Each NBA Team's Rumor or Storyline That'll Stir Most Buzz in NBA Preseason

As free agency is set to open up Friday afternoon, it's time to get everything in order in terms of who is going after which player and who is going to end up sending a player away.

Meanwhile, there are some other intriguing storylines that will come to a head in the next few weeks as teams get together to prepare for the season.

The main storyline around the NBA is obviously the rumors swirling around Dwight Howard and Chris Paul, and where they will end up.

However, there are also teams out there attempting to put the finishing touches on a title contender, teams that are just trying to rebuild and players who have no idea whether or not they will be waived by their current team via amnesty.

So, here I have the biggest bugaboo surrounding each team as free agency sets to open up, and what they'll be looking to do during training camp and beyond.

Atlanta Hawks: Will Josh Smith Get Traded?

One of the many trade rumors that started over the summer was that the Atlanta Hawks would potentially try to trade Josh Smith.

Smith trade rumors haven't crept up much since the lockout started, but I expect them to come up yet again once the free agents start getting snatched up here in a few days.

Boston Celtics: How Will Rondo React to Trade Rumors?

I don't know if the Celtics will end up getting Chris Paul by shipping away Rajon Rondo (It still seems as if Golden State and Los Angeles are his best options.)

However, in the past week when rumors started cropping up and Rondo's name was involved, something happened that the Celtics couldn't take back. Whether they really were offering Rondo or not, his name was out there, and he heard all the rumors.

Most players understand that this is a business, although a few do tend to take trade rumors personally. It will be interesting to see how Rondo reacts.

Charlotte Bobcats: Will Agents Really Steer Free Agents Away from Charlotte?

When the lockout was in its most intense talks, there were a few agents making threats at the most hard-line owners that they would steer their players away from signing with those teams.

As the debate went on, some of the more hard-line owners started to back down, but Michael Jordan continued to be a big voice for the owners, and agents continued to threaten him.

It will be interesting to see if the Bobcats have a hard time signing free agents.

Chicago Bulls: Who Fills the 2-Guard Hole?

The Chicago Bulls are pretty well set up with their starting lineup, but they do have an obvious hole at shooting guard.

They have already met with Caron Butler, to whom they are planning on offering the full midlevel exception to. 

I'm excited to see both who they go after and who they end up signing, because it could end up swinging this year's title.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Baron Davis, Amnesty or No?

There hasn't really been a debate over whether the Cavaliers should use their amnesty on Baron Davis, who is owed nearly $30 million over the next two seasons.

It's basically been an accepted idea that the Cavs will use their amnesty on Davis, but what does that get them?

They don't need the cap space, as they won't be adding any huge contracts this season that will help them make the playoffs. Plus, they have the opportunity of putting him in the starting lineup in their shooting guard spot (a spot where they have no real players) alongside rookie Kyrie Irving.

Dallas Mavericks: Who Gets Re-Signed and Who Leaves?

The Dallas Mavericks have a lot of work to do when free agency opens on Friday afternoon.

They have six players—Tyson Chandler, JJ Barea, DeShawn Stevenson, Brian Cardinal, Caron Butler and Peja Stojakovic—who are free agents, and of those six they would be smart to re-sign five.

Chandler, Barea, Stevenson, Butler and Cardinal played big parts in their championship run, and re-signing them would give them continuity, something as good as signing a midlevel free agent in the NBA.

Denver Nuggets: Can They Get a Sign-and-Trade for Nene?

It's pretty much a given that Denver Nuggets center Nene doesn't want to re-sign with the Nuggets. The only mystery today is where he will end up.

He is free to choose where he goes, but he would get more money in a sign-and-trade deal, and the Nuggets would be happy to at least get something in return for Nene.

It seems like there will be a sign-and-trade happening—it's all a matter of who steps up and offers the Nuggets the most.

Detroit Pistons: Will They Hang onto Rip Hamilton?

The Detroit Pistons absolutely butchered their rebuilding attempt while they were still a good team (something went awry when they threw $90 million at Barlie Gordonueva), and now they have to rebuild as a terrible team.

The biggest mystery this season is whether or not they will end up using their amnesty on Rip Hamilton, or if they will attempt to trade him. Word is that Detroit plans on saving their amnesty clause, so that could mean they will start to look into trade opportunities for Hamilton.

Golden State Warriros: Are They Willing to Part with Stephen Curry?

One of the most intriguing players in the Chris Paul sweepstakes is the perpetually lowly Golden State Warriors.

Adding him to the cast in yellow and blue would be interesting for their change of basketball style, as it would almost immediately turn them into a defensive team.

The only thing that remains to be seen is whether or not the Warriors will offer up Steph Curry as the main piece of the deal, something they've been holding back on recently.

Houston Rockets: What Big Man Do They Go After?

The Houston Rockets have a hole at center after Yao Ming retired and the intriguing Chuck Hayes became a free agent, so they look like they'll be a big player on the big man market this season.

It will be interesting to see if they can make a play for Nene or Tyson Chandler, or even one of the restricted big men, DeAndre Jordan or Marc Gasol.

The interesting thing is that if they don't get one of these four guys they will be forced to go after Samuel Dalembert, probably offering him more money than he can turn down, which could completely throw off the free-agent market for big men.

Indiana Pacers: What Do They Do with Their Crazy Cap Space?

As of right now the Indiana Pacers have $22 million to spend and nobody that they're dying to re-sign. If they use their amnesty on James Posey, that number will be bumped up to $28 million.

That's interesting, because they'll have all this space and this team that made the playoffs last season, along with George Hill, their new arrival from San Antonio. Depending on what they do in free agency, Indiana could be this year's Memphis Grizzlies and surprise people.

Los Angeles Clipper: What Will They Give Up for Paul?

I'm nearly convinced that Chris Paul will end up on the Clippers by the trade deadline, but the rumors will continue to be hot from this moment until he actually gets traded.

The thing that I'm pouring over is how they could possibly end up with Paul without trading Eric Gordon, whom they have said won't be traded for Paul.

Obviously a package would have to include DeAndre Jordan, but beyond that do they offer their two first rounders this season? Or do they offer more young players and try to keep a hold of one of those picks?

This trade could make or break the Western Conference over the next few seasons.

Los Angeles Lakers: When Will They Get Dwight?

I've basically convinced myself that the Lakers will end up with Dwight Howard. They have missed the playoffs just five times in their 63-year history (that's not a typo either), and grabbing Howard would give them another seven straight playoff appearances guaranteed.

So, the only thing I'm left wondering is if the Lakers get him before the season starts or if they wait until midseason when they can get him for less.

Memphis Grizzlies: Marc Gasol's Inevitable Max Deal

Marc Gasol may not be putting up the stats yet, but when there's a big man with this much potential, he's almost certainly going to get overpaid.

The only thing that remains is whether the Grizzlies are serious about matching whatever offer sheet Gasol signs. If they are, he'll end up with a max (or near-max) deal with the Grizzlies, or he could end up somewhere else with a huge contract.

Miami Heat: Who Can They Add to Improve Beyond the Three Amigos?

The Miami Heat will have the ability to use their full midlevel exception so long as they use their amnesty on Mike Miller, which will allow them to add a good player.

This is something that I went in depth about a few days ago. Miami could end up going after Samuel Dalembert, Shane Battier or Grant Hill with that exception, plus they could go after another player (Kwame Brown? Michael Redd?) with their biannual exception.

Milwaukee Bucks: Are They Going to Be a Third Team in a Big Trade?

One of the latest rumors in the Dwight Howard trade saga is that the Lakers are looking to get the Bucks involved in a three-team deal.

In this deal, Howard would go to the Lakers, Andrew Bynum would end up on the Bucks and Andrew Bogut would go to Orlando. 

To me, it seems like the Bucks should get a lot more than Andrew Bynum if they were to sign on in this deal, so we'll have to see if anything actually comes out of this.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Will Michael Beasley Get Traded?

With Derrick Williams basically the same player as Michael Beasley but with much more potential, it seems imminent that the Beas gets traded.

Minnesota has revitalized his career, as he went from being a lost cause to being a good scorer for the Timberwolves. They bought low on Beasley—now it's time for them to sell high.

New Jersey Nets: Can They Get Some Teammates?

Although Deron Williams said there's a 90 percent chance he re-signs with the Nets (according to CBS New York) I don't know how much I can believe that right now.

If the Nets end up making a few free-agent mistakes, I'm not sure if Williams will want to stay with them, but that all depends on who they get.

New Orleans Hornets: How Much Will They Get from Chris Paul?

So far, the three main suitors for the Hornets' Chirs Paul don't want to give up what the Clippers want them to give up.

The Celtics aren't willing to deal Rajon Rondo, the Clippers don't want to give up Eric Gordon and the Warriros don't want to give up Stephen Curry. New Orleans can probably end up wriggling one of these guys out of these teams. He should be able to drive up the offers of each team by pitting them against each other.

New York Knicks: Can They Trade for Either of the Big Guys?

Admittedly, the Knicks don't have as much to offer the Hornets when compared to the Celtics, Warriors or Clippers, and they certainly can't match the Lakers offer for Dwight Howard, but they can hold out hope.

They have Chauncey Billups' expiring deal, Iman Shumpert, Tony Douglas, Bill Walker and Landry Fields to offer up, which is better than nothing.

If Chris Paul tells the Hornets that he'll only sign an extension with the Knicks then he can all but force a trade to New York.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Is There a Real Problem Between Westbrook and Durant?

The Thunder have an all-out star in Kevin Durant and a burgeoning star in Russell Westbrook, and while stars can coexist in the NBA, there usually needs to be an obvious hierarchy on the court.

That hierarchy became mixed up during the Western Conference Finals last season as Westbrook continually held onto the ball late in games and chucked up shots relentlessly, leading to a shouting match between him and Durant during Game 4, according to NBC Sports.

There may not be a big problem here, but if there is it could end up derailing the best young team in the NBA.

Orlando Magic: How Much Can They Get for Howard?

I would imagine that if the Magic are indeed committed to trading Dwight Howard that they would want to do it early to get the best deal possible.

If they trade him early they may be able to get more than just Andrew Bynum out of the Lakers, but if they wait until the trade deadline they will get a lesser deal than they would have had they traded him early.

Philadelphia 76ers: Will Andre Iguodala Finally Get Traded?

For what seems like a half a decade, the Philadelphia 76ers have been shopping Andre Iguodala, but they never got a deal that they thought was worth what Iggy does for them.

However, as their team gets younger and trade talks heat up yet again, he could be on the way out by the time the trade deadline comes along.

With a few good, young players rumored to be on the block (namely Monta Ellis), Philly could look to get its team even younger than it is now.

Phoenix Suns: Are They Still Just Treading Water?

Last offseason, the Suns did nothing for the future of their franchise, as all they did was overpay for Hakim Warrick, Channing Frye and Josh Childress.

Their moves over the next few months will tell us if their front office is prepping for the future or trying to cling to the past.

Stubbornly hanging onto Steve Nash and re-signing Grant Hill show signs of clinging to the past, but shopping Nash a bit would be good for their future.

Portland Trail Blazers: How's the Health?

The Portland Trail Blazers would have one of the best teams in the NBA if they were able to stay any bit healthy, but they constantly have players in suits.

If Brandon Roy and Greg Oden were at the pinnacle of health, they would be serious contenders for the Western Conference crown this year. Without them they're a five seed at best.

Hopefully Brandon Roy can put in a good year and Greg Oden can come back whenever he gets healthy to contribute to the Blazers.

Sacramento Kings: How Does Their Guard Scenario Shake Out?

Last season the Kings had Beno Udrih starting at point guard for the majority of the season. This year they are without Udrih and have an interesting scenario at the point.

They can re-sign restricted free agent Marcus Thornton which would give them Thornton, Tyreke Evans, Francisco Garcia and Jimmer Fredette as their four main guards, but three of those guards are shooting guards.

Evans may play point guard, but he looked much more comfortable as a shooting guard last season.

San Antonio Spurs: The Small Forward Hole

The San Antonio Spurs have reportedly been the first team in the NBA to use their amnesty clause, waiving small forward Richard Jefferson, according to SB Nation.

San Antonio now has a hole to fill, lest they use Kawhi Leonard to start this season.

They've been linked to both Grant Hill and Shane Battier, according to Sports Illustrated, who would both do well with the Spurs.

Toronto Raptors: Will They Amnesty Anyone?

The Toronto Raptors are pretty well set in the idea that they are going to be one of the worst teams in the league this season, which is good, because the best way to get better in the NBA is through the draft.

However, they could choose to free up some cap space and try out a few players on the free-agent market.

The only question is whether or not they will use their amnesty on someone like Jose Calderon.

Utah Jazz: Plenty of Players to Trade, but Does Anyone Get Dealt?

After trading Deron Williams before the trade deadline last season, the Jazz set themselves up for the future pretty well.

They added Derrick Favors and now Enes Kanter because of the trade, which gives them a surplus of big men. Mehmet Okur will probably be waived via amnesty which leaves Al Jefferson and Paul Milsap to possibly be shipped elsewhere.

The Pacers have shown interest in Paul Milsap, according to Hoops Nation, while the Jazz could still also ship off Jefferson.

Washington Wizards: How Will They Set Up Their Team?

The Washington Wizards have a mishmash of young athletic players that will be interesting to see play together.

The only problem that remains is they don't have an obvious starting lineup like most teams. John Wall and JaVale McGee are the only guarantees, but elsewhere it gets interesting.

Washington has (or will have) Nick Yong and Jordan Crawford at the 2-guard, both of whom can start, and Jan Vesely, Rashard Lewis and Chris Singleton at small forward, any of whom could get a shot at starting throughout the season. Vesely could also compete with Andray Blatche for the power forward spot.

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