1 Question Each NBA Team Must Answer Before the Regular Season Starts

No team is perfect going into the 2011-12 NBA season.

Whether it's coping with the effects of the lockout or figuring out which free agents to make a run at when the lockout ends, each team has something they have to address before the season begins.

Some teams have to deal with players leaving, while others have to convince players to come to them. Either way, each team has at least one question that must be answered.

Are Brandon Jennings, Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson Enough for the Bucks?

Though Brandon Jennings had a big foot injury last season, he still managed to increase his PPG average to 16.2. 

After receiving Stephen Jackson in a draft day trade with the Charlotte Bobcats, the Milwaukee Bucks look like they might be one or two pieces away from returning to the Playoffs.

Andrew Bogut is consistently sensational when he's healthy. If the three of them (Bogut, Jackson and Jennings) can get something going, they might be able to make some noise in the East.

It also wouldn't hurt if Michael Redd returned to his pre-injury, All-Star caliber ways.

What Kind of Impact Will Jan Vesely Have on the Washington Wizards' Game Plan?

"With the sixth pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards select Jan Vesely."

Jan Vesely could easily change the fortune of the bottom-dwelling Washington Wizards next season. He's a lengthy, athletic combo Forward who plays solid defense and has a workable post game.

He needs to add some weight, as his 6'11" 230 frame will get bullied by stronger, bigger forwards in the NBA, but the ceiling is high for Vesely once he comes over to the NBA.

Though he didn't get a lot of touches for Partizan Belgrade of the Czech Republic, Vesely is bound to make a huge impact on the young Wizards squad. With John Wall, Jordan Crawford and JaVale McGee in the mix, Vesely could fit right in as the glue-guy/perimeter defensive stopper for Washington.

I'd love to see how coach Flip Saunders implements him into the system.

How Will the NBA Lockout Affect Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson?

With the No.1 and No. 4 picks of the 2011 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson to help reshape their franchise.

Though there's not much talent around them on the Cavalier roster, Irving and Thompson will be expected to add wins to the column and put big numbers on the board.

But with the NBA Lockout looming, the two rookies have yet to be able to establish rhythm with their team, thus making them unprepared for whenever the season actually starts.

It'll take a lot longer for them to get up to speed for the NBA game, but hopefully they can compensate for lost time by producing big plays.

Who Will the Detroit Pistons Trade to Make Room for Brandon Knight?

It's clear. Whatever formula the Detroit Pistons drew up is NOT working. Furthermore, by drafting Brandon Knight, it doesn't look like they'll be keeping some of the same pieces from before.

Rodney Stuckey will not come off the bench for the Pistons, so re-signing him is most likely out of the question. The Pistons should trade Ben Gordon for some young talent and slowly start rebuilding their team. 

Greg Monroe is a great talent at the 5, and Knight will be solid at the 1 in his rookie season. The Pistons just won't be able to make that push for the postseason until they sign some better players.

How Will the Sacramento Kings Fit Jimmer Fredette into Their Rotation?

While trading for Jimmer Fredette on Draft Day did answer some questions for the Sacramento Kings, it definitely posed a few as well. 

The biggest of which being: How are they going to manage the rotation now with Fredette, Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton all at the guards?

Unless they plan on running extra small, somebody's going to have to take a backseat. Evans is clearly most comfortable with the ball in his hands running the point, and Thornton catapulted his career as a high scoring two guard after being traded from New Orleans.

With Jimmer coming in, it's going to shake the rotation up a bit. He's not a good enough passer to play at the 1 for the Kings the entire game, so we'll probably see him a lot at the 2.

Will Steve Nash Play Like Milk or Wine Next Season?

Like a fine wine, Steve Nash has continued to get better and better each year he's played in the NBA. Arguably the best pure passer in the NBA, Nash knows how to set his teammates up and picks and chooses his shots perfectly.

But sometimes, players begin to decline as they get older in age. At 37 years old, there's a possibility that Nash's tank could run out. Like milk that's been in the refrigerator too long, his skill set could easily spoil next season.

Now, the odds of the former are very low, but the Suns have to be concerned as to how the aging veteran will perform next season. Will he play like aged wine or like spoiled milk? 

How Can Derrick Williams and Ricky Rubio Turn the Minnesota Timberwolves Around?

When the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Kyrie Irving with the first pick in the NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves knew they had something special.

With Derrick Williams coming in and Ricky Rubio finally working out his contract situation with Spain, there could be yet another dynamic duo in the NBA.

Williams is touted for his all-around game, combining his ridiculous athletic ability with his sweet jumper and his more than savvy post game. Whether he starts over Michael Beasley or not (which he probably will), D-Will is an instant upgrade for the T'Wolves.

Minnesota also went ahead and traded Johnny Flynn to give Rubio the go-ahead to start at the 1. It will be interesting to see how he and Williams mesh with Kevin Love and Wesley Johnson.

However, in order for Minnesota to become a complete team on paper, they need to find a defense-first Center to put in the paint. 

How Will the Houston Rockets Make a Playoff Push without Yao Ming?

Now that Yao Ming's officially announced his retirement, the Houston Rockets have been left out to dry. 

Sure they've got Kevin Martin and Luis Scola, but those two alone aren't even close to enough to make a Playoff push in the powerhouse Western Conference.

They added Marcus Morris, Chandler Parsons and Donatas Motiejunas to the rotation via the NBA Draft, but they've still got some holes in the depth chart that they need to fill. 

Hasheem Thabeet still needs to develop as a big man, and Chuck Hayes is severely undersized to play at the 5. If the Rockets can find a solid big man to clog the lanes, block some shots and score some garbage buckets, they might be a dark horse in the Western Conference for a solid playoff run.

Who Else Will the Charlotte Bobcats Put around Kemba Walker?

Picking up Kemba Walker with the ninth pick in the NBA Draft was the best move the Charlotte Bobcats could've made. With a new floor general and primary scorer at the helm, the Bobcats have labeled Walker as their franchise player for years to come.

They've also established themselves as a dark horse team in the Eastern Conference by trading for Corey Magette and adding Bismack Biyombo to the mix.

But is that enough?

Looking at the Bobcats roster, after Walker and Maggette, the team looks rather limp.

PG: Kemba Walker, DJ Augustin
SG: Gerald Henderson, Garrett Temple, Matt Carroll
SF: Corey Maggette, Dominic McGuire
PF: Tyrus Thomas, Bismack Biyombo, Boris Diaw
C: Joel Przybilla, DeSanga Diop

With a 12-man rotation like that, Charlotte would be lucky if they scored 85 points per game.

The Bobcats need to snag either a functional post player at the 4 or the 5, or they need to grab a dynamic shooter-scorer at the 1.

What fortunes would the future hold for the Charlotte Bobcats if they pick up J.R. Smith from the free agency? 

How Will the Utah Jazz Survive This Rebuilding Phase?

Losing Hall of Fame bound coach Jerry Sloan and trading All-Star 1-guard Deron Williams were more than a blow to the Utah Jazz. They had to depend on Al Jefferson for the bulk of the scoring, and matters only got worse when Devin Harris went down last season.

They snagged Enes Kanter and Alec Burks through the NBA Draft, but they're still a team that needs to rebuild in order to return to the Playoffs once again. If Utah can manage to sign one or two mid level players to bolster the 2, the Jazz could return to the playoff race very soon.

Was Trading Kawhi Leonard for George Hill the Right Move for the Indiana Pacers?

After drafting Kawhi Leonard with the 15th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers turned around and traded him to the San Antonio Spurs for their combo guard, George HIll.

Leonard, who many consider to have Gerald Wallace-like potential, would have been a great fit, coming off the bench behind Danny Granger where he could have been a solid perimeter defender. He was never a big threat from deep, but he makes plays using his athleticism and by crashing the boards.

If Leonard turns around and has a huge rookie season for the San Antonio Spurs, this may be a mistake that the Pacers' front office will have to live down for a long time.

For Whom Will the Philadelphia 76ers Trade Andre Iguodala?

There's been speculation of trading Andre Iguodala all year, but nothing has gone through. Whether it's been the Iggy-Monta Ellis trade, or the Iggy-Chris Kaman rumor, the sports world has been filled with empty hopes of a possible trade for Philadelphia's superstar.

The Sixers need to put an end to the rumors now.

Either offer him a contract extension to hush the crowds, or trade him for as much as possible. Iguodala's taken on more of a facilitator's role lately, but there's no question that he's still one of the league's most dynamic scorers. And now that he's added a semi-functional three-point jumper (33.7 percent) from downtown, Iggy could easily return next season as one of the NBA's premier guard/forwards.

The only question is where.

What Small Forward Will the Los Angeles Clippers Sign?

Looking at the Los Angeles Clippers' roster, they're only a few pieces away from having a solid, playoff-bound team, and they need to start pushing their team in the direction by signing a top tier Small Forward like Caron Butler.

Assuming that they'll trade Chris Kaman when the lockout is over, the Clippers have a young trio in Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon and DeAndre Jordan who are ready to cause ruckus throughout the NBA. But with Jamario Moon, Al Farouq Aminu and Ryan Gomes sharing time at the 3, they are lacking at an essential position.

If the Clippers could land a big time player like Butler, or even Tayshaun Prince, not only would they be a sleeper in the West, but they might actually make the Playoffs for the first time in God knows how many years.

Can DeMar DeRozan Take That Next Step for the Toronto Raptors?

DeMar DeRozan's athleticism, body type and graceful movements about the court only resemble one other player in the NBA.

Kobe Bryant.

Between his rookie and sophomore seasons in the NBA, the Black Mamba nearly doubled his point per game average in just about 11 more minutes each night. Looking at DeRozan's numbers, he's already on the fast track to becoming the next dangerous scorer in the NBA.

Without the three-pointer in his offensive arsenal, DeRozan became the leader for the Toronto Raptors averaging 17.2 points off of mainly dunks and layups, with the occasional mid range jumper.

If DeRozan wants to take the step to becoming an elite guard in the NBA—something his team needs desperately to become relevant again—he'll need to add the three-ball and some type of facilitating ability to his game.

Once he does that, not only can he better the Raptors' chances of a playoff berth, but he can increase his All-Star game votes, as well.

Is Deron Williams Going to Stay Put in New Jersey?

The Nets need to do everything in their power to get Deron Williams to stay in in New Jersey. 

Whether it be giving him more money, buying him a yacht or signing over part of the franchise to him, the New Jersey front office must convince Williams to stay.

Without him, the Nets are more irrelevant than before.

With the franchise moving to Brooklyn in 2014, there is more reason now than ever for him to stay. If the Nets can haul in a big time star like Dwight Howard, Williams might just become enamored with the idea of staying a Net.

To Whom Will the Golden State Warriors Deal Monta Ellis?

No matter what Coach Mark Jackson might say, the Golden State Warriors have been trying and will continue to try to deal Monta Ellis.

There's been talks of him being traded to Philly for Andre Iguodala, but the trade never happened before the deadline.

By drafting the electrifying 2-guard out of Washington State, Klay Thompson, Golden State essentially parted ways with Ellis.

There's no question Ellis is one of the best pure scorers in the NBA. Using his small frame and quickness, he easily slices to the rim where he finishes around the defense.

Ellis would be an instant upgrade to any team he's traded to. We just don't know where he's going yet.

Is a Trade Necessary for the San Antonio Spurs?

Losing to the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the Playoffs rang bells throughout all of Texas. 

Something must be done.

Whether it be moving Tony Parker or Manu Ginobili, or adding some new pieces to the rotation, the San Antonio Spurs need to do something, and they need to do it fast.

As a team that's aging by the minute, the Spurs should look to add youth to the lineup. They did trade George Hill for the extremely athletic Kawhi Leonard, but they should look to add or move some pieces around.

How Will a Healthy Rudy Gay Affect the Memphis Grizzlies' Game Plan?

After Rudy Gay went down with that season-ending shoulder injury, Zach Randolph and the Memphis Grizzlies proved that they could make a deep playoff run without him.

Now that Gay returns to the rotation, how will that shake up the game plan?

We already know that O.J. Mayo is as good as gone, but will Gay getting more touches hinder Z-Bo's productivity?

Is It Time for the Boston Celtics to Start Adding Young Players?

When the Boston Celtics first brought Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce together, the NBA caught a shiver down its spine. Now, they're still productive as a group, but they've clearly lost a step or two with their age.

It might be time for the Celtics to start adding some young prospects to the lineup. They traded their pick, MarShon Brooks, for JaJuan Johnson, who will be KG's protege, but they've got to find solid replacements for Allen and Pierce soon.

Rajon Rondo will continue to lead his team for the next decade or so, but he can't do it by himself. Boston's big three only has a year or two before they begin to retire. How will the Celtics plan accordingly?

How Will the Denver Nuggets Compensate for Losing J.R. Smith and Nene?

Though J.R. Smith brought drama and immaturity to the Denver Nuggets, he was still an incredible scorer and had range out to the three-point line. And after Nene opted out of the final year of his contract, the Nuggets look like they're in quite a predicament.

First and foremost, they need to find a functional Center to replace Nene. Chris Anderson might be a solid shot blocker, but he's rather incompetent if he's not catching alley-oops on offense. They could make a run at Tyson Chandler or Samuel Dalembert, but they need to fill that hole immediately,

Secondly, replacing Smith with someone like Jamal Crawford would be a perfect way to rebuild the team. They've got a lot of depth after taking several of the Knicks' starters and role players in the Carmelo Anthony trade. The Nuggets just need to find a way to make it work.

Will the Dallas Mavericks Re-Sign Their Unrestricted FA's or Start Over?

After their NBA Finals victory over the Miami Heat, the Dallas Mavericks re-signed not one of their restricted or unrestricted free agents. 

With Jose Barea, Caron Butler, Tyson Chandler, DeShawn Stevenson, Peja Stojakovic and Brian Cardinal all in the market, the Mavericks could easily lose half of their roster to offers from other teams.

They've still got their three core guys in Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd, but those three by themselves cannot get the job done.

I'm sure they'll re-sign Chandler, seeing as he was one of the most integral pieces of their regular and postseason success, but whether they're going to sign the others or not will have direct bearing on their success next season.

Will the Atlanta Hawks Trade Joe Johnson or Josh Smith?

I know all of you Atlanta Hawk fans agree here.

Something's got to give.

Ever since Joe Johnson signed that monster six-year/$123.7 million contract, he has failed to live up to the expectations. Averaging 18.2 points, 4.7 assist and four rebounds, Johnson easily had the worst season of his illustrious Hawks career. And to make matters worse, Atlanta's captain shot an abysmal 29.7 percent from downtown, the worst three-point percentage in his career since his rookie season.

However, Johnson isn't the only one who's been slacking.

Normally reliable as Atlanta's defensive stopper, Josh Smith saw a decrease in both blocks and steals last season. As a matter of fact, J-Smoove tied his season worst in blocks per game with 1.6, and averaged 1.3 steals per game, his lowest since his sophomore year in the league.

Atlanta needs to move one of these players to bring some type of stability to the lineup. By trading either of them, the Hawks could comfortably move Al Horford to the 4, his natural position, and acquire a functional Center to man the paint.

Whatever they decide to do, they need to do it fast.  

Will Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook Be Able to Coexist in Oklahoma City?

In last season's playoffs, critics speculated as to whether or not Russell Westbrook was truly the best match for Kevin Durant.

While his high-powered slashing ability compliments Durant's smooth stroke from virtually anywhere on the court, it became evident that Westbrook didn't want to be Batman's Robin any longer.

At 20.2 field goal attempts per game in the postseason, Westbrook virtually matched Durant's shots per game. The difference, however, is that Westbrook's 20 shot attempts resulted in 23.8 points per game (39 percent from the field), while Durant shot 44.9 percent from the field for 28.6 points per game.

I have no doubt that Westbrook and Durant can coexist going forward, but they need to work out the kinks in the relationship right away. Durant needs to assert himself more and learn how to demand the ball when he wants it.

Once he gets that down, OKC can finally contend for a championship.

How Will Coach Mike Brown's New System Affect Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers?

There is no question that Phil Jackson's retirement will have a resounding effect on the Los Angeles Lakers production. Taking the Triangle out of the equation, new coach Mike Brown will essentially have to start from scratch and create a new game plan from the ground up.

In Cleveland, Brown had the ball in LeBron James' hands for the majority of each possession. Now that he's got more weapons than he had in Cleveland, it will be interesting to see how he implements his system upon the Lakers' roster. 

I'm positive Kobe Bryant will have his fingerprints all over the new offensive scheme, but the rest of the team will have to adjust to whatever it is Coach Brown is planning.

Whom Will the Chicago Bulls Sign to Help Derrick Rose Score?

The Chicago Bulls' impressive playoff run only further solidifies the fact that they need another scorer to help Derrick Rose.

Rose carried the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Finals, but his teammates could not come through for him in the end.

Chicago needs to sign or trade for another big time scorer to help take the load off of him. The Atlanta Hawks don't look like they'll be re-signing Jamal Crawford, Denver kicked J.R. Smith out of Colorado, and the Memphis Grizzlies have been trying to deal O.J. Mayo since the beginning of last season.

The Bulls don't need to worry about defense; they've got that covered. If they can bring one more quality scorer to Chicago, a Finals appearance is definitely within reach.

Can the Portland Trail Blazers Finally Stay Healthy?

We all know the issue with the Portland Trail Blazers: INJURIES.

Their highly touted big man, Greg Oden, has only played 82 games in four seasons, and their star studded Shooting Guard in Brandon Roy has no cartilage left between his knees.

Their newly acquired forward, Gerald Wallace, is often injured due to his physical play style, and their back up Center, Marcus Camby, is having knee problems of his own.

You take those four players out of the picture and the Portland Trail Blazers are bound for a disaster. 

Last season, LaMarcus Aldridge stepped up, without Roy, Camby, Oden or Wallace (before the trade deadline), and put the team on his back to get them to the Playoffs. He's definitely going to need some help if they want to make a repeat performance, or make a deeper run.

There's no question that when Portland is healthy, they are one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA. The question is: CAN they stay healthy?

Will Dwight Howard Stay in an Orlando Magic Jersey?

The only way the Orlando Magic could even dream about keeping Dwight Howard in blue is by trading for better pieces to put around him. 

That includes trading Jameer Nelson and a few others for Josh Smith, forming the best interior defense combo in the NBA, and grabbing a functional 2-guard or 3.

Gilbert Arenas has something left in the tank, but he simply hasn't been given the opportunity to shine. Unless the Magic can make something happen, and fast, Superman is going to fly out of Orlando to the highest bidder.

Either that, or they need to trade him for as much as possible.

Is a Trade Necessary in Miami?

There's been talk of Miami moving one of the Big Three, specifically Chris Bosh, in order to bolster their chances of making consecutive Finals appearances. The only question for Miami is whether that trade is actually necessary or not.

Miami surprised most after getting out to a rocky 9-8 start by getting to the NBA Finals. Though they fell short to the Dallas Mavericks, getting to the grandest stage of them all is something that 28 teams can't say they did.

The Heat need to regroup or re-tool, and come back stronger next season if they want to make another run for a Championship.

Will the New Orleans Hornets Deal Chris Paul?

Chris Paul wants out. There's no other way to put it.

According to ProBasketball.NBCsports.com,

"

“He wants to play with another superstar. He wants to follow LeBron’s model of teaming up with other great players."

"

That means that unless the New Orleans Hornets can sign a big name free agent this offseason—which there aren't many of—or trade their next 20 draft picks for a player like Dwight Howard, CP3 is walking and there is nothing they can do about it.

Except trade him.

If the Hornets trade Paul (see Carmelo Anthony), they could probably get some quality players and a few draft picks in return. 

CP3 wants out, and if the Hornets don't deal him, then they'll lose everything in the end.

Will the New York Knicks Play Defense?

The Knicks offense isn't the issue here. With Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, Chauncey Billups and Landry Fields, New York has more firepower in their starting lineup than most have on their entire team.

However, on defense it's a completely different story.

Under Coach Mike D'Antoni's offense-only system, the Knicks seem to lack effort on the opposite side of the ball. For a team with so much talent, being tied with the Golden State Warriors at 28th in Points Allowed per game (105.7) is a crying shame.

The Knicks did a great job by drafting the defense-minded Iman Shumpert, but it's going to take more than just one player—one rookie—to change the game plan.

D'Antoni is a genius on offense; there's no doubt about it. But he desperately needs help when it comes to playing the other side of the ball.

Enter Coach Mike Woodson.

According to the NY Post, at the end of August, the Knicks went ahead and hired Coach Woodson as an assistant to D'Antoni in order to both spearhead the defense and be the strong voice that the team needed.

If coach Woodson can impose his defense-first mentality upon a highly volatile New York Knick offense, the rest of the NBA had better watch out.