Biggest Question for Each NBA Team Before 2013-14 Training Camps

All's quiet on the NBA front, but it won't be for long. 

As the dog days of summer wind down and a fresh season approaches, we'll have plenty of questions to ponder regarding the Association's 30 teams and their current direction. 

With the Miami Heat seeking to three-peat and the Houston Rockets on the brink of title contention, there will be no shortage of intriguing narratives as the 2013-14 season approaches.

Atlanta Hawks: Can Dennis Schroeder Be a Difference-Maker?

If you watched 19-year-old Dennis Schroeder during the Las Vegas Summer League, then you'll understand why he was compared by some to Rajon Rondo during the pre-draft process. 

Schroeder struggled from a scoring standpoint, averaging 10.8 points on 34 percent shooting (29.2 percent from three), but that's not why the Hawks brought the young stud aboard. The German sensation led Atlanta's summer league team in assists with 5.6 per game, which ranked second among all players competing in Vegas. He also led the Hawks with 1.6 steals per contest. 

A gifted ball-handler with excellent court vision for his age, Schroeder has a chance to become an immediate contributor for Atlanta behind starter Jeff Teague. 

With the Hawks in need of a pure distributor at the point, Schroeder should have no trouble finding a niche in the pros. 

Boston Celtics: What to Do with Rajon Rondo?

Should he stay or should he go? That's the question facing the Boston Celtics when it comes to point guard Rajon Rondo. 

With the Celtics in the midst of a rebuild, questions have lingered regarding the point guard's future in Beantown. Specifically, would it be best for the franchise to blow things up completely and capitalize on Rondo's peak value? 

According to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe, the Pistons could be among the teams interested in Rondo as time goes on: 

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Just because the Pistons acquired Brandon Jennings in a sign-and-trade deal with the Bucks doesn’t mean they’ve lost interest in Rajon Rondo. In fact, they could eventually use Jennings as a trade chip and seek to acquire Rondo. There are going to be several interested parties in Rondo, and that number could increase when he shows he’s fully recovered from anterior cruciate ligament surgery. 

"

Now, I have a hard time believing that the Celtics would be interested in a package centered around Brandon Jennings, but the fact that rumors continue to swirl around Rondo's name seem to indicate that the Celtics will be presented with offers throughout the season. 

Trading Rondo is an intriguing option with a rebuild in mind, but intelligent pass-first point guards don't grow on trees, and Danny Ainge knows that. 

Brooklyn Nets: Will They Perform Up to Expectations?

When it comes to the Brooklyn Nets, big money equals big expectations.

According to HoopsHype, the Nets have $101,291,208 on the books for next season. That's $21 million more than the Chicago Bulls, who have the second-most money committed in salaries next year. 

With a loaded bench and a stacked starting five, the Nets are facing the franchise's highest expectations since 2002-03. 

Anything less than an Eastern Conference title will be chalked up as a disappointment for the Nets, even if they have to battle the Miami Heat for it. 

Mikhail Prokhorov added Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko, among others, but the problem with signing and trading for older players is that it shrinks your title window. 

The Nets' future is now, and they will need to establish a rapport in a hurry in order to live up to some lofty expectations. 

Charlotte Bobcats: Can Kemba Walker Build on a Productive 2012-13?

The Charlotte Bobcats remain years away from postseason contention, so the focus for the foreseeable future will be on developing the critical young pieces necessary to move the franchise forward. 

Paramount among them is Kemba Walker, who's coming off a surprisingly productive 2012-13 season. After a subpar rookie year in which Walker shot 36.6 percent from the field, the former UConn Husky hit on 42.3 percent of his field goals en route to a 17.7 point-per-game average. 

The production didn't end there. 

According to Basketball-Reference, Walker finished 10th in the NBA in steal percentage and fourth overall in total steals. Walker also produced nine points more per 100 possessions (105) than he did during his rookie year. 

A budding talent who's shown promise on both ends of the floor, Walker has a chance to break through the 20-point-per-game threshold and take command of the Bobcats locker room in his third professional season. 

Chicago Bulls: Will Derrick Rose Return Stronger Than Ever?

After watching his teammates scrap and claw their way to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, Derrick Rose is ready to return to the hardwood.

Finally, speculation regarding Rose's ACL recovery will be put to rest, and we'll be able to focus on his performances in meaningful games. How, though, will Rose respond to competing for the first time since tearing his knee ligament in April of 2012? 

By all indications, Rose was extremely cautious in his decision not to return prematurely. That may have been frustrating for some last season, but it will be good news for those pulling for Rose and the Chicago Bulls this season. 

A return to MVP form would be a bit much to ask, but Rose will undoubtedly liven up a Bulls offense that scored the second-fewest points per game (93.2) in his absence. 

Cleveland Cavaliers: Can Andrew Bynum Stay Healthy?

Eighty-two games came and went last season without a single Andrew Bynum sighting. He may not have donned a Philadelphia 76ers uniform, but the Cleveland Cavaliers are hoping that the big man's knees have healed enough to the point where he'll become a regular contributor under Mike Brown's tutelage. 

But even if Bynum is healthy enough to start the 2013-14 season, it's crucial that we keep perspective when assessing his effectiveness. Just because he's in a new city doesn't mean Bynum's knee problems magically disappeared. 

Remember this quote from last season, via Chris Vito of the Delaware County Daily Times?

"

Health is going to be an issue. There's nothing I can really do about it. It's arthritis in the knees. Cartilage is missing. That's not going to regrow itself. Maybe in the future, the next three to five years, there may be something out there that really does help. For right now, it's a waiting game.

"

I'm no health expert, but that doesn't sound like a temporary deficiency that's going to correct itself anytime soon. 

The Cavs will need to be patient with Bynum, but the good news is that only $6 million of a possible $24 million is guaranteed in his new contract.

Dallas Mavericks: Can the Defense Round into Form?

Prior to the 2012-13 season, the Dallas Mavericks defense finished in the top half of the NBA in defensive rating three years in a row.

That all changed last season when the Mavericks showed a considerable drop-off on the defensive end. The Mavericks, who have been surprisingly stout defensively since Rick Carlisle took over, finished 19th in defensive rating (106.5) last season, per Basketball-Reference, and a putrid 27th in points allowed per game (101.7). 

The scary part is that those numbers could conceivably remain the same or get worse next season due to the additions of Jose Calderon and Monta Ellis. Both players figure to help Carlisle's offense flourish, but neither is a dedicated defender.

For reference, Calderon owns a career defensive rating of 111, while Ellis' is only slightly better at 110, per Basketball-Reference. It helps that Calderon's career offensive rating is a massive 119, so his efficiency on that end should help neutralize some of the negative effects of his defense. 

Relying on Shawn Marion, Samuel Dalembert, DeJuan Blair and Brandan Wright to shoulder the defensive load is a lot to ask, but it's what the Mavericks will need to do in order to bounce back and make the playoffs next season. 

Denver Nuggets: Who Starts at Shooting Guard?

Randy Foye was acquired in the three-team sign-and-trade that sent Andre Iguodala to the Golden State Warriors, but will he start at shooting guard on opening day? 

At first glance, the answer seems like a no-brainer. Foye shot 41 percent from distance last season and has started 286 games over the course of his career. His primary competition will be Evan Fournier, the 20-year-old who appeared in just 38 games last season, starting four of them. That's a pretty stark contrast. 

However, Fournier shot a nearly identical 40.7 percent from three last season (in a much smaller sample size) and shot a far superior 49.3 percent from the field compared to Foye's mark of 39.7 percent. In fact, last season was the third year in a row in which Foye shot worse than 40 percent from the floor. 

Fournier still has loads of potential ready to be tapped. He just needs the playing time and confidence of his coach behind him. Perhaps that opportunity comes under Brian Shaw.   

Detroit Pistons: How Will Josh Smith Fit In?

From the moment the Detroit Pistons signed Josh Smith to a four-year, $54 million deal, questions have abounded regarding his ability to find his role in the Motor City. 

Considering the Pistons have a frontcourt comprised of Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, Smith will presumably be forced into a role as an oversized 3. That's bad news for Detroit. Playing Smith at the 3 means that the Pistons will be sacrificing floor-spacing, with plenty of frustrating and questionable mid-range jumpers to follow. 

For a breakdown of how shaky Smith's mid-range game is, check out his shooting percentages from last season based on shot location, courtesy of Basketball-Reference: 

At Rim	77.1 percent
3 to 9 feet	35.9 percent
10 to 15 feet	19.4 percent
16 feet to three-point line	32.9 percent
Three-pointers	29.9 percent

Outside of bunnies at the rim, Smith's shooting splits last season were horrendous. Add Brandon Jennings to the equation, and the Pistons are looking like one of the most inefficient offensive teams in the NBA.

For a team that ranked 21st in points scored per 100 possessions last season (103.8), per Basketball-Reference, this new look spells trouble. 

Golden State Warriors: Can Stephen Curry Play 82 Games?

Stephen Curry has yet to play a full 82-game season. That's not to say he hasn't come close (he played in 80 games his rookie season and 78 last year), but it's no secret that Curry's ankles are made of glass. 

At any moment Curry can cut the wrong way or roll his ankle awkwardly (like what happened in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals), and just like that, the league's most prolific shooter could be sidelined for weeks. 

If Curry can stay healthy, the Golden State Warriors will be primed to top the 50-win mark for the first time since the 1993-94 season. 

It's a lot to ask of Curry, who is constantly moving and cutting off the ball, but if he can run for a full 82 games and sustain that health throughout the playoffs, the Warriors will have a chance to top last season's breakout season. 

Houston Rockets: Does Dwight Howard Put Houston over the Top?

The Houston Rockets have leapfrogged a handful of Western Conference contenders in the span of three months. The reason is simple: Dwight Howard now dons white and red in H-Town, giving the Rockets a legitimate Big Three comprised of Howard, James Harden and Chandler Parsons. 

But was the signing of Howard enough to propel the Rockets to the front of the Western Conference? Based on the composition of Houston's roster and the Western Conference, the Rockets appear to be a step or two behind their counterparts.

One move isn't going to instantly propel Houston from a No. 8 seed to a No. 1 seed overnight.

The Rockets have lingering questions at point guard and power forward, and I simply can't buy into the notion that Jeremy Lin can run the point for a championship-caliber team. Howard instantly makes the Rockets one of the six best teams in the West, but he alone won't be able to push Houston into the top tier of title contenders. 

Indiana Pacers: What Will They Get from Danny Granger?

After missing 77 games last season due to a knee injury, Danny Granger is slated to return to the Indiana Pacers starting lineup alongside newly minted superstar Paul George. 

At the other four starting positions, the Pacers know what they have. Granger, however, remains a mystery after undergoing knee surgery. His starring role has been usurped by George, but there's no question that the Pacers could use the offensive lift that Granger can provide. 

A 20-point-per-game scorer from 2008-2011, Granger is the floor-stretching presence the Pacers so desperately need after ranking 22nd in three-point percentage (34.7) last season. 

Considering the Pacers were 48 minutes from making a trip to the NBA Finals last season, Granger could prove to be the X-factor Indiana needs to get over the hump.  

Los Angeles Clippers: Can They Crack the Postseason Puzzle?

Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers have qualified for the playoffs each of the last two seasons and won the franchise's first-ever Pacific Division title after going a club-record 56-26 in 2012-13. 

For all of the success that the Clips have had in that two-year window, they've yet to crack the tricky postseason puzzle, even with Paul and Blake Griffin. The good news is that the duo's best opportunity at solving the riddle will come this season with Doc Rivers taking over for Vinny Del Negro. 

After two seasons of gradual improvement, the Clippers are looking to make the leap as an organization this coming season. Making the playoffs and winning a first-round series won't be enough this time around. 

Given the improvements the Clippers made to their roster this summer (i.e. J.J. Redick, Jared Dudley and Darren Collison), L.A. meets the qualifications to be considered one of the Western Conference's elite clubs. Considering the Clippers fell four games short of a 60-win season a year ago, expectations should be sky-high for a team that is finally on the brink of title contention. 

Los Angeles Lakers: Can They Stay Healthy?

The Los Angeles Lakers were plagued by injuries last season. All four members of their superstar core were dealt blows of varying severity, with the final straw being Kobe Bryant's torn Achilles tendon. 

Interestingly enough, Bryant claims to be well ahead of schedule in the rehabilitation process, according to NBA.com's Jonathan Hartzell:

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“The surgical procedure was different […] and because of that the recovery has been different,” Bryant told reporters in the southern city of Shenzhen. “The normal timetable for recovery from an Achilles, we’ve shattered that. Three-and-a-half months I can already walk just fine, I’m lifting weights with the Achilles just fine and that’s different. So we don’t know what that timetable is going to be. It’s kind of new territory for us all.”’

"

The news on Kobe is promising, but the Lakers' playoff hopes won't be dependent solely upon his health. It's important to remember that Pau Gasol missed 33 games last season while Steve Nash missed 32, so when you consider the amount of time all of the Lakers' key pieces missed, it's easier to understand why they couldn't develop much chemistry. 

Despite the apparent weaknesses that permeate the Lakers' new-look roster, if Bryant, Gasol and Nash can stay healthy, the Lakers will have a shot at qualifying for the playoffs for the ninth season in a row. 

Memphis Grizzlies: How Much Will Things Change Under Dave Joerger?

The Memphis Grizzlies have a new coach, and his name is Dave Joerger. A defensive mastermind, Joerger will continue to impart the "grit and grind" spirit that pushed Memphis to the Western Conference Finals last season, but he will do so with more analytical thinking than former head man Lionel Hollins. 

According to ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz, Joerger can take credit for the Grizzlies' defensive turnaround: 

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“He loves the craft,” says an NBA general manager. “Look what he’s done with [the Memphis] defense. He’s got Thibodeau’s thing for defense, but he’s a lot more likable than Thibs.” 

When Lionel Hollins delegated the Memphis’ defensive game plan to Joerger, the Grizzlies were the league’s 24th-ranked defense. In the three seasons since, they’ve finished ninth, then seventh and now second in defensive efficiency, and they did it with Zach Randolph at power forward and an unusually small point guard in Mike Conley.

"

And, per Arnovitz, Joerger loves to break down the game analytically: 

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Joerger loves to problem-solve and grapple with game theory, and he has an appreciation of analytics. He knows which NBA point guards, in descending order, reject screens most frequently and understands how to impart that information to players.

"

While it's clear that defensive game-planning is Joerger's forte, it will be interesting to see how the Grizzlies' new coach uses analytics to help revive an offense that ranked 27th in scoring last season (93.4 points per game). 

With the Grizzlies returning all five starters from a fruitful postseason run, Joerger has all of the appropriate pieces in place to keep the Grizzlies among the Western Conference's top six teams. 

 

Miami Heat: Three-Peat?

Next season, the Miami Heat will have a crack at being the first franchise to three-peat since the Los Angeles Lakers did in 2002. 

While the Heat are undisputed favorites to win the title, this year will prove to be especially taxing because of an improved Eastern Conference. Well, the top half at least. 

Miami's only real competition in the East last year came from the Indiana Pacers, who took the Heat to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Prior to that series, the Heat swept the Milwaukee Bucks and quickly dispatched the Chicago Bulls in five games. 

This time around, the Bulls will have Derrick Rose. Not only that, but the Pacers retained all of their key personnel and added a few veteran bodies for depth (C.J. Watson and Luis Scola). 

And then there are the Brooklyn Nets. We don't quite know what to make of Jason Kidd's bunch yet, but one thing is for sure: They look mighty good on paper. With a starting lineup that boasts five All-Stars and a bench that added Andrei Kirilenko and Jason Terry, the Nets will threaten to unseat the New York Knicks at the top of the Atlantic Division and the Heat atop the Eastern Conference. 

Defeating the likes of the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder or Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals will be difficult, but wading through the Eastern Conference's elite just got far tougher.  

Milwaukee Bucks: Will All of the New Pieces Work?

The question facing the Milwaukee Bucks isn't "How will all of the new pieces fit?" Instead, it's wondering if they will fit at all. 

While there wasn't much that was stable about Milwaukee's summer, the Bucks return last year's starting frontcourt of Ersan Ilyasova and Larry Sanders. Beyond that, there aren't many sure bets on the Bucks roster. 

O.J. Mayo is coming off the best shooting season of his career (44.9 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from three), but all of that efficiency didn't show up in his PER, which bottomed out at a lousy 13.9. 

As a replacement for Monta Ellis, Mayo is fine. Unfortunately, he's nothing more than a stopgap solution. The Bucks didn't make even slight improvements at point guard (Brandon Knight) or shooting guard, and they added the trigger-happy Carlos Delfino at small forward.

The Bucks will score the ball plenty, but they won't do so efficiently. What's worse is that Mayo, Knight and Delfino are defensive liabilities, placing a heavier burden of Sanders' shoulders to carry Larry Drew's starting unit. 

Minnesota Timberwolves: Are the T'wolves Finally Playoff-Bound?

After 10 seasons of early vacations and four straight years of last-place finishes in the Northwest Division, the Minnesota Timberwolves are knocking on the postseason door. 

It won't come easy, but the Timberwolves made all of the necessary improvements in free agency to land themselves in the playoff conversation.

The T'Wolves' most important goal this summer was to add stability along the perimeter, and they did so in the forms of Kevin Martin and Corey Brewer. A healthy Chase Budinger won't hurt either.

With the talent to compete in the Western Conference, the key for Minnesota will be staying healthy. That's obviously easier said than done, but last season proved how far a team can fall when impacted by long-term health issues. 

Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio, who combined to play in 75 games last season, should be ready to go on opening day. Obviously, they will be imperative to the Timberwolves' playoff hopes. 

It's been a long time coming, but Love has a real shot at taking the Timberwolves to the postseason for the first time in his career. 

New Orleans Pelicans: Will Evans, Gordon and Holiday Mesh?

The New Orleans Pelicans underwent one of the biggest transformations in the NBA this summer. 

Entering training camp, new additions Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans both project as starters, flanking Eric Gordon at the 1 and 3, respectively. 

There's no denying the talent that said trio possesses. It just remains to be seen how they play off each other in Monty Williams' system. 

Holiday is easily the most natural ball-handler of the group, but Evans has played with the rock in his hands plenty over the last four years. With those two presumably running the offense, Gordon will be tasked with working off the ball, doing his damage off the catch and quicker spot-ups. 

One thing is certain: The Pelicans will be glad to have three effective scorers in their lineup after averaging 94.1 points per game (26th in the NBA) last season. 

New York Knicks: How Does Andrea Bargnani Fit In?

What should the New York Knicks do with Andrea Bargnani? Right now, the Knicks' biggest offseason acquisition is being penciled in as the team's starting power forward. Based on lineup data from last season, though, Mike Woodson would be doing himself a favor by keeping Bargs out of the starting lineup. 

Yes, bringing Bargnani off the bench with Amar'e Stoudemire is a terrifying proposition from a defensive standpoint, but the Knicks' most successful lineup (that played at least 100 minutes) last season featured two point guards (Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton) with Carmelo Anthony playing the 4. 

Slot in Pablo Prigioni where Jason Kidd was playing, and the Knicks could replicate that plus-27.3 margin, per Basketball-Reference, in the scoring column. 

It's going to take some experimenting with different five-man units, but Bargnani's skill set isn't valuable enough to push 'Melo back to the 3. 

Oklahoma City Thunder: Is Jeremy Lamb Ready to Play a Big Role?

Kevin Martin may be gone, but Jeremy Lamb is just arriving. 

Considering he appeared in just 23 games for a total of 147 minutes last season, we're not going to delve into Lamb's statistical output from such a small sample size. 

One thing about Lamb is for sure, though: The kid can stroke it from deep. And now that Martin's with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Lamb will need to consistently knock down treys in order to fill the void left by the Oklahoma City Thunder's former sixth man. 

Asking Lamb to match Martin's mark of 42.6 shooting from three last season is a bit much, but the Thunder will need the UConn product to step in and contribute from day one. 

Reggie Jackson's emergence may help ease the burden on Lamb a bit, but he's at his best moving with the ball, as opposed to Lamb who will be moving almost exclusively without it. 

Orlando Magic: Which Position Best Suits Victor Oladipo?

Point guard or shooting guard? That's the question facing the Orlando Magic when it comes to determining the position of best fit for No. 2 overall draft pick Victor Oladipo.

According to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, the Magic's coaching staff sees Oladipo as a combo guard with a chance to become the team's point guard of the future: 

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"I don't think we know really right now where it's headed," said James Borrego, the team's lead assistant coach and head summer league coach.

"I could see him being a 2-guard [a shooting guard] for us. I think I can see him being a 1-guard [a point guard] for us. And where he ends up, I don't know. But I think this week gave us a little bit better idea of what we have. I think he handled himself well at the 1. I don't think that necessarily makes him our future 1. Can he continue to develop in that area and become it? I think he has a chance."

"

It seems a tad odd for Oladipo to be thrust into a role he's never played, particularly because ball-handling was not considered one of his strengths coming out of college. 

However, with playoff contention a few years away, the Magic can afford to experiment with Oladipo and mold him into the guard they believe is best for the franchise. 

Philadelphia 76ers: Who Will Be the Head Coach?

It's August, and the Philadelphia 76ers still don't have a head coach. In fact, we don't even know who the front-runner for the job is. 

ESPN's Marc Stein has reported that assistants Michael Curry and Brett Brown are viewed as the favorites, but Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Jay Larranaga, Adrian Griffin, Kenny Atkinson and David Vanterpool are all still in the running for the gig. Interestingly enough, CSN Philly's Dei Lynam is now reporting that Griffin is out of the running for the Sixers head coaching job. 

The Sixers are going to be patient because Sam Hinkie can't afford to hire a coach who isn't buying into the rebuilding process for the long haul. 

It will be hard to sell potential candidates on a team that will struggle to win 25 games this season, but brighter days are ahead with Nerlens Noel, Michael Carter-Williams and two first-round picks in the 2014 draft. 

Phoenix Suns: How Will Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic Coexist?

The biggest addition of the summer for the Phoenix Suns came in the form of Eric Bledsoe—the feisty defender with a high motor. 

Snagging Bledsoe in a three-team trade with the Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks was an undisputed victory for the Suns, who are coming off of their first 50-loss season since 2003-04.

But considering Goran Dragic enters the 2013-14 season on a high after posting career numbers (14.7 points and 7.4 assists per game) in 2012-13, head coach Jeff Hornacek will need to find ways to put the two guards in comfortable positions when on the floor together. 

Both Bledsoe and Dragic shoot worse than 45 percent from the field for their careers, with the latter sitting at a slightly better mark of 44.3 percent (compared to 43.1 percent from Bledsoe). 

Dragic is visibly more comfortable with the ball in his hands and is a more established distributor than Bledsoe. So if Bledsoe slides up to play the 2-guard, he'll need to learn how to better move off the ball, something he was rarely asked to do in Los Angeles. 

Much like the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers, the Suns have time on their side. They can afford to be patient this season and determine how to best utilize the combination of Dragic and Bledsoe. 

Portland Trail Blazers: Will the Bench Finally Produce?

The Portland Trail Blazers aren't messing around. They had a plan entering this summer, and boy did they execute it. 

Not only did they steal Lehigh's C.J. McCollum at No. 10 overall in June's draft, but they acted swiftly in dealing for Thomas Robinson to pad their bench. 

Factor in the signings of three-point shooter extraordinaire Dorell Wright and veteran point guard Mo Williams, and the Blazers' second unit is hardly recognizable from a season ago. 

With a group like this, it would be hard for Portland's bench not to post improved numbers. Portland's bench averaged a league-worst 18.5 points per game last season, nearly six points worse than the 29th-ranked Los Angeles Lakers.

San Antonio Spurs: Can Kawhi Leonard Make the Leap?

Well that escalated quickly. In the span of one postseason, Kawhi Leonard went from steady role player to fringe star thanks to his stingy defense of LeBron James, a hunger to snatch every rebound in sight and a steady diet of threes.  

We know about the San Antonio Spurs' Big Three consisting of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, but the emergence of Leonard has been a revelation for the defending Western Conference champions. 

Leonard was positively huge for the Spurs in the playoffs, averaging 13.5 points (on 54.5 percent shooting), nine rebounds and 1.8 steals over 21 games. 

With a team-first attitude and a commitment to excellence on the defensive end, Leonard and his absurd 7'3'' wingspan will be key to the Spurs' quest to repeat out West. 

Sacramento Kings: Will the Switch Flip for DeMarcus Cousins?

It's time DeMarcus Cousins puts up or shuts up. Through three seasons, Cousins has made it abundantly clear that he has all of the offensive talent in the world. 

The problem, according to Grantland's Zach Lowe, is that Cousins is a major defensive liability at this stage in his career: 

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The Kings have ranked 20th, 28th, and 29th in points allowed per possession, respectively, during the last three seasons, and they've been worse with Cousins on the floor in all three, per NBA.com. Cousins is a stout post defender and voracious rebound gobbler, but he has struggled horribly at almost any part of defense that involves him moving around above the charge circle.

"

Are the Kings prepared to dole out a max extension for a player who doesn't give effort on one end of the floor? All indications, according to The Sacramento Bee's Jason Jones, point to the Kings prioritizing Cousins and making him a Sacramento King for the foreseeable future. 

So if Cousins does get paid (and it's looking like he will), he'll need to commit himself to honing his defensive skills to ensure that Mike Malone isn't shaking his head every time Cousins runs back down the floor. 

Toronto Raptors: Is Rudy Gay Ready to Be Efficient?

Rudy Gay is coming off a down year. There's really no other way to slice it. 

Sure, he averaged a steady 18.2 points per game, but 41.6 percent from the field was the worst mark of his career. 

For a player who's often mentioned as one of the game's more dynamic wings, Gay hasn't played with the efficiency to warrant such consideration. 

Gay's career PER stands at 16.1, just a touch above the league average. In addition, Gay is a 34.3 percent shooter from three, which isn't strong enough for a player who prefers to linger around the perimeter. 

If the Raptors want to have a shot at qualifying for the playoffs, a good starting point would be improved efficiency from Gay. 

Fewer three-point shots and more post touches could benefit Gay and the Raptors, but it remains to be seen if the 26-year-old is open to such a change. Perhaps offseason surgery to improve his vision will help matters. 

Utah Jazz: Are Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors Ready to Lead by Example?

Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors have patiently waited for their turn in the spotlight. With that time arriving, it's up to the young tandem to usher in a new era of Utah Jazz basketball. 

The Jazz are considered one of the contenders, if you will, for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft, but that doesn't mean that Kanter and Favors won't be able to establish themselves in year one without Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson. 

Letting Millsap and Jefferson walk has opened the door for Kanter and Favors to take the offensive and defensive reins, and their per-36-minute numbers from last season are encouraging signs of what's to come. 

According to Basketball-Reference, Favors and Kanter each averaged a double-double per 36 minutes last season, while Favors led the Jazz with 2.6 blocks per 36. 

The 2013-14 season will be a nice gauge of where Kanter and Favors stand, and should they show serious progression, Utah's rebuilding process will be sped up considerably. 

Washington Wizards: Can the Frontcourt Hold Up?

The Washington Wizards are solid from spots 1-3. With John Wall, Eric Maynor, Bradley Beal, Martell Webster, Otto Porter and Trevor Ariza, that much is certain. 

Where things become less certain is Washington's frontcourt, which is extremely thin behind starters Nene Hilario and Emeka Okafor. Neither is an offensive force, but both will be called upon to provide stout interior defense, much the way they did last season. 

Okafor and Nene posted defensive ratings of 99 and 101, respectively, per Basketball-Reference, while Okafor led the Wiz in blocks with one per game.

However, Ernie Grunfeld made no moves to upgrade the team's frontcourt this summer, with returning veterans Trevor Booker and Kevin Seraphin the primary backups at the 4 and 5. 

Washington has the pieces to wedge its way into the playoff conversation, but should one of the team's starting bigs go down with an injury, it'll be hard-pressed to find equally productive minutes from a stable of mediocre backups.