NBA Rumors: Teams with Significant Cap Space Looking to Upgrade Roster

Free agency is looming and talks have already begun between players and teams despite the fact that the actual period to begin signing and trading players begins on December 9th.

With that period a little more than a week away, organizations looking to make a big splash are keeping a tab on their financial situation. This class doesn't have that one superstar that everyone will be clamoring for, but rather a few All-Stars and a number of role players that will fill some holes and possibly attract some attention from the superstars that will be on the block next year.

It's going to be interesting to see how these teams play the field this offseason. Will they be conservative by saving their money for 2012 when Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Deron Williams become free agents? Or, will teams be even more frivolous as a means to bring in solid role players and then make their argument to those superstars by showcasing their all-around quality roster.

The smaller market teams will be given the opportunity to fill up on role players before making their push. There are quite a few teams that have more than enough money to sign multiple players, and it could result in lesser observed teams potentially making some noise in the postseason in the near future.

Which three teams do you say, could begin making their postseason push by utilizing all of that free cap space? Why, these three teams of course:

Indiana Pacers

Salary: $36,957,444.

With president Larry Bird openly coming out and stating the intentions of the team to pursue a number of players this offseason, it turns out that the Indiana Pacers may no longer be first-round fodder once we analyze the team following the signing period.

The Indiana Pacers were able to secure an eighth seed last season despite finishing the year 37-45. Danny Granger would lead the way once again, but the team saw a great deal of improvement out of a number of key role players including center Roy Hibbert and power forward Tyler Hansbrough. The team is also hoping to continue their development of point guard Darren Collison while also attempting to get three-point specialist George Hill into the rotation.

The team has a strong, young core that could make the postseason in a  conference where only the first five spots are secured. A sixth, seventh or eighth see could very well be in the Pacers' future if they can make some key moves and bring in a number of players already on their radar, including Rajon Rondo.

New Jersey Nets

Salary: $39,814,161

This year's offseason is of great importance to a team like the New Jersey Nets, who have a lot on their plate in the future. With Deron Williams set to opt out and become a free agent and the prospect of Dwight Howard possibly joining the team via trade, the Nets are going to have to make some significant moves in order to bring in role players and convince Williams and Howard to re-sign with the team in 2012.

As of now, the Nets are lacking in the quality players department. Aside from Williams and Brook Lopez (I guess), there is a severe drop off in talent with Kris Humphries and Anthony Morrow being the only other solid players that were able to contribute last season.

However, the team might have selected the steal of the draft by trading for Marshon Brooks, who averaged 25 points and seven rebounds per in his final season at Providence.

Nevertheless, the Nets are in desperate need of talent. Not only do they need the talent to improve as a team, but most importantly to convince Deron Williams and Dwight Howard to sign with the Nets and make this team a championship contender once again.

Houston Rockets

Salary: $47,306,218

The Houston Rockets are a team looking for an identity. They're a solid team, but they reside in the Southwest division which is easily the most competitive division with four teams that are capable of winning 50 games, and one of them being the reigning NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. Being in a tough division is a sour twist of fate for the Rockets as they find themselves in last place despite having a quality roster that includes the likes of sharp shooter Kevin Martin and post-threat Luis Scola.

The Rockets have a solid, young rotation with Kyle Lowry running the point and Chase Budinger at small forward, but they're desperate in finding help at the center position and off the bench. If the season started today, they'd be relying on Hasheem Thabeet as their possible starting center and that is something that no one in Houston wants.

Thabeet is a solid defender, but his offense is abysmal and he's already been sent to the D-League despite being the No. 2 pick in 2010.

This team has a lot of money to spend as they rank near the bottom half of the league in their team's salary. With centers like Nene Hilario and Tyson Chandler available, a big man to replace the loss of Yao Ming is a necessity for the Rockets if they want to compete in that juggernaut of a division known as the Southwest.