Predicting the Playoff Teams of the 2012-13 Season

Oh boy am I excited for the 2012-13 season.

Now that free agency is winding down, franchises are starting to look at who will be filling out their starting rotations and bench spots.

Instead of planning for the future, team executives are looking to improve in the short-term at this point in order to achieve the ultimate goal of winning an NBA title.

In order to raise that Larry O'Brien Trophy, each team needs to first reach the postseason.

Here are the 16 teams projected to play in the 2013 playoffs. As a disclaimer, Dwight Howard's potential moves are not taken into consideration, due to the situation being in flux.

No. 8: Golden State Warriors

Not only did the Warriors have a successful draft, where they picked up Harrison Barnes, Festus Ezeli and Draymond Green, but Golden State management made some prudent decisions this offseason.

For one, the Warriors traded Dorell Wright, who would be lost in the rotation behind Richard Jefferson and Barnes, for Jarrett Jack, who could really benefit the second unit.

Golden State will be a threat in the Western Conference if they can stay healthy for at least the majority of the season.

If Stephen Curry and Andrew Bogut are in the lineup everyday, this team has a shot to be as high as the No. 6 seed.

For now however, Golden State will return to the playoffs as an No. 8 seed.

No. 7: Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets prudently brought the band back together from last season, after re-signing JaVale McGee and Andre Miller to contracts.

The Nuggets did not improve drastically in free agency, but did sign their very underrated draft pick, Evan Fournier.

If he continues to grow in Denver, Fournier has the potential to be a Manu Ginobili-clone, but he definitely needs to develop more.

With that being said, this is a very good team, that lacks a superstar or a closer, who would put Denver in the upper echelon of Western Conference teams.

So while the Nuggets didn't really get worse, teams above them got better.

No. 6: Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks offseason started off horrifically bad. After Jason Terry decided to sign with the Boston Celtics and Deron Williams spurned his hometown in favor of Brooklyn, things looked down.

However, Mavericks management turned everything around after they traded for Darren Collison and Dahntay Jones by giving up merely Ian Mahinmi.

In addition, they signed OJ Mayo, Chris Kaman and Elton Brand, all three of whom have the ability to contribute right away in "Big D" next season.

With all of this being said, the Mavericks are not nearly as deep as they were when they won the title a year ago.

While the starting lineup of Collison-Mayo-Marion-Nowitzki-Kaman is solid, Dallas' weak second unit will ultimately be its downfall.

No. 5: Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies' 2011-12 season can be characterized as disappointing and unlucky.

When Darrell Arthur tore his Achilles just before the season started, Memphis lost one of their best role players off the bench.

Adding insult to injury, star power forward Zach Randolph tore his meniscus during the season, forcing the Grizzlies to acquire Marreese Speights.

Even with all of this happening, the Grizzlies were still able to salvage the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, only to completely blow a series against the Clippers.

Adding Jerryd Bayless will soften the loss of OJ Mayo, while re-signing Arthur and Speights was prudent.

This team has the talent to contend in the West. The question is whether they can put it all together. 

No. 4: San Antonio Spurs

How can the team that has had the best record in the Western Conference for the past two years fall to No. 4?

For one, the three teams above them got better and addressed specific weaknesses. Secondly, the Spurs did not address any of their offseason concerns.

While re-signing Danny Green, Boris Diaw and Tim Duncan made sense, the Spurs were unable to improve in either the draft or during free agency.

While this team can still possibly contend, there are teams that have fresher legs than the Spurs, which will play a role come playoff time.

I know that we say this every year, but I actually think that this might be the season where the Spurs regress.

No. 3: Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers improved their weaknesses, therefore becoming a bigger threat to the elite teams in the league.

Not only did the Clips pick up a legitimate sixth man in Lamar Odom, but they also signed a starting shooting guard in Jamal Crawford to a reasonable deal.

Bringing in Grant Hill was another underrated move that will make the Clippers bench even better.

The "other" Los Angeles team even retained Chauncey Billups, a battle-tested and big-time postseason player.

The Clippers now have a core that can definitely contend in the Western Conference. The question is how well they will respond to the pressures of being a favorite. 

No. 2: Los Angeles Lakers

Although the Clippers have vastly improved, the Lakers are slightly better than their Staples Center counterparts.

The Lakers finally picked up a legitimate point guard in Steve Nash, who will make everyone around him better, including Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

Not only this, but the Lakers shored up their frontcourt depth by re-signing Jordan Hill and giving Antawn Jamison the veteran's minimum.

Both of these deals give LA likely the deepest frontcourt in the league, causing matchup problems against virtually every team in the league.

However, Los Angeles' bench is still devoid of a shooter and a defensive stopper, both of which are important to a contending team.

No. 1: Oklahoma City Thunder

As crazy as it might seem, the Oklahoma City Thunder might have come away with the biggest steal of the NBA Draft, when they picked up Perry Jones III with the 28th pick in the first round.

If Jones III is able to figure out his position and learn to play in an NBA system, he has the potential to be an All-Star-type player.

The Thunder did not make any major signings because they really did not need to.

The biggest addition might be the return of Eric Maynor, who was out all season due to a torn ACL. He gives Russell Westbrook some rest while also being an efficient role player.

If Oklahoma City remains focused all season, look for them to have the best record out West.

No. 8: Washington Wizards

While some chastised the trade that brought Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza to Washigton for essentially Rashard Lewis, I thought that the Wizards were bullish in this case.

No big-name free agents are likely going to be attracted to the Washington market any time soon and both Okafor and Ariza could step into the starting lineup right away.

Drafting Bradley Beal was also smart on Washington's part, because he has huge potential and he moves Jordan Crawford to sixth man, where he will thrive.

With a lineup of Wall-Beal-Ariza-Nene-Okafor, the Wizards will definitely leap over weaker teams and probably even the Magic and Hawks next season.

Don't be surprised if you see John Wall in the playoffs for the first time next season.

No. 7: Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers will struggle to contend for a championship without a superstar or a go-to scorer.

Even though they did lose Lou Williams and Elton Brand (Amnesty Clause), the 76ers will still make the playoffs because of the athletes that they brought in.

Nick Young will be like a poor man's Williams, while Dorell Wright and recently-drafted Arnett Moultrie will both be able to step in right away.

First rounder Moe Harkless has the potential to be a great player down the road but cannot be counted in very much this next season.

Losing Brand is a big blow to Philadelphia, just because he was the starter at the 4. While they did take a step back, the Sixers are still a playoff team.

No. 6: Chicago Bulls

Not only are the Chicago Bulls likely without Derrick Rose for at least half the season, but the team also definitely became worse.

While the additions of guards Marquis Teague and Kirk Hinrich were smart, the Bulls are likely gong to lose the depth that they pride themselves on.

Chicago traded Kyle Korver, declined Ronnie Brewer's option, and were faced with matching Omer Asik's huge deal with the Rockets.

With all of these likely subtractions, the Bulls will take a step back, while Rose recovers from his ACL rehabilitation.

Rose will need some time to get used to the NBA when he does return, making this season almost feel like a lost one.

Look for the Bulls to bounce back in 2014.

No. 5: New York Knicks

The Jeremy Lin fiasco ended up putting a slight damper to a successful offseason for the New York Knicks.

Not only did the Knickerbockers retain Mike Woodson as their head coach, but they put together a bench with the additions of Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas and Jason Kidd.

Both Steve Novak and J.R. Smith will return, adding two more players to the fray that can contribute all season.

While Raymond Felton might be slightly worse than Lin, he comes at a cheaper price tag and did play well when he was on the Knicks a few years ago.

All of a sudden, New York seems to be sitting in a much better place than they were following their mediocre first round series with the Miami Heat.

No. 4: Brooklyn Nets

This one even surprises me.

The Brooklyn Nets might be the toast of New York City basketball, after making many successful moves this offseason.

Not only did they re-sign superstar point guard Deron Williams, but they were also able to bring back Kris Humphries, Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace.

They brought in several solid bench players in Reggie Evans and Mirza Teletovic, who will all contribute right away.

While bringing in Dwight Howard would have been the best case scenario, the Nets are still one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference.

Look for them to possibly make the second round with this core.

No. 3: Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers did what they had to do, when they re-signed Roy Hibbert and George Hill to expensive extensions.

They also added solid bench players like Ian Mahinmi, DJ Augustin and Gerald Green, making their team even deeper than it already was.

The Pacers have the ability to be an elite team in the East, but they will struggle because of their lack of a go-to scorer.

While Danny Granger is a fringe-All-Star talent, he cannot be the leading scorer on a team that wishes to win a title.

With this in mind, the Pacers might look to deal Granger in exchange for a superstar shooting guard, a move which would move Paul George to the 3, where he will thrive.

No. 2: Boston Celtics

These guys just don't go away, even after suffering a gut-wrenching loss in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Miami Heat.

The Boston Celtics are back and they are better than they were last season.

Not only did the Celtics sign Jeff Green (not really a re-sign, considering that he was out all season) and Jason Terry, but they were able to re-sign Kevin Garnett, Brandon Bass and Chris Wilcox to manageable deals.

Boston had a successful draft, where it bolstered its frontcourt by picking up Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo in the first round.

The Celtics were even able to pick up another guard in Courtney Lee, who will round out the rotation very well. 

While the loss of Ray Allen to the Heat was big, Boston looks like a bigger threat to the reigning champions than they did last year.

No. 1: Miami Heat

Even without moves, the Miami Heat likely would enter the 2012-13 season as the favorite to repeat as NBA Champions.

However, Pat Riley and company improved the roster by stealing Ray Allen from their Eastern Conference rival the Boston Celtics, while also picking up Rashard Lewis for cheap.

The Heat will head into next season as the team to beat in all cases, with the exception being if Dwight Howard joins the Los Angeles Lakers.

With no deal involved D-12 heading West pending, Miami has no reason to worry. With the best player in the world in LeBron James, the second-best shooting guard in Dwyane Wade, a top-tier big man in Chris Bosh and a great group of surrounding role players, Miami is loaded.

The question now is whether they can fend off 29 other teams next season.