Did the NBA Airball With Their Latest Uniform Redesigns?

Did anyone get really, really annoyed by the surplus of alternate "fauxback" uniforms worn by the Cleveland Cavaliers last season?

Sometimes they wore their regular uniforms. Sometimes they wore wine alternates. Sometimes they looked like the Knicks.

I know I was annoyed. I know many were. Well, if you are one of the many who didn't like the revolving time machine that was the Cavaliers wardrobe in 2009, then brace yourself for a strange 2010.

Several NBA teams have made subtle changes or major overhauls to their brands for the upcoming season, and so far the general consensus is that nearly every team involved has fouled out.

The year is 2010. The modern uniform has never been more on display than in the NBA. The MLB is steeped in traditional looks. The NFL comes pretty close as well. However, many of the NBA's teams have changed colors, designs, and names a significant amount of times over the years, leaving room for justification when it comes to incorporating progressive styles.

However, a few years ago the throwback craze took over professional sports. Modern uniforms have seperated themselves from the norm so much that throwback uniforms, usually of classic design, have become great oppurtunities for teams to create more authentic merchandise.

The NBA took it a little too far. Many owners feel giving a "nod to the past" will reenergize team and fan spirit. So, many of the NBA's latest uniform changes will feature throwbackish uniforms as primary looks.

In this new day and age, it couldn't be a more bland move. The throwback craze is one of many things that have had NBA fans shaking their heads as teams have unveiled their new looks for 2010.

Also, it appears a league wide switch has been made to jersey material, which has led to new jerseys for all teams. While some teams havn't redone their looks, a hand full have made minor tweaks.

Have a look for yourselves and see if you are fans or not of the many changes coming to the look of the NBA.

Cavaliers Lose Star-Bron, and Identity

The Cavaliers made one of the best modern logo and uniform sets in 2003 that I had ever seen. The logos were great. The colors popped. The uniforms were even better.

And who can't deny the navy blue alternate was one of the best and most iconic sports uniforms out there? Sure, LeBron James' name soon stained them all.

But Cleveland could have moved forward with one of the best sports identities out there. Instead, to move on, they kicked themselves down even more by making one of the strangest rebrands ever.

They kept their amazing logo, which includes the script used on the jerseys for the past seven seasons, but they changed the gold to an old gold.

Many felt a great uniform was on the way. Instead, the Cavs got a two colored uniform set straight out of 1950's high school locker room.

Cleveland even failed to use their beautifully original script and color of blue, which is included in their logo, on their jerseys. Instead you get an old school Houston Rockets-Boston Celtics hybrid that is as bland as an avocado hoagie.

Mavericks Going Baby Blue

The above photo isn't a replica of what Dallas will wear on the road this year, however it is the closest indicator of the Mavericks' switch to baby blue road jerseys.

A snapshot from an NBA group photo, showing a representative of all 30 NBA teams in their respective road jerseys, proved Dallas has changed their road jersey.

The navy blue and baby blue has been flip-flopped, and the numerals have been moved center of the jersey. The "DALLAS" script is navy blue, while the numbers are silver, as shown above.

Overall it's a pretty uninspired job by the Mavericks. Fans were fairly upset when Dallas switched out their alternate green jerseys for baby blue, which is one of the overused alternate colors floating around in sports these days.

So what does the Dallas owner do? He decides, "Fine, if you want green so bad, how about we make your hated baby blue the primary jersey?"

What does this mean? The regular navy blues are MIA for now. The only upside to this change is that Dallas' road jerseys match up better with their primary logo.

Aside from that it's an overall downgrade.

Golden State'ment by the Bay: Warriors Trade Bolts for Bridges

Yes. Everyone within the fanbase and organization of the Golden State Warriors wanted to bring back the blue, the gold, and the bridge.

But, what we got in the latest look for Golden State was an awkward side panel and jersey scripts illegible likely even for the opposing team's players.

The circle slapped on a jersey is a fun thing to allude back to, or to see for a Hardwood Classic game, but not as a primary uniform feature in the year 2010.

Especially when the awkward circle logo will be featured on a strange, modern jersey design. Many expected a full jersey script and numbers, despite the return of the older style logo. What they got was an uninspired cluster of mess.

Many concepts made by sports fans on the web have even proven the circle logo on the chest could have worked. But the proportions executed by the actual team are woefully small, and the usage of elements on the jersey are insanely crammed.

Not to mention the fact the alternate logos scream college sports.

Clippers Finally Update Look

Alas! We have good news to bring to you.

The Los Angeles Clippers, who have been under the Lakers' shadow for years in the branding department have finally made a change to their identity.

The best news: They fixed their logo. The Clippers logo has always been way too similar to the Lakers, however it was horrifically designed.

If you never noticed, which you likely did not, the old logo had three ball seems at the bottom half of the logo where only two should have shown. You can reference my article on "Worst Brand Identities" if you want to check that out.

Their logo flaw is no more. Also, the Clips' dumped their outdated uniform design for a sleek new look.

There is an issue in that the design is fairly similar to the Hawks, and that combined with red and blue definitely resembles the 76'ers seldom worn red alternates from a few years back.

But the fact Los Angeles will finally take a step into the 20th century is enough to sell me. I especially like the awesome new jersey scripts, which are tweaked and cleaned versions of the old ones.

T-Wolves Cut Down the Trees

So much for going green, right? The Minnesota Timberwolves hands down have made the most puzzling change of the offseason.

They dropped what makes their identity!

The green tree line collar is gone, and so is the green from the design on the jersey and shorts. The white design on silver looks absolutely horrible. Why drop the color green?

I mean, Dallas dropped it. Someone has to take it up. Minnesota still has a chance with the addition of a third jersey in the waiting, however many are speculating it will simply be a black one. Real original, I know.

Now, unless you have high definition television, you won't be able to tell the Wizards, T-Wolves, and Mavericks apart.

Utah Adds Some Jazz to Uniforms and Logos

Even with two major branding flaws still looming, there is a team that gets out of this throwback craze alive in my book.

The Jazz have a bigger issue: they are called the Jazz.

The new color scheme couldn't be more "New Orleansy" either. Blue, gold, and green. Way more festive than navy and baby blue.

They shouldn't be called the Jazz in the first place, but the least they can do if not rename themselves is make good uniforms. I actually think they did a great job with the new threads.

The design screams generic late 90's. The logos are existing marks from the 70's and 80's. Another problem is that they kept the same primary logo, only recolored, which clashes with the old school look they went after.

I like it though. I love three color schemes, and the 90's style side panels are actually a pretty pleasant surprise. Usually these days it's either a wild design or some boring 60's look.

The Jazz definitely improve here, however they still are the most awkwardly identififed team in all of sports.