The team benefiting most from the FA madness

[heyvik]

the LA Lakers!
They are watching all their Western Conference opponents get weaker! Amare to NY, Boozer to Chicago, and LeBron will no doubtly choose an Eastern Conference competitor.
As a diehard C's fan, I am sick to my stomach watching all this knowing that the road with be harder for Big 4. Unfortuantely, there's nothing anyone can do about it.

[Roy Hobbs]

Yeah, the Lakers will have a cake walk through the West.

I'm personally excited to see a more competitive East, although I hate the effect that that has on the Lakers.

[Surferdad]

Maybe Denver or Dallas can do something here. C'mon Cuban, open that pocketbook!

[heyvik]

Maybe Denver or Dallas can do something here. C'mon Cuban, open that pocketbook!

i wish that Cuban could....but all options are limited for him.

[Greenbean]

The Lakers window will beign to close IMO starting this year unless Bynum stays injury free and becomes dominant. BIG if.

[blake]

Give the Thunder some credit.  Their series with the Lakers was really really good.  The Thunder also got better this offseason.

[Bankshot]

So the Thunder is the Lakers only real competition.  I started a thread saying the Lakers are going to have a cakewalk to the Finals and everyone was talking me down.  I'm going to bring that thread back. lol

[heyvik]

Give the Thunder some credit.  Their series with the Lakers was really really good.  The Thunder also got better this offseason.

I'll give them some credit but....two other Western Conference playoff teams got really weaker. they beat Utah in 4 or 5 games, with 1 of their 2 best players now in the EC. and they beat Phoenix in 6 games also with 1 of their 2 best players now in the EC.
what do you think - will Portland be that much better - they'll have Roy and Ogen back but really??? Unless Dallas gets a solid #2 to Dirk, without loosing any players on their current roster, then where's the hope?

[heyvik]

So the Thunder is the Lakers only real competition.  I started a thread saying the Lakers are going to have a cakewalk to the Finals and everyone was talking me down.  I'm going to bring that thread back. lol

Portland might cause them to sweat a little...but don't you see them, as currently constructed, beating them in 5-6 games???

[Chris]

Maybe Denver or Dallas can do something here. C'mon Cuban, open that pocketbook!

i wish that Cuban could....but all options are limited for him.

How so?  They have one of the most valuable assets out there in Dampier's contract.  I expect them to make a splash with that.  I think they held out a little hope of getting one of the big FA guys with it, but now that they seem to be off the table, I expect them to turn to trades of guys under contract.  I would be shocked if they are not significantly better next year.

[Evantime34]

Teams that can challenge the Lakers
1. Thunder: with all the young players getting a year older and better plus getting playoff experience, I expect them to be a top 5 seed.
2.Nuggets: they really had a lot of injuries to their big men during the season. If they're healthy they can compete
3. Houston: Don't sleep on Yao coming back after they added Kevin Martin from Sacto.
4. Portland: They pretty much lost every single big man on their roster to injury, and Brandon Roy was playing hurt. A healthy Roy and Oden could go far.

[housecall]

I agree with what NBA.tv/TNT Steve Kerr said yesterday,OKC is one or two pieces away from taking down the Lakers and don't sleep on Dallas.

[heyvik]

Teams that can challenge the Lakers
1. Thunder: with all the young players getting a year older and better plus getting playoff experience, I expect them to be a top 5 seed. they lack size down low - with a healthy Bynum & Gasol don't see it happening
2.Nuggets: they really had a lot of injuries to their big men during the season. If they're healthy they can compete - they imploded,  they also lack height and depth up front. Gasol and Bynum shoot over Nene and Kmart at will
3. Houston: Don't sleep on Yao coming back after they added Kevin Martin from Sacto. best all around team in the West other than LA. But Yao is coming off major surgery, hopefully he'll get better as the season gets better.   
4. Portland: They pretty much lost every single big man on their roster to injury, and Brandon Roy was playing hurt. A healthy Roy and Oden could go far. - their hopes lie on Greg Oden's and Marcus Camby's, and Joel P's knees.

[heyvik]

I agree with what NBA.tv/TNT Steve Kerr said yesterday,OKC is one or two pieces away from taking down the Lakers and don't sleep on Dallas.

Dallas - love them on paper, but no chemistry. Dirk NEEDS a solid #2 without loosing anyone on his current roster.

[housecall]

I agree with what NBA.tv/TNT Steve Kerr said yesterday,OKC is one or two pieces away from taking down the Lakers and don't sleep on Dallas.

Dallas - love them on paper, but no chemistry. Dirk NEEDS a solid #2 without loosing anyone on his current roster.

They got a few new pieces during the middle of the season,but with them having more time to gel the upcoming season,i expect Cuban will add a piece here and there i could see them going far.