The NBA's Western Conference Offseason Report Card

For a long time, we've heard that the West is the best when it comes to NBA basketball.  The cream of the Western Conference crop was looking to get better this summer, but some of the familiar faces are in jeopardy of falling off.

With the moves the Eastern Conference made (click for conference recap), the teams out West better not get caught looking over their shoulders.

I've beat the draft to death this offseason, and these grades are derived from the outcomes of free-agency and trades.

Who passed the class?  (Click for YouTube recap)

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs were the first to make a splash out West when they landed Richard Jefferson in a trade for Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas.

RJ is a high-teens scorer who shot 39.7 percent from three last season, a giant upgrade in the Spurs starting lineup from Bowen or Michael Finley.

The most important stat for Jefferson is that he's played 164 games the past two years, in other words: He has played in all of them.  It's an understated achievement today in the NBA and it gives Coach Popovich an opportunity to limit Manu Ginobili's minutes.

Another first time Spur is Antonio McDyess, a 4-5 big man who will play along-side or in replacement of Tim Duncan. 

Dyess has developed a knock-down jumper over the years and he will approach ten rebounds per game if he plays over thirty minutes minutes. 

The Spurs did not add a true center to their roster, which is the only thing holding them back from a perfect 4.0.

Final Grade: A-

Dallas Mavericks

The most important move Dallas made all summer was re-signing Jason Kidd, establishing that they are still dedicated to pursuing the NBA title.

On the wing, Dallas added a player who complements Kidd's style of perfect play. 

Shawn Marion is still a high-flyer in the NBA and best on the break.  With Marion and Josh Howard on the wings, Dallas is putting out one of the biggest starting fives in the NBA and they should generate many steals, blocks, and rebounds.

Dallas could not set the price high enough to woo Marcin Gortat from the Magic, and Orlando also took Brandon Bass out of the Mavs' frontcourt.

Without these two bigs Dallas will be thinner down low, but Marion gives them a better than average off-season.

Final Grade: B-

Phoenix Suns

The Suns traded Shaq to save some dough, but also traded away their most efficient scorer from last year. 

Even if Shaq didn't fit the Suns' system, replacing O'Neal with Channing Frye will always be frowned upon.

Phoenix did make a statement to Amar'e Stoudemire by locking up Steve Nash and Grant Hill, but they were already on the roster.

Frye and Robin Lopez couldn't equal Shaq's presence if they were both on the court together the entire game.

Final Grade: D+

Houston Rockets

Houston, we have a problem.  Yao Ming is going to miss the entire season and Tracy McGrady will be out until February at the latest—making his switch to the No. 3 rather irrelevant.

With the key loss of Ron Artest, Houston has tried to slow the bleeding by signing Trevor Ariza, a player with similar stopper qualities to Artest but he's half the scorer.

Ariza feels he can play the two in Houston which, to me, is rather absurd for a guy who shot 31.9 percent on primarily open threes last year and 46.0 percent from the field.

Houston did a noble job of picking Chase Budinger and Jermaine Taylor in the second round, but the real concern is size.

No Yao, and Mutombo retired, it looks like Luis Scola and the Houston Rockets,if ABC really markets them like that, are in limbo between contention and rebuilding.

Expect Houston to flunk out of the playoff hunt in 2010.

Final Grade: F


Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers seriously upgraded themselves at the forward position when they acquired Ron Artest, the former Rocket.

Artest shot 39.9 percent from three last season and will thrive with all of the open looks Kobe Bryant will create.

Finally when teams try to get tough with Kobe and the Lakers, LA has a player who can get tough back.  Kobe may still deliver a few cheap shots, but don't expect as many to come the Lakers' way this season.

The only think keeping LA from having a potential A of an off-season is Lamar Odom's situation.

It seemed as if the Lakers and Odom were on the same page, until the initial contract offer was pulled off the table and Miami and Dallas entered the mix.

If Los Angles wants to remain at the head of the class out West, they must bring back Odom, just look at his lines from when Andrew Bynum is injured. As a starter he averaged 14.0 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.5 BPG.

Final Grade: Incomplete

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