Buying or Selling Every NBA Team's Offseason Strategy so Far

The NBA is like a foreign jungle if you're trying to figure out who has changed teams over the past couple of months. This summer has been especially hectic if you consider the ramifications of the new CBA, the mold of the "Big 3" and the Olympics at the core of everything basketball-related.

Each team has made additions and subtractions to their core from last season, aiming to improve chemistry, get under the salary cap (in most cases, not L.A. or Brooklyn) and find the type of talent to bring a championship parade to their city.

Here's a look at each team's offseason so far, complete with a look at the key additions, subtractions and draft picks up until now. We'll also look at whether to buy or sell the plans of management in each city, mindful that many other chips are still at play before real games start in October.

Atlanta Hawks

Key Additions:

G/F DeShawn Stevenson

G Anthony Morrow

C Johan Petro

G Devin Harris

G/F Kyle Korver

Key Subtractions:

G Joe Johnson

F Marvin Williams

G Kirk Hinrich

Draft Picks:

G John Jenkins, Vanderbilt

F Mike Scott, Virginia

The Hawks cleared a ton of cap space in the Joe Johnson trade and brought in some very capable players at his position. While Korver, Morrow and Stevenson aren't by any means Johnson, they all bring a different talent to the table in replacing him—and at a fraction of the cost.

You don't hear much about them in the Dwight Howard trade talks, but I have a feeling this team could be a viable option for the Orlando Magic come mid-February. This isn't a playoff team right now, but adding Howard and maybe Jason Richardson to pair with Josh Smith and Devin Harris could be.

You have to think that management has to be planning ahead to something bigger.

Verdict: BUY

Boston Celtics

Key Additions:

G Jason Terry

G Courtney Lee

F Jeff Green

F/C Chris Wilcox

Key Subtractions:

G Ray Allen

C Jermaine O'Neal

G/F Mickael Pietrus

Draft Picks:

Fab Melo, Syracuse

Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

Kris Joseph, Syracuse

Boston essentially traded Allen and Pietrus for Terry and Lee this offseason, adding a clutch three-point shooter with an outside shot at breaking Allen's record if he keeps shooting the three with the same volume he did last season.

I love the Lee addition, but retaining Garnett and re-adding Wilcox doesn't make me think this team is close enough to the Miami Heat to contend. The uncertainty of the health situation of Garnett and even Rondo doesn't seem to be enough to suggest they have guns to compete in the East all the way to the end.

Verdict: SELL

Brooklyn Nets

Key Additions:

G Joe Johnson

F Mirza Teletovic

G C.J. Watson

F Reggie Evans

Key Subtractions:

G Anthony Morrow

G/F Gerald Green

Draft Picks:

Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas

Ilkan Karaman

Tornike Shengelia

No one spent more money this offseason than the new-look Nets, who added Joe Johnson, retained Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace and Brook Lopez and even found room for C.J. Watson and Reggie Evans in the budget.

CBA disciples like Mark Cuban scoffed at this amount of money, but you can't argue with the results of their new "Core Four."

Verdict: BUY

Charlotte Bobcats

Key Additions:

G Ben Gordon

C Brendan Haywood

G Ramon Sessions

Key Subtractions:

G D.J. Augustin

Draft Picks

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky

Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt

Missing out on Anthony Davis was a punch in the gut that might set this group back to lottery status once again. MKG should be a bright spot, but adding the contract of underachieving Ben Gordon and putting a waiver claim in on the sure-to-clear-waivers Haywood doesn't scream great management.

Sessions and Henderson make for an intriguing young backcourt with Kemba Walker as the sixth man, but it seems like Charlotte is headed for another season of development.

Verdict: SELL

Chicago Bulls

Key Additions:

G Marco Bellinelli

G Kirk Hinrich

C Nazr Mohammed

Key Subtractions:

G/F Kyle Korver

G C.J. Watson

G John Lucas III

C Omer Asik

Draft Picks:

Marquis Teague, Kentucky

Chicago addressed the guard position with Bellinelli, Hinrich and their draft pick, Teague, but it won't be happy time in Chicago until Derrick Rose is 100 percent.

Losing Watson is a bigger loss than many think, as he was as solid as they come at the guard position in the NBA last season. Is this team any better without Rose than they were when he went down in the playoffs? The answer is no, and for that it's easy to sell the offseason for the Bulls so far.

Verdict: SELL

Cleveland Cavaliers

Key Additions:

G Jeremy Pargo

F Kelenna Azubuike

Key Subtractions:

F Antawn Jamison

G Anthony Parker

Draft Picks:

Dion Waiters, Syracuse

Tyler Zeller, North Carolina

It's been an interesting draft and offseason for the Cavs, who seem content to stand pat with their young talent and develop a team in the mold of OKC and Indiana.

After stockpiling draft picks and developing a solid backcourt with Waiters and Kyrie Irving running the show, the wins might not be piling up for the Cavs, but they're doing things the right way, and the fan support is going to be there the next few years as they take their lumps and grow as a team.

Verdict: BUY

Dallas Mavericks

Key Additions:

G Darren Collison

F/C Elton Brand

C Chris Kaman

G OJ Mayo

Key Subtractions:

G Jason Kidd

G Jason Terry

C Ian Mahinmi

C Brendan Haywood

Draft Picks:

G Jared Cunningham, Oregon State

F Jae Crowder, Marquette

C Bernard James, Florida State

The roster overhaul in Dallas is one for the books, with only a handful of players remaining from last year's rotation, and only one from the championship team in 2011 (Dirk Nowitzki). After losing out on Deron Williams, many in Dallas thought it was the end of the Dirk era.

However, after loading up on talent and short-term contracts, they'll be in position for any free agent they desire next summer, while also immediately competing with the powerhouses in the Western Conference. Watch out for OJ Mayo, who'll be a starter once again in Big D.

Verdict: BUY

Denver Nuggets

Key Additions:

F Anthony Randolph

Key Subtractions:

G Rudy Fernandez

C Chris Andersen

Draft Picks:

Quincy Miller, Baylor

Izzet Turkyilmaz

Keeping JaVale McGee was the big prize in Denver this summer. After taking the L.A. Lakers to six grueling games in the first round of the playoffs, they'll look to stay healthy and click for a full season with Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari leading the way on offense.

With a young team, headed up by one of the most underrated coach in basketball, this group didn't need to make many moves. Frankly, getting rid of high-ego Fernandez was probably an addition, and this team is a dark horse to make some noise with anyone in the West.

Verdict: BUY

Detroit Pistons

Key Additions:

F Corey Maggette

Key Subtractions:

G Ben Gordon

Draft Picks:

Andre Drummond, Connecticut

Khris Middleton, Texas A&M

Kim English, Missouri

This team added some needed depth at small forward and did enough to move Greg Monroe to a power forward position if Drummond develops the center position the way Detroit is banking on.

Tough to grade them out as a sell after dumping the ineffective Gordon and adding three potential role players, one with true star potential in Drummond.

Verdict: BUY

Golden State Warriors

Key Additions:

G Jarrett Jack

F Carl Landry

Key Subtractions:

C Kwame Brown

F Dorell Wright

Draft Picks:

Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Draymond Green, Michigan State

Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt

Watch out for Golden State, people. Andrew Bogut isn't on this list because he was acquired last season, but he also hasn't played a game yet. A healthy Steph Curry and the sharpshooting Klay Thompson should be fun to watch for years to come.

Barnes is also an instant starter at the small forward spot, and David Lee is one of the craftiest players at his position. I love what Golden State has done to appease their fanbase and prove they want to win now, not in the next five years or so.

Verdict: BUY

Houston Rockets

Key Additions:

G Jeremy Lin

C Omer Asik

Key Subtractions:

C Samuel Dalembert

G Kyle Lowry

C Marcus Camby

Draft Picks:

Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut

Terrence Jones, Kentucky

Royce White, Iowa State

The Rockets currently have 21 players under contract, so they'll have to trim the fat before the season starts in the form of trades, cuts and sending players to the NBA developmental league. Adding Jeremy Lin could be huge for the fanbase, but is he worth $15 million in year three?

I like what they've done by adding a ton of young talent, getting rid of big contracts and making a push to acquire a center that can be the face of the franchise. I'm not sure Asik is that guy, but they now have some assets until Orlando decides Dwight Howard is no longer a good PR situation.

Verdict: HOLD

Indiana Pacers

Key Additions:

C Ian Mahinmi

G D.J. Augustin

Key Subtractions:

G Darren Collison

G Dahntay Jones

F Lou Amundson

G Leandro Barbosa

Draft Picks:

Miles Plumlee, Duke

Sure, Collison had worn out his welcome in Indiana. After George Hill signed a five-year deal, it was clear they were committed to him as the starter. But giving up Collison for Mahinmi was a head-scratcher, at least until the D.J. Augustin move became official.

There's a huge hole on the bench at the wing positions, but Lance Stephenson looked great in summer league and it might be time to take the chains off of him. New guard Gerald Green also looks to capitalize off of his great half-season with the Nets, though there are still question marks there.

The Plumlee pick was also one that was met with an interesting reaction, since he was more of a hustle player at Duke.

Verdict: SELL

Los Angeles Clippers

Key Additions:

G Jamal Crawford

F Lamar Odom

C Ronny Turiaf

F Grant Hill

Key Subtractions:

G Mo Williams

G Randy Foye

C Reggie Evans

F Kenyon Martin

Draft Picks: None

"Lob City" dumped Reggie Evans for profit, then added Dallas disappointment Lamar Odom to the only city he can apparently play in and picked up Jamal Crawford and Grant Hill for good measure. Not a bad start for a team looking for veteran leadership and a stake in the L.A. sports scene for years to come.

Don't count out Chauncey Billups just yet, either, as he was having a very solid season and impacting that Clipper team more than just with his play before he went down with an injury. The Clippers are becoming a "win-now" team, especially if you look at their new transactions.

It's a far cry from how bad they were two years ago, but it appears the Clips are back.

Verdict: BUY

Los Angeles Lakers

Key Additions:

G Steve Nash

F Antawn Jamison

Key Subtractions:

F Matt Barnes

F Troy Murphy

Draft Picks:

Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette

Robert Sacre, Gonzaga

The Lakers aren't done dealing, and they still have their feet in the free-agent pool as well with the Dwight Howard saga. CJ Miles is reportedly close to signing with the team, and he'd be a great addition in the wake of losing out on Brandon Rush.

Nash and Jamison for Barnes and Murphy is a good move in any NBA circle, and having Nash to pair with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum will be a good fit. It will be interesting to see if Nash cuts into Kobe's production, but we'll cross that bridge when it's time.

Verdict: BUY

Memphis Grizzlies

Key Additions:

G Wayne Ellington

G Jerryd Bayless

Key Subtractions:

G OJ Mayo

F Dante Cunningham

Draft Picks:

Tony Wroten, Washington

The Grizzlies are another exciting young team to look out for next season, especially if they pull off the ultimate coup and add a rehabilitated Greg Oden as a backup center (which I predict will happen in February 2013).

But that's way too far in advance to evaluate this summer. I love the Wroten pick, and Josh Selby emerged as a clear candidate for more minutes in OJ Mayo's stead. Injuries and inconsistency plagued this team in 2012, and they'll have to overcome both to challenge the contenders in the West.

I wasn't overwhelmed by adding Ellington or Bayless, and losing Mayo hurts. But the core is all returning in Memphis, so the grade will reflect that.

Verdict: HOLD

Miami Heat

Key Additions:

G Ray Allen

F Rashard Lewis

Key Subtractions:

F/C Juwan Howard

Draft Picks:

Jordan Hamilton, LSU

Can't argue too much with adding Ray Allen to a team that is the defending champions of the world. Center Justin Hamilton was a nice draft pick in the second round, but it's doubtful he will be able to, or will need to, contribute in year one.

Allen's old teammate Lewis is a bargain, and it's hard to doubt any of the moves Pat Riley has made in the last three years.

Verdict: BUY

Milwaukee Bucks

Key Additions:

C Samuel Dalembert

Key Subtractions:

F Carlos Delfino

Draft Picks:

John Henson, North Carolina

Doron Lamb, Kentucky

Picking up a replacement center for Andrew Bogut was a good move, and they only had to drop two spots in the draft to get Dalembert. Now, though, the Bucks have four lanky post guys to throw at teams at any point, apparently going with the Gumby approach.

Seriously, though, Milwaukee is an interesting team. Their guard play is strong, but lacks defensive importance. Their post play is strong defensively, but their bigs could get pushed around by anyone over 210 pounds. Hold tight, Milwaukee. Can Tobias Harris play in the NBA? Is Monta Ellis really plagued to lose on every team he plays for?

Verdict: SELL (For now)

Minnesota Timberwolves

Key Additions:

F Andrei Kirilenko

G Alexey Shved

F Dante Cunningham

F Chase Budinger

G Brandon Roy (not official yet)

C Greg Stiemsma (not official)

Key Subtractions:

G Martell Webster

F Michael Beasley

F Anthony Randolph

G Wayne Ellington

Draft Picks:

Robbie Hummel, Purdue

Well you can't say GM David Kahn isn't trying. After a summer where it seems like Minnesota is in on every player, they've suddenly got a great bench to go along with their core of Love, Rubio and Williams.

Minnesota is going above and beyond, even nabbing Russians Kirilenko and Shved to surround Love with the necessary pieces to become a playoff team again. Much like Golden State, this team wants to win now, and they're showing it by their aggressive moves this summer.

Verdict: BUY

New Orleans Hornets

Key Additions:

F Ryan Anderson

C Robin Lopez

F Hakim Warrick

Key Subtractions:

C Chris Kaman

G Jarrett Jack

F Carl Landry

Draft Picks:

Anthony Davis, Kentucky

Austin Rivers, Duke

Darius Miller, Kentucky

This team could avoid the lottery for the next four years if they play their cards right. Eric Gordon, Rivers and Davis should be the face of this franchise for years to come.

Losing Landry is a shame, but Jason Smith and Lopez will help ease some of that pain and allow Davis to do multiple things when he's on the court. I don't think this team is out of the woods just yet, but one more solid draft and a good free agent and this team has some real weapons to work with.

Verdict: BUY

New York Knicks

Key Additions:

G Jason Kidd

G Raymond Felton

C Marcus Camby

C Kurt Thomas

Key Subtractions:

G Jeremy Lin

F Jared Jefferies

Draft Picks

Kostas Papanikolaou (Traded to Portland)

The Linsanity saga is over in New York, but you can't blame management for not making him one of the highest paid point guards in the league on this team. They did what they felt was best, and I think in the long run it will be the right move.

The Knicks avoided the draft, as usual, and they've chosen to bolster their prime core of Carmelo, Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire with some older, veteran talent. They'll be one of the oldest teams in the league, and injuries haven't shied away from their group, either.

There's a lot of if's with this team, and I'm not convinced a bunch of 40-year-olds and Felton are enough to outlast Miami in a seven-game series right now.

Verdict: SELL

OKC Thunder

Key Additions:

C Hasheem Thabeet

F Hollis Thompson

Key Subtractions:

G Derek Fisher

Draft Picks:

Perry Jones, Baylor

Not much to report from OKC camp, except that Eric Maynor is progressing well from injury and Perry Jones fell into their laps at the draft.

Don't sleep on losing Derek Fisher this offseason. His leadership almost hoisted this team to the top, and without him I'm not sure they make it look as easy as they did against San Antonio in the conference finals.

You can't downgrade this team; they're the best in the West. But, strictly based on the offseason, you'd have to say this team stood pat and is going to roll with what got them here. Not a bad strategy at all, but surely a complacent one at best.

Verdict: SELL

Orlando Magic

Key Additions:

C Gustavo Ayon

F Justin Harper

Key Subtractions:

F Ryan Anderson

F Earl Clark

Draft Picks:

Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure

Kyle O'Quinn, Norfolk St.

Orlando won't be out of the public eye until Dwight Howard is gone. You can't really peg its offseason as successful or not without wondering what its current strategy is in regards to their all-star center.

Is Orlando rebuilding with Nicholson and O'Quinn or bolstering the unit? It's nice to see Jameer Nelson back in black and blue, but until this Howard thing is settled you won't see many around the league give a positive review on anything the Magic have done.

Verdict: SELL

Philadelphia 76ers

Key Additions:

G Nick Young

C Kwame Brown

F Dorell Wright

Key Subtractions:

G Lou Williams

Draft Picks:

Moe Harkless, St. John's

Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State

Another nice crop of talented defenders is in the building for coach Doug Collins. I questioned the Harkless pick at first, but if they can get some talent for Andre Iguodala in a trade later this season, it makes sense to roll with a younger player.

Moultrie was a steal at the end of the first round, and picking up sharpshooting Nick Young will fully replace Williams' spot off the bench, though I'm not sure Lou's clutch factor will have a successor just yet.

I wasn't on board at first, but you can't argue with solid coaching and team defense, both of which are the staple of the on-the-court product and what management is doing to find pieces to fit that vision.

Verdict: BUY

Phoenix Suns

Key Additions:

F Michael Beasley

G Goran Dragic

G Wes Johnson

F Luis Scola

Key Subtractions:

G Steve Nash

C Robin Lopez

G Michael Redd

F Grant Hill

Draft Picks:

G Kendall Marshall

Well, the lights have gone out on Steve Nash in Phoenix (for now, until a retirement party), but Phoenix did more with less than almost anyone in the league in filling holes while staying competitive and under the salary cap.

They picked up three starters in Scola, Dragic and Beasley for less than $20 million per season. No one on the roster makes more than $7.5 million, and Marshall is the type of pass-first guard that can run the offense for years to come.

Count me in on the PDX bandwagon. It wasn't a favorable situation with Nash, but they sucked it up and not only made the best of it, but added some talent in the desert.

Verdict: BUY

Portland Trail Blazers

Key Additions:

F Victor Claver

F Jared Jefferies

G Ronnie Price

Key Subtractions

G Raymond Felton

G Jamal Crawford

Draft Picks

Meyers Leonard, Illinois

Damian Lillard, Weber State

Will Barton, Memphis

I was honestly surprised Portland struggled the way they did down the stretch. They have all the talent necessary to compete every night. Granted, losing Aldridge was the final blow, but Nic Batum and Wesley Matthews have to play better than they did last season.

Three solid bench players are new to Portland, and retaining JJ Hickson could prove to be key. Damian Lillard, the co-MVP of the Las Vegas Summer League, will assume point guard duties as the team looks to move on from Felton.

Verdict: BUY

Sacramento Kings

Key Additions:

F James Johnson

G Aaron Brooks

Key Subtractions: None

Draft Picks:

Thomas Robinson, Kansas

Sacramento didn't do much, but they didn't really have to to get better after drafting collegiate double-double machine Robinson. Aaron Brooks was a borderline all-star with Houston, and he'll have a chance to prove that in Sacramento.

They still have young bruiser DeMarcus Cousins, and this group can only get better going forward.

Verdict: BUY

San Antonio Spurs

Key Additions: None

Key Subtractions: None

Draft Picks:

Marcus Denmon, Missouri

It's been business as usual down in San Antonio this summer, after it was able to re-sign Patty Mills and Danny Green before taking care of its franchise legend Tim Duncan.

At this point, the only negative is that Parker was foolish enough to put himself in position to risk his career at a nightclub. The Spurs can't afford stupid injuries like this to their core three, and for that, San Antonio should be thanking its lucky stars Parker seems to be OK.

The verdict doesn't reflect the team, which should still compete at the highest level, more about Parker and his weak moment earlier this summer.

Verdict: SELL

Toronto Raptors

Key Additions:

G Landry Fields

G Kyle Lowry

C Jonas Valanciunas

Key Subtractions:

G Jerryd Bayless

F James Johnson

Draft Picks:

Terrence Ross, Washington

Quincy Acy, Baylor

Tomislav Zubcic

Toronto probably over spent for Landry Fields, but he's a quality young defender and can shoot the three well. I'm surprised Calderon is still a Raptor especially since they know Lowry was unhappy in Houston not starting; that's just asking for problems before the season even starts.

Loved the Acy pick, he'll come in and challenge for minutes right away. Ross is a wild card with DeRozan and now Fields, and Toronto has a lot of position battles to clear up. They do get their first NBA look at Valanciunas, the big man who they took No. 5 overall in 2011.

Overall, a lot of moving parts and stockpiling talent, but still far from making any noise in the East.

Verdict: SELL

Utah Jazz

Key Additions:

G Mo Williams

F Marvin Williams

G Randy Foye

Key Subtractions:

G Devin Harris

F Josh Howard (unsigned; could return)

Draft Picks:

Kevin Murphy, Tennessee Tech

Both Clipper guards Williams and Foye headed on the train going east to join the Utah Jazz, who were the surprise playoff team of 2012. Though neither is a point guard, one or both will have to play the position at some point, since they were unable to find one in the draft or free agency.

Murphy is a high volume scorer who'll need some time to develop. I'm not sure why Marvin Williams is an upgrade, especially considering he somewhat blocks the progress of Gordon Hayward at the position. I think the Jazz take a step back this year, but it's hard to argue with that Jefferson-Millsap-Kanter-Favors post rotation.

Verdict: SELL

Washington Wizards

Key Additions:

F Trevor Ariza

C Emeka Okafor

G A.J. Price

Key Subtractions:

F Andray Blatche

F Rashard Lewis

Draft Picks:

Bradley Beal, Florida

Tomas Satoransky

The Wizards can't be as bad as they were the first part of last season, right? Credit the lockout and lack of summer league in 2011, but this group has too much talent and too much pride to finish that low again.

Beal is an impact player who will likely start right away next to John Wall. Satoransky is a buddy of second-year player Jan Vessly, who needs to show major improvement in his offensive game. They rid themselves of Blatche and Lewis in a two-week span, and picked up some solid rotation pieces in Ariza and Okafor.

Call me crazy, but this group should be fun to watch and tough to defend in transition.

Verdict: BUY