UPDATED
West (pieced together from past various posts):
Here's how I see the 8 spots right now...:
1. Mavs
2. Spurs
3. Suns
4. T-Wolves (division win)
5. Clippers
6. Kings
7. Hornets
8. Dog-fight: Lakers/Nuggs/Grizzlies, etc.
Grizzlies - Lessened some, and won't have Gasol for 1-2 months or so, but I think will be in the low playoff picture. I think they'll be better than an average team. Up in the air if they make the playoffs, as it'll be a dog-fight like always down around 8/9/10/11 scene.
Spurs - Will get at least mid-50 wins as usual. Losing Rasho/Nazr and replacing them with Elson/Butler is pretty much a wash to me. Getting Eric Williams and Jacque Vaughn gives them a couple more tough team-playing veterans off the bench. Addressed youth a bit by getting Butler, didn't get that athletic swingman though.
Kings - I believe will be significantly better than last season with the overall new direction and environment. Which has steadily come on, and will only continue. I think Kings will be a middle seed (5/6).
Suns - How good they'll be will all depend on Amare's form. Nash is a possible concern, and Kurt Thomas' health and performance is another thing to look at.
If Amare is back like his 04-05 form, Suns and Dallas will compete for the #1 seed in the west. If not? Probably a 3rd seed team with a good chance to win the division.
Even with Amare good, I'm still not sure if they're a serious threat for the NBA finals because of defense and size. Dallas/San Antonio/LA Clippers/healthy Houston, have a significant edge there, and one of them will be waiting in the WCF. I'd put any one of those four to win against Phoenix.
I really like they got Banks, he should be a solid back-up for Nash, and add defense. Getting Jumaine Jones is also a fine addition for depth, and fits Suns style.
Nuggies - I'm going with Diawara to win the starting SG spot because of his defense and versatility there, as well as being less offensive minded. I think you'd get a much better chance to balance and compliment the overall starting five with Diawara. JR Smith I don't think is as mature as Diawara is yet, and is still somewhat of a project. Also with Miller/Smith/Carmelo, you'd have little defense from the 1-3 spots. Karl supposedly really likes him. I like the sound of him as well. Kleiza could also start at the two, supposedly...
Aside from their likely handful of injuries, the Nuggets still don't really have legit long-range shooting, aside from Joe Smith. Carmelo's good, but streaky. But with Smith, his spot in the rotation is uncertain, and is a possible trading piece. I would think Reggie Evans is mostly going to be ahead of him. Also, Smith is just one guy, and while he's a good shooter inside the arc, he isn't a 3PT shooter.
JR Smith isn't a reliable shooter yet, and doesn't have that starting spot guaranteed (which he needs in order to have the best situation to develop) quite yet, with the rumors and rumblings of Nuggies wanting to get a more proven/experienced shooting guard. I'm not sure if he can be a consistent shooter, or if he'll be another streaky/average jump shooter.
They had all off-season to gather up a couple players known for their shooting, which there were plenty of to fit in as role/bench players. KVH is actually still out there (more of an SF), but think he's out of the picture now for them.
Another season for Carmelo/Miller/front-court depth/JR Smith possibly turning out - will keep them in the mix of things (playoff picture).
Clippers - Jumped on their band-wagon at the start of last season, and plan to stay on. They're a fun team, and don't see them going back to their old times for awhile.
Clips will be a quality team again. Livingston will improve and build on last season, ditto Kaman. Adding Tim Thomas in place of Vlad could be pretty good. Getting Aaron Williams is a decent addition as a veteran big. Maggette staying healthy is a concern though, also is in trade rumors lately. Cassell getting another year older and going through another season is somewhat of a concern, even if he was fine for most of last season. Quinton Ross has proved to be a good find by Dunleavy.
Rockets - Rockets are a legit threat and possibly contenders (even if they didn't have Bonzi, still consideration) if they stay healthy and get solid chemistry. That's what I think determines the aforementioned, or a playoff picture team, making it as a 7/8 seed.
While the Rockets getting Bonzi gives them a legit 3rd option, it also gives the Rockets another injury concern (T-Mac, maybe Yao (lesser degree though, Bonzi, 1 or 2 others). Having an average and partly young bench doesn't help, in depth.
SONICS - they'll be a little better than last season because of having Wilcox/Watson for a full season, and Petro/Swift likely improving a bit. Other than having Watson, they didn't improve on the perimeter and inside defensively though. Still iffy there. Sene is another center project, but has intriguing potential. Their 2005 R2 pick coming over, Mickale Gelabale is a long, thin athletic wing-player, not sure of much else about him or how he'll be. I think the Sonics should be in that fight around 8-10. But probably not win.
Warriors - I think the Warriors have a good possibility to make it more interesting in the low playoff scene.
Aside from not having the roster, putting Nelson in obviously doesn't improve their defense or toughness. Warriors still aren't gonna be that good, but at least they'll have a more experienced coach, and likely get more wins than the past two seasons under Montgomery. Their situation of being an above-average squad or a bad team is up in the air. Baron Davis, Troy Murphy, Richardson can't miss a lot of time. If one or two of Davis/J-Rich/Murphy doesn't stay healthy, they're a bad team, outta the playoffs and in the lottery again. If not, they won't be bad, but in that battle around 8-10. I wouldn't bet on them to be the winner in that though.
Dunleavy at the 4 and Murphy at the 5 is typical Nelson, should work on offense, but defensively, no way (not even if Dunleavy guards centers if the opposing team has a good, skilled PF). This is Pietrus' year to prove he can be consistent, and be the defender Nelson wants him to be. Ellis will only improve this season and with more minutes, he's shown to be a real steal for the Warriors in the 2nd round. Ike should have a more regular role.
Lakers - Have a good chance to get in the playoffs because of Kobe/Odom/Vlad/Phil/Kwame improvement likely/decent bench.
Hornets - Paul/Chandler/Butler/West/Mason/at least 60 or more games from Peja and B-Jax/Byron Scott. Will be in the POs as a low seed.
Jazz - Should make it as long as Ak47/Boozer stay healthy and don't go down for awhile or multiple times. If they do, then Jazzies be scrapping in the bottom playoff scene like last season. They improved in lacking areas last season - athleticism/quickness and shooting; Ronnie Brewer, Dee Brown and Derek Fisher, possible regular time for CJ Miles.
T-Wolves - Can definitely contend for their division, and would be my favorites to win it if the Jazz are not healthy again. Overall, they're a very solid, all-around team.
East
1. Heat (div. winner)
2. Bulls (div. winner)
3. Pistons
4. Nets (div. winner)
5. Cavs
6. Pacers
7. Magic
8. Wizards
2-5 is definitely tough to rank, IMO. Can basically go either way on Bulls/Pistons record. I think any of the Hawks/Raptors/Bucks/Bobcats will be in the picture to get the 8th spot. Ultimately think the Wiz get at least 8th though. if Pacers have significant injury troubles again (usual guys, plus possibly Quis now), I could see the Bucks taking a low seed. Magic vs. Bulls or Heat is a dream playoff R1 series...
Key changes:
Pistons - Take a step back or two due to losing Ben Wallace. He is a huge loss for that team with what he brought, and will still bring at a quality level. Pistons will be a good and top 5 team at least.
Bulls - I have loved following this team again since 2005, and with the options they had, their off-season has been quite good. I think will make significant progress; winning the central (with comp. from Detroit/probably Indy), and could well just make the ECF. Beating the Heat? Bulls certainly have a chance. I think will at least be a top 3 team.
Magic - I fully expect to make the playoffs as a 7/8 seed. Last season's 2nd half is not like the Warriors in 2005 - Different team, different conference. They have a good mix of veterans and young players, along with a good coach.
. If I change my mind on that, I'll state it somewhere.
