One Reason Fans of Every NBA Team Can Be Optimistic in 2012-13

The start of a new season means every team is equal; every team is 0-0. As Kevin Garnett famously said, "Anything is possible!" That in itself is reason for optimism for fans of any organization.

But there are also other positive things to look forward to. It could be a new draft pick, a trade acquisition, a big-name free agent, an emerging player already on the roster or a host of other reasons.

Every team did something to change this offseason, something to improve. For some teams it's more glaring than for others, but it's there for every single squad, it's just a matter of finding it. That's what this slideshow is all about...finding the silver lining for fans of every single franchise.

Atlanta Hawks

Reason for Optimism: Despite Roster Turnover, the Hawks Are Still in Good Shape to Make the Playoffs

The Hawks have made the playoffs for five consecutive seasons. Even with an almost completely rebuilt roster, Atlanta has the talent to extend that streak to six.

Granted, the losses of players like Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Kirk Hinrich and Willie Green are a lot to overcome. But the Hawks restocked the cupboards with acquisitions of Lou Williams, Devin Harris, Kyle Korver and Anthony Morrow. Those players, combined with a full season of Al Horford should be enough to get Atlanta back to the postseason.

Boston Celtics

Reason for Optimism: Kevin Garnett Decided to Give It Another Go

The loss of Ray Allen along with an aging roster have led many to believe that Boston's window of competing for a championship is closed. But as long as Kevin Garnett's with the Celtics, they'll be legitimate contenders for the NBA title.

Consider this stat from John Schuhmann of NBA.com:

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When KG was on the floor, the Celtics had the point differential (plus-7.7 points per 100 possessions) of a team that would win 64 games out of 82. When he was on the bench, their point differential (minus-2.6) was that of a 28-win team.

"

Assuming Garnett can stay healthy for the regular season and the playoffs, there's no reason why Boston won't be competing for the Larry O'Brien Trophy come next June.

Brooklyn Nets

Reason for Optimism: The Nets Get a Clean Slate with Their Move to Brooklyn

Every franchise gets a clean slate with the start of a new season. That's especially true for the Brooklyn Nets, as not only are they starting a new season, they're also starting it in a new location—Brooklyn, New York—and with a revamped roster.

The move to Brooklyn brings a state-of-the-art arena and new revenue streams (as if they needed that with Mikhail Prokhorov as owner) to help keep the franchise prosperous. The acquisitions of Joe Johnson and Mirza Teletovic, as well as retaining Deron Williams, Kris Humphries and Gerald Wallace should also help make the franchise's first season in its new location a success on the court.

Charlotte Bobcats

Reason for Optimism: Michael. Kidd. Gilchrist.

Things couldn't have gone much worse for the Bobcats over the last year. They posted the lowest winning percentage in NBA history in 2011-12 and weren't even awarded with the top pick in the draft for their troubles. So, what's the consolation prize: Michael-Kidd Gilchrist, whom Charlotte selected with the No. 2 pick in the draft.

After having such a horrendous year last year, the thought of Charlotte turning into a contending team overnight seems unfathomable. But, by adding players like Kidd-Gilchrist to the mix, the Bobcats can get there eventually. He'll bring his lockdown wing defense, incredible intangibles and wealth of raw talent to North Carolina. It's only one more piece to the puzzle, but after not having many pieces to work with, it's a step in the right direction.

Chicago Bulls

Reason for Optimism: There's Still Talent Here, Even with the Loss of Derrick Rose

After suffering a torn ACL in last year's playoff opener, Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is expected to miss a majority of the season, and that's assuming he returns at all in 2012-13. But even with the loss of Rose, Chicago still has enough talent to be competitive and even make the playoffs.

Kirk Hinrich is back in the Windy City running the point until Rose returns. The Bulls also still have a formidable frontcourt with Luol Deng, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer starting and Taj Gibson coming off the bench.

Without their best player, Derrick Rose, the Bulls certainly won't post the Eastern Conference's best record like they did last year. But they'll still be in the mix for a postseason spot, which is more than a lot of teams could say if they were in a similar position.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Reason for Optimism: Cleveland's Got a Franchise Cornerstone in Kyrie Irving

The Cleveland Cavaliers struck gold when they won the NBA draft lottery in 2011 and selected point guard Kyrie Irving with the first pick in the draft. Of course, when you're selecting at the top of the draft, you expect to get a franchise-altering player. But it doesn't always turn out that way. For Cleveland, it certainly did.

In Irving, the Cavs have the type of player they can build around. He's extremely talented, he's still very young, he plays a premium position and he's got the killer instinct you're looking for. Now all the Cavaliers need to do is surround him with more good players, and they should be back to the perennial playoff team they were with LeBron James.

Dallas Mavericks

Reason for Optimism: The Mavericks Have a Revamped Roster

Ever since Mark Cuban took over as the team's owner in 2000, the Mavericks have been mainstays in the playoffs, even winning an NBA championship in 2011. It looked like that might change this season when the Mavericks failed to re-sign Jason Kidd and Jason Terry while also missing out on coveted targets like Dwight Howard and Deron Williams.

But the Mavericks were able to revamp their roster by adding Chris Kaman, O.J. Mayo, Darren Collison and Elton Brand. Those acquisitions should keep the Mavs in the playoffs for 2012-13. What's more is Kaman, Collison and Brand are free agents after the season, giving Dallas the cap flexibility to bring in the big-name free agent it desires.

Denver Nuggets

Reason for Optimism: Andre Iguodala Helps Add a New Dimension to This Team

The Denver Nuggets have made the playoffs for nine consecutive years. But during those nine seasons, they've advanced past the first round only once. That's where their offseason acquisition of Andre Iguodala comes in.

Iguodala gives the Nuggets the toughness they were lacking. He's the type of lockdown wing defender that can give opponents problems. And although he's not a prolific scorer, he can make the big basket at the end of games when Denver needs it most.

Just by adding Iguodala, the Nuggets instantly became a better team. Now, imagine if Ty Lawson can build on his postseason performance against the Lakers. Well, then you're really getting somewhere.

Detroit Pistons

Reason for Optimism: A Promising Frontcourt

If the Pistons are to make a big jump in the standings this season, it would be because of the play of their young frontcourt. Center Greg Monroe is entering his third season in the NBA, and the Georgetown product has already shown to be the real deal, averaging 15.4 points and 9.7 rebounds last season.

With the ninth pick in the 2012 draft, the Pistons selected center Andre Drummond from UConn. Drummond's an incredibly raw but talented player. If he can take the necessary steps to translate his skills to production in the NBA, Detroit will have the type of frontcourt the franchise can build around.

Golden State Warriors

Reason for Optimism: Mark Jackson's in His Second Year Coaching the Team

It seems as if the Warriors have had a talented roster for some time now. Yet Golden State has made the playoffs only once in the last 18 years. To buck that trend, the team needs a coach who can get the most out his players.

With Mark Jackson entering his second year, now's the time to take the next step. The team has had a season to learn Jackson's system, familiarize itself with his expectations and to jell together under his tutelage. If Jackson's the right man to turn this organization around, then this is the season when Warriors fans will begin to see it.

Houston Rockets

Reason for Optimism: The Rockets Committed a Lot of Money to Turning Things Around

After making the playoffs in five out of six seasons, the Rockets have recently gone on a dry spell, missing the postseason in three straight years. In order to turn that around, the franchise went out and spent a lot of money this offseason.

Houston brought in Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik as free agents. Both figure to start for the new-look Rockets. They also added Terrence Jones, Jeremy Lamb and Royce White through the draft. They're hoping that by combining their new players with incumbents such as Kevin Martin, Chandler Parsons and Patrick Patterson, it will translate to more on-court success.

Indiana Pacers

Reason for Optimism: The Front Office Kept the Team Together

There are some teams where bringing everybody back isn't necessarily a good thing. The Indiana Pacers, however, don't fall into that category. Indiana's a constantly improving team and the Pacers showed that last season when they advanced to the second round of the playoffs after getting knocked out in the first round the year before.

For a team constructed like the Pacers—without a real superstar—to have success, it has to rely on teamwork. With low roster turnover, the Pacers should be able to pick up right where they left off, giving them their best chance at contending in the Eastern Conference.

Los Angeles Clippers

Reason for Optimism: A Much Deeper Roster

Having two superstar players like Chris Paul and Blake Griffin always helps a team's chances of competing for a title. But as we saw with the Clippers last season, you need good players throughout your roster to get over the hump.

This 2012-13 Clippers team is much deeper than the one that was swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the playoffs. L.A. has added Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill and Lamar Odom this offseason. Those players—along with a healthy season from Chauncey Billups—will give Los Angeles an undoubtedly deeper bench, as well as a veteran presence that knows how to compete in the postseason.

Los Angeles Lakers

Reason for Optimism: Dwight Howard and Steve Nash

Could it really be anything else? By getting Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, the Lakers immediately enter the fray as one of the top two or three teams the NBA has to offer.

In Nash, the Lakers are getting an elite facilitator on offense. With Howard, Los Angeles adds the NBA's best center to its already star-studded roster. There's a genuine buzz surrounding this team and its chances to capture another NBA title, and you can chalk it up to the arrival of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash.

Memphis Grizzlies

Reason for Optimism: A Healthy Zach Randolph

Randolph and the Grizzlies showed what they could do in 2010-11, when they knocked off the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs and pushed the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in the second round. But Randolph played in only 35 games last year (including playoffs) because of a knee injury.

Memphis is still a talented team with Marc Gasol, Rudy Gay and Mike Conley on board. Really, the only thing missing last season was Randolph. With a return to form by him, there's no reason the Grizzlies can't start making noise like they did two seasons ago.

Miami Heat

Reason for Optimism: The Heat Already Got over the Hump Last Season

When the Miami Heat's "Big Three" came together in the summer of 2010, everyone knew they'd have the talent to win NBA championships. But what you didn't want if you were a Heat fan, is a prolonged struggle to get there. That would waste valuable time and the pressure would increase with every year they failed to capture the NBA crown.

Now that the Heat have won their first championship in the "Big Three" era, they can just get back to playing ball. The media scrutiny—while always there as long as LeBron James is part of the equation—has lessened. Miami also knows what it takes mentally and physically to bring home the title, so the Heat will be equipped to deal with it going forward.

Of course, it also doesn't hurt to add Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis to the mix.

Milwaukee Bucks

Reason for Optimism: A Full Season of Monta Ellis

The Milwaukee Bucks finished last season with a 31-35 record and missed the playoffs by four games. But a full season of Monta Ellis may be enough to get the Bucks back in the postseason.

Consider that Milwaukee was 19-24 before Ellis was traded to the team. After he arrived, the Bucks went 12-11 as a team and 12-9 in games in which Monta played.

In Ellis' 21 games with the team, he wasn't particularly good. His scoring dipped from 21.9 points per game before the trade to 17.6 after the trade. After shooting 32.1 percent from three-point range in the first part of the year with the Warriors, he managed only 26.7 percent with the Bucks.

With a full offseason to work on chemistry, a return to his old self for Ellis and a full season of him on the team, the Bucks should be able to make a jump into the back end of the playoffs.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Reason for Optimism: Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio Should Return Soon

The Minnesota Timberwolves have two foundational pieces in Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio. They're the type of players a franchise can build around. Unfortunately, both of them are hurt and will miss the start of the season.

Kevin Love suffered a broken right hand on Oct. 17 and is expected to miss the first month of the season with the injury. Rubio tore his ACL last March and should return to the court sometime in December.

The team was 21-20 before Rubio's injury last season and 5-20 after it. So, assuming Minnesota can pick up where it left off before his injury last season, there's reason to believe the T-Wolves could make a run at the playoffs.

They added depth in Chase Budinger, Andrei Kirilenko, Brandon Roy, Louis Amundson, Greg Stiemsma and Alexey Shved in the offseason. That should certainly help. But the real key is getting Rubio and Love back on the court, and luckily for Minnesota, they shouldn't be out too long.

New Orleans Hornets

Reason for Optimism: Anthony Davis and Company

The Hornets look to be on the fast track to the playoffs. They were lucky enough to win the NBA draft lottery last season and selected Anthony Davis with the top pick in the draft. Although he's still a rookie and has yet to prove anything in the NBA, Davis was thought of as one of the best prospects in years entering the draft, so there's certainly optimism there.

On top of drafting Davis, the Hornets also added Austin Rivers through the draft, and they added Robin Lopez and Ryan Anderson through trades. Those four players, coupled with Eric Gordon, should help the Hornets turn things around much quicker than was originally expected.

New York Knicks

Reason for Optimism: There's Certainly Talent Here

The New York Knicks have a roster chock full of talent. They have a super-talented frontcourt in Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler. The backcourt's not too shabby with Raymond Felton and Ronnie Brewer expected to start, at least until Iman Shumpert returns from injury. The bench is also riddled with quality, albeit aging, players like Jason Kidd, Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas, Rasheed Wallace and J.R. Smith.

All New York has to do is turn that talent into results on the court. So far, that hasn't been an easy thing for the Knicks to do, but they've certainly shown flashes. They ranked fifth offensively and 21st defensively in 2010-11. Last season, they reversed it and were fifth defensively and 19th offensively. If they can just find a way to get everybody on the same page, it's obvious they have the firepower to make some noise.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Reason for Optimism: They Have One More Year of Experience Under Their Belts

For some teams like the L.A. Lakers, Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs, adding another year to your resume isn't necessarily a reason to be optimistic. But for a team as young and talented as the Oklahoma City Thunder, it's a positive development.

Of the Thunder's foundational players, Kevin Durant is the oldest at 24 years old. James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Russell Westbrook are all 23 years old. They're all still so young that they should get better with another year in the NBA, not worse. That bodes well for a team that already made the NBA Finals last year.

Their only real concern seems to be how to handle James Harden and his impending free agency. But even then, that's not until after 2012-13. For now, there's room for nothing but optimism in OKC.

Orlando Magic

Reason for Optimism: They're Starting from Scratch

This may not be a reason for optimism, depending on how you look at it. It's true that after making the playoffs in six straight years that the Magic don't have many prospects of extending that streak to seven. But if you're unlikely to get an NBA title—Orlando was knocked out in the first round for two straight years—then you might as well start over rather than try and extend the life of something that won't really bear any fruit.

Orlando probably could have gotten a bigger return for Dwight Howard, probably even one that would have seen the Magic compete for a back-end playoff spot this season. But, what good does that do? They're better off taking their lumps for a few years if it means building it the right way and eventually getting back into title contention. 

Philadelphia 76ers

Reason for Optimism: Andrew Bynum

By adding Andrew Bynum this offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers are getting one of the best centers the NBA has to offer. Centers of Bynum's size and skill seem to be a dying breed in today's game, so to get a player like him gives the 76ers something to build around.

Granted, there are injury concerns and maturity questions with Bynum. But he's also stepping into a situation where he's the unquestioned star of the team, which might cause him to become a more focused player.

Either way, adding Bynum gives the Sixers the type of big man that not many teams can match up with. That alone is reason for optimism.

Phoenix Suns

Reason for Optimism: A New and Improved Frontcourt

The Suns got busy this offseason remaking their roster. One of the things to come out of that was a new and improved frontcourt. Returning is center Marcin Gortat, who has quietly made himself one of the best centers in the NBA. Brought in to join him are power forward Louis Scola and small forward Michael Beasley. Those three should give the Suns a formidable front line.

Phoenix also figures to have a solid backcourt despite the loss of Steve Nash. Goran Dragic was brought in from Houston, and the Suns drafted point guard Kendall Marshall with the 13th pick in the draft. So, although they'll certainly miss Nash's veteran leadership, the Suns did bring in a couple solid players to replace him.

Portland Trail Blazers

Reason for Optimism: A Youth Movement That Should Bear Fruit in the Future

The Trail Blazers aren't likely to make a run to the postseason in 2012-13. But with all of the young talent on their roster, there's no reason why they can't make it back there in the very near future.

At the top of the list of Portland's young players is Damian Lillard. Lillard—who was the co-MVP of the Summer League—figures to get the first crack at starting point guard. The Blazers also nabbed Meyers Leonard in the draft. He's not expected to start as a rookie, but he's got the talent and upside to develop into an impact center.

Beyond those two, Portland has three other rookies, including Victor Claver and Joel Freeland, who were past first-round picks but are just now making their NBA debuts because they were previously playing in Europe.

Sacramento Kings

Reason for Optimism: DeMarcus Cousins and a Stronger Supporting Cast

The Kings have their rock in DeMarcus Cousins. He's already one of the five best centers in the NBA, and he's still only 22 years old. Cousins averaged 18.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks last season. He also showed more maturity once Keith Smart took over as head coach. He's the type of player a team can build around, and it looks like the Kings are doing just that, as they've brought in many more quality players.

Aaron Brooks was brought in as a free agent. Sacramento acquired James Johnson in a trade with the Toronto Raptors. Thomas Robinson was added with the fifth pick in the draft. Those three players are added to solid incumbents such as Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Thornton, Tyreke Evans, Chuck Hayes and Jason Thompson.

There are more quality players on this roster than the Kings have seen in a long time. Not to mention a player to build around in Cousins.

San Antonio Spurs

Reason for Optimism: The Spurs Are Back for More

As a Spurs fan, you could look at this season a couple different ways. You could be pessimistic and point out that the team is one year older, and after failing to win a title in the last five seasons, the odds of getting back now are slim. Or, you could be optimistic and point out that the Spurs still posted the best record in the Western Conference last season and made it to the Western Conference finals. Considering this is an optimistic outlook for every team, let's take the latter.

After seeing what San Antonio did during the regular season and the playoffs, it's obvious this is still a very good team. They may not be as athletic as some of their competition, but they have an established system of success. They also reinvented themselves last year as an offensive team, leading the NBA in offensive rating and adjusted offensive rating.

As long as Gregg Popovich is running the show with Duncan, Parker and Ginobili on the team, you can never discount their chances of winning an NBA title.

Toronto Raptors

Reason for Optimism: Firepower in the Frontcourt

Between Andrea Bargnani and Jonas Valanciunas, the Raptors have a solid one-two punch at power forward and center.

Bargnani, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft, is a proven scorer for the Raptors, averaging 20.8 points over the last two seasons. He's also got a lethal touch from three-point range (career 36.5 percent three-point shooter) that keeps defenders honest and opens up the middle for DeMar DeRozan's drives to the hoop. He just needs to find a way to stay on the court after playing in only 31 games in 2011-12.

Valanciunas, the No. 5 pick of the 2011 draft, will be making his debut this season after staying in Europe last season. At 20 years old, he figures to be raw initially. But he's got the size (6'11", 231 lbs.), skill set and demeanor that should eventually make him one of the top centers in the NBA.

Utah Jazz

Reason for Optimism: More Young Talent Than They Know What to Do with

The Jazz have a problem, but it's a good problem to have: they have too many high-upside players and not enough minutes to go around.

In the frontcourt, the Jazz have two solid veterans in Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap who figure to to start at center and power forward. Behind them on the depth chart and looking for minutes are promising youngsters Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter. For the time being, Favors looks much more ready to contribute than Kanter, but with the two veterans in front of him, it'll be difficult to satisfy his need for minutes.

The backcourt has a similar problem. With Gordon Hayward looking to start at the 2 to accommodate the arrival of Marvin Williams, there likely won't be many minutes for 2011 lottery pick Alec Burks. 

Washington Wizards

Reason for Optimism: A Powerful, Young Backcourt

Shooting troubles aside, we all knew the Wizards had an impact player in John Wall. The former No. 1 overall pick averaged 16.3 points and 8.0 assists for Washington last season. Despite those impressive statistics, Wall's still emerging as a player, and he has upside worthy of the hype given to him.

But Wall also has a running mate (perfect for a team in D.C.) in rookie Bradley Beal. As a rookie, we've yet to get a feel for how Beal will transition to the NBA, but he's got enough versatility in his game to have success. He has enough ball-handling, quickness and court awareness for some scouts to envision him as a potential point guard (that won't be necessary with Wall on the team). Beal's also got a consistent jump shot, which should keep defenders honest, allowing him to utilize his play-making ability.

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