NBA Teams Who Improved This Offseason

This year's offseason isn't as hyped up as 2010. However, it's hard to imagine that so many good teams are actually improving by a large margin this offseason.

Out of the teams that made moves, here's a recap of how they fared including team's that improved and those that still need improvements.

Los Angeles Lakers—Even

The Lakers won a championship last season but still looked to improve in the offseason. By adding Ron Artest, the Lakers created a third All-Star caliber threat on the team, along with a defensive specialist. Basically, a bigger, better version of Trevor Ariza, whom they lost.

But now Lamar Odom is up for grabs, and by losing him, the Lakers would not be the same team. Adding Artest helps compensate the team if they lose both Odom and Ariza, who were key players in the playoffs. It doesn't make them better or worse than last season.

Boston Celtics—Improved

Any way you look at it, Rasheed Wallace is a good choice for the Celtics. He is a good player who wants nothing more than to win a championship.

This could make them the favorite to win it all, but we'll judge that when we see the new team play.

Is 'Sheed better than Glen Davis and Leon Powe (whom the Celtics lost to free agency)? Absolutely.

A big improvement over last season.

San Antonio Spurs—Improved

After a shocking first-round elimination from the playoffs last season, the Spurs looked like they were going downhill fast, something I personally predicted. But they gave up virtually nothing and gained a lot in Richard Jefferson.

With a lineup that consists of Michael Finley, Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Roger Mason Jr., DeJuan Blair, and Jefferson, the team is going to make another push at the title.

From another angle though, Duncan is aging, and that's why the Spurs were on the decline. Now when he's outdated, along with Finley, Parker, Manu, the rest of the club will still be in their prime.

Don't count the Spurs down and out yet. In fact, look for them to be around for a few more years. Maybe more.

Dallas Mavericks—Improved

I use this lightly. The Mavericks are a better team than they were last year by adding Shawn Marion. But, now that most of the team is over 30, they have the same situation as the Celtics. Five years down the road, all of their best players will be retired, or very close.

One last push for the team is up next, but unfortunately it won't last long.

Houston Rockets—Need Improvement

Houston will not make the playoffs without Artest and Yao Ming. Trevor Ariza was a very good signing, but the team needs to get much younger much faster, and start thinking about removing Yao and Tracy. Start with a base of Aaron Brooks and Luis Scola, but they are not competing for the title any time soon.

Orlando Magic—Even

The Magic basically replaced Courtney Lee, Hedo Turkoglu, and Rafer Alston with Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter.

Nelson will return from a shoulder injury that sidelined him last season and forced Alston to be the team's starting point guard. That is an improvement.

But Vince Carter is probably just as good as Lee and Turkoglu were for the Magic. Considering that they already had Nelson and acquired only Carter and Brandon Bass, the team should be probably around the same as last season.

Cleveland Cavaliers—Improved

The Cavs lost nothing in order to acquire Shaq. Now they also added Anthony Parker, but they haven't resigned Wally Szczerbiak from free agency yet, and they may not.

Just look at it from what they lost and gained—lost Ben Wallace and Szczerbiak. Gained the big Shaqness and Parker.

That's a step up, but the Cavs still need to step it up some more. They're definitely contenders though. Hope they can show that to LeBron before 2010.

Toronto Raptors—Need Improvement

Granted, T.J. Ford got them Jermaine O'Neal, and O'Neal got them Shawn Marion, and Marion sort of got them Hedo Turkoglu. And Turkoglu is better than T.J. Ford.

But the Raptors weren't a playoff team with Shawn Marion and the rest of the Raptors. They certainly won't be with Turkoglu and DeMar DeRozan.

Washington Wizards—Improved

The best players on a bad team aren't exactly valued too high, but the Wizards were a playoff team when healthy, and now added two more good, solid players in Randy Foye and Mike Miller.

I'd say they go for the playoffs this season.

Atlanta Hawks—Improved

They improved mildly.  Jamal Crawford is a step up from Acie Law, and they re-signed Mike Bibby. Now a team of Bibby, Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, Crawford, and Al Horford looks pretty good. I'd say Jamal might have been the little steal of the big offseason.

Detroit Pistons—Even

I say this with pride, although a little hypocritical. I am always a fan of teams that choose to go younger, and prepare for the future.

However, Rasheed Wallace was a big-time player, and just because he wasn't productive doesn't mean that Allen Iverson wasn't good.

So, is Charlie Villenueva better than Rasheed Wallace? No. Is Ben Gordon better than Allen Iverson? Probably.

Now with a young team with Rodney Stuckey at the point, Villanueva at the post, and Gordon off the bench or at the other starting guard, the team is prepared for the future, but not so much for right now.

Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New Jersey Nets—Need Much Improvement

When you have a veteran star like Vince Carter, Mike Miller, or Richard Jefferson, you have to make sure you get equal value. These teams did not. At least not immediately.

Ricky Rubio recently said that he's either going to play for DKV or Minnesota, so the worry that he'll demand a trade was loosened. But not having him in 2009-10 will not improve the Wolves, who lost Randy Foye and Mike Miller.

But, the Wolves do have a lot of cap room in the big 2010, and while their market isn't huge, adding Rubio in the offseason of 2010 might pave the way for good players to sign, wanting to play with Rubio.

The Wolves will not see a better record this year with Jonny Flynn and Wayne Ellington, but the future may be bright, hopefully.

The Nets got the best immediate value for their star by acquiring Courtney Lee. The team is young and ready to compete, but it may take a few years. By drafting Terrence Williams, the team have five young guys to fill the lineup.

Brook Lopez, Yi Jianlian, Terrence Williams, Courtney Lee, and Devin Harris.

The Milwaukee Bucks simply got nothing for Richard Jefferson. He wasn't young, but the team was and they got much older players for him. Get a draft pick at least, or a developing player like Robin Lopez.

The team has had little glimmers of hope with young players, but they keep shipping them off. Now they're left with Joe Alexander, Brandon Jennings, and Michael Redd.

Get some value for Redd and start over, Milwaukee.

The other NBA teams—Even

No other teams have really had a big impact from this offseason. The Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz are close to a trade and then they will both move to the "Improved" section, but the other teams remain the same, just a year older.

For some teams, that means their young guys have a year of experience. For others, it means their veterans are one step closer to leaving the league.

2010 may be the big offseason, but 2009 wasn't too shabby.