NBA Free Agent Signings: Teams That Whiffed This Offseason

So far the 2012 NBA offseason has been hectic, exciting, and dramatic all at once. You can also add in more than a few teams shooting nothing but air balls.

Whether it's re-signing a player(s), not having the courage to make a deal, or making a bad deal can already put a damper on the upcoming season. Mark Cuban's Dallas Mavericks are arguably the most primo of examples right now.

Now before we check in on Big D, let's see who joins the Mavs in whiffing to this point in free agency.

Houston Rockets

If the Houston Rockets fail to retain Courtney Lee for at least the 2012-13 season, they might as well pack it in now.

First, Goron Dragic went back to Phoenix to replace Steve Nash, according to ESPN's Marc Stein. Then, Houston traded away Chase Budinger to Minnesota for a 2012 draft pick. And accumulating draft picks is just what the Rockets have done.

According to Kyle Ratke of USA Today, a future first-rounder came from the Toronto Raptors for dealing Kyle Lowry. For as great as first-round selections are, there are no guarantees when it comes to the draft.

Having those proven players to lead and influence helps the most, but now the Rockets are basically starting over from scratch. For Houston's sake let's hope its 2012 picks pan out well and the future selections develop quickly.

Because if not, the Rockets will remain near the bottom of the Southwest Division.

Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors finished fourth in the Atlantic Division in 2011-12 and the 2012-13 campaign only looks worse.

Yes, the Raptors got point guard Kyle Lowry from Houston but at a tough cost. Lowry didn't play the whole season because of injury and giving up a first-rounder as well as Gary Forbes (a decent rotational player) sets Toronto back.

Even though draft picks are never guaranteed as previously mentioned, there's a major difference when trading one away. On top of that, complete guard Jerryd Bayless has been named an unrestricted free agent.

According to ESPN's Marc Stein:

"

Toronto Raptors guard Jerryd Bayless is suddenly an unrestricted free agent after the Raptors rescinded his qualifying offer. 

"

Bayless was arguably Toronto's best bench player and letting the guy develop would have paved way to a more prominent future. Now, the Raptors have to rely on Lowry in one of the NBA's most difficult divisions.

Lest we forget that the Brooklyn Nets are seemingly back on the upswing also.

Dallas Mavericks

Those two guys are gone, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd.

Terry is now with the Boston Celtics and Kidd is with the New York Knicks, both according to ESPN. So all that's really left for Dallas now is Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter, and Shawn Marion to rely on.

On a tough scale, Dirk and Marion are both 34 years old while Carter is 35. So, Mark Cuban's three best players are past their prime and desperately in the need of some rotational help. All that remains is unrestricted free agent Delonte West, who Dallas has to retain for any kind of additional scoring.

And West's future with the team is expected to be known at the end of the work week. According to Mike Fisher of FOX Sports Southwest:

"

Source: #Mavs + Delonte should know, 1 way or other, abt future by Friday nite

— mike fisher (@fishsports) July 10, 2012"

The Mavs' 2010-11 NBA championship seems so long ago now doesn't it? Yes, because it's astounding how quickly Dallas has fallen a part and the team isn't getting much younger either.

Therefore, don't expect a lot from the Mavericks in 2012-13.

Orlando Magic

Apparently the Orlando Magic want to remain a few steps back of the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division.

According to Jeff Zillgitt of the USA Today:

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The Orlando Magic put trade talks for center Dwight Howard on pause Wednesday because the team has not received a compelling enough offer, two people familiar with negotiations told USA TODAY Sports.

"

For any teams hoping to land Howard this is unfortunate. The Magic have a star player who's considered the best at his position, but the team isn't going anywhere since Orlando has failed to build around D12.

And although it is a risk to reinvest a franchise via the draft, Orlando doesn't have much of a choice. According to ESPN on Tuesday:

"

The Magic would get Brook Lopez, Luke Walton, Damion James, Shelden Williams, Armon Johnson and three first-round picks -- two from the Nets and a lottery-protected first from the Clippers.

"

That's one helluva deal that Orlando could certainly work with. Brook Lopez and Sheldon Williams are two solid frontcourt players to build a foundation, and the draft picks would only help. Getting one pick like Houston may not be worth it, but three first-rounders is virtually unheard of.

If the Magic don't end up dealing away Howard at some point, Orlando will simply remain playoff contenders but fail to make a deep run. Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Indiana, Boston, and New York are all too good for the Magic to last in the postseason.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Feel bad for Kevin Love because he's all the Minnesota Timberwolves have.

Michael Beasley verbally committed to the Phoenix Suns, according to ESPN's Marc Stein last week, and frontcourt rotational player Anthony Randolph, along with Beasley, was not given a qualifying offer from the Timberwolves, according to the Associated Press via NBA.com.

As mentioned early, Chase Budinger comes to Minnesota from Houston but the Wolves remain far back from Oklahoma City and Denver in the Northwest Division. Making an offer to Portland's Nicolas Batum was a smart move however, unfortunately the Trail Blazers are expected to burst that bubble.

According to ESPN last week:

"

Despite the agreement in principle, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher on Friday the Timberwolves have not provided an official offer sheet.

The Blazers have been adamant they will match any offer for Batum and are not interested in trading the 23-year-old native Frenchman. 

"

Now Minnesota did manage to get Brandon Roy, as reported by the Associated Press via SI.com.

The downside is that Roy is not the same player he was three years ago. Provided that happens then that's great for the Wolves. But don't anticipate Roy re-developing that quickly with not much help outside of Kevin Love.

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