LA Lakers, NY Knicks, Miami Heat: 10 NBA Teams on Hot Seat for 2011-2012 Season

The NBA lockout is threatening next season's livelihood, and thus preventing certain teams, like the Los Angeles Lakers, from attempting to climb out of the hot seat they are currently sitting in.

Every team has questions that are plaguing the organization, but there are some who are under a larger microscope than others.Teams like the Chicago Bulls and Dallas Maverics, are organizations that will not be put under as much scrutiny heading into next season.

Chicago exceeded expectations and then some this past season, and while they are still searching for a way to reach the next level, it's clear they are moving in the right direction.

Dallas, against all odds, won an NBA title this year, and unlike the Lakers, not many people expect them to make a run at a repeat next season. This is not to say they have no chance, but it puts the Mavericks in a position where they are not backed into a corner.

It is teams like he Lakers, New York Knicks and Miami Heat who are situated in the hot seat as we look toward next season. These are the teams with the most to prove, the most to gain and the most to lose.

And with this in mind, here's a look at 10 teams who are sweating it out in the hot seats as we look ahead to next season.

No. 10: Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics and their fans knew this day eventually come, but that does not make it any easier to accept.

Boston's aging group finally seems to have to succumbed to the powers of Father Time, and begun their slow descent out of championship contender status.

Jermaine O'Neal is 32, Paul Pierce is 33, and Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are 35. Rajon Rondo and Glen "Big Baby" Davis are only 25, but the heart of the Celtics rotation is past their prime.

Boston had a respectable season this past year, grabbing the third seed in the Eastern Conference. However, it became apparent that they were having trouble keeping pace with younger teams like the Bulls and Heat.

Pierce, Allen and Garnett most certainly have plenty of good basketball left to play, but their best days are clealry behind them. As a result, no one really knows what to expect from this team next season, and that actually puts them in the hot seat.

Boston's potential may be unclear, but they aren't expected to go down without a fight. The Celtic will be playing to prove that they are still relevant.

For the first time in years, Boston's back is up against the wall, and it is going to be interesting to see how they respond.

Garnett is  free agent after this season, and the Celtics performance will determine whether or not we will have seen the last of the "Boston Three Party" era.

No. 9: San Antonio Spurs

Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs find themselves under as much scrutiny as ever heading into next season.

The Spurs' situation is not unlike that of the Celtics, where the heart of their team is aging. Duncan is 35, Manu Ginobli is 33 and Tony Parker is almost 30, and there is serious doubt as to how much longer San Antonio can remain contenders.

Even Parker has been quoted questioning the Spurs chances of remaining a contender, putting further pressures on the team.

San Antonio's trio continued to get the job done last season, combining for over 50 points per game, and went on to clinch the number one seed for the Western Conference. However, their triumph quickly turned into disaster when the eighth-seeded  Memphis Grizzlies knocked them out the first round of the playoffs in six games.

Memphis exposed a lot of weaknesses of San Antonio's during that series, which has resulted in the Spurs being dissected by the media constantly.

Additionally, Tony Parker's comments have prompted many to believe that the Spurs may attempt and move him once the lockout is lifted. 

To add even more fuel to the fire, San Antonio is not quite sure what to do with 31-year-old Richard Jefferson, who is due nearly $10 million in salary next season. The Spurs will likely try to dump his hefty contract in any Parker deal, which may prove difficult given Parker himself has three years left on his four year, $50 million dollar extension he inked back in the fall.

San Antonio is aging, fast, and their team structure and morale seems as stable as a house of cards right now. The Spurs are heading into uncharted territory next season; they are entering the realm of uncertainty.

And it will be interesting to see the events that unfold from hereon out.

No. 8: Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder put on quite a show this past season.

The Thunder went 55-27 and landed the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Durant and company advanced all the way to the conference finals before falling to the Mavericks in five games.

Oklahoma City is in good shape talent wise, with Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, James Harden and Kendrick Perkins on the roster, but after their pitiful display against Dallas, many are worried about the cohesion of the Thunder's two biggest stars: Durant and Westbrook.

Both Durant and Westbrook had outstanding seasons. Durant averaged 27.7 points per game to lead the league in scoring, while also grabbing 6.8 rebounds and over one steal per night. Westbrook had a career year, averaging 21.9 points, 8.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

Westbrook and Durant seemed to struggle over the leadership role in the Western Conference Finals. Westbrook was taking the shots that many thought were Durant's, while others feel Westbrook needs to take the pressure shots because other teams assume they are Durant's for the taking.

Regardless of the aforementioned conflict, the cohesion and communication between the two was just not there. Additionally, their lack of playoff experience seem to surface against Dallas. Once Westbrook got in a funk, he could not seem to shake it off and bring himself up out of it.

Most believe that Westbrook is not on the trading block after what became apparent in the postseason, which seems logical. Westbrook is too good a talent to just give up on, and he and Durant showed signs of possessing chemistry in the past.

However, the pressure is on these two and the rest of the team to improve upon last season. The Mavericks were a great team, but to fall in five games was simply embarrassing, even if they were the eventual champs.

Next season, the spotlight is going to be on Durant and Westbrook to see how they respond to last season's conclusion.

And the seat doesn't get any hotter than that.

No. 7: Miami Heat

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh led the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals during their first year of the "big three" experiment, but it should still come as no surprise that they make this list.

Miami will forever be in the hot seat as long as the "big three" stay together. People expected instant championships when the trio formed, so anything less is a disappointment, and leaves room for them to ridiculed in the public eye.

Speculation will continue to run rampant regarding the Heat. 

Is Eric Spoelstra the right man for the job?

Should Miami consider trading Chris Bosh to achieve a more balanced attack?

Will LeBron ever shed his label of choke artist?

Can a "big three" stacked team ever win it all?

Such chatter is something LeBron should be used to by now considering how often he has been compared to Michael Jordan, and Wade and Bosh, though less accustomed to said circumstances, have their share of experience after this past season.

Miami may be under even more pressure next season because now the Heat have had a whole year to get it together and develop a game plan that suits each individual star's needs. If James and company were able to make it all the way to the finals in their first year, a championship should be a lock for the second.

But if the Heat fail to improve upon their performance last season, more and more people will jump on the balanced attack bandwagon as opposed to a superstar powerhouse.

Should there be basketball next season, it will be entertaining to see how the Heat follow up from last season's performance and how they respond to the added pressure. Be sure to gear up for another year of LeBron versus the media outbursts.

This season was only the beginning. LeBron and company are poised to be under relentless for years to come. 

That is, unless they ever bring a championship to Miami.

No. 6: New York Knicks

Amar'e Stoudemire led the resurgence of the Knicks this past season, but his work is far from finished in New York.

After the addition of Carmelo Anthony, at the expense of Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov and draft picks, the Knicks experienced some struggles. New York however, made it to the playoffs for the first time in seven years, clinging on to the sixth seed in the East to do so.

The Boston Celtics swept the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs, further adding to the drama that already engulfed the organization.

Sadly, not long after, Donnie Walsh "stepped down" from his position as acting President and GM. However, regardless of what Walsh or Knicks owner James Dolan may say, Walsh left for reasons other than his health. He was not amenable to Dolan's super team or bust mantra.

New York's pursuit of a Miami Heat-like team has cost them so much, and that puts them on the hot seat for all of next season.

In the Anthony trade, New York gave up promising talent in Chandler and Gallinari, and a borderline all star in Felton, an incredibly high price to pay for one player. And next the organization shows Walsh the door because Dolan is unwilling to budge on his "assemble a super team at cost" stance.

Now New York has its sights set on Chris Paul or Dwight Howard. And now they are also out of excuses.

The Knicks have two-thirds of their super team, and a somewhat solid supporting cast. Should they fail to advance further on or struggle to even make the playoffs, the team's entire philosophy will come under fire.

Additionally, if New York fails to assemble a "big three," which as been the apple of their eye since Paul's toast at Anthony's wedding last July, the organization will come under even more fire. What would have been the point in trading away all that young talent, and letting a basketball genius like Walsh walk away, if the end goal was not met?

As if that isn't enough, head coach Mike D'Antoni will be walking a tight rope for the rest of the season. His status with the Knicks has been in question since last year, but his job remained secure, largely in part due to Walsh's backing.

But Walsh is now gone. And the trigger happy Dolan is at the helm. If the Knicks fail to improve upon last year's performance, or get off to a rocky start, Dolan will look to point fingers at anyone other than himself and the aspirations of a "big three," and D'Antoni will cease to exist as far as New York is concerned.

Job security is a thing of the past for the Knicks coach. If his team caves under the pressure of the ongoing trade rumors, he won't make it to the all star break, provided the lockout doesn't nix it.

Isiah Thomas must also be given honorable mention. He is always good for generating some extra scrutiny for this organization, especially since he left it.

New York always been an organization on the hot seat. But this season, that seat is likely to be on fire.

And it will be interesting to see if the Knicks are able to avoid getting burned.

No. 5: Golden State Warriors

Monta Ellis and the Golden State Warriors make the list after only winning 36 games last season, which may come as a surprise to some.

However, the Warriors are most certainly among the top 10 teams on the hot seat for next year because they were one of the most underachieving teams in the entire league this past season.

A team that has sharpshooters like Ellis and Stephen Curry, as well as an inside out presence from David Lee, needs to be winning well over 36 games. This team should be fighting for a playoff spot at the very least, not stepping aside and allowing others to waltz right into the postseason.

Golden State is a young team, but it is filled with such promising young talent. Even Ekpe Udoh has shown some promise, and lets not forget newly drafted guard Klay Thompson.

Speaking of Thompson, the Warriors underachieving ways are not the only thing that will keep them in the hot set. With the drafting of Thompson, it is believe that Golden State will now shop Ellis hard. He does not fit the defensive bill for new head coach Mark Jackson's defensive minded system and the Warriors could get some promising assets in return.

It will be interesting to see what Golden State ultimately decides to do with Ellis. On the one hand, the Warriors now have an abundance of guards, but on the other hand, Ellis can put up points in bunches and do it consistently; he averaged 24.1 points per game last season.

Ellis also developed a little bit more of an unselfish game, averaging nearly six assists per night. His shot selection is still cause of concern, but there is no denying his value to the team.

Should Ellis be shipped out, this puts more pressure on Curry to perform. Last season he averaged 18.6 points and 5.8 assists per game, significantly improving upon his rookie year. He and Ellis have formed quite a backcourt duo, but their inability to pile on some more wins concerns the organization.

Furthermore, Lee is also on the hot seat because the Warriors were looking for more from him when they brought him in from New York. Lee had a solid season, averaging 16.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, but he was not his usual solid self on defense.

All of the aforementioned things add up to an extremely talented group of players who sold themselves short.

Can the Warriors become a playoff caliber team?

Will Ellis be moved?

If not, can he, Lee and Curry become cohesive enough to push the Warriors into prominence?

All of these questions, and more are reasons why Golden State will be in the hot seat as well as valid cause for us to keep tabs on their progress. 

No. 4: New Orleans Hornets

Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets being on the hot seat next season comes as no surprise to most, some may even wonder why they are not higher on the list being that the 2012 free agency saga will reach its peak soon enough.

New Orleans had the opportunity to trade Paul last summer, but opted not to, and it will be interesting to see if that comes back to haunt them.

Paul averaged 15.9 points and 9.8 assists per game this season, and his explosive display during the playoffs did not help New Orleans any in the long run, as if his toast at Carmelo Anthony's wedding wasn't enough. After the series he had, teams will be lining up even earlier to make an offer for the star point guard.

Will the Hornets trade Paul or risk losing him via free agency?

What team with Paul wind up with?

Is there a chance that Paul stays in New Orleans?

Paul's pending free agency is going to generate a lot of publicity, which up until recently is not something this team was used. It is unclear how the young Hornets team will cope with the constant speculation that is sure to ensue over the course of the season, and this is what is so critical.

New Orleans gave the Lakers a run for their money in the first round of this year's playoffs, pushing Los Angeles to six games. However, there is questions as to whether New Orleans was putting on a display of things to come or just simply taking advantage of an old and battered Lakers team.

If the Hornets are to convince Paul to stay, they have to prove to him that they are ready to contend, and while players like Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor are solid role players, they may not be enough to push New Orleans past teams jam packed with stars.

Is Paul willing to risk his prime years to play for a team that is more mediocre than championship caliber? 

Does Paul believe that he, alone, can lead this team to a title?

Can New Orleans free up enough cap/stock enough assets to make a run at adding another star along side Paul, like Dwight Howard Perhaps?

Who knows.

Paul is the face of the Hornets franchise; he sells tickets and puts bodies in the seats. So you can bet the Hornets are not going down without a fight, but we also have to keep in mind there is pressure for the organization to choose a direction quick.

And until New Orleans decides to either cut their losses and rebuild or try and convince Paul they are the real deal, the Hornets will involuntarily remain in the spotlight.

No. 3: New Jersey Nets

New Jersey thrust itself into the hot seat for this upcoming season the moment Deron Williams put on his Nets jersey for the first time.

Nets owner Mikihail Prokhorov, having been cold-shouldered by Carmelo Anthony, opted to take a huge risk and bring in Williams in exchange for Derrick Favors, Devin Harris and two first round draft picks, without a guarantee that he would sign an extension after this season.

To be fair, it was a risk the Nets had to take. With the move to Brooklyn coming soon, they had to make a big enough splash and turn enough heads to become relevant, and we have to admit Williams does just that.

Williams is one of the premiere point guards in the league. He averaged 20.1 points and 10.3 assists per game last season, numbers that surpassed often wider-embraced Chris Paul's. Williams' strength and top-tier ball handling allows him slash through the paint with ease, and he has enough finesse to hit the outside jumper, although there is room for improvement on that front.

Right now, the Nets boast a supporting cast consisting of up and coming center Brook Lopez, and Kris Humphries, provided he does not find a new home. However, the Nets may need more than that to convince Williams to stay.

ESPN introduced the notion that the Nets will pursue a trade for Dwight Howard to help entice Williams further. A dominant center like Howard would certainly be enough to keep Williams in New Jersey and head to Brooklyn.

However, the problem remains obtaining Howard. Being that a competent center, let alone a star one, is a rare commodity in this league, Howard is the premiere free agent of the 2012 premiere free agents, and Orlando is not about to hand him over.

Brook Lopez would almost certainly have to be included in any package, along with draft picks, but aside from that, New Jersey cannot offer much else. So the Nets cannot count on their Howard aspirations.

Would Williams be apt to staying put if he has success with the current team?

Maybe. But the Nets are very young and their true potential is unknown. 

One thing is known though, and that is Prokhorov rolled the dice by acquiring Williams.

And the Nets enter next season on the hot seat as we wait and see if their big gamble pays off.

No. 2: Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are on the second hottest seat in the entire league.

No, the Lakers are not potentially losing their franchise player, but they are in danger of losing their clout.

As the postseason series' against the Hornets and Mavericks showed us, the Lakers are entering a delicate era. Kobe is 32 and no one is quite sure how much juice those legs of his have left in him.

In Bryant's defense, he averaged 25.3 points and 5.1 rebounds last season, spectacular numbers as usual. However, it became evident during the postseason that he is, in fact, human, and susceptible to age-related issues.

So Los Angeles is faced with the task of ensuring they do not squander Kobe's last few seasons with early postseason exits. To avoid doing such a thing, they must decide if it is best to make some major roster changes, or stand pat.

The most important factor that weighs in on this decision is Dwight Howard. If he is available the Lakers would jump at the chance to acquire him.

And according to Bill Plaschke of the LA Times, they should do just that, by offering up Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum.

It would be difficult for any team to pass up on the chance to acquire Howard, but it is also a difficult decision for the Lakers to make. While Bynum has progress slower than anticipated, he is still a valued within the organization more than most people realize.

And then there is always the reality of having to relinquish the reigning sixth man of the year in Odom.

It can certainly be argued that Howard is worth it. Last season, he averaged 22.9 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. He is as dominant a center as they come and his defense would propel the Lakers back to contender status, if they have even left it.

But is he worth it?

Or is he even interested in coming to a Lakers team led by the aging Kobe Bryant?

Are the Lakers better off pursuing a target like Monta Ellis?

The only thing certain in Los Angeles is that they are entering an uncertain time. Next season will bring with it numerous tough decisions. Decisions that determine the overall direction of the team.

And decisions the Lakers better get right, or Kobe's waning years may be spent pondering about what once was.

No. 1: Orlando Magic

Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic topping the list of teams on the hot seat heading into next season should come as no surprise.

Howard is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and there is serious doubt as to whether he will return to Orlando. Howard remains the top center of the entire league, and the Magic, as indicated by their trades for Gilbert Arenas and Hedo Turkoglu, are prepared to try anything to keep their star.

If Howard leaves the Magic, it will be crippling to the organization. He is the sole reason why they remain relevant year in and year out. Without Howard, Orlando is a lottery team. It is this very notion that makes next season so dangerous for the Magic.

All indications are that Orlando will try and somehow make a play for another player that will make Howard stay. However, Orlando is very limited in terms of assets and cap space, making this extremely difficult. And one has to wonder what it will take for the Magic to seriously consider trading Howard.

The problem with Howard being so valuable to the Magic is that Orlando's judgment could remain clouded throughout this entire situation. Even if it becomes abundantly clear that Howard is not returning, are the Magic prepared to do what is necessary, albeit difficult, but still necessary? Can they come to grips with trading their star?

An answer to that question is unknown. Howard has been linked to nearly every team in the league, which isn't hard to believe given that any organization would jump at the chance to obtain a big man of his caliber.

And if Orlando is forced to move him, they are tasked with finding a team that provides adequate talent value in return, as well as the willingness to absorb one of the Magic's hefty contracts in Turkoglu or Arenas.

Additionally, it is not out of the question that Howard remain in Orlando, so there is the real concern that the Magic could also give up hope too soon. Teams are running scared since LeBron James bolted Cleveland without so much as a backward glass, which could prompt Orlando to make a premature decision to move their star.  

The possibilities regarding the conclusion of this saga are limitless, and while we can speculate about an outcome, we cannot know for sure. For all we know, Arenas could return to his old form, Jameer Nelson could break out and the Magic could become title contenders and Howard would remain. 

This season means a lot to Orlando, much more than Howard. It will determine the state and direction of this organization for the foreseeable future.

The pressure is on the Magic to make the best out of any situation they may find themselves in. As of right now, whether they realize it or not, they are on the NBA's center stage.

Few teams will make any significant roster moves without waiting for the Howard saga to present a resolution, which limits the type of moves Orlando can make to further build around Howard as well.

All eyes will be on Howard and the Magic as we look toward next season, and it will be interesting to see how the team copes with the whirlwind of rumors they are sure to be caught in. 

Will Orlando's players cave under the scrutiny?

The Magic and their fans better hope not, because this season they are playing for more than just sheer sport and competition, they are playing for a future.