The year 2010 is already a few days old, but it?s not too late for each of the NBA?s 30 teams to set goals and/or resolutions for the New Year. Some need patience, some a quick fast-forward button. Some need one player to push them over the edge, some a complete overhaul.

We?ll start at the bottom and go straight to the top.

Nets: Civic Pride. The Nets have essentially been playing out the string since mid-November, but they need to begin connecting to New Jersey, even though their time in the state is limited. They get closer to Brooklyn on a daily basis and it would be nice to see the team somehow honor the community they have called home for so long. The Thunder left Seattle on awful terms and a similar situation needs to be avoided, especially since a new home in Brooklyn isn't going to completely cut the cord between the franchise and their shrinking Garden State fan base.

Timberwolves: Build Around Twin Towers. The Wolves are headed for their fifth straight losing season, but they have a pair of studs in Al Jefferson and Kevin Love. Minnesota could be a dangerous club in the not-so-distant future with the pair of forwards, rookie Jonny Flynn and another lottery selection (their pick goes to the Clippers, but they get a first-rounder from Charlotte and Utah) this coming June. Jefferson (17.6 points and 9.1 rebounds) and Love (15.6 points and 12.5 boards) are quite the pairing and the latter has 15 double-doubles in just 18 games.

Warriors: Wholesale Changes. Nothing drastic is likely to happen, but Golden State really needs some serious changes to order to flip the switch as only the Nets and Timberwolves have fewer wins this season despite the team?s talent. The Warriors have a number of players coming off the payroll this coming offseason, but the issues aren?t just financial. Even though I don?t completely agree with their system, ESPN.com ranked Golden State 29th in their ?Future Power Rankings? last month.

Philadelphia: End Brand Experiment. A New Year's Resolution usually isn't tangible, but the 76ers badly need to trade Elton Brand. Long a guarded professional, he's starting to issue frustrated statements to the media and he's a shell of his former himself in Eddie Jordan's system (assuming he's fully healthy). Their record may not reflect it, but Philadelphia is a scrappy team. Without Brand, not taking into account what they might be able to get in return, they can win some games with their roster. Marreese Speights appears better suited for the power forward role than Mr. Brand.

Pistons: Issue A Public Disclaimer. Detroit president Joe Dumars needs to schedule a press conference and publicly admit that he was wrong to ship Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess to Denver for Allen Iverson. Doing so will accomplish two things: a) it?ll take the wind out of sails of his detractors and b) it?ll be a wakeup to those who still hail Dumars as the greatest front office executive since Red Auerbach. Don?t tell me that fans in Detroit are happy about how he used the cap space created in part by Iverson?s expiring deal either. The Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva Era has opened with an 11-23 record.

Pacers: Patience. I preached it a few months ago and the organization is still focused on the cap space and young, talented core they'll have built in the summer of 2011. If Donnie Walsh deserves praise for focusing on 2010 instead of mortgaging the near future for the right now, Larry Bird and David Morway deserve a Nobel Peace Prize for their commitment to a plan in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately industry.

Wizards: Peace. I could make a joke about the Bullets, but the situation has gone south so quickly that I'll stray from insensitive remarks. Many, myself included, felt as though the Wizards could contend for the fourth or fifth seed in the East, instead they're more than 10 games under .500 and were prepared to blow up their roster even before all the drama between Gilbert Arenas, Javaris Crittenton and the D.C. police. In a top-heavy conference they could have overcome the very slow start, but all the dysfunction has doomed the season.

Kings: Caution With Injuries. Sacramento has dropped a bit as of late, but the arrival of rookie Tyreke Evans has single-handedly turned the team?s fortunes around. The Kings were 13-14 a few days before Christmas even though they?ve been without Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia for all but five games. Both Martin and Garcia suffered serious injuries, wrist and forearm respectively, and the Kings need to be sure that neither is hobbled at the start of the 2010-11 season. A starting five that includes Evans, Martin, Garcia, Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes is exciting, especially with Omri Casspi coming off the bench.

Bulls: End The Pain. This is a resolution that could last just a few days if the Bulls follow my advice, which is painfully necessary. Just fire Vinny Del Negro already, everyone, including Benny the Bull knows that he won't finish the season as Chicago's coach. The Bulls went from playoff contender after their strong showing against the Celtics last April to a possible lottery entrant in less than eight months. The talent is there and now Tyrus Thomas is healthy. It's sad to say, but axing Del Negro is the easiest way to show they won't stand for the kind of basketball they've played.

Knicks: Better Communication. Knicks president Donnie Walsh had to know how coach Mike D'Antoni felt about Nate Robinson before he re-signed him to a one-year deal as a restricted free agent last summer. Multiple sources have indicated that D'Antoni was against retaining Robinson and his decision to bench the guard for nearly a month all but confirms that. Walsh may have ignored D'Antoni's overtures because inking Robinson to a one-year deal gave him both a trade chip and another expiring deal, but the Knicks didn't need to added drama. Nate?s back, but now Larry Hughes is in the same boat.

Bucks: A Reality Check. Most pundits tabbed the Bucks as one of the worst teams in the East entering the season, so there was a lot of optimism surrounding their hot start. Following their Nov. 21 win over Memphis, Milwaukee stood at 8-3 and had visions of a playoff berth. Entering Friday?s action the Bucks are 14-18 (this after two straight wins) and even rookie star Brandon Jennings has come back down to earth. This club had to know it wasn?t going to be easy with a hobbled Michael Redd and little firepower behind Andrew Bogut and Jennings. With that said, they currently sit eighth in the (L)eastern Conference.

Bobcats: Get Tyson More Involved. The Bobcats dealt Emeka Okafor to the Hornets for Tyson Chandler this past offseason and New Orleans has gotten the better end of the trade thus far. Chandler has started all 25 games he?s played, but he?s averaging just 25.7 minutes and backup Nazr Mohammed is averaging more points (7.4 to 6.6 per game). When he returns from his current foot injury, Charlotte needs to run some plays through him and he needs to attack the glass and defend rim, even if it proves detrimental to Gerald Wallace?s eye-popping numbers.

Clippers: Some Optimism. Why isn't anyone talking about the fact that the "other" team in Los Angeles is flirting with .500 even though first overall pick Blake Griffin has yet to play a single meaningful game? They probably won't enter the postseason picture because they play in the Western Conference, but things are looking brighter entering the 10s than they did the 00s.

Raptors: Short-Term Memory Loss. Toronto was a disappointing 7-13 on Dec. 2, but more than a month later they stand 18-18 after an impressive run of 11 wins in 16 games. Four of those five losses came on the road and the Raptors have posted wins over the Rockets, Hornets, Spurs and Celtics in the last few weeks. With Jose Calderon back, the team we have seen in the last month is more indicative of who the Raptors are than the team that stumbled out of the gate.

Grizzlies: Enjoy The Fun. Memphis has been one of the league?s laughing stocks ever since they traded Pau Gasol to Los Angeles for a VHS copy of 'Gigli', but it's time for the team's fans and the rest of the league to acknowledge what they've accomplished since they jettisoned Allen Iverson. They are on pace to win more games than they have since 2004 and Zach Randolph is an All-Star candidate. I'm not sure even Lionel Hollins knows exactly how the Grizzlies have taken such a drastic turn.

Heat: Play Beasley In All Situations. It?ll take an injury to Dwyane Wade to take the Heat out of the playoff picture, so coach Erik Spoelstra needs to stop pulling Michael Beasley late in games. Wade has publicly admitted that the second-year forward has issues handling defensive adjustments, but he?s a huge part of the future in Miami. In fact, if D-Wade leaves via free agency, Beasley will be the Man. Udonis Haslem is a great defender, but Beasley is the one averaging 15.4 points on 45.4% shooting and that?s turning 21-years-old on Saturday.

Hornets: Avoid A LeBron Situation With CP3. New Orleans has been hamstrung by Peja Stojakovic?s contract, but they need to avoid a tenuous situation with superstar Chris Paul. The Hornets have turned a bit of a corner since firing Byron Scott and they are 17-16, the highest point they?ve hit this season, but CP3 had a great relationship with Scott and Tyson Chandler, who was dealt to Charlotte in the offseason. It?s a few years away, but will teams be clearing cap space in 2013 or 2014 in hopes of signing the point guard?

Thunder: Take More Chances. Sam Presti has done a great job in Oklahoma City (I love the Eric Maynor deal), but he needs to start taking more chances. Kevin Durant and Co. have proven that they are ready to challenge for a playoff spot earlier than expected and a host of teams are going to try to unload contracts over the next month-plus. The Thunder can ensure that they'll be able to use their cap room on the kind of players they need, without competition on the market, if they make deals prior to the trade deadline. The chips are there, Presti just has to put on his sunglasses and hedge his bets.

Jazz: Deal Boozer. Frustration is mounting in Utah and it still appears unlikely that Carlos Boozer is going to re-sign this summer. It has become trendy to hold onto big contracts in order to create cap space when they expire, but the Jazz might be better off dealing Boozer to a contender in hopes of landing yet another draft pick (they own New York?s) and some young, cheap pieces. Often times, that?s a better route than trying to court stars with millions upon millions.

Rockets: Focus On 2010. Houston has a winning record despite Yao Ming?s foot injury and the Tracy McGrady knee/trade saga, but general manager Daryl Morey needs to focus on next season. As they currently stand, seventh in the West, the Rockets are going to be an easy out for one of the conference?s top seeds. With Yao expected to be at 100% next season and McGrady gone (either via trade or his expiring contract), a team ready to contend for home-court advantage should be built in spite of making the playoffs this April.

Trail Blazers: Be More Careful. Portland definitely hasn't incurred many self-inflicted wounds this season, but the amount of players that grace the training table on any given night has almost become laughable. They have suffered more moderate to serious injuries than any other team in the league yet they have remained competitive. The way things have gone, if I was Kevin Pritchard, I'd force my healthy players to play in bubbles for the next few weeks.

Nuggets: Make A Small Tweak. Denver shouldn?t have a problem hanging onto the Northwest Division with all the injuries that Portland has endured, but in order to compete with the Lakers come playoff time they?ll need a moderate addition to fight the defending champions? firepower. I?m not talking about a guy like Tracy McGrady, but perhaps someone like Jeff Foster or anyone not named Gilbert Arenas that is castoff in Washington.

Spurs: A Shot Of Youth. The Spurs are still a very good team, but they are eerily similar to the New England Patriots. They'll still win a ton of games and no one wants to face them in the playoffs, but their act is getting slightly tired and they can't rely on a repeat of the success they enjoyed in the last decade. Tim Duncan is showing his age, Manu Ginobili may never be 100% again (thanks to his playing style) and it's taking longer to work in Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess than Gregg Popovich had hoped. They aren't done, not by a long shot, but they need to continue replacing older parts with younger ones if they are going to challenge the Lakers over the next few years.

Suns: Get Steve Kerr Credit. Fans, players, fellow Phoenix executives. They all need to thank Kerr for not jumping the gun and trading Amare Stoudemire prior to the season. If S.T.A.T. was sent packing, chances are Phoenix wouldn?t be 23-13 and within striking distance of the second overall seed in the Western Conference. They still can?t stop anyone, but they are headed for the playoffs after sitting out last spring.

Hawks: Confidence. The Hawks are clearly closer to the Big Three in the East than they are to the conference?s next level of teams. Why, then, are they dropping games to the Bulls, Knicks (at home) and Heat? Atlanta makes a big deal of convincing people that they can compete with the Cavaliers, Celtics and Magic -- and they can -- but they need to stop looking at the standings and dreaming of LeBron, Dwight and KG. They have arrived, now bring it every night. Despite back-to-back losses to Cleveland last week, the Hawks are only a hot streak away from first place.

Mavericks: Get A Hired Gun. As great as Dirk Nowitzki has been this season, 24.9 points and 8.1 rebounds en route to MVP consideration, the Mavericks have a host of players with the ability to explode on any given night. Dallas has nine players averaging eight or more points, including four in double-figures. They have the players to run and the coach to slow it down. Similar to the Nuggets, they should make a pact to swing some type of deal in order to get them closer to the level of the Lakers.

Magic: Road Focus. Some may consider it nitpicking, but the Magic simply need to become a better road team if they are going to contend with the Cavaliers and Celtics in the postseason. They are just three games back of Cleveland for the East?s best record, but have a record of 11-7 away from Amway Arena. I don?t see them finishing the regular season ahead of their the Cavs or Celts, which means they?ll need to win at least one (probably two) road games in the second round to have a shot at even getting to the Conference Finals. The good news? They have a W in Boston already. The bad? They?ve also lost at Detroit, Chicago and Indiana.

Cavaliers: Blinders. The words free agency, free agent, 2010 and max contract need to be removed from Cleveland's vernacular. The Magic and Hawks are on the cusp, but right now the Cavaliers are the only team that I think can keep the Celtics from making their second NBA Finals appearance in three years. Shaquille O'Neal has worked out better than many expected and LeBron James is here, for now.

Boston: Composure. Rasheed Wallace (12) Kendrick Perkins (9) are among the league?s leaders in technicals and the Celtics, who have both Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett hobbling, need to show more composure. Pierce has long displayed his emotions on his sleeve and Garnett would be leading the NBA in techs if he wasn't a first-ballot Hall of Famer. The Celtics can run away with the East, sorry Cleveland, if Doc Rivers can reign in his troops.

Lakers: Guarded Optimism. Things have gone pretty well for the defending champions this season. They have the league's best record and they've endured injuries to Pau Gasol (13 games), Kobe Bryant (no missed time, but a variety of ailments) and Ron Artest (the strange Christmas Night trip). Even the 2009 New York Yankees suffered some adversity (slow start and a Game 1 loss to the Phillies in the World Series); Los Angeles can't expect the road to remain as easy as it has been thus far.


Andrew Perna is Deputy Editor of RealGM.com. Please feel free to contact him with comments or questions via e-mail: [email protected]. You can also follow Andrew on Twitter: APerna7.