 minutes per game and has proven that he can be an effective scorer off the bench for a championship team.

Davis may not be a sexy acquisition, but he could help push the Thunder to the next level.