NBA Team Previews

For Miami, priority number one is re-signing Dwyane Wade after this season. Priority 1a is signing one of next summer's big free agents. Winning games this season is a bit lower on the list.

The economic downturn is affecting every team in the NBA, but none more than the Milwaukee Bucks, who spent the offseason shedding salaries and bringing back very little in return. Coach Scott Skiles will have some interesting young players, but expect major growing pains for what might be the worst team in the league.

His moves on draft night left observers -- and his own players -- wondering what team president David Kahn was doing. Months later, Kahn's plan is a little clearer.

Like several other NBA teams, the Nets have been stuck in neutral for years, clearing salary in the hopes of signing one of next summer's free agents. But New Jersey's future was even more uncertain, as a planned new arena in Brooklyn got stuck in development limbo, slowed by the poor economy and opposition from neighborhood groups. After a massive infusion of cash from new ownership, the Nets' future looks bright -- for the first time in years.

In the first season of the Donnie Walsh/Mike D'Antoni regime at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks made significant strides, cleared some albatross contracts off the books and positioned the team for a run at one or more of the marquee 2010 free agents. But they did so at the expense of the team's 2008-09 on-court performance. This year, expect more of the same.

The Magic emerged as one of the top teams in the East last season, even after losing their All-Star point guard for the entire second half, but couldn't get past Kobe and the Lakers in the Finals. They'll be among the beasts of the East again this season -- but are they better off with Vince Carter?

The acquisition of superstar power forward Elton Brand was supposed to put the Sixers on even footing with the Eastern Conference's top teams. Instead, Brand disrupted the up-tempo offense that was Philly's strength -- before suffering a major shoulder injury and missing most of the season. This year, with a new coach and new offense, they'll try to regain the momentum they lost in 2008-09.

The Spurs have been the NBA's model franchise for years. But last season, Tim Duncan's creaky knees and Manu Ginobili's litany of injuries took their toll. A flurry of offseason moves addressed several weaknesses, and this year the Spurs look primed for another title run.

The Raptors should be good enough to land a slot in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoffs, but probably not good enough to compete with Boston or Cleveland or Orlando for the title. The bigger question -- will they be able to convince Chris Bosh to stay?

In emerging star Paul Millsap, the Jazz thought they had the perfect replacement for Carlos Boozer. One problem -- Boozer didn't leave. That surprise move leaves Utah two-deep at power forward and right in the middle of every trade rumor in the league.

The story of the Washington Wizards over the last few seasons can be read on the injury report. Top scorer Gilbert Arenas has played just 15 games in the last two seasons combined, and last season starters Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson and Brendan Haywood joined Agent Zero in street clothes for extended stretches. This year they'll have a new look, with Flip Saunders taking over the coaching reins... but the injury problems persist.