Commentary

Blueprint for Success

Updated: July 10, 2012, 3:40 PM ET

By MORTY AIN, GEOFFREY ARNOLD, ELENA BERGERON, CHRIS BROUSSARD, RIC BUCHER, LZ GRANDERSON, MOLLY KNIGHT, RYAN MCGEE, CHAD NIELSEN, CHRIS PALMER, MIKE WELLS

KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES (or more to the point, the Parkers, Duncans and Ginobilis) isnaETMt as simple as adding a three-car garage here or a three-point shooter there. Yet all 30 teams begin the season believing that in their own way, theyaETMre building a stairway to the Finals. In the pages that follow, we present a best-case sales pitch for each crew, along with a more objective appraisal from an opposing scout. We also rank every franchise in five home improvement categories, knowing full well that a team is more than the sum of its graph (think the Spurs are sweating that lack of curb appeal?). Of course, if there were one architectural layout guaranteed to bring home a title, the NBA would look like one of those generic sprawling suburbs. And the Wolves would stand a chance.

*ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, OTHER THAN DURANT

EASTERN CONFERENCE

BOSTON CELTICS

FIRST IN ATLANTIC

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 3

PILLAR 5

NEIGHBORHOOD 4

WIRING 4

CURB APPEAL 4

STARTING LINEUP

PF KEVIN GARNETT Does Big Ticket + Big Dig = a 17th big green banner?

SF PAUL PIERCE After years of being The Man, can he be just a man among men?

C KENDRICK PERKINS He'll be Beantown's favorite garbage man if he gets nine and nine.

SG RAY ALLEN Surgery to remove bone spurs in spring, walking on air in fall.

PG RAJON RONDO Would-be college senior shoots worse than some real high school seniors.

COACH DOC RIVERS

SALES PITCH

This is the run-down East we're talking about: a few nice spreads surrounded by a bunch of starter homes. So what's not to like? There's new blood inside (Garnett) and out (Allen) to complement one guy happy to slough off some responsibility (Pierce). That's three career 20-point scorers with three different styles filling three positions. And while lack of depth is a legit concern, don't scoff at the addition of James Posey, an athletic defender who brings a winning pedigree. All that should be enough to make this team the envy of the whole block this season.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"It's premature to say they're a top team. Chemistry and depth breed success, and Boston has neither yet. No matter what they say, making three stars work can be tricky. They might have been better off adding Garnett and using the money they gave to Allen to put solid pieces around KG and Pierce. Plus, the go-to trio are in their 30s, so who says they'll all make it to June? Even if they stay healthy, someone else will have to do some heavy lifting-and neither Perkins nor Rondo is ready. It's asking a lot of an inexperienced, no-touch point to direct a team to a title."

DETROIT PISTONS

FIRST IN CENTRAL

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 4

PILLAR 3

NEIGHBORHOOD 5

WIRING 3

CURB APPEAL 3

STARTING LINEUP

PF ANTONIO MCDYESS Last time he played 30 mpg he was an All-Star... and so was Vlade Divac.

SF TAYSHAUN PRINCE Perimeter D still key to postseason success.

C RASHEED WALLACE Lost 25 pounds, which will actually help him inside.

SG RICHARD HAMILTON League has adjusted to his curls off screens. Hey, Rip, what else you got?

PG CHAUNCEY BILLUPS Big summer (new deal, Vegas gold) strengthens swagger, weakens legs.

COACH FLIP SAUNDERS

SALES PITCH

The Pistons are sure they still rock the hottest pad in the hood. They boast the stability of four starters (Billups, Hamilton, Prince, Wallace) with championship cred and the motivation to return after a two-season absence. GM Joe Dumars has added a sharp touch-up by drafting athletic Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo, signing Jarvis Hayes and re-signing Amir Johnson after he ruled the D-League. Those guys, along with Jason Maxiell-who, it turns out, has a bit of Ben Wallace in him-give Detroit the kind of reinforcement that can help these homeowners avoid a postseason collapse.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"They're proven, and you can't underestimate how important that is. Like the Spurs, they keep finding ways to win. You'd think so much playoff ball would have taken a toll on their bodies, but the Pistons have had a remarkable run of good health. I'm not sure what their trainers are doing, but the rest of the league should find out. Can it last, though? And they need a reliable backup point guard, because with Billups playing this summer, he might be worn out by the spring. Flip Murray is a two, and Lindsey Hunter is aging out. They're high on Stuckey, but he's just a rookie."

CHICAGO BULLS

SECOND IN CENTRAL

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION

PILLAR

NEIGHBORHOOD

WIRING

CURB APPEAL

STARTING LINEUP

PF JOE SMITH Keeping place in line until Tyrus Thomas' production matches potential.

SFLUOL DENG Emerging scorer, but with those arms, why isn't he better on D?

C BEN WALLACE The Bulls are searching for inside offense. Man, are they cold.

SG BEN GORDON Scoring and FG% keep climbing-and there's still a ways to the summit.

PG KIRK HINRICH Two-way point may be NBA's most underrated.

COACH SCOTT SKILES

SALES PITCH

Things are still appreciating in the Windy City. Some young assets have matured (Deng, Gordon, Hinrich) while others need work (Thomas, Joakim Noah). But with vets like Wallace and Andres Nocioni providing stability, the Bulls have started to win, taking the Pistons to six games in last spring's second round. So GM John Paxson and Skiles have this choice: preserve depth and stay the course or package it for a star. Kobe Bryant is the first to come to mind. But it might make more sense to revisit those Pau Gasol talks that first arose last season.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"I'd pay to watch them because of how hard and unselfishly they play. Like Detroit, they are extremely well coached. Deng made a big move forward last season. And Smith is a solid, underrated player. But there are some problems. Wallace obviously didn't play as well as they needed him to last season, they don't have another gear to hit for the playoffs and they still lack a low-post scorer. It's hard to find a low-post guy-one who's not in decline, anyway-so there's a strong chance that they'll have to make do with what they have again."

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

THIRD IN CENTRAL

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 3

PILLAR 5

NEIGHBORHOOD 2

WIRING 5

CURB APPEAL 3

STARTING LINEUP

PFDREW GOODEN His mental lapses erase memories of board work and stealth touch.

SF LEBRON JAMES What he did last season? It won't be enough this time.

C ZYDRUNAS ILGAUSKAS Shade of former self still has high-def hook and midrange J.

SG LARRY HUGHES Out of position again after Cavaliers failed to land Mike Bibby.

PG DANIEL GIBSON Was Boobie's playoffs coming-out party work of fact or fiction?

COACH MIKE BROWN

SALES PITCH

Brown found a summer share in Europe so he could go to school on the fine art of offensive craftsmanship, a skill that had been missing from his toolbox. A revived O to go with a certain charm that already exists at his stateside place has the city thinking happy thoughts. If LeBron continues to do what he does-and why wouldn't he?-and Boobie can stretch the D, a healthy Hughes will have room to get to the rim. And that in turn will give LJ more room to move, create more space for Gibson and free up Gooden and Ilgauskas down low.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"They won't win as much as they did last season; call them a five or six seed. There's not much offense beyond LeBron, and they didn't fix the point guard spot or add depth. And how much confidence do they have in Brown? He's a defensive-minded coach whose offensive system doesn't fit the Cavs, especially with LeBron out there. You have to wonder how much longer LeBron can stay quiet about that. One more bad sign: Two guys who jumped up in the playoffs-Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic-are unsigned, and at least one could be a cap casualty."

NEW JERSEY NETS

SECOND IN ATLANTIC

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 3

PILLAR 4

NEIGHBORHOOD 4

WIRING 3

CURB APPEAL4

STARTING LINEUP

PF NENAD KRSTIC The wild card. How well does he return from ACL surgery?

SF RICHARD JEFFERSON Health issues have cost him 80 games over the past three seasons.

C JASON COLLINS It's his spot for now, but the Nets added Jamaal Magloire for a reason.

SG VINCE CARTER Dominique Wilkins redux. And Nique never got past second round either.

PG JASON KIDD He couldn't still be getting better at 34, could he?

COACH LAWRENCE FRANK

SALES PITCH

Swampfront property has never looked so good. For starters, you have three go-to options and Bostjan Nachbar's instant offense off the bench. A reinforced interior features Krstic, who offers the post scoring that's lacking in other East locales (not to mention on last year's team), and Magloire, who offers security against bucket-burglars. Last year's additions-Marcus Williams and Josh Boone-added a youthful veneer to this aging, if stately, manor. And 6'10" rookie Sean Williams is just the type of head-in-the-rafters athlete who will thrive with Kidd feeding him.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"The key is being able to get better interior D out of Krstic, Magloire and Collins. Magloire can really help-when he fouls you, it's like being hit with a telephone pole. But none of those guys blocks shots, and the three stars get beat off the dribble. On offense, they have to get more shots for Jefferson, because Vince seems to play only when he wants to. And when your most talented player is like that, you'll always underachieve. Still, as long as they have Kidd, they have to be considered dangerous."

TORONTO RAPTORS

THIRD IN ATLANTIC

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 4

PILLAR 3

NEIGHBORHOOD 3

WIRING 5

CURB APPEAL 4

STARTING LINEUP

PF CHRIS BOSH Was looking like the best big in the East-then KG showed up.

SG JASON KAPONO Got big dollars to spread the floor, so he'd better be money from deep.

C ANDREA BARGNANI Three-point threat isn't typical center-at least not on this continent.

SG ANTHONY PARKER Under-the-radar guy is clever, mature and can shoot (lousy radar).

PG T.J. FORD Burner is ideal for spread offense with top big man-like this offense, for instance.

COACH SAM MITCHELL

SALES PITCH

If you're looking for sleekness and efficiency, we've got the perfect property for you. Just north of the border, renowned architect Bryan Colangelo has modeled the Raptors after his old Phoenix haunt, and the project was a hit from the start: Toronto won the Atlantic in his first full season. Now he's got an All-Star (Bosh)lining up beside Bargnani (a budding Dirk). And his pantry holds more international flavor than a potluck at the U.N.: Bargnani, Jose Calderon, Jorge Garbajosa, Carlos Delfino. The climate might be cold, but the action is just starting to heat up.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"The Raptors are intriguing; they're a great example of what can happen when your best player is a high-character guy and a hard worker. Bosh sets the tone for them and keeps everyone accountable. Guys end up playing above their talent level because of him. They've also got a nice two-headed monster at the point where Ford plays fast, and Calderon plays smart in a great half-court offense. But they won't sneak up on anyone this season, and now that teams know the Raptors have to be taken seriously, it won't be easy to repeat last season's big step forward."

ORLANDO MAGIC

FIRSTIN SOUTHEAST

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 2

PILLAR 4

NEIGHBORHOOD 3

WIRING 3

CURB APPEAL 3

STARTING LINEUP

PF RASHARD LEWIS What's $118M over six? $39,000 per bucket ... to catch all the tears.

SF HEDO TURKOGLU Plays like he could use a Red Bull-at each end of the floor.

C DWIGHT HOWARD Was a beast before he honed a J and new post moves. Look out below!

SG KEYON DOOLING Don't fill in this spot in pen; J.J. Redick offers more O, Trevor Ariza more D.

PG JAMEER NELSON Turnovers and a low FG%, but should turn the corner this season.

COACH STAN VAN GUNDY

SALES PITCH

Who hasn't had a contractor do an about-face after accepting a job? So the Billy Donovan era ended before it began; Van Gundy's blueprint of discipline and defense is just right for getting this abode in order. On the court, the tough-to-wrangle Nelson could have a breakout season in this well-defined system. (It doesn't hurt that he'll also be playing for a contract.) And Lewis will open the middle for Howard and his killer faceup jumper. If the Man Child, who was all of 21 at the time, could lead the Magic to a 13-4 start last season, imagine what he-and they-will do now.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"Lewis is an offensive threat in a lot of ways. He can shoot threes, he can take people off the dribble and he can post up. But that is bona fide superstar money they gave him, and he's not an every-year All-Star. Face it, they overpaid. As far as the aborted Donovan deal goes, I don't know how much of an impact he would've had anyway. Pros donaE't respect you until you've done something at their level. No disrespect to Billy; that's just how they are. That said, it'll be interesting to see who wins the war of wills between Van Gundy and the headstrong Nelson."

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

SECOND IN SOUTHEAST

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 3

PILLAR 4

NEIGHBORHOOD 3

WIRING 4

CURB APPEAL 4

STARTING LINEUP

PF ANTAWN JAMISON Still has that floater working, but would boxing out kill him?

SF CARON BUTLER Best season feels like first of many.

C BRENDAN HAYWOOD Finally has job to himself. Translation: nowhere to hide.

SG DESHAWN STEVENSON Subtly key pickup last year offers value on D.

PG GILBERT ARENAS New body? New knee? New 'tude? Same ol' Hibachi.

COACH EDDIE JORDAN

SALES PITCH

There's really a floor plan to this sprawling spread, even though the Wizards spend so much time in the open court (to the tune of 104.3 ppg-fourth in the league). Coach Jordan is so committed to his fluid version of the Princeton offense that he brought its original architect, Pete Carril, into camp as a consultant. Arenas, Butler and Jamison thrive on the spacing, and rookie Nick Young will attack the hoop as soon as he gets comfortable in the flow. Meanwhile, 6'11" Andray Blatche is out to prove the team right for trusting he'd clean up his act.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"They've tried to outscore people for the past few years, and it hasn't worked-the 28th-ranked scoring defense doesn't often get you out of the first round. Now they'll have even more trouble getting stops while Etan Thomas, their toughest inside defender, recovers from heart surgery. Haywood is not the answer there, and they didn't bring in anyone else to address the hole. It's weird that even though Jordan is obsessed with protecting the rim, they didn't give him the personnel to get that done."

MIAMI HEAT

THIRD IN SOUTHEAST

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 4

PILLAR 5

NEIGHBORHOOD 3

WIRING 3

CURB APPEAL 3

STARTING LINEUP

PF UDONIS HASLEM Keeps rebounding, defending and going unnoticed.

SF ANTOINE WALKER Insert fat joke here. But don't wait for Riles to laugh.

C SHAQUILLE O'NEAL End is near: career lows in points, boards, games-and Shaq-isms.

SG DWYANE WADE Even if shoulder and knee heal by mid-November, load is too tough to lug.

PG JASON WILLIAMS Coming around, but still might get Smushed out of lineup.

COACH PAT RILEY

SALES PITCH

Despite what doubters think, Shaq and Wade can still be a top-tier duo when they're not on the shelf. Yes, Wade could miss a few weeks, but Shaq has trimmed down and looks much more mobile than he has in years. The perpetually underrated Haslem brings heavy lumber inside, and for all the cracks aimed at J-Will, he's becoming more reliable; his 1.6 turnovers per game was a career low. If the antiques (Walker, Alonzo Mourning, Penny Hardaway) don't clash with the newer accessories (Dorell Wright, Smush Parker), the Heat might have some true value yet.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"D-Wade dictates their confidence level, but his game and mind-set change when he's not 100%; he gets timid and settles for bad shots. Teams still fear Shaq, though. Everyone got in their licks last season when he was down, but he seems intent on proving he has something left. The problem with these guys is, it seems as if they can't make it through the season. The rash of injuries has taken the wind out of their sails and weighs on Riley, because he never knows when he'll have to resort to a patchwork lineup. I like them if they stay healthy, but I don't know if they can."

NEW YORK KNICKS

FOURTH IN ATLANTIC

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 1

PILLAR 1

NEIGHBORHOOD 3

WIRING 1

CURB APPEAL 3

STARTING LINEUP

PF ZACH RANDOLPH Sweet pickup, unless he bites into Apple nightlife.

SF QUENTIN RICHARDSON Skills aren't an issue, but when was last time health (back) wasn't?

C EDDY CURRY Even pals doubt he has focus to reach potential.

SG JAMAL CRAWFORD They want to pound it inside, yet he led them in FGA (15.0 per game).

PG STEPHON MARBURY Stuck his $15 shoes in mouth all summer; should stick some J's instead.

COACH ISIAH THOMAS

SALES PITCH

This longtime fixer-upper is sure to turn heads when it hits the market. You can't beat the deluxe interior (Randolph and Curry averaged 23.6 and 19.5 ppg last season, respectively), and some rejuvenated high-priced fixtures (Marbury, Crawford, Richardson) glitz up the perimeter. Tough rebounder David Lee is a bench call away, and the spunkiness factor is high with guard Nate Robinson and forward Renaldo Balkman. Plus, few teams are as deep; Malik Rose might be the best 12th man around. So who cares if the landlord is a bit of a head case?

SCOUT'S TAKE

"Yeah, they've got plenty of talent; they've also got plenty of egos. Will the guys be able to put those aside to buy into their roles and give up touches? How do they get over the Isiah mess, especially without a vet who can rally the troops? In the end, the Knicks are still too young and volatile. Crawford looks like he's playing a Rucker game, and Robinson is a walking-okay, dashing-time bomb. When Marbury is one of the cooler heads in the locker room, you've got a big problem. In short, the Knicks' problem won't be between the lines. It will be between the ears."

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

FOURTH IN CENTRAL

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 2

PILLAR 3

NEIGHBORHOOD 3

WIRING 3

CURB APPEAL 2

STARTING LINEUP

PF CHARLIE VILLANUEVA Plenty of points, but team may want to allergy-test for defense.

SF DESMOND MASON Objects behind arc are farther than they appear (26.3% 3PT).

C ANDREW BOGUT Solid pivot may take some lumps for summertime comments.

SG MICHAEL REDD Riding high on FIBA fumes. Give him 'til December.

PG MAURICE WILLIAMS $52M says he won't get complacent. Or is it "will"?

COACH LARRY KRYSTKOWIAK

SALES PITCH

Redd's scoring chops (24.8 ppg over the past three seasons) give the Bucks some outside space to die for. And his time with USA Basketball has him in a penthouse frame of mind. The speedy Williams gets to the iron with ease and the three tree-toppers (Bogut, Villanueva and rookie Yi Jianlian) will cause paint-perimeter matchup problems. Who knows? If Krystkowiak can convince his troops to abandon a lingering me-first attitude in favor of a team approach, the Bucks might actually be able to offer Redd a room with a playoff view.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"They're a hard team to figure because they have so many issues. You know what you're going to get from Redd and Williams, but beyond that it's anyone's guess. And not just because so many of them have been hurt so much. They took a gamble on Yi, which still may not pay off, and Villanueva gets grumpy if he doesn't get his way-and that's quite possible, given that they've already told Yi he'll get minutes. Even if Redd steps up and becomes the leader they desperately need, they'll be one of those bottom-tier teams scratching for a final playoff spot."

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

FOURTH IN SOUTHEAST

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 2

PILLAR 1

NEIGHBORHOOD 3

WIRING 3

CURB APPEAL 3

STARTING LINEUP

PF EMEKA OKAFOR Finally had as many wins in NBA season as he did as UConn junior.

SF GERALD WALLACE Crowd-pleasing drives offset by crowd-queasying floor crashes.

C RYAN HOLLINS Quick on break but too thin to cut it in half-court.

SG JASON RICHARDSON Posttrade pouts fading with each Felton feed ...

PG RAYMOND FELTON... but Ray, there's more to this game than alley-oops.

COACH SAM VINCENT

SALES PITCH

Potential for starting five is through the roof, even after losing some key bigs to bum knees (Sean May, Othella Harrington), preseason family issues (Primoz Brezec) and lackluster play (Walter Hermann). Option 5-the seven-foot Hollins-has built a compelling case for himself, thanks to his ability to keep pace with the new up-tempo O. "My job is easy," says last season's second-rounder. "These guys are going to score. I just need to block, rebound and stay out of the way." If he can nail down the middle, his biggest fan will be Okafor. That guy is sick and tired of losing every jump ball.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"If Felton isn't going to improve his shooting, he really needs to push the pace. These guys could run all night, but to pull that off someone other than Okafor is going to have to learn how to rebound, and they have to stay healthy. The problem is, this franchise is never healthy. Besides, unless they figure out how to pour Matt Carroll's

cockiness into Adam Morrison, the bench won't be able to keep up. No one knows much about first-time head coach Vincent, but know this: He's Jordan's guy, so he'll have time to show us what he's got."

ATLANTA HAWKS

FIFTH IN SOUTHEAST

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 1

PILLAR 3

NEIGHBORHOOD 3

WIRING 2

CURB APPEAL2

STARTING LINEUP

PF JOSH SMITH Matrix-type defender will demand bank-busting extension.

SF MARVIN WILLIAMS Unless he finds an offensive move, his next one will be to the bench.

C ZAZA PACHULIA He's tall, so he's got that going for him.

SG JOE JOHNSON Do-everything wing won't have to if Acie Law develops at PG.

PG SPEEDY CLAXTON Great nickname. Guess Overpaid Backup was taken.

COACH MIKE WOODSON

SALES PITCH

The Hawks have been trying to patch the hole at PG for years, but they finally snatched a true one (Law) in June. And that after drafting a power plug in Al Horford, who will help them contend with some of the East's upgraded interiors. Those additions, plus similarly sized wings who can shoot (Johnson, Smith), post (Williams, Smith) or defend (Josh Childress, Smith), will give Woodson a chance to put together a variety of looks. This perennial work in progress isn't fully refurbished, but its more contemporary look might finally draw some Atlanta fans' investments.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"Having all those playmakers-Johnson, Law, Smith-on the court at the end of games should help them sidestep all those squeakers they dropped last season. And when Horford fills in at center, they'll get out on the break. But they're still much more likely to react to their opponent's pace than to dictate their own, which means Horford could get trapped in the half-court defending the Dwight Howards of the world. If Woodson can't manage his monotonous rotation, he'll be out by midseason."

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

FIFTH IN ATLANTIC

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 2

PILLAR 2

NEIGHBORHOOD 1

WIRING 3

CURB APPEAL 2

STARTINGLINEUP

PF REGGIE EVANS Owns offensive glass, which is nice on a team that won't hit a thing.

SF RODNEY CARNEY He can run and jump and ... sit, once Kyle Korver rises off the bench.

C SAMUEL DALEMBERT Slowed by stress fracture, stopped by total lack of post moves.

SG ANDRE IGUODALA Do-it-all wing has to start doing it better.

PG ANDRE MILLER Has played 366 straight games, but running this unit will test his perseverance.

COACH MAURICE CHEEKS

SALES PITCH

Last season, the Sixers scrapped everything from the mortar (Chris Webber) to the foundation (Allen Iverson), then raised an 18-11 finish from the austere ruins. Now Iguodala is the high-ceilinged leader of the Philly renewal. In the middle, Dalembert might have his shortcomings, but there are few better natural shotblockers in the league. And while it will take some time before rookie Thaddeus Young can make a difference, sturdy veterans like Miller and Evans will keep construction moving at the proper pace. But don't kid yourself: Gut renovations take time.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"Cheeks doesn't run an overly complicated system, and you've got to have a really good point guard to play that way. That's why Miller will be the Sixers MVP-he still can get anywhere on the floor he wants to. But they're kind of forcing the issue by building around young guys. Iguodala is one huge-stat season away from being way overpaid, and Carney probably shouldn't be in the league. The scariest part: If the season spirals out of control, what's the one card they have left to play? Larry Brown."

INDIANA PACERS

FIFTH IN CENTRAL

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 3

PILLAR 2

NEIGHBORHOOD 1

WIRING 1

CURB APPEAL 1

STARTING LINEUP

PF JERMAINE OaETMNEAL Injuries and itch to get out of Dodge have cratered trade value.

SF DANNY GRANGER The future in Indy may be present if JO's days are really numbered.

C TROY MURPHY Averaged a double-double in three of first five seasons. What happened?

SG MIKE DUNLEAVY Their supposed top three-point threat hit 31.3%.

PG JAMAAL TINSLEY Breathing easier with Rick Carlisle gone. Doesn't mean he'll play better.

COACH JIM O'BRIEN

SALES PITCH

Carlisle's predictably stodgy layout has been razed; in its place stands O'Brien's free-flowing, up-tempo model. He's got some of the materials to make it work. Tinsley, after all, is best known for pushing the ball on the blacktops of NYC, O'Neal still runs better than most bigs and Granger's athleticism-combined with his ability to score off the dribble-makes him a prototype for this system. Considering O'Brien got Boston and Philly to the playoffs in his first full season at each stop, maybe Indy's one-year playoff hiatus will turn out to be a fluke.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"O'Brien's teams have always been organized and well-disciplined. The biggest question is this: Does O'Neal want to be there? If things don't get off to a good start, he'll want to bail even sooner. Question No. 2: O'Brien likes his team to shoot the three, but who's going to make them? Dunleavy certainly isn't the answer. You can't say the playoffs are completely out of the picture, but the Pacers didn't do enough to improve their roster in the off-season to be anything more than a seventh or eighth seed. And that's only if everything breaks exactly right."

WESTERN CONFERENCE

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

FIRST IN SOUTHWEST

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 5

PILLAR 5

NEIGHBORHOOD 5

WIRING 5

CURB APPEAL 3

STARTING LINEUP

PF TIM DUNCAN Get this: A 10% hike in FTs made (68% career) would mean six or seven more W's.

SF BRUCE BOWEN Two-year extension keeps him in Spurs jersey ... and Kobe's, too.

C FABRICIO OBERTO Or Francisco Elson. Like it really matters ...

SG MICHAEL FINLEY Doug Mientkiewicz of NBA stole (and slept with) ball after first title.

PG TONY PARKER Maybe he'll be easier to D up once he tires from lugging his hardware. (Nah.)

COACH GREGG POPOVICH

SALES PITCH

The league's oldest digs (30.4 years last season) isn't about to undergo a clean sweep, but as always, things will be kept fresh. For instance, Pop may manage Duncan's minutes to ease a chronic foot problem and leave him primed for the playoffs. And Manu Ginobili will come off the bench until it's time to dust him off for full playoff use. One minor patch-the D-minded Ime Udoka-could help last season's plus-8.4 point differential, which was already more than a point better than anyone else's. Once again, this grand manor could be accommodating a house party in June.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"They have no significant new blood, so their challenge is refreshing the old blood. I think Matt Bonner is one guy who can make that happen. He's a terrific shooter, and he can rebound. Think of him as a Plan B if, or when, Robert Horry can't go. Then there's Pop. The one thing he hasn't done, and I know he's aware of it, is get that repeat. So that could motivate them, but do you really think he still has the fire to fight all those little battles? Especially now that his sounding board, P.J. Carlesimo, has gone off to Seattle? But let's face it, we're quibbling."

DALLAS MAVERICKS

SECOND IN SOUTHWEST

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 5

PILLAR 4

NEIGHBORHOOD 5

WIRING 4

CURB APPEAL 5

STARTING LINEUP

PF DIRK NOWITZKI Spent summer camping in Australia. Hope he finds his way back by tip-off.

SF JOSH HOWARD First-time All-Star has to hit gym if he wants another invite.

C DESAGANA DIOP Brings enough D and hops, but needs a visa for offense.

SG JASON TERRY On in years, down in speed. So is it off to the bench and up with Stackhouse?

PG DEVIN HARRIS D whiz has Nash and Mr. Longoria covered. Now, about Baron Davis ...

COACH AVERY JOHNSON

SALES PITCH

What goes from mint condition to prematurely condemned and back again in a year? Answer: the Mavs, hopefully. Johnson still has the support of the Texas Two-Stepper, Mark Cuban, who opted to keep his 67-win McMansion pretty much as is. Flirtations with KG and C-Webb became firm dates with Eddie Jones and Trenton Hassell, and the team still feels as if the road to the Finals goes through Big D. "The Spurs probably think they have to beat us," says a team official. "We have their number, and they know it." Put that way, the Mavs sound like an undermarket steal.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"Ultimately, with a team like Dallas, things are pretty much going to go the way its MVP is going to go-and who knows how that's going to go. I heard Dirk spent time this off-season on his inside game. That's good; you can't win a championship without a post-up player. And the Mavs don't play a post-up game; they rely on jumpers. Look at the playoffs: The Mavs would've been better off if Dirk had played with his back to the basket in the Warriors series. Part of it was circumstance, because Nellie knows Dirk so well. But who's to say it can't happen again?"

PHOENIX SUNS

FIRST IN PACIFIC

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 4

PILLAR 5

NEIGHBORHOOD 5

WIRING 3

CURB APPEAL 5

STARTING LINEUP

PF SHAWN MARION Hates playing PF, but with Hill around, he'll be there more than ever.

SF GRANT HILL D'Antoni thinks career 25.1% shooter from arc can hit 40% in system. Right.

C AMARE STOUDEMIRE No choice but to play D now that safety net Kurt Thomas is gone.

SG RAJA BELL Finally has common ground with Kobe: a balky knee.

PG STEVE NASH League's best all-around shooter now, and possibly ever.

COACH MIKE D'ANTONI

SALES PITCH

D'Antoni believes the manse he helped construct is looking better then ever. Nash? He'll defy modern science and NBA reality by improving for a third straight year on the wrong side of 30. Hill? He'll be rejuvenated in the Suns' breakneck attack. Amare? Getting that knee scoped will keep him fresher throughout the season. Marion? He'll jump higher now that he's gotten that trade demand off his chest. Heck, even that kooky local ad campaign that's built around the faux discovery of a new orange planet can't take the shine off this classy residence.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"They're hyping Hill to suggest they did something over the summer, but he's window dressing. If he plays half a season at their pace-he crumbled in Orlando's much slower sets-it will be an amazing feat. And that means they must get more out of Boris Diaw. The Marion situation is tough because he's integral to what they do, but they can't acknowledge that or it will drive up the price of his extension. Their road record was an outrageous 28-13 last season, and they led the league in FG%, 3PT% and FT%. Does anybody think they'll be able to duplicate all that?"

HOUSTON ROCKETS

THIRD IN SOUTHWEST

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 4

PILLAR 4

NEIGHBORHOOD 4

WIRING 4

CURB APPEAL 4

STARTING LINEUP

PF LUIS SCOLA Olympic-qualifying tourney MVP? Okay, what else you got?

SF SHANE BATTIER The breath on his neck is from a trimmed-down Bonzi Wells.

C YAO MING One injury-free season away from league's-best-center status.

SG TRACY MCGRADY Will still get touches and shots, but later in the shot clock.

PG RAFER ALSTON Trade bait, but fits new up-tempo better than Mike James or Steve Francis.

COACH RICK ADELMAN

SALES PITCH

They evicted Jeff Van Gundy and replaced him with Adelman not to appease T-Mac but to create an offense that better suits Yao and his high-post passing-just in case you were still wondering whose team this is. Adelman inherits a team in move-in condition, as long as the guys remember JVG's defensive lessons. The new coach will cultivate scoring options beyond the Big Two, like James, Francis and Wells, while his easygoing way will be less mentally taxing than his predecessor's. The Rockets will be more of a tough out than an early out come spring.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"Adelman has a huge offensive playbook, but it's going to take time to figure out what works. And they have to make hard cuts or his schemes aren't going to work. The big question is T-Mac; he hasn't shown he has the guts to be The Man at crunch time in the playoffs. Yao is the opposite; he'll always try to get it done. Adelman would be wise to get Yao to understand the weight of the world isn't on his shoulders alone. And you have to wonder what the Spurs knew about Scola to deal him to a division rival; they're usually too smart to give up on someone like that."

UTAH JAZZ

FIRSTIN NORTHWEST

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 4

PILLAR 3

NEIGHBORHOOD 4

WIRING 3

CURB APPEAL 3

STARTING LINEUP

PF CARLOS BOOZER So consistent, you forget he's there. If only that were an excuse for his D.

SF ANDREI KIRILENKO If he and Sloan can make up, there's hope for Utah-and Brad and Angie.

C MEHMET OKUR Became a dad in March-and his scoring fell 3.5 ppg. It's called a nanny.

SG RONNIE BREWER Seven pounds of muscle should give him the strength to grab this spot.

PG DERON WILLIAMS Best part about playing on Team USA? Studying under Jason Kidd.

COACH JERRY SLOAN

SALES PITCH

Utah has always liked the classic look (in particular, Sloan's pick-and-roll), but the new kids are getting to add their own touches. Williams has brought color to a previously drab decor, dishing inside to Boozer or pitching to Okur beyond the arc-that is, when he's not using his crossover to nail midrange jumpers. Brewer was a preseason surprise and just the type of athletic swingman the Jazz have lacked for, well, ever. If AK-47 is really done scouting other locales and is feeling it again on D, the Jazz could be even better than last year's conference finalists.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"Losing Derek Fisher means losing leadership and D. He was a security blanket for Williams, often picking up the other team's best guard to keep D-Will fresh on offense. Brewer looks better; he'd better have made some strides. The rest of the league would have been happy if Kirilenko had gone overseas. He's a game-changer as a help defender. Unless, that is, he's in a funk, like he was last season. But that's Sloan-he's going to ride you, and you either break or you get tougher. Who knows which Kirilenko will show up this year?"

DENVER NUGGETS

SECOND IN NORTHWEST

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 2

PILLAR 4

NEIGHBORHOOD 4

WIRING 2

CURB APPEAL 4

STARTING LINEUP

PF NENE Breakout season and big contract stand in way of Kenyon Martin's comeback bid.

SF CARMELO ANTHONY What happened in Vegas had better not stay in Vegas.

C MARCUS CAMBY Can NBA's top defender avoid injury two seasons in row? It'd be a first.

SG ALLEN IVERSON Not quite the threat he once was; both shots and ppg down after trade.

PG CHUCKY ATKINS Can he spot up for threes? If not, J.R. Smith will.

COACH GEORGE KARL

SALES PITCH

Anthony, Iverson and Karl recently cameoed in Eddie Murphy's new flick NowhereLand, but the Nugs might be ready to move out of that hood in Year 2 of the A.I.-Melo Experience. Camby andNene anchor an already strong front line, and another upgrade could be on the way. K-Mart switched uni numbers from 6 to the 4 he wore in college, and he hopes to go retro with his bounce, too. His agent is telling folks he's pain-free after a second microfracture surgery. Bottom line: With a little TLC-Coach Karl, are you listening?-this could be one of the hidden gems of the West.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"They're a good team, but the upper-echelon teams in the West don't fear the Nuggets because they feel like they can beat them down the stretch. It's feast or famine with Denver. They can do some damage, but they can also blow themselves up. They ran a lot in transition last season, but they really played an ugly brand of basketball. They don't execute well enough-in fact, a lot of us had trouble figuring out what they were running, because they weren't running anything-but you can't look past them. It just depends on which night you catch them."

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

SECOND IN PACIFIC

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 3

PILLAR 3

NEIGHBORHOOD 3

WIRING 4

CURB APPEAL 5

STARTING LINEUP

PF AL HARRINGTON Worst playoff performer was best in training camp. Little late, no?

SF STEPHEN JACKSON Vows this will be the season he's notorious for basketball only.

C ANDRIS BIEDRINS Go-to threat for Latvia in EuroBasket-and now back to reality.

SG MONTA ELLIS Get this: He's starting because he missed too much time to learn the point.

PG BARON DAVIS MVP candidate if he picks up where he left off in playoffs.

COACH DON NELSON

SALES PITCH

Is this really a dream house by the Bay? They still need a low-post threat, but they also still rock an all-under-30 starting lineup and the carryover from last spring's historic playoff beat-down of the Mavs. They can drape the perimeter with guards galore-try to find a better trio on anyone's bench than Kelenna Azubuike, Marco Belinelli and Mickael Pietrus. And while some will question the front office's refusal to give Nellie a raise and Davis an extension, others will say it's smart to foster a perpetual salary drive.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"Their strength is their potential to put you in a mismatch every time down the floor. But they're a crew of knuckleheads if I've ever seen one. Here's the big question: Can they keep roles and minutes from becoming an issue? Remember, they had to do it for only half a season last year after the big trade with the Pacers. Making chemistry work with such a volatile bunch over a full season is a much bigger challenge. Rebounding is another issue, but if Harrington is as active as he was in the preseason, that will make a difference."

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

FOURTH IN SOUTHWEST

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 2

PILLAR 3

NEIGHBORHOOD 3

WIRING 4

CURB APPEAL 3

STARTING LINEUP

PF DAVID WEST Best undersized opportunist this side of Nicole Richie.

SF PEJA STOJAKOVIC Can hit 30-footers in his sleep ... but not in traction.

C TYSON CHANDLER Facing up, instead of backing down, to renewed, rookie-level buzz.

SG MORRIS PETERSON Wing is NBA's Tony Stark: He's missed only 11 games in four seasons.

PG CHRIS PAUL Pace-shifter will zoom into hometown All-Star lineup.

COACH BYRON SCOTT

SALES PITCH

After two years in temporary housing, the Hornets are packing up and heading back to the Big Easy. That won't be the only homecoming. Point guard Paul (ankle) and forward Stojakovic (back) return to a starting lineup that missed 133 games due to injury. Rehabbed guard Bobby Jackson is back as well to buttress the starters. And because foes in their dangerous division have already cased inside jewels West and Chandler, the team upgraded its perimeter security with free agent guard dog Peterson and rookie forward Julian Wright.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"It seems like they've addressed their shooting problems with Peterson, whom they've wanted forever. That's an important pickup, because Stojakovic still hasn't been able to go hard in back-to-back practices, and his percentages were down even before his surgery. So too were Bobby Jax's before he hurt his ribs. Paul, of course, will run the pick-and-roll to perfection. They haven't gotten over .500 since moving into the division, but in the end, their playoff chances depend on exactly how unhappy Kobe is with the Lakers."

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

THIRD IN PACIFIC

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 3

PILLAR 5

NEIGHBORHOOD 2

WIRING 1

CURB APPEAL 2

STARTING LINEUP

PF LAMAR ODOM Lakers tried to deal him all summer. Kind of makes you wonder.

SF LUKE WALTON Rode the bench the last time the Lakers went up-tempo.

C CHRIS MIHM Missed all 2006-07; still better option than Kwame Brown or Andrew Bynum.

SG KOBE BRYANT Took it to another level this summer. And he played well, too.

PG DEREK FISHER Clutch in playoffs, but that might not matter here.

COACH PHIL JACKSON

SALES PITCH

To hear Phil Jackson tell it, Bryant is a contractor's dream. Fix the D? You saw what Kobe did for Team USA. Balanced scoring? Kobe will distribute more-even as he scores at a league-leading pace. Play faster? Kobe can push it. If it weren't for Phil and the NBA's top guy, this project would never pass inspection. But this team sees only possibilities. In fact, even if that increasingly ominous branch-a potential Kobe trade-does fall through the roof, all the young talent the Lakers will get in return can only ease the new construction.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"Kobe is in phenomenal shape, and that means he'll be putting more pressure on defenses than ever. If Bynum can be a day-to-day presence, they could be tough. If he can't they're in trouble, because they won't get his rebounding or shotblocking from anyone else. It's not clear how much Fisher has left, but if he's anywhere close to the defender he once was, he'll help keep other teams honest. I can't see them winning a lot of regular-season games, but you know what? I wouldn't want to play them in mid-May."

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

FIFTH IN SOUTHWEST

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 1

PILLAR 3

NEIGHBORHOOD 2

WIRING 2

CURB APPEAL 2

STARTING LINEUP

PF PAU GASOL Does he want to play here, and is he healthy enough if he does?

SF MIKE MILLER His summer with Team USA can only help.

C DARKO MILICIC Euro-style offense and more minutes might lift him to quasi-bust status.

SG RUDY GAY Hey, second year was the charm at UConn. Wait-never mind.

PG DAMON STOUDAMIRE Less floor general, more seat filler for Mike Conley Jr.

COACH MARC IAVARONI

SALES PITCH

Former Phoenix assistant Iavaroni adds a dose of Suns lite as the new super. And he's got the solar panels to power a revival. Young points Conley and Kyle Lowry can both fly, Gasol and Milicic run well for bigs, and Gay and Hakim Warrick are both built to move. Once they figure out this NBA thing, they'll spend plenty of time above the rim. If Spanish guard Juan Carlos Navarro can rev buddy Pau's motor and Darko can solidify the post defense, Memphis might be much readier to show than last season's cellar-dwelling mess.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"This team has undergone a ton of changes, and since it's still up for sale, more could be on the way. They're importing the Phoenix system, but can that really work without Steve Nash running it? They played Lowry and Conley together over the summer, and they looked okay, but they're small and not great shooters. Iavaroni will get them to defend, though, so maybe they'll end up looking more like the Heat. The other wild card is Darko. Has he matured? Detroit didn't want him, and Orlando didn't try that hard to keep him. That says something."

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

THIRD IN NORTHWEST

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 3

PILLAR 3

NEIGHBORHOOD 2

WIRING 4

CURB APPEAL 3

STARTING LINEUP

PF LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE First priority: Make 'em forget about Zach Randolph.

SF TRAVIS OUTLAW How open is competition for this spot? Even Darius Miles has a shot.

C JOEL PRZYBILLA Shadowboxing chops means he can defend himself against attackers.

SG BRANDON ROY League's reigning top rook has recurring heel problem. That's just piling on.

PG JARRETT JACK For now, but Steve Blake and surprising rook Taurean Green are nipping.

COACH NATE MCMILLAN

SALES PITCH

Handyman special! True, the space is suddenly more raw with the loss of Greg Oden, but the Blazers have a plan to keep everyone happy: Score. Next to last in ppg last season, Portland's new plan is to drop 100 a night. Oden's loss is actually unrelated to the up-tempo style switch; that was coming regardless and will still be there when he returns. Roy will definitely benefit, and Aldridge should too. With Channing Frye discovering a jumper, Przybilla overhauling his foul shooting (career mark: 48.5%) and Jack and Blake thinking dish first, this is one renovation with endless possibilities.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"Let's face it, the loss of Oden was a devastating blow to the team and the franchise. Roy is still around, but he'll face more double-teams from opponents who will game-plan to stop him. Zach Randolph was the one true inside scoring threat, and he's gone. Who's going to fill that void? But what really matters now is how well the guys who will be on the floor this season mesh. They're athletic enough to play up-tempo, but whether they have the mental and physical capacity to handle the ball and deliver it to other players in that system remains to be seen."

SACRAMENTO KINGS

FOURTH IN PACIFIC

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 2

PILLAR 1

NEIGHBORHOOD 2

WIRING 1

CURB APPEAL 1

STARTING LINEUP

PF KENNY THOMAS Fighting off Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Mikki Moore, which says it all.

SF RON ARTEST Says he's focused after another summer of trade and retirement talk. Uh-huh.

C BRAD MILLER Losing 25 pounds is a start. But dude, the cornrows have to go too.

SG KEVIN MARTIN Wants to be leader, but will Bibby and Artest step aside without a fight?

PG MIKE BIBBY Has to get used to being centerpiece of trade rumors all season.

COACH REGGIE THEUS

SALES PITCH

This team of headstrong vets doesn't seem like the ideal starter home for a new coach. But if you think Theus won't assert himself, you're wrong. He's already imposed a road curfew and outlawed cell phones on the bus. Bibby appears to be paying more attention to D and less attention to trade rumors. New papa Miller is telling folks he's going to be a stay-at-home dad, at least on the court, where he'll play closer to the post. And if Theus can insulate Ron-Ron from trouble enough to keep him productive, this home might be quakeproof for a while.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"You wonder about Theus because he hasn't had as much coaching experience as some of the other college coaches who've come into the league. Sure, he's got an All-Star in the making in Martin, but only if the older guys will let him blossom. And they have to hope that Artest's usual life-decision musings don't become a distraction, but isn't that always the case? What I'd be more concerned about is keeping him focused on defense. It appeared as though he wasn't with the program at times last season."

SEATTLE SUPERSONICS

FOURTH IN NORTHWEST

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 1

PILLAR 3

NEIGHBORHOOD 2

WIRING 2

CURB APPEAL 2

STARTING LINEUP

PF CHRIS WILCOX So much for brittle: Went the full 82 last season.

SF KEVIN DURANT There's talk of moving him to SG, but that's too much to ask right now.

C ROBERT SWIFT Last season's knee injury stunted growth. If you can call it that.

SG WALLY SZCZERBIAK Might be compelled to outduel Durant. That would be a mistake.

PG LUKE RIDNOUR Part of dynamic time-share with Earl Watson ... if dynamic means average.

COACH P.J. CARLESIMO

SALES PITCH

Wherever this mobile home settles-Seattle, Oklahoma City, a park near you-there will surely be plenty of room for the kids to roam. Seattle's future hinges much more on Durant and fellow rook forward Jeff Green than an arena lease. And while the youth movement will inspire more TOs than dunks, there are enough old pros to keep KeyArena from becoming Romper Room. Kurt Thomas can solidify any interior, and Nick Collison looked strong with Team USA's Select team. Throw in Wally, Ridnour, Wilcox, Watson and Delonte West, and the cupboard's not totally bare.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"Durant is going to have the opportunity to thrive, because he'll get to take practically every shot. The funny thing is, if they actually cared about winning this year, they do have enough talent to surprise people. But GM Sam Presti has a long-term vision. So at the cost of winning, they won't play just Durant and Green; they'll also use Swift and Johan Petro. And because it's all about the future, it will be a pressure-free environment that will allow everyone to play freer. They're laying the groundwork now to be a great team later."

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

FIFTH IN PACIFIC

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 2

PILLAR 1

NEIGHBORHOOD 2

WIRING 2

CURB APPEAL 1

STARTING LINEUP

PF TIM THOMAS Show us a more drastic drop-off than having this guy replace Elton Brand.

SF COREY MAGGETTE He'll be shooting so often, he could be Clips' all-time scorer by January.

C CHRIS KAMAN If any season calls for more than 10 to 12 points and a cloud of dust, this is it.

SG CUTTINO MOBLEY Quietly matched career high of 44% FG last season.

PG SAM CASSELL How do we put this gently? He's as old as Led Zeppelin.

COACH MIKE DUNLEAVY

SALES PITCH

Sure, their retaining wall (Brand) is out of commission until at least February with a ruptured Achilles. And yes, the kid they were grooming as a support beam (Shaun Livingston) is out too. But this is no teardown. The Clips have used adversity as incentive to caulk the fissure between Maggette and Dunleavy, and that will pay off when the pieces are back in place. Meanwhile, the installation of high-flying rook Al Thornton will be relatively seamless and highly entertaining. And even if the team can't withstand the strain, there's a lottery ball-not a wrecking ball-waiting in the wings.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"Dunleavy gets more out of average rosters than just about any coach around, and this one is definitely average at best. He has to keep it together until Brand gets back, which is going to be hard, because opposing power forwards will light up when they see the Clips on the schedule. The offense isn't about to run through the post, so there will be a premium on the guys who can create their shots. And Dunleavy is a stickler for spacing, which gets you good shots. But if Cassell gets hurt or can't handle the younger, faster guys, they'll have a real problem."

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

ENGINEER'S REPORT

FOUNDATION 1

PILLAR 1

NEIGHBORHOOD 1

WIRING 1

CURB APPEAL 1

FIFTH IN NORTHWEST

STARTING LINEUP

PF AL JEFFERSON Low-post monster, but he's replacing Godzilla.

SF RYAN GOMESA surprisingly solid pro, but Corey Brewer is a kid in a hurry.

C MARK BLOUNT His 12.3 ppg and 6.2 rpg is proof that anyone can put up some stats.

SG RICKY DAVIS Expected scoring leader doesn't deliver on second part of label.

PG RANDY FOYE He's not really a point, which is perfect, because this isn't really a team.

COACH RANDY WITTMAN

SALES PITCH

KG has vacated the premises, but that's left room for one huge family. The Wolves entered training camp with at least 15 rotation-worthy players. Sure, most of them would be in the lower half of anyone else's mix, but the Garnett yard sale did net Jefferson, a legit 20/10 threat who's only 22 years old. Gomes arrives as a solid handyman, and now that Foye is sure to get big minutes, he'll deliver points in bunches. All of that might not translate to wins, but at least Davis and young wings Brewer and Gerald Green will light up the house in transition.

SCOUT'S TAKE

"The challenge for Wittman is to put in a system that is simple enough not to overwhelm the young guys while still giving them the chance to be successful. And the Wolves really need to move Davis. Sure, they'll have a lot of trouble scoring if they do, but they have too many guys who work and play hard to have a bad influence like him around. Jefferson will be fine in this new conference. The competition is thick, but he's played well against West teams in the past, and he's going to get a ton of touches. But if they don't push the tempo, they could be truly awful."

FOUNDATION=OWNER/GM/COACH PILLAR=FRANCHISE PLAYER NEIGHBORHOOD=SUPPORTING CAST WIRING=TEAM CHEMISTRY CURB APPEAL=FUN TO WATCH?

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