Power Ranking the Biggest Losers of the NBA's Crazy Offseason

Despite the number of teams that emerged as losers during the NBA's crazy 2012 offseason, the No. 1 loser this summer wasn't even a team, but rather an idea. 

In addition to this idea, players and teams alike came out of the hottest months of the year worse off than they were when it was just heating up. 

Some losses were more subtle, while others were fairly obvious. It shouldn't be any surprise that the Orlando Magic hold down a top spot. 

If any of these 10 offseason losers had the ability to hit the restart button, they'd want to do so. 

10. Most of the Eastern Conference

Perhaps it would've been different if the Chicago Bulls had remained healthy throughout the postseason, but the Eastern Conference just couldn't take down the Miami Heat during the 2011-2012 season. 

This season, it doesn't look like much will be changing. 

The defending champions got even stronger, retaining all key pieces while adding Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. 

While the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers could pose threats, none of them improved to the extent necessary to challenge LeBron James' team for superiority in the weaker of the two conferences. 

For failing to put together a team that can dethrone the champions while the champions got stronger, 14 of the 15 teams in the East combine to fill up the No. 10 spot. 

9. Ramon Sessions

One horrendous set of showings during the postseason completely changed this portion of Ramon Sessions' career. 

He went from the exciting and underrated point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers to a playoff goat who needed to be replaced. 

Well, the Lakers found a nice replacement for him in the form of Steve Nash. Sessions had to find a new home and landed with the Charlotte Bobcats. 

In just a matter of months, Sessions went from playing for one of the NBA's most popular teams to competing for playing time with Kemba Walker on the team that just set the ignominious record for worst regular-season winning percentage. 

8. Chicago Bulls' Bench Mob

Last season, the Chicago Bulls' bench mob was one of the biggest strengths and a huge part of their successful regular season. 

With C.J. Watson, Taj Gibson, Omer Asik and many others coming off the pine to provide sparks for Tom Thibodeau, the Bulls earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. 

This season, Bulls fans are left trying to get excited about Gibson, Nate Robinson, Marquis Teague, Marco Belinelli, Vladimir Radmanovic, Jimmy Butler and Nazr Mohammed. 

Color me skeptical, as that list of players doesn't exactly sound too scary. 

The Bulls are going to need a member of the starting five to step up in Derrick Rose's stead while the former MVP recovers from his ACL injury. 

7. Rick Sund's Legacy

Rick Sund's tenure as the general manager of the Atlanta Hawks wasn't one littered with success. After this offseason, his legacy is even more lackluster. 

As soon as Danny Ferry became the new man in charge, he obliterated the roster.

First, Ferry rid himself of Joe Johnson and his albatross of a contract, trading the shooting guard to the Brooklyn Nets for a handful of expiring contracts and role players. The move wasn't much more than a salary dump. 

Next, Ferry traded Marvin Williams to the Utah Jazz for Devin Harris, clearing more cap space and ridding the organization of one of its more unfortunate draft selections. 

The new GM became a fan favorite in Atlanta and simultaneously soiled Sund's legacy. 

6. New York Knicks' Chances in the Developing Rivalry

Replacing Jeremy Lin with Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd might be a slight upgrade at the point guard position. It might also be a slight downgrade. 

Really though, it's irrelevant, because the New York Knicks didn't make any other big moves that allowed them to keep pace with the other team that now calls The Big Apple home. 

Other than Marcus Camby, the Knicks didn't do much to establish depth, and that will be the team's undoing in the burgeoning rivalry with the Brooklyn Nets. 

While the Knicks were staying put in the upper-level mediocrity tier, the Nets went out and added Joe Johnson, re-signed Brook Lopez (who might actually stay healthy this year) and signed C.J. Watson, Mirza Teletovic, Jerry Stackhouse and Reggie Evans. 

By doing so, the Nets successfully put together a team that can challenge the Knicks for New York-based superiority. 

5. Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks were having a perfectly fine offseason until Dwight Howard was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. 

After D12 changed hands, the signings of Elton Brand, Chris Kaman and Darren Collison were rendered almost insignificant. 

Even with the new pieces and Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks aren't good enough to win a title this year. You won't find many unbiased basketball minds who will argue otherwise. 

Mark Cuban has been angling towards stealing Howard in free agency next offseason, but that's becoming significantly more unlikely. The early aftermath of the trade between the Orlando Magic and three other teams indicates that Howard likes L.A. a lot. 

The two-year plan for Dallas involved allowing for a lackluster season and then signing the coveted center. 

What happens in Year 2 if that's not a possibility?

4. Linsanity

Jeremy Lin may have a secure spot in the starting lineup with the Houston Rockets. He may also be making more money. 

He still managed to put a damper on Linsanity by leaving the confines of Madison Square Garden. The Rockets simply aren't as glamorous as the New York Knicks, and they certainly don't play in as large a market. 

Lin won't constantly be in the news during the 2012-2013 season, even if he plays at an even higher level than he did last season.

He won't be making an appearance in the postseason either. 

After passing to Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, running the pick-and-roll with Tyson Chandler and kicking out to Steve Novak last season, Lin gets to pass to Kevin Martin and Chandler Parsons, run the pick-and-roll with Omer Asik and kick out to one of the other 20 players on the roster this year. 

3. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets signed Jeremy Lin and may have found their point guard of the future, but this entire offseason was a massive failure for Daryl Morey. 

If anybody can actually figure out what he's doing with 21 players signed to the roster, please clue me in. As of right now, I have no idea, and I'm not even sure that he does. 

Most importantly, the Rockets failed to land Dwight Howard after making numerous moves to put themselves in position to trade for him. There's virtually no chance that the Rockets sign him in free agency next offseason, so that boat has almost officially sailed. 

Now the Rockets are stuck near the bottom of the NBA totem pole. 

That's just what tends to happen when your three most recognizable players are Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik. 

2. Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic went from a playoff team to a contender for the worst record in the NBA. It only took one trade. 

Rob Hennigan had to trade Dwight Howard eventually, but he could have handled the situation much more effectively. 

First of all, don't sign Jameer Nelson to a multi-year contract when you're entering into rebuilding mode. Secondly, don't make Arron Afflalo the best player you receive in return for the top center in The Association. 

According to Rotoworld's NBA depth charts, the Magic are looking at a starting five of Nelson, Afflalo, Hedo Turkoglu, Glen Davis and Nikola Vucevic. 

That's not a lineup I would want to go to war with.

1. Parity

The NBA has always been a league with less parity than other professional sports associations, but this offseason helped take that to another level. 

Part of the benefit of the new CBA was supposed to be a greater level of competitive balance, helping out the small-market, less glamorous teams in the NBA.

Yeah, about that...

The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Steve Nash via a sign-and-trade then traded for Dwight Howard without giving up Pau Gasol. Now well over the luxury tax threshold, L.A. is actually nearing a payroll of nine digits. 

Things weren't so different—although not quite to the Lakers' extreme end of the spectrum—out in South Beach. The Miami Heat drew the eye of both Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. 

If you're a middle-of-the-road team hoping to make the jump, good luck. You'll need it.