50 Storylines to Monitor Heading into the 2011-12 NBA Season

The 50 most intriguing storylines to monitor heading into the 2011-12 NBA season are fairly unique.

For the first time since the 1998-99 season, the league is in the thick of a work stoppage that doesn't appear to be coming to a resolution at any point in the near future.

We could be in for a shortened season like the 50-game schedule we saw in the previous lockout situation, and that would add some serious intrigue into what teams on the fence plan to do.

50. Minnesota's Options on the Wing

Minnesota has a ridiculous amount of depth on the wing, and the team is going to have to figure out a way to fill out the roster in other areas.

With Beasley along with Derrick Williams, Lazar Hayward, Anthony Randolph, Martell Webster and Wes Johnson all on board, it's clear that the T-Wolves are going to have to make some interesting roster decisions when transactions resume.

49. Can Rudy Gay Resume Where He Left off Prior to His Shoulder Injury?

Prior to sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury, Rudy Gay was enjoying one of his best seasons since coming into the league.

While many were quick to brush off his contributions considering Memphis' surprising run in the postseason, the team's inability to space the floor and get contributions from the perimeter is exactly what killed the momentum before they were eventually eliminated.

Gay's got a maximum contract and is going to be the most integral piece of the puzzle going forward, so it's going to be imperative that he can return to previous form.

48. Can Darren Collison Rebound from a Subpar Indiana Debut?

When the Pacers pulled the trigger on the acquisition of Darren Collison prior to the 2010-11 campaign, the team likely had higher expectations for him.

While Collison wasn't a total bust in his first stint with Indiana, he failed to show the dynamic playmaking ability that he demonstrated in New Orleans a season prior when Chris Paul was sidelined due to injury.

He finished the season averaging just 5.1 assists per game, but he averaged 6.7 assists per contest over his final six games of the season, and that's definitely momentum to build off moving forward.

47. Chris Grant's Tenure as Cleveland's General Manager

When Danny Ferry resigned and Chris Grant accepted the job as Cleveland General Manager, he knew it was going to be a tough job.

And then Cleveland lost LeBron to Miami.

Now, the biggest impression he's left on Cavs fans at this point is trading J.J. Hickson for Omri Casspi, drafting Tristan Thompson at fourth overall and claiming that the team is in a "really good position."

So far, I've seen nothing to suggest that this team is going to be in a favorable position in the foreseeable future.

46. Will Players Take a Pay Cut to Play in Miami?

We've heard some interesting names being kicked around as potential additions to the Miami lineup, but it's going to be tough for any notable free agents to come into the fold.

While Nene has identified a desire to win as a priority over money and Heat beat writer Ira Winderman has entertained the idea of adding Jamal Crawford, both players made substantially more than the team could offer.

It's going to be really interesting to see the caliber of players that are willing to take a pay decrease to join a championship contender, especially considering the way Miami's season ended in 2010-11.

45. Eastern Conference Playoff Picture

The Eastern Conference is going to be a competitive one toward the bottom of the standings, and there were a couple of improving teams that were left out of the playoff picture last season.

Both the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards were on the outside looking in when the season concluded, but each team has the arrow pointing upward heading into the season.

It's going to be fun to watch which teams can band together and keep the positive momentum rolling, but there is also a distinct chance that a truncated season could hurt in the pursuit of improvement.

44. Coaches on the Hot Seat

Mike D'Antoni's seat on the bench got a little bit warmer when the Knicks brought aboard Mike Woodson as an assistant coach, but he's not the only coach that has to worry.

Paul Westphal has a boatload of talent on his roster, but his unorthodox manner of deploying the troops has some seriously questioning whether or not he's the right leader for a ridiculously young squad.

As time progresses, there will definitely be others that join the two of them on the hot seat.

43. Best Player in the League

Who's it going to be?

While some clamored that Kobe Bryant was still king last season, others insisted that No. 24 has passed that torch onto LeBron James.

But how about Dwyane Wade? The Miami Heat clearly still (and always will) belong to Wade despite James' presence, and it wouldn't surprise me to see almost everyone talking up the multidimensional shooting guard when it's all said and done.

42. The Denver Nuggets Going to China

The lockout has forced some players to seek work abroad, and the Denver Nuggets have been the biggest victim of that process heretofore.

While J.R. Smith certainly wasn't a slam dunk to return to the team as a free agent, he recently inked a one-year deal to play in China with Zhejiang Wanma.

Additionally, Wilson Chandler, a key piece of the Carmelo Anthony trade, has signed a one-year deal of his own with Zhejiang Guangsha, the same team that signed Orlando's Earl Clark.

With Kenyon Martin being courted by the Xinjiang Flying Tigers and Melvin Ely expected to sign in China as well, Denver is going to have to scramble to fill out the roster.

41. Will Monta Ellis Remain with Golden State?

The Monta Ellis trade rumors have been in full effect since draft night, and despite the Warriors expressing no interest in dealing him right now, that could certainly change in the future.

There are a number of teams that expressed interest in Ellis as recently as a few months back, and it wouldn't be surprising to see a desperate team come heavy with a big offer.

While it remains a very distinct possibility that he remains with Golden State long term, it's a bit too early for me to stand on firm ground behind that stance.

40. Brandon Roy

Brandon Roy really endured a tale of two seasons last year, and it's going to be interesting to see which version of the talented shooting guard shows up for the Blazers.

After struggling with his knee woes throughout the middle of the regular season, Roy delivered an inspiring postseason performance despite being limited in his playing time in the games prior.

Now that Portland has Wesley Matthews at the 2 guard, a Roy revolution would really make the Trail Blazers a much deeper more dangerous club.

39. Kemba Walker's NBA Outlook

Kemba Walker fell to the ninth overall draft slot despite being the most prolific player in college basketball, and he's undoubtedly out to prove that he should've been selected well ahead of that.

A legitimate candidate for Rookie of the Year, Walker has the ability to come in and score from the onset of the action despite his lack of size.

The most challenging thing for Walker will be playing alongside D.J. Augustin as both of them are point guards, and the Bobcats will have to find some unorthodox rotations in order to accommodate both of them.

38. Dwyane Wade for MVP?

Can Dwyane Wade ever win a regular season MVP award with LeBron James on his team?

Despite welcoming James to the team last season, Wade's numbers from 2010-11 (25.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists) were not far off from his career-averages of 25.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists.

It was clear in the NBA Finals that Wade was still the primary offensive option for the Heat when it mattered most, and fans shouldn't brush off the possibility of Wade taking home the hardware next season.

37. Will Josh Smith Be Traded?

Josh Smith's name is another one that has been sizzling in rumors throughout the offseason, and that's a result of Atlanta's willingness to shop him prior to the draft.

The uber-athletic and versatile forward has already identified New Jersey, Houston, Boston and Orlando as his preferred destinations, and it will be interesting to see if one of those teams would be interested in making a play.

The Celtics have brushed off any potential interest in J-Smoove, but he's known to be good friends with Dwight Howard, and it just so happens that the Magic have an opening for a starting power forward in the lineup.

36. How Will Orlando Improve the Roster Around Dwight Howard?

Dwight Howard has been adamant that he'll only consider signing an extension with Orlando if the roster endures significant improvements around him, but I'm not sure how the Magic plan to do that.

General Manager Otis Smith has pulled off a variety of deals over the last couple of seasons, and it's resulted in a lot of moving pieces around the franchise center.

Smith won't have a lot of time to pursue improvements in the starting lineup, and the clock is rapidly ticking for Howard to put pen to paper and sign on the dotted line.

35. What Is Going on in Phoenix?

The picture in the desert landscape is a little unclear after last season, but it's clear that the Suns are in re-building mode.

While the club has some nice assets in Aaron Brooks and Marcin Gortat for the long-term picture, the club has some really awful contracts in guys like Josh Childress and Hakim Warrick.

The team added some youth along the front line with the selection of Markieff Morris, but it's going to take a while before the team is back to where it once was in the thick of the Western Conference.

34. Can the Dallas Mavericks Repeat as Champions?

It's very difficult for any championship club to repeat in the NBA, but it's going to be really tough for the Mavericks to bring that idea to fruition.

While the club is going to need to re-sign Tyson Chandler, Dallas is going to face stiff competition to retain J.J. Barea, and it's not like the core of talent is loaded with youth.

Mark Cuban has shown capable of making magic happen in the locker room, and I'm certainly not going to bet against a team led by Dirk Nowitzki, but it's going to be an uphill battle to return to the top of the NBA.

33. About Those Cleveland Cavaliers...

As alluded to previously, the Cavs are putting a lot of stock into the futures of Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson.

However, it's going to be awfully tough for these top picks to get acclimated to the NBA ranks without having the benefit of a proper offseason.

The team is also valuing Omri Casspi's stock above J.J. Hickson, and the latter was once involved in active discussions for a trade that involved Amar'e Stoudemire.

With Anderson Varejao remaining the club's starting center, it's going to be an interesting experiment on the hardwood for this squad.

32. Can Andrew Bogut Stay Healthy?

The talent has never been the issue in question with Andrew Bogut.

Instead, it's been health that has been his biggest opponent during his career.

Bogut has managed to play in all 82 games just one time (his rookie season), and the Australian center has missed 30 games over the last two campaigns due to arm troubles.

Now that he's healthy, Bogut will look to stay on the court for the entire season and help lead a very different-looking Bucks team to a brighter era of basketball.

31. What Will Happen with O.J. Mayo in Memphis?

Mayo was demoted from the starting unit last season in Memphis, and he never re-gained his starting role on a permanent basis.

He's set to become a restricted free agency in 2012, and with a plethora of clubs interested in upgrading the perimeter attack, it wouldn't surprise me to see a number of clubs attempt to pry him away from the Grizzlies.

The talent is undoubtedly present with Mayo, and it's possible he takes a major step forward after a down season in 2010-11.

30. Will Miami Go Back to the Pick and Roll?

For some reason, Miami stopped running its most unstoppable play last season, and I have absolutely no idea why they abandoned something that clearly worked so well.

Whether it's Bosh and James, James and Wade or even Wade and Bosh, the pick and roll was Miami's best friend several junctures from last season.

The Heat are going to need to find a way to carry out and facilitate the play on a more consistent basis to enjoy sustained success next season.

29. Can the Grizzlies Re-Sign Marc Gasol?

Memphis center Marc Gasol was a major reason that the team was able to enjoy success in the postseason, but the club won't be without contest in pursuing him.

The Grizzlies recently inked Zach Randolph to a four-year contract extension as well as Mike Conley to a five-year deal, and with Rudy Gay on a max contract of his own, there is a lot of monetary commitments outstanding for the team.

Is there room for Gasol, too?

28. Can the Chicago Bulls Take the Next Step?

The Bulls surprised a lot of fans last season after finishing with the best regular season record, and Derrick Rose was the youngest player to ever capture the MVP award.

After surging in the postseason and having momentum on their side, the Bulls were stifled by Miami and for the first time all season, Rose really appeared to be running out of gas.

Now that the team has gained some experience as to what it takes to reach the finals, this young and talented club will be taking to look the next step behind its fearless leader.

27. Andre Iguodalas Future in Philadelphia

Like Monta Ellis, Iguodala is a player who has been subject to constant trade rumors, except his started long before the offseason began.

The team is thought to be high on the futures of both Thaddeus Young (restricted free agent) and Evan Turner, and both of those youngsters play the same position as Iguodala.

When one factors Iguodala's behemoth contract into the scenario, a trade to another team becomes rather convoluted, as it's going to be tough for the Sixers to net Iguodala's real value on the open market.

26. Will Otis Smith Keep His Job in Orlando?

Smith is under more pressure than any other general manager in the NBA, and it's a direct result of the uncertainty surrounding Dwight Howard.

He's going to have to answer a lot of questions if Gilbert Arenas continues to under-perform and Hedo Turkoglu continues to look like he did last season.

He could certainly gain a helping hand of support by bringing in someone like Josh Smith to pair with his franchise icon, because if Howard walks out the door for nothing, Smith is likely going to be right behind him.

25. The Jimmer Effect in Sacramento

Fredette was pegged to be the newest member of the Utah Jazz in several mock drafts around the web prior to the selection process, but that's simply not how the cards fell.

Instead, the talented shooter landed in Sacramento, a perfect reason for the fans in Northern California to come out in full-fledged support of their promising team and keep them in town for the long haul.

The backcourt is going to be crowded with Fredette's addition, but the Kings will find a way to get the BYU standout on the hardwood.

24. Joe Johnson and His Max Contract

Johnson's max contract has been the subject of scrutiny since he re-signed with the team.

Although he might not be worthy of $20 million-plus on a yearly basis, the Hawks ran the risk of losing him to another team if they didn't lock him up long term, and Atlanta was really between a rock and a hard place with the decision.

The team has been stuck in the middle of the Eastern Conference, and if they fail to turn the corner again this season, there are going to be a lot of fingers pointed in Johnson's direction.

23. Kris Humphries and the "Kardashian Effect"

Humphries has already been subjected to the Kardashian effect throughout the summer, and he's been in more headlines with his new wife than because of his impending free agency.

The power forward broke out for New Jersey last season, and now he'll be hoping to cash in a solid season with a long-term deal.

The Nets have remained adamant about re-signing him, and if any club is going to dole out the dollar signs for him, they're going to be hoping that his presence beneath the rim arrives with no strings attached.

22. James Dolan, Isiah Thomas and the New York Front Office

Isiah Thomas' tenure as the lead decision-maker for New York might be over, but is he still influencing the happenings of the team behind the scenes?

That's what many have suspected, and it was fairly clear that Thomas had a fairly obvious role in the Knicks acquisition of Carmelo Anthony.

Now that the team is handing control to Glen Grunwald, a close friend of Thomas, it wouldn't be a shock to see Thomas play a sizable role in the team's future as they look toward a prized free agent class of 2012.

21. Alpha Dog Role in Oklahoma City Between Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook

The Oklahoma City Thunder belong to Kevin Durant, but it looked as if Russell Westbrook was struggling to understand Durant's top dog role late last season.

Rather than deferring to the team's best player, Westbrook often sought to assert himself as the alpha dog on the floor, and often times came at the peril of his club.

Now, the Thunder will have to ensure that Durant, not Westbrook, leads the team on the stat sheet and at the end of close contests in order to take the next step.

20. Can Stoudemire, Anthony and the Knicks Piece It Together?

The Knicks and their fans were expecting big things when Stoudemire, Anthony and Billups came together last season, but it didn't go exactly according to plan.

New York struggled to transition with the new group of talent, and Billups' knee injury in the postseason cost the club any chance of advancing beyond Boston.

Now that the three have increased familiarity with one another, the group will be looking to prove that the Knicks are back on the map and here to stay.

19. Can Mark Jackson Succeed as a Head Coach?

Jackson's name has been tossed around as a viable head coaching candidate for quite some time, and the Golden State Warriors are finally giving him a shot.

Thus far, Jackson has preached defense and promised that his team will make a renewed commitment at that end of the floor, but the personnel currently on the roster is going to make that vision tough to come to fruition.

Jackson's tenure as coach will be judged rather quickly by most critics and observers, and all eyes will be on how he uses his two biggest assets: Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis.

18. The Future of the Los Angeles Clippers

The future of the Los Angeles Clippers is a hot topic of discussion, and the standout rookie season from Blake Griffin has everyone across the NBA landscape excited.

Eric Gordon is poised to deliver a monstrous campaign for the Clippers, and the emergence of DeAndre Jordan down low gives the team the most athletic power forward/center combination in the league.

The team also has promising youngsters Al Farouq-Aminu and Eric Bledsoe, and it's clear that the arrow is pointing up for the right reasons for Los Angeles' "other" team.

17. How the Lakers Adapt Under Mike Brown

The Lakers introduced Mike Brown as the new head coach upon Phil Jackson's retirement from the game, and it's not going to be a seamless transition.

Not only is Los Angeles moving away from the triangle offense, but Brown has promised that his style of attack will flow through the team's big men, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

Brown was on the San Antonio bench when the Spurs utilized the "Twin Towers" with incredible success, and the Lakers will look to take advantage of their impressive size down low.

16. Will Chris Paul Join the Knicks?

The New York Knicks have been heavily linked to Chris Paul as his free agency approaches following the 2011-12 season, and it's easy to figure out why that's the case.

The team has had a gaping hole at the point guard position as the club seeks a long-term fit, and Paul's infamous toast at Anthony's wedding have Knicks fans dreaming about the potential big three.

There are a ton of financial restrictions and obligations to circumvent in an effort to make the move happen, but it's far too early to write it off as an impossibility at this point.

15. How 2010 Draft Selections Who Failed to Impress Rebound in 2011

There were a number of 2010 draft selections that didn't show out the way that some had anticipated during their rookie season, and each will be looking to rebound in a sizable manner.

Evan Turner, Derrick Favors, Ekpe Udoh and Wesley Johnson (among several others) will be looking to validate their selection slots after a less than impressive first season.

Each will be looking to cement a role in the league after inconsistent play during 2010-11, and it will be fun to watch which players come out running.

14. Will Greg Oden Ever Contribute for Portland?

Since Oden was taken first overall by Portland in the 2007 draft class, the center has played in just 82 regular season games over a four season span.

While Durant's emergence in Oklahoma City has been obvious, the Blazers are still committing to Oden's potential, as evidenced by the fact that the team was willing to tender him an $8.8 million qualifying contract offer before the lockout.

He's not expected to be healthy until at least November, and the clock is rapidly ticking on him to ever contribute while donning a Portland uniform.

13. Can the Miami Heat Win the Championship?

Miami came close in its first season with LeBron James and Chris Bosh joining Dwyane Wade in South Beach, but ultimately came up short in the quest to become NBA champions.

When James joined the Heat, he cited the desire to win a title as soon as possible as the premier reason for signing, and he's taken a ton of criticism since the championship round where he absolutely disappeared on the court.

Embracing the "villain" role, the Heat team can definitely return to the Finals if they learn from mistakes made last season, but most importantly, they have to execute on the unstoppable pick and roll.

12. Expedited Free Agency Process

Due to the lockout, if we have a 2011-12 season, it's going to be one where the free agency process and bidding for players is extraordinarily expedited.

While the free agent class of 2011 isn't nearly as stacked as 2010, there are still quality contributors like David West that can really add value to a club looking to reel in a nice addition.

Teams are going to be scrambling looking for ways to fill the roster, and it's likely going to lead to some very intriguing contracts being signed.

11. Rick Adelman and the Minnesota Timberwolves

The opinion on Rick Adelman joining Minnesota as the Timberwolves' newest head coach is almost split down the middle.

While some argue that he's a perfect fit for the team as the leader of a developing group, others seem to disagree with that notion considering the youth on the roster is the reason he took the job.

Adelman and General Manager David Kahn are known to not see eye-to-eye, and that makes this hire all the more interesting, as there has been a ton of fans who have been clamoring for Kahn's tenure to come to an end as soon as possible.

10. Is David Kahn Losing a Grip on His Job?

As mentioned in the previous slide, Adelman's hire in Minnesota could very well indicate that the writing is on the wall for David Kahn in his current role.

Since taking over at the helm of the controls, Kahn has made several questionable moves, and now he's putting many of his eggs in one basket with Ricky Rubio, who is no slam dunk to enjoy success in the initial part of his NBA career.

He's got an affinity for European talent, and after inking multi-year deals with both Darko Milicic and Nikola Pekovic, it's clear as to why so many have questioned what his ultimate strategy is with the team.

9. Is Boston's Championship Window Closing?

The question for the ages: is the Celtics' championship window closing?

Boston's original "big three" are aging, and with both Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett in the final year of their current contracts, some have suggested that 2011-12 may be the final season for the current group to make a legitimate championship charge.

When the team won it all in 2008, it was Boston's first championship since the 1986 season, and fans are hoping that the wait until the next one isn't nearly as long.

8. Tim Duncan's Knee

Duncan's knee was already a topic of sizable concern last season as he sat out some action in an effort to rest, and it's an issue that isn't subsiding anytime soon.

The power forward averaged just around 28 minutes of playing time during the regular season, and that was easily the lowest mark of his career.

As the Spurs seek to transition to an era of basketball for after the big man hangs 'em up, Duncan's role in the offense will be something to keep a careful eye on going forward.

7. Can the Nets Convince Deron Williams to Sign an Extension?

When the Nets traded Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and two future first-round picks for Deron Williams, the team didn't have a rental in mind.

Williams is scheduled to hit free agency after the 2011-12 season, but the Nets are hoping to lock him up to a long-term extension long before that time comes.

The point guard has said that he'll consider signing with the club if the team shows signs of improvement, and it's going to be critical that they make some major moves in an effort to build a contender with Williams at the epicenter of the blueprint.

6. Andrew Bynum and Kobe Bryant's Balky Knees

The Los Angeles Lakers have a lot of talent on the roster, but the team had the league's second-oldest roster in terms of average age last season.

Additionally, Bryant didn't practice all season long because of ongoing knee woes of his own, and Bynum's got two balky knees that always seem to give him an issue at some point during the season.

If either one is forced to the sidelines for an extended period of time, the Lakers' chances of returning to postseason prominence will be greatly tempered.

5. Will the Orlando Magic Trade Dwight Howard?

The trade that everyone (except Magic fans) is waiting for is definitely Dwight Howard being shipped out of Orlando.

While a potential swap may not occur, it's going to be difficult for Orlando to realistically compete for a championship in a stacked Eastern Conference, and Howard has already identified winning at the highest level as a very important part of his future.

The attention on Howard will be at an all-time high.

4. How a New CBA Impacts Financial Restrictions on Teams

One of the sticking points at the negotiating table between owners and players during the lockout has been the issue of revenue-sharing between teams.

Michael Jordan was fined $100,000 for his comments to The Herald Sun regarding the lockout and how small-market teams suffer under the current system.

It's clear that teams like the Bobcats are looking to find ways that they can realistically compete and become a viable landing spot for prized free agents, and money is a major issue when those teams simply don't produce the same money as larger-market clubs like Los Angeles and Boston.

3. Will There Be a Trade Market?

In a shortened season, there's no doubt that the trade landscape would be impacted in a large manner.

Without a season, there won't be a market at all.

There are some big fish heading toward free agency in 2012 (Chris Paul, Dwight Howard) and if the wheeling and dealing between clubs isn't allowed due to the work stoppage, the summer of 2012 could be one of epic proportions in terms of potential transactions.

2. David Stern, Billy Hunter and the Lockout

It's fairly important to note that Commissioner David Stern has now overseen two lockouts in less than 15 seasons, and it doesn't sound as if he's having a large hand in working things out.

It's become rather obvious that the talks have shifted away from Billy Hunter and David Stern and gravitated toward Derek Fisher and Adam Silver, and that's not something that anybody should be mildly surprised over considering how negotiations have gone to this point.

All eyes are fixated on the two figureheads to get a deal done and capitalize on the momentum that the NBA held last season.

1. LeBron James and His Ability to Rebound in the Public Eye

Remember when LeBron James decided to tell everyone that they'd still have their own personal problems at the end of the day?

That's what I thought.

James faces a ridiculous uphill battle in an effort to be seen in a positive light in the public eye after his play in the NBA Finals and the comments that ensued, but that doesn't mean it's impossible.

Winning typically cures all for a player's reputation, and if Miami can come out on top of the standings with James' efforts proving integral, it's going to be a very different offseason for the most talented player in the game next summer.