Worst-Case Scenario for Every NBA Team Leading Up to Opening Day

We're less than a week away my fellow NBA fanatics! As I write this, we are only six days away from the beginning of the NBA regular season and I know I can't be the only one that's getting antsy just thinking about it.

The few preseason games that we have will help tide us over as we wait on the edge of our seats for another thrilling installment of the NBA. Even though we were wronged when it went into a lockout and we could no longer take the business jargon that was being thrown at us, it is all in the past now and we get to see real entertainment for the first time since June.

With preseason starting and each teams roster being cut down, we can finally begin to make an honest analysis of each and every team and how they will fare. Instead of looking at the best-case scenarios for every team, we're going to go in a negative route and take a look at what could be the worst possible thing to happen to each team.

Sorry to be a downer, but it has to be done. Here's each NBA team and how their season could be lost if these worst-case scenarios play out.

Atlanta Hawks: Jeff Teague Not Panning Out

Looking towards the future, the Atlanta Hawks are looking to take a step into future success by instilling Jeff Teague into the starting lineup as their point guard.

Entering his third year after being taken 19th in the 2009 NBA draft, Teague impressed the organization last season after a strong second round against the Chicago Bulls. After the original point guard Kirk Hinrich suffered an injury that would keep him out of the semifinals, Teague was given the spot at point and would match up against MVP Derrick Rose.

For a second-year guard who had barely played, Teague was impressive. He had 21 points in three out of the six games, scored double digits in five games and had a seven-assist game where he committed zero turnovers.

Rose and the Bulls would win the series, but Teague was stellar against the reigning MVP. He was fearless by driving to the rim at will, not settling for contested or distant jumpers and not wilting due to the competition that he faced.

The Hawks lost a big-time scorer in Jamal Crawford over the offseason, and they now must hope that Teague becomes a 13-point-and-eight-assist-type of player.

If he fails to live up to expectations, the Hawks will be left with their core "Big Three" and little consistent support elsewhere.

Boston Celtics: A Significant Injury to Garnett, Allen or Pierce

In the 2007 offseason, the Boston Celtics finally made it out of mediocrity. By pulling off one of the biggest deals in NBA history, the Celtics made themselves into championship contenders in a four-day span.

By trading away Jeff Green, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West and a second-round pick to Seattle for Ray Allen and Glen Davis, and then trading Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair and two first-round picks to Minnesota for Kevin Garnett, the Celtics were in prime position to win an NBA title.

Sure enough, they did that same year. With the combined efforts of the newcomers, Paul Pierce and the unlikely boosts provided by Rajon Rondo and Glen Davis, the Celtics would dominate with a 65-17 record and a six-game series win over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. It was the first championship for the Celtics since 1986 and it helped renew the northeastern United States' interest in basketball again.

The Celtics have made the championship since then, but haven't won anything worth mentioning since 2008. While they are still contenders for the title, their Big Three isn't getting any younger with each player being over the age of 34. When matched up with the athletic Miami Heat in the second round last season, their chemistry was overwhelmed by a team that was much faster and much more talented, as it would result in a five-game series loss.

Boston only has so many years remaining and a significant, possibly career-ending, injury to one of the members of the Big Three would completely eliminate any chance for a title this season or in the future.

Charlotte Bobcats: Kemba Walker Struggles on Offense

Now that Stephen Jackson is gone, the Charlotte Bobcats will be looking for a brand new source of offense.

Word is that Corey Maggette will be the focal point of the offense for now, but that doesn't mean the Bobcats' first-round pick Kemba Walker won't play a large part on that side of the ball.

Walker is coming off a dream season at UConn where he took the NCAA world by storm because of his highly potent offensive skill set. He was playing 38 minutes per night (an NCAA game is only 40) and averaged 24 points, five rebounds and five assists per in his final season at the college level. Walker would be taken ninth in the NBA draft.

The 'Cats selected Walker solely because of his offense. They've always been recognized as a solid defensive team, but have always lacked offensive firepower. Aside from Jackson and a one-year stint with Jason Richardson leading the way, Charlotte's lacked any sort of consistent offense.

A lot will be riding on Walker over the next few seasons. The Bobcats will be looking for a new identity and the last thing they want would be for Kemba to not adjust to the faster pace of an NBA defense, and struggle with the pressure.

Chicago Bulls: Carlos Boozer Struggles When It Matters

After the acquisition of Richard Hamilton, the Chicago Bulls now sport one of the most well-rounded rotations in the league.

Not only do they have the defensive intensity off the bench, but they now have a reliable offensive threat at the 2 in Richard Hamilton. It was clear following the conclusion of their postseason run that Derrick Rose needed some help on offense and the pickup of a veteran like Hamilton who can help stretch the floor is perfect. Less attention will be spent on Rose and he'll be able to drive more frequently because of it.

However, it's going to take more than Hamilton and Rose to beat the Miami Heat en route to a title. They're going to need their post presence in Carlos Boozer to step up to the occasion. After a solid first season with the Bulls, where he managed to persevere after an injury at the beginning of the season, Boozer struggled in the postseason and it was up to Rose to pick up the pieces.

Boozer averaged 18 points in the regular season. He only hit that mark four times out of the 16 postseason games the Bulls had. His play in the conference finals also might of cost the Bulls a significant chance at competing as he not only fired up his assignment in Chris Bosh with trash talking prior to the series, but he also allowed him to have two 30-point games.

Carlos would have two games with 20 points or better in the conference finals, but a five-point-and-six-rebound output in the Bulls' Game 5 loss was an absolute killer.

In order for the Bulls to excel, they need Boozer to respond well on both sides of the ball with consistent play that matches his regular-season output.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving Isn't NBA-Ready

The Cleveland Cavaliers are desperate to find a replacement for the large shoes left behind by LeBron James.

They might have just found their man. Taken with the first pick in the NBA draft, Duke University's Kyrie Irving will become the Cavaliers starting point guard this season and will be looked at as the future of Cleveland basketball.

The city could certainly use it. The loss of LeBron James was a devastating blow to a team that once reigned supreme at the top of the Eastern Conference. Without LeBron for the first time since 2003, the Cavs would go on to win 19 games. Compared to the multiple 60-plus-win seasons they had with James, it's obvious to see that his presence was missed.

Irving will now be looked at as the savior. He only spent one year at Duke and would average 18 points, four assists and three boards per game in the short time he spent there. While many scouts say he's NBA-ready, it's easy to argue against that when you note that Irving only played 11 games at the NCAA level. Aside from those few games and his high school tapes, there's not too much to judge on how Irving will fare in the NBA.

If not, I hope Cleveland is ready for another decade of irrelevance.

Dallas Mavericks: The Loss of Tyson Chandler Is Devastating

Take it from the words of Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler was the main reason why the Dallas Mavericks won the title last season.

"

Tyson, to me, turned everything around this summer when we signed him. His positive energy, his defense I think is really what turned this whole thing around and what really won us the playoffs. Every big game down the stretch we did it with defense.

"

That's the reigning Finals MVP and a future Hall of Famer telling you that. It's no coincidence why the Mavericks happened to win a title the lone season Chandler was there; his defensive intensity in the paint was too much for the slashers to handle. That defensive philosophy of Tyson's rubbed off on his teammates and helped lead them to an NBA title victory.

Needless to say, a title defense will be considerably more difficult. Even with Lamar Odom and Vince Carter, the Mavericks are going to have to find a way to cope since losing Chandler to the New York Knicks. He'll be replaced by Brendan Haywood, who is a strong, wide body, but lacks the defensive pressure that Chandler provides.

The Mavericks still have plenty of weapons to make a playoff run, but it will be far more difficult without Chandler manning the fort and making the big plays.

Denver Nuggets: J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler Aren't Ready When They Return

At least they can be thankful that Nene Hilario returned. If he jetted to a different team, the Denver Nuggets would be near the bottom of the Northwest Division.

With Nene, the Nuggets have a respectable team and now don't have a need to start Timofey Mozgov. They have a formidable starting lineup with Ty Lawson at the point, Arron Afflalo at shooting guard, Danilo Gallinari at the 3, Al Harrington at power forward and Hilario at center. The bench could be better with Andre Miller, Rudy Fernandez, and Corey Brewer as the sixth, seventh and eighth guys off the bench, but it could still be far worse.

Not to mention, they'll also be getting J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler back in March. The two, along with Kenyon Martin, signed contracts in China during the lockout and are now forced to play it out until their obligation to their team comes to an end. They must not have read the fine print or been a little too eager to sign overseas because that are now stuck in Asia until the midway point of the season.

The Nuggets will get them back, however, and they'll be a far better team with the defensive-minded Chandler and the three-point specialist in Smith back. The only problem that would come out of it is if they aren't ready to assimilate back into the NBA culture.

Smith and Chandler could make the Nuggets a postseason team again. Without their talents, the Nuggets are without a deadly perimeter shooter and a solid offensive and defensive presence.

Detroit Pistons: The Young Stars Either Regress or Aren't Ready

By waiving Richard Hamilton and re-signing Rodney Stuckey, it's obvious to see that the Detroit Pistons are now accepting the rebuilding phase.

The Pistons still have Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace from those legendary teams of the 2000s, but the team is set to revolve around the numerous potential stars in the making, most notably their latest draft pick in Brandon Knight. The 20-year-old out of the University of Kentucky will become the starting point guard after a solid season with the Wildcats where he averaged 17 points, four rebounds and four assists per.

Playing alongside Knight will be shooting guard Rodney Stuckey, power forward Jonas Jerebko and center Greg Monroe. While Stuckey has already proven to be a solid athlete that can hit from the mid-range, Jerebko and Monroe could be the keys to either making this ship float or sink.

Straight out of the mean streets of Boras, Sweden, Jerebko will be entering his second season with the Pistons after sitting out the entire 2010-11 campaign. Prior to that, he had averaged nine points and six boards per in his rookie season. The Pistons appear to be committed to developing Jerebko and he will be expected to start at the 4.

Monroe is an even bigger piece, however. With centers being such a rare commodity, a player that can score and rebound as well as Monroe would be a huge asset for a team like the Pistons who are looking for a dominating presence in the middle. In his first season, he averaged nine points on 55 percent shooting to go along with eight boards per.

The Pistons core will be centered around Knight, Monroe and Jerebko. Even if one of these players don't pan out, Detroit won't be as complete a team and will struggle because of it.

Golden State Warriors: Mark Jackson Can't Instill a New Philosophy

The Golden State Warriors are looking for a new identity and they have the perfect coach in Mark Jackson to help lead them down a different path.

After years of playing the run-and-gun and giving up 110 points per game, the Warriors may be ready to begin playing a little something called defense. If former New York Knicks point guard Mark Jackson knows anything about playing the game, it's the importance of passing and defense.

Playing with the Knicks and Indiana Pacers of the 1990s, Jackson was a part of some of the most fierce and physical defenses in NBA history.

The Warriors have been stuck in their old ways for a while. They've always been recognized as one of the most dangerous offensive teams, but constantly finding that offset by the lack of defensive pressure. Under Don Nelson, the Warriors always ranked near the top in points per game, but on the bottom in points given up per game.

Probably explains the one postseason appearance in the time he was here. With Jackson, changes are going to happen as he'll look to push defense as a philosophy onto a young team that has a total of zero players at 30 years or older. A rookie head coach may either work to their advantage or backfire due to the lack of experience on both sides.

A defensive philosophy may not stick with these players either. Stars like David Lee and Monta Ellis aren't exactly the strongest defenders and they might struggle to assimilate in the new culture of Golden State basketball.

Houston Rockets: The Lack of a Post Presence Continues To Hurt

It's been a troubling offseason for the Houston Rockets. Not only do they not have Yao Ming to man the post anymore, but they now have no player capable of being relied on to man the fort down low.

They struck out with Nene Hilario and Samuel Dalembert may be their only hope. However, that might all come to a crashing halt due to the Chuck Hayes situation. The former Rocket that was supposed to sign with the Kings failed a physical and his contract is now voided, which means the Kings are on the lookout for another center.

There's no doubt that they'll be looking to re-sign Dalembert now that Hayes is gone, which means the Rockets could be out of luck again.

If Dalembert goes back to Sacramento, that means Houston will have a number of unproven or disappointing players to rely on. The 7'3", former No. 2 pick Hasheem Thabeet may be the projected starter by default. With competition in Jordan Hill, Greg Smith, Marcus Cousin and Omar Samhan, the Rockets are just that desperate to start a player like Thabeet.

While there's always the chance that Thabeet turns it around, the Houston Rockets may still find themselves struggling without a capable and reliable player to control the paint.

Indiana Pacers: Roy Hibbert Regresses

With the acquisition of David West, the Indiana Pacers now find themselves as a possible perennial member of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

West will be replacing Tyler Hansbrough and Josh McRoberts, who recently signed a deal with the L.A. Lakers. He joins a strong frontcourt that's headed up by the sharpshooting Danny Granger at the 3 and the developing Roy Hibbert. We've all see what Granger is capable of, but Hibbert could possibly be an All-Star in the making if he continues to improve at all aspects of his game.

At 7'2" and with a solid mid-range game, Hibbert has the capability to average over 20 points per and become one of the NBA's top centers. He has the body to deter opponents from driving at will, has the footwork to score in the post and the timing to send back shots. Roy is coming off the best season of his career where he averaged 13 points, eight boards and two blocks per in 27 minutes of action a night.

However, Hibbert still has much to improve on with his foul trouble being a large weakness. Averaging over three personal fouls per game over his first three seasons, Hibbert can't stay on the floor for too long with slashers looking to penetrate, get him into foul trouble and then attack the rim at will. Hibbert becomes more of a liability when having him foul out becomes the focal point of an opponent's offense.

Hibbert needs to have better body control. Without him on the floor, the Pacers lack a domineering presence that could potentially change the outlook of the game. If he regresses and continues to foul at will, the Pacers become a lesser team.

Los Angeles Clippers: Chauncey Billups Doesn't Cut It as a SG

By trading away Eric Gordon in the deal that brought Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers, the team lost a possible All-Star shooting guard.

It brought in a superstar point guard, but it left a huge gap at the 2 where the majority of their scoring came from. The Clippers may be absolutely stacked with Paul at the 1, Caron Butler at the 3, Blake Griffin at 4 and DeAndre Jordan at center, but they're lacking at the shooting guard position which is key in a conference that features the likes of Manu Ginobili, Kobe Bryant and Monta Ellis.

Their aren't many options to look to, so the Clippers decided to settle on point guard Chauncey Billups to replace Gordon as their starting shooting guard. While he is listed as a combo guard and does have the veteran experience to get in the head of his opponents, you have to imagine that it's going to be a weakness when he goes against players that have three inches on him and have an easy advantage on him in terms of athleticism.

Call me crazy, but I don't see how Billups is going to be able to keep up with Bryant or Dwyane Wade. Players that rely on their athleticism would burn the 35-year-old at will, and those that have the height advantage would have an easy shooting day with a player that's three inches shorter than them.

Billups is a solid offensive threat that can consistently hit from the outside, but he could become a liability on defense, especially when he plays a position that features some of the top offensive players.

Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant Demands a Trade

It's tough to trust a source like Stephen A. Smith, but he does seem sure of himself when he says that Kobe Bryant could be demanding a trade in the future.

It wouldn't be the first time this has happened. During the post-Shaq and pre-Gasol era where the Lakers failed to make it past the first round, Bryant demanded a trade in the 2007 offseason and nearly got his wish before a deal with the Chicago Bulls fell through. A few weeks later, the Lakers would trade for Gasol and Bryant would go on to win two titles.

Those days are long gone. The Lakers are coming off of their first series loss by way of a sweep since 1999 and will also be coping with the loss of the reigning Sixth Man of the Year in the multidimensional Lamar Odom. The combo forward demanded a trade after feeling jilted that he was a part of the Chris Paul deal that fell through. After spending so many years with the Lakers, Odom didn't feel that it was right for him to get traded.

In return to the demand, the Lakers sent him to Dallas where they would receive a few draft picks. Bryant was reportedly livid at the dealing of Odom and is even more peeved at the fact that they barely received anything in return.

Without Odom, the Lakers now appear a lot more vulnerable. They have no bench and their only consistent threat outside of Bryant is Gasol, who averaged 11 points and seven boards per in the Lakers' most recent postseason.

If Bryant demands at this stage in his career and at this point, the Lakers franchise would be devastated and a possible acquisition of Dwight Howard would seem even more unlikely.

Memphis Grizzlies: Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol Regress

The Cinderella story of the NBA postseason last year, the Memphis Grizzlies surprised us all with a deep playoff run that didn't even feature Rudy Gay, who suffered an injury at the end of the regular season.

Without Gay, the Grizzlies began to rely on their two post presences in Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol for offensive support. Taking on the No. 1-seeded San Antonio Spurs, an upset was possible, but highly unlikely against a veteran-laden Spurs team that featured Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. Even without Manu Ginobili, the possibility of an upset seemed unlikely.

So much for that theory. This series wasn't even close as the Grizzlies dominated thanks to the combined efforts of Randolph and Gasol. The two dominated the aged frontcourt of the Spurs with size and a competitive edge that we've never seen before. With Randolph grabbing every board and hitting mid-range jumpers and Gasol using his size to control the paint, the Spurs would lose in six games.

Memphis would nearly make it to their first conference finals following their stunning upset. They would take the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games before the well ran dry and Randolph and Gasol could no longer to shoulder the load. Either way, nobody expected such a strong run out of an unproven center and a power forward who was notorious for being out of shape and uncommitted.

In his first playoff appearance since 2003, Randolph was stunning as he averaged 22 points and 11 boards per. Gasol averaged 15 points, 11 boards and two blocks per in his first playoff appearance and would receive a lucrative contract over the offseason.

With Rudy Gay returning, the worst thing that could happen to this team is if Gasol regresses and Randolph goes back to his old ways of playing uninspired basketball. However, with Randolph in the best shape of his life, it may seem highly unlikely at the moment.

Miami Heat: They Struggle Without a Center

Even with LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat still couldn't get it done in the NBA Finals.

They came really close and probably should have won if not for the mental capacities of one certain player, but they still lost and that's all that matters.

The Heat now come back to the hardwood with a vengeance. With a stronger and more experienced core and a stronger bench that welcomes back Udonis Haslem and newcomer Shane Battier, the Heat look to be ready to make another deep postseason run that should come away with a title. On a team where key injuries piled up last season, Miami managed to make it look as easy as possible with the limited resources they possessed.

However, not all is right in Miami as they still lack a presence in the middle. With Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Erick Dampier and Jamaal Magloire all departed, the Heat find themselves even worse off than before. They did sign Eddy Curry to the veteran's minimum, but relying on him would be a risky move when considering that the former Knick has only played 18 games in the last three seasons and didn't even play last year.

Second-year Dexter Pittman may be the only hope. He spent the majority of his rookie year in the D-League, made the All-Star Game and only played in three Miami Heat games last year. In his first preseason game, Pittman had six points and a couple rebounds against Dwight Howard.

Unless Pittman and Curry shock us, the Heat are still struggling at center and will continue to be pressured in the paint due to the lack of a large presence.

Milwaukee Bucks: Injuries Pile Up Again

Poor Milwaukee. After an incredible run that inspired "Fear the Deer" at the tail end of the 2009-10 season, the Bucks suffered a huge setback by missing out on the playoffs and becoming the team that teams no longer feared.

It's not that the Bucks roster regressed; it's just that the team suffered so many significant injuries that there was no chance they could make any sort of run to the postseason. When your entire starting lineup has to sit out a large portion of the regular season because of various injuries, there's seemingly no chance to make any sort of run.

Take a look at what the Bucks had to deal with last season to see just how devastated this team was. Brandon Jennings missed 19 games, Andrew Bogut missed 17, Corey Maggette missed 15, Carlos Delfino only played in 49, Drew Gooden played in 35, Ersan Ilyasova missed 22, Chris Douglas-Roberts only played in 44, Earl Boykins played 57 and Michael Redd only played in 10 games.

The only players that are considered to be key parts of the rotation to actually play a solid part of the regular season were John Salmons with 73 games and Keyon Dooling with 80. These were the only two players on the entire Bucks roster to play in at least 70 games.

Milwaukee has a solid team, especially with Stephen Jackson now, but injuries are going to have to become a thing of the past if they ever want to become a feared team and make it to the postseason this season.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Ricky Rubio Isn't NBA-Ready

Finally sporting a solid roster with the likes of Kevin Love, Michael Beasley and Derrick Williams being added to the mix, the Minnesota Timberwolves finally have a season to look forward to.

Not since Kevin Garnett was on the team have Wolves fans been more excited for the season to start up. They not only feature three of the league's top young talents in their frontcourt, but they're also finally welcoming Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio to the equation. He's been playing in the Euro League since being drafted in 2009 and will finally make his debut with the Wolves this season.

Rubio has been highly lauded for his passing ability which some seem to compare to the prowess of Pete Maravich, in terms of its creativity and flash. For a Wolves team that's looking to generate some interest in the post-Garnett era, Rubio is the perfect player to generate viewers as he hooks up for passes with the athletic likes of Beasley and Williams.

However, not all is right about Rubio. For one, we still have no idea how he's going to adjust to the NBA. The Euro League and the NBA are two extremely different leagues and Rubio may not be ready for the defensive pressure that is much higher in the American version of basketball. When going against a player like Deron Williams or Rajon Rondo, Rubio may not be ready to anticipate the physicality of the NBA.

Also, his jump shot is horrible. It's just as bad as Rondo's offense from outside of 15 feet and could prove costly to a team that's looking for reliable offense in the backcourt.

If he doesn't pan out, the Wolves fanbase grows a little more frustrated and Luke Ridnour becomes the starter once again.

New Jersey Nets: Deron Williams Won't Want To Re-Sign

This is a critical year for the New Jersey Nets franchise. Not only will they be looking to help draw interest in their new Brooklyn fanbase, but they'll also be looking to give Deron Williams a reason to stick around.

Williams becomes a free agent next year and the team is still wary of his intentions. With the likes of the Dallas Mavericks set to pursue arguably the league's top floor general, the Nets will be looking for a plethora of reasons to give to Williams to keep him around. The Nets haven't been relevant in the playoffs since the Jason Kidd era and could see that end with Williams now running the show for a full season.

The team should have Dwight Howard at this moment, but saw a potential deal fall through due to the trade being voided because of the Orlando Magic ownership intervening. Brook Lopez would be gone, along with a few other players, but Howard would be on the Nets and that would be more than enough to keep Williams in New Jersey.

Now with a below-average roster that sports Brook Lopez and Anthony Morrow still as his top teammates, keeping Williams around is going to be considerably difficult. The team will have a number of squads to contest with for one of the bottom seeds and the lack of a postseason berth could mean that Williams tests his boundaries in free agency.

New Orleans Hornets: Eric Gordon Is Unhappy

The New Orleans Hornets made off like bandits in their deal that sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers.

In return for CP3, the Hornets received Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu, Chris Kaman and a conditional first-round pick that should result in a top-five selection. It was a great deal for the Hornets as they received two stellar young players in Gordon and Aminu as well as a solid center in Kaman, who is highly productive whenever he's healthy.

The only problems with this trade are the expiring contracts of Kaman and Gordon. While Kaman might be able to depart since the Hornets already have Emeka Okafor, losing a key piece like Gordon would be devastating. He can become a free agent next season and that means he could be up for grabs if he isn't happy in New Orleans.

The Hornets do have the pieces in Jarrett Jack, Trevor Ariza and Okafor to keep him satisfied, but the team will have to play extremely well this season in order to keep Gordon around. He's one of the most underrated talents in the league after averaging 22 points per and is possibly the most volatile young offense threat in the NBA.

Equipped with athleticism, a jump shot that extends beyond the perimeter and quickness, Gordon is the type of player that the Hornets will need to start building around soon.

That means do the exact opposite of what you did with Chris Paul.

New York Knicks: Baron Davis' Influence Disrupts the Team

With Chauncey Billups no longer with the team, the New York Knicks were left a little bewildered on where they could find production out of their backcourt.

They had Toney Douglas, Landry Fields and Mike Bibby, but none of those players could be relied on as a third scoring option next to Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire. The Knicks needed a player that was ready to accept the role of being a third scoring option, was willing to allow Anthony and Stoudemire to take up most of the scoring load and take a significant pay cut.

Queue Baron Davis? The Knicks are reportedly signing the former Cleveland Cavaliers point guard and will soon make him their starter at the 1 once he recovers from a back injury.

Davis has played in the league since 1999 and has spent time with the Hornets, Warriors, Clippers and Cavaliers. He has always been recognized as one of the league's top point guards thanks to his scoring prowess and his ability to lead an offense, but he has also been greatly criticized. His motivation, weight problems and commitment to the team have been constantly brought into question and it could play a large part in the progression of a developing Knicks team.

The Knicks need Davis to be a pass-first point guard. Over the past few years, Davis has become this team cancer of sorts that would shoot too early in the shot block and disrupt the entire flow and rhythm of the offense. On a team where Anthony and Stoudemire will be commanding the majority of the looks, the Knicks can't afford a player to be jacking up shots from 25 feet out while they're only five seconds into the shot clock.

Signing Davis is risky, but it has its perks in terms of his scoring. However, the team should be wary and ready for Davis if his lack of motivation continues to persist.

Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard Isn't Traded

Yeah, it's not every day that you want your All-Star center and franchise center traded, but we have to make an exception in the case of Dwight Howard.

Since being drafted first overall in the 2004 draft by the Orlando Magic, Howard has become one of the league's most unstoppable forces. With so few centers that are capable of deterring Howard in the paint, he's been able to utilize his athleticism and strength to score, rebound, defense and block shots at will.

He is actually coming off a career season where he averaged a high of 23 points to go along with 14 boards and two blocks per. He's even beginning to develop a solid offensive game that consists of more than just backing in and slamming it over your opponent. Now including a steady hook shot and a bank shot, Howard is becoming more and more deadly as the years progress.

However, trading the three-time Defensive Player of the Year may be the smartest thing to do for the Orlando Magic. How so, you ask? He's already let it known that he wants to be traded to New Jersey and was reportedly furious at the Magic ownership for not allowing the trade to the Nets go through.

At this point, the best thing for the Magic to do would be to trade Howard and receive some compensation in return. If he stays, the Magic may be ready to offer him a lucrative deal, but his unhappiness with the club will outweigh it, which could result in him leaving and the franchise receiving nothing in return.

In the trade with New Jersey, the Magic would have at least received Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace among others. It may be for the best if they can trade away Howard before he decides to leave on his own.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Russell Westbrook Doesn't Adjust as the Second Option

It seemed pretty straightforward. Kevin Durant was the leader of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Russell Westbrook was the solid second option who would dish passes to his fellow All-Star teammate.

It turns out that it wasn't simple at all. The Thunder were in quite a quandary last season during their postseason run that featured series wins over the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies, before it came to a crashing halt at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals. The Thunder led in the fourth quarter of every game, but still managed to fall in five games.

Dirk Nowitzki was scoring at will and no one could stop him, not even a defensive specialist in Serge Ibaka. Possibly the biggest problem throughout the playoffs, however, was the fact that Westbrook seemed to attempt to assume control of the team. He was taking the shots in the crucial moments over a proven closer in Durant.

There can only be one leader. The Miami Heat realize this with Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, and it's now time for the Thunder to begin figuring out this debacle before it results in unhappy superstars. Durant is the true leader of this team and Westbrook is the second option who still gets plenty of praise. The only difference between the two is that Durant receives most of the looks because of his ability to score from inside and out.

Westbrook needs to become the solid point guard he was in the regular season. Durant is the true leader of this team and the sooner Westbrook figures that out, the sooner that the Thunder can begin their quest towards a title.

Philadelphia 76ers: Evan Turner and Jrue Holiday Regress

Equipped with a solid roster that could be making noise in the 2012 postseason, the Philadelphia 76ers have strong, young core that's capable of being a top-tier team in the near future.

That, of course, relies on the shoulders of the likes of veteran Elton Brand and their young stars in rookie Nikola Vucevic, Jrue Holiday, Louis Williams, Jodie Meeks and Evan Turner. Most specifically, this team should be set to heavily rely on the shoulders of their point guard in Holiday and their guard/forward in former No. 2 pick Turner.

Holiday and Turner possess more potential than any player on this team, and possibly more than any other player in the league. While Holiday has been the starting point guard for the past two seasons, Turner didn't receive too much of a chance to prove himself in his rookie season. He was designated to the bench in favor of Jodie Meeks at the 2 and Andre Iguodala at the 3, but should expect a larger role this season.

Turner is a terrific multidimensional threat that can score inside and outside, utilize his athleticism on drives, and use his speed and strength on both ends of the court. He's one of the most talented young players in the league and the Sixers are waiting to see the player that they utilized the No. 2 pick on in 2010.

Holiday also has the capabilities to become an All-Star if he continues to improve. He's crafty with the ball, can shoot with range and lead an offense extremely efficiently. In a full 82 games last year, Holiday averaged 14 points, seven assists and four boards per as the team's starting point guard.

The worst thing that could possibly happen to the Sixers this season is if Turner continues to play underwhelming ball, and if Holiday regresses after a solid second season.

Phoenix Suns: Marcin Gortat Doesn't Become Amar'e Stoudemire

Set to become the cellar-dweller of the Pacific Division, the Phoenix Suns did little in the offseason to improve their roster.

With the Los Angeles Clippers adding Chris Paul and the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings improving as well, the Suns appear to be left in the dust and may not ready to match up with their young and athletic division rivals. With two aged veterans in Steve Nash and Grant Hill leading the way, the team may not have enough to keep up and make it to the playoffs.

However, there is still one glimmer of hope and that resides in former Orlando backup Marcin Gortat. After spending three seasons playing behind Dwight Howard and receiving very few minutes, Gortat was traded to the Suns and would play 55 games with his new team. Averaging 13 points and nine boards per, Marcin was extremely impressive as Nash's pick-and-roll partner.

The Suns need to find Amar'e Stoudemire's replacement. They attempted to work with Hakim Warrick last season, but saw little offensive prowess outside of his inside passes from Nash. Trading for Gortat was a steal as he showed off a great understanding of playing the pick-and-roll as well as the strength to showcase his power when in the paint.

Gortat has the potential to be a 20-10 player with Nash by his side, but if he regresses, the Suns will be left without a suitable option to play next to their point guard and will certainly be at the bottom of the division.

Portland Trail Blazers: Greg Oden Suffers Some More Setbacks

The Portland Trail Blazers may sport one of the most well-rounded and solid starting rosters in the league, but the fact that they could be so much better is extremely upsetting.

Does this have to suffer any more abuse? They took Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan, that should have been enough. Now they have to deal with the shocking retirement of their former star in Brandon Roy as well as another setback from former No. 1 pick Greg Oden. After playing 82 games in four years, another setback after missing the entire 2010-11 season is the last thing the Blazers want to hear.

Team president Larry Miller was quoted as saying regarding Oden, "We're hopeful, but less confident that he will return to the court this season." That's right, Oden may miss yet another regular season after missing out on all of last season. The Blazers have continued to hold out hope after giving him a year-long contract, but one more setback could be the final straw.

The Blazers need Oden to come back and play in the middle. Thirty-seven-year-old Marcus Camby, 39-year-old Kurt Thomas, Earl Barron and Chris Johnson represent the team's centers, which gives you the idea of just why the team is still holding out hope for Oden's arrival.

One more setback and the Blazers are forced to endure another Bowie-Jordan situation, this time with missing out on Kevin Durant, who was taken No. 2.

Sacramento Kings: Jimmer Fredette Becomes a Liability

A quality showing in his lone preseason appearance where he drilled a few three-pointers, Jimmer Fredette could be the key to keeping basketball in Sacramento.

Since the glory days of Chris Webber, Mike Bibby and Vlade Divac, success and attendance have been moderately low. Not only that, but the ownership has been abysmal and it could result in the team possibly moving to either Anaheim or Kansas City. In fact, the team came extremely close a few months back, but avoided the move and now have a second chance.

The Kings have a solid team with Tyreke Evans, Marcus Thornton, and DeMarcus Cousins, but the Kings fanbase is most excited about the sharpshooter out of BYU. He was taken 10th by the team in this year's draft after averaging 29 points per game while converting on over three-pointers per game at an impressive 39 percent clip. Fredette was a beast in college from beyond the arc and was even converting beyond the NBA three.

Fredette is going to put fans in the seats, but will it translate to success? Jimmer was gifted a weak conference schedule in college and hasn't seen the high-octane defenses that he will see in the NBA. Playing against defenses like the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat might be a little too much for a player who has never dealt with such in-your-face defense.

Also, don't forget that there are two sides of the floor. We've yet to see how Fredette can handle himself on defense and that could prove to be a problem if he's not able to hold his own when matched up with an NBA guard.

San Antonio Spurs: A Devastating Injury to Tim Duncan And/or Manu Ginobili

After their first-round exit last season, it became painfully obvious that the San Antonio Spurs' clock is ticking faster and faster. There are only so few championship pushes remaining for a team that revolves around a 35-year-old, 14-year veteran in Tim Duncan.

Duncan, who's averaged 21 points, 11 boards and two blocks for his career, is coming off of the worst statistical season of his career where he only posted up 14 points and nine boards per game. It marked the first time in his storied career that he averaged fewer than 10 boards per and was the first time that he failed to average a triple-double.

Obviously, a retirement is looming and Duncan wants to make at least one more strong push towards another championship before he calls it quits. He and the 34-year-old Manu Ginobili will both be looking towards securing a title this season as both of their NBA careers will soon be coming to an end.

The worst thing that could possibly happen is a significant injury to either of these players, which could ultimately represent a retirement and the end of the San Antonio Spurs dynasty. These two represent the lone hopes of another title in San Antonio and without them, this team is only a shell of itself.

Toronto Raptors: DeMar DeRozan Regresses

There isn't much to look forward to in the 2011-12 Toronto Raptors season.

They still don't have a replacement for Chris Bosh and Jamaal Magloire might actually start at center. In other words, this team is a mess and they'll have to wait until next season when Jonas Valanciunas joins the team to actually begin rebuilding. For now, they'll have to deal with a horrid campaign this year in order for prosperity in the years coming.

However, it's not all bad. There's still the high-flying DeMar DeRozan to look forward to for the strong Raptors fanbase. In his second year since being taken ninth in the 2009 draft, DeRozan averaged a strong 17 points and four boards per while bringing back memories of Vince Carter with this thunderous throwdowns.

DeRozan had no problem getting to the rim, but he did struggle with his mid-range and outside game as he somehow managed to shoot less than 10 percent from beyond the arc last season. There's still not too much to be discouraged by even though he shot so horribly from the land of three, as he is only 22 years old and only has room to improve.

DeMar represents the future of Raptors basketball and for him to regress at this time would be the worst possible thing that could happen to a franchise that's dealt with too much heartache.

Utah Jazz: Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter Don't Pan Out

So much for the thought of the Utah Jazz struggling without Deron Williams and Jerry Sloan, the team is absolutely stacked in the frontcourt and should have no trouble when it comes to locking down the paint.

However, can a team be too stacked? The Jazz already have a stellar starting lineup that features Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap and Gordon Hayward, but there is also a great deal of potential on the bench. With players like Mehmet Okur, Derrick Favors and rookie Enes Kanter on the pine, you have to wonder where there will be time or room for these players to get their shots in.

They'll come off the bench in the meantime to see which direction they should go in 2012-13, so for now we'll just have to check out how they could possibly fare as a starter.

Favors and Kanter contain a great deal of upside. While Kanter is basically unproven and didn't even play a game at the college level, he's still a center with a tremendous amount of size that would be able to create an impact with his size alone. At only 19 years old and already playing professional basketball in Europe, Kanter could have a bright future ahead of him with the right guidance.

Derrick will be entering his second year after spending time with the Nets and Jazz last season. He didn't show off too much of an offensive game, but his athleticism, defense and rebounding were outstanding. Favors averaged seven points, five rebounds and a block per in the limited time he got last year and should see a more increased role next year with Utah.

Worst-case scenario for the Jazz would be for the both of these players to be flops. Favors' ineptitude on offense and Kanter's inexperience may play key parts if they lack the correct guidance on their NBA journey.

Washington Wizards: John Wall Is Still Turnover-Prone

The Washington Wizards will be a playoff team within the next three seasons.

That's an easy bet for a team that sports one of the youngest and most athletic lineups in the league. With the likes of JaVale McGee at center, Jan Vesely at the 4 and Jordan Crawford/Nick Young at the 2, the Wizards should have no trouble in utilizing youth and athleticism to their advantage when going against any kind of opponent. While their defense may be lacking, it will all come in time as this young team attempts to find their identity.

Perhaps the player that can help lead them down that path would be point guard John Wall. Entering his second season, Wall lived up to the expectations of being a No. 1 overall pick with a highly impressive rookie season that was overshadowed by Blake Griffin's campaign. Wall averaged 16 points, eight assists, four boards and two steals per in his rookie year while showcasing a great deal of athleticism and an ability to lead the offense.

The only problem with Wall's game was that he was extremely turnover-prone. He averaged nearly four turnovers per game last year with the majority of them being silly and unforced. We can chalk that one up to rookie mistakes, but it could be a problem if it persists and sticks with Wall this upcoming season.

The Wizards are on their way back to the playoffs with Wall leading the way. However, he's going to have to cut down on his turnovers in order for this team to truly reach that point.