When the 2008-2009 NBA season came to a close the Phoenix Suns failed to gain a playoff berth for the first time since Steve Nash came to Phoenix before the 2004-2005 NBA season.  The addition of Shaq at the previous season’s trade deadline proved to be a failure as the Suns offense stagnated in Terry Porter’s halfcourt, grind it out system.

When Porter was fired and replaced by Alvin Gentry midway through the season, the Suns reinstated their running game and again became one of the league’s best offenses, though continuing to be an ineffective defensive squad.

Steve Nash and Grant Hill are both past their primes and can't push the Suns to a championship level.

Heading into the offseason, the Suns needed to find a new identity.  Nash is 35, Shaq, 37 and Grant Hill, 36.  They promptly traded Shaq to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Ben Wallace, who they waived, Sasha Pavlovic, who they will buy out soon, cash and a 2010 second round pick.

With Shaq gone, the Suns turned their attention to both Grant Hill and Steve Nash.  With Hill being an unrestricted free agent and getting an offer from New York, Phoenix decided to extend a two-year, $6 million offer, which Hill accepted.  The Suns followed this move shortly thereafter by giving Steve Nash’s a two-year, $22 million extension.

For fans looking for any hope of a return to glory in the near neither of these moves delivered.  Nash is still an effective point guard, capable of setting up teammates for a number of easy shots with his pinpoint passing, not to mention his ability to score, but at 35 it is clear he is now slowing down.  He was never a good defensive player to begin with, but over the last 2 seasons it has gotten even worse, with Nash incapable of stopping nearly any opposing point.

Hill put up solid numbers last year, but has not been a true difference maker since prior to the multiple surgeries he’s underwent on his knees.  To make matters worse, the Suns only other addition this offseason has been former first round pick, Channing Frye who’s only skill, perimeter shooting, will be useful in playing with Nash, but once again will not give the Suns a serious boost to make them any kind of contender in the West.

Additionally, Amare Stoudemire has been hinting at leaving from Phoenix after his failed attempt this offseason to get a contract extension.  GM Steve Kerr has stated they want to see how Amare holds up after undergoing serious surgery on the retina in his right eye last season.

Amare Stoudemire may be looking to get a new contract elsewhere after negotiations with Phoenix for an extensions proved futile.

Looking to the future, the only player who they can hope to develop into a star would be this year’s first-round pick, Earl Clark.  Both Leandrinho Barbosa and Jason Richardson at this point in their careers are know quantities as prolific scorers, that provide little else.  Even if the Suns were to keep Stoudemire, with the Lakers and Spurs on top in the West and a number of teams that figure to make big moves in the upcoming seasons in Portland and Oklahoma City, it figures to be awhile before the Suns rise again as a power.

This is disappointing, because going into this offseason, the Suns were poised to free up cap space in the summer of 2010 and armed with an expiring contract in Steve Nash that could have fetched them some youth or expiring contracts and draft picks at the deadline.  Now the Suns merely look like a team doomed to be too competitive to lose enough to be at the top of the lottery, but not good enough to make the playoffs.

Two years ago re-signing Nash and Hill would have been prudent, but with the decline in both players’ skills and abilities, the Suns look to be stuck in the middle of the pack.  The Suns will still run and put up well over 100 points a game next year, especially with Stoudemire looking to up his value on the open market, but with Nash, the engine of their offense getting older the Suns figure to be stuck in mediocrity.

David Kahn began his term as the new GM of the Minnesota Timberwolves on the eve of the NBA Draft.  With a team consisting of one legitimate franchise player in Al Jefferson, nearly everybody else on the roster was up for trade.  Looking to rebuild through the draft, Kahn traded Randy Foye and Mike Miller to the Washington Wizards in exchange for some frontcourt depth with Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila, Oleksiy Pecherov and above all the No. 5 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Already holding the No. 6 pick this gave the Timberwolves two picks back-to-back with another at No. 18 and No. 28 later on in the first round coming their way.  Armed with four first round picks and a number of holes to fill Kahn entered the draft prepared to retool and reload his team with young talent.

As the first four picks in the draft came and went and in many teams’ eyes the top point guard prospect, Ricky Rubio, still on the board, nobody was surprised to see the Timberwolves pick him at No. 5.  The pick was viewed as a great selection that gave Minnesota a point guard of the future with a player many view as a prospect whose potential is immense and have led to comparisons to Pete Maravich.

With the No. 6 pick coming, many had Stephen Curry pegged here to round out a starting backcourt of the future to pair with their two studs in the frontcourt.  Personally, I thought Terrance Williams would have been a nice fit with his all-around skills, defensive capabilities, size and athleticism.  Kahn went in a puzzling direction to many by choosing to go with another point guard, this time take Jonny Flynn out of Syracuse.

Ricky Rubio may still be overseas when the upcoming NBA season kicks off

The Nuggets traded their No. 18 pick for a future first round pick to the Denver Nuggers, a good move in a weak draft class and then took shooting guard, Wayne Ellington with the No. 28 overall pick in the first round.

Since the draft Kahn has been on record as saying he believes that a backcourt of Flynn and Rubio though unconventional could work.  Unfortunately, the argument holds little weight since the Wolves have yet to figure out how they are going to be able to get Rubio to Minnesota with the buyout currently in place with his contract with his current Spanish league club, DVK Joventut.

It’s puzzling that the T’Wolves would even have selected a player without having finalized a buyout from his contract, especially after drafting him with their top selection.  They then made a move to cover themselves by drafting Flynn in the event Rubio is not able to come over this season, a scenario which is looking increasingly likely.  The situation that faces them is what they plan on doing if Rubio does come over.

They cannot possibly start Rubio and Flynn together and neither will be happy coming off the bench to back-up the other.  With the trade of Foye and Miller, two of the team’s better scoring options, the T’Wolves could field one of the worst offenses this season in the NBA.

T’Wolves fans should hope that with up to potentially three picks in the first round next year, Kahn does a better job of evaluating his team’s personnel and needs.

After winning their 16th championship this past season, the Lakers had to make several key decisions this offseason.  With Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza both being unrestricted free agents and both seeking long-term contracts, GM Mitch Kupchak made a bold move.  Feeling that Ariza was not worth the full mid-level exception for five years as he wanted, Kupchak decided to extend the mid-level exception to free agent, Ron Artest.

Artest will need to learn how to play second fiddle next Kobe Bryant for the Lakers to defend their title successfully.

Artest signed the deal and with Odom agreeing to a deal late last week, most experts and pundits viewed them as an improved team that stood as the clear championship favorites.  While the Lakers certainly are the favorites to repeat their championship run of last year, the exchange of Ariza, who signed with the Rockets, for Artest is at best a lateral move if not a downgrade.

Artest over the course of his career has a high usage rate on offense and often has demonstrated his tendency to break off plays, hold on to the ball and look for his own shot.  Looking at last year’s numbers, Ariza shot 46.o% from the field, whereas Artest shot 40.1%.

Artest did shoot significantly better than Ariza in the regular season hitting nearly 40% of his treys as compared to Ariza’s 31.1%, but come playoff time Ariza elevated his game hitting 47.6%, while Artest put up a horrific 27.7% from downtown.  Combine this with the fact that Artest shot 23-83 from three in 13 playoff games, whereas Ariza shot 40-84 in 23.  Artest at times can get caught up looking for his own shot and will force the issue even when he’s not on.

Ariza posted a lower usage rate, higher true shooting percentage and a higher effective field goal percentage for the season.  He found his niche moving without the ball, often into the corners when Kobe drove to the lane or cutting baseline to the hoop freeing himself for good scoring chances.  He also provided a couple of  late game steals for the Lakers that sealed victories over the Nuggets and Magic in the playoffs.  The Lakers also used Ariza to check the opposing team’s best wing player.

Whereas Ariza is 23 years old with a steadily improving all-around game, Artest finds himself at 29, declining athletically and becoming a less effective defensive player.  The other baggage Artest brings to L.A. with him is his history of strange behavior off the court.

Ron Artest is an absolute headcase.  He has certainly calmed down since his time in Indiana, most noted for his charge into the stands in Detroit, but there is not doubt that Artest remains a bit on the crazy side.  If you missed it, Bill Simmons of ESPN.com, in his most recent piece, discussed Artest’s tendency to walk around in his underwear on the team bus last year with the Rockets.

The Lakers may regret not signing Ariza, who was the perfect complementary player to Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.

While this pattern of bizarre behavior is nothing new from Artest, most of the NBA talking heads have stated their belief that if Jackson could control Dennis Rodman in Chicago and get him to play effectively alongside Jordan and Pippen, then he can do the same with Artest in L.A.

The comparison between Rodman and Artest is limited strictly to bizarre behavior, but as basketball players the disparity in their styles of play is vast.  Rodman never needed or demanded the ball.  He knew his role as a rebounder and an excellent defender capable of checking the opposing team’s power forward and making effective rotations.

Artest while still a good defender is nowhere near the elite level he was at during his time in Indiana.  Artest offensively is not effective moving without the ball, something he will need to improve working alongside Kobe Bryant.  He must also stick to the triangle offense, which demands a player read and react the situation and encourages ball movement.

The Lakers still remain the favorites to win their second consecutive championship and adding Artest could be a move that does reap benefits for them.  For that to happen Artest must buy into the triangle offense and learn to defer to both Bryant and Gasol offensively before looking for his shot.  Phil Jackson will certainly have his hands full, incorporating Artest into the Lakers’ game plans for next year.

As we all know the Cavaliers, Magic and Celtics are going to start the season off as serious title contenders in the Eastern Conference.  Are there any teams in the East that have the potential to disrupt the three main powers?

I’m not talking about a team that can sneak into the playoffs, or win a playoff series, but a team that has the potential to beat one or even two of these teams in a playoff series.  I’m not telling you that the Washington Wizards are a championship contender, but looking at their roster it’s obvious that if they can put it all togther, with their talent, they will be a force to reckoned with.

Gilbert Arenas needs to get the hibachi grill going for the Wizards to be successful this year.

The Wizards are an awful defensive team, which they compound by not putting in any effort on that end of the floor.  The team lacks an interior presence on both defense and on offense.  Their offense relies too much on hitting shots from the perimeter and they have almost an over abundance of wing scorers.  The Wizards won 19 games last year and finished last in the Eastern Conference, but in many ways this year’s team barely resembles last year’s injurry riddled squad.

When discussing health and playing together as a team, it all starts with their Big Three, specifically Gilbert Arenas.  Agent Zero’s prolonged injury-related absences has been tough for the Wizards, but word is that Gilbert’s been a gym rat this offseason and can’t wait to get back on the court.  Arenas cannot be guarded by other guards around the league because of his ability to hit jump shots even under duress and his size, strength and agility make him unstoppable when he drives to the rim.

Arenas’ main flaw is that he often fails to fulfill his primary duties as a point guard.  He doesn’t need to average double digit assists, but the Wizards must hope that Arenas has matured and will do a better job of facilitating the offense.  Arenas, now entering his ninth year in the league, must learn to get the other players on the team going in addition to looking for his own shot.  Flip Saunders will give him the freedom to run his read and react offense and if Arenas can handle those duties, the Wizards offense will be better than before.

Antawn Jamison is now 33 years old, but is coming off one of his best seasons, averaging 22.2points and 8.9 rebounds a game.  The third member of their Big Three, Caron Butler also had a solid year, but missed 15 games because of injury. Both players can get out in transition, handle the ball and have the ability to score from the perimeter and drive to the hoop.  While Jamison has the ability to play both forward spots and score inside with an advanced post game, Butler has become better at creating for teammates in Arenas’ absence the past two seasons.

If Butler and Jamison put up the same numbers as last year and Gilbert can return back to his peak hibachi form with an added ability to facilitate the offense, this team should be able to easily get in to the playoffs.  However, it’s the depth beyond these three that the Wizards now possess that make them such an intriguing and dangerous team.

The Wizards are now the most explosive team in the league.  On any given night outside of their Big Three, they have five other players that can help shoulder the offensive load.  Nick Young, Randy Foye and Mike Miller, can make their backcourt absolutely lethal.  Young has shown glimpses of his potential and with coach Flip Saunders’ decision to use him like he did Rip Hamilton in Detroit, Young can be absolutely deadly with his excellent mid-range game.

Mike Miller gives the Wizard another offensive weapon with his ability to play the point and spread the floor.

Foye and Miller came over from Minnesota in a trade for the No. 5 overall pick.  While the Wizards may be kicking themselves with Ricky Rubio dropping down to that spot, they certainly made out well.  Foye is a Gilbert-lite in many ways.  He is too big and strong for most opposing point guards and is difficult to keep out of the lane.  Foye will be explosive for the Wizards with his ability to play both backcourt positions coming off the bench.

Miller is deadly from beyond the arc and with the number of slashers that the Wizards have, he could benefit immenselyon drive and kick opportunities.  Miller also has the ability to play some point, which he did effectively in time with Memphis.

He is an excellent ball handler for wing player his size and his length and size allow him to see and make some passes most point guards struggle with.  While he can’t play their for an extended period of time due to his lack of lateral quickness, Miller could form an effective backcourt pairing with Arenas, splitting the point guard duties with him and allowing Arenas to operate as the shooting guard at times.

Andray Blatche is a 6′11power forward/center, with the ability to handle the ball and an advanced perimeter game for a big man his size.  Still only 22 years old, Blatche is still developing his game.  If he can bulk up a bit and operate a little bit more in the post, Blatche can provide match-up nightmares for opposing teams with his ability to draw the other team’s big men out to the perimeter and opening up the paint.

Javale McGee has the potential to be an absolute star in the NBA.  Like Blatche, he has shown the ability to operate from the perimeter, but McGee has far more advanced skills operating inside.  With his 7′6 wingspan he can be an extremely disruptive force defensively as well becoming an elite rebounder, which he did both of to great affect in summer league.  McGee is also extremely athletic and runs the floor very well for big man his size.

Javale McGee can be a force on the interior on both the defensive and offensive ends of the floor.

The Wizards will also be getting Brendan Haywood back to solidify their frontcourt rotation and give the Wizards some kind of defensive presence inside.  Defense will ultimately determine how far this team goes.  Washington will not struggle to put points up on the board, but they need to commit to playing defense.

The Wizards don’t need to become one of the league’s elite defensive units, but they need to at least be average, which requires little else but effort.  If Saunders can get his team to put in the effort defensively, the Wizards should be able to easily wrap-up the No. 4 seed in the East.

There are two things any NBA team needs to be successful in today’s league, the ability to create match-up problems and versatile players who can play multiple positions.  The Wizards have both of these qualities.  Imagine a lineup of Miller, Arenas, Butler, Jamison and Mcgee.  All five players have the ability to put the ball on the floor and Miller, Arenas, Butler and Jamison can spread the floor effectively to create opportunities to drive or throw or throw it down low to McGee.

They can score in the halfcourt and also in transition equally as well.  Their size and length can create nightmares on the defensive end as well if they can commit.  The Wizards are certainly a work in progress, but they simply have too much talent to overlook.  With their talent level, skill, depth and roster versatility the Wizards could be poised to compete with the Eastern Conference powerhouses come playoff time.